bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Determinants of Breakfast Omission: A Study of Undergraduates in Sri Lanka
Authors: Weerasinghe Tharindu Dananjaya
Published: March 2020

Breakfast is an important constituent of any person's daily food concerto. It contributes to provide the base of nourishment for the entire day. Skipping the breakfast directly affects to health, performance, satisfaction and too many physical and psychological matters of a person. The university arenas represent the final opportunity of health and nutritional education for a large number of young undergraduates in Sri Lanka. Thus, this study was conducted with the purpose of investigating the prevalence & determinants of breakfast omission of undergraduates in Sri Lanka. The study was conducted as a cross sectional field study among a sample of 502 undergraduates in Sri Lanka. Convenience sampling was applied to select the sample and investigation was carried out in all the faculties of four public universities in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Self administered, pre - tested questionnaire which met the accepted standards of validity and reliability was used to collect data.

It is found that prevalence of breakfast omission is high among Sri Lankan undergraduates thought it is understood that omission of breakfast affects to undergraduates' health status and ultimately to the academic performance. Findings revealed that accommodation, frequency of skipping the dinner, fast food habits,  academic year, daily academic time table, smoking and financial difficulties are significantly affect to omit the breakfast. Undergraduates stay in own houses are less likely to omit the breakfast in comparison to those who stay in hostels and bodings. Third years and final years are more prone to omit the breakfast while smokers are less likely to omit. No significant relationship is found between gender, consumption of nutritional supplements, time taken for traveling and ethnic group with prevalence of breakfast omission. Health awareness programs or education of healthy eating guidelines must be initiated for both undergraduates and food caters in Sri Lankan universities. The quality and price of supplied foods in state universities must also be frequently reviewed.
Domesticity as Gender Othering in Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent
Authors: Sidi-Said Fadhila
Published: March 2020

This paper proposes to explore gender relations in Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent. Operating from the knowledge that gender is culturally determined feminists criticize male-dominated patriarchal societies, which they argue marginalize or discount women by limiting their opportunity for self-definition and self-actualization. The question that needs to be addressed, then, is: Is gender relation in The Secret Agent constructed around stereotypical representations? Or can this work be read otherwise? Our assumption is that Conrad’s criticism of such patriarchal system is done through irony. The ‘Edenic home’ that would embody Conrad’s cherished ideals is, as we know, a home browbeaten by a political exile. We shall argue that Conrad deals narratively with his own traumatic history by displacing it onto Winnie’s otherness. This traumatic event is   ironically expressed in the falling down of the novel’s house, the house of an overweening, unquestioned patriarchy. On one hand, the fallen house symbolizes the ‘idealization’ of the Western society. On the other hand, it raises ideological issues in relation to the “Other”, the oppressed.

We shall argue that the evidence of his biography, correspondence, and the fictional work under study suggest a complex relationship between the writer, the women in his life, and the fictional female characters.  The importance of the female character, Winnie Verloc, may be explained by the fact that women played a vital role during his youth in Poland. In a letter of 1900 to Edward Garnett, Conrad himself remarked on the benefit he had received from the close bond and the extraordinary ‘sister-cult’ established amongst the Bobrowski women.
Factors that affect Women Participation in Leadership and Decision Making Position
Authors: Hora Endale Alemu
Published: March 2020

This study aimed to identify status of women in Bedele town administration, as well point out factors hindering women from the participating in public and forward some possible recommendations for solving the problems identified through study. Primarily, the study is of descriptive in nature and survey method was used in data gathering. Data used in this paper is mainly primary but to some extent secondary data as well, quantitative and qualitative types was incorporated. In doing this research paper, of total employees existing in Bedele Town administration, 108 (30% of total population) sample respondents were selected using systematic random sampling  method, and were placed questionnaires  containing open ended and closed ended nature questions personally, 103 (95.37%) of them had filled and returned the questionnaire. In addition, a mayor of the town and Women Affair office head were addressed through interview using interview guide. In way of analyzing data, techniques such as tabulation, percentages, chart and the like has been employed. Study revealed that, in public institutions existed in Bedele Town, the majority of women were having an educational status of diploma and lower,  holding lower  non decision making and leadership positions,  and observed major barriers hindering women from public leadership and decision-making positions include: Socio-cultural attitudes and  lack of acquisition of the necessary experience for taking part in public decision-making, Over burden of domestic responsibilities continuation of the negative attitudes regarding women’s ability to lead and govern, Lack of role models of women leaders for young women and girls, and the like can be stated. Finally, the researcher has forwarded some possible ways in which women could appear in public decision making and leadership.
Mari Asai’s Personal Isolation in Haruki Murakami’s After Dark
Authors: Abulencia Andrea Carmeli O.
Published: March 2020

This paper sought to reveal insights into how Haruki Murakami’s After Dark is reflective of the isolation currently being experienced by Japanese society today. The writer analyzed and consolidated the author’s writing style and explored the prominence of the theme of isolation on the novel’s protagonist. This was achieved using a formalist approach to the story, sticking only to what the text has to offer and give evidence for. The paper found that the expression of a society’s culture can be seen in how they depict themselves for others to read and understand them, especially in analyzing the character of Mari.
Okonkwo and David's Fall: A Social- Psychological Analysis
Authors: Haque Manfath Jabin
Published: March 2020

