bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of oral health status and treatment needs of drug abusers in Bhubaneswar city
Authors: Kumar Gunjan , Rai Shilpa , Sethi Alok Kumar , Singh Akhilesh Kumar , Tripathi Ranjan Mani , Jnaneswar Avinash
Published: March 2021

Introduction:

Oral health of drug abusers has received less attention. Drug users may also have special needs in relation to receiving dental care. Evaluation of the oral health status of drug abusers is important as in India, where the disease burden is enormous, and availability of curative treatment is quite inadequate, preventive approach shall prove to be better than curative treatment.

Aim:

To determine the oral health status and treatment needs of drug abusers residing in rehabilitation centers in Bhubaneswar.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the drug de-addiction cum rehabilitation centers in Bhubaneswar city, Odisha. A self-administered questionnaire was used to record oral health practices of the inmates and the type of drugs used by them in the past. Oral health was recorded using modified WHO 2013 pro forma. Mann–Whitney U-test and Kruskal–Wallis test were applied to find any significant differences between different variables in groups.

Results:

All the participants were male and alcohol was the most commonly used drug, followed by tobacco and ganja. The horizontal brushing technique was the most widely used technique. Mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) score was recorded to be 1.48. Leukoplakia, acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, candidiasis, and ulceration were among the few oral lesions found in the inmates. Around 67.66% of inmates exhibited erosion of the enamel surface, while 6.59% had signs of enamel fracture. Statistically, significant difference was found for the types of drugs used and DMFT score and type of drug used and dental erosion.

Conclusion:

Oral health status of drug users is poor and needs immediate attention. Oral health education needs to be imparted among them. The government needs to enforce the establishment of dental clinics in these centers so that the oral health of these people can be taken care of.
Predictive accuracy of estimating mandibular growth potential by regression equation using cervical vertebral bone age
Authors: Verma Sneh Lata , Tikku Tripti , Khanna Rohit , Maurya Rana Pratap , Srivastava Kamna , Singh Vishal
Published: March 2021

Introduction:

The maturational changes both in size and shape of cervical vertebrae had been widely used not only to assess skeletal maturity but also to predict the same using regression equation. Thus, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to check the predictive accuracy of estimating mandibular growth potential in the North Indian population by regression equation of Mito et al.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 200 subjects divided into two groups, Group I had 100 adult subjects (18–20 years) and Group II had 100 young subjects (9–14 years) were subdivided according to the gender (50 subjects in each group). Seven linear parameters on cervical vertebral bodies of C3 and C4 were measured to derive cervical vertebral age and applied to the regression equation to estimate the mandibular growth potential in Group II. The mandibular length was measured for both the groups from Co-Gn. The mean value of the actual mandibular length in Group I was statistically evaluated against the corresponding mean value of the predicted mandibular growth potential of Group II.

Results:

The actual mandibular length (Group I) and calculated mandibular length obtained by adding mandibular growth potential (from regression equation) to the mandibular length of Group II did not differ significantly for both males and females. Chronological age showed a statistically significant difference and poor correlation with bone age, in Group II.

Conclusion:

The regression equation of Mito et al. using cervical vertebral bone age has proven to be applicable and accurate in predicting mandibular growth potential in growing young Indian individuals and can be of diagnostic and prognostic value in growth modification procedures in Orthodontics.
A review of techniques of iris replication and a novel method of fabrication of ocular prosthesis using two different iris location methods
Authors: Trivedi Anshul , Goswami Roma , Bawa Nivedita , Waheed Shama , Rao Jitendra
Published: March 2021

Anophthalmic patients suffer from social, functional, and emotional agony. The role of a maxillofacial prosthodontist is to restore this loss and to restore the self-esteem of such patients. Fabrication of a prosthesis for the anophthalmic cavity can be successful with the judicious use of the materials, the vision, and the skill of the prosthodontist. This article describes various techniques used for iris replication and a novel method to locate the iris, which is the most crucial step to fabricate a natural gaze.
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva or Munchmeyer's disease
Authors: Bhansali Sonal Priya , Tiwari Anjali Dave , Mittal Sankalp , Pareek Sitaram , Nasir Iram
Published: March 2021

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare autosomal dominant disease. It is characterized by widespread soft tissue ossification and congenital stigmata of the extremities, affecting all ethnic backgrounds. The worldwide reported prevalence is approximately 1/2,000,000. Based on history and clinicoradiological findings, FOP should be diagnosed as early as possible and noninvasively. The hallmark of diagnosis of FOP is bilateral great toe anomaly present from birth. Misdiagnosis may lead to inadvertent managements, such as manipulations, biopsies, and surgery. Surgery, till now, does not seem to have any role in the management of this condition and may lead to further trauma and disease progression. FOP may be precipitated due to trauma to muscle. In masticatory muscle, it mainly affects masseter muscle and presents with symptom of trismus. Herein, we present a case of FOP which presented to us with trismus after wooden thorn injury and immobility of the left leg. This article also emphasize on diagnosis, precaution, and treatment of disease.
Management of complex asymmetric deficiency of hard and soft tissue for implant-based rehabilitation
Authors: Gandhi Yazad
Published: March 2021

