bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Speech-language therapist and teacher knowledge of early literacy skills
Authors: Krimm Hannah
Published: May 2022

Purpose: The purposes of this study were: (a) to compare speech-language therapists’ (SLTs’) and general education teachers’ perceived skill for providing early reading and writing instruction and (b) to compare SLTs’ and teachers’ knowledge of early reading and writing skills. Method: SLTs (n = 28) and general education teachers (n = 25) participated in this study. Participants completed a self-assessment of their own skill level for providing early reading and writing instruction and an objective measure of their knowledge of early reading and writing skills. Results: There was a significant difference between groups in self-assessment of current skill for delivering early reading and writing instruction; SLTs rated their own current skill as lower than teachers rated their own current skill. There was not a significant difference in knowledge of early reading and writing skills between SLTs and teachers. Conclusions: SLTs and teachers can benefit from continued professional development related to providing evidence-based reading and writing instruction. Because of their different perceptions of their own skills, professional development may need to be approached differently for SLTs and teachers. Future research will examine specific areas of knowledge strength and weakness for SLTs and teachers.
Differential hypoxemia and the clinical significance of venous drainage position during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Falk Lars , Hultman Jan , Broman Lars M
Published: May 2022

Differential hypoxemia (DH) has been recognized as a clinical problem during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) although its features and consequences have not been fully elucidated.

This single center retrospective study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients manifesting DH as well as the impact of repositioning the drainage point from the inferior vena cava (IVC) to the superior vena cava to alleviate DH.

All patients (>15 years) commenced on VA ECMO at our center between 2009 and 2020 were screened. Of 472 eligible patients seven were identified with severe DH. All patients had the drainage cannula tip in the IVC or at the junction between the IVC and right atrium.

The mean peripheral capillary saturation increased from 54 (±6.6) to 86 (±6.6) %, ( p = <0.001) after repositioning of the cannula. Pre-oxygenator saturation increased from 62 (±8.9) % prior to adjustment to 74 (±3.7) %, ( p = 0.016) after repositioning. Plasma lactate tended to decrease within 24 h after adjustment. Five patients (71%) survived ECMO treatment, to discharge from hospital, and were alive at 1-year follow-up.

Although DH has been described in several studies, the condition has not been investigated in a clinical setting comparing the effect on upper body saturation before and after repositioning of the drainage cannula. This study shows that moving the drainage zone into the upper part of the body has a marked positive effect on upper body saturation in patients with DH.
Perfusion of brain and viscera using modified retrograde cerebral perfusion for aortic arch surgery
Authors: Yu Xiang , Lin Jing , Xiong Jiyue , Liu Xiali , Tang Zongcheng , Du Lei
Published: May 2022

Anterograde or retrograde cerebral perfusion can protect the brain from ischemic injury during hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA), but neither type of perfusion provides blood flow to the abdominal viscera. Here, we report a modified retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) technique in which we tethered both superior and inferior venae cavae with bands around the cannula and clamped the distal ends of the drainage tubes of both venae cavae. Modified RCP may provide greater blood flow to the brain and lower body than conventional RCP during HCA in hemiarch surgery.
Improving data adequacy of ultrasonography reports for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) through a national structured template
Authors: Seyedhasani Seyedeh Nahid , Dorri Sara , Pournik Omid , Alamdaran Seyed Ali , Eslami Saeid
Published: May 2022

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent disorder that increases due to lifestyle, the rising rate of obesity, and population ages worldwide. Diagnostic ways, including sonography, do not have an explicit reporting structure.

Purpose

To create a structure template for NAFLD reporting, investigate its completeness, and assess the specialist opinions of using it in clinical practice.

Material and Methods

A structured reporting template (SRT) was designed and implemented in four stages. At first, important features were extracted from a comprehensive literature review and were evaluated by 10 radiologists and gastroenterologists using the Likert scale. Finally, the usefulness of the SRT in comparison with the conventional reporting template (CRT) was judged by 10 gastroenterologists completing the questionnaire.

Results

Demographic information and sonography of the liver, gallbladder, and spleen organs were the most critical features. The completeness scores of SRT reports were higher than CRT scores for almost all the factors studied. The difference in the scores was significant for most of the parameters. Moreover, the total completeness score increased from 42% in CRT to 92% in SRT. A comparison of the report adequacy of two reports was seen in all items. The SRT obtained more rates from specialists.

Conclusion

Introduction of the SRT for NAFLD significantly enhanced the completeness of reporting to reduce variability in the interpretation of the related reports by clinicians. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to generalize the results in real scales for patients with NAFLD.
Resilience and Mental Health Among Regularly and Intermittently Active Older Adults: Results From a Four-Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Wermelinger Ávila Maria Priscila , Corrêa Jimilly Caputo , Zaidem Maria Clara de Castro Furtado , Passos Matheus Venancio , Sena Lomba Vasconcelos Ana Paula , Lucchetti Alessandra Lamas Granero , Lucchetti Giancarlo
Published: May 2022

Background:

This study aims to investigate whether regularly active individuals have different levels of mental health and resilience compared to intermittently active individuals.

