bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bayesian Causal Network Modeling Suggests Adolescent Cannabis Use Promotes Accelerated Prefrontal Cortical Thinning
Authors: Owens Max Michael , Albaugh Matthew , Allgaier Nicholas , Yuan Dekang , Robert Gabriel , Cupertino Renata B. , Spechler Philip A. , Juliano Anthony , Hahn Sage , Banaschewski Tobias , Bokde Arun L.W. , Quinlan Erin Burke , Desrivieres Sylvane , Flor Herta , Grigis Antoine , Gowland Penny , Heinz Andreas , Brühl Rüdiger , Martinot Jean-Luc , Martinot Marie-Laure Paillère , Artiges Eric , Nees Frauke , Papadopoulos Orfanos Dimitri , Lemaitre Herve , Paus Tomáš , Poustka Luise , Millenet Sabina , Fröhner Juliane Hilde , Smolka Michael N. , Walter Henrik , Whelan Robert , Schumann Gunter , Garavan Hugh
Published: August 2021

While there is substantial evidence that cannabis use is associated with differences in brain structure and function, most of this evidence is correlational in nature. This is particularly true regarding the association of adolescent cannabis use on human brain development, which cannot be tested in an experimental approach. Bayesian causal network (BCN) modeling attempts to identify probable causal associations in correlational data by using the conditional probabilities among a set of interrelated variables to estimate directional associations between those variables. The current report builds on a recent analysis conducted by Albaugh et al. (2021) that found an association between neurodevelopment and cannabis use in the IMAGEN study of adolescent brain development. Here, we employ BCN modeling on the same sample to provide evidence that the associations found previously are driven by cannabis use affecting neurodevelopment and not, for example, by a pre-existing neurodevelopmental trajectory that also promotes cannabis use. Structural MRI was acquired at ages 14 and 19, from which average cortical thickness was derived for a region of interest in the dorsal prefrontal cortex identified by Albaugh et al. as differing in adolescents who initiated cannabis use between ages 14 and 19. Adolescents were all cannabis naïve at age 14 and 46% had used cannabis at least once by age 19. We tested multiple learning algorithms with a variety of different parameters to build BCNs that would describe the relationship between cortical thickness and cannabis use. All BCN models strongly suggested a directional relationship from cannabis use between the ages of 14 and 19 to accelerated cortical thinning during that same period. Acknowledging that BCN modeling cannot prove a causal relationship between adolescent cannabis use and accelerated cortical thinning, these results are consistent with a body of preclinical and human research suggesting that adolescent cannabis use adversely affects brain development.
Who Can Be in a Group? 3- to 5-Year-Old Children Construe Realistic Social Groups Through Mutual Intentionality
Authors: Straka Brenda , Stanaland Adam , Tomasello Michael , Gaither Sarah
Published: August 2021

Recent research suggests that young children’s causal justification for minimal group membership can be induced via a cognitive framework of mutual intentionality. That is, an individual can become a group member when both the individual and group agree to membership. Here, we investigated if children ages 3-5 understand groups formed by mutual intentions and whether they apply mutual intentions to realistic groups with varying entitative and essentialized qualities. In two studies (N = 197), we asked 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children if a novel character could join an existing group based on intentionality (mutual, individual-, group-only) and group type (task, friends, family). We find that 4- and 5-year-olds robustly relied on mutual intentions to constitute group membership and 3-year-olds also demonstrated emerging usage of this cognitive framework. Moreover, children employed mutual intentionality across different group types, suggesting a general framework for children’s understanding of different social groups.
Try to see it my way – Examining the relationship between visual perspective taking and theory of mind in frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Strikwerda-Brown Cherie , Ahmed Rebekah , Piguet Olivier , Irish Muireann
Published: August 2021

The behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is characterised by pronounced alterations in social functioning, including the understanding of others’ thoughts and feelings via theory of mind. The emergence of such impairments in other social disorders such as autism and schizophrenia is suggested to reflect an inability to imagine the other person’s visual perspective of the world. To our knowledge, this hypothesis is yet to be explored in bvFTD. Here, we sought to examine the capacity for different forms of perspective taking, including visual perspective taking and theory of mind in bvFTD, and to establish their inter-relationships and underlying neural correlates. Fifteen bvFTD patients and 15 healthy Controls completed a comprehensive battery of perspective taking measures, comprising Level 1 (‘what’) and Level 2 (‘how’) visual perspective taking tasks, a cartoon task capturing theory of mind, and a questionnaire assessing perspective taking in daily life. Compared with Controls, bvFTD patients displayed significant impairments across all perspective taking measures. These perspective taking impairments, however, were not correlated with one another in bvFTD. Moreover, controlling for visual perspective taking performance did not ameliorate the deficits in theory of mind or real-world perspective taking. Region-of-interest voxel-based morphometry analyses suggested distinct neural correlates for visual perspective taking (inferior frontal gyrus) versus theory of mind (medial prefrontal cortex, precuneus), which appeared to partially overlap with those implicated in real-world perspective taking (inferior frontal gyrus, precuneus, temporoparietal junction). Despite pervasive impairments in all aspects of perspective taking in bvFTD, our findings suggest that these deficits may reflect distinct underlying processes. Future studies manipulating discrete aspects of the tasks will help to clarify the neurocognitive mechanisms of, and relationships between different forms of perspective taking in bvFTD, along with their real-world implications.
Evaluations of anxious others: Using cluster analyses to explore the co-existence of positive and negative evaluations and social anxiety
Authors: Ferguson Ryan Joseph , Ouimet Allison
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Research on individuals with social anxiety has primarily focused on their evaluations of themselves before, during, and after social situations. However, our most evidence-based treatment remains not effective for some. Considering social and clinical theory, we wonder if some people with social anxiety experience negative evaluations of others. Prior studies tested for group-based differences, which does not allow for the possibility that only a subset of people with social anxiety evaluate others negatively. Across two studies, we use cluster analyses to determine how social anxiety and negative other-evaluations co-vary. Methods: 267 (study 1) and 290 (study 2) unselected participants completed an online survey, including two measures modified for the current study: Modified-Interpretation and Judgemental Questionnaire (M-IJQ) and Modified Ways of Thinking about Social Behaviour Questionnaire (M-WTSBQ). Participants read several vignettes and judged the hypothetical anxious person across several positive and negative attributes (M-IJQ). Results: Results from the cluster analysis revealed consistent groups of individuals across both studies, including people with: 1) severe social anxiety and no judgements; 2) low social anxiety and no judgements; 3) mild-to-moderate social anxiety and positive judgements; and 4) some social anxiety who disagreed with all judgements. We discuss how these clusters relate to thoughts about themselves and others on the M-WTSBQ. Discussion: Previous research has been mixed on the presence of negative evaluations of others in social anxiety. This study clarifies some of the confusion by revealing subgroups of individuals with varying social anxiety and judgements of others.
The Berlin Misophonia Questionnaire (BMQ): Development and validation of a symptom-oriented diagnostical instrument for the measurement of misophonia
Authors: Remmert Nico , Schmidt Katharina Maria Beate , Mussel Patrick , Eid Michael
Published: August 2021

Misophonia is a syndrome which is characterized by intense emotional and physical reactions to idiosyncratic sounds. However, its psychometric measurement is still in the early stages. The study presents the development of a German self-report instrument, the Berlin Misophonia Questionnaire (BMQ), and integrates contemporary empirical findings and the latest criteria of misophonia. Data of 952 individuals were gathered in an online study. The results of structural analyses, the assessment of internal consistency, and an analysis of the nomological network of misophonic symptoms supported the reliability and validity of the developed scales. Through the presented symptom-oriented modelling approach, every facet of misophonia is clearly and separately measurable. The final BMQ consists of 77 items in 21 scales, which were selected using Ant Colony Optimization algorithms. The study demonstrates several improvements in the measurement of misophonia by providing a multidimensional measurement of misophonic symptoms and therefore stimulates further research.
Grand Strategy and Foreign Policy: How Grand Strategy Can Aid Bangladesh's Foreign Policy Rethinking?
Authors: Minar Sarwar J.
Published: August 2021

There has been much talk lately about the rethinking of foreign policy of Bangladesh in the post-Cold War ‘new world order’. This article argues that formulation of grand strategy can aid to Bangladesh’s foreign policy and contribute to the rethinking of Bangladesh’s foreign policy. The article investigates the root of misconception about grand strategy and discusses the modern meaning of grand strategy in the 21st century. The article also discusses relations of foreign policy and grand strategy and their place in the statecraft. Through examining secondary literature the article illustrates how grand strategy can aid Bangladesh’s foreign policy and can contribute to the rethinking of Bangladesh’s foreign policy by giving rationale to Bangladesh’s foreign policy, giving better foreign policy direction, helping to prioritize goals of foreign policy, aiding to take cautious foreign policy, cementing consistent foreign policy, seeking long term national goal, undertaking proactive foreign policy and even aiding to shape emerging regional future. The article concludes advocating for furtheradvanced research regarding grand strategy in Bangladesh.
Role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Acharya Subarna , Gupta Sharmila
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is equally important as that of pulmonary tuberculosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is accurate, cost effective, minimal invasive outpatient procedure and aids in prompt diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

Aims: To determine the role of fine needle aspiration cytology for diagnosis of extra pulmonary tuberculosis.

Methods: This is a hospital based descriptive study done over a period of one and half year April 2019 to October 2020 at Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital, Nepalgunj, Nepal. All the 80 patients who were clinically suspected for tuberculosis had undergone fine needle aspiration cytology and diagnosed as tuberculosis in cytology were included in study. Cytological diagnosis was made with microscopic features and positive acid fast bacilli staining. Microscopy showed epithelioid histiocytes, granulomas, multinucleated giant cells, caseous necrosis, neutrophils and mature lymphocytes.

