bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teaching Education in Values Through Games in Primary Education
Authors: García Isabel María
Published: August 2023

Education in values is an issue of great relevance in today's society. That is why the chapter focuses on highlighting several points. The subject of values has been, is, and will always be a fundamental, transcendent, and a permanently topical issue in education. Values are constantly present in our lives and that is why we must emphasize the work and empowerment of these, inside and outside the classroom and in any subject, in a playful and motivating way for our children, that is, using the activity that is present in all human beings, the game. Therefore, the main objective of this chapter will be to know the relevance of games, not only for recreational purposes, but also for learning, and to highlight the need to work on education in values for the personal development of children.
Shared Reflective Practices and Scenario-Based Learning for Values Development in Primary School Children
Authors: Muthukrishnan Priyadarshini , Thah Soon Seng , Huah Goh Lay
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this chapter is to highlight the significance and processes involved in conducting shared reflections to nurture value development in children in primary schools. The chapter describes the characteristics and application of the value-based reflection framework (VBRF), which was devised specifically for this study and employed as a reflective instrument for classroom reflections. Additionally, to facilitate children's reflections, value scenarios were also used to prompt children to relate value practices to real-world contexts. This chapter serves as a guide for teachers, empowering them with guidelines for conducting reflection sessions during moral education classes, as well as informing educators, curriculum designers, and policymakers about incorporating reflective practices for children's value development.
Visual Arts as a Tool for Value Education in Primary School
Authors: Turan Seda Liman
Published: August 2023

This study aims to highlight the place and significance of visual arts in values education at the primary school level. Using a literature review method, one of the qualitative research approaches, the research concludes that visual arts serve as an effective tool for fostering values education in primary schools. Visual arts hold great importance in values education due to their ability to facilitate originality through diverse activities and practices. They provide an effective platform for developing values such as self-confidence, self-respect, sensitivity, awareness, empathy, respect, love, responsibility, cooperation, justice, respect for differences, and tolerance, both in individual achievements and group work. Visual arts are believed to play a vital role in values education by embodying abstract concepts.
Kindness as a Social Bond and the Education for the Future
Authors: Mastrantonio Monica
Published: August 2023

In the survey Imaginable Futures conducted worldwide in the year of 2022, which had 311 responders across the globe, kindness was mentioned as the one core skill for the future. Together with the importance of education for peace, mental health, and the development of survival skills in case of disasters, kindness is listed as the core skill to social bonds. Children school education and school curriculums are mostly based on content acquisition, whereas research data points to what the new generations will need in the near future. Kindness is connected to happiness, well-being, empathy, and sociability, and it can generate physical benefits, like low blood pressure. However, how can these skills be integrated in the school curriculum? How prepared are the teachers to implement this new acquisition? This research concludes that kindness and hope should be far and firstly implemented as key educational figures at this critical time of Anthropocene.
Countering Children's Depression as an Aspect of Social and Spiritual Security of Modern Society
Authors: Olenich Tamara Stanislavovna , Finko Margarita Vasilievna
Published: August 2023

The chapter examines the peculiarities of the problem of depression among school children in the context of ensuring social and spiritual security. The chapter describes the problem of depression and its most negative consequence, suicide, and the reasons that push children to these social actions, among which the authors have identified the following: the social hierarchy of postmodern society, apathy and indifference of parents, the activities of religious cults and “death groups.” The activities of death groups are one of the main causes that lead to a violation of social security and have an impact on the younger generation, committing children to suicide. The mechanism of work of such groups, basic techniques, and mechanisms of their work are described. The authors conduct a sociological study in local secondary schools located in the Don region to identify the level of depression among school children. The authors propose a number of educational innovations and other methods aimed at identifying and preventing depression in the younger generation.
Analysing the Applications of Cloud Computing in Smart Agriculture
Authors: Jain Ishan , Singh Brijendra
Published: August 2023

Agriculture has been the backbone of human civilization. For ages, humans have been using traditional farming techniques to produce high-quality crops, but with the era of digitalization and the challenges of these methods, there has been a shift from traditional farming techniques to smarter farming techniques, which utilise the latest technologies to reduce labour and maximise the yield in a given scenario. Smart agriculture produces a large amount of data from sensors and IoT devices; this is where cloud computing comes into play. Cloud computing-based technology provides storage and analysis facilities to deal with huge amounts of data and produces real-time insights that can help the farmer make better decisions. Cloud computing also helps in reducing the cost and resources incurred in smart agriculture techniques, thus making the model more efficient and useful for farmers. This chapter will analyse various applications in which innovative cloud computing technologies can be used in smart agriculture and the drawbacks that should be considered while adopting the cloud model.
Smart Agriculture Resource Allocation and Cost Optimization Using ML in Cloud Computing Environment
Authors: Singh Pancham , Kansal Mrignainy , Srivastava Mili , Gupta Muskan
Published: August 2023

