bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continuous Spontaneous Alternation and Turn Alternation in Artemia sp.
Authors: Çarkoğlu Can , Yılmaz Meltem , Balcı Fuat
Published: March 2021

Free-running spontaneous alternation refers to the animal’s tendency to prefer the least recently visited locations in successive spatial choices, which is attributed to the animals’ choice between stimuli based on prior experience. Turn alternation, which is observed in directional choices preceded by a forced turn in one direction, also reflects the animals’ tendency to alternate between directional choices but this tendency has been assumed to rely on other cues (e.g., proprioceptive cues) derived from the prior responses (e.g., forced turn in one direction). Based on previous studies, the turn alternation appears to rely on more primitive (lower-form) information features and to be a more frequently observed empirical phenomenon than the spontaneous alternation. We investigated these two behavioral alternation tendencies in Artemia sp. Experiment 1 tested the continuous spontaneous alternation (cSAB) performance of Artemia sp. in two different mazes: t-maze (three options) and plus maze (four options). Experiment 2 tested the turn alternation performance of Artemia sp. counter-balancing the direction of initial forced-turn between subjects. Our results showed that Artemia sp. had nearly chance level spontaneous alternation performance in the t-maze and plus maze whereas a higher than chance level turn alternation performance. These results support the ubiquity of turn alternation tendency across species and point at the lack of spontaneous alternation in Artemia sp.
Individual differences in novelty-seeking are associated with different patterns of preference in a risk-sensitivity procedure in rats
Authors: Camarena Pérez Héctor Octavio , García-Leal Oscar
Published: March 2021

The preferences of organisms faced with changing conditions in food delivery situations have been studied under the rubric of risk-sensitivity. Optimal foraging theory often applies the energy budget model to explain the preferences shown by organisms, but in this paper we suggest a different approach, one based on the study of individual differences. A sample of rats was classified as high and low novelty-seeking. Afterwards, they were maintained at 75% or 90% of their body weight and exposed to a risk-sensitivity procedure. The results show that the novelty-seeking model is associated with different patterns of preference under a risk-sensitivity procedure, but that these patterns do not correlate with the level of food deprivation employed. Furthermore, we found that the spontaneous alternation between options in a choice situation correlates with the organism’s preference during a risk procedure. Considering recent findings in the area of animal and human decision-making, our results are explained in terms of altered behavioral processes.
From Biological Constraints to Flexible Behavior Systems:Extending Our Knowledge of Sexual Conditioning in Japanese Quail
Authors: Akins Chana K. , Cusato Brian
Published: March 2021

The traditional learning view involves the general process theory of learning that focuses on identifying universal principles that apply to all species capable of learning from experience, and that operate across a wide variety of situations. Examples of behavior that contradict general-process conceptions of learning have been in the past referred to as “biological constraints”. Traditional learning theorists choose to consider these examples as exceptions to otherwise universal principles of learning. On the contrary, the typical ethologist is more likely to be concerned with how specific behaviors may have evolved and in an animal’s species typical responses to stimuli they are likely to encounter in their natural environment. However, they also fail to embrace animal learning phenomena that occurs in the laboratory into their theoretical framework. Behavior systems represent an alternative to this view by providing a link between traditional views of learning and ethology. They conceptualize experiential learning not as a set of universal principles, butas species typical processes that reflect the specific demands of the ecological niche in which the species evolved. The current paper reviews and brings-to-date Domjan’s formulation of a sexual behavior system in male Japanese quail. The system includes a stimulus dimension consisting of species typical cues, local cues, and contextual cues, and a response dimension consisting of general search, focal search, and copulatory behavior. Domjan’sformulation includes two diagrams that include symbols that represent unconditioned and conditioned effects within the system. Our modification of the system focuses on additional and up-to-date conditioned effects. In general, adding conditioning to the system increases potential stimulus and response variation, thereby increasing the flexibility of the system as it has evolved as a result of continued observation and experimentation.
Adaptive Memory in Humans from a Comparative Perspective
Authors: Krause Mark A.
Published: March 2021

Testing hypotheses about evolved psychological adaptations is the purview of human evolutionary psychology (HEP). A basic tenet of HEP is that the brain is comprised of specialized modules that evolved in response to selection pressures present in ancestral environments, and these modules support domain specific behavioral and cognitive processes that promoted survival and reproductive fitness during human evolutionary history. One set of cognitive domains involves learning and memory, and HEP has attempted to account for how evolutionary processes have shaped the design features supporting how humans acquire, store and retrieve information. Similarly, comparative psychology recognizes that cognitive traits of humans and animals are specialized to meet specific environmental challenges. However, these specializations are not regarded as species-specific, but rather reflect either adaptive modifications of general memory processes (e.g., episodic), or are processes that support a specific type of learning (e.g., taste aversions, imprinting, song learning). These alternatives to HEP emphasize the presence of quantitative rather than qualitative differences in learning and memory abilities. The goal of this paper is to examine these contrasting approaches of HEP and comparative psychology, and, using the survival processing effect (Nairne, Thompson, & Pandeirada, 2007, 2008) as an example, evaluate the plausibility of domain-specific adaptive hypotheses of human memory.
Subjective and Real Time: Coding Under Different Drug States
Authors: Sanchez-Castillo Hugo , Taylor Kathleen M. , Ward Ryan D. , Paz-Trejo Diana B. , Arroyo-Araujo Maria , Castillo Oscar Galicia , Balsam Peter D.
Published: March 2021