Methods:

In this 4-year longitudinal study, 180 older people were included. General linear models were used to assess the level of physical activity, psychological resilience, and mental health among regularly and intermittently active older adults.

Results:

Those who maintained regular physical activity were more resilient than those who did not. However, no differences were observed for mental health outcomes. Although those with higher levels of resilience had fewer mental health problems, there were no significant differences between the groups based on their level of physical activity.

Conclusion:

Differences in resilience levels favoring regularly active individuals were found. In both groups, resilience was inversely associated with mental health problems. These findings may help elucidate the underlying mechanisms in the relationship between physical activity and health outcomes.
Addressing the Experiences of Family Caregivers of Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Finland
Authors: Savela Roosa-Maria , Välimäki Tarja , Nykänen Irma , Koponen Sohvi , Suominen Anna Liisa , Schwab Ursula
Published: May 2022

This cross-sectional study assessed the experiences of family caregivers of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were recruited ( n = 101) between April and December 2019. We applied a mixed-method approach. Quantitative data were analyzed using an independent samples t-test and logistic regression analysis, and qualitative experiences with modified thematic content analysis. The mean age of the family caregivers was 76 years ( SD = 7), and 72% were females. Experiences of loneliness and worry during the pandemic were evaluated by self-assessment. Approximately one-third of the participants reported loneliness and worry. These experiences were further associated with female sex, increased psychological distress and depressive symptoms, and decreased physical condition and social relationships. Family caregivers were also worried about the pandemic’s impact on health and well-being. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic has added an extra psychosocial load to family caregivers. The post-pandemic era requires increased attention to re-evaluating policies and services.
Seeing red: Reading uncivil news comments guided by personality characteristics
Authors: Santana Arthur D. , Hopp Toby
Published: May 2022

Whether on a news or a social networking site, comments following news stories are often beset with incivility. Assailed as diminishing constructive dialogue in a digital public sphere, uncivil comments nevertheless require deeper scrutiny to better understand their pervasiveness and, among some, popularity. This article uses a Uses and Gratifications framework to understand why certain people are more drawn to uncivil comments than civil ones. Using eye-tracking technology, this research compares the attention a reader gives to uncivil comments and compares it against certain personality characteristics. Findings suggest that certain readers spend more time reading uncivil comments than civil ones.
The relationship between toluene diisocyanate exposure and respiratory health problems: A meta-analysis of epidemiological studies
Authors: Antoniou Evangelia E , Zeegers Maurice P
Published: May 2022

Human epidemiological studies have shown inconclusive results over the effects of diisocyanates on respiratory health problems. A meta-analysis combined evidence on the association between occupational asthma (OA), respiratory function, and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) inhalation exposure. Sixty-one articles on occupational toluene diisocyanate exposure were identified via two databases. Fourteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of the studies. Odds ratios (ORasthma) for the association between TDI exposure compared to non-exposure and OA were calculated. The difference in mean differences (MD) of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), and the annual mean change differences—in milliliters per year (mL/yr)—in FEV1 and FVC pulmonary function between TDI exposed and non-exposed, were calculated. When applicable, a random effects meta-analysis was performed. The overall summary ORasthma for TDI exposed versus non-exposed was 1.18 (95% CI = 0.78–1.79). The summary of the predicted mean percentage difference (MD%predicted) between exposed versus non-exposed was 2.96% for FEV1 and 3.75% for FVC. A very small decrease of 5 mL/yr for FEV1 and 10 mL/yr for FVC, respectively, was observed between the exposed and the non-exposed groups. There was moderate to low heterogeneity between study results, and most studies were evaluated as high-quality. This meta-analysis found no statistically significant adverse association between TDI occupational exposure and OA. No meaningful differences in lung function were detected between exposed and unexposed groups.
A Comparison of the Timing of Hand Expressing of Human Milk With Breast Massage to Standard Care for Mothers of Preterm Infants: An Exploratory Pilot Using a Randomized Controlled Design
Authors: Anderson Loretta A. , Kildea Sue , Lee Nigel , Kynoch Kathryn , Gao Yu
Published: May 2022

Background:

Globally, 10% of all births are preterm. Access to human milk via manual breast expression is required to reduce the incidence of adverse outcomes related to prematurity. However, there is little evidence to recommend optimum timing to commence breast expression in mothers of preterm infants or the most effective method.

Research Aims:

(1) To test feasibility of recruitment and compliance to the protocol and (2) to determine influence of using hand expressing and breast massage on milk production, engorgement, mastitis, and breastfeeding status at 3 months.

