bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Les enseignant-chercheurs libanais en ubiquité professionnelle : des opportunistes ou des stratèges ?
Authors: Saleh Lina , Lévy-Tadjine Thierry
Published: March 2023

Ce travail a pour objectif d’étudier les causes de l’ubiquité professionnelle exercée par les enseignant-chercheurs libanais qui associent le travail académique à l’activité entrepreneuriale. Les travaux portant sur l’acadépreneuriat et sur l’intention d’entreprendre permettent d’apporter un éclaircissement sur notre problématique de recherche. Une étude qualitative effectuée auprès de 11 individus a abouti à des résultats prenant en compte la singularité de la culture libanaise et de l’enseignement supérieur libanais.
Cascade des futurs possibles : vers une construction de scénarios éclairants pour l’avenir d’Airbnb en Suisse
Authors: Mercuri Chapuis Sylvaine , Gauthier Thomas
Published: March 2023

La cascade des futurs possibles (Glenn, 1994) a une contribution majeure dans le domaine de la prospective stratégique (Durance, 2014). Le cas Airbnb au travers d’une étude qualitative permet d’en rendre compte. Dans une optique de responsabilité sociale partagée, les parties prenantes contribuent à l’élaboration d’une vision scénarisée de l’avenir. Cinq scénarios sont alors proposés.
Les pratiques RH dans l’ESS. Le cas d’une coopérative en pleine croissance
Authors: Barel Yvan
Published: March 2023

En tant qu’organisations hybrides, les coopératives sont appelées à mettre en place des pratiques RH assurant une articulation entre les nécessités économiques et un projet sociopolitique qui s’enracine dans les valeurs de l’ESS. Réputée plutôt intuitive et peu formalisée, la GRH dans l’ESS est souvent associée à celle des petites entreprises. Est-elle adaptée à une structure de taille plus conséquente ? Une étude de cas réalisée au sein d’une coopérative en pleine croissance montre les vertus des pratiques RH en termes d’engagement collectif mais également les dérives militantes pouvant générer une perte d’efficacité.
Multinationales : en finir avec l’impunité ?
Authors: Thomas Frédéric
Published: March 2023

Des lois sur le « devoir de vigilance » ont récemment été adoptées ou sont en cours de discussion. L’enjeu est de contrôler le respect des droits humains et environnementaux par les entreprises. Et d’en finir avec l’impunité. Les expectatives suscitées par ces initiatives – surtout au Nord – égalent les frustrations qu’elles risquent de soulever. Leur efficacité dépendra de leur capacité à corriger, voire à renverser l’asymétrie de pouvoir entre multinationales et organisations sociales.
Multinationales : en finir avec l’impunité ?
Authors: Sydow Johanna , Ángel Andrés , Aquino Pavel , Vargas Fabiola , Espinosa Juan , Dalbin Camille
Published: March 2023

L’absence de législations solides et d’obligations de « vigilance » en matière d’environnement a laissé les entreprises minières poursuivre leurs activités au mépris des dommages causés dans leurs chaînes d’approvisionnement. En Amérique latine, la mise en œuvre du processus de « devoir de vigilance » environnementale, en lien avec d’autres instruments, permettrait de freiner l’impunité des multinationales, mais les défis à relever sont de taille.
Optimum configuration of a dispatchable hybrid renewable energy plant using artificial neural networks: Case study of Ras Ghareb, Egypt
Authors: Hamdi Mohamed , El Salmawy Hafez A. , Ragab Reda
Published: March 2023

The present paper examines the potential hybridization for a dispatchable hybrid renewable energy system (HRES). The plant has been examined for existence in the city of Ras Ghareb, Egypt and follows the load profile of Egypt. The proposed plant configuration contains a wind plant, a solar photovoltaic plant, vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) and a hydrogen system consisting of an electrolyzer, hydrogen tanks and fuel cells (FCs), the latter of which are for both daily and seasonal storage. Professional software tools have been used to model the wind and solar resources. Simulations for both the battery and hydrogen generation and electrolyzer operation are also considered. The output of these simulations is used to configure the HRES using MATLAB. The optimization objective function of the HRES is based on the least levelized cost of energy (LCOE) with constraints for a zero loss of power supply probability (LPSP) and curtailed energy. The optimization has been achieved by using artificial neural networks and a MATLAB program. The results show that the optimal system can handle 91.2% of the load directly from the renewable energy sources (wind and solar), while the rest of the demand comes from the storage system (FCs and VRFBs). The LCOE of the optimal system configuration is (USD) 9.3 %/kWh, with both the LPSP and curtailed energy at zero values. This cost can be reduced by 14.5% if the constraint of zero curtailed energy is relaxed by 10%. Despite the load being maximum in summer, the energy storage requirement is predicted to be maximum in winter due to the low wind profile and solar radiation in winter months. Energy storage system size is dependent on both seasonal and daily variations in wind and solar profiles. In addition, energy storage size is the main factor that determines the LCOE of the system.
Generalized Thomas-Fermi equation: existence, uniqueness, and analytic approximation solutions
Authors: Bougoffa Lazhar , Bougouffa Smail , Khanfer Ammar
Published: March 2023