Organisms are constantly extracting information from the temporal structure of the environment, which allows them to select appropriate actions and predict impending changes. Several lines of research have suggested that interval timing is modulated by the dopaminergic system. It has been proposed that higher levels of dopamine cause an internal clock to speed up, whereas less dopamine causes a deceleration of the clock. In most experiments the subjects are first trained to perform a timing task while drug free. Consequently, most of what is known about the influence of dopaminergic modulation of timing is on well-established timing performance. In the current study the impact of altered DA on the acquisition of temporal control was the focal question. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were distributed randomly into three different groups (haloperidol, d-amphetamine or vehicle). Each animal received an injection 15 min prior to the start of every session from the beginning of interval training. The subjects were trained in a Fixed Interval (FI) 16s schedule followed by training on a peak procedure in which 64s non-reinforced peak trials were intermixed with FI trials. In a final test session all subjects were given vehicle injections and 10 consecutive non-reinforced peak trials to see if training under drug conditions altered the encoding of time. The current study suggests that administration of drugs that modulate dopamine do not alter the encoding temporal durations but do acutely affect the initiation of responding.
Temporal Behavior in Auditory Fear Conditioning: Stimulus Property Matters
Authors: Bertolus Julie Boulanger , Knippenberg Jeroen , Verschueren Anna , Le Blanc Pascale , Brown Bruce L. , Mouly Anne-Marie , Doyère Valérie
Published: March 2021

The accuracy of time judgments depends upon many factors, including the sensory properties of the to-be-timed stimulus. In auditory Pavlovian fear conditioning, an initially neutral tone (conditioned stimulus, CS) predicts the arrival of an aversive event (unconditioned stimulus, US) at a fixed time interval. The temporal relation between the CS and US events is encoded, leading to the development of a temporal pattern of responding. Little attention has been paid to the potential impact of the characteristics of the CS tone on the development of this temporal pattern. Here we compared the acquisition of the temporal pattern of conditioned responses of rats to different CS tone frequencies. Rats were first conditioned to lever press for food. Then, while lever pressing for food, they were presented with 60-s tones of two very different frequencies 1kHz or 11kHz, each paired with a foot-shock given 30s after tone onset. This fear conditioning led to the appearance of conditioned suppression of the lever pressing. On probe trials the tone duration was 60 s, and the reinforcer was omitted. With training, a pattern of suppression evolved during the probe trials, showing a maximum of suppression near the programmed time of the shock US, however the 11kHz CS tone yielded better temporal control than did the 1kHz tone. A second experiment investigated rats’ abilities to discriminate between two times of shock arrival (10s or 30s) predicted by the different tone frequencies (1kHz or 11kHz), In this experiment, rats showed poorer discriminative timing performance when the lower frequency (1kHz) was associated with the longer duration (30s). Our results suggest a strong impact of the CS sensory properties on the expression of temporal learning within the context of auditory fear conditioning in rats.
Melatonin Modulates Interval Timing in Rats: Effect of Pinealectomy
Authors: Bussi Ivana L. , Levín Gloria , Golombek Diego A. , Agostino Patricia V.
Published: March 2021

Interval timing is a complex cognitive process that involves the estimation of time within the seconds-to-minutes range. This temporal processing depends on cortico-striatal interactions, as well as an optimal dopaminergic function. On the other hand, the circadian system controls physiological and behavioral functions with periods close to 24 hr. We have previously reported that short-time perception in mice is influenced by the circadian pacemaker, with dopamine signaling as a link between both temporal systems. In this work we evaluated the involvement of melatonin in the circadian modulation of interval timing, as well as the interaction between this hormone and dopamine levels in the striatum. We report that melatonin-depleted rats, by pinealectomy, present an impairment in their ability to estimate a short (24 s) target duration in the peak-interval procedure. Moreover, melatonin administration in drinking water restores interval timing precision in pinealectomized rats. We also show that circadian desynchronization causes a transient impairment in the timing task. In addition, melatonin administration affects interval timing only when rats are trained and tested during the night. Furthermore, we report that melatonin depletion increases striatal dopamine availability, which is reverted by external melatonin administration. Taken together, our findings add further support to the notion that the circadian system modulates interval timing, probably by using melatonin as an output to regulate dopaminergic functions in brain areas that are important for interval timing mechanisms.
Biasing Temporal Judgments in Rats, Pigeons, and Humans
Authors: Daniels Carter W. , Fox Adam E. , Kyonka Elizabeth G. E. , Sanabria Federico
Published: March 2021

