bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Institutional Academic Accreditation Journey and Challenges
Authors: Alzahem Abdullah
Published: February 2023

Background: Institutional academic accreditation is essential for the universities and a pre-requisite for requesting program accreditation. Academic accreditation is a structured review process to ensure the availability of minimum quality and the ability for continuous quality improvement. The accreditation process helped educational institutes to determine the areas for improvement and priorities improvements.
Aim: Investigate the impact of the institutional academic accreditation process on continuous quality improvement and address the challenges of the accreditation journey.
Method: A cross-sectional survey was used to record the impact of accreditation by collecting data through focus group discussions with the standards committees’ members. The interview was carried out in a structured format following the self-evaluation scale format. Data collected were managed and analyzed descriptively.
Results: The accreditation process impacted the quality of education positively. Different aspects of education including program specifications and reports, assessment, evaluation, academic counseling, and student support were improved significantly, and automation was introduced to foster quality. The major challenges during the accreditation journey were identifying unified governance to institutional resources, and community partnership.
Conclusion: Accreditation improved education quality in the university without commanding any major change in the curricula and fostered the university ranking.
Dimensões do setor de saúde no Brasil : estrutura organizacional e mão de obra nos setores público e privado
Authors: Barbosa Sheila C. T.
Published: February 2023

De modo a contribuir com o esforço de melhor compreender o setor de saúde no Brasil e fornecer elementos para uma visão estratégica do setor, este capítulo teve por objetivo dimensioná-lo no que se refere à sua organização e à distribuição de mão de obra nos setores público e privado. Tais elementos descritivos possibilitam uma visão das capacidades de provisão da assistência em saúde no país. Um segundo objetivo é subsidiar políticas públicas e estratégias para o setor de saúde, em especial descrevendo a tipologia e respectiva presença de serviços de saúde no território e a disponibilidade de mão de obra qualificada.
POTENTIAL REASONS FOR CPI CHAIN DRIFT BIAS WHILE USING ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION DATA
Authors: Białek Jacek , Roszko-Wójtowicz Elżbieta
Published: February 2023

Scanner data mean electronic transaction data that specify product prices and their expenditures obtained from supermarkets’ IT systems by scanning bar codes (i.e. GTIN or SKU). Scanner data are a relatively new and cheap data source for the calculation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the biggest advantage of scanner data is the full product information they provide already at the lowest level of aggregation. Thus, the digitization of the public sector becomes not only something that is needed but an actual necessity resulting from organisational and economic premises (e.g.: reduction of costs or time related to obtaining data). One of main challenges while using scanner data is the choice of the right price index. The list of potential price indices, which could be used in the scanner data case, is quite wide, i.e. bilateral and multilateral indices are used in practice. One of the most important criterion in selecting index formula for scanner data case is the potential reduction of the chain drift bias. The chain drift occurs if the index differs from unity when prices and quantities revert back to their base level. In the paper we present situations on the market leading to the serious chain drift bias. Our main hypothesis is that lagging consumers’ reaction to price changes is the cause of the chain drift effect. Moreover, the article is an attempt to answer the question whether the correlation of prices and quantities may have an influence on the scale and sign of the bias of the measurement of price dynamics. The study focuses also on the scale of over- and underestimation the target full-window multilateral indices by their corresponding splicing extensions. Finally, the paper verifies a hypothesis that the identity test is a key property in reducing chain drift bias. In order to verify the above research problems, both empirical and simulation studies were carried out. Our main result is the confirmation of earlier suspicions that delayed consumer response and price-quantity correlation are determinants of chain drift bias.
Interstellar Polarization Survey. II. General Interstellar Medium
Authors: Versteeg M. J. F. , Magalhães A. M. , Haverkorn M. , Angarita Y. , Rodrigues C. V. , Santos-Lima R. , Kawabata Koji S.
Published: February 2023

Magnetic fields permeate the entire Galaxy and are essential to, for example, the regulation of several stages of the star formation process and cosmic-ray transportation. Unraveling their properties, such as intensity and topology, is an observational challenge that requires combining different and complementary techniques. The polarization of starlight due to the absorption by field-aligned nonspherical dust grains provides a unique source of information about the interstellar magnetic field in the optical band. This work introduces a first analysis of a new catalog of optical observations of linearly polarized starlight in the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM), the Interstellar Polarization Survey–General ISM (IPS-GI). We used data from the IPS-GI, focusing on 38 fields sampling lines of sight in the diffuse medium. The fields are about 0.°3 × 0.°3 in size, and each of them contains ∼1000 stars, on average. The IPS-GI catalog has polarimetric measurements of over 40,000 stars, over 18,000 of which have P/σ