Results: Out of 930 cases received, 80 cases were diagnosed as tuberculosis in cytology. 33 cases were diagnosed with acid fast bacilli positive. Rest was diagnosed with cytological features. Among 80 aspirated samples, a portion of purulent specimen was evaluated with Genexpert test in 11 cases for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis detection and rifampicin sensitivity/ resistant. Out of 11 positive patients in Genexpert tests; 10 were rifampicin sensitive and one was rifampicin resistant.

Conclusion: Common presentation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis is in lymph nodes with increased frequency in age group of 21 to 30 years. Therefore, lymph nodes in this age group should be prioritized more for investigation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
A Comparative Study of Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy and Extracoeporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy For The Treatment of Lower Pole Kidney Stone of Size 10-20 mm
Authors: Shrestha Naresh Man
Published: August 2021

Introduction: A renal stone is commonly found at the Lower-pole of the kidney.  Studies have reported various opinions about efficacy and safety of Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy  and Extracoeporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy  for the treatment of lower pole stone  of size 10-20 mm. 

Aims: The present study aimed to compare between Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy and Extracoeporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy for safe and effective treatment of lower pole stone of size 10-20 mm.

Methods: It is a prospective study conducted from December 2019 to November 2020 in the Urology Department of Nepalgunj Medical College. Total 66 patients under inclusion criteria were divided into two groups. Group I (32 patients) was allocated for patients who were treated under Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy while Group II (34 patients) was allocated for patients who were treated with Extracoeporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy. Two groups were compared for stone free rate, retreatment rate, auxiliary treatment (%), operation time, hospital stay, haematuria, blood transfusion, obstruction and fever.

Results: The stone free rate was significantly higher in  Group I when compared to Group II. While the rate of retreatment and auxiliary treatment were significantly lower in Group I than Group II. However, mean hospital stay, mean operation time and the rate of haematuria was significantly higher in Group I when compared to group II. There were no statistically significant differences between Group I and Group II for post-operative complications such as, blood transfusion, obstruction and fever.

Conclusion: Stone free rate was significantly higher in Group I while retreatment rate and auxiliary treatment rate were significantly higher in Group II. Therefore, Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy is more effective for the treatment of the lower pole stone of size 10-20mm when compared to Extracoeporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy.  However, duration of hospital stay and operation time were longer and incidence of haematuria was higher in Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy than Extracoeporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy.
The Regener-Pfotzer Maximum During a Total Solar Eclipse
Authors: McIntosh Gordon , Swanson Alaina , Taylor Liam , Agrimson Erick Paul , Smith Kaye , Xiong Alynie
Published: August 2021

The Regener-Pfotzer (RP) maximum is the altitude at which cosmic radiation intensity is the greatest. A decrease of the altitude of the interaction layer, assumed to be measured by the RP maximum, has been suggested to account for a reduction in the secondary cosmic ray flux measured at the surface of the Earth during a total solar eclipse. To investigate this suggestion, high altitude cosmic radiation was measured using Geiger Mueller (GM) counters carried beneath weather balloons both before and during the total solar eclipse on 21 August 2017. The 19 and 20 August 2017 omnidirectional RP maxima occurred at an average altitude of 20.2 km ± 0.9 km. During the eclipse of 21 August 2017 the omnidirectional RP maxima occurred at an altitude of 20.4 km ± 0.8 km. The 19 and 20 August 2017 vertical coincidence RP maxima occurred at an altitude of 18.3 km ± 1.0 km. During the eclipse the vertical coincidence RP maxima occurred at 18.0 km ± 1.0 km. Our results do not show any decrease in the altitude of either the omnidirectional or the vertical coincidence RP maximum outside the range of our measurements before the eclipse.
The relationship between childhood abuse and suicidal behaviours in a treatment-seeking sample of Canadian military, police, and Veterans
Authors: Holens Pamela L. , Buhler Jeremiah N. , Paluszek Michelle , Klassen Kristen , Imbrogno Luigi , Joyal Brent , Sharpe Donald
Published: August 2021

LAY SUMMARY

Suicide and related behaviours (e.g., attempting suicide, planning suicide, and purposely harming oneself) can negatively impact individuals, families, and communities. Canadian military and police are generally more likely to engage in suicide-related behaviours than the general population. This study looked at how often suicide-related behaviours occur and whether experiences of childhood abuse increase the likelihood of such behaviours among actively serving and Veteran Canadian military and police personnel who are seeking mental health treatment. Data were drawn from the medical charts of 412 individuals at a clinic that specializes in serving members and Veterans of the Canadian military and police services with mental health needs. Approximately 41% of the sample had engaged in one or more suicide-related behaviour. By type of behaviour, 37% had thought about suicide, 11% had attempted suicide, 7% had a suicide plan, and 5% engaged in self-harm behaviours. Those with a history of childhood abuse and those who identified as Veterans were more likely to have attempted suicide. These findings may help inform efforts to reduce suicide and related behaviours in this unique group.
didactic teaching methodology to assist in the analysis of the economic impact on fuel prices commercialized in the Carajás region.
Authors: Junior Daniel dos Anjos Nazaré Vilhena , Sales Heylon de Oliveira , Pinto Vanessa Saraiva , Silva Katiane Pereira da , Carvalho Fábio Israel Martins , Silva Priscilla Andrade , Beirão Antonio Thiago Madeira
Published: August 2021