Methods:

This study was an exploratory parallel two-group, pilot randomized controlled trial. Mothers of preterm infants at a metropolitan maternity hospital in Queensland Australia ( N = 31) were randomized to receive either hand expressing and breast massage within the 1st hr of birth or standard care, hand expressing within 6 hr of birth, to determine the influence on milk production, engorgement, mastitis, and breastfeeding status at 3 months.

Results:

Feasibility targets were not met; however, valuable learning from this trial uncovered barriers facing midwives in the birth suite to commencing expressing in the 1st hr of birth. There was no difference in occurrence of secondary outcomes, although trends support future study.

Conclusions:

Overall, unpredictability of preterm birth influenced our ability to recruit participants. Important directions for future study design would benefit from incorporating expressing times up to 6 hr with a replicable breast massage.
Establishing a core outcome measure for life participation in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis: A Standardised Outcomes in Nephrology–Peritoneal Dialysis consensus workshop report
Authors: Cheetham Melissa S , Wilkie Martin , Loud Fiona , Manera Karine E , Ju Angela , Figueiredo Ana , Farragher Janine , Hurst Helen , Jassal Sarbjit V , Mehrotra Rajnish , Morton Rachael L , Schwartz Daniel , Shen Jenny I , Walker Rachael , Cho Yeoungjee , Johnson David W , Craig Jonathan C , Anumudu Samaya , Baumgart Amanda , Gonzalez Andrea Matus , Scholes-Robertson Nicole , Viecelli Andrea K , Tong Allison ,   On behalf of the SONG-PD Life Participation Workshop Investigators
Published: May 2022

Background:

Life participation is an outcome of critical importance to patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). However, there is no widely accepted or validated tool for measuring life participation in patients receiving PD.

Methods:

Online consensus workshop to identify the essential characteristics of life participation as a core outcome, with the goal of establishing a patient-reported outcome measure for use in all trials in patients receiving PD. Thematic analysis of transcripts was performed.

Results:

Fifty-six participants, including 17 patients and caregivers, from 15 countries convened via online videoconference. Four themes were identified: reconfiguring expectations of daily living (accepting day-to-day fluctuation as the norm, shifting thresholds of acceptability, preserving gains in flexibility and freedom), ensuring broad applicability and interpretability (establishing cross-cultural relevance, incorporating valued activities, distinguishing unmodifiable barriers to life participation), capturing transitions between modalities and how they affect life participation (responsive to trajectory towards stable, reflecting changes with dialysis transitions) and maximising feasibility of implementation (reducing completion burden, administrable with ease and flexibility).

Conclusions:

There is a need for a validated, generalisable outcome measure for life participation in patients receiving PD. Feasibility, including length of time to complete and flexible mode of delivery, are important to allow implementation in all trials that include patients receiving PD.
Carbon emission rush in response to the carbon reduction policy in China
Authors: Qi Rui , Shi Chenchen , Wang Mark Yaolin
Published: May 2022

China has announced ambitious dual-carbon targets to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. However, due to regional differences and lack of accurate emission monitoring data, local governments have been given greater autonomy to achieve these targets. Based on semi-structured interviews and document analysis on emission peak campaigns in inland regions, this article identifies one local game strategy – ‘Dauling Dragon’ (木翼双龙) whereby local governments prioritize high emission projects to be completed by 2030 in order to create a margin for future development, a phenomenon known as ‘carbon rush’ (碳冲锋). The article explores the consequences and antecedents of such a strategy through the lens of environmental authoritarianism. It also makes a theoretical contribution to the conceptualization of the Dauling Dragon strategy, by focusing on its effects on local environmental implementation. Findings from our case study show that China’s climate ambitions, especially its long-term carbon neutrality goal, faces local political obstacles.
Microstructure, hardness, and wear properties of AA6061/WC nanocomposite fabricated by friction stir processing
Authors: Megahed A.A. , Mohamed Mostafa A , Abdel Hamid M. , Zoalfakar Said H
Published: May 2022

