bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decolonizing Indian Critical Practice: A Reading of CDN's The Swan and the Eagle
Authors: Hajela S. C.
Published: September 2023

However,there is no doubt that critical ideas have no geographical boundaries and no criterion solely based on the ethnic identity of a literary work can be adjudged a timeless tool for evaluating literature,it cannot be denied that a work of literature itself cries for its evaluation from the view of cultural milieu it is generated in. Under the shadow of western canons, the colonized countries like India ,hardly developed a critical framework of their own to evaluate the literary works of their land, brushing aside theories from the west ,specially in the early decades of Independence. Prof CDN'S The Swan and The Eagle (1969),is one of the earliest critical works in post -independent India,where his critical analyses clearly chart out an agenda for the decolonizing Indian critical practice among students and teachers of his generation.
Steadfast Pursuit of Motherhood in Amy Tan's The Valley of Amazement- A Critical Perspective
Authors: Varalakshmi Y. , Kasyap R. V. Jayanth
Published: September 2023

Amy Tan, a celebrated Chinese American writer, in her fictional endeavors articulates the mother-daughter relationship in particular and the socio-cultural, genderinequalitiesandplightofwomeningeneral.HerfictionalworkTheValley of Amazement touches upon familial relationships both in the Eastern and Western worlds besides focusing on contemporary societal and political crises that affect the lives of the individuals. The novel glorifies the struggle of a woman the overcoming impediments in accomplishing womanhood and fulfill her duties as a caring daughter, an affectionate wife and a responsible mother. Personally, as a daughter, she too suffers from the trauma caused by deprivation of emotional support from her mother.

The present paper entitled Steadfast Pursuit of Motherhood in Amy Tan's fiction The Valley of Amazement – A Critical Perspective explores the quest of a woman in fulfillingherobligationsasadaughterandasamother.Furthermore,itdeals with the fortitude of a woman in confronting the upheavals of life and her craving to barter true love.
Dalit Literary Discourse : Mapping the Journey from Pain to Tale
Authors: Kumari Pramod
Published: September 2023

The Present paper traces the journey of Dalit Literature in India andrepresentation of Dalit Characters in the works of Indian Writers.Dalits, the marginalized, outcastes, have undergone a long period ofhard sufferings and travails till Dalit Literature has come of an age inPost- Independence Era with some canonical Indian texts by thewriters like Premchand. Dalit Literature in India emerged for the firsttime in Marathi and from thereon it went on in other Southern statesand then to Northern regions of India. The paper also interweaves init the famous Dalit Charatcers like Gangi, Velutha, Bakha of theUntouchables Chamar family of A Fine Balance; Dalits Portrayed byBama. Towards An Aesthetics of Dalit Literature is a famous criticalwork in the area of Dalit Literature by Dalit writer Sharan KumarLimbale. The literary works voiced the community's pangs and itbecame united resultantly to find a better treatment in the society andbecame united for their cause. Its aestheticism lies in the challengesand pains borne by the Dalits. Dalit works are an emancipation of thecommunity.
Role of Translation and Impact on Indian Literature
Authors: Lakshmi N.
Published: September 2023

Translation is an age-old activity which occupied a part of all regional literatures since the past. The retracement can be traced to the times of the great epics as The Ramayana and The Mahabharata. India has been a multilinguistic, polyglot nation with translations from Sanskrit, Prakrit and Pali into many regional languages. Translation brings to the readers not just the meaning and context but also the cultural, social, philosophical, and psychological truths inherent in those texts and their transfer to the new language into which the text is translated. The present article attempts to reveal a few facets of Indian translations in literature and its impact on readers. This paper also focuses on the nature of translation by Indians done using translation as a tool of transformation of literature contributing to the language pantheon.
Problems and Prospects of Translating Indian Literature: With Particular Reference to Geetanjali Shree's Ret Samadhi
Authors: Srivastava Pankaj Bala
Published: September 2023

Many of us have read Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Voltaire, Anne Frank, Marquez, Murakami, Borges or even Valmiki, Kalidas, Tagore, Kabeer and Premchand only in translation. Some things are mislaid in translation, but the gains are enormous. Translations brighten the rich literary world of Indian languages and literature. 'Ret Samadhi' (2018), a Hindi-language novel by Indian author Geetanjali Shree, is deftly translated by Annie Montaut into French as 'au-delà de la frontière' (Beyond the Border, 2020) and Daisy Rockwell into English as 'Tomb of Sand' (2022) for a global audience. Tomb of Sand became the first novel translated from an Indian language to win the International Booker Prize of 2022. The story is not driven by plot but by language. It has an exciting and rhythmic use of words, making it challenging for many people to understand, and its translation into any language is difficult. The translation is founded on the idea that the essence of a document may be abstracted from its meanings and replicated in the particular ways of another language. The paper examines translators' specific linguistic and cultural challenges while translating Ret Samadhi. It assesses the effectiveness of different translation strategies employed by various translators in conveying the original text's meaning and style. The study also investigates the impact of translation on the reception of Ret Samadhi in different cultural contexts and explores the prospects of translating Indian literature in future. The present paper also underscores the significance of translation in promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding and enhancing the global reach of Indian literature.
Traversing Gendered Margins through the Lens of Mother-Daughter Relationship: A Reading of Krishna Sobti's Listen, Girl! and Geetanjali Shree's Tomb Of Sand
Authors: Dwivedi Shubha
Published: September 2023