Almost in every sphere of life social factors shape human thoughts and behaviors. This writing attempts to survey the social-psychological grounds accountable for the ‘fall’ of the black protagonist Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and of the white protagonist David Lurie in J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace. My intention behind picking up two opposite personalities of different social background is not to show the ‘comparative study’ in the sense of the term but to focus on the working of human inner truth and its cyclic response to particular social factors and imposition. An individual’s psychic crisis will arise if he has to receive any unexpected domination, interference or oppression. Likewise, the suppressed feelings of the ‘oppressed’ expose themselves if chance appears. Okonkwo, the Igbo hero of colonized Nigeria, cannot acclimate to the profound changes brought about by the British colonizers and is subjugated in the clash between two cultures and commits suicide to avoid humiliation from the colonizers. As a product of post-apartheid South Africa, David, along with his daughter, is severely assaulted by the newly powerful Blacks as a response of malevolence towards the former colonizers. With some exceptions, the parallel stories of the protagonists holding graceful positions in society and leading lives of free choice at the outset of the novels; going through the transitional period of wrongdoings resulted from individual faults and receiving punishment of facing harsh reality; and ultimately meeting their collapse as a consequence of the intrusive of external forces will ascertain that when panic and prejudice; hatred and resentment; lust for power and dominance come to the fore, effort at reconciliation is disregarded.  If this state of affairs emerges, disintegration of human condition is unavoidable. ‘Role reversal’ may occur but ‘long-term peace’ is a concept like a mirage. Examination of psychological working and its relation to social condition can explore this state.  This paper will endeavor to study the core causes regarding the inevitability of the fall of Okonkwo and David from social- psychological perspective.
“New People, New Style, Old Dance”: An Analysis of the Dominant Ideologies in Bate Besong’s Plays
Authors: Nchia Yimbu Emmanuel
Published: March 2020

Borrowed from Ayi Kwei Armah’s The Beautiful Ones are Not Yet Born, the notion of ‘New People, New Style, Old Dance” is a perfect description of the kind and type of leadership that characterizes post independent Africa as exemplified in the plays of Bate Besong. This paper x-rays the parasitic nature of leadership politics in Besong’s plays and argues amongst other issues that the dreams of independence were all deferred with the accession to power by the neo-colonialist. It further stresses that the political transition of power from the colonial to the neo-colonial regime was a mere changed of political actors and tactics but the doctrine of oppression, exploitation, corruption and embezzlement amongst many other social vices still remained unchanged. Like their predecessors, these leaders perceived power as an opportunity for personal gains and not for the benefit of all and sundry.

From a Marxist critical paradigm, the analysis in this paper validates the Marxist dictum that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely (Emerich, 1887.1902). Besong’s plays in terms of ideology can rightly be considered as a dramatization of the excesses of autocratic leadership, conceived, spear headed and master minded by a group of beastlike (or Zombie) creatures with absolutely no concern for the suffering masses. Also, that his plays capture and dramatize the grimness and futility of the human condition in postcolonial Cameroon in particular and Africa at large. Furthermore, the analyses reveal that Africa’s leadership is responsible for the inability of the continent to emancipate itself from poverty, epidemics and persistent diseases. As a result, a continent rich in natural and human resources is continuously characterize by coup d’états, civil wars and social unrests because the wealth of the nation is at the mercy of a few elites while the rest of the citizenry suffer in abject poverty. Besong therefore as a ‘writer in postcolonial politics’ frowns at autocratic leadership and his plays suggest that Cameroon in particular and African as a whole need a new set of leaders with a decolonized mindset as conditions sine qua non for their emancipation from physical and mental oppression, corruption and exploitation.
Üst Gastrointestinal Sistem Kanamaları: Son 5 Yılda Başvuran 68 Hastanın Retrospektif Analizi
Authors: ÇİMEN Orhan , KESKİN ÇİMEN Ferda
Published: March 2020

