bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Einstein’s Garden 2009–2014: unexpected encounters with science
Authors: Dowell Ellen
Published: August 2018

Creating science content for cultural contexts in which the audience are not primarily motivated by an interest in science, can provide exciting opportunities for experimenting with new approaches to science engagement. This article explores some of the learning gained, and practical methodologies developed by Einstein’s Garden, the science, nature and environment area of the Green Man Festival.
Exploring serendipitous dialogue
Authors: Weitkamp Emma
Published: August 2018

Over the past decades there has been an increasing recognition of the need to promote dialogue between science and society. Often this takes the form of formal processes, such as citizen’s juries, that are designed to allow the public to contribute their views on particular scientific research areas. But there are also many less formal mechanisms that promote a dialogue between science and society. This editorial considers science festivals and citizen science in this context and argues that we need a greater understanding of the potential impacts of these projects on the individuals involved, both scientists and the public.
Climate sciences meet visual arts
Authors: Rödder Simone
Published: August 2018

This set of comments reports experiences from a recent “science-meets-arts”-project in Germany, in which students from the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg (HFBK) shared day-to-day life in climate research groups for several months. The project was envisioned as a process of mutual inspiration with the aim of producing a joint exhibition and symposium at the end. This paper introduces the project as well as the subsequent commentaries and also presents some of my own observations.
A cybernetic dream: how a crisis in social sciences leads us to a Communication for Innovation-Laboratory
Authors: van der Sanden Maarten , Flipse Steven
Published: August 2018

After the first paradigm shift from the deficit model to two-way communication, the field of science communication is in need of a second paradigm shift. This second shift sees communication as an inherently distributed element in the socio-technical system of science and technology development. Science communication is understood both from a systems perspective and its consecutive parts, in order to get a grip on the complex and dynamic reality of science, technology development and innovation in which scientists, industrial and governmental partners and the lay public collaborate. This essay reflects on the under-development of system thinking in science communication and the need to fix this. Legitimation for the second paradigm shift is found in the ‘crisis in social sciences’ that has led to a revival of system theory to balance the deterministic thinking in our grounding discipline. This essay concludes with the idea of a ‘Communication for Innovation-Lab’ as an experimental setting in which whole/part thinking in science communication can be shaped according to this second paradigm shift, forming seed crystals for future developments.
Science communication between risk and (un)certainty
Authors: Lüthje Corinna
Published: August 2018

The 2nd annual conference of the ad hoc group Science Communication was dedicated to research on risk and uncertainty as important challenges for the present practice of science communication. The review firstly offers a short portrait of the ad hoc group Science Communicaiton as a newly established network of communication scholars and secondly reconstructs the course of the highliy spirited debate during the conference in Jena.
Mathematical thinking skills, self-concept and learning outcomes of 12-year-olds visiting a Mathematics Science Centre Exhibition in Latvia and Sweden
Authors: Salmi Hannu , Thuneberg Helena , Vainikainen Mari-Pauliina
Published: August 2018

Teaching mathematics in informal settings is a relatively new phenomenon, but it has gained more attention due to the recent changes in the society. The aim of the present quantitative study was to compare the learning outcomes of Latvian and Swedish 12-year-olds when they visited a science centre mathematics-art exhibition originally designed in Estonia. The results showed that in general, prior knowledge of the exhibition contents was the strongest predictor of post-test results in both countries but that mathematical thinking skills and self-concept had a small added value in explaining the post-test results. The results of the study give some of the first pieces of evidence of the effectiveness of out-of-school mathematics teaching in a science exhibition context, providing a good basis for further studies.
Open Science training and education: challenges and difficulties on the researchers' side and in public engagement
Authors: Pitrelli Nico , Arabito Stefania
Published: August 2018

Open Science may become the next scientific revolution, but still lingers in a pre-paradigmatic phase, characterised by the lack of established definitions and domains. Certainly, Open Science requires a new vision of the way to produce and share scientific knowledge, as well as new skills. Therefore, education plays a crucial role in supporting this cultural change along the path of science. This is the basic principle inspiring the collection of essays published in this issue of JCOM, which deals with many subjects ranging from open access to the public engagement in scientific research, from open data to the social function of preprint servers for the physicians' community. These are issues that go along with the targets of the FOSTER project (Facilitate Open Science Training for European Research) funded by the European Union, which has provided interesting food for thought in order to write this commentary.
Open Access: what's in it for me as an early career researcher?
Authors: Pontika Nancy
Published: August 2018

When entering the research world, Early Career Researchers (ECRs) may encounter difficulties building a good reputation for their research, its quality and the research results. Open access is the movement that could assist ECRs to: (a) widely disseminate their scholarly outputs, (b) demonstrate the research and societal impact of their work and, (c) organise online research portfolios that can be accessed by all researchers, as well as prospective employers.
Challenges and successes in engaging citizen scientists to observe snow cover: from public engagement to an educational collaboration
Authors: Dickerson-Lange Susan , Eitel Karla , Dorsey Leslie , Link Timothy , Lundquist Jessica
Published: August 2018