In this research, resource allocation in machine learning is used to analyze how cloud computing is being applied in smart agriculture. This chapter goes over the advantages of cloud computing for farming and how machine learning can enhance resource allocation for higher agricultural yields and less negative environmental impact. The chapter also examines implementation difficulties for cloud-based agricultural solutions and speculates on potential fixes. Insights for researchers and practitioners in the area are provided by the research, which demonstrates the potential for merging cloud computing and machine learning in smart agriculture to increase productivity and sustainability. The research also assessed the efficacy of the ML-based techniques using a variety of performance indicators, including reaction time and throughput. The management of cloud workloads has shown considerable promise when using machine learning-based methods. This chapter offers a thorough overview of current developments in ML-based cloud workload management and identifies areas for further research.
Artificial Intelligence Applications in Agricultural Sustainability
Authors: Othmeni Imed , Ben Abdallah Rim , Ben Aribi Hiba , Ben Amara Eya , Fattouch Sami
Published: August 2023

Agriculture plays a crucial role in addressing global challenges such as food security, resource scarcity, and climate change. As the world population continues to grow, the need for sustainable and efficient farming practices becomes paramount. This chapter aims to explore the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in agricultural sustainability, focusing on how AI technologies can enhance efficiency and resilience in agricultural practices. The chapter provides an overview of the potential benefits and challenges of integrating AI into agriculture, highlighting specific use cases, and discussing the implications for sustainable farming systems. It also examines the role of AI in addressing key sustainability issues including resource management, yield optimization, pest control, and adaptation to environmental conditions. By examining current trends and advancements in AI for agriculture, this chapter contributes to a comprehensive understanding of how AI can revolutionize farming practices and promote sustainable agricultural systems.
An Improved TOPSIS Method Based on a New Distance Measure and Its Application to the House Selection Problem
Authors: Wang You En , Chen Xiao Guo
Published: August 2023

It is difficult to choose an appropriate house for homebuyers. This is due to the difficulty of evaluating the multitude of factors, such as price, location, size, and so on. In order to help homebuyers in choosing an appropriate house, a method integrating the interval-valued Pythagorean FAHP and FTOPSIS is proposed. In the proposed approach, the evaluation criteria were determined by the experts, and the linguistic variables of interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy numbers were used in the evaluations of the homebuyers and experts. A new distance between two IVPFNs is proposed. The weights of the evaluation criteria were determined by the interval-valued Pythagorean FAHP method by the homebuyers, and house selections were evaluated by interval-valued Pythagorean FTOPSIS method taking into account the new distance. Finally, a case study was executed to verify the feasibility of the proposed approach. The case study results reveal that the weights of criteria obtained by FAHP are not the same according to opinions of the different homebuyers.
Steel Surface Defect Detection Based on SSAM-YOLO
Authors: Yang Tianle , Li Jinghui
Published: August 2023

The defect inspection of the steel surface is crucial to modern manufacturing and highly depends on inefficient manual work. The emergence of deep learning has prompted the development of automated defect detection methods, but the current methods perform badly in the detection of the crazing and rolled-in scale-two types of defects on steel surfaces. The difficulty in the detection of crazing and rolled-in scale is mainly due to the similarity between object regions and background regions. Based on this, the authors propose a supervised spatial-attention module (SSAM). It introduces a priori knowledge compared to the traditional spatial attention mechanism, which can enhance the supervision of relevant parameters in the attention mechanism module during network training. Finally, they introduced the SSAM to the YOLOv5 and got the SSAM-YOLO. The test result on the NEU-DET dataset shows that the proposed method has better detection accuracy, achieving improvements of 7.3% and 3.02% on the AP@0.5 for the crazing and rolled-in scale. The method also outperforms the comparative main stream algorithms for steel surface defect detection, verifying the effectiveness of our algorithm.
The Virtual Community of Practice Facilitation Model
Authors: Kellam Hugh , Cook Clare , Smith Deborah L. , Haight Pam
Published: August 2023

This study examines the instructional design, learning experiences, and outcomes of a virtual community of practice (VCoP). In 2019, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine launched a continuing professional development program consisting of an asynchronous online module followed by an optional series of facilitated case-based videoconference workshops, designed as a VCoP. This program evaluation study employed a convergent parallel mixed methods design and combined data sources from participant pre- and post-program surveys and reflections with a content analysis of semi-structured interviews. The paper reports key enablers that contributed to the following outcomes: the value of an online module as a baseline of knowledge; the impact of the shared case studies, experiences, and peer support on reflection and modifications to medical practice; and skill development and patient-centered care as a result of module and VCoP participation. A model for the effective design and delivery of VcoPs is proposed that results in acquisition of new knowledge and skills and promotes patient-centred practice.
Robotic Research Platform for Agricultural Environment
Authors: Ismail Bukhary Ikhwan , Sehmi Muhammad Nurmahir Mohamad , Ahmad Hishamadie , Baharom Shahrol Hisham , Khalid Mohammad Fairus
Published: August 2023