The existence and uniqueness theorem for the generalized boundary value problem of the Thomas-Fermi equation:

   \begin{document}$ \begin{eqnarray*} \left\{ \begin{array}{l} y''+f(x, y) = 0, \ 0<x <\infty, \\ y(0) = 1, \ y(\infty) = 0, \end{array} \right. \end{eqnarray*} $\end{document}

where

   \begin{document}$ \begin{equation*} \label{6}f(x, y) = -y \left(\frac{y}{x}\right)^{\frac{p}{p+1}}, \ p>0, \ 0<x <\infty, \end{equation*} $\end{document}

is proved. Also, highly accurate approximate solutions are obtained explicitly for this new boundary value problem which arises in particular studies of many-electron systems (atoms, ions, molecules, metals, crystals). To the best of our knowledge, the results obtained here are new and provide the lower and upper bounds approximate solutions for the generalized Thomas-Fermi problem.
New matrix splitting iteration method for generalized absolute value equations
Authors: Zhao Wan-Chen , Shao Xin-Hui
Published: March 2023

In this paper, a relaxed Newton-type matrix splitting (RNMS) iteration method is proposed for solving the generalized absolute value equations, which includes the Picard method, the modified Newton-type (MN) iteration method, the shift splitting modified Newton-type (SSMN) iteration method and the Newton-based matrix splitting (NMS) iteration method. We analyze the sufficient convergence conditions of the RNMS method. Lastly, the efficiency of the RNMS method is analyzed by numerical examples involving symmetric and non-symmetric matrices.
Un Inferno un po’ dickensiano. Dante e « Catene » di Rat-Man
Authors: Rigo Paolo
Published: March 2023

Une forme particulière de parodie du texte de Dante est illustrée par l’épisode de Rat-Man intitulé « Catene », de Leo Ortolani (numéro 21 de la série). L’univers de Dante est reconnaissable comme l’hypotexte principal de cette aventure, même si celle-ci présente clairement un visage « populaire ». Cet aspect se lit dans l’utilisation des vers de Dante les plus célèbres (mais pas toujours philologiquement corrects) et dans la construction d’un arrière-plan infernal qui remonte clairement à la Comédie.
Laura Endress, Les trajectoires textuelles de l’Hercule médiéval : de la mythographie à l’historiographie et au-delà. Avec édition critique partielle du livre IX de l’Ovide moralisé
Authors: Endress Laura
Published: March 2023

La présente thèse se propose de jeter un éclairage nouveau sur le mythe d’Hercule dans les textes du Moyen Âge, en examinant ses sources et son évolution. Un intérêt particulier est porté à des matériaux textuels peu étudiés de provenance française, du xiie au xve siècle. Les textes abordés comprennent, d’un côté, des commentaires latins aux auteurs classiques, aux Métamorphoses d’Ovide en particulier, et des traités de mythographie qui leur sont apparentés, et de l’autre, les compilations historiographiques en langue française, dont la tradition recoupe, à son tour, celles des œuvres historico-romanesques. En partant de textes appartenant à ces ensembles distincts, il est possible de prendre en compte une large gamme de matériaux herculéens, intégrés dans divers contextes interprétatifs, d’étudier l’évolution de différents épisodes de la vie du héros à l’intérieur et à travers des traditions textuelles et d’identifier les points d’intersection entre ces dernières. Les sources et la transmission manuscrite de l’Ovide moralisé, constituent un troisième point de focalisation. Cette adaptation française du xive siècle des Métamorphoses d’Ovide, située à la croisée de différentes traditions, complète en effet le récit ovidien avec des matériaux provenant d’une diversité de sources. Notre étude de la vita herculéenne dans l’Ovide moralisé cherche à éclairer les sources possibles de certains épisodes qui innovent par rapport aux Métamorphoses, et veut fournir de nouveaux aperçus sur la tradition manuscrite complexe de l’œuvre. L’étude est accompagnée d’une édition critique provisoire de la vie d’Hercule comprise au livre IX de l’Ovide moralisé (vers 1-1036).
“Celebrating 700 anni di Dante” : a new branding
Authors: Galassini Dario
Published: March 2023

This article aims to read the advertising campaign Magnum x Dante by Algida, launched in the occasion of the seventh centenary of Dante’s death, and to inscribe it within the panorama of ads which appropriate and mediate Dante as an icon (either his image or his works). The analysis of the campaign focuses on : packaging ; re-writing of verses of the Comedy ; TV ads ; other related initiatives.
La Commedia in giallo : tre esempi di riscritture dantesche
Authors: Genovese Giulio
Published: March 2023

Questo contributo analizza la presenza dantesca nel genere giallo all’interno di tre recenti riscritture dantesche : il ciclo di Dante Alighieri di Giulio Leoni, la serie tv RAI “La Omicidi” e la miniserie a fumetti Detective Dante. Attraverso un’analisi comparatistica, vengono sottolineati i punti in comune e le divergenze di tali operazioni, individuando come il mezzo utilizzato abbia influito su questo specifico uso dell’autorità e immaginario danteschi.
Ratings of Barriers and Challenges of Financial Technology in a Developing Economy
Authors: Dorhetso Samuel Narh
Published: March 2023