Whereas the evolution of snow cover across forested mountain watersheds is difficult to predict or model accurately, the presence or absence of snow cover is easily observable and these observations contribute to improved snow models. We engaged citizen scientists to collect observations of the timing of distributed snow disappearance over three snow seasons across the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A. . The primary goal of the project was to build a more spatially robust dataset documenting the influence of forest cover on the timing of snow disappearance, and public outreach was a secondary goal. Each year's effort utilized a different strategy, building on the lessons of the previous year. We began by soliciting our professional networks to contribute observations via electronic or paper forms, moved to a public outreach effort to collect geotagged photographs, and finally settled on close collaboration with an outdoor science school that was well-positioned to collect the needed data. Whereas the outreach efforts garnered abundant enthusiasm and publicity, the resulting datasets were sparse. In contrast, direct collaboration with an outdoor science school that was already sending students to make weekly snow observations proved fruitful in both data collection and educational outreach. From a data collection standpoint, the shift to an educational collaboration was successful because it essentially traded wide spatial coverage combined with sparse temporal coverage for dense temporal coverage at a single, but important location. From a public engagement standpoint, the partnership allowed for more intensive participation by more people and enhanced the science curriculum at the collaborating school.
Visual communication, popular science journals and the rhetoric of evidence
Authors: Hommrich Dirk , Isekenmeier Guido
Published: August 2018

While the use of scientific visualisations (such as brain scans) in popular science communication has been extensively studied, we argue for the importance of popular images (as demonstrated in various talks at #POPSCI2015), including pictures of everyday scenes of social life or references to pictures widely circulating in popular cultural contexts. We suggest that these images can be characterised in terms of a rhetorical theory of argumentation as working towards the production of evidentiality on the one hand, and as aiming to link science to familiar visualities on the other; our example is da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man".
Telling stories about our research
Authors: Weitkamp Emma
Published: August 2018

The academic journal paper has been around for several hundred years and during that time has seen shifts in style and structure. This editorial explores the traditional research paper and considers whether thinking about the research paper as a story, provides insights into style and structure that would make research both more transparent and more readable.
Continuing professional development in the largest scientific laboratory in the world: perspectives and needs for a science communicator @ CERN
Authors: Catapano Paola
Published: August 2018

A short outline of the evolution of communications at CERN since 1993 and the parallel growth of the need both for professional communications and, at the same time, the need for training in more and more complex competencies for the new profession.
An integrated model of science communication — More than providing evidence
Authors: Longnecker Nancy
Published: August 2018

Factors that influence reception and use of information are represented in this koru model of science communication using the metaphor of a growing plant. Identity is central to this model, determining whether an individual attends to information, how it is used and whether access to it results in increased awareness, knowledge or understanding, changed attitudes or behaviour. In this koru model, facts are represented as nutrients in the soil; the matrix influences their availability. Communication involves reorganisation of facts into information, available via channels represented as roots. When information is taken up, engagement with it is influenced by external factors (social norms, support and control) and internal factors (values, beliefs, attitudes, awareness, affect, understanding, skills and behaviour) which affect whether the individual uses it to form new knowledge.
Open Media Science
Authors: Martiny Kristian , Pedersen David Budtz , Birkegaard Alfred
Published: August 2018

In this article, we present three challenges to the emerging Open Science (OS) movement: the challenge of communication, collaboration and cultivation of scientific research. We argue that to address these challenges OS needs to include other forms of data than what can be captured in a text and extend into a fully-fledged Open Media movement engaging with new media and non-traditional formats of science communication. We discuss two cases where experiments with open media have driven new collaborations between scientists and documentarists. We use the cases to illustrate different advantages of using open media to face the challenges of OS.
Science, brands and the museum
Authors: Bud Robert
Published: August 2018

This paper argues that for citizens to be engaged with science they need to be able to share analytical techniques as well as the results of analyses. The category of "brand" which condenses the instrumental with the symbolic is both powerful in its uses and familiar to laypeople. The paper shows briefly how the categories of penicillin, biotechnology and applied science can be analysed in this way. It suggests that historians apply such an approach to the historiography of such new categories as synthetic biology and that this might be useful to curators of such topics in museums.
Filling the Gaps: exploring researchers communication experiences
Authors: Weitkamp Emma
Published: August 2018

This issue sees the publication of several papers that contribute to our understanding of the challenges faced by researchers in communicating about their research, adding richness to our understanding of practices and policies in Zimbabwe as well as amongst non-Anglophone speakers working in Australia. The potential of incorporating documentary filmmaking tools and techniques into open science projects raises interesting questions about subjectivity, data and the collaboration skills needed for today's scientists.
Difficulty in weaning and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in inoperable severe mitral regurgitation: a case report
Authors: Rodrigues Jr Luiz Fernando , Santos Soares Carla Cristiane , de Oliveira Claudia Rosa , Moreira Beatriz Robert , Felix Mediano Mauro Felippe , de Oliveira Juliana Rega
Published: August 2018

