bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The human factor in Argentine agriculture
Authors: Gallacher Marcos
Published: July 2021

The objective of this paper is to identify determinants of the reductions in the use of labor observed in Argentine agriculture. The paper focuses on the 2002-2018 period, using data from the last two publications of the Censo Nacional Agropecuario (the census undertaken in 2008 is incomplete). The paper summarizes trends of labor use and firm size in Argentina, and presents three possible hypothesis accounting for the observed changes: (a) capital-labor substitution, (b) labor-saving technical change (reduced and no-tillage), and (c) changes in the farm size and the types of capital (machines) used.
Novaro Marcos. Dinero y poder. Las difíciles relaciones entre empresarios y políticos en la Argentina
Authors: Rossi Ignacio Andrés
Published: July 2021

El reconocido sociólogo argentino Marcos Novaro distingue dos tendencias claramente diferenciadas en las relaciones entre poder político y los empresarios para la Argentina actual: mientras que con los Kirchner (2003-2016) se constituyó un capitalismo político de aceitadas relaciones entre empresarios específicos y el proyecto político; durante la gestión de Mauricio Macri (2016-2019), a pesar de haberse poblado el círculo de gobierno de referentes empresariales y consignas de mercado, no se logró una articulación efectiva entre ambos actores. En los orígenes de la democracia argentina de 1983 pueden encontrarse síntomas de la disfuncionalidad entre políticos y empresarios que hacen hoy a los debates en torno al cuestionado rol empresario (verificable en expresiones como patria financiera o contratista, oligarquía o más recientemente círculo rojo) a la luz de los debates académicos como de las recientes investigaciones de corrupción, fenómeno también latinoamericano. Sin embargo, las dificultades por crear consensos y sellar acuerdos de cooperación mutuos han sido rasgos crónicos de deficiencia institucional de nuestra historia del siglo XX, por lo que no resulta casual que un grupo de elite como el que formó parte del gobierno de la coalición Cambiemos en 2016 haya reactivado este conflicto. Así, este trabajo dividido en siete capítulos que abarcan desde cuestiones teóricas sobre las empresas y el Estado, hasta un recorrido de la problemática en lo más profundo del siglo XX, se centra también en las percepciones de la cúpula empresarial: los dueños y directivos de las principales empresas que operan en el país.
El enfoque sistémico como criterio operativo y geográfico: La sostenibilidad agrícola
Authors: Loewy Tomás
Published: July 2021

El concepto de sostenibilidad requiere una puesta en valor para restituir su carácter operativo. Este informe es una propuesta teórico-metodológica, basada en criterios cualitativos. El objetivo general del trabajo es describir la sostenibilidad agrícola con un enfoque sistémico y de complejidad. Los propósitos específicos incluyen: a) expresar simultáneamente todos las componentes de la sostenibilidad como premisa operativa; b) emplear el perfil de los agroecosistemas, como variable crítica; c) Jerarquizar y calificar la escala y tecnología de los predios y d) integrar los atributos para la transición de sistemas comerciales a territoriales. Escalas pequeñas y medianas, con buenas prácticas, más rasgos de tenencia y residencia, generan sistemas sostenibles. Los modelos resultantes pueden ser agrosociales, agroecológicos u orgánicos.
Ricardo and Haberler: an essay on the evolution of the economic thought based on the four magic numbers in the international trade theory
Authors: Poinsot Flavia
Published: July 2021

The Ricardian comparative advantage is one key cornerstone in the international trade theory. There is no shortage of textbooks supposing that Ricardo used solely labour as a factor of production. This approach originates with Haberler in the 1930s, who wrote that Ricardo’s theory of comparative advantage is robust, but not the labor-cost doctrine, which, Haberler assumed, Ricardo applied. This paper summarizes why Haberler’s perspective emerged, essaying an explanation of his way of interpreting Ricardo. To do this, we considered the new research on Ricardo, whose facets to be known seem to renew over time and never end.
Jugar al primer o segundo bote en el tenis en silla de ruedas
Authors: Sánchez-Pay Alejandro , Sanz-Rivas David , Torres-Luque Gema
Published: July 2021

El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la influencia del uso del bote en el tenis en silla de ruedas (TSR) durante un torneo y establecer las diferencias entre el ganador y perdedor del set. Se grabaron y analizaron un total de 16 partidos de jugadores de nivel internacional. Se analizó el tipo de golpe, así como el número de botes de la pelota antes de ser golpeada. Los resultados mostraron que los jugadores de TSR golpean la pelota principalmente tras el primer bote (80,95%) y que los restos son golpeados en un 97,19% tras el primer bote. El segundo bote es usado significativamente más por los ganadores del set. Por otra parte, el uso del segundo bote por los jugadores de TSR da lugar a menor número de errores y mayor número de golpes ganadores comparado con el uso del primer bote.
EFL Writing Skills Development Through Literature
Authors: FODIL-CHERIF Siham BOUZAR
Published: July 2021