This paper seeks to examine the obfuscating yet definitive and detrimental presence of patriarchal control and gendered realities in family dynamics through an analysis of Krishna Sobti's Ai Ladki (Listen Girl!) and Geetanjali Shree's Ret Samadhi (Tomb of Sand). These two fictional texts can help to understand the intricate relationship between gender, identity, and other cultural constructs within the context of Indian literature in Translation through a close examination of the power dynamics and social norms underlying the family system as portrayed in these narratives. The objective is to investigate these complex interplays so as to locate the position and subjectivity of Indian women in specific contexts and relationships. Both texts map the space of the historically victimized female subject and further explore the possibility of alternative subjectivities within the framework of Indian feminism. The paper is divided into three sections, each of which foregrounds the importance of equal representation of all genders as well as individuals from the periphery, making inclusivity the central theme. The first section explores the distinct fields of literary and cultural translation and their contribution to the making of “Women's Writings” within the expansive framework of “Indian Literature,” highlighting the often-overlooked status of women writers and translators and their invaluable contributions to shaping and amplifying the voices of Indian women relegated to obscurity due to the burden of being both women and Indian. The second section sheds light on the strong and intense presence of women writers in indigenous languages and their considerable impact on the wider literary landscape. The third section probes the chosen literary works as specimens of “ecriture feminine” (to use the term coined by Helene Cixous).
The International Space Station (ISS) Contest as STEM Educational Project
Authors: Bonacci Enzo
Published: September 2023

In the years 2015–2018, the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research and the Italian Ministry of Defense proposed the joint initiative "Space for Your Future. The ISS: Innovatio, Scientia, Sapientia" in partnership with the Italian Space Agency. It was a competition addressed to secondary school students and aimed at developing innovative experiments to be conducted on the International Space Station, whose acronym (ISS) is the same of the Latin words "Innovatio, Scientia, Sapientia". Regardless of the odds of winning, "Space for Your Future" became a successful STEM educational project implemented in numerous schools. We illustrate how that Astronomy contest fostered a valid constructivist learning, a fruitful participatory science, and vast scientific research. We discuss, in particular, the activities of two teams of pupils from the Scientific High School "Giovanni Battista Grassi" in Latina (seat of the Planetarium "Livio Gratton") who participated within the thematic area No. 3 "Test the Sciences in Space". They all worked on chemical tests, suitable for the ISS microgravity, under the tutoring of Francesco Giuliano (Province Manager of the IYA 2009 and the IYC 2011 in Latina). The key reference is a talk given in the 104th annual congress of the Italian Physical Society at the University of Calabria (September 17–21, 2018) together with an invited lecture held in the 13th European Researchers’ Night by Frascati Scienza (September 28, 2018). Keywords: science contest, ISS, secondary school, educational project, TRL, STEM, constructivism, PBL, PrBL, learning by Doing, IBSE, citizen science, ESD, EDP.
Authority Dispute Between State Institutions Whose Authorities from Regulations Below the 1945 Constitution
Authors: Saifulloh Moh. Roziq , Riska Answendy Putri
Published: September 2023

The dispute over authority between state institutions whose authorities are based on regulations under the 1945 Constitution cannot be resolved through a decision (beschikking), considering that matters involving overlapping authority that has been included in the regulations (regelling) and will remain in effect unless one of the matters has been annulled. This research aims to elaborate the pattern of power restriction on state institutions and find out the resolution of authority disputes between state institutions whose authority is based on regulations under the 1945 Constitution. This research is a legal argumentation using a normative research approach. The results of the research show that each state institution obtains authority by attribution, which originates from the 1945 Constitution or from regulations under the 1945 Constitution. The annulment of material containing authority that is sourced from the regulations under the 1945 Constitution can only be carried out through a material test (judicial review) by the judiciary, namely the Supreme Court.
Modified Laparoscopic Inverted Triangle Model for Extended Lesion Resection in the Treatment of Symptomatic Localized Adenomyosis in Women Who Have Completed Childbirth
Authors: Liu Libing , Wei Weiwei , Tang Huimin , Chen Yao , Zheng Hong , Tang Bin , Shi Ruxia , Chen Jiming , Xia Bairong , Lu Bingying
Published: September 2023

Background: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the modified laparoscopic inverted triangle model for extended lesion resection in treating dysmenorrhea focal adenomyosis in women who have completed childbirth. Methods: A total of 52 patients with dysmenorrhea focal adenomyosis treated in the Department of Gynecology of the Affiliated Changzhou Second People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July 2014 to August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. They underwent the modified laparoscopic inverted triangle model for extended lesion resection. The scope of resection included the focal adenomyosis lesions and along with part of the surrounding normal myometrial tissue and endometrium in order to ensure full resection of adenomyosis lesions without residual. Surgical outcome and adverse effects on ovarian functions were evaluated through the retrospective analysis compared the changes of dysmenorrhea visual analog scale (VAS) score changes, uterine volume changes, changes in serum CA125 level, and serum anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) level changes prior to surgery as well as 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Results: All operations were completed by laparoscopy without conversion to laparotomy. No serious complications occurred during or after surgery. The dysmenorrhea VAS score, uterine volume, and serum CA125 level at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery were significantly lower than baseline and the difference was statistically significant. The serum AMH level showed a downward trend 3 months after surgery compared with the pre-surgery level, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.27). The response rates at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery were 98.1%, 98.1%, 96.1%, and 88.5%, respectively, and the complete response rates were 30.8%, 34.6%, 34.6%, and 21.1%, respectively. Conclusions: Modified laparoscopic inverted triangle model for extended lesion resection is a safe and effective conservative surgical method for treating dysmenorrhea focal adenomyosis.
Pain in Parkinson's Disease: Pathophysiology, Classification and Treatment
Authors: Cattaneo Carlo , Jost Wolfgang H.
Published: September 2023