Objective: Severe mitral valve insufficiency may lead to heart failure and associated hemodynamic repercussions, such as congestion and weaning-induced pulmonary oedema. This slows weaning from mechanical ventilation, increases the length of the hospital stay, and worsens the patient’s prognosis. Case report: The present report describes one strategy used for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and to help wean a patient from mechanical ventilation, with prohibitive comorbidities that contra-indicate surgical mitral valve repair, using respiratory and peripheral muscle training associated with positive pressure ventilation. Discussion: The severe dysfunction of the mitral valve was considered to be surgically inoperable by the surgeon team. However, the weaning and rehabilitation challenges in this patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, even with weaning-induced pulmonary edema occurrence, were overcome. The strategy to rehabilitate respiratory muscle force during positive pressure ventilation, concomitantly to a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program, improved peripheral muscle strength and functionality, reducing energetic demand, allowing the weaning from mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: Despite the severity of the disease, with the adopted strategy it was possible to perform weaning of the mechanical ventilation, allowing the patient to survive with his relatives.
The Development of Learning Materials Students' Book Based on Contextual that Integrated with Technopreneurship in Biotechnology Subject at XII Grade Senior High School
Authors: Kusumawati Linda , Suratno Suratno , Narulita Erlia
Published: August 2018

Biotechnology has growth fast in the last 20 years. Biotechnology produces many products biotechnology, so in some developed countries serve as the centre of bioeconomic activities. The rapid development of science and technology makes biotechnology must be mastered by academics including students. Efforts to improve the mastery of biotechnology can be pursued by using the contextual and integrated technopreneurship lesson. This research is a development research using 4D model (four D model), which consists of four stages, namely Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate. However, the implementation of this research is limited to Define, Design, and Develop stage. The book validation value of the students developed based on experts and users is 92.23% and 92.48% with very reasonable criteria. Value of the book of students based on test book readability of student equal to 88,63% with criteria very good and result of student response after using book equal to 93,71% with criterion very good so that book can be said practical and can be used for field study activity.
Simulation of a Solvate Ionic Liquid at a Polarisable Electrode with a Constant Potential
Authors: Coles Samuel W. , Ivanistsev Vladislav
Published: August 2018

In this article we discuss the nanostructure and calculated the capacitance of a solvate ionic liquid–electrode interfaces, where the electrode has a constant potential, and is thus inherently polarisable. Lithium ions from the lithiumglyme solvate ionic liquid are found within 0.5 nm of the electrode at all voltages studied, however, their solvation environment varies with voltage. Our study provides molecular insight into the electrode interface of solvate ionic liquids, with many features similar to pure ionic liquids. A comparison with previous studies of the same electrolyte using the fixed surface charge boundary condition is also illuminating, informing future computational studies of electrolyte–electrode interfaces.
A practice of a narrative lesson model using fables based on the OC2-RD2 technique in the teaching of computer programming
Authors: Rosa Adriano Carlos Moraes , Buttignon Karina , Vega Italo Santiago , Silva Jonhson de Tarso
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this article is to present a computer programming class practice that has been used as an alternative to learning and that may possibly lead the learner to a positive state of knowledge absorption through dynamic classes using techniques based fables OC2-RD2. OC2-RD2 (Objective, Setback, Catastrophe, Reaction, Dilemma, and Deci- sion) is defined as an interactive narrative technique in a face-to-face learning environment, speci fi cally in the higher education course of Computing, using fables, a story involving scenes in the third person: "Objective," "Setback," and "Catastrophe," and which in turn leads learners to certain behaviors in 1st person scenes: "Reactions, Dilemma, and De-division." This technique stands out as a supporter to the teacher in his classes, applying narrative scenarios that stimulate the learner to participate and contextualize the proposed subject. The OC2-RD2 has as a challenge, through the use of auxiliary narratives, the teacher in his or her classroom regency, leading to a continuous, efficient, dynamic and objective learning that may possibly minimize problems related to learning difficulties, which are often related to logical reasoning.
A New Tiebreaker in the NEH heuristic for the Permutation Flow Shop Scheduling Problem
Authors: Benavides Alexander J.
Published: August 2018

The most efficient constructive heuristic so far for the Permutation Flow shop Scheduling Problem (PFSSP) with makespan minimization criterion is the NEH heuristic. It iteratively inserts a non-scheduled job into the position of the partial schedule that reduces the makespan. It iterates until a complete schedule is produced. It usually produces a high number of ties when selecting the best position, and the recent literature is proposing tiebreakers to improve the results. In this paper we propose a new tiebreaker that is based on the estimation of the variation of idle times produced with the insertion of the new job, and that takes into account the reversibility property of the PFSSP. Computational results show that this tiebreaker outperforms the state-of-the-art methods.
Black hands and onion channels: a study of drugs on non-English language darknet markets
Authors: Groshkova Teodora , Cunningham Andrew , Strupp Sascha , Sedefov Roumen
Published: August 2018

