bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Application of Leadership and Governance in Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Abdeldayem Marwan Mohamed , Aldulaimi Saeed Hameed
Published: September 2021

This chapter aims to evaluate the application of leadership and governance in higher education (HE) organizations in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the UK. The method of the study relies on reading lists of governance standards from several advanced educational institutions and uses a “comparative methodology” based on the collected data from both counties. This research reviews the various models of “the higher education governance” and analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of each model. The study employs the three principles of UNDP (transparency, participation, and accountability) to assess application of leadership and governance in higher education institutions. The findings of this study reveal that Arab universities need to perceive the significance of clarifying the reason for governance. The study likewise distinguishes the significance of relating their job and commitment to the procedure of change to the learning-based economy and world informatics. Further, it features the need of broadening the cooperation of stakeholders in the key basic leadership.
The Impact of External Factors on Academic Governance in Universities
Authors: Hurtubise Denis
Published: September 2021

In a number of countries, the main issue regarding internal or academic governance in universities is, at least from the standpoint of faculty and faculty unions, collegial governance. In North America and Western Europe in particular, the degree to which the academic governance of universities is carried out in a collegial fashion, that is, through conferring, collaborating, and gaining consensus is the object of an abundant scholarly literature. The author reviews the external factors that have an impact on the internal, academic governance of universities in both Canada and France, asking if those factors have any altering effect on collegial governance in Canadian and French universities.
Student Governance and the Academic Minefield During COVID-19 Lockdown in South Africa
Authors: Mthethwa Vuyo
Published: September 2021

Since 1997, the ordinary students at South African universities have depended on the SRC to be at the forefront of student advocacy in relation to resources to support their academic experiences. The onset of the lockdown on the eve of 26th March 2020 had an unprecedented effect on student life, with a change of student governance from cohesion to isolation. Adopting a snowball sampling methodology, 15 students registered at various South African universities were interviewed via WhatsApp about the support they received from their SRC during the COVID-19 lockdown. The impact of the lockdown on student governance is examined through the lens of ordinary students. Findings suggest that the surge to technology-based modes of interaction and self-regulated learning had a resultant effect of a highly compromised academic experience, even though some were able to adapt to online learning. Adjusted approaches to student governance are inevitable as the coronavirus continues to manifest.
ACP Model-Assertiveness, Clarity, and Positivity
Authors: Vaz de Almeida Cristina
Published: September 2021

The level of understanding of health instructions by patients remains low, that is, most patients have difficulty understanding the indications of their health professional to continue to treat their health after leaving the consultation. The professional oversees the challenge of validating the understanding of the message by the patient. The aim of this study was to demonstrate how verbal and non-verbal communication integrated into an interdependent and aggregated model of specific communication skills—assertiveness, language clarity, and positivity—allow the health professional to be further strengthened and trained to obtain a better understanding of the patient health instructions. The mixed method with a qualitative and quantitative approach was used in a non-probabilistic study with a convenience sample of 484 health professionals, based on a questionnaire survey, 14 focus groups, and 7 in-depth interviews. The results obtained validated the communication model for health literacy, which the author calls the ACP model – assertiveness, clarity, and positivity.
Health Literacy and Digital Communication
Authors: Fonseca Rui Brito
Published: September 2021

The SARS-COV-2 pandemic has placed the entire planet under a global health threat, but it has also provided a golden opportunity for us to make the digital transition. With the successive confinements and restrictions on circulation and communication to which we were subjected, we had to look for other models of relationships, work, and learning. In a few months, the Portuguese went from an essentially playful and informative use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to an intensive work, academic, and communicational use.
Re-Thinking Health Behaviour Change Models From an Integrated Perspective
Authors: Henriques Sara , Damásio Manuel José
Published: September 2021

Scientific evidence indicates that theory-based health interventions are more effective in promoting health behavior change (BC) and in maintaining health changes over time. Previous work identified more than 80 BC theories; however, there is little guidance on how to best choose between them. More than creating new theories, an essential challenge now is to integrate these theories to reach a more complete understanding of the BC process. The chapter is an effort to integrate some of the most central theories in this field, aiming to reach an integrated framework by 1) identifying and merging similarities between theories, reducing conceptual complexity, and by 2) building from dissimilarities as key aspects to overcome limitations. This framework is a practical visual tool that intends to support researchers and practitioners working in the field, guiding on the crucial constructs to address in interventions to promote health BC. This framework also integrates the ACP model as an approach that offers valuable insights to support communication in health interventions.
Better Health Communication During the Life Cycle Contributes to Better Health Literacy
Authors: Franco Santos Diogo , Branco Silva Rita , Lapa Gomes Joana
Published: September 2021

