bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple Case Studies About Robotics in Compulsory Education
Authors: Loureiro Maria José , Guerra Cecília Vieira , Cabrita Isabel , Moreira Filipe T.
Published: November 2021

Programming is fundamental to the development of computational thinking, one of the essential skills for the 21st century. Tangible programming can be a powerful ally of this process from an early age, especially if it supports STEM tasks areas and inclusion. These are the pillars of the TangIn project, under which four qualitative case studies were developed with the aim of to evaluate the lesson plans designed within the scope of the project and the potential of its implementation for the development of the mentioned dimensions. The statistical and content analysis which the questionnaires applied to 43 teachers from Portugal, Spain, Bulgaria, and Latvia were submitted to conclude that students were always very committed and motivated during activities and developed specific and transversal skills related to STEM, including the ability to program and value colleagues, what contributed to its inclusion, regardless of sex and socio-economic conditions.
In the Path of Creating a Relational “How” in Research
Authors: Aldana Yeraldine
Published: November 2021

Some researchers consider the qualitative research approach is a finished enterprise; however, this is not the case. This chapter discusses some methodological decisions through a proposal that plurisignifies qualitative research as an otherwise intuitive approach. This derives from a doctoral study about peace construction (PC) in applied linguistics (AL) to English language teaching (ELT). Firstly, a problematization around qualitative research develops to question taken-for-granted methodological beliefs, concepts, and practices, which represent the instrumentalization of research. Secondly, a proposal to re-humanize these problematized aspects is presented through a discussion of its relationalities and a short description of a practical realization of it. Conclusions wrap up the main contributions of this chapter and comment on their possible implications.
The Experiences of a Consumer Ethnographer in a Sensitive Research Context
Authors: Omeraki Çekirdekci Şahver
Published: November 2021

Ethnography is a research approach that deals with the study and representation of culture. Although it has its roots in anthropology and sociology, it has attracted the attention not only of scholars from different disciplines, but also of practitioners. Several research textbooks discuss the principles and the strategies for carrying out an ethnography. Instead of focusing on the principles of the research approach, the chapter explains its application by focusing on personal experiences for an ethnography carried out in a sensitive research context – the squatter neighborhood and the dwellings of poor urban migrants. The chapter explains the problems encountered before and upon entry into the field and presents the strategies employed to overcome these challenges. Eventually, it aims to help researchers and practitioners that are interested in the adoption and the use of this research approach.
Researching and Conceptualizing an Effective Literature Review
Authors: Welch Stephanie , Lahr Emily , Webb Jessica
Published: November 2021

Literature reviews are an integral part of the world of academia. They provide an avenue for the existing body of knowledge to be modified, summarized, outlined, and evaluated for the development of future research. While there are an overwhelming number of resources and scholarship on most topics, literature reviews prove to be difficult to construct. Literature reviews should provide new perspectives on existing bodies of knowledge, and they should also critically analyze the current literature in the field of study or bring to light conflicting perspectives or gaps in the literature. This chapter seeks to provide a systematic approach to understanding, conducting, and structuring literature reviews. Topics will include the purpose of literature reviews and key misconceptions, conducting research while evaluating quality and purpose of sources, writing the review with attention to purpose, method, audience, and rhetoric, and most common classifications of reviews and the methodology behind each.
Seeking Justice in Your Own Backyard
Authors: McClanahan Lauren G.
Published: November 2021

This chapter analyzes a summer workshop that invited middle and high school students to create digital public service announcements (PSAs) about a social justice topic of their choice. In this chapter, the author investigates the concepts of media literacy, critical literacy, and critical media literacy, then describes in detail the two-week workshop, ending with examples of student work as well as student reflections and instructor recommendations for future workshops. Detailed lesson plans are included to encourage teachers to replicate this workshop in their own classrooms as part of a unit on critical media literacy.
Illuminating Golden Threads
Authors: Yomantas Elizabeth Laura
Published: November 2021

Pedagogical creativity can function as a vehicle to facilitate connection, restore humanity, and nurture critical hope in the classroom and beyond. Pedagogical creativity is essential and urgent as the confluence of the pandemic, civil unrest, and online learning have created dehumanized, unprecedented learning conditions. This chapter details an undergraduate general education course that leveraged contemporary young adult literature for cultural reformation and to promote social justice. This chapter provides examples of students enacting creativity and social imagination and concludes with a discussion of creativity in connection to this chapter's guiding questions.
Digital Financial Knowledge and Behavior of Generation Z in Indonesia
Authors: Musari Khairunnisa , Hidayat Sutan Emir
Published: November 2021