Friction stir processing (FSP) is a solid-state microstructural modification technique that has recently become an effective tool to refine microstructures and improve the mechanical properties of metals. In the current study, optimization of FSP parameters, including tool rotational speed, transverse feed, number of passes, and tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticle volume fractions on mechanical and wear properties of the fabricated AA6061/WC nanocomposite was studied. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy are used for microstructural observations. The process parameters are optimized using the Taguchi technique for single responses towards microhardness and weight loss and the Desirability approach for both responses. The percentage contribution of process parameters is estimated using analysis of variance. The microstructure observation shows that the proper selection of FSP parameters leads to a homogeneous dispersion of the WC particles throughout the matrix, thereby producing a defect-free AA6061/WC nanocomposite without voids. Also, the severe plastic deformation and heat generation during FSP cause the breaking of coarse particles, WC particles, and porous holes and create an ultrafine grain-sized structure via dynamic recrystallization. The results indicated that the microhardness value of the processed composite was found to be 144 VHN, which is 39.81% higher than that of the base metal. Also, the weight loss of all samples decreased as compared to the base metal. Also, it can be observed that the number of passes is the most significant factor for microhardness, with a 40.1% contribution, and for minimum weight loss, the volume fraction is the most significant factor, with a 56.94% contribution. The optimum process parameter combination was found to be 1800 rpm rotation speed, 120 mm/min of transverse feed, 6% volume fraction, and 3 passes that resulted in obtaining optimum values for micro hardness and weight loss. The surface composite developed in this research is considered a suitable material for applications demanding lightweight and enhanced surface properties, including automotive, aerospace, marine, defense, and transportation industries.
Design criteria study and simulation for underactuated symmetric pinching mechanism of pinch roll machine in high-speed wire rod product line
Authors: Yao Shuangji , Luan Yiju , Ceccarelli Marco , Wang Renquan , Zhao Dingxuan
Published: May 2022

Inspired by the underactuated robotic hand mechanism and its feature of shape adaptive and compliant envelop grasping, the paper presents an underactuated symmetric pinch mechanism to solve the problem of pinch rollers idle and slipped or pinched too tightly. Pinch roll machine is a key device in the high-speed wire rod product line. It is usually designed with actuated symmetric pinch mechanism. The paper considered the pinching and conveying condition of linear objects and discussed the possibility of the underactuated symmetric pinch mechanism to be applied in the pinch roll machine for the first time. Three kinds of underactuated symmetric pinch mechanism solutions are presented. A displacement can be generated at the underactuated joint when the symmetric synchronous pinch action is implemented. The spring system can buff the instantaneous clamping force to reduce the dynamic impact of clamping force. Suitable design criteria are deduced from statics and kinematics analysis. In the process of pinching and conveying wire rods, the contact force is required to be kept at a constant value when the size of wire rods changes. Thus, it can protect the rod from being damaged while pinching and conveying and it can avoid the fatigue damage caused by excessive pinching impact force. Then, the pinching and conveying conditions of four different kinds of variable diameter wire rods are analyzed through 3D modeling and motion simulation experiments. Simulation results show that the proposed underactuated pinching and conveying mechanism can satisfy shape adaptive pinching and conveying irregular long-shaped wire rods. The research method is novel and feasible. The design result will be beneficial to improve the service life of the pinch roll machine.
Ecological optimization and LCA of TiO2-SiC/ water hybrid nanofluid in a shell and tube heat exchanger by ANN
Authors: Malika Manjakuppam , Sonawane Shriram S.
Published: May 2022

The current study estimates the environmental impact and cost model for the early-stage design of a shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE). Additionally, the lifecycle analysis (LCA) compares the effects of use of nanofluid in the chemical processing industry to increase the effectiveness of the heat transfer to the typical STHE system. Nanofluids increase heat transfer, as evidenced by the results of the experiments. The Nusselt number and pressure drop were both increased by roughly 65% and 8%, respectively, using 0.5 vol% of TiO2-SiC/water hybrid nanofluid compared to water as coolant. The ecological impact of STHE was estimated as s attribute of Ecological (EF) and total cost estimation function using artificial neural networks (ANN). Finally, the IdematLightLCA (2.8.6 version) software was used to calculate energy content, Carbon footprint, and cost over the lifespan of the baseline. The results show that nanofluid-based STHE has an average payback period considerably longer than typical coolant systems but saves superior economic value at the end of its lifetime. According to the findings, the suggested novel method is both cost-effective and environmentally feasible.
Dynamics of heat absorbing and radiative hydromagnetic nanofluids through a stretching surface with chemical reaction and viscous dissipation
Authors: Hussain Syed M. , Mishra M. R. , Seth G. S. , Chamkha Ali J.
Published: May 2022