Learning another language as English requires a combination of knowledge of the target language with skills and strategies that enable an individual to use them effectively. That is a learner has to develop knowledge about receptive skills; i.e., listening and reading, as well as productive ones; i.e., speaking and writing. Though all the skills are important for language learning, the writing skill is probably the most needed in academic and professional communities. It constitutes an important means of communication through which the writer expresses feeling, ideas and arguments. In the case of English language learning, writing in a language that one is not familiar with constitutes a hard task. In fact, though writing represents a crucial skill for learning any language, its complex nature makes it a challenging affair for both the learners and the teachers. It requires the learners to be guided and assisted in their efforts to reach success. Besides, the teachers are expected to furnish the appropriate measures to achieve the teaching goals. Therefore, it is with the perspective to highlight the importance of writing and the role of reading literature in developing EFL learners’ writing skill that this piece of work is undertaken. This is achieved via disclosing the nature of the writing skill and how the implementation of literature in the writing classes can provide positive effect on EFL learners’ performance.
The new face of large dams in the 21st century
Authors: Ahmadzai Atal
Published: July 2021

Alerted by worsening water insecurity and increasing energy demand, countries, mainly in the Global South, are building dams of unprecedented magnitude. Hundreds of large dams (≥ 100 metres) have been constructed since 2000, with hundreds more under construction. Analysing the physical attributes of these dams presents a concerning image. While these dams create expansive reservoirs with larger surface areas, their storage capacity/volume is limited: they have inefficient surface area-to-volume ratios ('S2VR'). The unprecedented size of these dams, along with the expansive surface area of their reservoirs, indicates severe environmental costs. These costs include damaging river ecosystems, mainly through ecological disturbances to the aquatic ecosystem; and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Other ecological costs that come with the larger S2VR include a problematic high evaporation rate and compromising the biodiversity of a wider area. Thus, the safety and environmental aspects of these ecologically damaging and unsustainable large dams should be robustly scrutinised.
Kantian Categories of Ethics and Morality: A Reading of Milan Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Authors: Barman Preetinicha , Barman Preetinicha
Published: July 2021

Milan Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being is one of the most romantic stories set against a volatile political backdrop wherein the author deals with multiple issues on ideology, ethics and morality. Kant is a foundational thinker in terms of theorizing the notion of morality leading to almost universal categories of moral and ethical imperatives. Kundera’s novel quite significantly appears incommensurable to, what we can call as, universal “categories of imperatives.” Not only the question of morality but even the categories of ideological imperatives have also been emphatically interrogated by Kundera in the novel. The paper is an attempt to understand the Kantian categories as propounded in his The Critique of Practical Reason and revisit Kundera’s novel for a critical engagement to relook at the questions of universal categories of morality as well as ideology. Quite significantly, Kundera uses the term “kitsch” in the novel almost as a discursive tool to counter and denounce the proclamations of the superiority of essentialist political ideology. The novel essentially problematises the Kantian notion of universal morality showing how the universal categories of both morality and reason are inadequate propositions to address the limitless terrains of heterogeneous imperatives.
Ideology and Subversion: A Comparative Study of Mrinal Sen’s Padatik and Raghav Bandopadhyay’s Communis
Authors: Pramanik Pratyusha
Published: July 2021

Padatik, the final part of Mrinal Sen’s movies of the Calcutta Trilogy, offers both a historical document on the political mindset of the burgeoning Bengali youth and a personal struggle of Sen himself making sense of the Marxist revolutionary ideology and ascertaining whether or not it is a misguided enterprise. Raghav Bandyopadhyay in his conversation with Dipesh Chakrabarty recollects how during his prison days he had sent a letter to the regional comrades. He had enlisted the reasons why their project had failed, also stating, how it would be best to abort the mission and retreat to "safer shelters" to study and reconsider the struggle. His years as a political activist and a political prisoner were penned down as Communis (1975). This paper is a comparative study of the picture of the 1970s Calcutta that Sen and Bandyopadhyay present in Padatik and Communis respectively, with special attention to the youth upsurge and the violent mission that the contemporary youth had dedicated themselves to. Bandyopadhyay, through his words, paints an equally realistic portrait of the "infernal city" that Sen films in his Trilogy. While Bandyopadhyay has largely been an unsung hero in the canonical growth of Indian Literature, Sen has been a world phenomenon with his brand of parallel cinema. However, both of them offer criticism to the left movement, when it was lying low and was in disarray. The paper would thus assess both their differences and their similarities in their reception and representation of the movement, its ideology, and its subversion.
Pastors without Borders
Authors: Björnsdóttir Steinunn Arnþrúður
Published: July 2021

This article analyzes the reception of a reform program, establishing Cooperation Areas in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (ELCI). According to the program, the clergy and other staff were asked to or- ganize cooperation within each area. The main research questions are: What results can be seen in the early attempts and what are the possible explanations of these results? Looking for answers, I focus on the role of pastors and deans in establishing the Cooperation Areas.