Automation in agriculture has vast potential to enhance productivity in the industry. Incorporating agricultural robotics can significantly improve work efficiency, enhance product quality, reduce expenses, and minimize manual labor. Despite significant advancements in robotic and sensing technologies, their practical implementation in agriculture, particularly in the palm oil sector, remains limited primarily to laboratories and spin-off companies. The utilization of robots in the palm oil complex agricultural environment presents more significant challenges than conventional flat agricultural landscapes, primarily due to the unstructured nature of agricultural settings. Complex coordination is required to address the need for collaboration with human workers, establish long-distance communication networks, and enable autonomous navigation in areas far from power sources. This article explores the various environmental challenges in oil palm plantation estates and in-field operations and proposes a robot built from an all-terrain vehicle into an agricultural robot.
Digital Transformation in Measuring Social Determinants of Health
Authors: Liu Chen , Wang William Yu Chung , Khan Gohar
Published: August 2023

Digital transformation in public health has been implemented by governments and has significantly improved the accuracy and timeliness of public health management. Digital transformation in measuring social determinants of health is an emerging research area that has drawn significant scholarly attention. To assess how digital information influences the measurement of social determinants of health, this study performs a systematic literature review. The paper first discusses the background, definitions, conceptual framework, and research issues. Then it summarizes the research results with a focus on disruptions, strategic responses, changes that happened in the process, facilitators and barriers, and negative and positive impacts. After a discussion of the key findings, opportunities for future research are presented along with the conclusion.
Effect of Physical and Chemical Properties of Explosive Materials on the Conditions of their Use
Authors: Kustov Maksym , Karpov Artem , Harbuz Serhii , Savchenko Alexander
Published: August 2023

The components of the most common explosive ordnance in Eastern Europe have been analysed. The most dangerous explosive materials that rescuers may encounter when disposing explosive ordnance and clearing territories from mines have been identified. Such hazardous materials include tetryl, texogen, trinitrotoluolol, mercury fulminate, lead azide, lead trinitroresorcinate. An analysis of the chemical structure and physical and chemical properties of such materials has been carried out. It has been established that explosive materials can be divided into two classes with similar values based on such parameters as detonation velocity, volume of explosion products, and explosion heat. It has been established that the chemical structure of their molecules corresponds to the said two classes of physical and chemical properties. The first class includes materials based on hydrocarbons, the second includes materials based on heavy metals. It has been established that the specific volume values for the second class materials increase significantly, and exceed the indicators for the first class materials. This is due to the difference in the density of such materials by 2 to 4 times. The established features of the physical and chemical and explosive parameters of explosive materials can be used in the development of standard operating procedures and plans of actions of rescuers in order to increase the safety of handling the explosive ordnance.
Investigation of Hardfacing on Ultra-High Strength Steel Base Material
Authors: Terdik Gábor , Meilinger Ákos
Published: August 2023

The application of high-strength steels is increasing rapidly nowadays, and steels with more than 1000 MPa yield strength are usually used in welded structures. The welding of these materials has many difficulties, so very important the precise technology planning, and disciplined work during welding. The weldability of these materials is commonly investigated field in case of joining. The application of ultra-high strength steels expands rapidly, and in the last years, it started to use them as a base material for hardfacing. Besides the wearing, there is a claim about higher strength of base materials in case of relatively extremely loaded machines. Because this ultra-high strength steel appears as a base material for hardfacing and it brings new challenges for welding technologists. In case of joining, the welding technology is complicated, usually need preheating before welding, is important to calculate and to use the right t8/5 cooling time, and basically necessary to decrease the heat input as much as possible. The bad effect of welding heat input can be compensated by the filler material too in some cases. In contrast in case of hardfacing the base material itself usually has a big thickness, and no joint preparation, additionally important to reach deep fusion on the surface. It basically determines the heat input which has a different heat cycle as in case of joining. Therefore, the heat affected zone (HAZ) differs from the HAZ in case of joining application. In this investigation, four different hardfacing were made with four different technological parameters by robotic gas metal arc welding on S1100QL steel. During the welding parameter determination, we try to find a series of heat inputs from the lowest to the practically usable highest heat input. For the experiments, two filler materials used, one for the buffer zone, and for the hardfacing itself. Microstructural evaluation and hardness tests were made on the specimens which can show the differences between the heat affected zones.
Influence of Temperature and Long-Term Operation on Metal Durability of Pipelines of Hydrotechnical Structures
Authors: Maksimov Sergey Yu. , Makarenko Valeriy D. , Tkachenko Sergii M. , Panchenko Olena S.
Published: August 2023