P
> 5. We added distances and other parameters from auxiliary catalogs to over 36,000 of these stars. We analyzed parameter distributions and correlations between parameters of a high-quality subsample of 10,516 stars (i.e., ∼275 stars per field). As expected, the degree of polarization tends to increase with the extinction, producing higher values of polarization at greater distances or lower absolute Galactic latitudes. Furthermore, we find evidence for a large-scale ordered Galactic magnetic field.
Strongest Coronal Magnetic Fields in Solar Cycles 23 and 24: Probing, Statistics, and Implications
Authors: Fedenev Viktor V. , Anfinogentov Sergey A. , Fleishman Gregory D.
Published: February 2023

A strong coronal magnetic field, when present, manifests itself as bright microwave sources at high frequencies produced by the gyroresonant (GR) emission mechanism in thermal coronal plasma. The highest frequency at which this emission is observed is proportional to the absolute value of the strongest coronal magnetic field on the line of sight. Although no coronal magnetic field larger than roughly 2000 G has been expected, recently a field at least 2 times larger has been reported. Here, we report on a search for and a statistical study of such strong coronal magnetic fields using high-frequency GR emission. A historic record of spatially resolved microwave observations at high frequencies, 17 and 34 GHz, is available from the Nobeyama RadioHeliograph for a period covering more than 20 yr (1995–2018). Here, we employ this data set to identify sources of bright GR emission at 34 GHz and perform a statistical analysis of the identified GR cases to quantify the strongest coronal magnetic fields during two solar cycles. We found that although active regions with a strong magnetic field are relatively rare (less than 1% of all active regions), they appear regularly on the Sun. These active regions are associated with prominent manifestations of solar activity.
Environments of Type Ia Supernovae with Different Relative Equivalent Widths of the Si ii Feature in Their Spectra
Authors: Meng Xiang-Cun , Zhang Ju-Jia , Zhao Xulin , Li Li-Ping , Wang Xiao-Feng
Published: February 2023

Although type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are very important in many astrophysical fields, such as cosmology, their explosion mechanisms and progenitor systems still remain unclear. In physics, the relative equivalent width (REW) of the Si ii 635.5 nm absorption feature reflects the velocity interval of the silicon in the SN ejecta, which may then provide constraints on the explosion mechanisms of SNe Ia. In this paper, we divide the SNe Ia into broad-line (BL) and normal-line (NL) subsamples, based on the REW of the Si ii 635.5 nm absorption lines around their maximum lights, and we find that the BL SNe Ia have a dimmer mean brightness than the NL ones, which is possibly a result of their different metallicities. However, based on a pixel statistics study of the environments of the two subsamples, we do not find any significant potential differences in the environments of the BL and NL SNe Ia, which implies that the explosion mechanisms of SNe Ia could be independent of their progenitor populations.
A Possible Chemical Clock in High-mass Star-forming Regions: N(HC3N)/N(N2H+)?
Authors: Wang 汪 Y. X. 友鑫 , Zhang 张 J. S. 江水 , Yu 余 H. Z. 鸿智 , Wang 王 Y. 尧 , Yan 闫 Y. T. 耀庭 , Chen 陈 J. L. 家梁 , Zhao 赵 J. Y. 洁瑜 , Zou 邹 Y. P. 益鹏
Published: February 2023

We conducted observations of multiple HC3N (J = 10−9, 12−11, and 16−15) lines and the N2H+ (J = 1−0) line toward a large sample of 61 ultracompact (UC) H ii regions, through the Institut de Radioastronomie Millmétrique 30 m and the Arizona Radio Observatory 12 m telescopes. The N2H+
J = 1−0 line is detected in 60 sources and HC3N is detected in 59 sources, including 40 sources with three lines, 9 sources with two lines, and 10 sources with one line. Using the rotational diagram, the rotational temperature and column density of HC3N were estimated toward sources with at least two HC3N lines. For 10 sources with only one HC3N line, their parameters were estimated, taking one average value of T
rot. For N2H+, we estimated the optical depth of the N2H+
J = 1−0 line, based on the line intensity ratio of its hyperfine structure lines. Then the excitation temperature and column density were calculated. When combining our results in UC H ii regions and previous observation results on high-mass starless cores, the N(HC3N)/N(N2H+) ratio clearly increases from the region stage. This means that the abundance ratio changes with the evolution of high-mass star-forming regions (HMSFRs). Moreover, positive correlations between the ratio and other evolutionary indicators (dust temperature, bolometric luminosity, and luminosity-to-mass ratio) are found. Thus we propose the ratio of N(HC3N)/N(N2H+) as a reliable chemical clock of HMSFRs.
The world’s largest cave fish from Meghalaya, Northeast India, is a new species, Neolissochilus pnar (Cyprinidae, Torinae)
Authors: Dahanukar Neelesh , Sundar Remya L. , Rangad Duwaki , Proudlove Graham , Raghavan Rajeev
Published: February 2023