This study constructed an assessment of the barriers and challenges of financial technology (fintech) and accentuated a critical research area that is relatively new and currently understudied in extant literature. A theoretical framework was developed from a blend of the technology, organization, and environment (TOE) framework and the human, organization, and technology (HOT) fit model. The best-worst method was used to analyze and rank the identified barriers and challenges of fintech according to their weighted averages. The findings of the study point to perceived risk and lack of trust; transaction cost; privacy and security issues; legal and regulatory barriers; and the human element and psychological factors as the highest ranked barriers and challenges of financial technology. This study has significant theoretical and managerial implications for academia, policy makers, and practitioners, as it would stretch their standpoints on the best practices for adoption and implementation of fintech modernisms.
Determinants of Mobile Money Fraud on C2C E-Commerce
Authors: Fianu Eli , Arku Zelda , Boateng Stephen
Published: March 2023

The study sought to investigate the determinants of MoMo fraud perception in C2C e-commerce from a trust perspective. The research model comprises a set of relationships between constructs from empirical studies. The constructs are culture (uncertainty avoidance), perceived reputation of mobile service provider, trust in C2C trader, structural assurance, perceived usefulness, and consumer fraud perception. A quantitative research design was used for the study. The sample consisted of three hundred and eighty-seven (387) respondents. Data were analysed using PLS-SEM (partial least squares structural equation modelling) via SmartPLS 3. Culture (uncertainty avoidance) was found to have a significant negative influence on consumer fraud perception. Perceived reputation of the mobile service provider was found to have an insignificant influence on consumer fraud perception. Trust in C2C trader, structural assurance, and perceived usefulness were found to have a significant positive influence on consumer fraud perception.
Mobile Payment Systems and Impulsive Buying
Authors: Abubakari Aidatu , Boateng Rita , Mutawakil Abdul Karim
Published: March 2023

Mobile payment systems have created a lot of opportunities for both businesses and consumers to easily transact business. Due to the portable and interactive nature of mobile devices, mobile payment systems have aided most consumers in their daily business activities. In spite of their numerous benefits, mobile payment systems can create problems for consumers, and one such problem is impulse buying. Consumers usually make unplanned purchases spontaneously and intuitively after being exposed to exciting cues like price promotions, limited offers, and attractive product appearances; mobile payment systems facilitate these purchases. In the light of this, the current study synthesizes some scholarly works on mobile payment systems and impulse buying. The paper contributes to the growing body of literature on the dark side of financial technologies.
Improving Access and Educational Equity
Authors: Etim James Sunday
Published: March 2023

Many economically disadvantaged and minority students are in low performing or failing schools. These poor and failing conditions has undermined the goal of ensuring equal education opportunity for all learners, a hallmark of the educational system. This chapter considered several research questions related to student performance and school suspensions. Several data sources, including data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the North Carolina Department of Instructions Schools Report Card, were used in the study. Data showed that two minority groups, Black and Hispanic, are not performing as high as the White and Asian race/ethnicity in the areas of English and Mathematics in Grade 8, that a disproportionate percentage of students who are Black received out of school suspensions, and low percentages of Black and Hispanic students were enrolled in academically gifted and talented programs when compared to White and Asian students. Based on these findings, suggestions were made to improve the situation and to improve access and educational equity.
Boosting Students' Performance, Career Readiness, and Earnings
Authors: Etim Alice S.
Published: March 2023

The performance of students at secondary and tertiary levels of education is at the core of preparing them for different career opportunities and lifetime earnings potential. This is paramount in the American ideal of achieving ethnic and racial equality. Directly embedded in this ideal also is the belief that is discussed in earlier works that educational programs open opportunities for students to thrive and develop human capital. This chapter discusses in the context of poverty alleviation and equity theory that students' performance and career readiness are significant in achieving both academic success and higher levels of earnings.
The Development of the Teacher Social Justice Advocacy for Children Scale
Authors: Barazanji Danah , Nilsson Johanna E. , Khalid Anum
Published: March 2023

The Teacher Social Justice Advocacy Scale was developed to measure teachers' social justice advocacy orientation. Six hundred and seven K-12 teachers participated in the study. Results support a 22-item scale with three distinct factors: teacher advocacy orientation, social justice awareness, and student empowerment. Bivariate correlations demonstrated positive relationships between the TSJAS, a measure of general social advocacy, and political involvement, and a negative relationship with a measure of just world ideology. TSJAS scores also evidenced adequate internal consistency reliability.
Do the Math
Authors: Boivin Jacquelynne Anne , Scoville Jessica
Published: March 2023

The main purpose of this chapter is to address the opportunity gap in math education experiences of Black students in the United States. While some Americans may have thought that racism and inequity were issues of the past, a recent racial reckoning throughout the nation has opened many people's eyes to educational deficits in the Black community. By unpacking the definition and concepts surrounding the “opportunity gap,” this chapter identifies three main overlapping branches that exemplify Black students' struggles: inadequate educational resources, inequitable economics, and underperforming quality of instruction. The COVID-19 pandemic has made these disparities more publicly clear and has exacerbated the pain these tenets of the opportunity gap cause. Black students' math achievement has lagged due to the opportunity gap, but math can play an important role in helping to end these disparities.
Is Civics Education a Viable Path for Promoting the Social Justice Aims of K-12 Education?
Authors: Heafner Tina Lane
Published: March 2023