The hydromagnetic dissipative, heat-absorbing, chemically reactive and optically thick radiative flow of nanofluid over a stretchable surface together with heat and mass transport phenomena is investigated. The prevailing partial differential equations (PDE) of the mathematical model are changed by incorporating apt similarity variables in the form of nonlinear similarity equations. Further, these similarity equations are solved numerically utilizing the Runge-Kutta Fehlberg technique in conjunction with the shooting method. For the numerical explorations, three kinds of nanofluids are prepared by disseminating very fine nanoparticles of titanium oxide (TiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and copper (Cu) into water. The significance of numerous regulatory flow parameters on the nanofluid velocity, nanofluid temperature, local Nusselt number, species concentration, wall velocity gradient and mass flow rates are examined through different graphical results. Additionally, a quadratic regression approximation analysis is accomplished to analyze the connection between the heat transport rate and regulatory flow parameters. The numerical results reveal that the temperature of Cu-water based nanofluid temperature gets enhanced owing to improvement in the strength of radiation, viscous dissipation and magnetic effects. Further, regression approximation analysis unveils that a slight change in the velocity slip parameter leads in the optimal perturbation in both the shear stress values and heat transfer rate at the stretchable surface. Finally, the validation of numerical results and the developed algorithm of employed computational technique have been done by making a comparison of computed results with the available results under restricted situations.
The welfare state in really hard times: Political trust and satisfaction with the German healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Busemeyer Marius R
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an enormous challenge for healthcare systems around the globe. Using original panel survey data for the case of Germany, this article studies how specific trust in the healthcare system to cope with this crisis has evolved during the course of the pandemic and whether this specific form of trust is associated with general political trust. The article finds strong evidence for a positive and robust association between generalized political trust and performance perceptions regarding the efficiency and fairness of the crisis response as well as individual treatment conditions. The article also shows that specific trust in healthcare remained relatively stable throughout 2020, but declined significantly in the spring of 2021.
Determinants of (in-)voluntary retirement: A systematic literature review
Authors: Stiemke Philipp , Hess Moritz
Published: May 2022

Involuntary retirement transitions have a variety of negative consequences for individuals and society as they can lead to poorer health or lower wellbeing. Therefore, it is of high relevance to better understand the factors influencing the voluntariness of retirement transitions. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the known determinants of the voluntariness of retirement. Our final review includes 14 studies that empirically investigate this topic. Differentiated by micro-, meso- and macro-levels, we present the identified factors and discuss different ways of operationalizing voluntary or involuntary retirement. We found that most studies analyse individual factors. There is a gap in research on influencing factors at the company level as well as the welfare state level. In addition, it is of interest to examine whether and to what extent pension and labour market policy reforms have led to changes over time.
The glacier advance at the onset of the Little Ice Age in the Alps: New evidence from Mont Miné and Morteratsch glaciers
Authors: Nicolussi Kurt , Le Roy Melaine , Schlüchter Christian , Stoffel Markus , Wacker Lukas
Published: May 2022

The term ‘Little Ice Age’ (LIA) is classically used to define a period of repeated and extensive glacier advances during the last millennium. In the meanwhile, this term is also used to address the period of relatively low temperatures between the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA), or Medieval Warm Period, and present-day warming. The end of the LIA is generally set to the mid or late 1800s CE, however, the published onset dates of the LIA are more variable from the mid 1200s to the late 1500s. At Mont Miné and Morteratsch glaciers, Swiss Alps, we sampled and subsequently analysed detrital as well as in situ tree remnants from the early LIA period. At both glaciers, trees with lifespans of up to about 400 years were buried at various lateral moraine sites. The corresponding advance of both glaciers can be traced from the 1280s until the 1310s. At Morteratsch glacier, this early LIA advance phase culminated likely around 1375 CE. Evidence collected at both glaciers indicates that the ice surfaces were at least c. 12–15 m from the lateral moraine crests deposited during the maximum extent of the LIA. This suggests a similar (though very slightly weaker) magnitude than later LIA advances at our sites. The advances of Mont Miné and Morteratsch glaciers coincide with relatively cool summer temperatures from the late 1200s to the late 1300s. Taken together, the onset of the Little Ice Age in the Alps can be considered to be c. 1260 CE. The Little Ice Age was not a uniform period, but had several phases as can be derived from the records of Alpine glaciers and summer temperatures. We propose a subdivision of the LIA in the European Alps into an early (1260–1380 CE), an intermediate (1380–1575 CE) and a main (1575–1860 CE) phase.
You Ain’t Woman Enough: Tracing the Policing of Intersexuality in Sports and the Clinic
Authors: de Marcilla Musté Mireia Garcés
Published: May 2022

This article traces the continuities and discontinuities in the history of sporting and clinical rules concerning intersexuality. Through the parallel investigation of how intersexual bodies have been monitored, examined, and modified in the sporting and medical worlds, I argue that neither of them have ‘progressed’ to become more ‘respectful’ or ‘inclusive’. Rather, changes in the management of intersexuality in both areas consist in different iterations of a pervasive conceptualisation of bodies as dichotomously gendered. I contend that medical and sporting bodies’ supposedly ‘scientific’ search to ‘determine’ gender not only is a failed endeavour, given the contradictory gender ‘markers’ that have been ‘discovered’ and enforced on bodies, but also constitutes an attempt, disguised through discourses of health and fairness, to render intersexuality a problematic form of embodiment.
Enhanced energy storage performance of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer blends via post-treatments
Authors: Yang Zhong , Wang Jing , Hu Yiliang , Deng Chaoyong , Zhu Kongjun
Published: May 2022