This is a qualitative case study based on documents from the ELCI’s General Assembly and other public documents, as well as questionnaires to two selected groups, deans in the ELCI and pastors in one cooperation area. Additional research material came from ten qualitative interviews that had been conducted for a previous research. The documents are analyzed using basic analysis (Sarantokos, 2005) and the ques- tionnaires and interviews using thematic analyses (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The findings indicate that partic- ipation in the cooperation project was limited. Possible explanations are: first, the very structure of the co- operation project, which relied on voluntary participation without clear instructions on who should be in charge of completing it; second, cooperation, which was made difficult by the fact that the clergy are hired by the central church and receives salaries from a special church fund, whereas other staff is hired by the parish, often in part-time roles; third, the church structure, where each parish is independent financially and administratively and the pastor has a lot of independence in the office regarding the organization of his/her work. However, in an area where the Cooperation Area project was active to some extent, it had a positive effect on the working environment of the pastors.

The cooperation attempt can be seen in context of reform projects in Nordic churches. It is the first study on this project and adds to the limited amount of studies on the ELCI’s structure and reform projects. This study focuses on the role of the clergy. For further studies the involvement of parish councils in reform processes instigated by the Central Church Authorities needs to be explored.

The limitation of this research lies in the qualitative methodology and size of the study, analyzing the answers of a sample of clergy. The conclusions drawn from interviews and questionnaires are to be read in that light.
The Influence of Calling and Perceived Organizational Support on Commitment across Ecclesial and For- profit Organizations
Authors: Åkerlund Truls
Published: July 2021

The article adds to an understanding of organizational commitment (OC) by examining how the con- struct varies between church volunteers (N = 89) and for-profit (N = 218) employees in Norway. The study used a non-experimental field-based methodology to analyze data collected cross-sectionally through self-administered questionnaires. A series of two-way analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to test whether OC differed by type of organization, reporting higher levels of normative commitment (NC) and affective commitment (AC) in ecclesial organizations than in their for-profit counterpart. In addition, a series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to test whether calling and perceived organizational support (POS) were predictors of OC in both types of organizations. The results confirm previous research showing that POS is an antecedent of NC and AC in for-profit organizations, and expand current commitment theory by showing that this is also the case for AC among church volunteers. The predictive power of calling on commitment was found to be weak in both types of organizations. The limitations of the study are indicated, and suggestions for practice and future research are provided.
Fri og villig
Authors: Økland Marius , Ruge Christian Otto
Published: July 2021

Free and Willing: Organizational Citizenship Behavior in a Nonprofit Organization Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) refers to individual behavior that is discretionary, not directly or explicitly recognized by the formal reward system, and in the aggregate, promotes the effi- cient and effective functioning of the organization. It can be further broken down to seven dimensions: Helping behavior, Sportsmanship, Organizational Loyalty, Organizational Compliance, Individual Initiative, Civic Virtue and Self Development. In this paper, the authors examine whether Transforma- tional Leadership, Vertical Job Enrichment and Cognitive Evaluation can be associated with OCB and give plausible explanations for such behavior in a Christian nonprofit organization. The empirical data investigated here is a quantitative survey of work environment among employees in Normisjon in 2013. Normisjon is a large Norwegian organization for Christian mission, organized through 13 na- tional regions and a central office, with both national and international involvement. The survey has a response-number (N) of 235, which is a response-rate of 79%. The study is a reanalysis of existing data, gathered for a slightly different purpose. This fact has demanded a serious work on operationali- zation, and also revealed some blind, and unavailable, spots of knowledge due to the hypotheses. Out of the seven dimensions valid measures for Helping Behavior and Organizational Loyalty were found. Subsequent to operationalization of questions in relation to theories and hypotheses, data was pro- cessed in search of univariate descriptive information and bivariate correlations. Despite the men- tioned challenges, progress was made and knowledge acquired with convincing certainty. Some of the hypotheses were approved, especially the ones related to Organizational Loyalty.
Konfesjonelle tradisjoner – problem eller mulighet?
Authors: Råmunddal Lars
Published: July 2021