Models of interval timing typically include a response threshold to account for temporal production. The present study sought to evaluate the dependent concurrent fixed-interval fixed-interval schedule of reinforcement as a tool for selectively isolating the response threshold in rats, pigeons, and humans. In this task, reinforcement is available either at one location after a short delay or at another location at a longer delay. Because the reinforced location is not signaled, subjects normally respond on the first location and, if reinforcement is not delivered, then switch to the second location. The latency to switch between locations served as the primary dependent measure. After training rats, pigeons, and humans with equal reinforcement magnitudes in the short and long delays, the magnitude of reinforcement was increased threefold on the long-delay location. Consistent with model predictions, this biasing procedure decreased estimates of the response threshold of rats and pigeons, but also reduced temporal control in these species and increased response-threshold estimates in humans. Human and pigeon performance also suggested a magnitude-induced increase in the speed of the internal clock. Collectively, these results suggest that differences in reinforcement magnitude between response alternatives appear to modulate the response threshold, but not selectively, and may provide guidance for better isolating response-threshold effects in humans.
Context Effects in Temporal Differentiation: Some Data and a Model
Authors: Pinheiro de Carvalho Marilia , Machado Armando , Vasconcelos Marco
Published: March 2021

We examined whether temporal context influences how animals produce a time interval. Six pigeons pecked one key to start an interval and then another key to end the interval. Reinforcement followed whenever the interval duration fell within a range of values signaled by the keylight colors. During Phase 1, keylight colors S1 and L1, intermixed across trials, signaled the ranges (0.5-1.5 s) and (1.5- 4.5 s), respectively. During Phase 2, colors S2 and L2 signaled the ranges (1.5-4.5 s) and (4.5-13.5 s), respectively. We asked whether the intervals produced in the presence of L1 and S2, stimuli signalling the same range, varied with their temporal context, short in Phase 1, long in Phase 2. The results showed that a) the intervals produced in the presence of the different keylight colors accorded with the main properties of temporal differentiation, including Weber’s law, b) the L1 intervals had slightly higher means than the S2 intervals, a weak contrast effect, c) the L1 intervals also had higher variability than the S2 intervals. An extension of the learning-to-time model to temporal differentiation tasks reproduced some of the major features of the data but left unanswered how context might change the model parameters.
Temporal Averaging Across Stimuli Signaling the Same or Different Reinforcing Outcomes in the Peak Procedure
Authors: Delamater Andrew R. , Nicolas Dorie-Mae
Published: March 2021

The present study examined factors that affect temporal averaging in rats when discriminative stimuli are compounded following separate training indicating the availability of reward after different fixed intervals (FI) on a peak procedure. One group of rats, Group Differential, learned that a flashing light stimulus signaled that one type of food pellet reward could be earned for lever pressing after an FI 5 s interval and that a second type of food pellet reward could be earned after an FI 20 s interval in the presence of a tone stimulus. A second group of rats, Group Non-Differential, was similarly trained except that both types of rewards were scheduled across flash and tone trials. When given non-reinforced flash + tone compound test trials the interval containing the maximal response rate was no different than on flash alone test trials, although some responding also appeared near the long FI time. After these FI contingencies were reversed (flash signaled FI 20 s and tone signaled FI 5 s), however, further compound test trials more clearly revealed a temporal averaging pattern in both groups. The peak interval was shifted to the right of the FI 5 stimulus. Moreover, Group Differential rats acquired the reversed discrimination somewhat more rapidly than Group Non-Differential rats, and in a final selective satiation test Group Differential rats responded less in later intervals after they had been sated on the FI 20 s reward. These data suggest that temporal averaging in stimulus compound tests occurs even when the stimuli being combined signal qualitatively different rewards, but that decreasing the value of one of those rewards can shift responding away from the relevant time interval in a selective satiation test. However, when an especially salient stimulus (e.g., flashing light) signals a short FI, rats tend to process the compound stimulus more in terms of its individual elements.
Determinants of Temporal or Stimulus Control in Humans and Rats
Authors: Labliuk Tatiane P. , Guilhardi Paulo , Cravo André M. , Church Russell M. , Caetano Marcelo S.
Published: March 2021