The paper considers the issue of the influence of ambient temperature and service life on the endurance of pipe steels of underground pipelines. The results of numerous experimental studies allowed us to draw the following conclusions. An analysis of the experimental data indicates that for all the studied steels, the endurance decreases with decreasing air temperature, mainly down to-20... -30 °C. This can be explained by the embrittlement of the metal, i.e. a decrease in the plastic properties of the pipeline metal structure. In addition, it can be seen from the given data that low-alloy steels 48KhN, 09G2S, 10GS have the highest endurance. Weak endurance is mainly typical of grade 20 carbon steel. Experimental studies show that with an increase in the service life of pipes, their endurance decreases, and this tendency is inherent in all the studied steels. Studies of the endurance of pipe steels under complex stress states show that static torsional stresses close to the yield strength, when tested in the air, do not reduce fatigue life. Although the corrosive environment significantly reduces the cyclic strength of steel under shear stresses up to τcr=05τY, the conditional limit of corrosion fatigue is not lower than when tested for corrosion fatigue under the action of only alternating stresses in a symmetrical cycle. It could be considered that the torsional stress in the pipeline system does not exceed 10 MPa. In that case, their influence on practical calculations on the endurance of pipes of underground pipeline systems can be neglected.
Modern Materials for Fire Protection of Reinforced Concrete Agro-Industrial Structures
Authors: Petrova Olena , Manushkina Tetiana , Shevchuk Natalia , Kachanova Tetiana
Published: August 2023

This article presents the results of fire properties of modern materials, namely geopolymer fire-insulating mixtures of domestic production to provide fire protection of reinforced concrete structures of the agroindustrial complex. According to the data of the fire test, it has been established that with the thickness of a fire-proof geopolymer coating of 10 mm no heating of the surface of a reinforced concrete specimen (300<380 °С) or of the armature at the depth of its embedding (124.5<500 °С) up to the limit states has been noted. It they shown that the protective coating reduces the critical temperature of brittle fracture of reinforced concrete by a factor of 1.3 during 180 minutes of the test. It has been note that due to the protective properties of the coating, the temperature of armature heating at the depth of its laying decreases 4 times in comparison with the unprotected reinforced concrete specimen during 180 minutes of the test. The mechanism of formation of an effective fine-pore structure in the coating with its developed and high heat-absorbing and dissipating capacity has been reveale due to the transition of the binder into the glass-like state, which prevents both physically and chemically bound water vapor from escaping into the hydrate new formations of the geopolymer binder.
Experimental Study of Kerf Surface Finish of Abrasive Water-Jet Cutting of Kevlar Fiber-Reinforced Polymers
Authors: Gubencu Dinu Valentin , Opris Carmen , Han Adelina , Lazar Cristian Onisor , Perianu Ion Aurel
Published: August 2023

Machining of difficult-to-process materials, including composite materials, is carried out in cost-effective conditions by resorting to abrasive water jet cutting. The quality of the kerf depends on a large number of input parameters, so that their selection becomes a current problem of real technological interest. Thus, the paper analyzes the cut zones defined by the material removal mechanisms, regarding both their extension and the obtained roughness, through the experimental modeling of the Rz parameter.
Development and Improvement of Numerical Models of Welded Joints with Multiple Defects
Authors: Aranđelović Mihajlo , Sedmak Simon , Sedmak Aleksandar , Đorđević Branislav , Jovičić Radomir
Published: August 2023

This paper presents the development of numerical models which were used to simulate the behaviour of welded joints containing different combinations of multiple defects under tensile loads. Four representative combinations of defects were selected (including undercuts, incomplete root penetration, misalignments...), based on practical experience. In order to create accurate and functional models, this research involve a number of stages. This paper will focus on the various improvements made to the models, which started in relatively simple form. For this purpose, initial experimental and numerical analyses were carried out on specimens made of low-alloyed low-carbon steel S235, and after their accuracy was verified, the same methodology was applied to specimens made of higher quality material, steel S275. Improvements made to the models involved geometry, different combinations of boundary conditions and loads, and some were based on stress-strain states obtained by a combination of tensile testing and digital image correlation. The final result was a set of detailed numerical models which accurately simulated the behaviour of welded joints with multiple defects in them.
Regulations of the Influence of External Thermal Influences on Speed and Explosive Safe Combustion Modes of Pyrotechnic Nitrate-Metallized Mixtures with Metal Fluoride
Authors: Koziar Nazarii , Kyrychenko Oksana , Viktoriia Kovbasa , Diadiushenko Oleksandr
Published: August 2023