Dental implants are a successful treatment modality for rehabilitation of missing dentition. Optimal placement from the prosthetic standpoint is imperative for function, form, and esthetics, but at the same time, attention has to be focused on the biologic aspect of three dimensionally optimal placement within a stable hard and soft-tissue envelope. Bone and soft-tissue quality, quantity, and location of these two important variables are equally important in determining the longevity of osseointegrated fixtures. Numerous methods have been reported to tackle bone and soft-tissue deficit with variable outcomes of each. This report presents one such case where alongside tissue deficit, there is severe arch asymmetry which needs correction for optimal prosthetic rehabilitation
Predicting Mastectomy Skin Flap Necrosis in Immediate Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Dogan Zeynep Akdeniz , Onal Mustafa , Ozkan Melek Çavus , Ugurlu Ümit , Saçak Bülent
Published: March 2021

Background:

As evidence emerged supporting the oncological safety of nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM), immediate reconstruction following these procedures has also gained popularity. The aim of this study was to identify surgical and patient characteristics that may be associated with skin and/or NAC necrosis following NSM and immediate reconstruction.

Patients and Methods:

Medical records of patients who underwent NSM with immediate breast reconstruction from January 2013 to September 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient and surgical characteristics were collected. The primary outcome measure was mastectomy skin flap necrosis (MSFN).

Results:

MSFN was observed in 68 out of 243 (28%) breasts. On univariate analysis, reconstruction method and body mass index (BMI) (odds ratio: 1.09, 95% confidence interval: 1.00–1.18, P = 0.04) were found to be significant risk factors. On multivariate analysis, neither BMI (P = 0.30) nor reconstruction methods (implants (P = 0.16) or tissue expander (P = 0.06) showed significant association with skin flap necrosis. However, BMI was found to be significantly higher in the autologous group (P < 0.0001). The best subset selection method also confirmed the reconstruction method as the single variable related to outcome.

Conclusion:

Even though our results showed autologous reconstruction to have a higher risk for necrotic complications, it should be kept in mind that this group of patients can be managed in the outpatient clinic with debridement, wound care, and – if necessary – skin grafting. However, full-thickness necrosis in an implant patient will require an implant exchange and possibly a local skin/muscle flap for coverage.
Managing One of the Rarest
Authors: Üstün Galip Gencay , Kargalioglu Ferhat , Caydere Muzaffer , Koçer Ugur
Published: March 2021

Parachordoma is one of the rarest tumors identified, with around fifty cases reported to date. It is reported to have a benign behavior, yet metastatic and fatal cases have been reported. A 63-year-old female patient presented with a subcutaneous mass in the right deltoideal region. After two excisional biopsies with tumor-free surgical margins and 33 cycles of radiotherapy, the case presented with a second recurrence. Due to malignant features in the second histopathological examination, she was treated with excision of the deltoid muscle, and the defect was reconstructed with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap. There is no standardized treatment protocol for parachordoma. Yet, increased mitotic activity and atypical mitotic figures arise suspicion for recurrent and malignant behavior. In the presence of these features in histopathological examination, tumor should be considered as low-grade sarcoma and be treated accordingly.
Surgical Options in Chronic Extensor Tendon Subluxation
Authors: Yildiran Gokce , Isik Cemil , Akdag Osman , Tosun Zekeriya
Published: March 2021

Ulnar subluxation of the extensor tendons at the metacarpophalangeal joint level after damage to the sagittal bands is a rare problem in nonrheumatoid patients. It is aimed to discuss the treatment options for the extensor tendon subluxation and present a rare chronic case. A 25-year-old male patient presented with the complaint of stucking and snapping feeling in the middle finger when moving it after falling as a child. Type 2 sagittal band injury was detected in which the extensor tendon was subluxated to the ulnar side, and the sagittal band was strengthened with a junctura tendinum flap harvested from the adjacent finger. The patient returned to his daily life, and no recurrence was detected. Extensor tendon subluxation is the instability that occurs in the tendon as a result of damage to the sagittal bands. Many techniques have been described since the ideal technique is not available yet. Techniques that provide realignment by centralizing the extensor tendon are successful ones that can be preferred in chronic sagittal band ruptures and in professional athletes in whom primary repair is not possible.
An Unusual Case of Breast Cholesterol Granuloma
Authors: Kapi Emin , Kilinc Nihal , Yildiz Yavuz , Görgülu Feride Fatma
Published: March 2021