Continuous medical progress is significantly improving the quality of health care. As a result, people are living longer than during the past century, but this has also caused an increase of the prevalence of many neurological disorders. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the fastest growing neurological condition, with a doubling of cases reported between 1995 and 2015 and a further doubling projected by 2030. Parkinson’s disease is generally associated with characteristic motor symptoms (resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and postural instability). However, patients with PD also experience many non-motor symptoms that might be at least as debilitating as the motor symptoms and which significantly impact patients’ quality of life (QoL). Pain is a frequent yet underrecognized symptom; the incidence in PD is much higher than in the general population and constitutes a silent disability that significantly contributes to a deterioration in QoL. Accurate identification of parkinsonian pain is important for its diagnosis and effective treatment. In this review, we provide an overview of the pathophysiology, classification, and management of pain in PD. We define the various modalities of chronic PD pain, suggesting possible explanations for its relationship with PD pathology, and discuss its management and currently recommended therapies.
Depression Following Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Review
Authors: Pan Roubai , Fan Qin , Tao Rong
Published: September 2023

Depression is common among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although multiple studies have confirmed that depression is an independent risk factor for poor outcomes in ACS, general awareness of this issue is still limited. Ongoing research has described detailed aspects of depression in ACS, with various mechanistic hypotheses put forward to explain the complexity of this comorbidity. Several investigations have explored management strategies in this subgroup of patients, including screening for depression, antidepressant treatment, and cardiac rehabilitation. However, evidence of long-term improvement in clinical outcomes is still scarce, and a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms that link depression with ACS is required to further improve disease management.
Exercise Training-Induced MicroRNA Alterations with Protective Effects in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Gao Juan , Song Jiaxin , Yan Yuwei , Gokulnath Priyanka , Vulugundam Gururaja , Li Guoping , Zhan Qingyi , Jiang Fei , Lin Yanjuan , Xiao Junjie
Published: September 2023

Exercise training (ET) is an important non-drug adjuvant therapy against many human diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. The appropriate ET intensity induces beneficial adaptions and improves physiological function and cardiopulmonary fitness. The mechanisms of exercise-induced cardioprotective effects are still not fully understood. However, mounting evidence suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial role in this process and are essential in responding to exercise-stress and mediating exercise-protective effects. Thus, this review summarizes the biogenesis of miRNAs, the mechanism of miRNA action, and specifically the miRNAs involved in exercise-induced cardio-protection used as therapeutic targets for treating cardiovascular diseases.
Penerapan Audit Sistem Informasi pada Instansi Pemerintah dengan Framework COBIT: Literatur Review
Authors: Oktafiani Rian , Nurrizki Muhammad Arifai , Suhirman Suhirman , Sutarman Sutarman
Published: September 2023

Dihampir semua instansi pemerintah, teknologi informasi (TI) diterapkan. Setiap instansi membutuhkan tata kelola TI. Instansi pemerintah memerlukan kerangka menyeluruh yang membahas semua aspek administrasi TI. Ada beberapa alasan mengapa hal ini sangat diperlukan, termasuk persyaratan untuk menyesuaikan strategi bisnis dan TI, menerapkan sumber daya TI yang efisien, menetapkan pengendalian internal yang sesuai, dan menghindari masalah terkait perangkat lunak. Permasalahan yang dihadapi oleh beberapa instansi pemerintahan yaitu penggunaan TI belum sesuai prosedur, pengukuran tata kelola teknologi informasi belum terstruktur, manajemen risiko yang masih rendah, dan adanya permasalah pada sistem keamanan. Berdasarkan permasalahan yang ada, diperlukan tata kelola terhadap teknologi informasi pada instansi. Audit merupakan salah satu cara yang dapat gunakan. Hal ini dilakukan untuk memastikan tingkat kesesuaian antara penilaian dan pengembangan kriteria serta mengkomunikasikan hasilnya kepada pengguna pada instansi pemerintah. Berdasarkan dari analisa literature review maka didapatkan hasil yaitu penelitian ini digunakan untuk mengetahui penerapan audit sistem informasi pada pemerintahan dengan menggunakan Framework COBIT. Pengujian dilakukan dengan menganalisa 10 paper dan 3 perumusan masalah yaitu (Q1, Q2, Q3) untuk menjawab pertanyaan dari penerapan audit sistem informasi. Hasil dari pengukuran tata kelola TI pada level kapabilitas, instansi pemerintahan di Indonesia ada pada level 3 atau level proses. Berdasarkan analisa hasil audit yang telah dilakukan, diperlukan strategi perbaikan untuk mencapai expected capability atau kapabilitas yang diharapkan pada instansi yaitu level 4 (predictable process) dengan melaksanakan hasil dari rekomendasi audit yang telah diberikan. Dilakukannya audit sistem informasi pada instansi pemerintahan, dapat memperbaiki aspek-aspek yang kurang, serta dapat meningkatkan mutu layanan dari instansi.
Implementasi Metode Dempster Shafer dalam Sistem Pakar untuk Diagnosis Penyakit Kucing berbasis Android
Authors: Sihombing Redo Abeputra , Natsir Fauzan , Abdurahman Abdurahman
Published: September 2023