The world’s largest subterranean fish was discovered in 2019, and was tentatively identified as a troglomorphic form of the golden mahseer, Tor putitora. Detailed analyses of its morphometric and meristic data, and results from molecular analyses now reveal that it is a new species of the genus Neolissochilus, the sister taxon of Tor. We formally describe the new species as Neolissochilus pnar, honouring the tribal communities of East Jaintia hills in Meghalaya, Northeast India, from where it was discovered. Neolissochilus pnar possesses a number of characters unique among species of Neolissochilus, with the exception of the similarly subterranean N. subterraneus from Thailand. The unique characters that diagnose N. pnar from all epigean congeners comprise highly reduced eye size to complete absence of externally visible eyes, complete lack of pigmentation, long maxillary barbels, long pectoral-fin rays, and scalation pattern. Neolissochilus pnar is distinguished from the hypogean N. subterraneus, the type locality of which is a limestone cave ~2000 kms away in Central Thailand, by a lesser pre-pelvic length (47.8–49.4 vs. 50.5–55.3 %SL), a shorter caudal peduncle (16.1–16.8 vs. 17.8–23.7 %SL), and shorter dorsal fin (17.4–20.8 vs. 21.5–26.3 %SL). In addition, Neolissochilus pnar is also genetically and morphologically distinct from its close congeners with a raw genetic divergence of 1.1–2.7% in the COI gene with putative topotype of N. hexastichus and 2.1–2.6% with putative topotype of N. hexagonolepis.
Obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges
Authors: Jung Mi-Hyang , Shin Mi-Seung
Published: February 2023

The prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has increased in recent decades. In particular, obesity-related HFpEF is a distinct and frequently encountered phenotype; however, its diagnosis is complex. Furthermore, the management of obesity-related HFpEF has not been established despite the introduction of promising drugs. This review summarizes the diagnostic challenges, pathophysiology, and therapeutic options for obesity-related HFpEF.
The Impact of Information System Design Quality on E-Learning Systems Performance
Authors: Altarawneh Haroon , Tarawneh Mohammad Mahmoud
Published: February 2023

Advanced technology-based educational practices have emerged as a constructive growth trend in the sustainable educational market. As a result, using informational communication practices in a developed market has resulted in better communicative approaches during the global pandemic situation. Creating engaging content in the educational process empirically ensured the student engagement level. This research aims to identify the impact of information systems on quality emergence aspects in e-Learning system performance. Furthermore, understanding the scope of the education process using e-Learning systems, identifying the impact of information systems on quality design in the e-Learning platform, and evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of the e-Learning platform. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has been used for quality assurance and sustainable growth development in educational practices. Advanced information system design with proper monitoring approaches has improved the situation. A model is proposed to illustrate the relationship between information systems design and e-learning performance. The higher the level of quality in information system design, the higher the level of performance of the e-learning system, and thus the higher the degree of learning quality output.
Collaborative Lesson Planning for CLIL Student Teachers of Primary Education
Authors: Espinar Magdalena Custodio
Published: February 2023

The introduction of content and language integrated learning (CLIL) in mainstream education in Spain demands specific teaching competencies. For this, Spanish universities have adapted the design of their degrees in education to meet the challenges of this demanding scenario. However, there is still a heterogeneous scenario among Spanish universities for preparing prospective teachers for CLIL. This chapter aims at exploring the profile of the primary education teacher specialized in CLIL teaching and proposing a collaborative lesson planning task likely to develop some key competencies of this profile in a group of student teachers. The collaborative lesson plannings designed by students are described and discussed in relation to recent literature. Moreover, the answers of 17 of these students to a questionnaire are analyzed to unveil the potential of this type of training for actually developing the collaborative competence of prospective CLIL primary teachers. A final reflection on the need to provide more homogeneous preparation connected to the CLIL classroom is also provided.
Bilingual Education and Attention to Diversity
Authors: Durán-Martínez Ramiro , Martín-Pastor Elena
Published: February 2023

Inclusive and bilingual education programs are two facets that can define quality education today. This chapter begins by focusing on the convergence between inclusion and bilingual education through a brief analysis of the impact of both in the field of education, and then addresses the principles that define content and language integrated learning (CLIL) and universal design for learning (UDL) approaches. Starting from the aspects shared by CLIL and UDL, five strategies and an example of an educational resource are presented that respond to the needs and characteristics of all students in primary education classrooms. This proposal can serve, in turn, as an element of reflection and analysis for future primary school teachers involved in bilingual programs.
Teaching Physical Education Through English
Authors: Valverde-Esteve Teresa , Salvador-García Celina , Ruiz-Madrid María Noelia
Published: February 2023

Applying a learning-practice approach to CLIL in teacher education may be instrumental not only to promote the development of CLIL professional skills, but also to improve pre-service teachers' ‘effective personality.' This chapter provides, first, a detailed description of a specific course of physical education teacher education that has been successfully applied for three years, in which pre-service teachers are required to implement CLIL through a learning-practice approach. Subsequently, it presents an explanatory mixed-methods study to examine how pre-service teachers' effective personality was influenced by the learning-practice approach to CLIL used. Informed by the results obtained, the chapter finishes by sharing some clues on how to foster effective personality through CLIL teacher training to help lecturers design and develop proper CLIL teacher development activities.
Chatbots as Motivational Agents
Authors: Le-Nguyen Huong-Tra , Tran Trung Thanh
Published: February 2023