This research aims to analyze the economic impacts caused by the addition of the third digit after the comma in the prices of fuels commercialized in the Carajás region (Parauapebas, Canaã dos Carajás, Curionópolis e Serra dos Carajás) located in the southeast of Pará State, Brazil, and the professional categories chosen were UBER application drivers, who use gasoline with additives in their vehicles, sales representatives who use motorcycles and regular gasoline for their work and lastly, intercity van cooperative drivers who use regular diesel fuel. The results of the investigation highlighted that there was a total loss of 2,10 BRL, for the three categories of professionals for every 100 liters of fuel consumed, representing an economic impact of approximately 43% for S-10 diesel, 38% for regular gasoline and 19% for gasoline with additives. Furthermore, in the professional categories analyzed, it was observed that the greatest economic impact occurred for the group of inter-municipal van drivers, with an annual cost of 191,52 BRL. Subsequently, App drivers obtained 14,72 BRL of economic implication per year, and finally, with less annual impact, sales representatives with a cost of 2,72 BRL.
Public Governance and Intellectual Property Management in Research Funding Agencies
Authors: Santos Josenito Oliveira , Santana José Ricardo de , Cruz Cleide Mara Barbosa da , Silva Anderson Rosa da
Published: August 2021

This article aims to analyze the position of the Research Support Foundations (FAPs) regarding the obligation of co-ownership in patent deposits, arising from financial support promoted by them. To this end, a search was proposed in the database of the National Institute of Industrial Property – INPI for FAPs and federal development agencies. For the search of international development agencies, the Orbit Intelligence database was used. The results of this study show that the Foundation for Research Support of the State of Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) remains the holder with 522 deposits, followed by the Foundation for Research Support of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP) with 275 deposits and the other FAPs with rare cases. Although the three federal agencies do not require joint ownership, 522 deposits with joint ownership by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and 27 deposits with joint ownership by the Financier of Studies and Projects (FINEP) were found, however, no deposit was found on behalf of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). And among the 4 main countries analyzed, France is the only one in which there is a concentration of ownership in a central development agency, this can be explained by the fact that France's Intellectual Property Policy makes this type of requirement. In the other countries surveyed, there is no such requirement for participation in co-ownership of patent deposits. In interviews with managers of the FAPs, it was evident that a percentage of them claim that the arguments for participation or not show advantages, and from the point of view of those who do not defend participation, pointing out disadvantages.
Actions and reactions to obstetric violence: a qualitative study about waterbirth
Authors: Camargo Joyce da Costa Silveira de , Oliveira Régia Cristina , Souza Andiara Rodrigues de , Venâncio Kelly Cristina Máxima Pereira , Raimundo Vitória Karen , Néné Manuela , Grande Maria Catarina L. R.
Published: August 2021

This text is part of a research carried out between 2015 and 2016 aimed to investigate the social representations developed by women who gave birth in water about this type of birth. This is a qualitative study carried out with women who experienced waterbirth in a public and private hospital in Portugal. This article is part of this research, seeking to focus on an important theme seized in this investigation: obstetric violence. We seek to discuss the forms of obstetric violence present in the reports of women who have experienced waterbirth. Methodologically, the research was qualitative, using the snowball technique for access to participants and interviews with them. As a result, the existence of resistance and reactions of women is highlighted who, by naming the practices of obstetric violence, including disrespect in the birth scenario, sought to break in different ways with the asymmetry of the relationship with the child health professional, either by silencing and seeking contact with another professional in the care relationship or by denying the impositions to which they were submitted.
APPLICATION OF FUZZY LOGIC TO ANALYZE THE PERFORMANCE OF SUSTAINABILITY LOGISTICS IN INDUSTRIAL DEPARTMENTS
Authors: Moura Ana Claudia Mota Castilho de , Quaresma Sil Franciley dos Santos , Salum Maria Inácia Favila
Published: August 2021

Bearing in mind that the improvement of sustainable logistics activities tend to reduce social, environmental and economic impacts, models for measuring the level of sustainability as a support tool in decision making are increasingly relevant to the process of identifying companies/departments, which need sustainable best practice in order to mitigate costs or increase profit. The objective of the research is to analyze the performance of sustainability logistics in departments of three companies in the electronic segment. As a methodology to develop the research, a sustainable analysis is carried out using a Fuzzy inferences model, in order to consolidate an expert agent, who is able to measure or indicate the level of sustainability performance in the Human Resources (HR) departments. Patrimony and Information Technology (IT), the data set for analysis and inference of the input and output variables are in line with the characteristics of activities and practices performed in each department. As a result, it was possible to identify an influence of the “Priority” variable as a function of “Performance”, in addition, company 1 in the electronic segment presented a performance of 87.6 for HR, 88.1 for IT and 65.5 for Equity with the level of “Performance” in Sustainability.
Modifying PPP in Promoting Communicative Language Teaching to Improve the Students’ English Communicative Competence
Authors: Belinda Rachma Vivien , Raja Patuan , Flora
Published: August 2021