Health literacy (HL) is about acquiring competences, confidence, and motivation to take action in health improvement. Health communication is key in promoting HL. Information leaflets are a tool that grants autonomy, thereby empowering self-management of health. Qualitative and content analysis of two original leaflets was made by a group of medical doctors, targeting pregnant women and the elderly, who represent different stages of the life cycle. The content was written in an assertive, clear, and positive language, and was adjusted to the target public. A question-answer system was used, making it easier for the reader to gather specific information. Structural aspects underlying both leaflets were similar. Health leaflets are widely used for the proper transmission of information. It is therefore essential that they are appropriate to the recipients' HL throughout the life cycle. The critical and systematised analysis of their information content contributes to quality assurance, leading to better HL and healthcare in general.
Health Literacy of Oncologic Patients and Their Informal Caregivers
Authors: Diniz Ana Cristina de Almeida Marinho , Ferreira Catarina Isabel Gomes Mendes , Damião Maria Cândida , Xavier Helena Cunha
Published: September 2021

The haemato-oncological patient requires care due to the impact of the disease itself as well as the hard treatment. Health professionals and informal caregivers also play a central role in this multipart and demanding process of caring and management of the disease. Communication and health literacy to the patients and respective caregivers are crucial in promoting safe care. The development of quality improvement projects by health organizations has contributed to increase health literacy among its participants. Its implementation contributes to a closer relationship between health professionals, patients, and informal caregivers with a consequent improvement in the response to their needs.
The Affects and Emotions in the Therapeutic Relationship
Authors: Martins Patrícia Dias Ribeiro do Carmo Ribe , Guarda Lina Maria
Published: September 2021

The research is based on a community intervention project—Living More With Knowledge: Health Literacy—with a qualitative and quantitative approach, with ethnographic aspects through participant observation by one of the researchers. At the end of the first year of the project, a qualitative study was carried out, with the application of a questionnaire survey to a sample of 143 participants from different groups aged between 50 and 90 years old. The questionnaire survey aimed to assess the participants perception of the activities developed. To the questions regarding the usefulness of the topics addressed for daily life, the acquisition of new knowledge, the way the topics are addressed, the relationship and interaction of health professionals with the participants (cognitive and emotional), 99% of the respondents considered it very good and good. All respondents expressed interest in continuing to participate in the activities. The number of participants doubled, as well as the request of institutions to collaborate in the project.
Abnormal Event Detection in a Surveillance Scene Using Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Joshi Kinjal V. , Patel Narendra M.
Published: September 2021

Automatic abnormal event detection in a surveillance scene is very significant because of more consciousness about public safety. Because of usefulness and complexity, currently, it is an open research area. In this manuscript, the authors have proposed a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) model to detect an abnormal event in a surveillance scene. In this work, CNN is used in two ways. Firstly, it is used for both feature extraction and classification. In a second way, CNN is used for feature extraction, and support vector machine (SVM) is used for classification. Without any pre-processing, the proposed model gives better results compared to state-of-the-art methods. Experiments are carried out on four different publicly available benchmark datasets and one combined dataset, which contains all images of four datasets. The performance is measured by accuracy and area under the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve (AUC). The experimental results determine the efficacy of the proposed model.
Emotion Detection Using Deep Learning Algorithm
Authors: Yadav Shital Sanjay , Vibhute Anup S.
Published: September 2021

Automatic emotion detection is a prime task in computerized human behaviour analysis. The proposed system is an automatic emotion detection using convolution neural network. The proposed end-to-end CNN is therefore named as ENet. Keeping in mind the computational efficiency, the deep network makes use of trained weight parameters of the MobileNet to initialize the weight parameters of ENet. On top of the last convolution layer of ENet, the authors place global average pooling layer to make it independent of the input image size. The ENet is validated for emotion detection using two benchmark datasets: Cohn-Kanade+ (CK+) and Japanese female facial expression (JAFFE). The experimental results show that the proposed ENet outperforms the other existing methods for emotion detection.
Ranking Mobile Wallet Service Providers Using Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach
Authors: Kapoor Ashwarya , Sindwani Rajiv , Goel Manisha
Published: September 2021

The aim of this paper is to identify key dimensions of mobile wallet (m-wallet) service quality and to prioritize mobile wallet service providers on the basis of these dimensions. Based on extensive literature review and discussion with an expert, six key dimensions of m-wallet service quality, namely convenience, reliability and security, responsiveness, aesthetics, accessibility, and information quality/content, are proposed in this paper. Fuzzy TOPSIS approach is proposed to evaluate and rank mobile wallet alternatives. Four major mobile wallet players from the Indian market are prioritized on the basis of six key service quality dimensions. Examination of the literature indicates that this study is among the first attempts to identify m-wallet service quality dimensions as well as to prioritize mobile wallet alternatives using fuzzy TOPSIS. The findings will be valuable to academicians and practitioners alike. The key dimensions proposed in the paper will enlighten m-wallet service providers about the aspects of services to be focused on. Moreover, the fuzzy TOPSIS technique discussed in this paper will help m-wallet companies to compare them with their competitors. This will help managers to develop strategies to improve their services. On the academic front, the study will extend the knowledge base in the field of self-service technologies.
Modeling the Levelized Cost of Energy for Concentrating Solar Thermal Power Systems Based on a Nonlinear AutoRegressive Neural Network With Exogenous Inputs
Authors: Filippchenkova Natalya
Published: September 2021