Many suggest that the declining national confidence in its governmental institutions and the political divisiveness in the USA is due to the lack of civic education most adults received in their K-12 schooling experience. Numerous calls for the revitalization of civic education have emerged and these take many forms. This chapter explores the current landscape of civic education in K-12 schooling and seeks to understand the potential influence of each in promoting social justice aims of civic education. The compelling question addressed is: Is civics education a viable path for promoting the social justice aims of K-12 education?
The Role of the Rural Librarian on the Provision of Social Justice Education in South Africa
Authors: Netshakhuma Nkholedzeni Sidney
Published: March 2023

The author assesses rural community libraries' cultural strategies for the provision of online services. This chapter details social justice strategies in rural library settings to reduce the inequitable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this chapter will give context to rural South Africa following apartheid legislation and connect this context to library services. Effectiveness of the social justice library strategy improved in South Africa Libraries of the former Bantustan state from the apartheid system to a democratic system in 1994. A Social Justice library strategy was developed to change the mindset of rural communities to adopt information communication technology to disseminate information. Libraries and information services are provided to communities irrespective of ethnic group, belief, or culture. Furthermore, the author will also analyze the transformation after the transition. The role played by the National Department of Arts and Culture department in the establishment of the recapitalization program as a strategy to empower rural libraries is discussed.
Research on Rumor Detection Based on a Graph Attention Network With Temporal Features
Authors: Yang Xiaohui , Ma Hailong , Wang Miao
Published: March 2023

The higher-order and temporal characteristics of tweet sequences are often ignored in the field of rumor detection. In this paper, a new rumor detection method (T-BiGAT) is proposed to capture the temporal features between tweets by combining a graph attention network (GAT) and gated recurrent neural network (GRU). First, timestamps are calculated for each tweet within the same event. On the premise of the same timestamp, two different propagation subgraphs are constructed according to the response relationship between tweets. Then, GRU is used to capture intralayer dependencies between sibling nodes in the subtree; global features of each subtree are extracted using an improved GAT. Furthermore, GRU is reused to capture the temporal dependencies of individual subgraphs at different timestamps. Finally, weights are assigned to the global feature vectors of different timestamp subtrees for aggregation, and a mapping function is used to classify the aggregated vectors.
Effect of Neutronic Parameters on the Cladding of the AP1000 MOX Fuel by Calculations Using MCNP Code
Authors: Surbakti Tukiran , Pinem Surian , Suparlina Lily
Published: March 2023

The current work investigates the impact of MOX fuel introduction on AP1000 neutronic characteristics. The MCNP code with new silicon carbide cladding and the AP1000 core with three 235U enrichment zones (2.35%, 3.40%, and 4.45%) were used to perform the neutronic computations. The outcomes demonstrated that the simulated model for the AP1000 core complies with the optimization requirements as a Westing-house reference. The results which included: effective multiplication factor, keff, and excess reactivity were calculated and compared with the available published results. The keff in the cold zero power was found to be AP1000 Zircaloy, SiC, FeCrAl, and SS-310 cladding are (1.20685+/-0.00028), (1.21170+/-0.00028), (1.14435+/-0.00027), and (1.12432+/-0.00028). The excess reactivity is 17.11%, 17.47% 12,61%, and 11.06% with the MOX fuels, respectively. These numbers line up with the keff value of 1.205 given in the AP1000 Design Control Document for the UO2 fuel core. However, the results are positive and support the AP1000 reactor core's design and efficient modeling as being safe operation.
Characterization of Two Purified Amylase Produced from Aspergillus niger ICP2 and its Immobilization Using Activated Carbon
Authors: Muzakhar Kahar , Putrasetya Ramdhan , Azizah Azizah , Salma Farah , Winarsa Rudju , Siswoyo Siswoyo
Published: March 2023

Amylase is essential in the industrial sector, but there are some challenges with its low reusability efficiency. The catalytic activity of the amylase can be affected by using an activated carbon matrix as an immobilization technique. In this study, we characterized the purified amylase of Aspergillus niger ICP2 and immobilized it to activated carbon. Amylase production from A. niger ICP2 was performed throughout a 7-day incubation. After partial purification, two amylase fractions were generated, including 90% saturation ammonium sulfate precipitation, a 10-kDa hollow fiber dialysis column, and anion exchange chromatography. Thin-layer chromatography analysis showed the presence of glucose in fractions I and II, indicating glucoamylase activity. Both fractions had optimum pH and temperatures at 4.5 and 70°C, respectively. Fraction I was stable at acidic pH (3.5-5), while the stability of fraction II was in the range of acid to base (4-7.5) after incubation for 1 hour at 37°C. Both fractions displayed the same pattern of temperature stability (30-50°C) when incubated for 1 hour at optimum buffer. Activated carbon was used to immobilize amylase fraction II, which demonstrated the ability to hydrolysis the starch up to five times with a reduction in the activity of 50.4%. These results showed promising hydrolysis reusability by amylase immobilized using activated carbon.
Variety of Andaliman Plants in the Salon Dolok Area with Lumban Julu
Authors: Gultom Jesica Oktavia , Hasairin Ashar , Syahmi Edi
Published: March 2023