Keterbatasan jumlah pakar yaitu dalam hal ini dokter hewan, sering menjadi permasalahan bagi yang memelihara kucing di rumah dan ingin menjaga kesehatan kucing peliharaannya. Selain permasalahan tersebut, penelitian ini juga dilakukan karena kurangnya pengetahuan yang dimiliki oleh pemelihara kucing tentang penyakit yang dialami dapat mengakibatkan kesalahan diagnosis serta penanganan yang tidak sesuai. Metode Dempster Shafer memiliki kemampuan dalam memberikan tingkat keakuratan yang tinggi, dimana metode ini mampu berpikir layaknya seorang pakar, namun dengan menggunakan perhitungan melalui gejala yang memiliki nilai densitas. Metode ini melakukan perhitungan melalui gejala yang dipilih oleh pengguna dari masing-masing gejala yang memiliki nilai densitas. Sistem pakar berbasis android ini memberikan output diagnosis penyakit, hasil perhitungan, penjelasan mengenai penyakit serta saran dalam memberikan tindakan pertolongan pertama terhadap penyakit kucing berdasarkan hasil input gejala yang dilakukan oleh pengguna. Hasil akurasi yang diperoleh dari perhitungan manual sebesar 80% dan hasil akurasi yang diperoleh dari sistem sebesar 70%.
Klasifikasi Tingkat Kematangan Buah Tomat Menggunakan Fitur Rgb Dan Hsi Berbasis Backpropagation
Authors: Fajar Moh. , Sulthan M. Burhanis , Wahyudi Imam
Published: September 2023

Tomat memiliki sifat yang sangat mudah rusak, penanganan yang tidak tepat pada buah tomat mengakibatkan penurunan mutu yang selanjutnya mempengaruhi nilai gizi dan nilai ekonomisnya. Pada umumnya untuk mengukur kematangan buah tomah masih dilakukan secara manual, kelemahan dari metode tersebut adalah tingkat akurasi yang tidak konsisten. Pengklasifikasian sangat penting untuk mengetahui kematangan buah tomat berdasarksan warna kulit, yaitu dengan cara menerapkan pengolahan citra menggunakan RGB dan HSI berbasis Backpropagation. Hasil dari klasifikasi bisa dilihat pada masing-masing pengujian dengan nilai presentase 96.08% untuk kategori buah tomat matang, 95.74% untuk kategoi buah tomat sengah matang, dan 100% untuk kategori buah tomat mentah. Nilai persentase keseluruhan untuk pengujian keseluruhan data mempunyai presentase yang sangat tinggi dan berpengaruh dalam mendeteksi kematangan buah tomat yaitu mencapai presentase sebesar 97.29%. maka dapat disimpulkan bahwa pengklasifikasian kematangan buah tomat dapat dilakukan dengan menggunakan fitur RGB dan HSI menggunakan metode Backpropagation.
GameCenter CX continued (Supplement III:24)
Authors: Akmut Camille
Published: September 2023

(Supplement to the History of computer science and technology)
Pengaruh Prediksi Kebangkrutan Altman Z-Score Terhadap Harga Saham pada Perusahaan Sub Sektor Logam dan Sejenisnya
Authors: DONI MOCHAMAD
Published: September 2023

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menjelaskan prediksi kebangkrutan dengan metode Altman Z-Score serta pengaruhnya terhadap harga saham pada perusahaan manufaktur sub sektor logam dan sejenisnya yang terdaftar di BEI tahun 2010-2019. Populasi dari penelitian ini adalah seluruh perusahaan pengolahan logam yang berjumlah 17 perusahaan dan terpilih 3 perusahaan sebagai sampel karena memenuhi kriteria yang ditentukan pada purposive sampling. Data penelitian diperoleh melalui dokumentasi berupa laporan keuangan perusahaan dan studi pustaka. Teknik analisis yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis regresi linier sederhana, karena hanya mencari pengaruh satu variabel independen (Altman Z-Score) terhadap variabel dependen (harga saham). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa 13 perusahaan berada dalam kategori bangkrut, 10 perusahaan rawan bangkrut, dan 7 perusahaan berada dalam kondisi sehat. Sedangkan hasil pengujian statistik menunjukkan bahwa prediksi kebangkrutan dengan metode Altman Z-Score berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap harga saham. Hal ini ditunjukkan dengan nilai thitung sebesar 3,833 > ttabel yang senilai 2,04841 serta bentuk regresi Ln Y = 4,560 + 0,572 X. Nilai koefisien determinasi menunjukkan angka 0,344 yang artinya kontribusi prediksi kebangkrutan dengan metode Altman Z-Score dalam mempengaruhi harga saham adalah sebesar 34,4%, dan sisanya sebesar 65,6% dipengaruhi oleh variabel lain di luar variabel Altman Z-Score.
Thảm họa môi trường: Hậu quả của hành động bảo vệ môi trường sai lầm
Authors: La Viet-Phuong , Nguyen Minh-Hoang
Published: September 2023