Chatbots have offered numerous useful applications to a range of market industries due to their absolute benefit of saving costs and eliminating unneeded work for employees. This state had a greater impact on other features than on itself. With the aid of chatbots, the efficiency, competency, and productivity of labor and processes have been maximized on a scale that transcends human capabilities. As a result of such a profitable conclusion for firms and businesses, which stimulates additional skills of both humans and machines, it is argued that chatbots are not only a useful tool but also motivational agents.
Conversational AI Chatbots in Digital Engagement
Authors: S. Uma
Published: February 2023

Digital transformation and globalisation have taken the online business to the next frontier, embracing the customer engagements with conversational artificial intelligence or chatbots. Chatbots are deployed across several industries ranging from e-commerce to healthcare. While the advantages of using chatbots are enormous, chatbots also introduce certain pitfalls. A lack of diversity among creators may result in biased responses from the chatbot. Though chatbots are widely used, not all of their security issues are satisfactorily resolved. It causes significant security issues and risks, which needs immediate attention. Many chatbots are built on top of social/messaging platforms, which has its own set of terms and conditions governing data collection and usage. This work gives a detailed analysis of security considerations in the context of communication with bots. This chapter has the potential to spark a debate and draw attention to the issues surrounding data storage and usage of chatbots to protect users.
BRAF/Mitogen-activated Extracellular Signal-related Kinase Inhibitors Induced Sarcoid-like Reaction in Patients with Refractory Localized Conjunctival Melanoma
Authors: Kennedy Susan , Kulakova Karina , Crown John
Published: February 2023

We present a rare case of a patient with refractory localized conjunctival melanoma (CM) who was treated with BRAF/mitogen-activated extracellular signal-related kinase inhibitors in the absence of systemic metastasis. The patient had complete remission and developed a local sarcoid-like reaction. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this complication in a patient with locally advanced CM which emphasizes the local complication of BRAF inhibition.
Clinical Impact of Drug Adherence of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Children with Ph-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Wang Jun-Xia , Yang Miao-Miao , Liu Li-Peng , Zhang Hui-Min , Wang Meng-Chuan , Chen Yu-Wen , Zang Xiao-Ying , Hu Fang
Published: February 2023

Purpose This study aimed to explore the impact of ABL1–tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) adherence on the survival of chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) children and clarify the potential predictors of patients’ prognosis from TKIs intake practices.Materials and Methods Ninety newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL patients who received TKIs were enrolled. We collected the baseline characteristics and adverse events in all children; moreover, TKIs adherence was measured by an eight-item Morisky medication adherence scale (MMAS-8). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) analysis were performed, and risk factors for PFS and OS were evaluated.Results Among all patients, 69 cases were regarded as adherers, while 21 were non-adherers. The median duration of TKIs interruption was significantly prolonged in the non-adherence group than in the adherence group (13 [0-101] vs. 56 [11-128], p < 0.001). Additionally, dose reduction occurred in 55.2% of non-adherers versus 23.0% of adherers (p=0.002). The PFS and OS in adherers were significantly higher versus non-adherers (p=0.020 and p=0.039). MMAS-8 score was an independent risk factor for PFS (p=0.010) and OS (p=0.031). Among non-adherers, the median OS was only 23.1% (4.2%-42%) in patients aged ≤ 10 years versus 54.4% (38.8%-70%) in adolescents. Most of the patients who experienced TKIs non-adherence suffered pancytopenia.Conclusion TKIs adherence during treatment significantly influenced the survival of pediatric Ph+ ALL patients, and non-adherers with age ≤ 10 years were more vulnerable to TKIs disruption. The cumulative TKIs dose should be especially emphasized to patients with age ≤ 10 years, which may result in an inferior achievement of relevant treatment milestones.
Reduced Diarrhea Prevalence and Improvements in Handwashing with Soap and Stored Drinking Water Quality Associated with Diarrheal Disease Awareness Measured by Interactive Voice Response Messages in the CHoBI7 Mobile Health Program
Authors: Bhuyian Md Sazzadul Islam , Perin Jamie , Endres Kelly , Zohura Fatema , Masud Jahed , Parvin Tahmina , Uddin Ismat Minhaj , Hasan Tasdik , Monira Shirajum , Sack David A. , Faruque Abu S. G. , Alam Munirul , George Christine Marie
Published: February 2023