Introduction: Around two-thirds of all commerce in the darknet ecosystem is drug-related. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), recently conducted an analysis that identified over 100 global darknet markets, and estimated that between 2011-2015, EU-based suppliers accounted for around 46% of all drug revenue. While the ecosystem is dominated by English language markets with global reach, marketplaces with limited geographical scope exist, catering to the needs of non-English speaking buyers. However, little is known about the extent of this phenomenon and what operational models are used. Methods: Between May and June 2017 a short survey was distributed among EMCDDA drug supply-related networks in 43 countries. In addition, in June 2017, two surface websites were searched for non-English darknet markets, and information was gathered on the darknet markets identified. Prices of a range of drug types on offer were collected. Results: Two-thirds of countries approached responded to the data request. Of these, four countries (France, Finland, Sweden and Norway) reported a total of nine national darknet marketplaces. Additional searching identified a further 11 marketplaces from three countries (France, Italy and Russia). Of these, 13 were excluded as they were unavailable, were forums or had never actualised sales. All seven darknet marketplaces catering for specific countries appeared to sell drugs over Tor, the majority offering open registration and some form of escrow functionality. Prices on the Russian marketplace were consistently higher than on European sites. Discussion: There are a number of potential reasons for the emergence and endurance of these marketplaces, notably the role played by national Customs agencies. These are discussed along with the role of national darknet marketplaces in the global darknet markets ecosystem and how these may influence traditional physical drug markets.
Estudio de corte transversal sobre el estado de conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de médicos colombianos ante el tabaquismo
Authors: Robayo-González Claudia Ximena , Uribe-Caputi Juan Carlos
Published: August 2018

Introducción: El consumo de cigarrillo ha venido en aumento entre otras razones por nuevas estrategias comerciales, falta de una política pública definida, contrabando y falta de programas efectivos contra la adicción. Los médicos no son ajenos a este problema con el agravante de que no cuentan con el entrenamiento necesario para influir en la educación de los pacientes. Objetivo: Evaluar los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de médicos colombianos respecto al tabaquismo. Metodología: Estudio de corte transversal mediante encuesta virtual realizada a 431 médicos colombianos anónimos, autoseleccionados. Resultados: La prevalencia de vida de consumo de cigarrillo fue del 68.68%. La edad promedio de consumo fue 16 años, el 37.28% ha fumado más de 5 cajetillas a lo largo de la vida; solamente el 12.54% de los fumadores ha intentado dejar el hábito; el 61.71% de los encuestados refirieron uno o ambos padres fumadores, variable que resultó asociada al consumo. El 51.04% refiere no tener conocimientos para brindar asesoría a los pacientes en el tema; 88.17% está de acuerdo con la normatividad restrictiva existente en el país; el 95.82% consideran que son un modelo a seguir y que desempeñan un papel importante frente al paciente. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de tabaquismo activo en médicos colombianos es baja en comparación con la estadística mundial; la asesoría para abandonar el hábito en los pacientes es casi nula. Hay consenso en la necesidad de una mejor formación en el tema entre el personal médico. [Robayo-González CX, Uribe-Caputi JC. Estudio de corte transversal sobre el estado de conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de médicos colombianos ante el tabaquismo. MedUNAB 2017-2018; 20(3): 327-337].
Estudio descriptivo del accidente ofídico, Casanare-Colombia, 2012-2014
Authors: Manosalva-Sánchez Carolina , Zuleta-Dueñas Liliana Patricia , Castañeda-Porras Oneida
Published: August 2018