The Indonesian Population Census 2020 reported that the majority of Indonesia's population is in the productive age group and dominated by Generation Z (27.94%). As the generation that currently dominates the population, Generation Z's characteristics are important to learn. They are the future. Generation Z has the potency to accelerate Indonesia's financial inclusion through digitalization because they are adaptable to technology. Responding to the survey results which put Generation Z in Indonesia in the first rank for the levels of happiness and religious awareness, a survey was conducted for Islamic financial technology literacy to find out how they face challenges as well as opportunities in digital era to be in line with religious values and may accelerate financial inclusion. The great potential of Generation Z for technology as well as religious awareness in turn will support financial inclusion towards inclusive development in Indonesia. Hence, this chapter will describe the survey results of digital financial knowledge and behavior of Generation Z in Indonesia.
The Use of Employee Financial Participation in Lithuanian Companies
Authors: Dvorak Jaroslav , Civinskas Remigijus
Published: November 2021

The chapter analyses the use of employee financial participation in Lithuanian companies. The methodology of current research is based on the qualitative research method and analysis of the company's documents. In a total of 19 semi-structured individual anonymous interviews and one focus group were conducted with competent representatives of the companies – heads of human resources and finance departments of companies, heads of legal departments or top managers of law firms representing them. According to the research findings, employers set different goals for share and profit-sharing programs or measures. Among the already examined, high, long-term employee motivation dominates. It also includes aspects of employee involvement in management, strengthening loyalty, forming a sense of ownership. The Scandinavian capital corporation, which manages several companies in Lithuania and applies for a share ownership program, has succeeded in achieving its goals by strengthening employee motivation and involvement.
Economic Growth and Changes in Public Expenditures of the States in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Yusufi Ferimah
Published: November 2021

Fiscal policies are changing due to the conditions required by the COVID-19 pandemic towards the new world order. Under these circumstances, developed countries use their resources for their citizens, and international financial institutions step in for underdeveloped and developing countries with insufficient public resources of their own or are in debt and offer new credit opportunities to these countries. This study aims to analyze how public expenditures, one of the important policies in economic growth and development, will change during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of the findings obtained from the literature review, the economic effects of the pandemic are explained by making a descriptive analysis of secondary data at the levels of country groups classified according to development and income level. Secondly, factors affecting the changes in the public expenditure of countries due to the pandemic were examined, and evaluations are made on the public expenditures in fiscal policies that will ensure the economic recovery and growth of countries after the pandemic.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Stock Markets
Authors: Aybars Aslı , Öner Mehtap
Published: November 2021

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, which emerged at the end of 2019 and spread to the world at a very fast pace, resulted in a pandemic affecting the finance industry besides many other industries though at varying extents. Financial markets, which can be regarded as cornerstones of each and every country's economic success, have been adversely influenced due to the fear and uncertainty arising with the emergence of the novel coronavirus at different degrees. This chapter provides a summary of a literature review based on the impact of this pandemic on stock returns and volatility in the stock exchanges of different countries and regions of the world. What has been captured as a result of this literature review is that almost all of the financial markets around the world have been influenced due to the virus. Further, industry-wise empirical studies demonstrate that not all industries are affected at the same level or even in the same direction.
Pepsin A in Tracheal Secretions From Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation
Authors: Talbert Steven , Bourgault Annette M. , Rathbun Kimberly Paige , Abomoelak Bassam , Deb Chirajyoti , Mehta Devendra , Sole Mary Lou
Published: November 2021

Background

In patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) receiving mechanical ventilation, aspiration of gastric contents may lead to ventilator-associated events and other adverse outcomes. Pepsin in pulmonary secretions is a biomarker of microaspiration of gastric contents.

Objectives

To evaluate the association between tracheal pepsin A and clinical outcomes related to ventilator use.

Methods

A subset of 297 patients from a larger clinical trial on aspiration of oral secretions in adults receiving mechanical ventilation consented to have pepsin A measured in their tracheal aspirate samples. A concentration ≥6.25 ng/mL indicated a positive result. Abundant microaspiration was defined as pepsin A in ≥30% of samples. Statistical analyses included analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and χ2 tests.

Results

Most patients were White men, mean age 59.7 (SD, 18.8) years. Microaspiration was found in 43.8% of patients (n = 130), with abundant microaspiration detected in 17.5% (n = 52). After acuity was controlled for, patients with tracheal pepsin A had a longer mechanical ventilation duration (155 vs 104 hours, P < .001) and ICU stay (9.9 vs 8.2 days, P = .04), but not a longer hospital stay.

Conclusions

Microaspiration of gastric contents occurred in nearly half of patients and was associated with a longer duration of mechanical ventilation and a longer stay in the ICU. Additional preventative interventions beyond backrest elevation, oropharyngeal suctioning, and management of endotracheal tube cuff pressure may be needed. Also, the timing of pepsin measurements to capture all microaspiration events requires additional exploration.
Performance of Automated Telemetry in Diagnosing QT Prolongation in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Calvo-Ayala Enrique , Procopio Vince , Papukhyan Hayk , Nair Girish B.
Published: November 2021

Background

QT prolongation increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmia and is common among critically ill patients. The gold standard for QT measurement is electrocardiography. Automated measurement of corrected QT (QTc) by cardiac telemetry has been developed, but this method has not been compared with electrocardiography in critically ill patients.