Humans and rats can discriminate different fixed intervals (FIs) that are signaled by different stimuli. With only a few pairings of stimuli with intervals, temporal performance becomes a function of the stimuli, with responding increasing earlier for stimuli that signal shorter FIs compared to stimuli that signal longer FIs. As predicted by timing and conditioning models, the amount of training with the different stimuli and intervals determines the development of such stimulus control. This study reviews some earlier work from our group suggesting that the amount of training is necessary, but not sufficient, to account for the development of stimulus-controlled performance. Moreover, it describes an experiment in which participants were trained in a computerized shooting task with three FIs (target speeds) signaled by three stimuli (different background colors). In the first phase, the number of trials trained with each FI was held constant (60 trials each) across five experimental groups, but the order in which these trials were trained differed between groups, from a randomly determined FI in each trial (intermixed) to three consecutive blocks of 60 trials each (blocked). Intermediate groups had blocks of 10, 20, and 30 consecutive trials of each FI. Results showed that, although the amount of training was held constant across groups, the longer the training block the fewer the participants who demonstrated stimulus-controlled performance. In Phase 2, another 60 trials of each FI were trained, but intermixed for all groups. Results showed stimulus-controlled performance for all participants. These results represent another instance in which the amount of training is necessary, but not sufficient, for the development of stimulus control in temporal discriminations, and describe the effect of the number of consecutive trials within a block of training on temporal discriminations.
Training Need Assessment for Teachers Working in an Inclusive Setting for Children with Disabilities
Authors: Pasha Shaheen , Aftab Muhammad Javed , Naqvi Robina
Published: March 2021

In an inclusive setup, general education teachers are expected to handle students with different needs. These teachers should always be supported to meet these problems. The purpose of the present research study addresses the importance of teachers' training attitudes towards inclusive education of children with disabilities. Training enhances teachers ‘self- efficiency’ and information regarding adapting their teaching methodologies in an inclusive environment for the individual needs of exceptional children. Literature review studies the areas such as perception about disability, the notion of inclusive education, movement from special education to inclusive setup and teachers training provided to use teaching skills.  An inclusive set up is advantageous for learners with disabilities. A total of 280 respondents, male 79 and female 201 from 15 schools and centers of special education, District Multan were selected as a population in the study. A sample of 125 participants selected through stratified random sampling techniques. In this research, a questionnaire was the only instrument for the collection of data. After planning the questionnaire, the researchers administered it to 5 members for pilot testing. The results were analyzed and finally, the questionnaire contained 30 items covering all the components of training need assessment for teachers working in an inclusive setting for children with disabilities. The descriptive and qualitative research method was applied to analyze the collected data. It was highly recommended that teachers' training programs are designed to share information about awareness of disability and enhance teaching skills and knowledge for an efficacious inclusive system for children with disabilities.
Relationship of Nurse's Knowledge Concerning Medical Recording With Nursing Care Document Completeness
Authors: Mardiawati Dewi , Handayuni Linda , Yenni Ririn Afrima , Aryani Fitria Septi
Published: March 2021

Background: Completeness of medical records is a medical record that is completely filled out by a doctor within ≤ 24 hours of completion of outpatient services or after an inpatient is decided to go home.Methods: This type of research is descriptive. The data were collected using a questionnaire and direct observation. The data were processed by editing, coding, processing, and cleaning, which were analyzed using computerization.Results: The results showed that less than half (46.7%) of the medical record files were incomplete and 33.3% had low knowledge of nurses.Conclusions: The conclusion in this study was that less than half (46.7%) of nurses did not complete medical record files and it was found that nurses lack of knowledge in filling out nursing care documents completely. It is better if reward should be done for nursing care documents.
Description Of Factors Affecting Delay Return Of Hospitalization Medical Record
Authors: Handayuni Linda , Mardiawati Dewi , Yenni Ririn Afrima , Nelfia Elda
Published: March 2021

Background: The restoration of medical records is an important part of the medical record unit, because it is the beginning of activities before the start of processing the patient's medical records. Many factors influence the delay in returning medical records, namely the medical resume form sheets that have not been filled in completely by doctors and nurses who handle patients and the lack of good responsibility in returning inpatient medical records. The purpose of this literature study is to determine the factors that influence the delay in returning hospitalized medical records.Methods: The research method used is literature study with data search using google shoolar. The inclusion criteria used were journals to determine the factors that influenced the delay in returning fully accessed inpatient medical records.Results: The results of the literature study show that the rate of delay in returning inpatient medical records is still high 50%, late which is influenced by 44.4% poor responsibility for returning medical records, and doctor's discipline in filling in complete 70% complete medical resume.Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the rate of return of medical records in hospitals is still high. Researchers suggest cooperation between nurses and doctors in filling and returning medical records to improve the quality of hospital medical records, as well as the need to improve human resources and training.
Review of the Implementation of Minimum Service Standards (SPM) Provision of Outpatient Medical Record Documents for Dr. Panti Wilasa Hospital Cipto Semarang
Authors: Khoirunnisa Nurma , Sugiyanto Zaenal
Published: March 2021