Church Traditions – Problem or Opportunity? About the Significance of Denominational Traditions for Church Development
The question I attempt to answer in this article is how church traditions can play a positive or constructive role in local church development – and when and why they cannot do so, but on the contrary, become an obstacle to developing churches in an ecclesiological holistic way. One of the main reasons why church traditions become a problem for church development today is to emphasize either the historical or the contemporary context of the church. Based on a holistic ecclesiological model, the article argues that a local church always stands in the tension between, on the one hand, the long history and tradition of the Christian Church – where “my” church tradition also is located –, and on the other hand, the Church’s presence in a given time and culture. In order to assess the constructive value of church traditions and their significance for church development, I recommend inspiration and guidance gained from thinking developed, in general, according to the concepts of detraditionalization and retraditionalization – and according to what is related to the question of a tradition’s “intention”, in particular. Here the article argues that the using and re-using potential of church traditions does not have to be not only linked to the historical dimension of the Church, but also to the socio-cultural one. Looking at the church landscape in Scandinavia today, one will find that there are representatives of local churches that relatively and unilaterally emphasize the practice of sacrament and liturgy. This is accentuated partly by those who wish to modernize meetings, music and forms of communication with the intention to adapt the church to the contemporary culture, and partly by those who try to find a balance between traditional values and contemporary ones. The United Malmö church is appointed out as an example of the latter way of thinking church development.
Complaints about Priests in the Church of Sweden from 2001–2013
Authors: Hansson Per
Published: July 2021

Media coverage of complaints about priests has generally focused on sexual misbehavior. This case study of complaints about priests in the Church of Sweden from 2001–2013 gives a much more varied picture. Documentation of all the complaints received during 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013 was collected. In all, there are 199 complaints, which correspond to approximately 1.2% of priests every year. The rate of complaints rose and doubled, peaking in 2010. The complaints are categorized in three categories: general complaints, complaints that can lead to prohibition and other complaints. The most common complainant was the private individual (42%), although bishops and colleagues were also responsible for some of the complaints. During the years studied, private complaints increased. This finding is interpreted to reflect an increasing tendency in Swedish society to complain. Com- plaints about female priests are increasing and are now occurring at the same rate as for male priests. However, no female priests have been prohibited yet; only males have been. Sexual issues account for 15% of the complaints, which are outnumbered by other complaints. Decisions made by the Church chapters have changed during the studied years; earlier, the most common decision was to take no ac- tion, but later, the chapters generally decided on some type of action (for example, commissioning someone to talk to the priest or to give a statement)
Leadership as Idolatry
Authors: Tangen Karl Inge
Published: July 2021

This study explores how an extended view of idolatry can be used to analyze leadership in organizations. Beginning with the theological anthropology of James K. Smith, it develops a model of idolatry and then moves on to explore the cases of Stalinism and Enron. The ultimate concern promoted by personality cults in these cases, it is not only the leader but also the organization itself and a narrative that give the organization and its leaders a grandiose self-identity. Moreover, the study suggests that organizational cultures and organizational rituals can slide into idolatry, even if this is not fully intended. The key mechanisms here are rituals of charismatic self-seduction and psychological control, forming a totalitarian culture. By combining charismatic leadership theory and critical realism, this study also suggests that idolatry can emerge from below, although individual reflexivity can also resist idolatrous leadership. Finally, when truth is exchanged for grandiose self-images, it leads to violations of human dignity. The study identifies three questions that could help leaders to prevent themselves from slipping into idolatry. It also argues that churches could be resources for organizational leaders in terms of being communities of counter-formation, mutual discernment and missional empowerment
Finding Boundless Creativity Within the Boundaries of Authority: A Creational Leadership Model
Authors: Wanner Curt N. , Huizing Russell L.
Published: July 2021

Using both a religious and secular example, this article seeks to understand the intersection between authority and creativity in leadership. A hermeneutic of semantic theory guided the analysis of the early chapters of Genesis, supporting the use of these two attributes in effective leadership. By allow- ing the world to be very good and yet not perfect, God offers humanity the potential to use authority and creativity in a way that reflects His own character. The prohibition that God establishes enhances rather than hinders humanity’s potential for authority and creativity by framing a context for these at- tributes to grow. Additionally, the contemporary leadership analysis suggests the importance of under- standing how authority, power, creativity, and freedom are associated with both leadership and follow- ership. Here, again, the literature suggests that a boundary marking authority is needed for the fullest expression of creativity to occur. The question naturally arises as to what occurs when there are vary- ing levels of authority and creativity in an organizational context. These varying levels result in the development of a model of leadership that seeks to understand the dimensions of Order and Freedom in four typologies measuring the degree of authority and creativity in organizational contexts and rec- ommends a greater balance between authority and creativity for both leadership and followership.
Women, Power, and the Bible in Early Anabaptist History
Authors: Willgren David
Published: July 2021

The article argues that the way Anabaptist history and theology is commonly narrated needs to be reshaped. A fundamental question is asked: Did women have positions of power in the early Anabaptist movement? Two points are considered: 1) How is power understood? and 2) On what premises can the history of Anabaptist women be written? These two points are put in relation to portraits of three women – Margret Hottinger, Helene von Freyberg, and Elisabeth Dirks – who represent three fundamental ways in which women related to power and authority in the early years of the movement. The article concludes that the way the stories of early Anabaptist women have usually been told are often both highly tendentious and failing to assess the authority of women on the basis of an Anabaptist theology of power. At the same time, the early movement employed a flat biblical hermeneutic that lead to a failure to process the subversive use of power and authority and the theological potential of the Anabaptist critique of the sword in relation to their own families and communities.
Å arbeide med verdier i kirken
Authors: Sirris Stephen
Published: July 2021