The Cholera-Hospital-Based-Intervention-for-7-Days (CHoBI7) mobile health program promotes water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) behaviors through interactive voice response (IVR), voice, and text messages to reduce diarrheal diseases in Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between responses to CHoBI7 WASH IVR quiz messages and subsequent diarrhea and WASH behaviors. Fourteen CHoBI7 IVR quiz messages on handwashing with soap and treatment of stored water were sent to 517 households with 1,777 participants during the 12-month program period. IVR message responses were classified as correct answer, incorrect answer, no response (did not press 1 or 2), and failed (did not answer the phone). Diarrhea prevalence was assessed through self-reported monthly clinical surveillance visits. Handwashing with soap was assessed by a 5-hour structured observation, and stored water quality was defined by Escherichia coli concentration. Households that responded correctly to a CHoBI7 IVR quiz message had significantly lower odds of diarrhea for all age groups (adults and children) at the subsequent visit 1 month later (odds ratio [OR], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.54–0.98), and significantly greater odds of handwashing with soap after stool-related events (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.12–5.49) and E. coli levels < 100 colony forming units (CFU)/100 mL (World Health Organization high-risk cutoff) in the stored household water (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.25–3.33) compared with households that did not answer CHoBI7 IVR quiz calls. Correct responses to CHoBI7 IVR quizzes were associated with decreased diarrhea prevalence and improved stored drinking water quality and handwashing with soap behaviors at the subsequent visits. These findings suggest engagement in the CHoBI7 mobile health (mHealth) program and awareness of diarrheal disease prevention can reduce diarrhea and facilitate changes in WASH behaviors.
Factors of COVID-19 Vaccine Perception among Transport Drivers in Singapore: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study
Authors: Huizi Lim Evelyn , Fong Ngan Phoon , Pang Junxiong
Published: February 2023

Transport drivers have high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 during COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines can reduce disease severity. However, COVID-19 vaccine perception among transport drivers is unknown. To identify the key factors influencing vaccine perception of transport drivers in Singapore, a cross-sectional pilot study was conducted. One hundred four completed survey responses were collected between September 2021 and February 2022. Using multivariable logistic regression, education, general vaccine knowledge and attitude, practice of social distancing, misinformation of rare vaccine side effects, and perceiving the pandemic situation to be severe were independently associated with vaccine perception. Despite high vaccination coverage, there were substantial poor vaccine perception, vaccine hesitancy, and unwillingness to take third dose. Vaccination rate may thus not be an accurate reflection of true vaccine acceptance. Communication strategies need to focus on correcting knowledge gaps, instilling collectivist attitudes, and highlighting the importance of vaccination over social distancing to enhance booster uptake rate.
Case Report: Fatal Scorpion Envenomation in a Shuar Child by Tityus cisandinus from Amazonian Ecuador: A Call for Specific Antivenom Availability in the Amazon Basin
Authors: Borges Adolfo , Román Juan P.
Published: February 2023

Envenomation by scorpions belonging to the genus Tityus can be life threatening in the Americas, particularly in the Amazon Basin. We report a 4-month-old Ecuadorean boy of Shuar origin stung by a scorpion identified as Tityus cisandinus in the Amazonian province of Morona Santiago, presenting with pulmonary edema and systemic inflammation. We administered immunotherapy using the scorpion antivenom available in Ecuador, of Mexican origin (anti-Centruroides). Catecholamine discharge-related events such as hyperglycemia and thrombocytosis were resolved after treatment but leukocytosis did not, suggesting that factors associated with the sting-admission delay and specificity of antivenom played a role in the envenomation outcome. Cardiorespiratory arrest determined a fatal outcome, despite specific maneuvers. The case severity and the limited supply of nonspecific scorpion antivenoms in problematic areas of Amazonian Ecuador and elsewhere in northwestern Amazonia are discussed in regard to the need for specific therapeutic immunoglobulins in the area and in the Amazon Basin as a whole.
Wykorzystanie psychoterapii poznawczo-behawioralnej w radzeniu sobie z nadmiernym stresem
Authors: Dziektarz Aleksandra , Wójcik Sylwia
Published: February 2023

Obecna sytuacja na świecie – utrzymująca się od ponad dwóch lat pandemia COVID-19 oraz trwająca od końca lutego 2022 r. wojna w Ukrainie – doprowadziła do wzrostu niepokoju, lęku i braku poczucia bezpieczeństwa. Naruszenie stabilizacji oraz trudności w zaspokajaniu potrzeb sprzyjają utrzymywaniu się nadmiernego, destrukcyjnego stresu, co z kolei wpływa na rozwój za- burzeń psychicznych i chorób odstresowych. Niniejszy artykuł ma na celu przybliżenie roli psychoterapii poznawczo-behawioralnej w leczeniu zaburzeń rozwijających się w związku z doświadczaniem nadmiernego stresu oraz przedstawienie technik pomocnych w radzeniu sobie z napięciem psychofizycznym, które można wykorzystywać zarówno w trakcie psychoterapii, jak i stosować samemu w ramach dbania o własne zdrowie. W opracowaniu przybliżono mechanizm działania i komponenty stresu, przedstawiono również właściwości psychoterapii poznawczo-behawioralnej jako nurtu o naukowo udowodnionej skuteczności, oferującego metody leczenia wielu zaburzeń psychicznych i bogatego w konkretne, ustrukturyzowane i empirycznie sprawdzone techniki pracy.