Cholesterol granuloma (CG) is a rare and benign inflammatory tissue reaction caused by the accumulation of lipid and cholesterol crystals in the tissue, resulting from such incidents as localized trauma and hemorrhage. It has been suggested that the reaction starts with the lysis of blood cells in the tissue and the cellular components, leading to a foreign body reaction in the tissue. As a result of this process, a nodular mass forms in the tissue, and the pressure of this mass on the surrounding tissues can cause pain and the loss of various functions. CG commonly occurs in such anatomic areas as the mastoid bone, petrous apex, tympanic cavity and sinus maxillaris, and more rarely in the breast. CGs of the breast mimic breast cancer both clinically and radiologically, which makes such masses important. Incisional or excisional biopsy is recommended for radiographically suspected cases. The presence of multinucleated giant cells, cholesterol clefts, foamy macrophages, and hemosiderin in surrounding damaged cells and tissues in the specimen, as histopathological findings, can steer diagnosis. It should be noted that CGs may occur in atypical localizations besides their usual anatomic localizations, and the case in the present study is particularly interesting due to its rare atypical presentation.
Problematic Patient
Authors: Kirpinar Ismet , Ayhan M Suhan , Guneren Ethem
Published: March 2021

The group of patients defined as “problematic patient” in aesthetic plastic surgical practice has distinctive features. The “problematic patient” is the patient who blocks the establishment of a therapeutic relationship with him/her. In other words, the patient who does not adapt to the patient role that the health-care professional expects, has different values, beliefs, or personal characteristics than he/she expects to see, and sometimes causes the professional to even suspect himself/herself. They are not good candidates for esthetic surgery, and they should definitely not be operated, so to speak, these patients should be removed from the game by removing a red card, and somehow be disqualified from the process.
Sphenoidal Process of Septal Cartilage
Authors: Demirel Oguzhan , Atesci Mustafa Serdar
Published: March 2021

Background:

One of the main difficulties of revision rhinoplasty is the lack of sufficient septal cartilage. To overcome this problem, additional cartilage sources such as costal or conchal cartilages are widely used among surgeons. However, these methods can cause some complications. The sphenoidal process of septal cartilage (SPSC) is a unique part of septal cartilage located between the vomer bone and the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone and generally untouched during the surgery. As an autologous graft option, the SPSC may be an important cartilage source for revision rhinoplasty cases, especially in patients requiring minor surgical intervention.

Methods:

Between February 2019 and February 2020, a total of 50 patients who underwent paranasal computed tomography were enrolled in this retrospective study. The length, height, and surface area of the SPSC and surface area of total septal cartilage were calculated.

Results:

The mean total septal area was 886.2 mm2, ranging from 554.7 mm2 to 1277.5 mm2. The mean total SPSC area was 67.39 mm2. The mean length of SPSC was 12.8 mm in all populations. The highest sphenoidal process length measurement was 27.32 mm, and the lowest was 4.82. Mean sphenoidal process height values were similar in female and male groups (4.99 mm and 5.2 mm, respectively).

Conclusion:

The sphenoid process of septal cartilage may be an important autologous cartilage option for revision surgeries in terms of sufficient length and height dimensions.
Low-Grade Intraductal Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland
Authors: Gürler Mehmet , Öztürk Muhammed Besir , Atik Bekir , Keskin Elif Seda
Published: March 2021

Low-grade salivary ductal carcinoma is a salivary gland tumor with clinically indolent behavior, characterized by intraductal growth. From 1996 to 2019, 54 case reports of Low-Grade Intraductal Carcinoma (LGIDC) were published in the literature. In the present article, we introduce a patient in our clinic who underwent surgery due to a diagnosis of LGIDC, about whom we make new clinical comments. A 75-year-old male patient presented to our clinic with a complaint of a mass in the right parotid area. After multiple biopsies, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and operations, the patient health is fine and patient's follow-up continues, now in the postoperative 1st year, and there is no relapse sign on physical examination and MRI. After all, according to our clinical findings and observations, we thought that this tumor could possibly be considered a locally aggressive tumor that does not metastasize, similar to a basal cell carcinoma.
Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2018
Authors: Hong Seri , Won Young-Joo , Lee Jae Jun , Jung Kyu-Won , Kong Hyun-Joo , Im Jeong-Soo , Seo Hong Gwan ,   The Community of Population-Based Regional Cancer Registries
Published: March 2021

Purpose The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2018.Materials and Methods Incidence, survival, and prevalence rates of cancer were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, from 1999 to 2018, with survival follow-up until December 31, 2019. Deaths from cancer were assessed using causes-of-death data obtained from Statistics Korea. Crude and age-standardized rates (ASRs) for incidence, mortality, prevalence, and 5-year relative survival rates were calculated, and temporal trends for incidence and mortality rates were evaluated, with annual percentage changes.Results In 2018, newly diagnosed cancer cases and deaths from cancer were reported as 243,837 (ASR, 270.4 per 100,000) and 79,153 (ASR, 73.3 per 100,000), respectively. The overall cancer incidence rates increased by 3.3% annually from 1999 to 2012, and decreased by 5.4% annually from 2012 to 2015, thereafter, followed by nonsignificant changes. Cancer mortality rates have been decreasing since 2002, with more rapid decline in recent years (annual decrease of 2.7% from 2007 to 2014; 3.7% from 2014 to 2018). The 5-year relative survival between 2014 and 2018 was 70.3%, which contributed to prevalent cases reaching over 2 million by the end of 2018.Conclusion Cancer statistics have improved significantly during the past two decades. However, there remain important challenges to be solved, such as controlling cancers with low survival rates. Cancer statistics can be used to discover blind spots in cancer control, and as evidence for developing and implementing future cancer control strategies.
A nearest neighbor characterization of Lebesgue points in metric measure spaces
Authors: Cesari Tommaso R. , Colomboni Roberto
Published: March 2021