Objective

To compare the diagnostic performance of QTc values obtained with cardiac telemetry versus electrocardiography.

Methods

This prospective observational study included patients admitted to intensive care who had an electrocardiogram ordered simultaneously with cardiac telemetry. Demographic data and QTc determined by electrocardiography and telemetry were recorded. Bland-Altman analysis was done, and correlation coefficient and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) coefficient were calculated.

Results

Fifty-one data points were obtained from 43 patients (65% men). Bland-Altman analysis revealed poor agreement between telemetry and electrocardiography and evidence of fixed and proportional bias. Area under the ROC curve for QTc determined by telemetry was 0.9 (P < .001) for a definition of prolonged QT as QTc ≥ 450 milliseconds in electrocardiography (sensitivity, 88.89%; specificity, 83.33%; cutoff of 464 milliseconds used). Correlation between the 2 methods was only moderate (r = 0.6, P < .001).

Conclusions

QTc determination by telemetry has poor agreement and moderate correlation with electrocardiography. However, telemetry has an acceptable area under the curve in ROC analysis with tolerable sensitivity and specificity depending on the cutoff used to define prolonged QT. Cardiac telemetry should be used with caution in critically ill patients.
Factors Influencing CAM-ICU Documentation and Inappropriate “Unable to Assess” Responses
Authors: Awan Omar M. , Buhr Russell G. , Kamdar Biren B.
Published: November 2021

Background

Detecting delirium with standardized assessment tools such as the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) is important, but such detection is frequently hampered by poor documentation and inappropriate “unable to assess” responses (in noncomatose patients).

Objective

To identify patient, clinical, and workplace factors that may impede or facilitate appropriate delirium assessment through use of the CAM-ICU, specifically documentation and inappropriate “unable to assess” responses.

Methods

An electronic health record–based data set was used to quantify CAM-ICU documentation and inappropriate “unable to assess” responses during 24 months. Associated patient (eg, age), clinical (eg, diagnosis), and workplace (eg, geographic location within the ICU, shift) factors were evaluated with multivariable regression.

Results

Of 28 586 CAM-ICU documentation opportunities, 66% were documented; 16% of documentations in alert or lightly sedated patients had inappropriate “unable to assess” responses. Night shift was associated with lower CAM-ICU documentation rates (P = .001), whereas physical restraints and location on side B (rather than side A) of the ICU were associated with higher documentation rates (P < .05 for both). Age older than 80 years, non-White race, intubation, and physical restraints were associated with more inappropriate “unable to assess” responses (all P < .05), as was infusion of propofol, midazolam, dexmedetomidine, or fentanyl (all P < .05).

Conclusion

Data from electronic health records can identify patient, clinical, and workplace factors associated with CAM-ICU documentation and inappropriate “unable to assess” responses, which can help target quality improvement efforts related to delirium assessment.
Crisis management in small and medium scale enterprises: a systematic literature review
Authors: Adikaram K. K. N. B. , Surangi H. A. K. N. S.
Published: November 2021

The study presents the findings of a systematic literature review of crisis management in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) referring to recent literature. Crisis management studies have received significant attention in academic research. This can also be observed in organizational crisis management. Compared to larger organizations, the attention received for SMEs was inadequate. Recognizing the dearth of SME crisis management studies in the existing literature of crisis management, this systematic literature review on SMEs aims to recognize the issues around academic research on SME crisis management and to identify the strategies applied by small business entrepreneurs against crisis vulnerability. Thus, two questions are addressed: what has been done in SME crisis management research, and what trends have marked this phenomenon in research arenas. This review considered 181 research articles published on SME crisis management since 2000. Exploring the existing SME crisis management literature identified three major themes: Crisis preparedness measures, Crisis impact on SMEs, and SMEs' strategic approach. Following the identification of gaps in the literature, the findings suggest future research areas of SME crisis management with organizational perspective, crisis experience towards crisis learning, crisis learning as a strategic approach, and networking as a social coping strategy. The synthesis action also directed future research in the field.
Growth patterns and nutritional status of small for gestational age infants in Malaysia during the first year of life
Authors: Ahmad Norain , Sutan Rosnah , Tamil Azmi Mohd , Hajib Noriah
Published: November 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to identify small for gestational age (SGA) infants' growth patterns, nutritional status, and associated factors.Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at primary-care child health clinics in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The sample consisted of infants who fulfilled the criteria and were born in 2019. The anthropometric data of infants were assessed at birth and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.Results: A total of 328 infants were analysed. In total, 27.7%(n=91) of the subjects were SGA infants, and 237 of them were not. Significant differences in the median weight-for-age and length-for-age z-scores were observed between SGA and non-SGA infants at birth, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months. There was a significant difference between the growth patterns of SGA and non-SGA infants. Birth weight and sex significantly predicted the nutritional status(stunting and underweight) of SGA infants during their first year of life.Conclusion: SGA infants can catch up to achieve normal growth during their first year of life. Even though the nutritional status of SGA infants trends worse than non-SGA infants, adequate infant birth weight monitoring and an emphasis on nutritional advice are crucial for maintaining well-being.
Educational needs for practicing neonatal intensive care among Korean nursing students
Authors: Koo Hyun Young , Lee Bo Ryeong
Published: November 2021