Background: Minimum Service Standards have set up at Panti Wilasa Hospital Dr. Cipto Semarang that the standard time of outpatient services is 10 minutes which is calculated from the registration process. From the data obtained by the researcher from the assignment in carrying out the Minimal Standard of Service in serving the outpatients has been fully implemented. However, there are still healthcare service workers who do not understand the Minimum Service Standards when interviewing healthcare service  officers in the Outpatient Registration Place section.Methods: This type of research is descriptive research that gives an overview of the data as a result of research. The method used is interviewing the outpatient registration officer and filing. Sampling technique in this study using random sampling data with a sample size of 30 person.Results: There is no specific Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regarding the provision of outpatient medical records which were interviewed to the head of the medical records, which is already quite a good service at the outpatient registration place Dr. Panti Wilasa Hospital Cipto Semarang and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Minimum Service Standards (SPM) in outpatient registration conducted interviews with the head of the medical record at Panti Wilasa Hospital Dr. Cipto Semarang. Results of the study showed that the average rapidity in medical record document provision was 31 minutes 20 seconds. At the Wilasa Panti Hospital Dr. Cipto Semarang, that the time for providing more medical records is more than ten minutes.Conclusions: The standard time for providing medical records is included in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the collection and compilation of medical records on a storage rack, so that medical records officers can work on the basis and rules that have been determined and the standard time for providing medical records is included in the quality objectives, The results are announced and written in a place easily seen by officers, Monitoring active medical record storage racks regularly by medical records officers and this can reduce the wrong medical record documents.
PENGARUH TEKNOLOGI DAN PENDIDIKAN TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN EKONOMI DI JAWA TIMUR
Authors: Pramono Jessica Felita
Published: March 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh teknologi terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi di Jawa Timur dan mengetahui pengaruh pendidikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi di Jawa Timur. Ruang lingkup penelitian ini memilih Jawa Timur sebagai tempat penelitian dengan periode waktu tahun 2011-2019. Metode yang digunakan adalah analisis regresi dengan data time series. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa teknologi berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi di Jawa Timur. Pendidikan berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi di Jawa Timur.
UPAYA MENINGKATKAN HASIL BELAJAR MATEMATIKA MATERI MATRIKS MELALUI MODEL PEMBELAJARAN PROBLEM BASED LEARNING DARING MENGGUNAKAN APLIKASI PEMBELAJARAN GENIUS DAN WHATSAPP PADA SISWA SMA
Authors: Nailiya Siti
Published: March 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendiskripsikan upaya meningkatkan hasil belajar matematika materi pokok matriks melalui model pembelajaran problem based learning. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian tindakan kelas yang dilaksanakan di kelas X TBSM SMK Nurul Huda Tegowanu yang terdiri dari 20 siswa laki-laki dan dilaksanakan langsung oleh peneliti yang sekaligus merupakan guru matematika di kelas tersebut. Metode pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui observasi langsung oleh peneliti, wawancara dengan siswa di kelas tersebut, dokumentasi hasil belajar siswa dari penilaian tengah semester ganjil, dan tes evaluasi di setiap akhir siklus. Prosedur penilitian tindakan kelas ini terdiri dari dua siklus. Dari penilaian tengah semester ganjil sebelum kelas diberi tindakan diperoleh data bahwa siswa yang mencapai nilai KKM 70 hanya sekitar 8 orang (40%) dan nilai rata-rata 60,21. Hasil penelitian setelah kelas diberi tindakan menunjukkan bahwa pada siklus I banyaknya siswa yang tuntas ada 13 orang (65%) dan nilai rata-rata 76,71. Hasil penelitian pada siklus II menunjukkan banyaknya siswa yang tuntas sebanyak 16 orang (80%) dan nilai rata-rata mencapai 88,95. Ini membuktikan bahwa model pembelajaran problem based learning dapat meningkatkan hasil belajar matematika materi pokok matriks siswa kelas X TBSM SMK Nurul Huda Tegowanu.
PENINGKATAN KETERAMPILAN BERBICARA MELALUI MEDIA GAMBAR DALAM PEMBELAJARAN DARING BERBASIS GOOGLE MEET PADA SISWA SEKOLAH DASAR
Authors: Khusniyawati Ike
Published: March 2021