The aim of the article is to investigate how the use of supervision in ethical reflection can facilitate value-consciousness in religious organizations. In turn, this contributes to our knowledge about the role of values and purpose in such contexts. This conceptual article presupposes that all types of lead- ership and organizations are value-based since values are inherent in actions and interaction. Neutral zones void of values do not exist, which challenges organizations and leaders to attend to the question of which values influence and characterize them and their work, and be conscious about such dynam- ics. The author discusses how managerial efforts on explicating the coherence of acclaimed identity (values-for-practice) and realized behaviour (values-in-practice) is required due to developments inter- nal of religious organizations as well as a response to wider societal and cultural changes. The central concept in this article is value-consciousness applied through a practice perspective on religious or- ganizations. The article presents a model of supervision in ethical reflection and discusses its rele- vance in a church context. The author substantiate this as a concrete tool for explicating values in con- gregations and in the practice of church employees and leaders.
Utfordringar for prestar og undervisningsmedarbeidarar i dåpsarbeidet i Den norske kyrkja
Authors: Austnaberg Hans
Published: July 2021

Challenges for pastors and catechists related to baptism in the Church of Norway
The purpose of the article is to explore the different emphases among leaders in dioceses and pastors/catechists in local congregations concerning challenges related to baptism in the Church of Norway. Findings in annual reports from two dioceses are compared with an empirical material consisting mainly of interviews with pastors and catechists in six congregations in these two dioceses. The selected congregations are urban and countryside, large and small, and a characteristic of parts of the context of these two dioceses is a strong low church or prayer house tradition. The article gives an empirical contribution by describing and exploring how different challenges come to the fore at the diocesan level and in the practical baptismal work in congregations. The main finding is that while the decreasing number of baptisms in the Church of Norway and how to deal with this is the focus in the annual reports from the dioceses, this theme is almost totally absent among pastors and catechists. Relational aspects, how to deal with the parents’ lack of follow-up after baptism, and the desire of being open to all church members irrespective of their engagement in church activities are among the main concerns at the local congregational level. In a concluding reflection, the concepts of the church as a folk church and as a religious community serve as a theoretical perspective to enlighten the tension between diocesan and local congregational level, but also tensions among the respondents. The tensions seem to stem both from contextual and personal factors.
Leadership and church identity
Authors: Jenssen Jan Inge
Published: July 2021

This article discusses how the theological-spiritual dimension, which has to do with the specific identity of the church, has implications for and partly determines the application of leadership theories and tools in the local church. The article also examines how leadership research can provide the means to realize a church’s theological or spiritual identity or its true nature. This implies a two-directional relationship between theology and leadership. On the one hand, theology should influence how churches are led, and on the other hand, leadership may facilitate the realization of the theological-spiritual dimension.

There are a number of important articles on the theology of leadership. Scripture provides ideas and values relevant to leadership. However, these articles run the risk of pressing the biblical texts in order to provide advice on leadership in all areas in the church, and they risk ignoring leadership theories that can improve church leadership. A second approach is to base the leadership of churches only on leadership theory. Here, the risk is to treat churches as businesses and not as theological-spiritual entities. A third approach is to make a sharp distinction between the contribution of the leadership profession and theology.

In this article, I argue for a fourth approach. I try to let the theological-spiritual dimension of churches communicate with leadership theories. This dimension should influence leadership and, on the other hand, leadership should facilitate the development of the theological-spiritual dimension. According to this fourth approach, theology and leadership theories should influence each other. For instance, leadership theories can help the church apply leadership styles and structures that may facilitate the development of the theological-spiritual dimension. Thus, there is an area where theology and leadership overlap and cooperate. To advance this area of research, this article presents a series of themes and topics that future researchers may focus on, both through the literature and in empirical studies.
Marionetter eller dirigenter?
Authors: Sirris Stephen
Published: July 2021

Puppets or Commanders? Strategy work, development and leadership in and of religious organizations
The purpose of this article is to enhance our knowledge of how congregational leaders understand and perform strategy in their work. By comparing findings from interviews with priests, churchwardens, and leaders of parish councils within the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Norway, this study explores their strategic agency through the illustrative case of a church development program. Role characteristics, responsibilities and cooperation are analysed. The article contributes empirically by clarifying how spiritual and administrative congregational leaders relate to the concept strategy work and elucidates its conditions in a folk-church context. Priests and churchwardens display a somewhat different conceptualization of strategy work. The former category places it within an institutional-cultural organizational perspective emphasising values and processes, whereas the latter understands it as rational-instrumental underlining goals and products. Parish council leaders hold a middle stance. The theoretical interest of this study is how these coexisting perspectives may both supplement each other and compete. The article discusses how and why strategy work is demanding in folk-church parishes characterized by complex structures favouring an internal rather than external orientation. Strategy work presupposes agency and close interaction between congregational leaders.
Minería Aurífera Artesanal en la Amazonía norte del Ecuador: Gestión e impactos socio-ambientales en la Parroquia El Dorado de Cascales, Provincia de Sucumbíos
Authors:   Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Puyo EC160150, Ecuador, Mora-Silva Demmy , Coronel-Espinoza Billy
Published: July 2021