This study aims to determine the characterization of Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC in North Sumatra. This research was carried out at the Undergraduate Program (S1), State University of Medan in March 2021-October 2022, using descriptive development data analysis techniques used by third semester students majoring in biology, State University Medan. The results of this study indicate that the two research sites have different results. disaloan dolok has 4 types of andaliman plants while in lumban julu it has 3 types of andaliman. There are also factors that influence such as soil pH temperature, climate of the place. so it can be concluded that the research on the characterization of andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC) based on scientific literacy that was developed deserves to be researched.
The Effect of Zeolite Particle Size on Adsorption on Heavy Metals
Authors: Sirait Makmur , Sinulingga Karya , Siregar Nurdin
Published: March 2023

Zeolite Pahae an adsorbent material by activating physical and chemical processes has been synthesized. The methods used are ball milling and coprecipitation methods. Zeolite was ball milling and activated, then sieved using 100 mesh and 200 mesh sieves. To obtain nanozeolite, a ball mill and coprecipitation were carried out to obtain a size of 9.08 nm. The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) results showed that the zeolite structure is tetragonal. Zeolite is used as a heavy metal adsorbent. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) method can determine how much zeolite can absorb heavy metals. The results of the AAS test showed that the absorption of nanozeolite to heavy metals was Pb of 99.81%; Fe is 99.99% and Mn is 96.87%. The absorption of 200 mesh zeolite is Pb of 99.45%; Fe is 99.99% and Mn is 99.61%. The absorption of 100 mesh zeolite is Pb of 99.66%; Fe is 99.98%, and Mn is 99.68%. From these results obtained zeolite particle size affects the absorption of heavy metals.
Numerical Test of the Use of CO2 in Multy Storey Building Structures during an Earthquake
Authors: Nasution Budiman , Amdani Kahirul , Kadri Muhammad , Nasution Habibi Azka , Sari Silvia Dona , Barus Eviyona Laurenta Br , Nst Dina Alfariza , Suryani Laili , Afala Iswari
Published: March 2023

. The use of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) for building structures should be reduced because it can produce harmful CO2 emissions. The use of environmentally friendly materials could be the solution. Liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of these material innovations. In this study, the liquid carbon dioxide was used as a substitute for OPC. The use of this material will affect the rigidity of the multi-story building structure. The effect of the stiffness variable value is tested by looking at the response of multy storey buildings during an earthquake. By using the finite difference method, the response of the multi-story building structure is analyzed through mode shape, structural displacement, and shear force.
Kissing atypical genital Nevus (AMNGT) of the labia majora in a young Bulgarian patient: Whats the best?
Authors: Kordeva Simona , Broshtilova Valentina , Tchernev Georgi
Published: March 2023

Genital melanocytic lesions can be quite difficult to distinguish due to the close proximity of the clinical findings. Melanocytic lesions, especially in delicate anatomical locations such as the vulva, penis, mons pubis etc, are even more challenging to diagnose. The patients may delay physical examinations due to anxiety or discomfort from the location of the lesion. In terms of therapy options, the surgical approach is not always the preferred one, but it is the one that could lead to a definitive solution to the problem. A limited number of studies in the medical literature do not exclude the fact that atypical nevi of genital type could also be considered as melanoma precursors. Single case reports have identified atypical genital nevi of the labia majora as a risk factor for genital melanoma development. Lesions that occupy a larger area than the labia majora and extend into the areas around them are particularly problematic. Precisely because of this fact, the result of a single biopsy could be false and misleading. Therefore, careful physical and repeated preoperative histological examinations are mandatory. Mechanical irritation in the genital area, and in particular in the labia majora region, is an additional reason for choosing the surgical-reconstructive therapeutic option. We present a 13-year-old female with a progressive “kissing” divided nevus from genital type (AMNGT) , located in the area of the vulva and labia majora, extending to the mucosa. A biopsy was taken in order to rule out malignancy. Immunohistochemistry was performed with specific melanocyte markers S-100, HMB-45 and SOX confirming the benign origin of the lesion. A diagnosis of atypical melanocytic nevus of genital type (AMNGT) was made. For prevention a surgical excision was advised but later on declined by the patient’s parents. Further close observation of the lesion was recommended.
The Canterbury Museum mayfly collection data resource
Authors: Ridden Johnathon D. , Hitchings Terry R. , Hitchings Tim R.
Published: March 2023