Salah satu penyebab siswa kesulitan dalam mengekspresikan diri secara lisan terutama dalam pembelajaran daring adalah penerapan media yang belum tepat. Dalam hal ini membutuhkan alat belajar yang efektif pada pencapaian kriteria ketuntasan keterampilan berbicara siswa. Tujuan penelitian ini mendeskripsikan peningkatan kemampuan berbicara melalui media gambar dalam pembelajaran daring berbasis google meet pada siswa sekolah dasar. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian tindakan kelas. Penelitian tindakan kelas ini dilakukan dengan dua siklus dengan subjek penelitian siswa kelas I sejumlah 15 anak. Kriteria ketuntasan keterampilan berbicara, 75, ditandai dengan persentase yang diperoleh tentang keterampilan berbicara yaitu 85% respon siswa terhadap pembelajaran daring berbasis google meet melalui media gambar adalah positif artinya siswa dengan mudah merespon dan menjawab pertanyaan dari guru secara lisan.
Role play, a teaching strategy for psychiatry – students’ comparative perspective versus traditional teaching
Authors: Tabassum Alvi  , Nusrat Zareen  , Saira Farhan
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Teaching process is undergoing innovations in medical education.
Objective: The current survey study was designed to compare the effectiveness of conventional teaching methodology against role play method, as perceived by medical students.
Methods: A questionnaire based survey research was conducted on the final year medical students at Majmah University, KSA in two settings during psychiatry module. First setting was when suicide was being taught and secondly when violence was being covered. At both settings the students were divided in two batches respectively, study and control using simple random technique. The control group was taught with a conventional methodology and the study group taught via role play method primarily. A questionnaire pertaining to students’ level of satisfaction regarding different aspects of learning process was given to the participants at the end of each teaching session. The response of the control and study groups in both settings was analyzed statistically applying chi square test. A p value of 0.05 or less was taken as significant.
Results: In both settings the students of the control group significantly rated conventional teaching more interactive as compared to the role play. Also doubts clarification was more in the control group in the setting of suicide theme. Rest of the results, did not show any significant difference between the two modalities.
Conclusion: It is concluded that although change in curricula is the need of the time, still students’ feedback is essential. If conventional teaching is adopted with a student centered approach, it can be equally
Continuous....
VIOLENCIA OBSTÉTRICA EN EL HOSPITAL SAN JOSÉ DE TAISHA, AÑO 2020.
Authors: Alcocer Ortega Iván Mauricio , Saltos Rojas María del Carmen , Barba Bailón Paola María Aurelia , Martínez Martínez Joselyn Rosalía
Published: March 2021

Introducción: La violencia obstétrica constituye un problema de salud pública que necesita ser controlado y erradicado a nivel mundial, debido a que ha llegado a convertirse en una práctica irrespetuosa y abusiva, normalizada por los trabajadores de la salud, y representa otra forma de violencia hacia las mujeres. Dichas prácticas en las últimas décadas han venido ejecutándose de forma rutinaria durante el embarazo, el parto y el postparto, lo cual constituye una violación de derechos humanos fundamentales como el de la no discriminación y el derecho a una vida libre de violencia. Objetivo: Analizar la percepción de los profesionales de la salud acerca de la violencia obstétrica, para determinar tanto la difusión del fenómeno como el nivel de normalización de unas prácticas violentas y humillantes en profesionales de salud que se forman y actúan en el sistema nacional ecuatoriano. Se eligió como estudio de caso el Hospital San José de Taisha, en la parte amazónica del país. Metodología: La investigación es de tipo cualitativo con un diseño fenomenológico y se lleva a cabo a través de la consulta y análisis de fuentes secundarias y de entrevistas semiestructuradas a tres profesionales de la salud. Resultados. Se puso en evidencia que, aunque la violencia obstétrica ya es reconocida en su dimensión de violencia estructural y se han expedido protocolos de buenas prácticas, se pudo observar que aún persiste en los centros de salud y sigue normalizada. Conclusión: Las prácticas de violencia obstétrica se concentran en maltrato físico; maniobras inadecuadas como Kristeller, episiotomía, amniotomía y maltrato psicológico como discriminación, gritos y juicios de valor
Effect of Temperature and Composition on Corrosion Behavior of Medium Cr Steel in a Salt Solution Containing CO2
Authors: Gu Yang , Wu Huibin , Yuan Rui , Zhang Pengcheng , Zhang Zhihui , Song Shuai
Published: March 2021