Giriş
ve Amaç: Üst gastrointestinal kanama, üst özefagus sfinkteri ile Treitz
ligamenti arasında kalan üst gastrointestinal kanal içerisinde gercekleşen
kanamadır, proksimal duodenum kanamaları da bu grupta yer almaktadır. Materyal
ve Metot: Son beş yıldır hastanemize üst gastrointestinal kanama nedeni ile
başvuran hastalara uygulanan tetkik ve tedavi kayıtları incelendi. Hastalara
ait yaş,cinsiyet,geliş hemogram sonuçları,üst gastrointestinal sistem endoskopi
sonuçları, uygulanan endoskopik girişimler,tekrar endoskopi
ihtiyaçları,hastaların kan ve kan ürünü ihtiyaçları, altta yatan etyolojik
faktörler, endoskopi esnasında biyopsi alınıp alınamadığı, alınabildi ise
patoloji sonuçları, Helicobacterpylori varlığı ve/veya yokluğu,
Helicobacterpylori var olan hastalarda şiddeti kayıt altına alındı. Bulgular:
Çalışmamızda 25 ( %36,8) kadın, 43 (%63,2) erkek hastanın üst gastrointestinal
kanama nedeni ile başvurduğu gözlemlendi. Çalışmamızda yer alan hastaların yaş
aralığının 12-101 olduğu görüldü. 6 hastaya (%8,8) kanama durdurmaya yönelik
adrenalin enjeksiyonu,1 hastaya (% 1,4 ) adrenalin enjeksiyonu ile birlikte
koterizasyon yapıldı. 61 hastada (%89,8) kanama endoskopik bir girişime gerek
kalmadan kendiliğinden durmuş idi. Hiçbir hastaya cerrahi girişim ihtiyacı
olmadı. Tartışma ve Sonuç: Çalışmamız neticesinde elde edilen birçok verinin
literatürde yapılan çalşmalar ile benzer olduğu görüldü.Ancak çalışmaya dahil
edilen hastalara cerrahi müdahale gerekmemesi ve mortalite görülmeyişi anlamlı
olarak bulundu.Bunun nedeninin hastanemize erken başvuru oranının yüksek oluşu,
ileri düzey endoskopik girişimlerin hastanemizde yapılabiliyor oluşu, çalışmaya
dahil edilen hasta sayısının literatürdeki çalışmalar ile kıyaslandığında daha
az sayıda olması gibi nedenlerden kaynaklandığı kanısı taşımaktayız.
An Experimental Study on Unit Side Resistance of Gaziantep Limestone
Authors: KALPAKCI Volkan , TABUR İslam
Published: March 2020

In this study, the correlation between the uniaxial compressive strength and unit side resistance of Gaziantep limestone was investigated experimentally for dry and fully saturated conditions. The results were compared with the methods given in the literature which correlate these two parameters. The linear correlations significantly overestimated the measured side resistance values for all tests while the non-linear methods generally overestimated the unit side resistance under fully saturated conditions but provided a reasonable estimation for dry samples. As a result, a linear correlation and non-linear correlation ranges for estimating the unit side resistance of such limestones were also suggested.
Guardians of the Hegemonic Structure of Sports? Women’s Sports as Perceived by Polish Female Sports Journalists
Authors: Organista Natalia , Mazur Zuzanna
Published: March 2020

The under-representation of media coverage of women’s sports has been a long-standing phenomenon, which can also be observed in Poland (Dziubiński, Organista and Mazur 2019; Jakubowska 2015; Kluczyńska 2011). One of the possible reasons for less information on women’s sports is a small number of female sports journalists. Due to the lack of Polish research on female sports journalists, the authors of this article aimed at analyzing their beliefs about women’s sports and the under-representation of media coverage of women’s sports in the Polish media. The analysis has shown that the female journalists perceive women’s sports as inferior to men’s sports and are not in favor of increasing the amount of information about women’s sports. The authors point to the socialization into sport, the professional socialization of the research participants, their minority status in the profession as well as their perception of masculinity, femininity, and professionalism in journalism as possible reasons for the way in which women’s sport is perceived by them.
Efficacy of Different Insecticides/Botanicals against Pea Stemfly, Ophiomyia phaseoli Tryon
Authors: Yadav Abhishek  . , Singh Veer . , Yadav Amit .
Published: March 2020

tudies were conducted at Instructional farm, College of Agriculture, SKRAU, Bikaner during rabi, 2016-17. Among the nine insecticides/botanicals evaluated against O. phaseoli, the treatment of cartap-hydrochloride was found the most effective followed by phorate 10, acephate, oxydemeton–methyl, quinalphos and dimethoate whereas, NSKE was found the least effective followed by neem oil (0.5%) and azadirachtin (5.0 ml/ltr). The maximum seed yield was obtained in the treatment of cartap-hydrochloride whereas, it was minimum in control. The maximum incremental benefit-cost ratio was obtained in the treatment of acephate (33.22) while, minimum in NSKE. The maximum net return of RS. 25846 ha-1 was obtained from the treatment of cartap-hydrochloride while, the minimum net return of Rs. 3856 ha-1 was obtained from NSKE.
Response of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] Genotypes under Residual Moisture Condition in Rice-Fallow Area of Goa State, India
Authors: Manohara K. K. , .Morajkar Shaiesh . , Shanbhag Yogini
Published: March 2020

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season 2018-19 to study the response of 23 cowpea genotypes grown under residual moisture condition in rice-fallow situation of Goa state. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the eleven characters, justifying the selection of genotypes for the study. The estimate of Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) and Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) were high (>20%) for seed yield, straw yield, pods per plant and 100 seed weight. Heritability and genetic advance as per cent mean estimates were high for most of the characters except for days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity and plant height. Characters plant height, pods per plant, straw yield and harvest index showed positive and significant association with seed yield. Path analysis based on seed yield, as a dependent variable, revealed that straw yield and harvest index had the highest positive direct effect on seed yield. Therefore, maximum importance should be given to these traits during the selection for achieving the higher seed yield under rice-fallow situation. Three promising genotypes identified from this study viz., PCP-1131, SKAU-C- 407 and RC 101 would serve as dual-purpose cowpea under rice-fallow areas due to their high seed yield and straw yield
Effect of Potassium and Boron Fertilization on Growth, Forage Yield and Quality of Berseem Trifolium alexandrinum L
Authors: Akshit Akshit , Sheoran R. S , Harender Harender , Kumar Sandeep . , Kavinder Kavinder
Published: March 2020