This study was going to find out the significant difference between students’ English communicative competence after being taught by using original PPP method and the modified PPP by using CLT. Moreover, the more effective method between original PPP method and the modified one in improving the students’ communicative competence was investigated. This is a true experimental research using both control and experimental class comparing the original and modified PPP. The subject was forty junior EFL students whose English were still at the lower level. The result showed that there is a significant difference between students’ English communicative competence after being taught by using original PPP method and the modified one. In addition, both original and modified PPP are good to facilitate the learners in having good grammatical competence; however, only PPP that has been modified by using CLT that can facilitate them in having a good communicative competence.
ANATOMICAL CHANGES IN Urochloa plantaginea AND Urochloa platyphylla UNDER DIFFERENT SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS
Authors: Chagastelles Pinto de Macedo Lucas , Bidel Dornelles Sylvio Henrique , Essi Liliana , Bohrer Scherer Matheus , Cezar Cassol Jéssica , Peripolli Mariane , Rubert Jaíne
Published: August 2021

Urochloa plantaginea and Urochloa platyphylla are common weeds in the highland area. However, in recent years, they have been found in wetlands and poorly drained soils, but the biology and behavior of the species in these conditions are not known. Thus, the objective was to assess anatomical changes in plants of Urochloa plantaginea and Urochloa platyphylla grown under different soil moisture conditions, as well as the adaptive structures generated as a result of each environment. A completely randomized experimental design in the form of a 2x2 factorial design was used, with factor A being two species of Urochloa (U. plantaginea and U. platyphylla), and species B being three soil moisture conditions (50 and 100% FC and 5 cm water depth), with four repetitions. The assessments were performed by means of anatomical cuts, observing the number and diameter (micrometers - μm) of aerenchymas in stems, roots and leaves; total diameter and the central root cylinder (μm); diameter of the fistula medulla and cortex (μm) in stems; mesophyll thickness and leaf midrib (μm). It was found that, for the two species of Urochloa, the water depth condition induced an increase in the number and diameter of aerenchymas in roots and leaves and provided a larger diameter of the fistulous pith in stems. The diameter of the central cylinder and the thickness of the leaf mesophyll midrib were more compact at 50% FC, also, for both species. Therefore, the adaptive structures generated vary as a result of the field capacity of the soil.
Examining Empirical Relationship among Service Quality, Reputation and Brand Loyalty: Important Role of Satisfaction
Authors: Siddique Umar , Imran Muhammad , Khattak Sajid Rahman
Published: August 2021

The study in hand attempts to investigate the intervening role of satisfaction on service quality and reputation relationship with brand loyalty in the hotel industry of Pakistan. The sample of the current research was customers of the hotels operated in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Based on convenience sampling, a total of 400 respondents were selected. A total of 356 questionnaires were received back, from which 345 were usable. Data were collected from the targeting customers through a structured questionnaire. The instrument validity and reliability were checked. The study found that reputation and service quality are significantly related to brand loyalty. The relationship between service quality and brand loyalty is did not mediated by satisfaction. Based on these results, the study recommended that the hotel industry give due importance to service quality, including physical environment, location, and staff behaviour, and reputation, to gain customer loyalty. In the end, we also recommend future directions to explore the phenomena further.
The Traumatic Impact of Online Teaching of ELT in Universities of South Punjab due to MCO during COVID-19: The Post Humanist Paradigm for New Pedagogical Practices
Authors: Rashid Abdul , khan Muhammad Riaz , Yaseen Raabia
Published: August 2021

Recently, during the current situation of pandemic COVID-19, human interaction has been restricted. Due to moment control order (MCO) enforcement, pedagogy had to undergo the phenomenon of posthumanist and digital blended mode. The present research is aimed to measure the traumatic impact of online teaching on university students during COVID019. The students' responses were measured through a questionnaire. The major theoretical insights have been taken from Bayley (2018)'s Post Human Pedagogies in Practice: Arts-Based Approaches for Developing Participatory Futures. It has been found that students had to undergo distressful experiences due to a lack of technological knowledge and insufficient resources. In the light of the analyzed data, it is suggested that there is a dire need the academic institutions should develop a digital support system. The findings of the current study establish that our non-preparedness of digital for digital space in classrooms would be traumatic by affecting teaching, which is considered as the essential element of progress in social theory.
Demotivation in Vocabulary Learning: A Qualitative Approach to ESL Learners' Related Factors
Authors: Javed Noveen
Published: August 2021