In this paper, the corrosion behavior of three kinds of medium Cr low C steels in the simulated service environment of the transport pipeline was investigated through accelerated corrosion experiments, and the corrosion resistance mechanism of these experimental steels at different temperatures was investigated by electrochemical means. Finally, the reasons for the difference in corrosion behavior were analyzed from the grain boundary and surface Volta potential. The results show that as the temperature rose, the corrosion rate of the 5Cr specimen increased sharply and the corrosion type developed from slight general corrosion to severe general corrosion. The 7Cr specimen was less sensitive to temperature, and the type of corrosion changed from slight general corrosion to local corrosion. Finally, the 9Cr specimen was not sensitive to temperature, and the type of corrosion was always local corrosion. 5Cr steel could form a protective product film at 30°C. As the temperature rose, the protective ability of the product film decreased, and the matrix dissolved easily. The film of 7Cr and 9Cr samples had not yet precipitated and the matrix was difficult to dissolve at 30°C. However, the matrix dissolved easily at 50°C, and the product film had formed, which played a major role. At 70°C, the protective effect of the product film decreased, and the gap between the 7Cr and 9Cr samples began to appear. The increase of Cr content helped to refine grains and increased the proportion of low-angle grain boundaries. At the same time, the increase of Cr element helped to increase the maximum Volta potential of the experimental steel and increased the Volta potential difference. As a result, the test steel was shown to be resistant to uniform corrosion, but it also increased the risk of pitting corrosion.
Adoption of Precision Medicine; Limitations and Considerations
Authors: Sadat Mosavi Nasim , Filipe Santos Manuel
Published: March 2021

Research is ongoing all over the world for identifying the barriers and finding effective solutions to accelerate the projection of Precision Medicine (PM) in the healthcare industry. Yet there has not been a valid and practical model to tackle the several challenges that have slowed down the widespread of this clinical practice. This study aimed to highlight the major limitations and considerations for implementing Precision Medicine. The two theories Diffusion of Innovation and Socio-Technical are employed to discuss the success indicators of PM adoption. Throughout the theoretical assessment, two key theoretical gaps are identified and related findings are discussed.
Deep Learning Self-Organizing Map of Convolutional Layers
Authors: Ferles Christos , Papanikolaou Yannis , P. Savaidis Stylianos , A. Mitilineos Stelios
Published: March 2021

The Self-Organizing Convolutional Map (SOCOM) combines convolutional neural networks, clustering via self-organizing maps, and learning through gradient backpropagation into a novel unified unsupervised deep architecture. The proposed clustering and training procedures reflect the model’s degree of integration and synergy between its constituting modules. The SOCOM prototype is in position to carry out unsupervised classification and clustering tasks based upon the distributed higher level representations that are produced by its underlying convolutional deep architecture, without necessitating target or label information at any stage of its training and inference operations. Due to its convolutional component SOCOM has the intrinsic capability to model signals consisting of one or more channels like grayscale and colored images.
State of Growth Barriers of SMEs in Pakistan: A Review based on Empirical and Theoretical Models
Authors: Et al., Akhtiar Ali
Published: March 2021

Across the globe, SMEs are emerging as an unswerving accelerator of economic growth with a sizable contribution to job creation and customer need serving. Regardless of such support, the growth of SMEs in developing countries, with specific reference to Pakistan, is constrained. Surface facts pin down various underlying reasons for the inhibited economic growth of SMEs; however, veracity sticks to few, as principal wheelers of shackling prospects of small firm growth. Interestedly, this review paper is an attempt to provide the critical review of theoretical and empirical extent of literature on the state of SMEs in Pakistan. Findings of the review advise critical role of attitude towards technology, supplier relations, product innovation, human capital, regulatory requirements and access to finance in impeding smooth business progress and sustainable growth of SMEs in Pakistan. Findings of this review have implications for policymakers in devising, reforming and enforcing lucrative regulatory and legislative framework to stimulate entrepreneurial activities across manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors. In additions, it is also imperative for SBP and SMEDA to control access to finance issues by creating a regulatory environment with fair allocation of formal private and public institution funds to SMEs across all sectors of the economy. As for existing and potential entrepreneurs, this review paper has strived to sketch out situational analysis of critical dimensions which they need to consider while devising the strategy for business expansions with proactive and preventive measures against suggestible barriers to firm growth.
Impact of Internal Marketing and Human Resource Management to Foster Customer Oriented Behavior among Employees: A Study on Mega Retail Stores in Karachi
Authors: Et al., Sarfaraz Ahmed Shaikh
Published: March 2021

Primal intent to undertake this research work is to adjudicate the stature of mindfulness on Internal Marketing notion among commercial establishments and to comprehend the part of workers/employees (particularly forward-facing or end representatives) for providing exceptional client services. Likewise, the reason or motive for this study is to survey the effect of Internal Marketing Approach and HRM practices for accomplishing management magnificence in terms of service excellence. This examination included utilization of surveys duly completed through a total of 500 persons who had the diversified ethnic, demographic and social class backgrounds. To incorporate and examine the information, SPSS programming was utilized. Information, examination, and consequent near outcomes plainly recommended that if workers are kept well by their management, predominantly through their development, motivation and a long-term retention of such talents, thus making their organization to have the capacity to foster service-oriented culture throughout the organization. Somehow, the idea of internal marketing is still not being executed in the organizations, resulting in poor customer services leading to dissatisfaction. The results of this study may help the retail business heads to comprehend which factors are viewed as critical to cultivate service-oriented behavior for utmost service delivery toward the customer and which factor can be further subjugated for further enhancement of service-oriented behavior.
Effect of Corporate Governance on Cash Holding: The Role of Product Market Competition
Authors: Et al., Idrees Ali Shah
Published: March 2021