The field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2017-18 at the Forage Research Farm of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar with the objective to study the effect of potassium and boron fertilization on growth, forage yield and quality of berseem. Treatment combinations comprised of four potassium levels i.e. 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg K2O ha-1 and four levels of boron i.e. 0, 2, 4 kg B ha-1, and 0.2% B spray at flowering initiation and at 50% flowering. The experiment was laid out in split plot design and replicated thrice. Growth characters improved with the application of potassium and boron. Maximum green fodder (444.24 q ha-1) and dry matter yields (55.32 q ha-1) were obtained when berseem was fertilized with 40 kg K2O ha-1. Crude protein yield was highest with 60 kg K2O ha-1 (10.29 q ha-1) and digestible dry matter at 40 kg K2O ha-1 (37.19 q ha-1). Incremental dose of applied boron resulted in a significant improvement in green fodder and dry matter yields upto 2 kg B ha-1. Significant interaction effects of potassium and boron on total green fodder and total dry matter yields indicated better effects with the combination of 40 kg K2O ha-1 and 2 kg B ha-1.
The Impact of Water Deficit on The Soybean (Glycine max L.) Reproductive Stage of Development
Authors: Miladinov Z . , Maksimovic. I. . , Tubic S. Balesevic , Miladinovic J. . , Djordevic V. . , Vasiljevic M. . , Radic V .
Published: March 2020

Experiment was conducted in 2014, 2015 and 2016 at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia, to study the effects of water deficit treatments during a soybean reproductive stage. Two water deficit treatments were conducted T1 (from beginning of blossom to seed maturation) and T2 (from beginning of seed filling to seed maturation period) and control (no water deficit). The results showed that water deficit during seed formation has a significant effect on germination energy, germination precentage and abnormal seedling. Obtained results are of great importance for farmers, because under favorable conditions, a large number of abnormal seedling has the ability to sprout, reach the reproductive stage and participate in yield formation.
Dynamic Testing of Children's Solving of Analogies: Differences in Potential for Learning of Gifted and Average-Ability Children
Authors: Vogelaar Bart , Resing Wilma C. M. , Stad Femke E.
Published: March 2020

This study investigated potential differences in the processes of solving analogies between gifted and average-ability children (aged 9–10 years old) in a dynamic testing setting. Utilizing a pre-test-training-post-test control group design, participants were split in four subgroups: gifted dynamic testing (n= 24), gifted control (n= 26), average-ability dynamic testing (n= 48), and average-ability control (n= 52). Irrespective of ability group, dynamic testing resulted in a larger number of accurately applied transformations, changes in the proportion of preparation time utilized, and more advanced usage of solution categories. Differences were found between and within the groups of gifted and average-ability children in relation to the different process variables examined.
“It's Like You Gotta Fly the Plane While You're Repairing It at the Same Time”: Supporting Rural Intimate Partner Violence Victim Advocates After the Homicide of a Client
Authors: AbiNader Millan A. , DeVoe Ellen , Spencer Renée
Published: March 2020

Previous studies have investigated the impact of secondary exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) work victim advocates, but there is a lack of research examining the specific effect of intimate partner homicide (IPH). Given the sudden and final nature of IPH, it is possible that its effect on advocates differs from the daily exposure to IPV and could require different organizational responses. This study examined how agency climate and interventions contributed to advocate adjustment after IPH. Organizational responses can prevent burnout, the loss of practice wisdom, and the future delivery of inadequate services. Nine advocates were recruited from a rural New England state and interviewed about their perceptions of organizational interventions after IPH. Advocate interviews were analyzed using narrative and thematic approaches to explore how advocates talked about IPH and types of interventions they received. The approaches' findings were examined in tandem to describe advocate perceptions of organizational responses after IPH. Findings centered on three main themes: a need for connection among advocates due to isolation from the community, a need for the acknowledgment of the gravity of IPH, and a need for flexible, clear policies. In conjunction with the extant literature, study findings suggested a three-pronged approach to agency responses to IPH: prepare advocates, support advocates, and connect advocates. Stressors and program responses specific to the rural context are additionally discussed. It is imperative for advocacy organizations to support their employees to maintain agency health and continue to provide effective services to vulnerable members of their communities after IPH.
Science in emerging states and regions: a modern international context. Review of the monograph “Analysis of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Emerging Economies”
Authors: Medushevsky Nicolay A.
Published: March 2020