Polymer-based dielectric composite films with large energy density are urgently demanded for various applications. Compared with the ones with inorganic fillers, polymer blends exhibit the advantage of mechanical matching as well as the interfacial compatibility. Herein, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite films with various volume fractions of methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene (MBS) were prepared via the solution casting. The maximum energy density of 6.4 J/cm3 at 390 MV/m was obtained by optimizing the content of 12 vol% MBS in MBS/PVDF composite films. The energy density of the optimized composite films was further improved with the help of post-treatments including quenching and/or hot-pressing. At last, the composite films display the enhanced energy density of 8.7 J/cm3 at 500 MV/m with the efficiency of 67.4% via the comprehensive post-treatments. This work provides a paradigm to improve the energy storage performance of PVDF-based composite films for dielectric electrostatic capacitors.
The Limits to Visibility: Indian Women in the Transvaal, 1870S TO 1930S
Authors: Dhupelia-Mesthrie Uma
Published: May 2022

This article argues that it is important to include women in a discussion of Indian migration to the Transvaal. The historiography provides a very limited insight into the experiences of women and this is because the focus has been mainly on political struggles. Women secure a place in history only through their participation in passive resistance struggles. The article argues that although they are credited with participating in the Gandhi-led Satyagraha struggle only in 1913, the evidence indicates that their involvement was much earlier. Through constructing short biographical information about three Indian women who lived in the Transvaal, the article points to important issues which women faced in setting up home. It specifically examines the Johannesburg Indo-European Women's Association since this was an important move by women to emerge out of domesticity, engage with white women at a social level and become involved with public work. It illustrates the challenges of inter-cultural communication. Finally, the article makes an argument for oral histories to be collected and memoirs to be written before it is too late for it is through such sources that the experiences of women can be uncovered more successfully.
Transnational Teacher Migration from South Africa: A New Form of Indentured Labourers?
Authors: Manik Sadhana
Published: May 2022

Globalisation of the world markets has paved the way for the movement of people with scarce skills across national boundaries with relative ease. Professionals have been extremely susceptible, given their particular knowledge and skills base. The trend is for professionals from developing countries to fill the gaps in the labour market in developed countries. As a developing country, South Africa (SA) is losing valuable assets, namely professionals (teachers, doctors, and nurses) to developed countries. Presently there exists a corpus of literature on migration but debates on international South-North labour migration have been one sided, focusing on the consequences for receiving societies (de Haas, 2005:1269). The result of this emphasis is the neglect of an understanding of the causes and consequences of migration in sending countries. Furthermore, there is a distinct dearth of literature on teacher migration in the context of SA despite claims from British education authorities that they are aggressively recruiting SA teachers (Special Assignment, SABC3, 23-04-04, 21h30). This paper highlights transnational migration determinants for South African teachers by presenting the demographic profiles of exiling teachers and their motivations for leaving SA. There appears to be some similarities in this migration to the arrival of indentured Indian Labourers in 1860 in Natal although the latter was a north-south migration. The need to understand migrant teachers’ decision-making is salient as a step in creating avenues for discourse on the production of teachers for export. It will also be of relevance in attracting ex-patriots back to their home country.
The Making and (RE) Making of Ethnic Identity: The Case of Indian South Africans
Authors: Desai Ashwin , Maharaj Brij
Published: May 2022

Traditionally, Indian South African have been viewed as a homogeneous community, and presented a united front in opposing apartheid. However, the democratic era has witnessed the resurgence of ethnic and sub-ethnic identities (class, language, religion, geographic origins), Attempts to reconnect to the motherland have exacerbated these tendencies. Indians enjoyed a relatively privileged position compared to that of the African majority primarily because of community survival strategies and their rich cultural and religious heritage. The nascent tensions and conflict between Africans and Indians have resurfaced periodically, and have increased the vulnerability of the minority group, who also believed that they were being sidelined in affirmative action and black economic empowerment schemes, While those in the business and professional sectors thrived in the post-apartheid era, working class Indians increasingly feel disillusioned, marginalised and excluded from the rainbow nation
Resurrection of an Identity: The Sikh Community in Durban, South Africa
Authors: Hiralal Kalpana
Published: May 2022

This article focuses on the Sikh community in Kwazulu/Natal (KZN), a province located on the east coast of South Africa. The Sikhs are usually distinguished by their socio-religious practices and outward appearances, their language, and their historical experiences. In KZN they are a small unknown community whose history and integration into South African society have yet to be fully understood. The aims of this paper are threefold: It examines the origins and nature of Sikhism in India and the gradual development of the Sikh identity. Secondly, it charts the history of Sikh migration and settlement to colonial Natal in the late 19th century. And thirdly, it examines ways in which the Sikh community in KZN have sustained their religious and cultural beliefs during the apartheid and post apartheid period.
Children at Risk
Authors: Hasan Mahmudul , Rahman Md. Ataur
Published: May 2022