The property of almost every point being a Lebesgue point has proven to be crucial for the consistency of several classification algorithms based on nearest neighbors.We characterize Lebesgue points in terms of a 1-nearest neighbor regression algorithm for pointwise estimation, fleshing out the role played by tie-breaking rules in the corresponding convergence problem. We then give an application of our results, proving the convergence of the risk of a large class of 1-nearest neighbor classification algorithms in general metric spaces where almost every point is a Lebesgue point.
Khovanov homology and categorification of skein modules
Authors: Queffelec Hoel , Wedrich Paul
Published: March 2021

For every oriented surface of finite type, we construct a functorial Khovanov homology for links in a thickening of the surface, which takes values in a categorification of the corresponding

\mathfrak {gl}_2

skein module. The latter is a mild refinement of the Kauffman bracket skein algebra, and its categorification is constructed using a category of

\mathfrak {gl}_2

foams that admits an interesting non-negative grading. We expect that the natural algebra structure on the

\mathfrak {gl}_2

skein module can be categorified by a tensor product that makes the surface link homology functor monoidal. We construct a candidate bifunctor on the target category and conjecture that it extends to a monoidal structure. This would give rise to a canonical basis of the associated

\mathfrak {gl}_2

skein algebra and verify an analogue of a positivity conjecture of Fock and Goncharov and Thurston. We provide evidence towards the monoidality conjecture by checking several instances of a categorified Frohman–Gelca formula for the skein algebra of the torus. Finally, we recover a variant of the Asaeda–Przytycki–Sikora surface link homologies and prove that surface embeddings give rise to spectral sequences between them.
TÜKETİCİLERİN FARKLI TÜKETİM AKTİVİTELERİ BAZINDA COVID-19 RİSK ALGILAMALARININ DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ
Authors: DUYGUN Adnan
Published: March 2021

2020 yılında yaşanan ve hala gündemini koruyan Covid-19 pandemisi ile birlikte insanların yaşamlarının hemen her alanında sağlığın ön plana çıktığını söylemek mümkündür. Covid-19 pandemisine bağlı sağlık riskinin, tüketim aktivitelerini de etkilediği gözlemlenmiştir. Bu noktadan hareketle ortaya konan çalışmadaki amaç; tüketicilerin farklı tüketim aktiviteleri bazında Covid-19 risk algılamalarının değerlenlendirilmesidir. Araştırma İstanbul’da 696 tüketiciyle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmada yer alan tüketim aktivitelerinin belirlenmesinde, Texas Medical Association tarafından ortaya konan aktivitelerden yararlanılmıştır. Tüketim aktivitelerinin ortalama risk dereceleri, Texas Medical Association tarafından belirlenen risk dereceleri ile kıyaslanmıştır. Elde edilen önemli sonuçlara bakıldığında; tüketicilerin genel olarak market alışverişi yapmayı daha riskli olarak algıladıkları tespit edilmiştir. Stada maç izlemeye gitmek aktivitesinin ise genel olarak daha düşük bir risk derecesinde algılandığı belirlenmiştir. En düşük farkın olduğu tüketim aktiviteleri ise uçakta yolculuk yapmak ve sinemaya gitmek şeklinde sıralanmaktadır. Ayrıca tüketicilerin Covid-19 risk algılamaları; cinsiyet, yaş, medeni durum, eğitim durumu ve gelir durumu bazında da karşılaştırılmıştır.
Ecological Justice and the Extinction Crisis
Authors: Wienhues Anna
Published: March 2021

As the biodiversity crisis deepens, Anna Wienhues sets out radical environmental thinking and action to respond to the threat of mass species extinction. The book conceptualises large-scale injustice endangering non-humans, and signposts new approaches to the conservation of a shared planet. Developing principles of distributive ecological justice, it builds towards a bold vision of just conservation that can inform the work of policy makers and activists. This is a timely, original and compelling investigation into ethics in the natural world during the Anthropocene, and a call for biocentric ecological justice before it is too late.
Using Forums and Message Boards to Recruit Study Participants in Qualitative Research
Authors: Weslowski Peter
Published: March 2021