The research aims to evaluate demotivating factors connected to ESL learners in vocabulary learning. Data were collected from 300 ESL students studying at the university level. Participants were asked to provide comments to help the researchers identify the elements they believe are detrimental to their vocabulary. Six key topics were found in the examination of written feedback. The researchers proposed advice to ESL students and teachers in light of the findings. The study concluded that learners' related factors contribute significantly to demotivate them from vocabulary learning. The study concluded that lack of interest, lack of opportunities to use English, confusion over the material selection, time management mistakes, excessive use of smartphones, and lack of exposure are the factors reported by the ESL learners in vocabulary learning.
Information and Knowledge Influence the Relationship between Green Confusion, Greenwash with Purchase Intension
Authors: Khan Faisal , Sufyan Muhammad , Malik Muhammad Faizan
Published: August 2021

This study discusses the effect of greenwash and green confusion on purchase intention and determines the moderation effect of information and knowledge. The study is quantitative, so the researcher collected data from the university staff and faculty members regarding fast foods. This research study used the statistical package for social sciences to commence a quantitative study. The data was collected from 201 participants from the said population. The results assure that there is a negative relationship between greenwash and green confusion with purchasing intention. Therefore, the current study recommends that businesses reduce their greenwashing practices by not just claiming their "greenness" but also demonstrating the proof of their green products to avoid risk and customer misunderstanding. The result of the study confirmed that information and knowledge moderate the relationship between greenwash and green confusion with purchase intention. Furthermore, the companies will provide the committed environment with clear information. The study tries to fill the gap and improve the information and knowledge regarding fast food to the customer, which will improve the intention of the customers.
A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Linguistic Features of Billboards
Authors: Aftab Saleha , Iqbal Muhammad Khurram , Rashid Abdul
Published: August 2021

The present research, "A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Linguistic Features of Billboards", has been accomplished in order to make a comprehensive analysis of the fact how advertising is manipulating and altering the basic philosophies, dogmas, creeds and ideologies of the common people. Advertising is a vast field, and it has influenced the lives of all of us in the last decades. Keeping this factor in view, the researcher has made an attempt to uncover those aspects which remain hidden in the glamorous and eye-catching commercials which contribute to the capitalist's efforts to make maximum profit by thrusting his products on the customers. The researcher has done the linguistic analysis by using Norman Fairclough's model of Critical Discourse Analysis (1993) of the billboard advertisements. The researcher has analyzed the language and images used on the billboards and had made an attempt to find out the basic notions for which these linguistic expressions have been used in the boards. For this purpose, he uses various tactics. The sincerity which is illustrated in the billboard advertisements by the advertiser is not factual. The real picture is on the other side.
Kurt (Canis lupis) nervus auriculopalpebralis’i üzerinde makroanatomik bir çalışma
Authors: ÖZÜDOĞRU Zekeriya , İLGÜN Ramazan
Published: August 2021

Bu çalışmada kurt göz kapakları ve kulağının innervasyonunu sağlayan sinirlerden birisi olan n. auriculopalpebralis’in seyri ve dallanmasının tespiti amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla 5 adet kurt kafatası kullanılmıştır. Materyaller öncelikle %10’luk formaldehitte tespit edilmiş ve diseksiyonları yapıldıktan sonra makroanatomik olarak incelenmiştir. Yapılan incelemede n. auriculopalpebralis’in beyinden çıkan cranial sinirlerden birisi olan n. facialis’in (7. çift beyin siniri) bir dalı olduğu tespit edildi. Nervus auriculopalpebralis’in, mandibula’nın caudal kenarı yakınında n. facialis’in dorsal kenarından tek bir dal halinde çıktığı ve daha sonra porus acusticus externus’un cranioventral’inde n. auricularis rostralis ve r. zygomaticus adlı iki dala ayrılarak sonlandığı belirlendi.

Çalışmanın sonucunda N. auricularis rostralis’in, mm. auricularis rostralis ile çevre bölgenin derisini innerve ederken, r. zygomaticus’un alt ve üst göz kapağı ile m. orbicularis oculi ve m. corrugator supercilii’yi innerve ettiği gözlendi.
Fast VMZ : code enhancements for video mosaicing and summarization
Authors:   , Ahmed Nafis
Published: August 2021