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the educational needs for practicing neonatal intensive care among Korean nursing students.Methods: An explorative, sequential, mixed-methods design was used. Qualitative content analysis was conducted of in-depth interviews of six nursing students, five clinical practice faculty members, and five nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit. The results of a survey of 174 nursing students were analyzed quantitatively.Results: Nursing students, clinical practice faculty members, and nurses wanted opportunities for direct nursing practice and education in school during neonatal intensive care practice. In terms of specific educational content, nursing students expressed the highest observation-related educational needs for communication with medical team members, and they expressed the highest practice-related educational needs for operating medical equipment used for neonatal intensive care. The nursing students' needs with regard to the method of practice education were highest for orientation from the head nurses.Conclusion: Communication and operating medical equipment were found to be areas with high educational needs for practicing neonatal intensive care among Korean nursing students. Further research is needed to develop an educational framework and setting for practicing neonatal intensive care that would meet their needs.
High Prevalence of Asymptomatic Malarial Anemia and Association with Early Conversion from Asymptomatic to Symptomatic Infection in a Plasmodium falciparum Hyperendemic Setting in Cameroon
Authors: Fogang Balotin , Biabi Marie Florence , Megnekou Rosette , Maloba Franklin M. , Essangui Estelle , Donkeu Christiane , Cheteug Glwadys , Kapen Marie , Keumoe Rodrigue , Kemleu Sylvie , Nsango Sandrine , Eboumbou Carole , Lamb Tracey J. , Ayong Lawrence
Published: November 2021

Asymptomatic malarial parasitemia is highly prevalent in Plasmodium falciparum endemic areas and often associated with increased prevalence of mild to moderate anemia. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of anemia during asymptomatic malaria parasitemia and its interplay with persistent infection in highly exposed individuals. A household-based longitudinal survey was undertaken in a malaria hyperendemic area in Cameroon using multiplex nested polymerase chain reaction to detect plasmodial infections. Residents with P. falciparum asymptomatic parasitemia were monitored over a 3-week period with the aid of structured questionnaires and weekly measurements of axillary temperatures. Of the 353 individuals included (median age: 26 years, range 2–86 years, male/female sex ratio 0.9), 328 (92.9%) were positive for malaria parasitemia of whom 266 (81.1%) were asymptomatic carriers. The prevalence of anemia in the study population was 38.6%, of which 69.2% were asymptomatic. Multivariate analyses identified high parasitemia (> 327 parasites/µL) and female gender as associated risk factors of asymptomatic malarial anemia in the population. Furthermore, risk analyses revealed female gender and anemia at the time of enrolment as key predictors of early development of febrile illness (< 3 weeks post enrolment) among the asymptomatic individuals. Together, the data reveal an extremely high prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitemia and anemia in the study area, unveiling for the first time the association of asymptomatic malarial anemia with early clinical conversion from asymptomatic to symptomatic infection. Furthermore, these findings underscore the negative impact of asymptomatic malaria parasitemia on individual health, necessitating the development of appropriate control and preventive measures.
Melioidosis: Laboratory Investigations and Association with Patient Outcomes
Authors: Gassiep Ian , Ganeshalingam Vibooshini , Chatfield Mark D. , Harris Patrick N. A. , Norton Robert E.
Published: November 2021

Melioidosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. The most common presentation is bacteremia occurring in 38–73% of all patients, and the mortality rate ranges from 9% to 42%. Although there is abundant data representing risk factors for infection and patient outcomes, there is limited information regarding laboratory investigations associated with bacteremia and mortality. We assessed a range of baseline and diagnostic investigations and their association with patient outcomes in a retrospective cohort study in Townsville, Australia. 124 patients’ medical and laboratory records were reviewed between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2020. Twenty-seven patients died and 87 patients were bacteremic. The presence of lymphopenia (< 1.5 × 109 cells/L) was the highest risk for bacteremia (relative risk [RR] 2.2; 95% CI: 1.3–3.7, P < 0.001). Factors associated with mortality included lymphopenia, (RR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2–1.6, P = 0.004); uremia (RR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1–2.5, P = 0.03); and an elevated international normalized ratio (RR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2–2.0, P = 0.006). Median incubation to positive blood culture result was 28 hours with 15/82 (18%) positive in ≤ 24 hours. For serological testing during admission only 53/121 (44%) were indirect hemagglutination assay positive, 67/120 (56%) enzyme immunoassay IgG positive, and 23/89 (26%) IgM positive. Simple baseline investigations at time of presentation may be used to stratify patients at high risk for both bacteremia and mortality. This information can be used as a decision aid for early intensive management.
Diarrhea Prevalence and Child Growth Faltering Are Associated with Subsequent Adverse Child Developmental Outcomes in Bangladesh (CHoBI7 Program)
Authors: George Christine Marie , Perin Jamie , Parvin Tahmina , Bhuyian Md Sazzadul Islam , Thomas Elizabeth D. , Monira Shirajum , Zohura Fatema , Hasan M. Tasdik , Alam Munirul , Tofail Fahmida
Published: November 2021