The following observations have emerged from the author’s research experience involving the recruitment of focus group participants for a qualitative study on job search behaviors using technology. It is argued that Internet forums and message boards provide researchers with a robust approach to recruiting participants for qualitative study purposes. Advantages and characteristics of online communities are outlined to inform future practices based on the experience of engaging job-seekers who frequent a career advice board on the Internet. Challenges and limitations inherent to this methodology are also explored with techniques offered for maximizing the effectiveness of future recruitment. Use of Internet forums and message boards as objects of research versus as research tools is distinguished throughout. The paper contributes to a growing body of knowledge about harnessing the Internet to inform and support qualitative research.
Reflexivity: Interviewing Women and Men Formerly Addicted to Drugs and/or Alcohol
Authors: Grant Judith
Published: March 2021

This article considers how one researcher used reflexivity in two research projects. Qualitative research often involves a consideration of sensitive topics, one which may include research with individuals formerly addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. However, there is little in the literature that focuses directly on such experiences for researchers in this field; that is, a consideration of how a researcher might use reflectivity while interviewing those formerly addicted to substances. Exploring the following themes, I highlight how I reflected on the experiences that my participants (25 women and 25 men) revealed about their stories of their addiction and recovery processes: (1) my personal characteristics and my background work; (2) the importance of documenting power balance or power imbalance in my research; (3) documenting the unexpected; and (4) reflecting on the impact of my interviews/field notes.
Qualitative Case Study Guidelines
Authors: Baškarada Saša
Published: March 2021

Although widely used, the qualitative case study method is not well understood. Due to conflicting epistemological presuppositions and the complexity inherent in qualitative case-based studies, scientific rigor can be difficult to demonstrate, and any resulting findings can be difficult tojustify. For that reason, this paper discusses methodological problems associated with qualitative case-based research and offers guidelines for overcoming them. Due to its nearly universal acceptance, Yin’s six-stage case study process is adopted and elaborated on. Moreover, additional principles from the wider methodological literature are integrated and explained. Finally, some modifications to the dependencies between the six case study stages are suggested. It is expected that following the guidelines presented in this paper may facilitate the collection of the most relevant data in the most efficient and effective manner, simplify the subsequent analysis, as well as enhance the validity of the resulting findings. The paper should be of interest to students (honour, masters, doctoral), academics, and practitioners involved with conducting and reviewing qualitative case-based studies.
Autoethnography as a Transformative Research Method
Authors: Custer Dwayne
Published: March 2021

Autoethnography is a qualitative, transformative research method because it changes time, requires vulnerability, fosters empathy, embodies creativity and innovation, eliminates boundaries, honors subjectivity, and provides therapeutic benefits. This article discusses these seven lenses using select passages from “Jesus Christ and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: A Narrative on Homosexual Identity, Spirituality, and Human Development” (an unpublished manuscript) written in 2013.
Bullying in Graduate School: Its Nature and Effects
Authors: Gentry Rachel , Whitley Bernard
Published: March 2021

Does bullying exist in graduate school? If so, what does it look like? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 graduate students from various departments at a medium-sized, Midwestern U.S. university. Grounded Theory methodology (Glaser, 1978) was utilized to gain insight into the terms and behaviors students used to define bullying in the graduate school context. Through constant comparative analysis (Stern, 1980), categories emerged that provided an understanding of the different perspectives inherent in a bully system, and the meanings attached to bullying behaviors. These findings can provide administrators and counselors with the information necessary to conduct preventative training to help students interact in a more professional, inclusive manner.
Leaders and Recruiters from the Next Generation: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Nickson Lautrice , Henriksen Richard
Published: March 2021

Studies involving student ambassadors have demonstrated their significance in recruiting prospective students to universities and colleges but they have not included the perceptions of the student ambassadors themselves. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the perceptions and experiences of students who served as student ambassadors for their educational institution. Fifteen student ambassadors provided individual descriptions of their perceptions of being an ambassador. Four themes provided a description of ambassadors’ perceptions: (a) belonging, (b) personal growth, (c) diversity, and (d) recruitment. A discussion of the benefits of student ambassadors as leaders are presented in terms of their ability to recruit for the university and college as well as the impact being a leader has on the ambassadors themselves.
Relationships of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their Fathers
Authors: Keller Terry , Ramisch Julie , Carolan Marsha
Published: March 2021

This phenomenological study investigated the relationships between 7 fathers and their sons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Seven major themes emerged: Shared Activities, Developmental Sensitivity, Emotional Understanding, Fighting the Label, Fatherhood Expectations, Parent Responsibility, and Fatherhood Isolation. Fathers were sensitive to their sons’ emotional needs and developmental milestones. Clinicians can help fathers to develop appropriate relationships with their children that involve shared activities. Clinicians can also assist fathers in coping with isolation and expectations regarding fatherhood, developing desired fatherhood roles, and finding appropriate shared activities with their children.
A Sensitive Question: Asking about Race in a Research Interview
Authors: O'Hare Laura
Published: March 2021