This article presents the results of the development of a mathematical model for predicting the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for solar concentrating thermal power systems (CSP systems) based on a nonlinear autoregressive neural network with exogenous inputs (NARX). A two-layer NARX network with sigmoid hidden neurons and linear output neurons has been developed. The input layer is made up of the following variables: the volume of input power of CSP systems in the world, the total world energy consumption, domestic energy consumption, domestic gas consumption, domestic consumption of coal and lignite, domestic energy consumption, the share of renewable energy in electricity generation, the share of wind and solar energy in the production of electricity, carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion, the price of Brent oil against the US dollar, and the average price for natural gas auctions. The output layer specifies LCOE values for CSP systems.
Antecedents of User Acceptance of Electronic Human Resource Management Systems (e-HRM) at SEAT
Authors: Vazquez Marcial , Sunyer Albert
Published: September 2021

This research investigates factors that impact the use of electronic human resource management (e-HRM) systems at SEAT, a car manufacturing firm of the Volkswagen Group. This study builds on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology to analyze the relationships between user acceptance of e-HRM systems and its antecedent factors, namely performance expectations, ease of use, social influence, and facilitating conditions. The empirical study takes advantage of how employees at SEAT use a new e-HRM system implemented by the human resource department in the context of a business digitization strategy. One hundred and sixty-nine employees at SEAT were conveniently sampled to bring light to the most influential predictors of e-HRM user acceptance. Hierarchical multiple regression shows that performance expectations and ease of use have positive relationships towards acceptance of e-HRM technologies. In addition, this research provides some practical implications to guide HR professionals on the implementation of e-HRM systems.
Analyzing Service Quality and Satisfaction by Multivariate Analysis of Variance
Authors: Lu An-Wen , Chang Ya-Hua , Wu Hsin-Hung
Published: September 2021

Due to the market openness for the competitive tobacco and liquor market, Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation has to pay attention to service quality and customer satisfaction more than before for its retailers in order to maintain its marketplace and even increase its sales. In this research, a case study at South Branch Office in Taichung City, Taiwan is conducted with the effective sample of size of 178 retailing customers through phone purchase by multivariate analysis of variance. The results show that Item 20 has the lowest satisfaction and is the only item less than the value of 3 in a 5-point Likert scale. A platform for retailers to order goods from the internet should be placed in the highest priority. In addition, the age group of 36-45 years old perceived the lowest satisfaction on Item 16, which should be the focal point. Moreover, the other focal point is that the retailers purchasing tobacco through phone purchase has the second lowest satisfaction on Item 17. The management needs to address these two issues in order to provide better service for its retailers.
Enabling 5G and IoT
Authors: Some Evariste , Boots Bryan , Gondwe Gregory
Published: September 2021

The internet of things (IoT) is the notion of all devices and products being connected to the internet rather than only computers and mobile devices, as has been the case until the recent past. The IoT is already booming, and its adoption will only accelerate in coming years. At the same time, the world continues to go wireless. Wired internet and telephone connections are becoming rarer with each passing year, and consumers expect and demand wireless communications more and more. One critical enabling technology for the IoT is wireless communications: IP-cameras, printers, kitchen appliances, and more deliver greater flexibility in their design when they do not need a wired connection to access the internet. In this paper, a flexible spectrum management framework to enable greater innovation, investment, and flexibility in IoT products, as well as the necessary architecture that will enable a wider deployment of IoT is proposed. An illustration and analogy from the success of the unlicensed bands used for Wi-Fi technology, and the accompanying supporting organizations that enable Wi-Fi's success are drawn.
RAODV Routing Protocol for Congestion Detection and Relief in Ad Hoc Wireless Networks
Authors: Liu Xiaojie , Speidel Ulrich
Published: September 2021

Ad hoc wireless networks depend on mutual collaboration among nodes. Congestion in ad hoc wireless networks thus presents more of a challenge than for other network types. This article proposes RAODV (relieving AODV), a modification of the AODV routing protocol, to handle congestion via third party neighbour nodes in dense and static ad hoc networks. RAODV nodes use a T-entropy threshold-based congestion detection algorithm to determine the congestion status of their neighbours. If RAODV determines that congestion is occurring, it then tries to relieve congestion via a local repair modification algorithm that replaces the congested node by a suitable monitoring/third party neighbour node. This article also shows evidence that RAODV results in better network performance than AODV in simulations with random network topologies.
Real-Time V2V Communication With a Machine Learning-Based System for Detecting Drowsiness of Drivers
Authors: Awad Ahmed Y. , Mohan Seshadri
Published: September 2021