La minería de oro es una de las industrias más destructivas del mundo. Los impactos socio-ambientales generados por la minería aurífera artesanal pueden afectar gravemente al en-torno natural y social. Es importante plantear desafíos a las autoridades competentes para que controlen y regulen las actividades mineras auríferas. El objetivo principal de este estudio se centró en evaluar los impactos socio-ambientales ocasionados por la minería aurífera artesanal en la parroquia El Dorado de Cascales, provincia de Sucumbíos, en la zona norte del territorio ecuatoriano. Previo a la evaluación, se analizó la situación actual en la zona de estudio. Para responder a los objetivos, se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de literatura científica y gris, acompañada de trabajo de campo (observación directa y entrevistas). Los resultados indicaron que el componente biótico y abiótico fueron los mas afectados por la actividad minera, debido a que la mayoría de los mineros utilizan técnicas rudimentarias, además se evidenció el uso de mercurio en los procesos de extracción de oro.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) in Diet Act as Protective Negotiator for Development of Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Memon A. R. , Akram M. , Bhatti U. , Khan A. S. , Rani K. , Riaz H.
Published: July 2021

Background: Vitamin B3 (Niacin) is known to decrease LDL‐cholesterol, and triglycerides, and increase HDL‐cholesterol levels. The evidence of benefits with niacin monotherapy or add‐on to statin‐based therapy is controversial. Aim: To determine the effects of vitamin B3 with statins on lipid profile of patients of angina pectoris with dyslpidemia. Study Design: Randomized control trial study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Shaikha Fatima Institute of Nursing & Health Sciences (SFINHS), Lahore with collaboration of Cardiology OPD of Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore from 1st November 2019 to 31st January 2020. Methodology: Seventy four diagnosed cases of angina pectoris with dyslipidemia were recruited with age range from 30 to 50 years. They were divided into two groups; Group I contained 36 patients as controlled group which was given treatment of angina with Tab. Rovista (statin) 10mg at dinner for treatment of dyslipidemia and Group II contained 38 patients as case study group which was given treatment of angina with Tab. Rovista (statin) 10 mg at dinner and tablet Vitamin B3 500 mg with single OD dose at day time for treatment of dyslipidemia for 8 weeks. Results: The mean serum cholesterol levels at zero level (before the start of treatment) of group I was 244 mg/dl and group II was 246 mg/dl, LDL of group I was 169 mg/dl while group II was 170 mg/dl and HDL of group I was 20 mg/dl while group II was 19 mg/dl . After the treatment group I which taken only statins for treatment of dyslipidemia the mean serum cholesterol levels was 210 mg/dl, LDL was 144 mg/dl and HDL was 26 mg/dl while the mean values of group II (taken statin as well as vitamin B3) serum cholesterol level was 192 mg/dl, LDL was 122 mg/dl and HDL was 44 mg/dl. The results shown there were significant effects of statin therapy along with vitamin B3 on serum LDL and serum HDL levels. Conclusion: There were significant effects of statin therapy along with vitamin B3 on serum LDL and Serum HDL levels. Key Words: Vitamin B3, Serum Cholesterol, Serum LDL &HDL
Comparison of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block versus Local Wound Infiltration in Reducing Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Infraumblical Hernia Repair
Authors: Jamil A. , Ahmad Z. , Farooq F. , Khan H. A. , Ansari R. , Zahoor N.
Published: July 2021

Objective: To compare the outcomes of TAP block versus local wound infiltration in reducing postoperative pain in patients undergoing infra-umbilical hernia repair. Study design: Randomized controlled trial Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anaesthesiology, Surgical Intensive Care Unit & Pain Management, Dow Medical College & Civil Hospital Karachi from 1st August 2020 to 31st January 2021. Methodology: One hundred patients with undergoing infra-umbilical hernia mesh repair were randomly allocated into two groups. Fifty patients in group A were treated with transversus abdominis plane block and 50 were in group B for local infiltration. Anaesthetic technique was standardized. The drug was administered according to the weight of the patient. Visual analogue score (VAS), graduated from 0-10 was recorded. Results: The mean age was 41.08±10.36 years. There were 61% males and 39% females. Mean time of analgesia was significantly high in group A than groups B [413.2±63.83 vs 274.16±41.28; p=0.0005]. Mean VAS pain score at rest and movement was also significantly low in group A than group B. Conclusion: Transversus abdominis plane block seemed preferable to local anesthetic wound infiltration in postoperative analgesia. Current evidence is insufficient to suggest that the transversus abdominis plane block will minimize post-operative morphine requirements and associated side effects in comparison with local anesthetic infiltration. Key Words: Hernia repair, Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, Local wound infiltration, Postoperative morphine
Association of Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Cirrhosis Presented with COVID-19
Authors: Chhutto M. A. , Mugheri A. H. , Phulpoto A. H. , Ansari I. A. , Shaikh A. , Shaikh B. A.
Published: July 2021