ABSTRACT

Using cognitive-behavioral therapy in managing excessive stress

The current global situation – the pandemic of COVID-19 which has persisted for two years, and the war in Ukraine lasting from the end of February 2022 – led to the increase of anxiety and fear, and the loss of complacency. The violation of stability and difficulties in addressing needs foster the endurance of excessive, destructive stress, which, in turn, contributes to the development of mental disorders and stress-related illnesses. This article is intended to describe the role of cognitive-behavioral therapy in the context of treating disorders related to excessive stress, and to present some techniques helpful in coping with psychophysical tension, which may be either used during psychotherapy, or as part of one’s individual healthcare. This paper presents not only the mechanisms and components of stress, and its characteristics, but it also describes cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy as an approach of scientifically proven effectiveness, offering various methods of treatment for many mental disorders, and rich in specific, structured and empirical work techniques.
Spatial patterns of economic activities in Łódź
Authors: Lamprecht Mariusz
Published: February 2023

The article contains the results of the analysis on the distribution of economic activities in modern Łódź conducted with the use of space syntax tools. The study encompassed selected street sections in the broadly-understood city centre (in total, approx. 30 km of streets, with more than 1300 recorded business locations). The analysis conducted has shown that the observed density of business activities in Łódź is connected to the spatial arrangement of the global street network integration. The configuration of the Łódź plan is a statistically important factor that influences the spatial patterns of economic activities. Depending on the location within the layout, individual street sections provide various conditions for the development of business activities, therefore they have varying significance to the shaping of the internal, economic image of the city area.
Responding to the crisis: Implications of the challenges and opportunities of being a Church during COVID-19
Authors: Mncube Dumisani Wilfred , Ngema Thandiwe Nonkululeko
Published: February 2023

A global crisis of the magnitude of COVID-19 needs churches that have a deep wealth of knowledge, faith and wisdom to provide leadership when such a pandemic shakes the very foundations of human society. Such a crisis can lead to seismic changes, but often does not; it simply clarifies current challenges and possibilities for society. In Christian churches, the widespread virtual streaming of important Easter and Sunday sermons had a palpable impact on church life as such. This study investigates the challenges and opportunities of being a Church during the worst of times in the history of the Church. It uses a qualitative methodology. Four of the churches in KwaZulu-Natal were used as a case study. One leader in each church was purposively selected to participate in the data generation process. Furthermore, two ordinary members in each church were interviewed to explore how the faith communities are coping with responding to lockdown, social isolation, and physical distancing. The findings revealed that both church leaders and congregants were psychologically traumatised, and thought this crisis was a wake-up call to capacitate the church to respond to such eventualities with one voice. The study recommends swift and immediate intervention that will change the outlook of the Church to reform business as usual to be technologically oriented.
Carcass characteristics of Nordic native cattle breeds
Authors: Therkildsen Margrethe , Vestergaard Mogens , Kargo Morten , Keto Liisa , Ertbjerg Per , Thorkelsson Gudjon , Gudjónsdóttir Maria , Kjetså Maria , Honkatukia Mervi , Egelandsdal Bjørg , Svartedal Nina , Røe Morten , Fikse Freddy W. , Karlsson Anders H. , Hessle Anna
Published: February 2023

Native livestock breeds are part of the history of the Nordic people and comprise a resource for future food production. In this study, net gain and carcass characteristics of two Danish, three Finnish, one Icelandic, six Norwegian and five Swedish native cattle breeds were retrieved and compared to commercial breeds: two beef breeds and two dairy breeds. Breed data were collected from national databases and sorted into six animal categories: young bull, bull, steer, heifer, young cow and cow, for which means and standard deviations were calculated within each country. The native breeds ranged from small-sized milking type breeds with low net gain, carcass weights and EUROP classification to larger multipurpose breeds with high net gains, carcass weights and EUROP classification.
All Finnish and most of the Norwegian and Swedish native breeds had lower net gain and carcass weight than the dairy breeds in the same category and country, but with similar carcass conformation and fatness scores. The two Danish native breeds had higher net gain, carcass weight and conformation class than the reference dairy breed, but lower than the reference beef breeds. The net gain and carcass traits of the Icelandic native breed were similar to the smallest-sized native breeds from the other countries. The carcass traits of the native breeds indicate that they have comparative advantages in an extensive production system based on forage and marginal grasslands. They may also succeed better in the value-added markets than in mainstream beef production.
German Colonies of St. Petersburg Province
Authors: Shaidurov Vladimir N. , Erokhina Olga V.
Published: February 2023