This article applies machine learning to detect whether a driver is drowsy and alert the driver. The drowsiness of a driver can lead to accidents resulting in severe physical injuries, including deaths, and significant economic losses. Driver fatigue resulting from sleep deprivation causes major accidents on today's roads. In 2010, nearly 24 million vehicles were involved in traffic accidents in the U.S., which resulted in more than 33,000 deaths and over 3.9 million injuries, according to the U.S. NHTSA. A significant percentage of traffic accidents can be attributed to drowsy driving. It is therefore imperative that an efficient technique is designed and implemented to detect drowsiness as soon as the driver feels drowsy and to alert and wake up the driver and thereby preventing accidents. The authors apply machine learning to detect eye closures along with yawning of a driver to optimize the system. This paper also implements DSRC to connect vehicles and create an ad hoc vehicular network on the road. When the system detects that a driver is drowsy, drivers of other nearby vehicles are alerted.
Method of Combining Cryptography and LDPC Coding for Enhanced Privacy
Authors: Comar Bradley
Published: September 2021

This paper describes a method of combining cryptographic encoding and low density parity check (LDPC) encoding for the purpose of enhancing privacy. This method uses pseudorandom number generators (PRNGs) to create parity check matrices that are constantly updated. The generated cyphertext is at least as private as a standard additive (XORing) cryptosystem, and also has error correcting capability. The eavesdropper, Eve, has the expanded burden of having to perform cryptanalysis and error correction simultaneously.
A Heuristic Approach for GPS-Based Routing
Authors: LeBlanc Larry J. , Grossman Thomas A.
Published: September 2021

Vehicle routing (such as for package delivery) presents challenges for operations planning and operations control. Planning ensures that vehicles are assigned to “good” routes, and control enables routes to be changed in real time in response to changes in destination requirements. Both planning and control can be accomplished using web-based, intelligent geographic information system tools to rapidly generate a heuristic solution using an embedded algorithm, rather than the established approach of using explicit customized optimization models. The authors contrast the established approach of using customized integer optimization models to a heuristic that integrates human judgment with Google Maps travel time data to solve vehicle routing problems. This paper discusses the data requirements, simplifying assumptions, and practical performance of both approaches. The advantage of the heuristic approach is that genuine, useful access to much of the power of highly sophisticated OR network models can be provided to large numbers of analytically unsophisticated managers, along with enhanced operational control.
The Impacts of Organizational Culture on Knowledge Transfer Between Japanese Managers and Vietnamese Employees in Japanese Enterprises
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc Anh , Pham Quoc Trung
Published: September 2021

Knowledge transfer effectiveness is considered one of the most important factors for ensuring the success of any enterprise, especially for multinational enterprises. However, in the case of Japan, the effectiveness of knowledge transfer between Japanese managers and foreign employees is not high. This limited effectiveness is understood as linked to the cultural distance between Japanese managers and foreign employees. The main goal of this study is to explore the impact of organizational culture on knowledge transfer in Japanese enterprises. Quantitative survey research was conducted with 365 respondents, who are Vietnamese labourers working in Japan. Analysis showed that two factors had a positive impact on the effectiveness of knowledge transfer: cultural openness and managers' communication ability. The study draws on these results to make recommend improvements in the knowledge transfer process between Japanese managers and Vietnamese employees.
Information Security Policy Compliance Culture
Authors: Amankwa Eric , Loock Marianne , Kritzinger Elmarie
Published: September 2021

Information security policy (ISP) noncompliance is a growing problem that accounts for a significant number of security breaches in organizations. Existing strategies for changing employees' behavior intentions towards compliance have not been effective. It is therefore imperative to identify other effective strategies to address the problem. This article investigates the effect accountability constructs on employees' attitudes and behavior intentions towards establishing ISP compliance as a culture. In addition, the authors validate a testable research model for predicting employees' compliance behavior intentions in a field survey involving 313 employees from selected Ghanaian companies. The overall effect showed that measures of accountability significantly influenced employees' attitudes and behavior intentions to ISP compliance while the establishment of ISP compliance culture largely depended on the existence of a conducive information security culture and positive employee behavior intentions.
Research Regarding the Effects of 120 mm HE Mortar Bombs on Advanced Materials
Authors: Pintilie Daniela , Pană Iuliana Florina , Malciu Adrian , Puică Constantin , Pupăză Cristina
Published: September 2021

High Explosive Mortar bombs are used on the battlefield for destroying the manpower, non-armoured equipment and shelters. The paper describes an original experimental and numerical approach regarding the potential threats caused by the detonation of 120 mm HE mortar bombs. The evaluation of the bomb effect presumes the fulfillment of experimental trials that focus on two physical mechanisms which appear after the detonation of the cased high explosive. These mechanisms are the shock wave generation and the fragments propulsion, which were also studied by a numerical model that provides results over the bomb fragmentation mode. The novelty of the paper consists in the calibrated 3D numerical model confirmed by the experimental data, which provides information over the fragmentation process of the case and the initial velocity of its fragments, proving that the main threat of this type of ammunition is the effect through metal fragments. The results of numerical simulation and experimental data are used for their comparative analysis and the assessment of the phenomena.
Characteristics of Wastewater from Different Pretreatments of Flax/Cotton Fabrics
Authors: Dochia Mihaela , Gavrilaş Simona
Published: September 2021