Objective: To determine the association of adverse outcomes in term of mortality in patients with cirrhosis presented with coronavirus disease. Study Design: Retrospective/observational study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana from 1st March 2019 to 31st December 2020. Methodology: Two hundred and twenty covid-19 patients of both genders with or without chronic liver disease were enrolled in this study. Patients were categorized in to two groups. Group A (with cirrhosis 60 patients) and group B (without cirrhosis 60 patients). Outcomes in term of mortality between both groups were examined. Results: There were 38 (63.33%) males and 22 (36.67%) were females with mean age 46.14±8.44 years in group A while in group B, 40 (66.67%) and 20 (33.33%) patients were males and females with mean age 45.26±9.34 years. Patients with cirrhosis had high mortality rate as compared to patients without cirrhosis (33.33% Vs 13.33%) with p-value 0.0001. Conclusion: A significant association of adverse outcomes was found in cirrhotic patients with coronavirus disease. Keywords: Chronic Liver Disease, Corvid-19, Mortality
Pyrazinamide Induced Hyperuricemia in the Induction Phase of Anti-Tuberculosis Therapy
Authors: Muhammad N. , Mehboob S. , Abbas M.
Published: July 2021

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health concern; although there are several recognized anti-tuberculosis drugs (ATDs) that effectively combat Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the associated adverse effects lead to frequent discontinuation. Objective: To assess the metabolic disturbances resulting from Pyrazinamide, the altered serum uric acid (SUA) levels among TB patients in District Bunir. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Bilal Medical Trust Hospital, Bunir-KPK from 1st January to 30th September 2019. Methodology: One hundred and nine tuberculosis patients were included in the study. All these patients were on ATD with Pyrazinamide and were regularly followed up, and their SUA levels were determined at weeks 0, 4 and 8. Results: The serum uric acid levels were high in almost 85.3% in the intensive phase of anit-TB Therapy (ATT). Among female TB patients, the incidence rate of hyperuricemia was comparatively higher than males (88.1% vs. 81.0%), but there were no significant gender disparities. Conclusion: The anti-tuberculosis drug with pyrazinamide is associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia. Therefore, the illness needs to be closely monitored during the intensive phase of therapy. Key words: Pyrazinamide, Tuberculosis, Hyperuricaemia
Effectiveness of Preload Verses Coload of Crystalloid during Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery
Authors: Ansari R. , Jamil A. , Khan H. A. , Zahoor N. , Ahmad Z. , Farooq F.
Published: July 2021

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of preload verses coload of crystalloid during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery Study design: Randomized controlled trial Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anaesthesia, Civil Hospital Karachi from 1st November 2017 to 30th April 2018. Methodology: Sixty patients with age in between 18 to 35 years irrespective of parity having ASA physical status I and II and gestational age 37 completed weeks underwent cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were enrolled. Patients were randomized into one of two groups (P or C). A decrease of systolic blood pressure by 20% or more from the baseline value was taken as hypotension. Results: The mean age, weight, height, BMI and gestational age of the patients was 29.5±4.83 years, 60.16±5.17 kg, 1.54±0.60 m, 27.04±5.07 kg/m2 and 38.13±1.07 weeks respectively. Efficacy was significantly higher 25 (83.3%) among patients in preload group as compared to coload group 17 (56.7%) [P=0.024]. Conclusion: Effectiveness of preload was found to be less than coload of crystalloid during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery Keywords: Crystalloid, Preload, Coload, Spinal anesthesia, Cesarean delivery
Comparison the Postoperative Blood Loss in Total Knee Arthroplasty with and without Perioperative Tourniquet Release
Authors: Aziz S. , Ahmed S. , Mahar S. A. , Ali S. , Kumar J.
Published: July 2021

Objective: To compare the postoperative blood loss in total knee arthroplasty with and without perioperative tourniquet release. Study Design: Randomized control trial Place & Duration of Study: Department of Orthopaedic, M. Islam Teaching Hospital Gujranwala 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020. Methodology: Ninety patients of both genders undergoing total knee arthroplasty were included in this study. Patient’s demographics were recorded after written consent. Patients were equally divided into two groups. Group A (45 patients) received total knee arthroplasty with tourniquet while group B (45 patients) received total knee arthroplasty without tourniquet. Postoperative blood loss was measured by suction drain, levels of haemoglobin were examined and compare between two groups. Results: The mean age of the patients in group A was 57.76±2.4 years while in group B it was 58.16±7.8 years. 32 (71.11%) and 34 (75.56%) were males while 13 (28.89%) and 11 (24.44%) were females in group A and B. We observed patients at the three different points and found lower blood loss in patients who received total knee arthroplasty with tourniquet as compared to no tourniquet group (p-value <0.05). No significant difference was observed regarding hemoglobin at 2 hours and significant differences were observed at 24 and 48 hour postoperatively. Conclusion: Tourniquet is useful to decrease loss of blood in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Keywords: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA), Tourniquet, Blood loss
Outcome of Extra-Articular Fractures of Distal Femur: Less Invasive Stabilization on System (LISS) Plating versus Closed Retrograde Intramedullary Interlocking Nail
Authors: Mahar S. A. , Aziz S. , Ahmed S. , Kumar J. , Ali S.
Published: July 2021