Introducción: Entre las lesiones de causa externa, el accidente ofídico es de notificación obligatoria en Colombia. En el departamento de Casanare, la susceptibilidad de sufrir una mordedura de serpiente aumenta dadas sus características geográficas, climáticas, socioculturales y demográficas que favorecen el incremento de morbilidad y mortalidad. Objetivo: Describir la ocurrencia del evento en Casanare entre 2012-2014, con el propósito de fortalecer las acciones de promoción y prevención. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo transversal a partir de registros de la notificación del evento al Sistema de Vigilancia en Salud Pública durante el período a estudio; la información se almacenó en el programa Excel de Microsoft Office®, y se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables tiempo, lugar y persona en el programa estadístico Epi-Info 7.1.5®. Resultados: Se registraron 485 casos: en 2012 (175 casos; 36.1%), 2013 (168 casos; 34.6%), 2014 (142 casos; 29.3%); de los cuales 315 fueron en hombres (64.9%), 417 casos del área rural (85.9%), con una edad promedio de 32.4 ± 19.9.  En relación a la pertenencia étnica se presentaron 49 casos (10.1%), de los cuales el 83.7% fue en indígenas (41/49). Las actividades más frecuentes al momento de la agresión fueron caminatas por senderos abiertos o labores de agricultura 280 casos (57.7%); realizar trabajos agropecuarios, forestales o pesqueros 124 casos (25.6%). La localización anatómica de la mordedura en orden de frecuencia fue: Miembros inferiores 351 casos (72.4%) y superiores 113 casos (23.3%). Según la atención inicial: Inmovilización de miembro 71 casos (14.7%); sometidos a prácticas no médicas 181 casos (37.3%), y el 54.7% (99/181) se había realizado rezos. La Tasa de incidencia fue de 47.1/100,000 habitantes y de letalidad 0.2% (1/485). Conclusiones: La tasa de incidencia evidenciada superó la del país de 9.2/100,000 habitantes. Afectó a hombres en edad productiva, dependientes del trabajo agrícola; y la atención inicial fue inadecuada en la mayoría de casos, persistiendo el uso de prácticas no médicas. Todas las lesiones son prevenibles, por tanto, las medidas preventivas deben constituirse en la principal herramienta para reducir la incidencia del evento. [Manosalva-Sánchez C, Zuleta-Dueñas LP, Castañeda-Porras O. Estudio descriptivo del accidente ofídico, Casanare-Colombia, 2012-2014. MedUNAB 2017-2018; 20(3): 338-348].
Doğu ve Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgelerinden Göçle Gelen Ergenlerde Benlik Saygısını Yükseltme Programının Etkililiğinin Araştırılması
Authors: Kaya Erten Zeliha , Seviğ Ümit
Published: August 2018

Amaç: Bu çalışma Sister Callista Roy’un uyum modelinden yola çıkılarak göçle gelen vegelmeyen ergenlerin uyumlarını artırmak için yapılan benlik saygısını yükseltme programınınbenlik saygısı düzeyine etkisini belirlemek amacıyla yarı deneysel olarak yapılmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntem: Kayseri’ye 5-8 yıl içinde göçle gelmiş ve Kayseri’de yaşayan 13-14 yaş grubuergenler çalışma kapsamına alınmıştır. Göçle gelen ve gelmemiş olan 40 ergenden oluşan2 müdahale 2 kontrol olmak üzere 4 grup oluşturulmuştur. Müdahale gruplarına ayrı ayrıbenlik saygısı yükseltme programı uygulanmıştır. Kontrol gruplarına herhangi bir programuygulanmamıştır. Sosyo-demografik özelliklerin ve benlik saygısını etkileyen faktörlerinbelirlenebilmesi için “Kişisel Bilgi Formu”; benlik saygısı düzeylerini belirlemek için “LiseÖğrencileri Özsaygı (Benlik Saygısı) Envanteri” kullanılmıştır. Bütün grupların benlik saygıdüzeyleri, ön test, son test ve izlem ölçümleri ile değerlendirilmiştir.Bulgular: Benlik saygısı yükseltme programı sonrası müdahale gruplarının benlik saygısıpuan ortalamaları, kontrol gruplarının puan ortalamalarından istatistiksel olarak anlamlışekilde daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Göçle gelen ve gelmeyen müdahale grupları arasında puanfarkları ortalamaları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunmamıştır.Sonuç: Çalışmada sosyo ekonomik ve kültürel ortamın bireylerin uyumunu göç kadaretkilediği düşünülürken, benlik saygısı yükseltme programının ise aynı ortamı paylaşan göçle gelen ve gelmeyen ergenlerin benlik saygılarını kontrol gruplarına göre ve kendi ön-son test puan ortalamalarına göre olumlu ve benzer şekilde etkilediği bulunmuştur.
Demography of Dhampus: A Community Health Diagnosis Field Visit Report
Authors: Poudel S , Ghimire U R , Sanjeeb K C , Kunwar S , Mehta R , Niraula S , Yadav R , Parajuli R , Regmi S , Bohara S , Subedi S , Chimariya S , Parajuli S , Poudel A , Lohani S , Maharjan S , Rayamaji S , Mahato S , Adhikari S , Pageni S , Udaya S , Karki B , Shrestha S , Faujdar S , Malla S , Paudel S , Bhatta S , Shrestha S , Shrestha S , Budha YDM
Published: August 2018

Community health diagnosis is a comprehensive assessment of health status of the community in relation to its social, physical and biological environment. The purpose of community health diagnosis is to define existing problems, determine available resources and set priorities for planning, implementing and evaluation health action, by and for the community. A cross sectional descriptive study was done at Dhampus VDC from 1 Sept 2016 AD (16th Bhadra, 2073 BS) to 16 Sept 2016 AD (31st Bhadra, 2073). The data was collected by questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, interviews and secondary data. The community health diagnosis field visit gave us the opportunity to build our team spirit and taught us the arts of problem solving. It taught us the importance of correct conduct and building a good rapport with the people who were unfamiliar to us. J-GMC-N | Volume 11 | Issue 01 | January-June 2018, Page: 71-76
Sex Ratio at Birth: Where Did Our Female Fetus Go?
Authors: Gurung T K , Gurung R T , Shrestha R , Shrestha R
Published: August 2018