Millions of young children annually are not meeting their developmental potential in low- and middle-income countries. Previous studies have shown that diarrheal diseases during early life are associated with subsequent malnutrition. This prospective cohort study of 576 children under 5 years was conducted in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh, to investigate the association between diarrhea prevalence, child growth, and child cognitive developmental outcomes. Height and weight were measured at baseline and a 12-month follow-up. Diarrhea prevalence was assessed through monthly surveillance visits. Developmental outcomes were assessed by communication, fine motor, gross motor, personal social, problem-solving, and combined developmental scores measured by the Extended Ages and Stages Questionnaire (EASQ) at the 12-month follow-up visit. To assess the association between diarrhea prevalence, child growth, and child cognitive developmental outcomes, linear regression models were fit using generalized estimating equations to account for clustering at the household level and to approximate 95% CIs. Diarrhea prevalence was negatively associated with change in height-for-age (HAZ) Z-scores from baseline to the 12-month follow-up (coefficient −0.85 [95% CI: −1.42, −0.28]). Diarrhea prevalence was a significant predictor of combined EASQ Z-scores with and without baseline stunting included in the model (−0.89 [95% CI: −1.67, −0.09] [baseline stunting included]) and (−0.88 [95% CI: −1.69, −0.07]). Change in HAZ from baseline to the 12-month follow-up was positively associated with follow-up combined EASQ Z-scores (0.28 [95% CI: 0.15, 0.42]). High diarrhea prevalence and linear growth faltering were associated with negative cognitive developmental outcomes among children residing in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh. Furthermore, high diarrhea prevalence was associated with negative child cognitive developmental outcomes with stunting included in the model, suggesting an effect of diarrhea on cognition independent of stunting.
Case Report: Rotational Thromboelastometry in Taipan Envenomation
Authors: Tacon Catherine L. , Munas Azhar , Little Mark
Published: November 2021

Venom-induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC) is one of the most dangerous syndromes caused by snake envenomation and can be caused by several snake species worldwide, including the Australian coastal taipan. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) provides real-time point-of-care information on all stages of clot formation; however, it has yet to be formally evaluated in the assessment of VICC. We report three cases of Taipan envenomation causing VICC and the associated ROTEM results. The implications for future use of ROTEM in the assessment, management, and further research of VICC are discussed.
Voices for the voiceless: climate protection from the streets to the courts
Authors: Niehaus Manuela , Davies Kirsten
Published: November 2021

In September 2019, over four million people, in an estimated 185 countries worldwide, marched for better climate policies and their enforcement in a global climate strike. This is an example of the global community, particularly young people, rising up and demanding climate action to protect their threatened future. The world community has experienced ‘rights-based’ community uprisings in the past, for example, anti-nuclear protests and movements for women’s rights. These uprisings have often led to changes in values, attitudes and behaviour, changes that have underpinned new laws, policies and practices. This article discusses how social movements and climate litigation activisms can influence and foster stronger climate policies and considers where current community climate uprisings will lead, in the context of climate and human rights law. The article explores whether these uprisings can embrace the ‘voiceless’ – future generations and nature – by giving them a meaningful voice in the service of urgently required climate action and legal protection of the planetary future.
Degrowth, political acceptability and the Green New Deal
Authors: O’Manique Claire , Rowe James K , Shaw Karena
Published: November 2021

Endless economic growth on a finite planet is impossible. This is the premise behind the degrowth movement. Despite this sound rationale, the degrowth movement has struggled to gain political acceptability. We have sought to understand this limited uptake of degrowth discourse in the English-speaking world by interviewing Canadian activists. Activists have a proximity to the political realm – both with its barriers and openings – that scholars working primarily in academic institutions sometimes lack. Our interviews reveal that class interests – particularly those of fossil fuel companies – are a substantial barrier to realizing degrowth goals. Interviewees highlighted the importance of centring class-conscious environmentalism, ‘anti-purity’ politics, and decolonization as essential parts of a degrowth agenda capable of overcoming these class interests. We conclude by unpacking how the Green New Deal – a discourse and movement that gained considerable traction after we completed our interviews – addresses the obstacles shared by our interviewees, thus making it a promising ‘non-reformist reform’ for the degrowth movement to pursue.
Occurrence and removal of engineered nanoparticles in drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment processes: A review
Authors: Yu Cheng , Kim Sewoon , Jang Min , Park Chang Min , Yoon Yeomin
Published: November 2021

Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) are widely used in various industrial products and consumer goods, resulting in their widespread existence, particularly in natural water systems and water and wastewater treatment plants. Their presence in surface water for human consumption may severely harm human health. Therefore, this review examines new findings and developments in the removal technology of ENPs in drinking water and wastewater treatment processes since the publication of the literature by Park et al. [1]. By evaluating recent articles, this review investigates the occurrence of ENPs, discusses the transport of nanoparticles (NPs) in various drinking water and wastewater treatment processes, and draws corresponding practical conclusions. Moreover, this review provides brief suggestions and predictions for the future development of NP removal technologies in water and wastewater treatment plants.
Household Pandemic Response: The Socioeconomic Impact of COVID-19 on Migrant Households in India
Authors: Rajan S. Irudaya , Sivadasan T. M. , Jayanth Reddy Sai Shiva , Batra Pooja
Published: November 2021

We study the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the coping strategies adopted by left-behind households comprising both internal and international migrants in Kerala, India. Using semi-structured telephone interviews with 52 households, we analyze the coping strategies these households have adopted to combat the effects of COVID-19 pandemic. The results suggest that the social vulnerability of migrant households could explain the differential impact of the pandemic on the remittance flows, consumption, food security, and livelihood of households.
Impact of COVID-19 on Malaysia’s Bilateral Export: Testing for Heterogeneous Effects in the Product Category
Authors: Zainuddin Muhamad Rias K V , Khairuddin Nurul Aishah , Hamidi Hakimah Nur Ahmad
Published: November 2021

This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on Malaysia’s bilateral export in three categories of goods. The results show that higher numbers of COVID-19 cases among trading partners has led to higher levels of bilateral export for capital and consumption goods. Meanwhile, incremental increases in a trading partner’s policy stringency index has lowered the level of bilateral export for capital goods. These negative impacts highlight the need for support policies to ensure the survival of domestic producers during the current pandemic.
Monetary Policy Announcement and Stock Returns: Evidence From Long-Term Repo Operations in India
Authors: Chundakkadan Radeef , Sasidharan Subash
Published: November 2021

This paper investigates the impact of unconventional monetary policy on stock returns using the Reserve Bank of India’s long-term repo operations (LTROs). We provide evidence that firms listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange register higher returns on the days of LTRO announcements. We also find the stock returns of bank-dependent and financially constrained firms to be relatively higher on the days of announcements.
Efectos del estrés en el rendimiento académico de los Estudiantes de la Licenciatura de Psicología
Authors: Barrón Miranda Mónica , Armenta Zazueta Lizbeth
Published: November 2021

Esta investigación se llevó a cabo debido a la gran interrogante que existe de cómo es que afecta el estrés en el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes. Teniendo como objetivo determinar los efectos del estrés en el rendimiento de los estudiantes de la licenciatura en psicología a través de la aplicación de un instrumento que determinará la asociación entre dichas variables. Con este instrumento se utilizó el método cuantitativo, el cual permitió identificar las variables con mayor incidencia que afecta el rendimiento académico de los alumnos. Esto mediante la recolección de los datos a través de una encuesta en línea. Fueron 33 los participantes de la investigación, de los cuales se obtuvo como resultado que el 69.7% de los alumnos presenta estrés medio, 18.2% estrés alto y el 12.1 estrés bajo. Se llegó a la conclusión que son muchas las causas y los efectos que generan estrés y esto influye en el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes. Algunas de ellas son la carga excesiva de tareas y trabajos con altos niveles de exigencia, el tiempo limitado para hacer dichas actividades, trastorno de sueño, problemas de concentración para realizar cualquier actividad. Estos pueden ser generados por diversos factores, dependiendo de las circunstancias de cada estudiante, el entorno social como las relaciones familiares.
Immunomodulator use in paediatric severe sepsis and septic shock
Authors: Lee Alpha Omega Cheng Jin , Chua Ashley Hsi Yin , Sultana Rehana , Lee Jan Hau , Wong Judith Ju Ming
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACT Introduction: The use of drugs that modulate the immune system during paediatric severe sepsis and septic shock may alter the course of disease and is poorly studied. This study aims to characterise these children who received immunomodulators and describe their clinical outcomes. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock admitted into the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Clinical, haematological and outcome characteristics of patients with or without exposure to immune-modulating drugs were compared. Primary outcome was PICU mortality; secondary outcomes were 28-day ventilator-free days (VFD) and intensive care unit-free days (IFD). Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed for these outcomes. Results: A total of 109 patients with paediatric severe sepsis or septic shock were identified. Of this number, 47 (43.1%), 16 (14.7%) and 3 (2.8%) patients received systemic corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins and granulocyte colony stimulating factor, respectively. Patients who received immune-modulating drugs were more likely to require invasive ventilation (38/54 [70.4%] versus 26/55 [47.3%], P=0.019) compared to those who did not. PICU mortality was indifferent between the 2 groups (20/54 [37.0%] vs 11/55 [20.0%], P=0.058) even after accounting for chronic complex conditions and admission organ dysfunction (PELOD score) (adjusted odds ratio 1.90, confidence interval [0.72–5.01], P=0.193). However, VFD (19.5 [0–28] vs 25 [12–28] days, P=0.038) and IFD (15 [0–24] vs 22 [9–26] days, P=0.024) were decreased in the immunomodulator group compared to the non-immunomodulator group. Conclusion: Immune-modulating drugs were frequently used in paediatric severe sepsis and septic shock. Patients who received these drugs seemed to require more PICU support. Further studies are required to examine this association thoroughly. Keywords: Children, immunomodulatory drugs, infection, paediatric intensive care unit, sepsis
Eficacia de un segundo inhibidor de la interleucina-17 en pacientes con psoriasis
Authors: Pastore Federico
Published: November 2021

