bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adecuación Curricular para Incremento del Vocabulario del Idioma Inglés en los Estudiantes de Octavo Año de Guayaquil
Authors: Bravo Bravo Israel Guillermo , Alves Maria Palmira
Published: March 2021

Esta investigación tiene como propósito principal analizar la incidencia de la adecuación curricular en el incremento del vocabulario del idioma inglés en estudiantes de octavo año Educación General Básica (EGB) de las instituciones educativas fiscales de Guayaquil. Para ello, es necesario describir varios factores tales como la falta de un currículo del Inglés en la primaria que facilite una base sólida de conocimientos de este idioma, el contenido académico muy superior en comparación a los años de primaria. Se enfoca, principalmente, en el diseño curricular que rige en la actualidad para estudiar cómo su aplicación determina el rendimiento académico en cuanto a la adquisición de vocabulario y, con ello, el aprendizaje y dominio del idioma por parte de los estudiantes. El estudio se desarrolla bajo una metodología investigativa de campo, transversal, no experimental y descriptiva, con un enfoque cuantitativo, y con un diseño tipo encuesta, para evaluar la información obtenida a través de un cuestionario de 24 preguntas aplicado a 469 profesores del área de inglés del octavo año pertenecientes a las instituciones educativas fiscales de Guayaquil. Los resultados muestran una baja eficiencia en la adquisición de vocabulario por parte de los estudiantes debido a la falta de adecuación curricular. Se concluye que para mejorar el aprendizaje del inglés es necesario adaptar el currículo a las necesidades individuales, recomendándose la aplicación de un diagnóstico previo del campo lexical en los estudiantes.
Implementasi Pendidikan Karakter Siswa Sekolah Dasar di Indonesia
Authors: Rahmat Abdul , Mirnawati Mira , Halidu Salma , Dehi Polan M.
Published: March 2021

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mendeskripsikan implementasi pendidikan karakter di sekolah dasar. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif yang bertujuan mendeskripsikan implementasi pendidikan karakter di sekolah dasar. Instrument penelitian ini menggunakan observasi, wawancara dan dokmentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa implementasi pendidikan karakter di sekolah dasar sudah baik, dilakukan dengan mengintegrasikan nilai-nilai karakter ke dalam perangkat pembelajaran seperti silabus, RPP, dan saat kegiatan pembelajaran, selain itu implementasi pendidikan karakter tidak hanya dilakukan di dalam kelas tapi juga dilakukan di luar kelas, seperti kegiatan upacara bendera yang dilaksanakan setiap hari Senin, kegiatan ekstrakulikuler Kepramukaan, Palang Merah Remaja, dan kerja bakti. Dengan mengangkat nilai mandiri, peduli lingkungan, cinta tanah air dan bersahabat. Dengan demikian dapat disimpulkan bahwa implementasi pendidikan karakter sudah berjalan dengan baik dan diterapkan oleh anak di lingkungan rumah, sekolah dan masyarakat.
Amplitude and Frequency Modulation of Super-Nyquist Frequency from Kepler Photometric Sampling
Authors: Zong Weikai , Charpinet Stéphane
Published: March 2021

We present a simulation showing that super-Nyquist frequencies may have periodic amplitude and frequency modulations, even if actually stable, in time series sampled like the Kepler data. These modulations are caused by the barycentric time correction, which destroys the evenly spaced time measurements, making the Nyquist frequency variable over the spacecraft orbit around the Sun. These modulations can easily be identified in pulsating stars from Kepler's photometric data.
Degradation factors of environmental DNA evaluated by experiments and meta-analysis
Authors: Saito Tatsuya , Doi Hideyuki
Published: March 2021

Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods have been developed to detect organisms' distributions and abundance/biomass in various environments. eDNA degradation is critical for eDNA evaluation, but, the dynamics and mechanisms of eDNA degradation are largely unknown, especially when considering different eDNA sources, e.g., cell-derived and fragmental DNA. In this study, we conducted the degradation experiments (Saito and Doi 2020a) and a meta-analysis (Saito and Doi 2020b). Firstly, we experimentally evaluated the degradation rates of eDNA derived from multiple sources, including fragmental DNA (the DNA of internal positive control, IPC), free cells from Oncorhynchus kisutch, and the resident species (Saito and Doi 2020a). We conducted the experiments with pond and seawater to evaluate the differences between freshwater and marine habitats. Our results showed that eDNA derived from the both cells and fragmental DNA decreased exponentially in the both sea and pond samples. The degradation of eDNA from the resident species showed similar behavior to the cell-derived eDNA.