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the ratio of male to female gender at birth and compare the sex ratio between primipara and multipara women.Methods: This is a cross sectional retrospective study done using the data available from the medical records of the patients who were admitted in the labor room of Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital from July 2016 to June 2017 (Shrawan 2073 to Asad 2074).Results: In one year period, a total of 1625 women were admitted for delivery. There were 845 male and 780 female babies delivered to those women. The sex ratio calculated was 108 male births for every 100 females. When comparing the sex ratios at birth for primipara, multipara with previous abortions and fetal death and mulipara with no history of abortions and fetal death, the sex ratio was 81.75, 125.89 and 120.16 respectively.Conclusions: Overall there were more male births than female. But in primiparous women more female babies were born unlike in multipara. There is definitely a need of in depth study to identify the cause for the skewed value. The society needs to acknowledge that high sex ratios at birth will adversely affect the fertility patterns causing the imbalance in the overall development of community. J-GMC-N | Volume 11 | Issue 01 | January-June 2018, Page: 1-4
Assessment of Adenosine Deaminase Level and the Utility of Polymerase Chain Reaction in Diagnosis of Tuberculous Pleural Effusion
Authors: Nagila A , Khanal S , Dhakal N , Bhatta M , Tamrakar B K
Published: August 2018

Background: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is one of the major causes of exudative pleural effusion. The paucibacillary nature of effusion suggests the need of markers and methodologies for accurate diagnosis and prognosis of tuberculosis as well as to differentiate it from other non-tubercular causes of pleural effusion.Objectives: This study was focused to evaluate the utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in detection of tuberculosis antigen and to assess the level of Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) in tubercular pleural effusion (TPE) and contrast it with other causes.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study where 100 samples of pleural effusion suspected to be tuberculosis were analyzed by PCR for the detection of IS6110 segment of DNA. The level of ADA was then determined and compared in both PCR positive and negative samples. The cut-off value of ADA was >40 U/L for TPE. Student t test was applied to compare the means with statistical significance set at p<0.05.Results: Out of 100 samples analyzed, 45% were positive for TPE and remaining 55% were non-tuberculosis pleural effusion as detected by PCR. The level of ADA was above cut-off (>40 U/L) in 43% TPE samples whereas all the non-tuberculosis effusion had ADA <40 U/L (p<0.001).Conclusion: The ADA level was significantly higher in TPE than in non-tuberculosis cases, and PCR was able to detect suspected cases of tuberculosis effusion in almost half of the cases. This finding suggests the diagnostic utility of combined use of ADA and PCR in diagnosis of TPE. J-GMC-N | Volume 11 | Issue 01 | January-June 2018, Page: 5-9
Cardiovascular Risk Behavior Amongst Adolescents of Lekhnath Muncipality of Kaski district, Nepal
Authors: Ghimire H P , Dhungana A
Published: August 2018

Background: Life style related behavioral risk factors are mainly implicated for increase burden of cardiovascular diseases. Research related to these risk behaviors especially among adolescents is essential considering their role as future citizens of the country.Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the burden of cardiovascular risk behavior amongst the adolescents of Kaski district, Lekhnath Nepal.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among the adolescents of Lekhnath Muncipality Kaski District. Total 350 participants from five different schools from Lekhnath Muncipality took part in the study and the sampling technique was simple random method by using a random number table. Self administered questionnaires were used to collect information on identification of risk behaviors.Results: Descriptive statistics and Chi square test were computed. Out of 350 adolescents 175 males and remaining 175 females were interviewed. Alcohol and tobacco consumption were more amongst males whereas fast food and soft drinks were more amongst the females. Nearly 40% of the adolescents were not involved in physical activity. Tobacco and alcohol consumption was 26% and 16% respectively, which was higher amongst the late adolescents group studying in the 11th and 12th standard. In this study fruits and vegetables consumption was very less only 42% whereas soft drinks and fast food consumption was more 83% which shows that the adolescents are not aware about their food habits. Some participants did not consume fruits due to low purchasing power to buy fruits. Adolescence is a period of experimentation and so some participants told that they have just started taking alcohol and also started consuming tobacco for fun and were not aware that it was cardiovascular risk behavior.Conclusions: The adolescents had a high burden of cardiovascular risk behavior and if immediate intervention is not done to reduce these high risk behaviors many may be vulnerable to cardio vascular diseases in the future. J-GMC-N | Volume 11 | Issue 01 | January-June 2018, Page: 10-13
Nutritional Status of Senior Citizens in Selected Rural and Urban Area of Kaski, Nepal
Authors: Gautam S , Shrestha N , Shah T , Angur B
Published: August 2018