Entre los numerosos tratamientos biológicos para la psoriasis, los inhibidores de la interleucina-17 (IL-17) son seguros y altamente efectivos. A pesar de ello, en ocasiones es necesario cambiar el tratamiento. Se evaluó la eficacia de un inhibidor de la IL-17 en pacientes que habían presentado falla primaria o secundaria al tratamiento con otro inhibidor de la IL-17. Los ensayos clínicos analizados no mostraron diferencias de eficacia entre los pacientes que nunca habían recibido tratamiento y aquellos ya medicados con otro inhibidor de la IL-17. En la práctica clínica, la eficacia es levemente inferior en los ya tratados con fármacos biológicos.
Mitos y verdades. Vacuna contra el Virus del Papiloma Humano
Authors: Nógalo Tatiana Giselle , Cantú Parra Laura , Andrade María Noelia
Published: November 2021

Enunciados1. “La vacuna tetravalente contra el VPH es una opción terapéutica potencial para el tratamiento de verrugas cutáneas, papilomatosis respiratoria recurrente y carcinomas de células escamosas”.2. “Se desestima la vacunación en el niño varón por la baja carga de enfermedades asociadas al virus”.3. “El esquema de vacunación contra el virus del papiloma humano (VPH) en inmunodeprimidos es igual queen inmunocompetentes”.
Nuclear energy in the context of climate change
Authors: Popa Vasile , Cocoș Octavian
Published: November 2021

Human society faces the great challenge of drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions while providing increased amounts of energy. Although the share of renewable energy sources has increased in recent years, fossil fuels are still widely used and burning them makes large amounts of carbon dioxide enter the atmosphere. However, renewable energy sources may not be able to supply in time enough energy to replace fossil fuels. Under the circumstances, the question arises as to whether nuclear energy could play a significant role in mitigating climate change. Although there is still confidence and support for nuclear energy, it is unlikely that this energy source will make a greater contribution to combating climate change in the coming decades. This study analyzes the current state of nuclear energy, as well as the development prospects in the context of climate change and risks to the environment and human health.
Critical Appraisal of an Example of Best Practice in Urban Sustainability
Authors: Echendu Adaku Jane
Published: November 2021

Urban centers are key to achieving the global goals of sustainability. Urban sustainability entails having thriving cities that fulfill their needs without impacting the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem. Achieving urban sustainability is, therefore, an important goal as sustainable urban centers portend numerous benefits to the ecosystem. This paper critically appraises Singapore as a best practice in Urban Sustainability. It reviews the literature on urban sustainability and discusses the high and low-performing sectors in Singapore. It finds a gap in contemporary urban sustainability metrics whereby most of the globally acclaimed Urban Sustainability Indicators do not measure universal design for inclusivity as an aspect of urban sustainability. This study, therefore, includes it as a measure and appraises it. High-performing areas highlighted in this study comprise education; universal design for inclusivity; transportation; people-centered approach; water and energy management; healthcare, safety and security; and food security. Areas for improvement comprise self-sufficiency in food production, urban heat island effect, and public participation and social welfare. The aim is to serve as a lesson to cities worldwide as they work towards achieving urban sustainability and provide key information to policymakers as they seek to improve the sustainability of their urban environment.
Urban Forest Governance in the Face of Pulse Disturbances—Canadian Experiences
Authors: Konijnendijk Cecil , Nesbitt Lorien , Wirtz Zach
Published: November 2021