A nationally significant collection of mayflies that has been amassed and curated at Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand is described. A project to formally catalogue the backlog of this collection was completed in 2018. This collection has been primarily worked on, added to, and curated by Terry Hitchings since the early 1990s, with his son Tim Hitchings assisting this work since the late 2000s. This paper outlines this process involved in cataloguing the collection and preparing the data for publication to online biorepositories. The dataset was published to the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) in late 2021. This dataset contains just under 49,000 published specimen records with high quality field collection information. It represents nearly all currently described mayfly species in New Zealand. Areas of collecting focus include most of the South Island of New Zealand, with collecting gaps in South Westland and Marlborough. There are large collecting gaps throughout the North Island of New Zealand. An overview of the trends shown in the dataset is provided. Future work is identified and recommended to enhance and improve this dataset to highlight and promote freshwater ecosystems in New Zealand.
Complexities of contemporary urban planning in local government in the City of Polokwane, Limpopo province
Authors: Mokoele Ngoako J.
Published: March 2023

Urbanisation is characterised by the high consumption of nonrenewable resources and being resource-intensive in meeting the energy demands of the growing urban population. The growth compels the efficient management of urbanisation to mitigate climate change. The inability to effectively plan and manage urbanisation will result in high consumption of nonrenewable resources, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and pollution, which contribute to the intensification of climate change. Complexity theory as a theoretical framework asserts that the management of urbanisation is both complex and nonlinear. This means that the management of urbanisation cannot be done by reducing the system into individual components. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches to research. The data were collected from the four areas around the City of Polokwane and officials from the Polokwane Local Municipality. The finding of the study is that the City of Polokwane is still facing multiple challenges such as traffic congestion, lack of community participation, illegal dumping of wastes and a decline in green spaces. Furthermore, the Polokwane Local Municipality has made inroads towards reducing traffic congestion through the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) (Leeto la Polokwane). It can be concluded that urbanisation in the City of Polokwane is not effectively planned and managed to address climate change.Contribution: This article recommends that the Polokwane Local Municipality should implement a solar system plant and generate gas from the increasing level of waste in the City of Polokwane. Furthermore, the Polokwane Local Municipality should transition from operating street lights, office lights and traffic lights with electricity towards the use of solar systems.
Exploratory study on factors influencing the introduction of complementary feeding amongst caregivers of children between 6 and 24 months of age in Polokwane, Limpopo province
Authors: Mphasha Mabitsela H. , Mokubela Gerald , Ramokotedi Thendo , Kgari Thapelo
Published: March 2023

Background: Complementary feeding should be introduced at six months to meet infants’ growing nutritional needs. Inappropriate complementary feeding poses threats to the health, development and survival of infants. The Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child has the right to good nutrition. Caregivers should ensure that infants are fed properly. Factors such as knowledge, affordability and availability impact complementary feeding. Hence, this study explores factors influencing complementary feeding amongst caregivers of children between the age of six and 24 months in Polokwane, Limpopo province, South Africa.Methods: A qualitative phenomenological exploratory study design was used to collect data from 25 caregivers, using purposive sampling; the sampling size was dependent on data saturation. Data were collected through one-on-one interviews using voice recorders and field notes for non-verbal cues. Data were analysed using the eight steps of Tesch’s inductive, descriptive and open coding technique.Results: Participants had knowledge about when and what to introduce during complementary feeding. Participants alluded that availability and affordability, maternal beliefs about infant hunger cues, social media, attitudes, returning to work because of the end of maternity leave and painful breasts affect complementary feeding.Conclusion: Caregivers introduce early complementary feeding because of returning to work at the end of maternity leave and painful breasts. Additionally, factors such as knowledge about complementary feeding, availability and affordability, mother’s beliefs about child hunger cues, social media and attitudes influence complementary feeding.Contribution: There is a need to establish credible social media platforms to disseminate appropriate complementary feeding messages. The established credible social media platforms must be promoted, and caregivers must be referred from time to time.
Intranet characteristics as determinants of intranet utilisation for knowledge management in Nigerian banks
Authors: Akinosho Gafar A. , Tella Adeyinka , Onyancha Bosire O.
Published: March 2023

Background: All banks in Nigeria have fully implemented an intranet, and it has been used to link all branches across the country and provide access to varieties of information and facilitate knowledge management (KM) activities. The potential of the intranet to facilitate KM in an organisation is well spelled in the literature. However, little attention has been given to its use for KM, and factors that determine its use for KM in Nigerian banks have not been examined.Objectives: This study investigates the determinants of intranet utilisation for knowledge management in Nigerian banks from the users’ perspective.Methods: A survey was adopted and a questionnaire was distributed to 555 banks’ employees across 11 banks head office in Lagos, Nigeria. Data collected were analysed using frequencies and percentages, Pearson multiple correlations, and multiple linear regression.Results: The result shows that the intranet is used for knowledge creation, storage, retrieval, distribution, and application in Nigerian banks. Furthermore, system quality was found to be the best predictor of the four KM processes followed by task technology fit, while service quality was not.Conclusion: The study concluded that system quality is the most important intranet feature in predicting intranet utilisation for all the KM processes followed by perceived task technology fit, while service quality was found not to be a good predictor.Contribution: This study is unique and one of the pioneer studies in Nigeria that focused on using intranet to manage knowledge in the Nigerian banking sector. The study identified intranet characteristics that are best predictors of KM processes.
A Case Report on Ambrisentan-Induced Angioedema
Authors: Surendran Kavya , Joseph Beenu Maria , Vilapurathu Jobin Kunjumon
Published: March 2023