Background: Nutritional status is a valuable determinant of quality of life as well as morbidity and mortality. Adequate nutrition, including balanced diet is important among the senior citizens for maintaining good health. Objectives: To assess the nutritional status of senior citizens, compare between rural and urban and find out association between demographic variables and study parameters.Methods: A community based cross-sectional comparative study was carried out in one Municipality and one VDC of Kaski district, Nepal. Stratified random sampling was adopted to draw 120 samples from urban, 120 from rural. Data was collected by face-to-face interview with the respondents using semi-structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurement (Height and weight) and hemoglobin measurement was done for assessment of nutritional status.Results: Underweight was found in maximum (47.5%) respondents in rural than urban (18.3%). while overweight was in maximum in urban (30.0%) than in rural (12.5%). Similarly, BMI within normal range was higher in urban (45.8%) than in rural (37.5%). Mean BMI in rural was 19.0 ±4.1 and in urban was 23.2 ±4.7. Below normal hemoglobin level was slightly higher in rural (47.5%) than in urban (44.17%). Mean hemoglobin in rural was 11.89 ±1.63 and urban was 12.06 ±1.27.Conclusions: The study concludes that, underweight was found more among in rural senior citizens but overweight was found more among in urban senior citizens. Below normal hemoglobin level was more among rural samples. There was statistically significant association of mean BMI between rural and urban but not statistically significant association of mean hemoglobin between rural and urban.  J-GMC-N | Volume 11 | Issue 01 | January-June 2018, Page: 46-51
Can Implicit Measures Contribute to a True Understanding of People's Attitudes and Stereotypes?
Authors: O'Shea Brian
Published: August 2018

Traditionally psychologists used explicit self-reports to better understand individuals’ attitudes but influences such as social desirability and impression management often made this method of data collection unreliable. This article describes the origins and the advancements of one of the most studied topics in social psychology - Implicit Social Cognition. Unobtrusive/indirect research methods were initially used to overcome the problems of using self-reports. Subsequently, reaction time tasks such as the Implicit Association Test (IAT) were developed to enable researchers to measure response biases, at the individual level, in socially sensitive domains such as prejudice towards minority groups. Automaticity is a core requirement for a measure to be described as implicit and therefore, fast reaction times (< 2,000 milliseconds) are needed. This article will describe under what conditions implicit and explicit measures are and are not related, including the theoretical basis for these relations. The value of using both implicit and explicit measures to predict behaviour will be explained, along with a discussion on what implicit measure are detecting. In certain domains or under specific conditions, implicit measures can contribute to providing a true understanding of attitudes and stereotypes.
One and Many Truths Artistically Acknowledged
Authors: Marzana Sara
Published: August 2018

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell both question, criticise and reinterpret the concept of ‘truth universally acknowledged’. From the intrinsic relation between the particular and the universal, to the scission between impressions and ideas, Pride and Prejudice concerns some elements of the entire dispute of knowledge. Moreover, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell urges us to reconsider any truth that we recognise as legitimately established, in the attempt to convey that it is our right and duty to determine what we believe – according to our senses, perceptions and feelings. In the eighteenth century, the philosophers of the Enlightenment were indeed disputing the origins of truth and more importantly the ways through which truth is uncovered. In a postmodern world, when, as John D. Caputo remarks, the only universality we acknowledge is diversity, fiction can lead us toward a more profound comprehension of reality – while enriching the flux of our imagination as we perceive the infinite possibilities inherent in human life. This literary approach to the world and its truth prompts us to contemplate existence from a different perspective, to find new meanings presumably hidden beneath the subjectivity of our judgement – to separate specific from universal knowledge. For, even if the prospect of formulating a commonly accepted norm of truth will always endure as humanity’s major interest, the real nature of our beliefs is inseparable from our ability to endlessly create, envision and conceive the unrevealed.
Meaning and Methodology
Authors: Wall Georgia
Published: August 2018

Addressing scholars new to ethnography in an interdisciplinary perspective, Prof. Marion Demossier and Dr. Margaret Hills de Zárate offer some reflections on the broader opportunities and implications of ethnographic approaches as a search not for truth, or rules, but for meaning in context. The authors discuss the opportunities and challenges of ethnography as opposed to other forms of data collection, reflexivity, the relationship between ethnography and text, and provide a range of further references.
R v JA
Authors: Koshan Jennifer
Published: August 2018

This Women's Court of Canada judgment considers the issue of whether parties can consent in advance to sexual activity that will occur while they are asleep or unconscious. The Supreme Court of Canada's 2011 ruling in R v JA generated critique and debate among feminist and law and sexuality scholars that pitted women's equality and security interests against their affirmative sexual autonomy. The Women's Court judgment analyzes whether it is possible to adopt an approach to advance consent that protects or at least balances all of these interests. My particular focus is the spousal sexual violence context, where courts have often interpreted the sexual assault provisions of the Criminal Code to the detriment of women's sexual integrity and equality, yet where arguments about affirmative sexual autonomy have also predominated. Taking a harm-based approach to criminality that considers both negative and positive sexual autonomy, I conclude that advance consent should not be considered valid without certain legal safeguards being put into place. The judgment, which was originally published in 2016, is accompanied by a postscript where I reflect on the case from the fictional standpoint of a retired judge.
Strange Homelands: Encountering the Migrant on the Contemporary Greek Stage
Authors: Fragkou Marissia
Published: August 2018