Môi trường tự nhiên của trái đất đang phải đối mặt với nhiều thách thức và nguy cơ do hành động con người gây ra. Trong một số trường hợp, các nỗ lực bảo vệ môi trường có thể không chỉ không đem lại lợi ích cho môi trường mà còn gây ra những thảm hoạ nghiêm trọng. Bài luận này sẽ điểm qua một số ví dụ cụ thể về thảm họa môi trường đã xảy ra trong quá khứ do hành động bảo vệ môi trường của con người nhưng lại sai lầm.
GCCX continued : "Shadow Land" (Supplement III:25)
Authors: Akmut Camille
Published: September 2023

(Supp. to the History of computer science and tech.)
EVALUACIÓN DEL PROGRAMA DE VIGILANCIA DE LA RESISTENCIA MICROBIANA EN INSTITUCIONES DE SALUD DEL VALLE DEL CAUCA
Authors: Espinosa Jobany Castro , Velásquez Catalina Hernández
Published: September 2023

Introducción: Al existir tantas condiciones identificadas como un problema para la Salud Pública y que se deben notificar, se realizó la creación de los programas de vigilancia epidemiológica con el fin de realizar un seguimiento constante y sistemático a un evento; en éste caso se realizó la “Evaluación del programa de resistencia microbiana en Instituciones de Salud del Valle del Cauca” mediante una encuesta digital adaptada de acuerdo a los objetivos de dicho proyecto, la cual contaba con una serie de preguntas enfocadas a conocer el estado de ciertos aspectos del programa en las diferentes Instituciones de varios Municipios. Objetivo: Evaluar el Programa de Resistencia Microbiana en Instituciones de Salud del Valle del Cauca, caracterizar la atención prestada y la conformación de sus integrantes y conocer el nivel de cumplimiento de los atributos. Metodología: Se desarrolló un estudio de tipo descriptivo transversal, se tomó como base un instrumento empleado para evaluar el sistema de vigilancia de otro evento en salud realizando los respectivos ajustes y modificaciones para poder ser utilizado en la investigación. Participaron 8 Instituciones de Salud del Valle del Cauca cumpliendo con los criterios de selección. Resultados: Dentro del porcentaje global de cada atributo, se puede evidenciar que solo 3 atributos de 8 se están cumpliendo de manera satisfactoria, con una meta establecida del 75%. Se observó que para más de la mitad de Instituciones es aceptable y flexible al igual que representativo el sistema. Se evidencia que las mayores dificultades se presentaron en el caso de todas las Instituciones en cuanto a su valor predictivo positivo. Conclusiones: A pesar de que la Secretaria de Salud Del Valle del Cauca cuenta con un equipo de trabajo adecuado para el cumplimiento y diligenciamiento del reporte en el Programa de Vigilancia de la Resistencia Microbiana en Instituciones de Salud del Valle del Cauca; así como los recursos tecnológicos y físicos que facilitan el reporte de los mismos se puede evidenciar de manera global que casi ningún atributo se está cumpliendo de manera satisfactoria, por lo tanto es importante continuar con la evaluación de éste programa, ya que de esto depende que los resultados dados en el reporte sean coherentes con la situación actual ocasionada por la resistencia bacteriana
Ensuring Data Integrity in Modern Information Systems
Authors: Smith Kevin
Published: September 2023

Ensuring Data Integrity in Modern Information Systems
FloodGame: An Interactive 3D Serious Game on Flood Mitigation for Disaster Awareness and Education
Authors: Demiray Bekir Zahit , Sermet Yusuf , Yildirim Enes , Demir Ibrahim
Published: September 2023

The number and devastating impacts of natural disasters have grown significantly worldwide, and floods are one of the most dangerous and frequent natural disasters. Recent studies emphasize the importance of public awareness in disaster preparedness and response activities. FloodGame is designed as a web-based interactive serious game geared towards educating K-12 and college students and raising public awareness on flood prevention and mitigation strategies so that they are more informed about the implications of future floods. A web-based interactive gaming environment with rich 3D visuals and models is developed that allows users to experiment with different flood mitigation strategies for a real-world location of their choice. This immersive, repeatable, and engaging experience will allow students and the public to comprehend the consequences of individual mitigation measures, build a conceptual understanding of the benefits of mitigation actions, and examine how floods may occur in their communities.
Sharing with Robots: Why do we do it and how does it make us feel?
Authors: Laban Guy , Cross Emily S.
Published: September 2023