Objective: To evaluate the functional outcome of extra-articular fracture of distal femur, LISS plating versus retrograde intramedullary interlocking nailing. Study Design: Prospective/Randomized control trial Place and Duration of Study: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Sukkur from 1st July 2019 to 31st December 2020. Methodology: One hundred patients of both genders with ages 20 to 60 years presented with fractures of distal femur were included in this study. Patients were equally divided into two groups I and II. Group I contained 50 patients and received LISS plating and Group II contained 50 patients and received closed retrograde intramedullary interlocking nail, Pre and post-operative assessment was done. Post-operative complications were noted at 12th day. Functional outcomes were examined after 6 months by the NEERs criteria. Results: Sixty five (65%) patients were males (35 in group I and 30 in group II) and 35 (35%) patients were females (15 in group I and 20 in group II). Road traffic accident was the most common mode of injury in 62 (62%) patients. Most of the fractures were on right side 66 (66%). According to the NEER criteria, 80% patients shows excellent, 20% patients shows satisfactory with no poor results in Group I and in Group II 30% patients shows excellent, 66% patients shows satisfactory results and 4% shows unsatisfactory results. Conclusion: The LISS plating and closed retrograde intramedullary interlocking nail was safe and effective methods for extra-articular fractures of distal femur but there were less complications found in LISS plating. Keywords: Fracture of distal femur, LISS plating, Interlocking nail
Delay in Appendicectomy due to Pre-operative Imaging Results in Increased Complication Rate
Authors: Nsar A. R. , Lashari A. A. , Kumar D. , Rasheed T.
Published: July 2021

Objectives: To determine the frequency of delay in case of suspected acute appendicitis and to determine the frequency of complications in patients of acute appendicitis having delay secondary to pre-operative imaging. Study Design: Descriptive study Place and Duration of Study: Department of General Surgery Unit-2, University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore 1st January 2020 to 31st March 2021. Methodology: Three hundred and eighty five patients, between 18-40 years of age of both genders presenting with clinically appendicitis were included. All the patients were operated under general anesthesia by a consultant surgeon having minimum of 5 years of experience. Results: The mean age was 28.746±5.25 years. Majority of the patients were between 26-30 years (42.6%). Body mass index of the patients were ˃25kg/m2 in 57.7%. Delay was seen in 155 (40.03%) cases, peri-appendiceal abscess was seen in 10 (2.6%) and peritonitis was seen in 13. Complications due to delay was pri-appendiceal abscess 8 and peritonitis 13 with p value ˂0.05. Conclusion: Delay in the appendectomy due to pre operative imaging has shown significant impact on complications rate and therefore suggests that delaying appendectomy is unsafe. Keywords: Appendectomy, Peri-appendiceal abscess, Peritonitis
Frequency of Pseudophakic Glaucoma in Patients with Cataract Surgery
Authors: Abbas I. , Ahmed A. M. , Dayal S. M. , Sirhindi G. A.
Published: July 2021

Aim: To determine the frequency of pseudophakic glaucoma in patients who underwent cataract surgery. Study Design: Cross-sectional Place and Duration of Study: Department of Ophthalmology, Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore from 1st July 2020 to 31st December 2020. Methodology: Ninety five patients of both genders with cataract surgery were enrolled and ages between 45 to 75 years. After taking written consent detailed demographics including age, sex, body mass index, intraocular pressure, and mode of surgery were recorded. Pseudophakic glaucoma was labelled in case of cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation and intraocular pressure >21 mmHg or more in one eye along with glaucomatous optic disc or retinal nerve fiber layer defect on optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results: There were 58 (61.05%) males and 37 (38.95%) patients were females. Mean ages of patients were 62.36±9.44 years. Sixty two (65.26%) patients had extracapsular cataract extraction and 33 (34.74%) patients had phacoemulsification. Mean intraocular pressure was 19.33±8.56 mmHg. Pseudophakic glaucoma was found in 32 (33.68%) patients. Conclusion: The frequency of pseudophakic glaucoma was high in patients with extracapsular cataract surgery. Keywords: Cataract surgery, Pseudophakic glaucoma, Intraocular pressure (IOP)