To be properly used in the textile industry, the natural materials are subject to different pretreatments. During the scouring, the non-cellulosic attendants (wax, pectin, pigments) are removed. The enzymes have proved their efficiency in this regard but also in terms of being friendly with the environment. The textile industry is a water large consumer, comprising many wet processes: bioscouring, bleaching, mercerizing, and dyeing. The water quantity needed for each step is very high. The resulted wastewater comprises different types of chemicals, most of them non-biodegradable: acids, sodium hydroxide, hypochlorites, peroxides, etc. The actual trends and legislation require the change of classical methods used with ecological ones. One particular reason for this tendency is also related to the economic issue, the use of eco-friendly treatments leading to significant economical savings. The present study was focused on enzymatic treatments with the use of two chelating agents (sodium citrate and EDTA) to remove the flax/cotton fabric impurities. The new proposed scouring treatment, with sodium citrate as a chelating agent, presents less aggressivity to the environment compared with the classical one. The temperature used was lower (55 °C), the pH close to the neutral point, and biodegradable chemicals were used. The chosen technology included a series of independent steps which they assumed: washing of flax/cotton fabric at 100 °C for dust and physically linked impurities removing, dried at room temperature, and conditioning at 105 °C in the oven for 2h. Afterward, the samples were immersed in the reaction bath which contained a mixture of pectinolytic products, the chelating agents (sodium citrate or EDTA), and the surfactant. The hydrolytic reaction was optimised following the influence of a pair of parameters: enzyme concentration/exposure time. Water samples from each reaction bath were collected and different physicochemical parameters were analysed: pH, salinity, TDS, conductivity, DO, CCOMn, turbidity and dry residue. The results obtained were following the legislation. In the case of the classical treatment, the data was up to 100 % higher compared with the new proposed treatment were complexing agent sodium citrate was used. Analysing from different points of view the results obtained, we can say that the considered treatment could be a promising alternative to the current one. It might contribute to less wastewater pollution and technological economical improvement.
Considerations Regarding Pollution Caused by Ships in the Romanian Danube Sector
Authors: Baloșin Ionel , Florescu Constantin , Mirel Ion
Published: September 2021

In this paper we present the current situation related to the legislative framework on the definition of generated waste by ships in the field of maritime navigation and inland waterway navigation, their management on board ships, handover to port facilities and results in the development of proposals to support participants in the shipping activity in the field of pollution prevention of the Romanian Danube sector. The purpose of the paper is to contribute to the improvement of the current measures that are applied in the field of prevention of pollution of the Romanian Danube sector by ships.
A New Educational Requirement: Forming Specialists in the Field of Green Procurement
Authors: Ghermec Olimpia , Ghermec Christian , Bucşe Ionela Gabriela
Published: September 2021

The social responsibility of companies has an increasingly important role in their relationship with the environment, regardless of the object of activity. Green procurement plays an important role in achieving these objectives. Department of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems Drobeta Turnu - Severin organizes or participates periodically in meetings with employers or collaborators, in order to identify new educational requirements regarding the competencies and abilities of graduates. It was thus found that qualified personnel are needed in making green procurement. In order to meet this requirement, our department aims to form specialists in the field of green procurement. The introduction of the new syllabus in the master's degree programs requires the completion of research steps to strengthen the curriculum by diversifying professional and transversal skills, in accordance with the generic skills of the study program.
Sustainable Development and Liveability Concepts
Authors: Burada Cristian Oliviu , Trif Andreea Gabriela
Published: September 2021

At its core, the concept of sustainable development refers to reconciling “development” and “environment” (McGranahan and Satterthwaite, 2003). Development, ie meeting people's needs, requires the use of resources and involves the generation of waste. The environment has finite resources, which impose limits on the ability of ecosystems to absorb or decompose waste or make it harmless on a local, regional and global scale. Basically, urban sustainability has been defined in various ways, with different criteria and emphasis, but its goal should be to promote and enable the long-term well-being of people and the planet, through the efficient use of natural resources and waste production in a region. of the city, simultaneously improving the capacity for life, through social facilities, economic opportunities and health, so that it can better fit into the capacities of local, regional and global ecosystems. In our study we critically observe strategies to analyze the buildings quality requirements and the links between environment, investments and buildings time frame. Methods dedicated to establishing procedures to evaluate the buildings evolution through time represent key features to maintaining good relations between elements and the environment.
Influence of the Polymer Addition in Quenching Water on the Deformation and Residual Stresses of Aluminum Alloy Sheets
Authors: Stoicănescu Maria , Popa Gheorghe , Petre Marin , Achim Alexandra Valerica
Published: September 2021