The article provides an overview of the collective monograph on the analysis of science, technology and innovation in countries. A brief analysis of the contents of the book carried out, as well as its relevance and general ideas. The book is set in a modern international context associated with a wide range of possible problems in it. Of particular interest to the Russian-speaking reader is the fact that the book covers in detail the problems of science and technology in large Latin American states that have significant scientific and technological potential, but suffer from a number of managerial problems similar to those that have repeatedly arisen in Russian science. In the context of these questions, the monograph also considers the problem of the “middle income trap”, in which states, having reached a certain level of development, are unable to increase the rate of economic growth, which has its consequences for the scientific and technological sphere.
Relações dialógicas e educação democrática: a experiência da EMEF Campos Salles
Authors: De Oliveira Almeida Ana Cláudia , Orrú Sílvia Ester
Published: March 2020

Subsidiado pelo pensamento democrático e libertário apresentado por Freire, o presente artigo tem por objetivo compreender os fundamentos históricos, teóricos e filosóficos e os princípios dos processos dialógicos democráticos da EMEF Campos Salles. Os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados foram observações, sistemas conversacionais e entrevistas semiestruturadas. As informações foram organizadas em três núcleos de significação: “A Reinvenção da EMEF Campos Salles”, “Relações dialógicas” e “Comunidades de Aprendizagem”. Como resultado, evidenciou-se que os processos dialógicos e democráticos perpassam por toda a constituição da escola como um espaço de acesso ao conhecimento historicamente acumulado, bem como ao sentimento de pertencimento ao espaço social e uma visão emancipatória sobre o papel que ocupam enquanto sujeitos envolvidos no projeto de transformação da escola.
Main Results from the Program Promotion Panel for Subduction-Zone Earthquakes
Authors: Obara Kazushige , Nishimura Takuya ,   Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan,   Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Published: March 2020

Understanding the occurrence mechanism of subduction zone earthquakes scientifically is intrinsically important for not only forecast of future subduction earthquakes but also disaster mitigation for strong ground motion and tsunami accompanied by large earthquakes. The Program Promotion Panel for Subduction-zone earthquakes mainly focused on interplate megathrust earthquakes in the subduction zones and the research activity included collection and classification of historical data on earthquake phenomena, clarifying the current earthquake phenomena and occurrence environment of earthquake sources, modelling earthquake phenomena, forecast of further earthquake activity based on monitoring crustal activity and precursory phenomena, and development of observation and analysis technique. Moreover, we studied the occurrence mechanism of intraslab earthquakes within the subducting oceanic plate. Five-year observational research program actually produced enormous results for deep understanding of subduction zone earthquakes phenomena, especially in terms of slow earthquakes, infrequent huge earthquakes, and intraslab earthquakes. This paper mainly introduces results from researches on these phenomena in subduction zones.
Development of Integrated Economic Learning Materials Entrepreneurship Values for High School
Authors: Suryani Dhewi , Mulyani Endang
Published: March 2020

This research objective is to develop integrated economic teaching in entrepreneurial values and find out eligibility for high school X-IPS1 students. They were using research and development (R&D) methods. The stages of the research include the initial research and information collecting, planning, develop preliminary form a product, preliminary field testing, leading product, operational product revision, and final product revision. The research Subjects used in this study include two validators, namely learning media experts, 37 class X-IPS1 students, and one economics teacher.  The result achieved in the development of integrated economic teaching materials are entrepreneurial values, namely creative value, independence values, leadership values, risk-bearing values, and action-oriented values that were developed were categorized as useful from the aspects of content worthiness, language presentation was more than 75%. So the result of these studies can be entrepreneurial values are appropriate for use in learning in High School Class.
A Case Study on Narcissism and Anxiety amongst Students
Authors: Jumag Erlinda P. , Moneva Jerald C.
Published: March 2020

The study intends to assess the level of the narcissism of students and the level of anxiety. Narcissism is an excessive admiration and unrealistic positive view of oneself and physical appearance. While anxiety is a feeling of having fear of what might happen that is usually experienced by the students. The study is anchored in the Cognitive Development Theory of Jean Piaget in 1936. He explained anxiety as the tendency to overestimate the potential for danger. This research study used the correlational quantitative design because it examined the association between the level of the narcissism of students and the level of anxiety. Using a rating scale questionnaire on the level of narcissism and the level of anxiety is the level of anxiety among senior high school students. The researchers found out that most of the students feel assertive. Also, they seldom like to be the center of attention which means of having a narcissistic personality which could affect the way they perform in school. Meanwhile, they also feel anxious of hearing the announcement of a coming test and reading the first question on final exam. The data gathered was treated with the use of statistical tests the weighted mean and chi-square. The study showed that there is an association between the level of narcissism and level of anxiety.
Ritual Hymns and World View of the Totola Rabhas of Kataligaon
Authors: Rabha Bhupen
Published: March 2020