A study was made of the regularities of the influence of the main parameters of external thermal effects (elevated heating temperatures and external pressures) on the rate and explosive modes of combustion development of compacted mixtures of magnesium, aluminum and sodium nitrate with fluoride additives metals for different values of technological parameters (excess ratio of the oxidizing agent, nature and content of the additive, dispersion of the components). The effect of technological parameters (ratio and dispersion of components, compaction coefficient, charge diameter, shell material, etc.) on the dependence of the burning rate of mixtures on elevated heating temperatures and external pressures was established; critical ranges of changes in these parameters are determined, the excess of which leads to premature explosive development of combustion of mixtures and fire hazardous destruction of products. On the basis of the research, methods were developed to prevent these destructions of products by regulating technological parameters at the stage of preparation of charge mixtures, which increases the stability of the combustion process of mixtures to external thermal influences. A database has been obtained on the burning rates of compacted mixtures of metal powders (Mg, Al), nitrate-containing oxidizer (NaNO3 ) and additives of inorganic substances (metal fluorides (LiF, NaF, BaF2 , SiF2 , SrF2 , AlF3 )) under conditions elevated heating temperatures and external pressures for various values of technological parameters, which makes it possible to determine the explosive modes of their combustion.
Application of Static Magnetic Field to Modify Heat and Mass Transfer during Welding of Shipbuilding Steel
Authors: Kaldre Imants , Zhong Ming , Wu Yong Wu , Wang Cong
Published: August 2023

Welding process is very important in numerous industries ranging from automotive and aviation to shipbuilding and pressure vessel production. Nowadays new methods to improve the productivity and quality of various welding techniques are searched. In many industrial applications even small process optimizations may lead to significant cost and energy savings and new applications. Large plate welding is particularly important in shipbuilding industry. It is common to weld multiple times to join thick plates, but this approach is not optimal from energy and time effectiveness and outcome quality is limited. Alternative is single high heat input welding, which causes various problems related to rapid local overheating and the formation of inhomogeneous post-weld microstructure. There are several heat affected zones near the weld pool, which has different properties and microstructure due to different cooling rates and heat flux orientation during solidification. Since welding is a complex multiphysical process there are various parameters such as electric current, oxygen presence, heat flow and weld pool flow which influence the quality of welding joint and efficiency of the process. In this paper we aim to experimentally and theoretically investigate how to modify heat and mass transfer in the weld pool and heat affected zone by static magnetic fields. Electromagnetic force is one of the ways how to affect the weld pool flow and to influence the heat and mass transfer from the weld pool to the base metal. Our research demonstrates that moderate DC magnetic field can cause various effects on the post-weld morphology, depending on the magnetic field direction. Analytical estimates and similarity analysis for high heat input welding on EH36 shipbuilding steel shows that electromagnetic methods, like application of DC magnetic field can be promising approach for improved welding outcome in some cases.
Selection of Material and Thickness of the Protective Wall in the Conditions of a Hydrogen Explosion of Various Power
Authors: Skob Yurii , Dreval Yuriy , Vasilchenko Alexey , Maiboroda Roman
Published: August 2023

The main purpose of this study is a numerical assessment of the consequences of an explosion of a hydrogen-air cloud on the personnel of a hydrogen fueling station and the strength of a protective solid wall of certain dimensions. An explosive gas mixture is formed as a result of the destruction of high-pressure cylinders, the number of which determines the size of the cloud, the power of the explosion, and the scale of the consequences of environmental impact. To obtain the spatio-temporal distribution of the maximum overpressure and the impulse of the shock wave compression phase, a mathematical model of the dispersion of an active gaseous admixture is used, taking into account the chemical interaction with air oxygen. The probable consequences of the shock-impulse impact on the personnel at the control point are carried out using probit analysis. The values of the maximum bending moment and stress at the base of the protective wall, which result from the impact of the blast wave, are used to deterministically estimate the minimum wall thickness necessary for the safe operation of the protective device. The mathematical model takes into account the complex terrain and the three-dimensional non-stationary nature of the shock wave propagation process, and it is a source of data necessary to solve the problem of the strength of solid objects located in the area of baric perturbation of the gaseous medium. The developed methodology makes it possible to carry out a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of protective structures in relation to the power of the explosion.
The Influence of Heat Treatment Applied to 100Cr6 Steel on Microstructure and Hardness
Authors: Duma Sebastian , Duma Deliana Maria , Duma Iuliana , Buzdugan Dragoş
Published: August 2023

100Cr6 is a steel used both for bearings and for certain components that need precise hardness and stability of properties over time. The paper proposes the analysis of the heat treatment applied to the 100Cr6 steel in order to obtain the imposed hardness in the range of 450-550 HV0.1, within very tight tolerances.
Development of a Gas-Metal-Arc Welding Technology with Combined Spin-Arc and Weaving Facilities for Ship Building
Authors: Câmpurean Adrian M. , Sîrbu Nicuşor Alin , Verbiţchi Victor , Duma Iuliana , Popescu Radu Nicolae
Published: August 2023