The quenching is one of the most used mechanisms for increase the strength of aluminium alloys sheets. The purpose of quenching is to keep the super-saturated solid solution formed during the solution heat treatment as intact by rapid cooling. In order to establish the influence of the addition of polymer in the quenching water on the distortion and residual stresses of the aluminium alloy sheets, several tests were performed with different concentrations of the polymer in demineralized water. The experiments were performed on 6082 aluminium alloy sheets with a thickness of 5 mm. The quenching of the samples was done by immersion in a stainless steel vessel with a capacity of 10 liters. The obtained results show that the addition of polymer in demineralized water positively influences the deformation of aluminium alloy sheets. In this way, a correlation between the polymer concentration and the deformation of the plates was established. Regarding the internal stresses, no correlation was identified with the level of polymer used in demineralized water.
Digital Technologies for Analysis of Restoration of Serial Numbers
Authors: Ursu Mihai , Benga Gabriel
Published: September 2021

In daily activities, serial numbers represent one way to range finished products of different types of production fields and also tracking those objects during their lifetime – ever since their exit of the production site until their recycling. In this paper are presented several types of imprinting techniques as well as a case study for restoration of a modified serial number.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS IN ARAB COUNTRIES OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICAN REGION
Authors: Tabaja Hussam , Hindy Joya-Rita , Kan Souha S.
Published: September 2021

Available data suggests a high burden of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). To review the MRSA prevalence and molecular epidemiology in this region, we used PubMed search engine to identify relative articles published from January 2005 to December 2019. Great heterogeneity in reported rates was expectedly seen. Nasal MRSA colonization ranged from 0-32% in healthy volunteers but 4-73% in healthcare workers. Infective MRSA rates ranged between 6%-66% in Saudi Arabia, 12%-29% in United Arab of Emirates, 13%-21% in Qatar, 14%-37% in Oman, 20%-72% in Lebanon, 56% in Gaza, 32%-68% in Jordan, 34%-88% in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan, 47%-77% in Egypt, 19-86% in Algeria, and 18-40% in Tunisia. In the GCC, [PVL-] ST239-III, [PVL+] ST80-IV, [PVL+] ST30-IV, [PVL-] ST22-IV and its [PVL+] and [tst1+] variants, [PVL-] CC6-IV, [PVL-] CC5-IV, and [PVL-] ST5-II had a significant presence. In the Levant region, [PVL+] ST80-IV, [PVL+] ST30-IV, [PVL-] ST239-III, [PVL-] ST22-IV were prevalent in Lebanon, Jordan, and Gaza; [PVL-] ST22-IVa-t223 (“Gaza strain”) was prevalent in Gaza and Jordan; USA300, and USA800 were prevalent in Iraq. In North Africa, [PVL+] ST80-IV and [PVL-] ST239-III was commonly reported in Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia. Finally, significant antimicrobial resistance was seen in the region with variation in patterns depending on location and clonal type. For a more accurate assessment of MRSA epidemiology and burden, the Arab countries need to implement national surveillance systems.
Safety warning for ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine in patients with sickle cell disease
Authors: Alkindi Salam , Elsadek Refaat Abdullah , Pathare Anil V
Published: September 2021

Vaccines against acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV2) are critical weapons to control the spread of the deadly Coronavirus 2019(COVId-19) virus worldwide. Although these vaccines are generally safe, their widespread use has produced reports of rare complications, including vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VIITT), particularly in connection with ChAdOx1 nCov-19. We have identified three cases of sickle cell disease (SCD) experiencing a severe vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) shortly after the vaccine. Despite being stable for a long time, they had fever with tachycardia, along with a significant rise in WBC, liver enzymes, particularly alkaline phosphate, with a remarkable drop in hemoglobin, and platelets and one of them probably had fatal TTP like syndrome. Given these findings, physicians and patients should exercise caution when taking this type of vaccine and be aware of these safety concerns.
Local renin angiotensin system and sperm DNA fragmentation
Authors: Aparicio Prieto María Victoria , Rodríguez Gallego María Victoria , Valdivia Palacín Asier , Franco Iriarte Yosu , Hervás Barbara Gotzone , Echevarría Orella Enrique , Casis Saenz Luis
Published: September 2021