The Totola Rabhas are a community that has never lived in isolation. They are touched on all sides by other communities and ethnic groups. Therefore, cultural assimilation in the case of the Totola Rabhas is not a new phenomenon. The culture of the Totola Rabhas which is a part of Indo Mongoloid culture has contributed a lot towards the greater Assamese culture. The evolvement of a new cultural identity in the real sense of the term, the Totola Rabhas, overtime is a fact ignored by and unknown to the world. Therefore, it is of utmost necessity to study the folklore of the Totola Rabhas to understand the culture of a community not only least represented but also misunderstood. The Totola Rabhas have a very rich tradition of folklore, which has not at all been explored. They are passed down from generation to generation through word of mouth and in the long run, they have undergone a drastic change due to assimilation with people of other communities. This assimilation has enriched and added to the already existing folklore of the Totola Rabhas. The folk songs and the oral narratives of the Totola Rabhas are indeed unique in their own nature. The songs sung during various occasions are a living tradition of the Totola Rabhas. They are sung during marriages, during work, during worships, during festivals, etc. The Totola Rabhas believe in many Gods and Goddesses and they observe a variety of rituals. One such religious practice of the Totola Rabhas is the worship of Bura Bun Gohai, ie. Old Forest Deity. She is believed to be the Goddess of all things and the prosperity of the village depends entirely on her. It is, therefore, a humble attempt on the part of the Researcher to explore and document the folk songs associated with their traditional religion and belief. This paper is an attempt to explore the ritual hymns and the world view of the Totola Rabhas of Kataligaon.
Time to Block: Early Regional Anesthesia Improves Pain Control in Geriatric Hip Fractures
Authors: Garlich John M. , Pujari Amit , Debbi Eytan M. , Yalamanchili Dheeraj R. , Moak Zachary B. , Stephenson Samuel K. , Stephan Stephen R. , Polakof Landon S. , Johnson Christopher R. , Noorzad Ali S. , Little Milton T.M. , Moon Charles N. , Black Jeanne T. , Anand Kapil K. , Lin Carol A.
Published: March 2020

Background:

Fascia iliaca nerve blocks (FIBs) anesthetize the thigh and provide opioid-sparing analgesia for geriatric patients with hip fracture awaiting a surgical procedure. FIBs are recommended for preoperative pain management; yet, block administration is often delayed for hours after admission, and delays in pain management lead to worse outcomes. Our objective was to determine whether opioid consumption and pain following a hip fracture are affected by the time to block (TTB). We also examined length of stay and opioid-related adverse events.

Methods:

This prospective cohort study included patients who were ≥60 years of age, presented with a hip fracture, and received a preoperative FIB from March 2017 to December 2017. Individualized care timelines, including the date and time of admission, block placement, and surgical procedure, were created to evaluate the effect that TTB and time to surgery (TTS) had on outcomes. Patterns among TTB, TTS, and morphine milligram equivalents (MME) were investigated using the Spearman rho correlation. For descriptive purposes, we divided patients into 2 groups based on the median TTB. Multivariable regression for preoperative MME and length of stay was performed to assess the effect of TTB.

Results:

There were 107 patients, with a mean age of 83.3 years, who received a preoperative FIB. The median TTB was 8.5 hours. Seventy-two percent of preoperative MME consumption occurred before block placement (pre-block MME). A longer TTB was most strongly correlated with pre-block MME (rho = 0.54; p < 0.001), and TTS was not correlated. Patients with a faster TTB consumed fewer opioids preoperatively (12.0 compared with 33.1 MME; p = 0.015), had lower visual analog scale scores for pain on postoperative day 1 (2.8 compared with 3.5 points; p = 0.046), and were discharged earlier (4.0 compared with 5.5 days; p = 0.039). There were no differences in preoperative pain scores, postoperative opioid consumption, delirium, or opioid-related adverse events. Multivariate regression showed that every hour of delay in TTB was associated with a 2.8% increase in preoperative MME and a 1.0% increase in the length of stay.

Conclusions:

Faster TTB in geriatric patients with hip fracture may reduce opioid use, pain, and length of stay.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Determinan Partisipasi Petani Kopi dalam Standar dan Sertifikasi Berkelanjutan Common Code for Coffee Community (4C)
Authors: Ibnu Muhammad
Published: March 2020

Sustainable standards and certification can encourage coffee farmers to adopt good agricultural practices (GAP), achieving coffee production that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. The Common Code for Coffee Community (4C) is a standard and certification scheme currently exists in Robusta coffee production center in Lampung Province. However, sustainable standard and certification become less relevant without farmers’ participation. Farmers’ participation in standards and certification has been relatively low and studies on the issue are relatively rare. This study aims to analyze the determinants of farmer’s participation in 4C Standards and Certification. The study was conducted in West Lampung and Tanggamus Ragency, Lampung Province from February to May 2019. The total number of respondents was 120 people (4C certified farmers and non-certified farmers) surveyed with a systematic-random-sampling method. Data was analyzed using heckprobit regression. The results showed that farmer participation in 4C was determined by the selling price of coffee, farmers’ side job, farmers' preference to replace coffee with other commodities, and the farmers’ group activity. The results indicated that 4C and coffee stakeholders at national scale need to consider policies on how to improve coffee price, optimizing the farmer organizations, and the added-value of coffee production.
The Opioid Epidemic and Rural First Nation Communities
Authors: Shannon Labelle
Published: March 2020