Russia of the 18th – 19th centuries faced a crucial challenge of sparsely populated suburbs consolidation through their economic development. Acute shortage of work force to be involved for transformation of Novorossiya, the steppes of the North Caucasus and the Middle Volga region, Siberia and some other regions into the centers of commodity agriculture and industrial production, forced the authorities to turn to the use of European experience and place a bet on foreign colonization. Central Europe, devastated by the Seven-Year War, brought to life tens of thousands of potential colonists, who answered the call of Empress Catherine the Great to move to the unoccupied lands of the Russian Empire. Since 1765, the first colonies (Novo-Saratovka, Srednaya Rogatka, Yamburg and Izhora colonies) were formed near St. Petersburg. Investigation of the history of these settlements in the imperial period is extremely poor in modern historiography. The article examines the initial period of their existence (1765 – 1800s). It took about 30 years for German colonists to adapt to new living conditions. Some colonies (Srednaya Rogatka) became centers of commodity production of agricultural products (potatoes, etc.), sold in the capital-city market, at the beginning of the 19th century already. Experiments on the advanced multi-field system implementation, initiated by Semyon Dzhunkovsky, opened the way to increase productivity and income of the colonists. The new crop rotation system spurted into popularity not only in the colonies, but in the neighboring settlements of Russian peasants as well. The article is intended for specialists engaged in the study of agrarian development, ethnic minorities of Russia in the imperial period.
Dialects of the Germans of Russia and Kazakhstan
Authors: Shlegel Elena A.
Published: February 2023

The linguistic diversity of the Germans in Russia and Kazakhstan is due to the migration of ethnic groups to the territory of the Russian Empire from the lands of Germany and subsequent migrations within the country. Some ethnic Germans use the dialect in speech, for them it is their native language, the rest of the Germans speak literary German to varying degrees, and Russian is considered their native language. Today, it is impossible to uniquely identify one native language for an ethnic group, as Germans speak different dialects of German. The purpose of the study is to determine the states of the modern dialect language of the Germans of Russia and Kazakhstan, to consider how dialects were historically spread throughout the country, and how dialects are preserved now. The article considers the territorial distribution of dialects in Russia, primarily Siberia, where the majority of Germans live, as well as the circulation of German dialects in Kazakhstan after the deportation of Germans. The central part of the article is devoted to the modern state of dialects, which are preserved primarily in places of compact settlement of Germans. The article makes use of the results of ethno-sociological surveys of Germans in Russia and Kazakhstan on the issues of dialects, and analyzes contemporary methods of preserving and translating the language. Conclusions: dialects are preserved where Germans live compactly. The author notes that there are negative trends in the process of preserving dialects, but German public organizations today solve many problems concerning dialects.
Nakhichevan Armenian Colony on the Don (1779-1870)
Authors: Batiev Levon V.
Published: February 2023

The article is devoted to the study of the Armenian colony of New Nakhichevan on the Lower Don with an emphasis on institutional aspects, which should help in solving the general task of analyzing the mechanisms and methods of effective self-organization of ethno-cultural groups in a foreign environment in different times.

The author assumes that the system of self-government, formed on the basis of Catherine the II’s letter of grant, was an important tool for ensuring the identity and preserving the ethno-cultural specificity of the residents of Nakhichevan-on-Don and five Armenian villages of the Armenian district.

A characteristic feature of its public administration was its formation on an ethnic basis – it united the Armenians (urban and rural residents) who had migrated from the Crimea. The legal basis of the colony was, in addition to the all-Russian laws, the Armenian “rights and customs”. At the same time, from the very first years of the colony’s foundation there started a process of its quite close integration into the all-Russian system of administration as well as gradual limitation of the granted privileges and benefits in other issues. Limitation of independence of the colony occurred in connection with the gradual unification of urban governance, and it was also associated with an increase in the Orthodox (Russian) population of the city. Full and final transition to the all-Russian model occurred in the era of “great reforms”.

Nevertheless, until the February Revolution of 1917 and the radical democratization of suffrage (“four-tail”) the Armenian element entirely dominated the city authorities. After the complete loss of influence in the city Duma, the Armenian community had to create the “Nakhichevan on the Don Armenian Community” in the form of national-cultural autonomy in order to preserve its ethnic identity.

The self-government of Nakhichevan provided internal stability and the possibility to preserve the ethno-cultural identity. The rapid socio-economic development of the region and the ethno-demographic changes inevitably led to assimilation processes. The loss of autonomy and actual dominance in Nakhichevan-on-Don by the Armenian part of the population only accelerated these processes.
Judaic Communities of the Crimea and Internal Colonization in the Russian Empire (at the end of 18th – on the First Half of 19th Centuries)
Authors: Prokhorov Dmitry A. , Latysheva Elena V.
Published: February 2023