The article presents the development of a gas-metal-arc welding technology with spin-arc and weaving facilities, for 15 mm thick plates of the steel S355J2+N, according to EN 10025-3: 2019, for shipbuilding and harbor structures construction.The filler metal is the manganese-silicon-alloyed solid wire, type SG-3, according to EN ISO 14341:2020. Shielding gas is mixture CORGON 18/82, type M21, according to EN ISO 14175:2008.The modular drive system MDS-1, manufactured by the company BUG-O Systems, of USA was used. Among other main components, it has a linear weaver unit and a weaver control module.The welding source is the Inverter MIG 300 A type, manufactured by Mahe GmbH, Germany.This welding source is connected with both a spin-arc module and a welding gun, made by the company WeldRevolution of USA. This spin-arc-weaving technology is intended to reduce the welding process duration, filler metal and energy consumption, respectively to increase the productivity by means of both the spin-arc and weaving features of the combined welding equipment.The sizes of the two plates for the welding test piece are: length 370 mm; width 200 mm; thickness 15 mm, I groove with 8 mm gap. This narrow groove preparation is also expected to have a contribution to the reduction of the necessary filler material.The parameter ranges are as follows: arc voltage Ua = 21.7- 23.5 V; welding current Is = 183- 225 A; wire advance speed ve = 6.5- 7.2 m/min; shielding gas flow rate fg = 20.5- 22.0 liters/min; welding speed vs = 20 - 35 cm/min; spinning diameter range ds = 1 - 8 mm, selected diameter dr = 3 mm (3 divisions); rotational speed of the spin-arc vsa = 1500 rotations/min, selected from the range 750- 7500 rotations/min; angular weaving mode; weaving speed (frequency) vp = 2.5 – 5.0 divisions; weaving amplitude ap = 1 – 2 divisions; dwell time tf = 2.0 divisions.After the execution of each layer, the appearance is adequate. No defects or imperfections are found. On ultrasonic examination, the results are adequate. Metallographic examination, tensile tests and Charpy V impact tests have accepted results.The conclusions describe the adequate results obtained, regarding the ranges of the spin-arc and weaving parameters. Possible applications of the S355J2+N steel are recommended.The references cite articles related to welding of ship components, including some spin-arc and weaving equipment.
Hughes‒Stovin Syndrome
Authors: Khan Idris Ahmed , Sullere Vivek
Published: August 2023

We present an extremely rare case of Hughes‒Stovin syndrome, of which we believe <60 cases have been reported in English medical literature. We wish to draw the attention of our fellow cardiologists to consider this when coming across patients with pulmonary artery aneurysm in their clinical practice. Appropriate treatment, if instituted promptly and early in the course of the disease, has the potential to induce remission.
Developing Script Concordance Test Items in Otolaryngology to Improve Clinical Reasoning Skills: Validation using Consensus Analysis and Psychometrics
Authors: Ganesan Sivaraman , Bhandary Shital , Thulasingam Mahalakshmy , Chacko Thomas Vengail , Zayapragassarazan Z. , Ravichandran Surya , Raja Kalaiarasi , Ramasamy Karthikeyan , Alexander Arun , Penubarthi Lokesh Kumar
Published: August 2023

Background:

Script concordance testing is widely practiced to foster and assess clinical reasoning. Our study aimed to develop script concordance test (SCT) in the specialty of otolaryngology and test the validation using panel response pattern and consensus index.

Materials and Methods:

The methodology was an evolving pattern of constructing SCTs, administering them to the panel members, and optimizing the panel with response patterns and consensus index. The SCT’s final items were chosen to be administered to the students.

Results:

We developed 98 items of SCT and administered them to 20 panel members. The mean score of the panel members for these 98 items was 79.5 (standard deviation [SD] = 4.4). The consensus index calculated for the 98-item SCT ranged from 25.81 to 100. Sixteen items had bimodal and uniform response patterns; the consensus index improved when eliminated. We administered the rest 82 items of SCT to 30 undergraduate and ten postgraduate students. The mean score of undergraduate students was 61.1 (SD = 7.5) and that of postgraduate students was 67.7 (SD = 6.3). Cronbach’s alpha for the 82-item SCT was 0.74. Excluding the 22 poor items, the final SCT instrument of 60 items had a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82.

Conclusion:

Our study revealed that a consensus index above 60 had a good item-total correlation and be used to optimize the items for panel responses in SCT, necessitating further studies on this aspect. Our study also revealed that the panel response clustering pattern could be used to categorize the items, although bimodal and uniform distribution patterns need further differentiation.
Diagnostic and Prognostic Significance of Serum Biomarkers – Serum Amyloid A and CYFRA 21-1 in Lung Cancer
Authors: Dhanurdhar Yera , Jagaty Suman Kumar , Subhankar Saswat , Behera Debasis
Published: August 2023

Introduction:

Bronchogenic carcinoma is a leading cause of cancer-related death in men and women. Early diagnosis and treatment in these cases are essential for a better prognosis. Serum biomarkers such as serum amyloid A (SAA) and CYFRA 21-1 have generated encouraging results regarding their use in the diagnosis of these cases but data on their role in the Indian scenario are still lacking.