The purpose of this research is to explore the connections and impacts the opioid epidemic has had on First Nation communities. Particularly looking at communities that are in rural and remote locations across Ontario. The opioid epidemic has impacted all of Ontario, and it is garnering a lot of public attention. However, rural communities are not as well equip to deal with such an issue as their urban counterparts. I would like to explore the extent of the opioid impact on said communities, discuss potential solutions, and address gaps in literature regarding this topic and as it relates specifically to First Nations.
Moving beyond individual barriers and identifying multi-level strategies to reduce anemia in Odisha India
Authors: Sedlander Erica , Long Michael , Mohanty Satyanarayan , Munjral Ashita , Bingenheimer Jeffrey B. , Yilma Hagere , Rimal Rajiv N.
Published: March 2020

Background: To reduce the prevalence of anemia, the Indian government recommends daily iron and folic acid supplements (iron supplements) for pregnant women and weekly iron supplements for adolescents and all women of reproductive age. The government has distributed free iron supplements to adolescents and pregnant women for over four decades. However, initial uptake and adherence remain inadequate and non-pregnant women of reproductive age are largely ignored. The aim of this study is to examine the multilevel barriers to iron supplement use and to subsequently identify promising areas to intervene. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study in the state of Odisha, India. Data collection included key informant interviews, focus group discussions with women, husbands, and mothers-in-law, and direct observations in health centers, pharmacies and village health and nutrition days. Results: We found that at the individual level, participants knew that iron supplements prevent anemia but underestimated anemia prevalence and risk in their community. Participants also believed that taking too many iron supplements during pregnancy would “make your baby big” causing a painful birth and a costly cesarean section. At the interpersonal level, mothers-in-law were not supportive of their daughters-in-law taking regular iron supplements during pregnancy but husbands were more supportive. At the community level, participants reported that only pregnant women and adolescents are taking iron supplements, ignoring non-pregnant women altogether. Unequal gender norms are also an upstream barrier for non-pregnant women to prioritize their health to obtain iron supplements. At the policy level, frontline health workers distribute iron supplements to pregnant women only and do not follow up on adherence. Conclusions: Interventions should address multiple barriers to iron supplements use along the socio-ecological model. They should also be tailored to a woman’s reproductive life course stage: adolescents, pregnancy, and non-pregnant women of reproductive age because social norms and available services differ between the subpopulations.
Characterization of Visceral leishmaniasis Outbreak, Marsabit County, Kenya, 2014
Authors: Kanyina Evalyne Jaquelyne Wambui
Published: March 2020

Background : Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by protozoa of the Leishmania donovani complex. Annually, an estimated 500,000 cases of VL are reported globally posing a public health challenge. The objectives of our study were to confirm and determine the magnitude of VL outbreak, characterize the outbreak clinically and epidemiologically and evaluate the county preparedness and response in Marsabit County, Kenya. Methods : A retrospective review of laboratory registers and patients’ clinical notes was done at Marsabit County Hospital. Cases were persons with confirmed VL diagnosis either by microscopy, serology or molecular technique coming from Marsabit County from May to October 2014. Cases were interviewed using structured questionnaire to collect clinical and epidemiologic information. Blood samples were collected from cases for laboratory confirmation. Results : A total of 136 cases were confirmed of which 77% (105) were male with a median age of 17 (IQR: 22) years and 9.6% (13) case fatality rate. All cases were admitted at Marsabit County Referral Hospital, Kenya. Medical records of 133 cases were retrieved. Of the 133 cases, 102 (77%) presented with fever, 43 (32%) with splenomegaly, 26 (20%) with hepatomegaly and 96 (72%) were managed with Sodium stibogluconate (SSG) monotherapy. Thirty four cases (26%) received Full haemogram (FHG) test and none had more than one Liver Function Tests (LFTs) in a span of six months. No VL case management training had been conducted nor VL treatment guidelines distributed among health care workers (HCWs) in the last one year. Conclusions: VL cases were confirmed. Inadequate case monitoring and management was evident. VL case management sensitization training was conducted. The County health department should put in place one health VL surveillance and facilitate periodic case management trainings.
Strategy using a new antigenic test for rapid diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in respiratory samples from children consulting at hospital
Authors: Haddar Cyrille H , J Johan MD , Carricajo Anne , Verhoeven Paul O , Grattard Florence , Mory Olivier , Begaud Evelyne , Germani Yves , Cantais Aymeric , POZZETTO Bruno
Published: March 2020