Ambrisentan is a selective type A endothelin receptor antagonist used to treat primary pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). A 52-year-old female was admitted to the emergency department with presenting symptoms of submandibular swelling and worsening dyspnea. The patient has a history of PAH on treatment. She was previously on sildenafil. All her blood parameters except renal function tests (blood urea, creatinine, potassium, and sodium) were normal during hospitalization for the management of PAH. Some months after treatment with sildenafil, she was switched to Ambrisentan by her consultant. ECG showed severe PAH (80 mmHg), mild right ventricle dysfunction, no regional wall motion abnormalities, and good left ventricle systolic function. She was diagnosed as cor pulmonale. She was dehydrated with reduced skin turgor. USG abdomen revealed bilateral renal parenchymal disease. She also complained of a puffy reddish discoloration of the skin along with angioedema. After ruling out the possibility of other factors contributing to angioedema, Ambrisentan was most likely related and was not excluded. Ambrisentan was, therefore, discontinued and replaced with tadalafil. She was seen on an outpatient basis and was symptomatically better. Health education was provided on the safe use of drugs. Through this report, we bring your attention to the possibility of such events with Ambrisentan, and cannot be neglected.
Large Fenestrated Atrial Septal Occluder to Treat an Elderly Female in her Seventh Decade
Authors: Singhi Anil Kumar , Pande Arindam , Mohapatra Soumya Kanti , Biswas Nandini , De Arnab
Published: March 2023

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the common congenital heart anomalies presenting in the geriatric group. It presents with symptoms such as progressive effort intolerance, arrhythmias, and palpitations. Sometimes, associated obstructive and restrictive respiratory diseases can contribute significantly to the symptoms masked by cardiac disease. A female in her seventh decade, presenting with dyspnea, had a large ASD with diastolic dysfunction and moderate pulmonary hypertension. She had persistence of symptoms after initial treatment for cardiac elements. On detailed evaluation, she was found to have mixed obstructive and restrictive respiratory disease. She was treated for respiratory elements under expert pulmonology guidance with significant improvement. The ASD was occluded with a custom-made fenestrated 40 mm LifeTech atrial septal occluder in view of diastolic dysfunction and initial pulmonary arterial hypertension. She remained symptomatically better on her short-term follow-up. The index case highlights the importance of detailed evaluation of elderly patients with large ASDs and individualized care to treat.
Clinical grading of pediatric heart failure in Egypt
Authors: Safar Heba
Published: March 2023

Background

The inability of the heart to satisfy the demands of the target tissues’ metabolism as a result of alterations to the cardiac anatomy or function is known as heart failure (HF).

Objective

With a focus on the relationship between HF grade and other factors, the study sought to investigate clinical, laboratory, mortality, and severity of HF in children.

Patients and methods

From April 2022 to September 2022, an analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in the Pediatric Department of the Fayoum University, Faculty of Medicine. A total of 30 children with congestive HF, ranging in age from 3 days to 10 years, made up the study group. The patients’ medical information was gathered from medical records kept in hospital patient files. For grading, the original Ross Classification for pediatric HF was applied. The diagnosis was clinically and echocardiographically verified.

Results and conclusion

For clinical and therapy evaluation, the severity of HF was determined according to Ross classification. HF cases of classes II, III, and IV were reported in 53.3, 33.3, and 13.3% of the current study population, respectively. A large proportion of the research group patients had anemia (80%), hypoalbuminemia (73.3%), and higher creatinine levels (40%), whereas a lesser proportion had lower sodium and calcium levels. Hypokalemia brought on by diuretics is uncommon in the research group (6.7%). Because anemia correlates well with Ross classification and the quantity of cardiac drugs taken, it has a negative effect on the severity of congestive HF and treatment regimens, with P value less than 0.05. The other side of the coin is that additional adverse effects are brought on by higher drug use. The main causes of death in patients with congestive HF were verified to be severe infections and malnutrition by the high mean of C-reactive protein and low mean of albumin, among nonsurvived cases, with P value less than 0.05.
Combined scheimpflug and optical coherence tomography imaging in screening of keratoconus in children with Down syndrome
Authors: Azzam Sarah , Salama Tasneem , Eissa Sherif , Elessawy Kareem B.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study was to screen for keratoconus (KC) in a sample of children with Down syndrome (DS) and to correlate the changes of combined Scheimpflug and optical coherence tomography imaging in these children and to compare it with an age-matched control group with healthy cornea.

Patients and methods

This was a prospective, case–control, analytic study that included 52 eyes of 26 children, who were divided into two groups: 13 with DS (group A) and 13 age-matched healthy controls (group B). Both groups were evaluated using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and Scheimpflug camera topographer (Sirius, CSO).

Results

KC-like features were detected in 61.5% of the patients in the DS group. Assessment of the corneal parameters showed statistically significant correlation between Sirius topography and AS-OCT epithelium and pachymetry maps parameters in the DS group.