The turn of the present world has witnessed a massive alteration of viewpoint in modifies relating to street children. The present paper assesses the overview of street children and identifies why there are street children in Bangladesh through the analysis of detailed empirical research with children. The rationales for their existence are linked to poverty, exploitation, parental subsequent marriage, conflict with family members, physical assault, and modernizing determinants. Much research has been done to document a wide range of health risk behaviors, but little research has focused on thoughtful the devices and appropriate reasons liable for the course of behavior change. The prevalence of child abuse and exploitation was widespread in Bangladesh. The binary logistic regression model and multiple classification analysis (MCA) reveals that age of the respondent, years of schooling, occupation, age at present work the child labor started, residence, and suffering diseases found the significant factors that influenced the dependent variables, whether the present work is risky for the health of the child labor and age at assaulting. Therefore this study suggests that hoisting community consciousness against child mistreatment and promoting defensive actions ought to be accepted to diminish the number of street children in Bangladesh.
Armed Conflict in Manipur Causes and Containment
Authors: Raginibala Pukhrambam , Hanjabam Shukhdeba S.
Published: May 2022

The under-reported armed conflict in Manipur has been going on immediately after the contentions merger of Manipur to India in 1949. It is reported as one of the ongoing armed self-determination by the University of Maryland. In order to suppress the movement, government of India militarized the state through invocation of un-proclaimed emergency. It is believed that 20,000 people have died due to the armed violence since the conflict began, especially, after imposing the martial law-Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 throughout the state in 1980. This paper aims to analyze the policy of containment, upon which the government of India has concentrated all its energies since the beginning of the conflict that has neither brought peace, nor resolved the armed conflict, but has resulted into questioning the human security condition in the state.
Making Mute Lithic Artifacts Speak Genetic Epistemology and Reduction Strategies of the Pleistocene Stone Tools in Manipur
Authors: ManiBabu Mayanglambam
Published: May 2022

The present discussion aims at the exposition of the nature as well as the communicative insights of the Pleistocene stone artifacts reported so far from different Paleolithic sites in Manipur, at two levels; first, an assessment of the intelligence level of the authors who made these lithic artifacts is attempted by employing Piagetian theory of genetic epistemology; and secondly, a simple endeavor to surmise the reduction strategies of the Paleolithic artifacts. It is likely that the authors of the Paleolithic core tools (especially bifacial/s) in Manipur applied both the pre-operational means of organization and operational spatial organization in making the tools. The Mode 1 to 4 technologies in all the Paleolithic assemblages are relatively simple and characterized by the less-refined form of core and flake (including blade) reduction technologies, geared towards attaining greater control over either the debitage or faconnage operational systems.
Application of Autographic Method as an Additive Tool in Anthropological Research
Authors: Prasad Onkar , Bandyopadhyay Sumahan
Published: May 2022

One basic feature of anthropological fieldwork tradition has been the engagement in the study of ‘other culture’. The change of this engagement with anthropologists’ ‘coming home’ entails some reorientation of methodological issues. An anthropologist who is generally an outsider and has limited time at his disposal to conduct field work and study a particular culture, can make use of a method as an additive tool for gathering information and its interpretation which we call ‘Autographic’ simultaneously by using other conventional techniques of data collection. Autography is different from autobiography or reflexive ethnography. Here, the literate informant who is also an insider of the community under study writes on a topic himself. Then a formally negotiated text emerges. In the present paper the potential of application of this method in anthropology has been discussed with the discursive critique which it invites automatically.
Mundari Khuntkatti: An Institution of Customary Right over Land
Authors: Shrivastava Mukesh Kumar
Published: May 2022

Land is central to all tribal societies. They consider themselves as a natural owner of land they have. Mundari Khuntkatti is a customary institution found among Mundas of Chotanagpur which provides ownership of land among all the families of the same killi (clan), who cleared the forest and made land cultivable. This old age institution also provides an identity of being a Munda and their country. It is true that the Chotanagpur Teanacy Act, 1908 has been safeguarding this system but the Act reduced the Mundari Khuntkattidars as a tenant and not the owner of the land and village. The paper based to on the empirical investigation of two Mundari Khuntkatti villages, Gutuhatu and Salga from intact Mundari Khuntkatti Revenue Circle of Khunti district in the State of Jharkhand, come to the conclusion that firstly, the spirit of Mundari Khuntkatti was misunderstood by British administrators to serve their vested interest in this tribal dominated region, in fact, it is neither tenure nor tenancy, it is an institution. Secondly, a number of emerging issues and challenges have posed afresh threat for disintegration of the age old institution and tradition.
Global Studies and Anthropology An Appraisal
Authors: Mondal Sekh Rahim
Published: May 2022