Video Mosaicing and Summarization (VMZ) is a novel image processing pipeline that summarizes the content of a long sequence of geospatial or biomedical videos using a few coverage maps or mini mosaics. The existing VMZ algorithm uses Normalized Cross-Correlation (NCC), Structure Tensor (ST), Affine-Invariant SIFT (ASIFT), Speeded up robust features for its feature matching and homography estimation pipeline, which are the most computationally expensive modules in the VMZ pipeline. Due to these long-running compute-intensive modules, the VMZ pipeline is not suitable for real-time mosaic formation in drones or UAVs. For instance, VMZ takes around 4 hours to generate mini-mosaics from an image sequence containing 9291 image frames. The blending algorithms used for mini-mosaic generation suffer from illumination variation due to the illumination difference in image frames. Such illumination inconsistency causes severe problems for biomedical scene understanding where curvilinear or tiny biological structures are present. VMZ pipeline is also dependent on 3rd party libraries not aligned with the flow of VMZ, which introduces redundant computation. One of the main reasons for the slow processing of the VMZ pipeline is not leveraging any parallel processing techniques and available graphics processing hardware. Therefore, the objective of this thesis is mainly three-fold: (i) speeding up the computeintensive and long-running modules in the VMZ pipeline, (ii) modifying the existing libraries and interfaces for better alignment with VMZ workflow, and (iii) resolving the illumination difference problem of the blending algorithms. Selected longrunning modules with the most impact on the overall run-time have been improved using CPU-based Multi-Threading, GPU-based Parallelization, and better integration with the existing VMZ pipeline. An illumination-matched blending algorithm has been proposed to improve the illumination problem. Besides, to evaluate the performance of different blending algorithms, a novel metric named Maximum Overall Illumination Difference (MOID) has been proposed. The improvement of VMZ modules has resulted in more than 100x speed-up in certain modules, with a 4.4x speed-up for the total VMZ run-time. The novel illumination matched blending resulted in a better MOID value for image sequences not having illumination variance in a single frame.
Marginal and conditional posterior predictive p-values in Bayesian SEM
Authors:   , Fitzsimmons Ellen
Published: August 2021

The posterior predictive p-value (ppp-value) is currently the primary measure of fit for Bayesian SEM. It is a measure of discrepancy between observed data and a posited model, comparing an observed likelihood ratio test (LRT) statistic to the posterior distribution of LRT statistics under a fitted model. However, the LRT statistic requires a likelihood, and multiple likelihoods are available for a given SEM: we can use a marginal likelihood that integrates out the latent variable(s), or we can use a conditional likelihood that conditions on the latent variable(s). A ppp-value based on conditional likelihoods is unexplored in the SEM literature, so the goal of this project is to study its performance alongside the marginal ppp-value. We present comparisons of the marginal and conditional ppp-values using real and simulated data, leading to recommendations on uses of the metrics in practice.
Gender role stereotypes and frames used by advertisers between portrayals of women, men, and non-binary individuals in Facebook advertising
Authors:   , Howard Lindsey
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate the gender role stereotypes and framing effects in online digital advertisements. The literature review provides information about Framing theory and gender role stereotypes of women, men, and non-binary individuals portrayed in online advertisements as a means to push for further research in the field of online digital advertising. The effectiveness of Facebook for businesses will also be discussed in the literature review. Prior completed studies are referenced to show both framing as a theory and gender role stereotypes as broad enough to effect online advertising as it does print or television advertising. The predominant results show that gender role stereotypes in digital advertising have improved over time as the social atmosphere has began to equalize between the genders. Engagement metrics are also studied to determine if engagement (i.e. views) is increased for posts using traditional stereotypes. This leads to the need for further research of these gender role stereotypes and frames in the online medium of advertising to better understand what effects it may have on consumers.
Dragon of Skyros : a study on the cultures of the ninth century through creative fiction
Authors:   , Hughes Konrad Bennett
Published: August 2021

To investigate the reception of Classical motifs within the early medieval world, as well as show the multicultural connectivity between peoples, this work of creative fiction explores the tradition of Neoptolemus in the Ninth Century CE. Rather than telling the story from a single perspective, a plethora of cultural perspectives are employed throughout the novel. From the war-ravaged boon companion of the heir to the Abbasid Caliphate, to a far-travelling Scandinavian intersex v√∂lva accompanying multicultural Rus merchants into Austrvegr, to a Khazar shaman plagued by her dreams of destruction and her brother's illness, all of the characters in the novel intertwine through imagery and myth, as a Bulgar monk searching out the missing fragments of Neoptolemus' story meets and brings together the patchwork of stories.
Worldmaking in The Gray House by Mariam Petrosian
Authors:   , Korskaia Elizaveta
Published: August 2021

Disability in narrative often displays negative patterns such as overcoming a disability, exceptional achievements, the association of poverty and crime, and "fixing" someone. Mariam Petrosian breaks these patterns in the depiction of disability in the Russian-speaking world by imagining an orphanage for children with disabilities from their perspective, according to which disability is not an obstacle to be overcome but rather a fact of life. In The Gray House, Petrosian allows her characters to make choices rather than conform to them. By creating rules and reversing norms, they create a distinct world where their agency is incontestable. In my work, I examine the history of disability in Russia and how it reflects the situation in The Gray House. Additionally, I analyze existing scholarship on the depiction of disability in literature connecting theory to the specifics of the novel. In applying Yuri Lotman, I study ways in which characters resemble 18th century Russian citizens, as he presents them: their roles, rules, characteristics and behavior. Applying narrative theory, I integrate Petrosian's use of space and the ability of characters with disabilities to make choices to build the plot of their lives. Furthermore, I discuss shifts in narrative perspective and how these shifts shape the outcome of the characters' plots. Finally, I address the international success of the novel and the importance of its fan base.
Insights for rural health care provider retention : a quantitative survey analysis
Authors:   , Kuhns Maria
Published: August 2021