Self-disclosure and the social sharing of emotions facilitate social relationships and can positively affect people's well-being. Nevertheless, individuals might refrain from engaging in these interpersonal communication behaviours with other people, due to socio-emotional barriers, such as shame and stigma. Social robots, free from these human-centric judgements, could encourage openness and overcome these barriers. Accordingly, this paper reviews the role of self-disclosure and social sharing of emotion in human-robot interactions (HRIs), particularly its implications for emotional well-being and the dynamics of social relationship building between humans and robots. We investigate the transition of self-disclosure dynamics from traditional human-to-human interactions to HRI, revealing the potential of social robots to bridge socio-emotional barriers and provide unique forms of emotional support. This review not only highlights the therapeutic potential of social robots but also raises critical ethical considerations and potential drawbacks of these interactions, emphasising the importance of a balanced approach to integrating robots into emotional support roles. The review underscores a complex but promising frontier at the intersection of technology and emotional well-being, advocating for careful consideration of ethical standards and the intrinsic human need for connection as we advance in the development and application of social robots.
Do school and equality education characteristics influence young children’s understanding of sex/gender constancy?
Authors: Alcock Katie
Published: September 2023

Young children (under around 6 years) fail to understand that changing the appearance of a person, object, or animal does not change its underlying reality. They appear to believe that a cat wearing a dog mask is genuinely a dog (appearance/reality distinction) and that a boy that wears a dress is genuinely a girl (sex/gender constancy). These skills may be affected by a variety of influences: testing methods, training on the constancy of biological traits, child or sibling’s diagnosis of gender dysphoria, and child’s diagnosis of autism.This study sought to replicate Arthur et al. (2009)’s study showing that experimental lessons emphasising the constancy or otherwise of biological traits affected appearance/reality and sex/gender constancy performance. It examined the influence of school lessons with content on sex/gender stereotyping and pro/anti constancy on young English children (mean age 5;6 years, N = 58)’s performance on appearance/reality and sex/gender constancy tasks.Children performed above chance on sex/gender stability (change over time) but below chance on sex/gender constancy and appearance/reality tasks (change due to superficial alterations). These scores are comparable to almost all previous studies. Children’s scores were not influenced by school lesson content, though not all schools provided content. Conclusions are drawn about the effect of lesson content, which may be too diffuse and long term to affect performance. The level of children’s performance and what this means in absolute terms about children’s understanding of sex/gender stereotypes and the possibility of a child changing sex/gender is also discussed.
How Can People Become Happier?: A Systematic Review of Pre-Registered Experiments
Authors: Folk Dunigan Parker , Dunn Elizabeth Warren
Published: September 2023

Can happiness be reliably increased? Thousands of studies speak to this question. However, many of them were conducted during a period in which researchers commonly “p-hacked,” creating uncertainty about how many discoveries might be false positives. To prevent p-hacking, happiness researchers increasingly pre-register their studies, committing to analysis plans before analyzing data. We conducted a systematic literature search to identify pre-registered experiments testing strategies for increasing happiness. We found surprisingly little support for many widely-recommended strategies (e.g., performing random acts of kindness). However, our review suggests that other strategies—such as being more sociable—may reliably promote happiness. We also found strong evidence that governments and organizations can improve happiness by providing underprivileged individuals with financial support. We conclude that happiness research stands on the brink of an exciting new era, in which modern best practices will be applied to develop theoretically-grounded strategies that can produce lasting gains in life satisfaction.
Evaluations of dyadic synchrony: Observers’ traits influence quantification and enjoyment of synchrony in mirror-game movements
Authors: Moffat Ryssa , Cross Emily S.
Published: September 2023

While evidence abounds that motor synchrony is a powerful form of social glue for those involved, we have yet to understand how observers perceive motor synchrony: Can observers quantify synchrony accurately? Is synchrony aesthetically pleasing? In two preregistered experiments (n=161 each), we assess how accurately observers can quantify the degree of synchrony in dyads playing the mirror game, and how much observers enjoy watching these movements. We further assess whether accuracy and enjoyment are influenced by individual differences in self-reported embodied expertise (ability to reproduce movements, body awareness, body competence), psychosocial resources (extraversion, self-esteem), or social competencies (empathy, autistic traits), while controlling for the degree of measured synchrony and complexity objectively. The data revealed that observers quantified synchrony with poor accuracy, showing a tendency to underestimate. Accuracy for low synchrony improved with increasing body competence, while accuracy for high synchrony improved with increasing autistic traits. Observers’ enjoyment of dyadic movements correlated positively with the degree of measured synchrony, the predictability of the movements, and the observer’s empathy. Furthermore, very low enjoyment was associated with increased body perception. Our findings indicate that accuracy in perceiving synchrony is closely linked to embodiment, while aesthetic evaluations of action hinge on individual differences.
“I care about winning some but losing none!”—Attentional mechanism of mutable-hidden zero effect in economic choices
Authors: Zhou Lei , Lin Jiaomin , Liang Yongchao , Li Litong , Guo Mingqian , Cai Xiaohong , Zhang Lei
Published: September 2023