Modern world has become closer and complicated; the speeds are high day by day due to ongoing process of globalization, which refers interconnectedness and interdependence of world societies. Contemporary globalization is the increasing flow of trade, finance, cultures, ideas and peoples brought about by sophisticated technology of communications and also by world wide spread of neo-liberal capitalism. It is not only the process of local adaptations to global forces but also the resistance to those flows. The emerging global situation and so also the global problems has attracted the attention of academic scholars, politicians, business representatives, non-government and civil society organizations to come forward and to comprehend the global condition. The attention of different layers of society towards the issues of globalization and global problems have opened to door of interdisciplinary and cross disciplinary research in the name of global studies. Global studies have emerged as central to the understanding of the dynamics of globalization.

This paper is a modest attempt to delineate the aims, objectives, directions and methods of global studies and their relevance in contemporary times. Special emphasis has been given in this paper to highlight the role of anthropology in examining the global issues of recent times. The paper is based on facts obtained from review of relevant literatures supported by empirical observations.
Socio-Economic Impact of Globalization in Contemporary India: A Conceptual Analysis
Authors: Srivastava Vatsala
Published: May 2022

The article is a conceptual analysis of the impact of globalization, based upon the observations of the writer, on the contemporary socio-economic scenario of Indian economy as a whole. Though, without any first hand empirical data, the facts collected and furnished in the article have been obtained from secondary sources. With much fanfare, the globalization policy was adopted by the Indian Government in early 1990's, and the economy was opened through various reforms, concentrating upon liberalization, i. e. lifting economic restrictions carried on hitherto, by closed-economic-policy. The idea of globalization was best suited to the developed western countries, especially, America; and through the World Trade Organization, they pursued the developing third world countries to open their economic boundaries for the consumption/absorption of their surplus products. With the opening of the economy, the underdeveloped countries got the benefits of much needed capital and technology. The paper discusses that though globalization has benefitted the Indian economy in many ways; however, this has vastly increased the gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots.’ Millions of people have been lagging behind the technological and economic growth due to their backwardness and its continued perpetuation. This has widely affected the socioeconomic fabric of the country.
Watershed Management and Dry Land Agriculture a Case Study from Western Odisha
Authors: Devi Suman , Mishra Nihar Ranjan
Published: May 2022

The concept of dry land agriculture refers to a condition of growing of crops entirely under rain fed situation. Further, the dry land agriculture can be divided into three categories, depending on the amount of rainfall received by agricultural region. In India, nearly 108 million hectares of land is rain fed area and out of it, an estimated dry land area is 47 million hectares. 42 percent of the total food grains of the country come from dry land areas; these areas produce 75 percent of pulses and more than 90 percent of sorghum, millet, groundnut and pulses come from arid and semi-arid regions. But farmers depending on dry land agriculture face many challenges like; poverty, unawareness of government subsidies on agricultural equipments, exploitative local credit facilities, poor market price, low production, no or limited sources of irrigation etc. Government of India has taken initiation to improve dry land areas through watershed development programmes (WSDP) in many parts of the country. The key components of WSDP are optimum utilisation of rain water, soil conservation, run off reduction, improving livelihoods of people etc. and to make this programme more viable, participatory approaches have been introduced in watershed in 1990s. The present study is carried out at Jagabalia Watershed, present in Patnagarh block of Bolangir district in western Odisha. It was implemented by the Government PIA (DAO) in the period from March 2002 and July 2006. The watershed is a pert of the ACA (RLTAP) scheme. Methodology includes structured interview and FGDs with the beneficiaries and key informants. Secondary information consists of reports by PIA, DRDA, DDA and available literature. Findings of study support the idea that alternative source of livelihoods can be helpful to reduce the chances of poverty. Apart from this promotion of SHGs, good mechanism for credit facilities, community mobilisation, community participation, awareness and managing available natural resources can be a basis to improve livelihoods in these areas.
The Riang of Tripura in Transition
Authors: Bera Gautam Kumar
Published: May 2022

In India, the tribal people live in different ecological conditions spread over a vast geographical tract across the country. While understanding these tribal communities as anthropologists, we refer to ‘structure’ as ‘social structure’, which consists of all those relatively stable features of a social system, that may be understood, perhaps, by a consideration of the continuity of social structure through time. The present paper attempts to make an overview of the Riang, the most numerically dominant Primitive Tribal Group of northeastern India, to generate information in the tight of ecology, habitat, demography, language, economy, social system, religion, politics, acculturation, the processes of change and so on in terms of the dimensions of time and space. One of the major concerns of the present study is to look into the structure of the Riang society to get a normative pattern of a particular tribal society of Tripura and it will also be a major concern to decipher the process of transformation that has taken place in their society through the passage of time. It is apparent that the process of transformation took place in stages where history played a major role.