Corporate cash holding is among the fundamental areas in corporate finance. Recently, corporate cash holding has gained critical attention due to the dynamic business environment. Both practitioners and academicians have focused on the firms’ cash holding decisions in the recent era. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of corporate governance on cash holding and to check the role of product market competition on corporate governance and cash holding relationship. The research investigated that whether product market competition plays substitution role for corporate governance in a relationship with cash holding. Substitution effect argument claims that external market discipline is enough to resolve agency problem between managers and shareholders even firm level governance is weak. For this study, unbalanced panel data of 196 companies from the year 2006 to 2014 is selected. All models include time dummies and industry fixed effect with standard error cluster to the firm. The results show that corporate governance has a significant negative effect on corporate cash holding which supports flexibility hypotheses. Moreover, product market competition has substitution role for corporate governance in relationship with corporate cash holding.
Exploring Creative Thinking of Undergraduate Students through the Lens of Selected Demographic Variables
Authors: Et al., Muhammad Nadeem Anwar
Published: March 2021

Creativity is on top most agenda of the world today given its implication to literally every field of life. Demographic characteristics have been frequently and predictably related to creative thinking. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of undergraduate university students about their creative thinking abilities and to assess the effect of some selected demographical variables on their perceived creative thinking abilities. A survey was administered to 200 undergraduate students who have been sampled purposively. The statistical analysis revealed that parental education contributes the highest, whereas the academic area of study has the lowest contribution to creative thinking. The gender and residential area also have a significant effect on perceived creative thinking abilities. Therefore it can be concluded that demographic variables of gender, parents’ education, residential location and academic area of study are good predictors of creative thinking.
A Study of the Declining Status of Teacher Education in Pakistan
Authors: Perveen Uzma , Farrukh Irshad Ahmad
Published: March 2021

Quality human resource development is the major focus of all developed and developing nations of the world, and the only mean to achieve this is the education only, which needs quality teachers. It is well accepted that no system of education can be better than its teachers. It is globally accepted that teacher is the central figure in the education system of any society and it has become a near proverbial that no nation can rise above the level of its teachers. The research has also evidenced that student achievement is linked to the quality of teachers. The Education Department of the major province of Punjab has stopped the pre-service training of the teachers in all its colleges. It has recently recruited more than five thousand untrained teachers, as the department was not satisfied with the performance of its trained teachers and training procedures. It is a no denying fact that in Pakistan status and quality of teacher and teaching is gradually and continuously on the decline. This study was conducted in the existing scenario. The major objective of the study was to identify and find out the causes of decline and unsatisfactory performance of trained teachers in the historical perspective of teacher education in Pakistan. The study was qualitative in nature. A purposive sample of 20 working & retried senior Teacher Educators and 10 senior officers of four provincial Bureaus of Education including Sindh, KPK, Baluchistan, AJK and DSD Punjab were included in the study. The sample was divided into two equal groups of 15 participants each representing each category and area. The data was collected through 12 rounds of focus group discussions of both groups with the rotation of members between groups after two meetings. The results of the study revealed the discontinuation of residential teacher training, elimination of aptitude test for admission, the involvement of private institutions in teacher education, merit-less affiliation by universities, distance mode of teacher education, Poor general education and political interference as significant factors for the decline of teachers and teaching in the country. The recommendations included mandatory aptitude test for pre-service entrance and teacher licensing, Stopping affiliation of private teacher education colleges.
School Teacher’s Perceptions about Equity Challenges and Features in Secondary School Education
Authors: Roohi Tahira , Shami Pervez Aslam
Published: March 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the vision and surveillance of secondary school teachers regarding features and challenges that hinder equity in secondary school education. The study aims to explore effects of two dimensions of equity i.e. fair and inclusive at secondary school education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The descriptive survey method was utilized in this study. The researcher – made instruments consisted of open-ended questions were administered to the 100 secondary school teachers of four districts i.e. Hangu, Karak, Peshawar and Haripur of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The study illustrate that the teachers preview the stipulation of fair and inclusive education system and design, resources, and curriculum are very crucial aspects that hinder the equity in secondary school education. To some extent, the features regarding secondary school teacher’s lesson planning, and students’ reward and punishment are encumbering the equity in education. Most of the teachers consider that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department (KPESE) have a chief role in the provision of an equitable secondary school education. On the basis of finding the conclusion was drawn and possible recommendations were suggested.