In risk-related economic choices, designating zero as “winning $0” or “losing $0” asymmetrical shapes subsequent decision preferences – a phenomenon known as the mutable-zero effect. However, little is known about whether mutable-zero effect pertains to risky decision-making and what cognitive mechanisms underlie it. Here, we examine this question by conducting an eye-tracking experiment where participants (N = 110) chose between certain and risky options. Critically, risky options (“p% to win $X” in the gain domain, and “p% to lose $X” in the loss domain) were companioned with either explicit zero outcomes as “(1-p)% to win $0” or “(1-p)% to lose $0”, or hidden zero outcomes. We found, in small to medium probability intervals, that participants were more risk-aversive when observing “win $0” yet more risk-seeking when observing “lose $0”. By combining attentional drift diffusion modeling (aDDM) with cumulative prospect theory (CPT), we tested whether it was attention or value computation that give rise to our mutable-zero findings. We found that the mutable-zero effect arose from attentional bias and the starting point in the aDDM rather than from CPT-related parameters. Specifically, the attentional mechanism was asymmetrically attributed to the non-zero outcomes when presented with “win $0” as well as zero outcomes when presented with “lose $0”. These findings provide insights into the attentional mechanism underlying the mutable-zero effect and shed light on the role of “null outcomes” in economic choices.
The Efficacy of Combining Cognitive Training and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation: A Transdiagnostic Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Authors: Poppe Anika , Ritter Franziska D.E. , Bais Leonie , Pustejovsky James E , van Tol Marie-José , Curcic-Blake Branislava , Pijnenborg Marieke , van Der Meer Lisette
Published: September 2023

Over the past decade, an increasing number of studies investigated the innovative approach of supplementing cognitive training (CT) with non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to increase the effects on outcomes. In this review, we aim to summarize the evidence for this treatment combination. We identified 72 published and unpublished studies (reporting 773 effect sizes) including 2518 participants from healthy and clinical populations indexed in PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, ProQuest, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov (last search: 8/8/2022) that compared the effects of NIBS combined with CT on cognitive, symptoms and everyday functioning to CT alone at post-intervention and/or follow-up. We performed random-effects meta-analyses with robust variance estimation and assessed risk of bias with the Cochrane R.O.B. tool. Only four studies had low risk of bias in all domains, and many studies lacked standard controls such as keeping the outcome assessor and trainer unaware of the treatment condition. Following sensitivity analyses, only learning/memory robustly improved significantly more when CT was combined with NIBS compared to CT only (g = 0.18, 95% CI [0.07, 0.29]) at post-intervention, but not in the long-term. The effect was small and limited by substantial heterogeneity. The other seven cognitive outcome domains, symptoms, and everyday functioning did not benefit from adding NIBS to CT. Given the methodological limitation of prior studies, more high-quality trials that focus on the potential of combining NIBS and CT to enhance benefits in everyday functioning in the short- and long-term are needed to evaluate whether combining NIBS and CT is relevant for clinical practice.
Politicians Spreading Misinformation on Social Media: An Exploratory Study of Craig Kelly MP on Twitter
Authors: Graham Timothy , FitzGerald Katherine M.
Published: September 2023

This paper examines Twitter activity by Australian politician Craig Kelly MP and the activity of accounts that are highly engaged with Kelly’s content. Kelly received widespread criticism for spreading COVID-19 misinformation on social media, including promoting unproven cures and questioning the efficacy of vaccines. However, the scale and scope of his Twitter activity, including its potential impact, remains largely unexplored. To address this, we undertake a mixed methods analysis of 4,371 tweets collected from Craig Kelly’s Twitter timeline between 1 May 2021 to 24 September 2021. Using a combination of descriptive statistical analysis, network analysis, and social bot detection, we reveal that most of Craig Kelly’s tweets revolved around undermining vaccines and scientific institutions while spreading anti-government rhetoric. Overall, we find that Kelly is singularly important in Australia as a driver of health and political misinformation, given his privileged status in Parliament and highly engaged social media presence. This highlights the growing problem of domestic mis- and disinformation, and we offer a set of recommendations for how to address this.
Policies in Parallel? A Comparative Study of Journalistic AI Policies in 52 Global News Organisations
Authors: Becker Kim Björn , Simon Felix M. , Crum Christopher
Published: September 2023

A growing number of news organisations have set up specific guidelines to govern how they use artificial intelligence (AI). This article analyses a set of 52 guidelines from publishers in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Looking at both formal and thematic characteristics, we provide comparative insights into how news outlets address both expectations and concerns when it comes to using AI in the news. Drawing from neo- institutional theory and the concept of institutional isomorphism, we argue that the policies show signs of homogeneity, likely explained by isomorphic dynamics which arose as a response to the uncertainty created by the rise of generative AI after the release of ChatGPT in November 2022. Our study shows that publishers have already begun to converge in their guidelines on key points such as transparency and human supervision when dealing with AI-generated content. However, we argue that national and organisational idiosyncrasies continue to matter in shaping publishers’ practices, with both accounting for some of the variation seen in the data. We conclude by pointing out blind spots around technological dependency, sustainable AI, and inequalities in current AI guidelines and providing directions for further research.
Implementation of UPQC to Mitigate Voltage Sag, Swell and Harmonics in Distribution System
Authors: Bhattarai Samriddhi
Published: September 2023

Abstract available with the full text.
COVID-19 Detection from Chest X-RAY Images Using Ensemble of Deep Learning Algorithms
Authors: Subedi Ghanashyam , Devkota Bidur
Published: September 2023

Abstract available with the full text.
Alternative Water Source: Concept of Atmospheric Water Generator using Wet Desiccation Method
Authors: Poudel Anup Jwala , Subedi Achyut , Shah Amar , Chhetri Amisha , Bhandari Kritika , Kishor Shacheendra
Published: September 2023