Conversations are significant, but often overlooked cultural sites where attitudes, beliefs, and values about race are both reified and challenged. As such, these sites deserve increased scholarly attention (Allen, 2007). We employed Brown and Levinson’s Politeness Theory as a framework to examine the discursive strategies used by 11 interviewers in a research context as they asked 115 patient participants (taking part in a larger study of patients at a community-based family medicine residency clinic) to identify their race, as well as to identify the discursive strategies used by patient participants who answered this question. Our analysis revealed that in their attempt to temper potential face threats from patient participants when asking the “race question,” interviewers used a number of discursive strategies including clarifying the question, grounding the question, and disarming the participant. Our analysis also revealed that in answering the “race question,” patient participants used various levels of face-threatening strategies, including joking, derisive humor, and bald, on-record face threats. In our discussion, we use our own research experience as a springboard to emphasize the need for researchers to examine critically the often taken-for-granted research convention of including race as a demographic variable in their work.
Critical Approach to Reflexivity in Grounded Theory
Authors: Gentles Stephen , Jack Susan , Nicholas David , McKibbon K.
Published: March 2021

A problem with the popular desire to legitimate one’s research through the inclusion of reflexivity is its increasingly uncritical adoption and practice, with most researchers failing to define their understandings, specific positions, and approaches. Considering the relative recentness with which reflexivity has been explicitly described in the context of grounded theory, guidance for incorporating it within this research approach is currently in the early stages. In this article, we illustrate a three-stage approach used in a grounded theory study of how parents of children with autism navigate intervention. Within this approach, different understandings of reflexivity are first explored and mapped, a methodologically consistent position that includes the aspects of reflexivity one will address is specified, and reflexivity-related observations are generated and ultimately reported. According to the position specified, we reflexively account for multiple researcher influences, including on methodological decisions, participant interactions and data collection, analysis, writing, and influence of the research on the researcher. We hope this illustrated approach may serve both as a potential model for how researchers can critically design and implement their own context-specific approach to reflexivity, and as a stimulus for further methodological discussion of how to incorporate reflexivity into grounded theory research.
Fiction Strengthens Research: A Review of Patricia Leavy's Fiction as Research Practice: Short Stories, Novellas, and Novels
Authors: Rogers Richard
Published: March 2021

Arts-based research (ABR) is a form of qualitative research that includes genres such as poetry, music, theatrical scripts, visual art, novels, and short stories. Fiction-based research is one type of ABR that utilizes the strength of fiction to connect with readers and to portray real life and genuine human experiences. The author, Patricia Leavy, wrote a text that thoroughly explains the meaning and evaluation of fiction-based research. In addition, she provides exemplar pieces and uses her eight criteria to assess the research. Lastly, the text explains why fiction is an important pedagogy to use with students. Twenty-first century skills and love of research, writing, and reading are important components to fiction-based research.
The Adaptation of the Horn of Africa Immigrant Students in Higher Education
Authors: Hailu Tekleab , Ku Heng-yu
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges first generation immigrant students from the Horn of Africa encountered in their college learning in the United States and the strategies they used to succeed. The participants in the study were ten first generation immigrant students from the countries in the Horn of Africa. A case study was used as a qualitative methodological approach and three data sources namely questionnaire, intensive interviews, and observations were used to collect and analyze data. The results revealed that language difficulties, financial problems, lack of culture awareness, time constraints, and inadequate guidance are challenges the first generation immigrant students encountered. The participants used socializing with classmates, socializing with people from their own counties, ignoring or denying anything that causes them discomfort, and attending college events as coping mechanisms to overcome the challenges in the colleges they are attending in the United States.
Cultural Proximity and Reflexivity in Interpreting Transnational Media Texts: The Case of Malaysians Consuming Japanese Popular Culture
Authors: Yamato Eriko
Published: March 2021

Television programs such as animation and drama series from Japan have become common transnational products in Malaysia. Since studies on Malaysians who consume Japanese popular culture are lacking even a decade after its substantial rise in popularity, this qualitative study was designed to explore the media consumption of Japanese popular culture in Malaysia. In this article I examined how Malaysians are interpreting their favorite media texts from Japan specifically revisiting the concepts of “cultural proximity” and “reflexivity” suggested in the other studies of Japanese popular culture and the audience. I conducted in-depth interviews with 12 participants who have been consuming various Japanese popular cultural products over the years, and thematically analyzed transcribed audio-recordings of the interviews. Individual proximity in the particular life stage was found in their favorite media texts, and that was a part of their pleasure in addition to enjoying encountering foreignness, which they did not find or accept in their real lives. Transnational media texts of Japanese popular culture are suggested to be potential materials to reflect upon and discuss the individual proximity in people, social issues, or phenomenon rather than essential “culture” which is often associated with national or ethnic origin.
Using Ethnography to Understand Meaning: A Review of Sam Ladner's Practical Ethnography: A Guide to Doing Ethnography in the Private Sector
Authors: Rogers Richard
Published: March 2021