Aim:

The study aims to measure the levels of SAA and CYFRA 21-1 in various types of lung cancer and compare them with patients without lung cancer. It also aims to compare the values of these biomarkers before and after chemotherapy and correlate them with response to treatment.

Materials and Methods:

It was a prospective, case–control study conducted in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Government Medical College, Chandigarh. All histologically and/or cytologically proven lung cancer cases were included in the study group while patients with diseases other than lung cancer formed the control group. All patients were evaluated through a complete history and thorough clinical examination. Measurement of SAA and CYFRA 21-1 in blood was done by sandwich ELISA method. The patients in the study group were followed up regularly and the biomarkers were measured again after four cycles of chemotherapy. The response of tumors to chemotherapy was evaluated as per modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 19.0.

Results:

The study group and control group included 20 patients each. Hoarseness of voice and hemoptysis were significantly associated with lung cancer patients (P = 0.001 and P = 0.025, respectively). Serum levels above 8745 ng/ml for SAA and 2.55 ng/ml for serum CYFRA 21-1 were used as diagnostic biomarker in lung cancer. The serum levels of CYFRA 21-1 were found to be significantly raised in nonsmall cell carcinoma (NSCLC) in comparison to SCLC of lung. There was a statistically significant decrease in the serum levels of CYFRA 21-1 in lung cancer patients on C4 cycle of chemotherapy in comparison to C1 cycle (P = 0.014).

Conclusion:

SAA and CYFRA 21-1 could be valuable diagnostic biomarkers in lung cancer. CYFRA 21-1, in addition, could also be used as prognostic biomarker in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy as it showed significant decrease after C4-cycle of chemotherapy. It can also be a potential biomarker to differentiate small cell and NSCLC.
Evaluation of the Brain Cellular Damage during Liver Transplantations
Authors: Deniz MN , Sezer E , Tetik A , Ulukaya S
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

Neuroinflammation in patients undergoing major surgery can lead to neuronal damage, and neuronal damage can be detected through the measurement of biochemical markers of brain damage. S100 beta (S100 β), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels are considered good biomarkers to detect brain damage that emerged with neurotoxicity.

Aim:

To evaluate neuronal damage during liver transplantations.

Materials and Methods:

After approval of the ethics committee and patient consents, preoperative and postoperative cognitive functions of 33 patients undergoing liver transplantation were measured using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), whereas simultaneous neuronal damage was evaluated through the measurement of S100β, NSE, and GFAP levels.

Results:

There was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative MMSE. There was a statistically significant decrease in postoperative GFAP (P < 0.05) and a statistically significant increase in NSE (P < 0.05) compared to preoperative values. The decrease in S100β (P > 0.05) level was statistically insignificant.

Conclusions:

Neuroprotective approaches in anesthesia protocol protect patients from brain damage during liver transplantation and prevent the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Since the significant increase in NSE levels during liver transplantations was deemed to have been associated with causes other than neuronal damage, NSE should not be evaluated as a marker of brain damage in these operations.
Long-Term Outcomes of Transcanalicular Laser Dacryocystorhinostomy Versus Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Tokat T , Tokat S , Kusbeci T
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

Objective:

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EDCR) compared with transcanalicular laser DCR (TL-DCR).

Materials and Methods:

This retrospective study and systematic review included patients that underwent DCR for nasolacrimal duct obstruction at our tertiary academic care hospital between January 2013 and December 2017. TL-DCR and EDCR were performed on 42 (group 1) and 45 (group 2) patients, respectively. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 4 years after DCR. Success was defined as the complete disappearance of epiphora and the observation of fluid flow without any anatomic obstruction during lacrimal system irrigation.

Results:

This study included 87 patients who underwent DCR. Fourteen patients (18.7%) were male, and 61 (81.3%) were female. Groups 1 and 2 consisted of 42 and 45 patients who underwent TL-DCR and EDCR, respectively. Success was achieved by 78.5% and 84.4% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Patients in both groups were followed up for at least 4 years. There was a significant difference in mean surgery time between groups: 33.8 ± 10.5 min vs. 69.9 ± 15.9 min for groups 1 and 2, respectively (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

EDCR and TL-DCR without silicone stent have offered a high success rate in the long term. Furthermore, endonasal procedures have less surgery time and leave no scar. We observed that EDCR and TL-DCR are favorable methods in cases of nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Proposed Grading System of Unilateral Cleft Lip to Predict Surgical Challenges
Authors: Onah II , Okwesili OR
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

It is a common practice to subjectively categorize cleft lip deformities into narrow and wide cleft. The proposed grading of unilateral cleft lip can serve as a predictive factor of the difficulties to be encountered during repair and the expected outcome of surgery.

Materials and Methods:

This was a 5-years retrospective study of the records of 32 patients with unilateral cleft lip that presented to a single surgical unit. We grouped the patients based on the age at surgery. We calculated the alar base width ratios of the cleft to non-cleft sides, and this was used for grading. We graded the clefts using ratio of 1.00–1.50 for mild cleft, 1.51 to 2.00 for moderate cleft, 2.01–3.00 for severe cleft, and >3.00 for extensive cleft lip.