Conclusion

Corneal features compatible with the diagnosis of KC were common findings in children with DS. Combined use of AS-OCT epithelial mapping and corneal topography is of high significance and can be used for screening and early detection of KC in patients with DS.
Anterior segment optical coherence tomography analysis of regional epithelial thickness in keratoconus following intracorneal ring segment implantation
Authors: Elibiary Hani M.H. , Aly Mohamed G. , Rehan Raafat A. , Najeed Hala M.A.
Published: March 2023

Background

The changes in the epithelial thickness profile were found to be highly predictable and were responding to compensate for the changes in stromal curvature gradient.

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the epithelial thickness after intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation in patients with keratoconus and to correlate it with the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA).

Patients and methods

This is a prospective nonrandomized clinical study that was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. It included 24 eyes with keratoconus, which were implanted by ICRS and were scanned by CIRRUS HD-OCT 5000 preoperatively, at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. The mean epithelial thickness (MET) at the cone and at the zone of ICRS implantation (5–7 mm) and UCVA were documented.

Results

The MET increased significantly from a preoperative value of 42.9±6.3–50.8±7.1 µm at 3 months postoperatively (P=0.01). In addition, the mean minimum (and not the mean maximum) epithelial thickness at the 5–7-mm zone increased significantly from 35.8±4.2 µm preoperatively to 38.7±5.4 µm at 3 months postoperatively (P=0.000). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the MET and the mean UCVA preoperatively (r=−0.389, P=0.03), at 1 week (r=−0.415, P=0.04), and at 3 months postoperatively (r=−0.479, P=0.01).

Conclusions

The significant increase in the MET indicates the immediate, dynamic epithelial remodeling that continued up to 3 months after implantation. The increase in the minimum but not the maximum epithelial thickness confirms the epithelial remodeling rather than hyperplasia. The MET can be a prognostic factor for the visual outcome after ICRS as it correlated with the UCVA.
Distance and intermediate visual acuity after a new generation monofocal intraocular lens compared with the standard monofocal intraocular lens implantation
Authors: Elbakry Amr A. , Emad Rokaya , Salah Yehia M. , Sidky Mohamed K.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a novel innovative monofocal intraocular lens (Tecnis Eyhance ICB00) compared with the standard monofocal lens (Tecnis-1-piece ZCB00) in terms of contrast sensitivity, postoperative refraction, intermediate visual acuity (VA), and uncorrected and best-corrected distance VA.

Patients and methods

This prospective comparative interventional clinical study was conducted from January 2021 to November 2021. It included 40 eyes of 20 patients who were divided into two groups, with 10 patients each. Candidates for bilateral cataract extraction by phacoemulsification were included in this study and underwent thorough preoperative examination and postoperative evaluation at 3 months after the second eye operation. The outcome measures included intermediate and distance VA, near add, contrast sensitivity, and incidence of photic phenomena, which was evaluated using a printed questionnaire. The binocular defocus curves were analyzed.

Results

The study included 20 patients (seven males and 13 females). Binocular and monocular uncorrected and corrected distance VAs were statistically similar in both groups. The Eyhance group demonstrated significantly higher binocular uncorrected and corrected intermediate VA compared with the TECNIS 1-piece group (P<0.001). Defocus and contrast sensitivity values were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusion

Patients who were bilaterally implanted with the new monofocal intraocular lenses achieved significantly higher intermediate VA outcomes without affection of distance VA, with similar mean contrast sensitivity values and low incidence of photic phenomena like halo and glare compared with the standard monofocal lens.
Prevalence and correlates of personality disorders in males with alcohol dependence syndrome undergoing inpatient treatment in a tertiary care hospital in South India
Authors: Balachandran Aravindan , Ramamurthy Parthasarathy , Thilakan Pradeep
Published: March 2023

Background:

Globally, about half the patients with alcohol dependence syndrome have a comorbid personality disorder (PD). Indian studies that have explored this are sparse.

Objectives:

The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of personality disorders in individuals with alcohol dependence syndrome undergoing inpatient treatment and to determine the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of PDs in these patients.

Methods:

This cross-sectional observational study was conducted among the inpatients of the psychiatry department in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Adult male patients with DSM-IV TR diagnosis of alcohol dependence were evaluated for the presence of PDs using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis II Personality disorders. The severity of alcohol dependence was assessed using the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire.

Results:

One hundred male inpatients with alcohol dependence syndrome were recruited. Of them, 48 (48%) participants had at least one PD with a 95% confidence interval of 0.38-0.58. Antisocial and avoidant PDs were found in 26 (26%) and 13 (13%) patients, respectively. The mean age at first drink was lower in participants with PD when compared to those without any PD (18.13 ± 4.46 vs. 20.79 ± 4.61 years, respectively). Also, the amount of alcohol consumption per day was significantly higher in those with PD when compared to those without any PD (15.9 ± 6.81 vs. 13.17 ± 4.34 units per day).

Conclusion:

About half of males with alcohol dependence syndrome undergoing inpatient treatment had at least one PD. Antisocial and avoidant PDs were the most common PDs in this population. Individuals with comorbid PD had a lower age at first drink and higher daily alcohol consumption.