Background. Despite vaccination programs, Streptococcus pneumoniae remains among the main microorganisms involved in bacterial pneumonia, notably in terms of severity. The prognosis of pneumococcal infections is conditioned in part by the precocity of the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) targeting cell wall polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae and performed directly in respiratory samples, on the strategy of diagnosis of respiratory pneumococcal infections in children. Results. Upper-respiratory tract samples from 196 children consulting at hospital for respiratory infection were tested for detecting S. pneumoniae using a newly-designed RDT (PneumoResp, Biospeedia), a semi-quantitative culture and two PCR assays. If positive on fluidized undiluted specimen, the RDT was repeated on 1:100-diluted sample. The RDT was found highly specific when tested on non-S. pneumoniae strains. By comparison to culture and PCR assays, the RDT on undiluted secretions exhibited a sensitivity (Se) and negative predictive value (NPV) of more than 98%. By comparison to criteria of S. pneumoniae pneumonia combining typical symptoms, X-ray image, and culture ≥ 107 CFU/ml, the Se and NPV of RDT on diluted specimens were 100% in both cases. Conclusions. In case of negative result, the excellent NPV of RDT on undiluted secretions allows excluding S. pneumoniae pneumonia. In case of positive result, the excellent sensitivity of RDT on diluted secretions for the diagnosis of S. pneumoniae pneumonia allows proposing a suitable antimicrobial treatment at day 0.
Comparison of health-related quality of life with different antitumor agents for advanced soft tissue sarcoma
Authors: Suzuki Kayo , Yasuda Taketoshi , Watanabe Kenta , Kanamori Masahiko , Kawaguchi Yoshiharu
Published: March 2020

Background During cancer treatment, maintenance and improvement of quality of life (QOL) are important, as is prolongation of overall survival. As the disease progresses, patients may experience a decline in QOL due to physical or mental changes. However, few studies have evaluated QOL longitudinally in advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients according to the antitumor agent. The purpose of this study was to compare health-related QOL (HRQOL) in patients with advanced STS receiving the combination regimen of doxorubicin and ifosfamide (AI) or three novel antitumor agents (pazopanib, trabectedin, eribulin). Methods Twelve patients diagnosed with advanced STS who started chemotherapy between 2010 and 2017 at our hospital were enrolled. HRQOL was assessed using the European Organization on Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Core Questionnaire-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) after three cycles of chemotherapy before assessing the effect of treatment. Global health status, a functional scale, and a symptomatic scale were compared for the AI regimen and the three novel antitumor agents. Results The mean global health status score of the patients treated with the AI regimen was significantly different from that of those treated with one of the three novel antitumor agents (37.9 and 56.8, respectively). No significant differences were found in the five functional scores. The nausea and vomiting score was significantly different between the AI regimen and eribulin. The constipation score was significantly higher with the AI regimen, and the diarrhea score was significantly higher with pazopanib. Conclusions Compared to the AI regimen, patients can continue treatment with one of the three innovative antitumor agents while maintaining QOL, even with progressive disease. In particular, of the three innovative antitumor agents compared to the AI regimen, patients treated with pazopanib were able to maintain social activities during treatment. In the second-line and subsequent treatments, we could not clearly show a different effect on maintenance of a better QOL among the three innovative drugs, so additional work in the future is needed. If we clarify which of the three drugs most affects QOL, recommendations can be made regarding treatment selection for the second-line and subsequent treatments.
Discovery and validation of immune- related long non-coding RNA biomarkers associated with prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liu Li , Tian She , Li Zhu , Gong Yongjun , Zhang Hao
Published: March 2020

Background : Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common clinical malignant tumors, resulting in high mortality and poor prognosis. Studies have found that LncRNA plays an important role in the onset, metastasis and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. The immune system plays a vital role in the development, progression, metastasis and recurrence of cancer. Therefore, immune-related lncRNA can be used as a novel biomarker to predict the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods : The transcriptome data and clinical data of HCC patients were obtained by using The Cancer Genome Atlas-Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA‑LIHC), and immune-related genes were extracted from the Molecular Signatures Database (IMMUNE RESPONSE M19817 and IMMUNE SYSTEM PROCESS M13664). By constructing the co-expression network and Cox regression analysis, 13 immune-lncRNAs was identified to predict the prognosis of HCC patients. Patients were divided into high risk group and low risk group by using the risk score formula, and the difference in overall survival (OS) between the two groups was reflected by Kaplan-Meier survival curve. The time - dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to evaluate 13 immune -lncRNAs signature. Results : Through TCGA - LIHC extracted from 343 cases of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma RNA - Seq data and clinical data, 331 immune-related genes were extracted from the Molecular Signatures Database , co-expression networks and Cox regression analysis were constructed, 13 immune-lncRNAs signature was identified as biomarkers to predict the prognosis of patients. At the same time using the risk score median divided the patients into high risk and low risk groups, and through the Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis found that high-risk group of patients' overall survival (OS) less low risk group of patients. The AUC value of the ROC curve is 0.828, and principal component analysis (PCA) results showed that patients could be clearly divided into two parts by immune-lncRNAs, which provided evidence for the use of 13 immune-lncRNAs signature as prognostic markers. Conclusion : Our study identified 13 immune-lncRNAs signature that can effectively predict the prognosis of HCC patients, which may be a new prognostic indicator for predicting clinical outcomes.
Assessment of the effect of out of pocket health expenditures on Rwandan Households
Authors: Muremyi Roger
Published: March 2020

The authors have removed this preprint from Research Square.