As a meta-analysis, we complied the degradation rates of eDNA in laboratory experiment and field studies from 28 studies (Saito and Doi 2020b). We also collected the related factors, including water sources, water temperature, DNA regions, and PCR amplicon lengths of the measured DNA. Our results suggested that water temperature and amplicon length were significantly related to the degradation rate of eDNA. From the simulation based on the 95% quantile model, we predicted the maximum degradation rate of eDNA in various combinations of water temperature and PCR amplicon length.
A review of the introduced herpetofauna of Mexico and Central America, with comments on the effects of invasive species and biosecurity methodology
Authors: González-Sánchez Víctor Hugo , Johnson Jerry D. , González-Solís David , Fucsko Lydia Allison , Wilson Larry David
Published: March 2021

Among the principal causes producing detrimental effects on global biodiversity are introductions of alien species. Very few attempts to control introduced amphibians and reptiles in Middle America (Mexico and Central America) can be identified, so listings are provided for 24 exotic species, 16 translocated species, and 11 species that were removed from the introduced species listing because of lack of substantiating evidence that they are from established populations. Biosecurity methods are also identified that can be applied for preventing, controlling, and managing introduced and especially invasive species.
Four new species of the genus Cratospila Foerster (Hymenopter, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from South Korea
Authors: Sohn JuHyeong , van Achterberg Cornelis , Han Yun Jong , Kim Hyojoong
Published: March 2021

The species of the genus Cratospila Foerster, 1863 (Braconidae, Alysiinae) from South Korea are revised, and the genus is recorded for the first time from South Korea. All four species are new to science, and Cratospila albiferasp. nov., C. ejuncidasp. nov., C. luteocephalasp. nov., and C. syntomasp. nov. are described and illustrated herein. In addition, COI has been sequenced of three species. A key to the Korean species is provided.
Souffrances professionnelles dans le monde scolaire
Authors: Yelnik Catherine
Published: March 2021

Certaines composantes de la culture scolaire, l’exclusion des dimensions psychiques et groupales des situations d’enseignement, sont à la fois facteurs de souffrance professionnelle pour les enseignants et font obstacle à la prise en compte de cette souffrance. Ces traits culturels sont d’autant plus prégnants qu’ils ont des correspondances dans le fonctionnement psychique de nombreux professeurs, dans ce qui a sous-tendu leur désir de devenir enseignant. L’élaboration en groupe des dimensions personnelles à l’œuvre dans l’exercice de son métier et des enjeux inconscients dans les situations difficiles, rendue possible par exemple par l’analyse clinique des pratiques, est à contre-courant de la culture scolaire et se heurte à des résistances, à la fois au niveau des décideurs et des individus.
Politiques environnementales au Brésil : analyse historique et récents développements sous Jair Bolsonaro
Authors: Meeus Ben
Published: March 2021

Ce texte replace l’actuelle politique environnementale, notamment forestière et minière, de Jair Bolsonaro et du Brésil dans la moyenne durée, relativement aux gouvernements précédents. Si l’infléchissement est réel, il ne s’agit à certains égards que d’un infléchissement, et notamment par rapport au gouvernement de Dilma Rousseff. Néanmoins le degré de destructivité écologique, le déni franc et massif des droits humains, et tout particulièrement des peuples autochtones, n’ont pas d’égal.
De la « précarité énergétique » aux inégalités sociales en matière de consommation d’énergie
Authors: Cacciari Joseph
Published: March 2021