Abstract available with the full text.
Assessment of Government Policies, Farm Subsidies, and Agriculture Growth
Authors: Bhandari Thaneshwar
Published: September 2023

Political ideology serves as the nexus that intertwines various aspects of farming policy formulation, subsidy distribution, foreign grants, and the growth rate of the agricultural sector. This article takes a comprehensive look at the intricate relationship between People’s Multiparty Democracy (PMPD) and the development of farmer-centric policy formulation, the different types of farm subsidies, and their allocation. This examination is conducted by evaluating the various categories of agricultural funding projects and their outcomes, as well as analyzing the performance of the agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP). The descriptive findings of this study illuminate the direct influence of PMPD in shaping pro-farmer policy formulations. Farmers have been benefiting from moderate-level input subsidies designed to facilitate the acquisition of capital assets for the promotion of agricultural technology. These subsidies are sourced from both regular government funds and donor-supported initiatives that have been executed over varying periods. The average subsidy rate remains below 50%, contingent upon its intended purpose. Despite the positive political support, the AGDP has consistently hovered around the 3% mark throughout different development plans. It’s worth noting that not only PMPD but also other political paradigms such as the Panchayat system or multi-party democracy have significantly propelled economic growth. This underscores the need for renewed endeavors to leverage farmer’s equity funds, the government’s routine budget, loans, and grant funds. This study recommends the establishment of a collaborative platform involving farmers, the government, financial institutions, and donors, to successfully execute a growth-oriented business plan. Additionally, the study strongly advocates for three major investments: the establishment of fertilizer manufacturing facilities, hybrid seed production projects, and the creation of a resource center. These investments are crucial for the enhancement of key agricultural value chains.
Pengaruh Kualitas Pelayanan dan Kepuasan Pelanggan terhadap Loyalitas Pelanggan
Authors: Septyarani Tiara Azalia , Nurhadi Nurhadi
Published: September 2023

The development of online businesses and the rapid use of E-Commerce has greatly affected the delivery of goods in Indonesia. Indonesian people currently entrust their goods to be sent through various expeditions that have been widely found. However, in the process of delivering goods, there are certainly some considerable obstacles such as delays in delivery, wrong delivery address, damaged or lost goods, and others that can make consumers' trust or attitude towards delivery services decrease. Therefore, Shopee began to establish its own logistics service that has been integrated with its services. This logistics service owned by Shopee is named Shopee Xpress which appeared in 2019. With its own logistics service, delivery will be more guaranteed because it is easy to be supervised by Shopee. This study aims to analyze the effect of service quality on customer loyalty through customer satisfaction as an intervening variable at the Shopee Xpress expedition. The population in this study were users of Shopee Xpress expedition services ranging in age from 15 to 54 years who were in the Surabaya City area, East Java. The questionnaire was distributed to people in the city of Surabaya, East Java who had made more than one use of the Shopee Xpress expedition service. A sample of 100 respondents was taken using purposive sampling technique. This study uses multiple linear regression techniques. The results showed that Service Quality has a significant positive effect on Customer Satisfaction. Likewise, Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction have a positive and significant effect on Customer Loyalty. The results of path analysis provide empirical evidence that the Customer Satisfaction variable acts as a partial mediating variable in bridging the effect of Service Quality on Customer Loyalty.
Diagnosis of esophageal varices by liver stiffness and serum biomarkers in virus-related compensated advanced chronic liver disease
Authors: Zoughlami Amine , Serero Jordana , Congly Stephen , Zhao Irene , Zhu Julie , Ramji Alnoor , Cooper Curtis , Wong Philip , Bailey Robert , Coffin Carla S , Sebastiani Giada ,   on behalf of the Canadian HBV Network
Published: September 2023

Background:

Individuals infected with hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency (HIV) viruses can experience compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) leading to esophageal varices (EV). In patients at low risk of esophageal varices needing treatment (EVNT), non-invasive criteria based on liver stiffness measurement (LSM) with platelets, or fibrosis biomarkers, may avoid unnecessary screening esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGD). These approaches have not been compared among people infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV patients.

Methods:

Patients with a diagnosis of cACLD (LSM ≥10 kPa) and EGD availability were included from two cohorts. Baveno VI and expanded Baveno VI criteria (based on LSM and platelets), fibrosis biomarkers Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4), AST-to-Platelets Ratio Index (APRI), AST-to-ALT ratio (AAR), and RESIST criteria (based on platelets and albumin) were applied to determine the proportion of spared EGD and of missed EVNT.

Results:

Three hundred fifty three patients (30.6% with HIV, 25.3% monoinfected with HBV, and 44.1% with HCV) were included. The prevalence of EVNT was 8.2%. Both Baveno VI and expanded Baveno VI criteria performed well in patients with virus-related cACLD, by sparing 26.1% and 51.6% EGD, respectively, while missing <2% EVNT. The proportion of spared EGD were 48.2%, 58%, and 24.3% by FIB-4 (<2.78), APRI (<1.1), and AAR (<0.75), respectively, while missing <3% EVNT. RESIST criteria spared 47.8% EGD while missing 1.9% EVNT.

Conclusions:

Non-invasive criteria based on LSM can spare unnecessary EGD in virus-related cACLD. Simple fibrosis biomarkers can ameliorate resource utilization for EVNT screening in low resource settings.