Results:

The youngest child was 1 month old, while the oldest was 50 years. Majority of the patients (17) were older than 2 years at the time of surgery. Only nine babies (28.1% of the patients) were able to have their surgery done within the age of 6 months. Those that had extensive unilateral cleft lip were 10 (31.3%). However, a total of 18 (56.3% of the patients) had cleft lips that were either mild or moderate grade.

Conclusion:

This grading of unilateral cleft lip helps in objective preoperative assessment of the severity and in predicting the difficulty expected during lip repair. It is also helpful in assigning clefts to trainees and in determining which patients should be referred to an experienced surgeon.
Knowledge and Attitude of Parents toward Child Dental Visits in a Rural Setting in Nigeria
Authors: Onyejaka NK , Onyekwere MP , Ezeigwe TJ , Iwuoha CE , Amobi EO , Etim SS
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The study determined the proportion of rural parents with good knowledge about and good attitude toward children making their first dental visit by their first birthday. It also assessed the association among age, sex, level of education, past dental visits of parents, and knowledge about and good attitude toward children making their first dental visit by their first birthday.

Materials and Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study that collected data from 115 parents in a rural setting using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data on age, sex, level of education, past dental visits, knowledge about, and attitude toward children making their first dental visit by their first birthday were collected from one of the parents of children aged 16 years and below. Socio-demographic factors associated with knowledge about and attitude to a child’s dental visit were considered significant at the level of P < 0.05 using the Chi-square test. Logistic regression was conducted to determine the predictor of good knowledge.

Results:

The age of the study participants ranged from 15 years to 63 years with a mean of 40 ± 15.51 years. Only 25 (21.7%) parents had visited the dentist. More females 31 (40.3%) than males 6 (15.8%) significantly (P = 0.008) had good knowledge of child dental visits while more males 12 (31.6%) than females 6 (7.8%) (P = 0.001) and a greater percentage of those with past dental visits 8 (32.0%) had significantly (P = 0.02) good attitude to child dental visit.

Conclusion:

More mothers had good knowledge of child dental visits, while more fathers and those with past dental visits had a good attitude toward child dental visits.
Giant Conjunctival Melanoma Treated with Excision and Primary Reconstruction using a Partial Thickness Skin Graft
Authors: Cekić SP , Kovačević PT , Krstić MS
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

Conjunctival melanoma is a rare type of malignancy of ocular surface tissue with a high recurrence rate, sight, and life-threatening malignancy. In this paper, we report a case of giant conjunctival melanoma in an 86-year-old woman, localized on her left eye. The pigmented tumor lesion was de novo occurred and treated by local wide excision and reconstruction of the presented defect by partial thickness skin from the inside parts of the forearm. The eye itself was not damaged, and the first-line lymph nodes showed no malignant activity. In the three years of follow-up, no signs of recurrence have been observed. The treatment approach with local excision and subsequent reconstruction with the partial thickness skin graft or excision with adjuvant therapy has given a good clinical outcome.
Comparison of Three Techniques in Bladder Stone Surgery: Which Technique is more Effective and Safe?
Authors: Yalçın K
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

In our study, we aimed to compare the success and complication rates of percutaneous cystolithotripsy (PCCL), transurethral cystolithotripsy (TUCL), and Ho: YAG laser lithotripsy in the surgery of bladder stones that occurred due to various reasons.

Patients and Methods:

Patients diagnosed with single or multiple bladder stones with long axis larger than 2 cm, resulting for various reasons, were included in our study. Sizes of the stones, cystolithotripsy and discharge times, catheter removal times, complications observed, and the visual pain scale (VPS) were retrospectively evaluated separately from the surgical techniques implemented for accompanying patients and their data.

Results:

TUCL (group 1) was implemented in 40, PCCL (group 2) was implemented in 44, and transurethral Ho: YAG laser lithotripsy (group 3) was implemented in 30 of the 121 patients included in the study. The bladder stone long axe group 1 average was 3,7 cm (2,2–5,3), group 2 average was 3,74 cm (2,1–5,1), and group 3 average was 3,7 cm (2,3–4,7). Urethral stricture evolved in two patients who underwent TUCL. A statistically significant difference was observed on behalf of PCCL in terms of operation time. There was significance in the Ho: YAG laser cystolithotripsy group in comparison with VPS scores. No significant differences were found in terms of age, stone size, urethral catheter removal times, and discharge times. The average follow-up time was 6 months.

Conclusion:

Although all three methods were quite successful in bladder stone surgery, average cystolithotripsy times were significantly low in the PCCL technique. Thinking that the most common cause of bladder stone is BPH, it is stated that the suprapubic inserted tube ease the bladder drainage during transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P). In this way, the duration of the most common accompanying surgeries is shortened and performed more safely.