À partir d’une enquête menée sur une archive de trois cents dossiers d’un fonds d’aide sociale aux impayés d’énergie, cet article souhaite réévaluer la pertinence de la catégorie de « précarité énergétique » pour penser les difficultés des ménages en matière de consommation d’énergie. Le corpus permet de mettre en évidence plusieurs figures et trajectoires vécues de ces difficultés. Il apparaît en filigrane que ce sont des dimensions structurelles de rapports inégaux au logement, à l’emploi et aux effets de transition dans les trajectoires sociales, qui déterminent en grande partie le fait que ces difficultés en matière de consommation d’énergie s’institutionnalisent ou non.
Public debt dynamics under ambiguity by means of iterated function systems on density functions
Authors: La Torre Davide , Marsiglio Simone , Mendivil Franklin , Privileggi Fabio
Published: March 2021

We analyze a purely dynamic model of public debt stabilization under ambiguity. We assume that the debt to GDP ratio is described by a random variable, and thus it can be characterized by investigating the evolution of its density function through iteration function systems on mappings. Ambiguity is associated with parameter uncertainty which requires policymakers to respond to such an additional layer of uncertainty according to their ambiguity attitude. We describe ambiguity attitude through a simple heuristic rule in which policymakers adjust the available vague information (captured by the empirical distribution of the debt ratio) with a measure of their ignorance (captured by the uniform distribution). We show that such a model generates fractal-type objects that can be characterized as fixed-point solutions of iterated function systems on mappings. Ambiguity is a source of unpredictability in the long run outcome since it introduces some singularity features in the steady state distribution of the debt ratio. However, the presence of some ambiguity aversion removes such unpredictability by smoothing out the singularities in the steady state distribution.
Optimal control of ODEs with state suprema
Authors: Geiger Tobias , Wachsmuth Daniel , Wachsmuth Gerd
Published: March 2021

We consider the optimal control of a differential equation that involves the suprema of the state over some part of the history. In many applications, this non-smooth functional dependence is crucial for the successful modeling of real-world phenomena. We prove the existence of solutions and show that related problems may not possess optimal controls. Due to the non-smoothness in the state equation, we cannot obtain optimality conditions via standard theory. Therefore, we regularize the problem via a LogIntExp functional which generalizes the well-known LogSumExp. By passing to the limit with the regularization, we obtain an optimality system for the original problem. The theory is illustrated by some numerical experiments.
Performance estimates for economic model predictive control and their application in proper orthogonal decomposition-based implementations
Authors: Grüne Lars , Mechelli Luca , Pirkelmann Simon , Volkwein Stefan
Published: March 2021

In this paper performance indices for economic model predictive controllers (MPC) are considered. Since existing relative performance measures, designed for stabilizing controllers, fail in the economic setting, we propose alternative absolute quantities. We show that these can be applied to assess the performance of the closed loop trajectories on-line while the controller is running. The advantages of our approach are demonstrated by simulations involving a convection-diffusion-system. The method is also combined with proper orthogonal decomposition, thus demonstrating the possibility for both efficient and performant MPC for systems governed by partial differential equations.
Uncertainty damping in kinetic traffic models by driver-assist controls
Authors: Tosin Andrea , Zanella Mattia
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we propose a kinetic model of traffic flow with uncertain binary interactions, which explains the scattering of the fundamental diagram in terms of the macroscopic variability of aggregate quantities, such as the mean speed and the flux of the vehicles, produced by the microscopic uncertainty. Moreover, we design control strategies at the level of the microscopic interactions among the vehicles, by which we prove that it is possible to dampen the propagation of such an uncertainty across the scales. Our analytical and numerical results suggest that the aggregate traffic flow may be made more ordered, hence predictable, by implementing such control protocols in driver-assist vehicles. Remarkably, they also provide a precise relationship between a measure of the macroscopic damping of the uncertainty and the penetration rate of the driver-assist technology in the traffic stream.
The Historical Importance of the Concept of Business Ethics and Evaluation in Terms of Employees in Human Resources
Authors: Adiguzel Zafer
Published: March 2021

To provide a better and happier society, the framework of certain principles and the history of the concept of ethics aims to direct the people's behaviours constituting that society. The first known philosophers discussed the concept of ethics at that time. The continuation of discussions about ethics to the present day shows that the importance of the image in human life has never changed and has not lost its actuality. In fact, it isn't easy to show a specific and bordered area of business ethics. In this case, it is possible to narrow the definition of business ethics by excluding some important elements or extending it to a wide area that is completely encompassing. In this study, the historical importance of business ethics and human resources are evaluated.
Collaborative Governance
Authors: Yigzaw Gedifew Sewenet
Published: March 2021