The renin angiotensin system (RAS) appears to influence male fertility at multiple levels. In this work, we analyzed the relationship between the RAS and DNA integrity. Fifty male volunteers were divided into two groups (25 each): control (DNA fragmentation ≤20%) and pathological (DNA fragmentation >20%) cases. Activities of five peptidases controlling RAS were measured fluorometrically: prolyl endopeptidase (which converts angiotensin [A] I and A II to A 1–7), neutral endopeptidase (NEP/CD10: A I to A 1–7), aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13: A III to A IV), aminopeptidase A (A II to A III) and aminopeptidase B (A III to A IV). Angiotensin-converting enzyme (A I to A II), APN/CD13 and NEP/CD10 were also assessed by semiquantitative cytometry and quantitative flow cytometry assays, as were the receptors of all RAS components: A II receptor type 1 (AT1R), A II receptor type 2 (AT2R), A IV receptor (AT4R or insulin-regulated aminopeptidase [IRAP]), (pro)renin receptor (PRR) and A 1–7 receptor or Mas receptor (MasR) None of the enzymes that regulate levels of RAS components, except for APN/CD13 (decrease in fragmented cells), showed significant differences between both groups. Micrographs of RAS receptors revealed no significant differences in immunolabeling patterns between normozoospermic and fragmented cells. Labeling of AT1R (94.3% normozoospermic vs 84.1% fragmented), AT4R (96.2% vs 95.3%) and MasR (97.4% vs 87.2%) was similar between the groups. AT2R (87.4% normozoospermic vs 63.1% fragmented) and PRR (96.4% vs 48.2%) were higher in non-fragmented spermatozoa. These findings suggest that fragmented DNA spermatozoa have a lower capacity to respond to bioactive RAS peptides.
Two-stage posterior decompression and fusion for tuberculous spondylitis after intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin instillation
Authors: Ohata Hiroki , Prakasa David , Goto Hiroyuki , Ohata Kenji , Goto Takeo , Nishikawa Misao
Published: September 2021

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillation is an effective treatment for nonmuscle invasive superficial bladder cancer. BCG induces a massive influx of inflammatory cells and production of cytokines in the bladder mucosa and lumen that leads to an immune response against tumor cells, acting as an immunotherapy. Cystitis, bladder ulceration, and bladder contracture are known local genitourinary complications, whereas systemic complications such as miliary pulmonary tuberculosis, mycotic aneurysms, tuberculous spondylodiscitis, and granulomatous hepatitis are very rare.

A case of tuberculous spondylodiscitis at the T8 and T9 levels following intravesical BCG instillation for bladder carcinoma is reported. The patient initially underwent decompressive laminectomy for spastic paraparesis. After reporting improvement for few weeks, the patient again presented with similar complaints and was found to have an increased kyphotic deformity, for which he underwent fixation surgery.
Minimally invasive corpectomy and percutaneous transpedicular stabilization in the treatment of patients with unstable injures of the thoracolumbar spine
Authors: Byvaltsev Vadim A. , Kalinin Andrei A. , Polkin Roman A. , Shepelev Valerii V. , Aliyev Marat A. , Dyussembekov Yermek K.
Published: September 2021

Objective:

The objective of this study was to analyze the results of surgical treatment of patients with unstable injuries of the thoracolumbar spine using simultaneous minimally invasive corpectomy and percutaneous transpedicular stabilization.

Materials and Methods:

The retrospective study included 34 patients with isolated single-level unstable injuries of the thoracolumbar spine (5 or more points according to the Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity Score (TLICS), operated on from the moment of injury from 8 to 24 h using the technique of minimally invasive corpectomy and percutaneous transpedicular stabilization simultaneously. The technical features of surgery, clinical data (pain level according to the Visual Analog Scale, quality of life according to the SF-36 questionnaire, subjective satisfaction with the operation according to the MacNab scale, and the presence of complications), and instrumental data (angle of segmental kyphotic deformity and sagittal index to and after surgery). The assessment of clinical data was carried out before surgery, at discharge, after 6 months, and in the long-term period, on average, 30 months after surgery.

Results:

When evaluating the clinical data, a significant decrease in the severity of pain syndrome was found on average from 90 mm to 5.5 mm in the late follow-up (P < 0.001), as well as a significant improvement in the physical and psychological components of health according to the SF-36 questionnaire on average from 28.78 to 39.26 (P < 0.001), from 36.93 to 41.43 (P = 0.006), respectively. In the long-term period, according to the MacNab scale, the patients noted the result of the operation: excellent – 18 (52.9%), good – 13 (38.3%), and satisfactory – 3 (8.8%); no unsatisfactory results were registered. Four (11.8%) perioperative surgical complications were registered, which were successfully treated conservatively. A significant restoration of the sagittal profile with an insignificant change in blood pressure was recorded in the long-term postoperative period. An average follow-up assessment of 30 months according to the American Spinal Injury Association scale showed the presence of E and D degrees in 85.4% of patients.

Conclusion:

Minimally invasive corpectomy with percutaneous transpedicular stabilization in the treatment of patients with unstable injuries of the thoracolumbar spine can effectively eliminate kyphotic deformity and prevent the loss of its reduction with a low number of postoperative surgical complications. The technique has minimal surgical trauma with the possibility of early postoperative rehabilitation and provides a significant stable reduction in vertebrogenic pain syndrome, improvement of neurological deficits, and restoration of the quality of life of patients and in the follow-up.
Comparative Study of High-Resolution T2-Weighted Turbo Spin Echo Sequence and Postcontrast Three-Dimensional Volumetric T1-Weighted Sequence in Evaluation of Acute Onset Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Authors: Pattanayak Somali , Paliwal Amit , Sharma Rachit , Sharma Vikas , Gopinath Manoj , Debnath Jyotindu
Published: September 2021

Purpose:

Magnetic resonance imaging has revolutionized the evaluation of acute onset sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This study was carried out with an aim to diagnose the causes of acute onset SNHL with an attempt to compare the accuracy of high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) T2-weighted sequences with postcontrast 3D volumetric T1-weighted imaging.