"The sustainable provision of urban forest benefits can be threatened by the occurrence of sudden, major disturbance events, such as forest fires, insect outbreaks, and extreme weather events, which are considered to be “pulse” disturbance events from a socio-ecological systems perspective. Sound urban forestry programs are needed to prepare for these disturbances and reduce their negative impacts. To investigate the role of governance in building more resilient urban forest socio-ecological systems, the relation between pulse disturbances and urban forest governance was studied in 4 Canadian cities. Our study of local urban forestry included expert interviews with local urban forest governance actors, document analysis, and site visits. The Policy Arrangement Approach was applied to structure and analyse urban forest governance. Findings show that all cities had seen a development of their urban forestry programs and governance over time, such as development of staff and formal plans, as well as alliances with key partners. Pulse disturbances seem to have played an important role in the development and sometimes reorientation of urban forestry programs. Although disturbances often had devastating impacts, having a strong urban forestry program in place, including strong alliances with, e.g., industry partners or NGOs, was considered important for handling the aftermath of these events. Efforts had also been made to be better prepared for future disturbances through further professionalization, development of plans, guidelines, and best practices, capacity building through partnerships, and setting up better real-life information systems in support of decision making. Results can inform urban forest governance and urban forestry programs in Canadian cities and elsewhere."
The Knights Templar
Authors: Nicholson Helen J.
Published: November 2021

Over seven hundred years after the pope dissolved their Order, the Templars remain as controversial as ever. How could warriors also be monks? What did they really believe in? Why did they fail to protect the Holy Land? What impact did they have on society? Why were they dissolved–-were they really heretics? Based on the medieval evidence and the latest research by modern scholars, this book surveys some key areas of the Templars’ history. It argues that despite their wide landholdings and apparent power the Templars‘ influence depended on the patronage of popes and kings, and that they were destroyed when their most powerful patron had more to gain than lose from their dissolution.
Confidentiality and Integrity Mechanisms for Microservices Communication
Authors: Leines-Vite Lenin , Pérez-Arriaga Juan Carlos , Limón Xavier
Published: November 2021

The microservices architecture tries to deal with the challenges posed by distributed systems, such as scalability, availability, and system deployment; by means of highly cohesive, heterogeneous, and independent microservices. However, this architecture also brings new security challenges related to communication, system design, development, and operation. The literature contains spread information regarding security related solutions for microservicesbased systems, but this spread makes difficult for practitioners to adopt novel security related solutions. In this study, we aim to present a catalogue of security solutions based on algorithms, protocols, standards, or implementations; supporting principles or characteristics of information security, also considering the three possible states of data, according to the McCumber Cube. Our research follows a Systematic Literature Review, synthesizing the results with a meta-aggregation process. We identified a total of 30 primary studies, yielding 71 security solutions for the communication of microservices.
Cascaded Segmentation Network based on Double Branch Boundary Enhancement
Authors: Zeng Li , Wang Hongqiu , Wang Xin , Tian Miao , Wu Shaozhi
Published: November 2021

Cervical cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death in women. During the treatment of cervical cancer, it is necessary to make a radiation plan based on the clinical target volume (CTV) on the CT image. At present, CTV is manually sketched by physicists, which is time-consuming and laborious. With the help of deep learning model, computer can accurately draw the outline of CTV in Colleges and universities. The CDBNet proposed in this paper is a cascaded segmentation network based on double-branch boundary enhancement. First, classification network determines whether a single image contains a region of interest (ROI), and then the segmentation network uses DBNet to segment more accurately at the ROI contour. In this paper, we propose CDBNet, a cascaded segmentation network based on doublebranch boundary enhancement. First, classification network determines whether a single image contains a region of interest (ROI), and then the segmentation network uses DBNet to segment more accurately at the ROI contour. The CDBNet proposed in this paper was verified on the cervical cancer dataset provided by the Department of Radiation Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan Province. The average dice and 95HD of the delineation results are 86.12% and 2.51mm. At the same time, the classification accuracy rate of whether the image contains ROI can reach 93.19%, and the average Dice of the image containing ROI can reach 70%.
ՀՀ ՔԿՀ-ՆԵՐՈՒՄ ԴԱՏԱՊԱՐՏՅԱԼՆԵՐԻ ԸՆԿԱԼՈՒՄՆԵՐԸ ԿՐԹՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՎԵՐԱԲԵՐՅԱԼ / CONVICTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF EDUCATION IN PENITENTIARY INSTITUTIONS OF RA
Authors: TADEVOSYAN MISHA
Published: November 2021

The developments of the penitentiary system and the ever-growing
needs for humanization in this area pose a number of new tasks to
penitentiary institutions, which are generally aimed at creating conditions for
acquiring skills for the offenders’ resocialization. This requirement includes
guarantees for the realization of the right to education in the penitentiary
system and the provision of continuing education. From this point of view, it is
also necessary to study the personal attitude of convicts towards education.
Accordingly, this article presents some of the results of the author's research
conducted in the penitentiary institutions of the Republic of Armenia. The
results relate to attitudes and beliefs about education in two main areas
(learning purpose and attitudes, learning process and courses)