In this 21st century, collaborative governance has got a great attention to resolve socio-economic problems and assure sustainable development goals. It is a new form of governance in which multi-stakeholders, such as the public agencies, private sectors, civil society organizations and international public organizations are working together to build trust in government, resolve societal challenges, assure economic prosperity and development, and bring institutional transformation. This book chapter describes the theoretical and conceptual perspectives of collaborative governance. The author believed that giving some insights on the collaborative governance; conceptual understanding, the dynamics and importance of collaborative governance for building the smart cities, its nexus with development, and measurement parameters for checking its effectiveness, could produce a theoretical and conceptual asset for the other authors who want to make an in-depth investigation on the areas of governance.
Smart Parking
Authors: Annansingh Fenio
Published: March 2021

With the increase of urban population and traffic congestion, smart parking is a strategic, economic, environmentally friendly solution for cities looking to remain connected. A sustainable parking system parking is connected in some way to every facet of the city that is water, waste, energy, and transportation. With the information and communication technology evolution and the development of the internet of things, drivers can more efficiently find satisfying parking spaces with smart parking services. This research adopts a survey approach by employing the use of questionnaires. From the questionnaire, descriptive data analysis is used to synthesize, analyze, and interpret the data. The result elicits user requirements and constraints for the development of a mobile app solution that will eliminate unnecessary traffic and ensure the maximum utilization of municipal parking facilities. These user requirements will determine the design and development of a mobile application that saves time, reduce the environmental impact, and improve the quality of life.
Building a Factory Knowledge Base
Authors: Bruno Giulia , Traini Emiliano , Faveto Alberto , Lombardi Franco
Published: March 2021

In past decades, production has been characterized by the mass customization trend. This concept reaches its extreme with the one-of-a-kind production (OKP): every product is different for each customer. In order to develop unique product and complex processes in short time, it is mandatory to reuse the acquired information in the most efficient way. Several commercial software applications are already available for managing manufacturing information, such as product lifecycle management (PLM) and manufacturing execution system (MES), but they are not integrated. The aim of this chapter is to propose a framework able to structure and relate information from design and execution of processes, especially the ones related to anomalies and critical situations occurring at the shop floor, in order to reduce the time for finalizing a new product. To this aim, a central knowledge-based system (KBS), acting as integrator between PLM and MES, has been developed. The framework has been implemented with open source systems, and has been tested in a car prototyping company.
Automatic Photovoltaic Solar Panel Dust Cleaning System
Authors: Shibane N. , Nwulu Nnamdi , Dogo Eustace
Published: March 2021

Renewable energy sources are currently regarded as viable options for stabilizing the energy crisis globally as well as addressing global warming challenges. Solar energy is the most promising and sustainable energy source as compared to other renewable energy sources such as coal, nuclear, wind, gas, and hydro energy. The increasing demand for solar panels should be reason enough to investigate ways in which we can increase their efficiency as much as possible. Dust, dirt, and bird dropping are major factors that can affect the performance of solar panel systems. This work presents the development of a solar panel cleaning system that automatically detects dust particles and cleans the solar panel to ensure the continues efficiency of the solar system is at an optimal level. The system comprises of five subsystems: dust sensing, water pumping, microcontroller, cleaning mechanism, and the power system. Tests carried out on the system shows its quick response to signals and effectiveness in cleaning the solar panel whenever dust particles are detected.
Implementing SEAD Statewide
Authors: (Diaz) Gorton Silvana Carolina , DuFresne Marie J.
Published: March 2021