Ethnography is a qualitative research methodology that explains the meaning of a culture within context. Ethnographers take the emic position, participants’ point of view, and try to understand their language, concepts, categories, and opinions that defines their research. The author, Sam Ladner, wrote a thorough text that bridges the research and the practical use of ethnography in the private or public sector. An experienced or new researcher could gain knowledge by reading this text and implementing the methods in his or her private or public sector job. If a client wants to understand why consumers make certain decisions, the methods in this book would help one gather that data.
Not Just for Beginners - A Review of Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners
Authors: Craver Gerald
Published: March 2021

In Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners (2013), Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke present their method of thematic analysis as well as some strategies for successfully conducting qualitative research. The book is user-friendly and contains practical advice that may appeal to both novices and experienced researchers alike.
"Go for Broke and Speak Your Mind!" Building a Community of Practice with Bilingual Pre-Service Teachers
Authors: Cho Hyesun
Published: March 2021

Despite the popularity of communities of practice (CoP) in education, there is a paucity of research on teacher preparation programs that are deliberately created to build and sustain CoP to help bilingual pre-service teachers’ learning. This qualitative study describes how a community of practice was purposefully developed in a teacher preparation program for bilingual undergraduates in Hawaii. Using multiple forms of qualitative data, such as classroom transcripts, interviews, online discussion posts, and reflection journals, I illustrate how a cohort of pre-service teachers and their instructor created a facilitative and reflective classroom community of practice. Using narrative inquiry and thematic analysis, I identified two overarching contextual conditions that provided a favorable learning environment for student participation: (1) sustained support and rapport within a cohort, and (2) narratives as a process of mutual engagement. Findings suggest teacher educators purposefully create CoP for pre-service teachers around shared narratives in order to foster sustained critical reflections.
POTENCIJAL PRINOSA GENOTIPOVA CRVENE DJETELIENE (Trifolium pratense L.)
Authors:   Centre for Development of Agriculture and Villages, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Petkovic Borislav , Pržulj Novo ,   University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Agriculture Banja Luka,Bosnia and Herzegovina,   University of East Sarajevo, Faculty of Agriculture East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Radic Vojo ,   University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Agriculture Banja Luka,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Acimovic Darko ,   Centre for Development of Agriculture and Villages, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Published: March 2021

The aim of this research was to determine the genetic potential for green mass and hay yield of eight red clover genotypes over the two-year period (2010 and 2011). Yields in the first mowing of the first year and the aftermath of the second year did not significantly differ statistically. The highest average yields were gained in the first moving of the second year. The lowest average yields were given by the Viola variety and the highest by the Kolubara
ZNAČAJ PRAVILNE ISHRANE KRMNIH LEGUMINOZA FOSFOROM NA KISELIM ZEMLJIŠTIMA
Authors:   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Tomic Dalibor , Stevovic Vladeta ,   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Djurovic Dragan ,   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Madic Milomirka ,   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Marijanovic Milos ,   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Simic Aleksandar ,   University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Knezevic Jasmina ,   University of Pristina, Faculty of Agriculture
Published: March 2021

In the Republic of Serbia, acid soils cover about 60% of the total arable land. On such soils, numerious micro and macro elements are hardly accessible for plants. Sufficient supply of leguminous plants with phosphorus is very important for the processes of their growth and development, nodulation and nitrogen fixation. The aim of this study was to analyze the importance of proper nutrition of leguminous plants with phosphorus on acid soils and to point out the problems that exist in such conditions, as well as the possible ways to solve them.
Better reporting of science to improve regulatory decision-making
Authors: Ågerstrand Marlene
Published: March 2021

The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) introduces recommendations for reporting ecotoxicity studies. The purpose of this is to facilitate the use of these studies in research as well as regulatory assessments. Compliance with these reporting recommendations will depend on individual researchers as well as scientific journals’ willingness to adopt and promote them.
DESIGN OF TECHNOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT FOR ADDITIVE AND SUBTRACTIVE MANUFACTURING
Authors:   A.V. Luikov Heat and Mass Transfer Institute of the NAS of Belarus, CHIZHIK Sergei A. , KHEIFETZ Mikhail L. ,   Institute of Applied Physics of the NAS of Belarus, GRETSKIY Nikolay L. ,   Open Joint Stock Company “NPO Center” of the NAS of Belarus
Published: March 2021

The analysis of design stages of technological equipment for traditional production is carried out, the features of the formation of technological equipment are studied using flows of energy and consumables. Structural synthesis of mechatronic complexes in digitalized production made it possible to add new stages to the process of creating technological equipment for both traditional automated subtractive manufacturing and new additive manufacturing. The processes of manufacturing parts without shape-generating molding tools, described by the algorithms according to the proposed structural diagram of connections, provide an opportunity to analyze existing and develop new methods of laminate synthesis of products. It is shown, how in the design of technological equipment for their use in new additive and traditional subtractive manufacturing, methods and schemes of laminate synthesis and shaping of parts from composite materials are used, based on the application of various energy flows and material components, as well as methods and schemes of automation and computer product manufacturing process management.
Dakwah Kultural melalui Tradisi Akkorongtigi
Authors: Nirwan Wahyudi AR
Published: March 2021

Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan pelaksanaan tradisi akkorongtigi di Kelurahan Limbung, Kecamatan Bajeng, Kabupaten Gowa, serta menginterpretasikan dakwah simbolik yang terdapat di dalam prosesinya. Penulis mengumpulkan data melalui penelusuran pustaka, observasi lapangan, dan wawancara dengan tokoh agama dan tokoh adat setempat. Akkorongtigi merupakan salah satu rangkaian tradisi pernikahan suku Makassar. Prosesinya diawali dengan appassili (mandi uap) di pagi hari, lalu pada malam hari dilaksanakan appatamma (khatam Alquran), dilanjutkan dengan acara inti yakni akkorongtigi dan ditutup dengan anynyori/annangra (pemberian sumbangan kepada keluarga calon mempelai). Setidaknya terdapat tujuh macam elemen atau bahan yang harus disiapkan pada prosesi akkorongtigi yang semuanya mengandung pesan-pesan dakwah simbolik. Dengan memahami pesan-pesan tersebut, masyarakat diharapkan melaksanakan tradisi akkorongtigi tidak sebatas seremonial belaka, namun juga bisa menghayati dan mengaktualisasikannya sehingga misi dakwah kultural melalui tradisi akkorongtigi bisa terlaksana dan efektif.
Harmonic Coil Magnetic Measurement System for HESR Magnets − a Mathematical Model and Design
Authors: CHIRIȚĂ Ionel , TĂNASE Nicolae , ILIE Cristinel , POPA Marius
Published: March 2021

This paper presents the constructive design of the Sextupole, Horizontal Steerer and Vertical Steerer electromagnets manufactured by ICPE-CA for HESR storage ring from FAIR Project which will be set-up in Darmstadt Germany. Also, in this paper is presented the current method and system with Hall probe the one that we have performed the magnetic measurements so far by now. Regarding that this method takes a lot of time to perform the magnetic measurements, meanwhile we have developed a system with harmonic coils, which we intend to use in the further magnetic measurements. Also, in this paper is presented the method of magnetic measurements with harmonic coil also the development of mathematical model for this measurement method. To validate the mathematical model of magnetic measurements using harmonic coils we have made a simulation and we have compared with the measurements performed with Hall probe on the Sextupole electromagnet.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of remdesivir in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Saha Sumanta , Saha Sujata
Published: March 2021

Background: This systematic review compares the efficacy and safety of remdesivir between its recipient and non-recipient COVID-19 patients from the recently published randomized controlled trials (RCT). 

Methods: For eligible trials comparing the above outcomes, a literature search took place in the PubMed database. The reviewed trials data were abstracted and critically appraised using the Cochrane tool. Then, a random-effect meta-analysis followed to compare the risk between the compared interventions in risk ratio (RR). By plying the I2 and Chi2 statistics, the heterogeneity estimation happened. A sensitivity analysis iterated the preliminary meta-analysis using a fixed-effect model.

Results: Two eligible RCTs included in this review sourced data from about 833 COVID-19 patients from 115 hospitals in Asia, Europe, and the US. The risk of bias was primarily low. Random-effect meta-analysis suggested a clinical improvement (RR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.16; P=0.02; I2: 0%) and decrease in the risk of any serious side effects (RR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.94; P<0.001; I2: 0%) in the remdesivir treated COVID-19 patients. The rest of the outcomes did not vary between the juxtaposed interventions.

Conclusion: Evidence-based on early RCTs suggest that remdesivir is a clinically useful and safe drug to treat COVID-19 patients.
VIRTUAL COMMISSIONING, DIGITAL TWIN AND CONTROL STRATEGIES APPLIED IN THE INDUSTRIAL ROBOT PUMA 560
Authors:   Department of Robotics Engineering, Robotics Advanced Institute (IAR), São Paulo, Brazil, Vitalli Rogério Adas Pereira
Published: March 2021

The objective of this work is the evaluation, through computational simulation, of the performance and behavior of the PUMA 560 robot under different types of motion controllers. Nominal models for control design were obtained through linearization of the robot dynamic model considering selected points of operation through Denavit-Hartenberg (DH) modeling and convention. In addition to a PID joint decentralized control law and a computed torque control law that had already been implemented in the simulator, it was implemented a predictive control law and a robust control law as well. Tuning of the parameters of these control laws were performed for the Puma 560 robot and each control system was evaluated through simulation. Results about the controller design and the control system simulation were collected and discussed. Completing this study aimed to analyzing a six degree of freedom robot manipulator motion control taking in account performance and robustness aspects, it was chosen a particular structure and introduced a force control loop; this controller design and simulator extension allowed an evaluation of some force control aspects and digital twin.