Due to rural health disparities and an uneven distribution of health providers across the rural urban continuum, retaining the existing rural health care provider workforce may be an important strategy to maintain existing rural health care provision. While a large body of literature addresses how to recruit health care providers to rural areas, less is known about how to retain these providers. Even less literature has focused on the role of rural communities in health care provider retention. In this thesis, I examine the role of provider background and familial characteristics, workplace characteristics, and community characteristics that may impact a provider's likelihood to consider leaving a rural community. I use data from a survey of over 900 rural health care providers across nine states and a probit model to estimate the impact of these characteristics on a provider's propensity to consider leaving. I find that establishing social ties and integrating within the community through volunteering reduces providers' likelihood to consider leaving by 10 percent. Additionally, providers who engage in entrepreneurship by investing in part or all of their practice are 12 percent less likely to consider leaving, all else being equal. I also find that having unacceptable on-call responsibilities increases a provider's likelihood to consider leaving by 17 percent. This thesis contributes to the existing literature by estimating the effects of work-life balance, entrepreneurship, and the role of family and personal integration on provider retention. Furthermore, it emphasizes the role of communities in provider retention. These results offer insights to rural communities and decision-makers seeking to identify how to maintain their existing rural health care workforce.
The influence of self-perceptions of aging on cognitive functioning in older adult dyads
Authors:   , Skoblow Hanamori F.
Published: August 2021

Older adults who report negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA) perform worse on memory tests and perceive their memory abilities to be worse than their counterparts who report positive SPA. Research suggests that romantic partners influence one another's experience and appraisal of aging. Thus, this study examined whether individuals' SPA impacted their own and their partner's memory longitudinally. Using three waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we conducted actor-partner interdependence models with 933 married or cohabiting couples aged 50 to 88 to determine whether positive and negative dimensions of SPA influenced change in episodic memory (i.e., immediate and delayed recall) and self-rated memory over eight years. Partners' SPA were positively correlated at baseline (positive [equals] .393, p [less than] .001; negative [equals] .441, p [less than] .001), however, we did not find evidence that SPA was associated with change in episodic or self-rated memory in either the actor or the partner. These findings indicate that individuals' SPA is related to their partners', but researchers should continue to investigate the degree to which social influences of SPA impact cognitive functioning in older adulthood.
ІНФОРМАЦІЙНО-КОМУНІКАЦІЙНІ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ – ЧИННИК ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЇ СТРУКТУРИ ЕКОНОМІЧНОЇ СИСТЕМИ
Authors: Конохова Зоя
Published: August 2021

Статтю присвячено проблемі впливу розвитку інформаційно-комунікаційних технологій на структуру економічної системи. Аналізується зв`язок між кількістю інформації, доступної економічному суб`єкту для прийняття рішення, швидкістю її передавання та повнотою збереження – з одного боку, і побудовою структури економічної системи та темпами її розвитку – з іншого. Зокрема, висвітлюються умови виникнення і розвитку та передумови деактивації посередницької інфраструктури ринку, роль розвитку інформаційно-комунікаційних технологій у цьому процесі. Здійснено спробу інформаційної інтерпретації причин появи та сутності грошей як інструмента ринкової комунікації. Розвиток засобів інформатизації та комунікації розглядається як чинник зменшення рівня загальних транзакційних витрат при здійсненні економічних процесів.
DO SUBÚRBIO PARA A PERIFERIA - O SUBURBANISMO FANTÁSTICO CONTEMPORÂNEO
Authors: Baptista Lauria Pedro Artur
Published: August 2021

Proposto por Angus McFadzean (2017) o suburbanismo fantástico é um subgênero cinematográfico que junta características do trivial (o subúrbio estadunidense) com elementos de fantasia, em tramas onde o amadurecimento do protagonista se funde com a jornada do herói. McFadzean se aprofunda em seu estudo sobre o subgênero (2019) afirmando que este é primordialmente marcado pela branquitude de seus/suas protagonistas – vinculados a uma classe média estadunidense. No entanto, no final da década de 2010, um grupo de filmes se destacaram por trazer protagonistas negros/negras e latinos/latinas, trazendo novas possibilidades para o subgênero. No presente artigo nos aprofundaremos em dois deles, A Gente se Vê Ontem (See You Yesterday, Stefon Bristol, 2019) e Vampiros x The Bronx (Vampires x The Bronx, Osmany Rodriguez, 2020), que, além de trazer um protagonismo negro(a)/latino(a), deslocam suas narrativas para as periferias urbanas. Tais escolhas representam profundas inovações semânticas e sintáticas para o subgênero – que repercutem em sua própria estrutura e narrativa. Isto, por sua vez, cria questões genérica que serão discutidas neste trabalho. Estes filmes representam um novo subgênero? São um ciclo fechado do suburbanismo fantástico, resposta pontual de Hollywood a movimentos sociais como o #OscarSoWhite e o #BlackLivesMatter? Ou podem ser considerados uma modernização do mesmo, a partir de sensibilidades modernas sobre representatividade e participação de novos corpos na indústria?