This article examines three examples from recent Greek theatre that stage the experiences of migrants and refugees against the backdrop of Greece’s growing internationalism and multiculturalism. In allowing migrants to author their own narratives of border-crossing into a new “homeland,” these theatrical endeavours attempt to break both the monologism of Greek theatre and monolithic understandings of national identity. In acknowledging the risks and tensions underpinning the migrant’s presence on stage, the article also applies pressure to questions of encounter, authenticity, representation, and self-expression, and it interrogates some ways in which migratory subjects navigate the precarious space of belonging and author themselves in the context of contemporary Greek theatre.
LICENCIAS OBLIGATORIAS, LA PRODUCCIÓN PÚBLICA DE MEDICAMENTOS Y LA NUEVA TEORÍA DE LA DINÁMICA INCLUSIVA DE DESARROLLO TECNOLÓGICO
Authors: Giménez Pereira Marta Carolina
Published: August 2018

El objetivo del trabajo es describir las Licencias Obligatorias y presentar los impactos producidos en la flexibilización de la protección de las patentes farmacéuticas al reconocer un derecho a medidas alternativas a favor de la salud pública y la promoción del acceso a las medicinas. Además, introduce la noción de Producción Pública de Medicamentos por el sector público como instrumento de política pública y que trata puntos estratégicos del sector salud, intentando reforzarlo con respeto a la propiedad intelectual, estimulando la I+D, conectando sector público y privado, garantizando abastecimiento y distribución y resultando el reforzamiento de la dinámica de innovación nacional. Método: comparativo y deductivo y la investigación bibliográfica.
Organizational Learning and Competitive Advantage in Banking Sector of Pakistan
Authors: Hassan Shazia , Iqbal Yasmeen Muhammad Javed , Ghias Wajeeha
Published: August 2018

Organizational learning is one of the major characteristic of high performing work systems. Organizations are depicted as intelligent organizations when they focus on constant organizational learning. In the dynamic era of digitalization, securing a competitive advantage over competitors has moved beyond the effective utilization of organizational resources to effective management of organizational knowledge. This research aims to study the impact of organizational learning as a competitive advantage in the banking sector of Pakistan. OLCA (Organizational learning and Competitive Advantage) model is applied and empirical evidence is collected from the banking sector of Pakistan. Reliability analysis, correlation, Mean, standard deviation, linear regression and step wise regression analysis are used to collect the statistical viewpoint. The results of the study show positive and reliable scores. The result of the study confirms the OLCA model comprehensions in the selected sector of study. The study concludes that rather focusing on increasing the resource efficiency to gain competitive advantage, organization must focus on organizational learning as a resource to gain a lasting competitive advantage.
Indigenous Culture and Academic Discourse: A Critique of English Textbooks in Pakistan
Authors: Habib Azhar , Ullah Inayat
Published: August 2018

The paper aims to explore how far English textbooks in Pakistan embody Pakistan and its culture. In this connection, the reading passages and pictures/images of the textbooks taught at secondary level in the government schools of Punjab were analyzed. It was a mixed method study and the specific method employed was content analysis. For this purpose all the reading passages of both the textbooks were firstly categorized and quantified into three categories; Source Culture/s, Other Culture/s and Neutral and then the cultural elements of Source Culture/s were discussed qualitatively using an adapted checklist. The results of the study reveal that the English textbook of class 9 has 12 passages out of which 75% have Source cultural elements, 8.83% have cultural elements of Other Culture/s and 16.66% are Neutral. As far as the English textbook of class 10 is concerned, there are 13 reading passages out of which 23.07% have Source cultural elements, 15.38% have cultural elements of Other Culture/s and 61.53% are Neutral. The findings of the study show that English, being an international language and as a result of globalization, has become compulsory for people belonging to different countries to learn it. However, in order to retain their identity, they try to appropriate English language to underpin their own culture/s through English language used in the textbooks of Pakistan.
Emerging Political Economy of CPEC – Future Dynamics and Perspectives for Pakistan
Authors: Rehman Muhammad Zia , Khan Asif , Jaffry Qaim Raza
Published: August 2018

The study focuses on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a great regional, political and economic force, which would lead the region to a prosperous future. The route of CPEC is not only a connection between Gwader and Khunjrab but it is also "a motorway of political economy" which would become a track to development and sustainable prosperity. No doubt, the route leads to cooperation in the transition of resources and increase the bilateral trade partnership but there emerge various questions. The present study provides detailed analysis of how the route connects Asia to Europe and provides access the local markets. The study further recommends that Gwadar Port is one of the shortest ways for China rather than Strait of Malacca or any other international route. At the end, based on an in-depth critical evaluation, the study recommends the strategy of boosting its Political Economy on emergency basis.