At the end of the 18th – in the beginning of the 19th century in Crimea there took place significant changes in the ethnic and confessional spheres. The eviction of Christians, the mass emigration of the Crimean Tatars led to a reduction in the population. The Russian authorities have begun to implement measures to settle Novorossia in general and Crimea in particular with colonists from internal provinces and migrants from abroad. One of the main issues in the study of the past of the Jewish communities of Crimea is the problem of transforming the identity of the old-time population. The domestic policy of the Russian government in the “national regions” at the end of the 18th – in the first half of the 19th century greatly complicated interethnic and interfaith relations both between Jewish rabbis and representatives of the “titular” nation of the empire, and between the Karaite and rabbinic communities of Crimea. The Karaites had to prove their difference from the Rabbinical Jews in order to achieve civil and economic preferences. The assistance of the government in many matters allowed the Karaites to strengthen their economic and legal position. The paper analyzes the legislative acts and resolutions adopted by the Russian government in relation to Jewish rabbis and Karaites. In the legal field of the Russian Empire, the Karaites received a new legal status according to which they were granted various rights and freedoms. On the other hand, the tax burden and social oppression against the Jewish population increased.
On the Universal Access to the Primary School Education in the Orenburg Region at the Beginning of the 20th Century (Based on the Materials of the Turgay Region)
Authors: Lysenko Yuliya A.
Published: February 2023

For the first time in historiography the article analyzes the experience of universal access to elementary school education for children from 8 to 11 years old in the Turgay region of the Orenburg governorship on the basis of records of the Turgay regional school inspector, the trustee of the Orenburg school district, the Turgay regional government, found in the Russian State Historical Archive. The purpose of this article is to reconstruct this process, its results and regional characteristics. It was determined that the reform was carried out in line with all-Russian trends. At the same time, a number of peculiarities of the region were taken into account: its multi-ethnicity and multi-confessional character, high rates of peasant migration, and lack of local self-government bodies. Therefore, the construction and maintenance of primary schools in Turgay region was carried out at the expense of the state. The author concludes that the administration of the Orenburg school district failed to implement the idea of universal primary school education. The reason was insufficient funding for school construction, the dispersed settlement of peasant settlers in the region, the mismatch rate of peasant migration to the pace of school construction, etc. At the same time the reform had a positive value, as it provided the integration of the regional education system into the imperial educational space. The article is intended for specialists in the history of social policy of the Russian Empire.
MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION-MAKING FOR ELECTRIC BICYCLE SELECTION
Authors:   Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Hanoi University of Industry, Hanoi, Vietnam, Van Huy Trinh , Quang Quyet Nguyen , Huu Binh Vu , Minh Hoang Tran , Thuy Tien Nguyen Thi , Thi Nga Dao , Quoc Doan Nguyen , Hoang Tu Pham , Duc Trung Do
Published: February 2023

Electric bicycle is a vehicle which is used widely in all the citys and provinces of Vietnam. However, it’s hard to choose “the most suitable” or “the best” type of electric bicycle because each type has different criteria (parameters). To choose out the best option, we need to consider all the alternatives at once. That is called multi-criteria decision-making. This research used three multi-criteria decision-making methods include SAW method, MARCOS method and PSI method to choose from seven best-selling types of electric bicycle on the market in 2022. All the methods which were used chose out the same best electric bicycle type and the same worst bicycle type. And so, among seven types of electric bicycle which include M133 mini, M133 Sport 2022, Aima 133AM, Nijia – PA4, DK 133M, Yadea iGo and Yadea i3, the best type is Aima 133AM, in contrast, Yadea iGo is considered the worst type. Things that need to be done in the folowing researches were proposed in the last part of this paper.
Standard Setting in Student Assessment: Is a Defensible Method Yet to Come?
Authors: Barman A
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Setting, maintaining and re-evaluation of assessment standard periodically are important issues in medical education. The cut-off scores are often “pulled from the air” or set to an arbitrary percentage. A large number of methods/procedures used to set standard or cut score are described in literature. There is a high degree of uncertainty in performance standard set by using these methods. Standards set using the existing methods reflect the subjective judgment of the standard setters. This review is not to describe the existing standard setting methods/procedures but to narrate the validity, reliability, feasibility and legal issues relating to standard setting. Materials and Methods: This review is on some of the issues in standard setting based on the published articles of educational assessment researchers. Results: Standard or cut-off score should be to determine whether the examinee attained the requirement to be certified competent. There is no perfect method to determine cut score on a test and none is agreed upon as the best method. Setting standard is not an exact science. Legitimacy of the standard is supported when performance standard is linked to the requirement of practice. Test-curriculum alignment and content validity are important for most educational test validity arguments. Conclusion: Representative percentage of must-know learning objectives in the curriculum may be the basis of test items and pass/fail marks. Practice analysis may help in identifying the must-know areas of curriculum. Cut score set by this procedure may give the credibility, validity, defensibility and comparability of the standard. Constructing the test items by subject experts and vetted by multi-disciplinary faculty members may ensure the reliability of the test as well as the standard. Key words: Difficulty and discriminating indices, Judges and judgment, Legal issues, Practicability, Reliability, Validity