Materials and Methods:

Two hundred and fifty-five cases of acute onset SNHL were evaluated using noncontrast sequence for brain and 3D DRIVE for seventh and eight cranial nerves. Postcontrast 3D volumetric T1 sequence was done for the whole brain.

Results:

Poor visualization of the semicircular canal (confirmed as labyrinthitis ossificans on computed tomography) was the most common cause of acute onset SNHL, followed by vestibular schwannoma. 3D DRIVE sequence was not able to detect seven cases of small intracanalicular vestibular schwannoma and enhancement of the seventh-eighth cranial nerves. However, these cases were detected on postcontrast sequence.

Conclusion:

As the sensitivity of the 3D DRIVE sequence was only 74.1%, it cannot be used as a screening tool for the evaluation of acute onset SNHL. 3D postcontrast sequence will detect even small vestibular schwannomas and inflammatory/infective causes of acute onset SNHL, which might have an impact on the management of the patient.
Knowledge Levels Match Control Practices of Cerebral Coenurosis by Pastoral Community in Iringa District Council, Tanzania
Authors: Lupindu A.M. , Nzalawahe J.
Published: September 2021

Cerebral coenurosis is a disease of small ruminants which causes economic loss worldwide. Different studies in Tanzania have reported the cause, transmission, signs, prevalence, risk factors and control measures of cerebral coenurosis. Transfer of this research-based information to livestock keepers may influence practicability and efficacy of intervention. The present study aimed at assessing the knowledge levels and control practices of coenurosis by pastoralists in Iringa district. A total of 267 respondents were interviewed on livestock management practices, knowledge, losses and coping strategies of coenurosis. The average knowledge score on coenurosis detection (definition, hosts, signs, and diagnosis, including postmortem) was 90.3%. In contrast, knowledge on infection cycle and control was zero, implying that respondents were completely not informed about etiology, transmission and control of coenurosis. Involvement of dogs in coenurosis cycle was not known to respondents such that they all gave head of sheep and goats to dogs while 82.8% had never dewormed their dogs. About 83% of respondents experienced at least, one cases of coenurosis in the last 12 months. There was no formal coenurosis control program, but heating the head of sick animal with hot iron, selling, slaughter, treatment with antibiotics, or local herbs and doing nothing were the reported management strategies. Lack of knowledge on the cause, transmission and control of cerebral coenurosis may be associated with inappropriate animal management and control of coenurosis in pastoral community in Iringa rural District, including transmission facilitating practices. A coenurosis training package is recommended to farmers before intervention program is instituted.
Parezja: ćwiczenia ze szczerości
Authors: Ryczek Wojciech
Published: September 2021

Parrhesia: Exercises in Speaking Sincerely

The paper examines the notion of parrhesia (from Greek ‘to speak everything’) as an exercise in speaking openly and sincerely. Leaving aside Michel Foucault’s treatment of this discursive activity, the main purpose of the article is to describe parrhesia in three domains: rhetoric, philosophy, and literature. As a figure of speech, it remains closely associated with rhetorical simulation and flattery. For many rhetoricians, for instance Quintilian or Jakub Górski, parrhesia may serve as a useful instrument of critical speaking. As a “spiritual exercise” in telling the truth, it plays an important role in transforming philosophy into a general way of life. In accordance with Philodemus’s beliefs on frank speech, one may argue that parrhesia helps in attaining wisdom in a student milieu. And finally, as a discursive strategy, it creates many possibilities for expanding the modes of linguistic expression, for instance in Horace’s ode to Virgil (Carmina I 24) or in Maciej Kazimierz Sarbiewski’s ode to Publius Munatius (Lyrica III 5). In both texts, parrhesia is involved in the discourse of friendship.
Między okiem i uchem. O Szpitalu żydowskim w Warszawie Marii Konopnickiej
Authors: Krzyżanowska Magdalena
Published: September 2021

Between the Eye and the Ear. About Szpital żydowski w Warszawie by Maria Konopnicka In my article, I interpret the work Szpital żydowski w Warszawie [Jewish Hospital in Warsaw] by Maria Konopnicka with emphasis on the way it depicts acoustic phenomena. For the purpose of the analysis, I juxtapose their function with the role assigned to visual references. To this end, I refer to the methodology of sound studies and visual studies. As it turns out, Konopnicka recognizes acoustic phenomena as a way of expressing extreme emotions and limit-experiences (in this case – mental illness) as well as human authenticity. Moreover, by constructing an opposition between sight and hearing, she is able to contrast the world’s rational and irrational aspect and express a crisis of faith in terms of positivistic epistemology.