School leaders play a significant role in shaping education, and their leadership practices are key in conveying professional learning priorities for districts and schools. Concurrently, the benefits of adult social emotional learning (SEL) on creating conditions for educator effectiveness, wellbeing, and success have been demonstrated in the literature. This chapter chronicles initiatives undertaken by the Nevada Department of Education (NDE) to establish a systemic, sustainable, multi-tiered professional development structure and infrastructure aimed to foster adult SEL across the teaching and learning continuum, and ultimately to positively change student outcomes. Four initiatives are described, including the innovative approach of bringing together multiple projects to provide a virtual comprehensive support system in response to increased educator need.
COVID-19 and the Call for Elder Change Leadership
Authors: Amaladas Stan
Published: March 2021

The author argues that post-COVID-19 change leadership is neither a matter of technically improving what change leaders are already doing or refining existing systems and regulation. Within the context of abrupt, sudden, and unexpected change, two questions are raised. First, if it is not a matter of technically improving what change leaders are already doing, or refining existing systems, what more do post-COVID-19 change leaders need to do? Second, what new qualities would change leaders need to embrace (theory) so that they can meaningfully fulfill their change leadership practices in a post-COVID-19 era? Approaching various paradigms of change leadership as stories, the author addresses (1) the seduction of pre-COVID-19 story of change leadership, (2) offers a post-COVID-19 elder change leadership model, (3) offers a post-COVID-19 elder change leadership framework centered around four dimensions: humility, generating meaning amid chaos, compassion and empathy, and affirming hope through story telling.
Impact of COVID-19 on an Educational Institution of India
Authors: Samuel Elizabeth Madathilathu
Published: March 2021

The year 2020 has made a mark in the history of mankind. India, too, was affected by the pandemic. To ensure a curb on the spread of the disease, India adopted a sequence emergency mechanism. It announced the closure of all educational institutions along with all the other establishments as a part of strict social distancing measures. The traditional mode of teaching and learning transitioned into online teaching. Online learning and virtual classrooms became the 'new normal'. The analysis was carried out using the data collected through structured questionnaire from 35 teachers in Kottayam District, Kerala a southern state of India. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. It is evident from the study that the teachers lack in the use of various teaching methods for motivating and encouraging students. Further on, since the teachers were caught off guard, they had not received any formal or professional training to conduct online classes or use the advanced modes of technology.
Preventing Disproportionality in Special Education With Culturally-Responsive Teacher Preparation
Authors: Bhattacharya Alpana
Published: March 2021

Disproportionality in special education is an ongoing concern in the United States. Often a mismatch between the cultural values and expectations of teachers and students places culturally diverse students at risk for special education. Such disproportionate placement then adversely affects academic achievement of culturally diverse students. This chapter describes pedagogical approaches for promoting cultural responsiveness of preservice teachers with regards to disproportionality in special education. First, differences across culturally diverse groups and interactions between environmental factors are reviewed. Thereafter, pedagogical approaches for advancing preservice teachers' cultural responsiveness are described. Next, risk factors related to culturally diverse students' disproportionate placement in special education are pinpointed, and instructional approaches for addressing disproportionality in special education are explained. Finally, recommendations and future research directions for addressing disproportionality in special education are highlighted.
Pedagogical Practices in Teaching Students With Disabilities in Inclusive Education
Authors: Khazanchi Pankaj , Khazanchi Rashmi
Published: March 2021

Today's inclusive education settings consist of a diverse student population that needs a different pedagogical approach. Both general education and special education teachers may face difficulties to engage students in meaningful tasks and to promote learning. Teachers may struggle to effectively reach all students with different abilities in an inclusive education setting. Teachers implement several strategies to keep students engage in inclusive education settings. Teachers do multiple tasks, such as teaching students, developing engaging lessons, assessing and tracking students' learning, collaborating with teachers and rehabilitation professionals, implementing evidence-based strategies, and delivering instructions in various formats. Inclusive education needs administrators, related service providers, general education teachers, and special education teachers to optimize students' learning. This chapter aims to highlight pedagogical practices in teaching students with disabilities in inclusive education settings.
The Mirage and Reality of Special Education in Developing Countries
Authors: Nyika Joan Mwihaki , Madaraka Fredrick
Published: March 2021

The provision of education for all in an inclusive manner is spelt out in several international policies and in the sustainable and millennium development goals. The implementation in practice though remains a challenge in most developing countries where financial and human resource capacity is low. This chapter explores the expected developments in inclusive education defined by various international agreements and policies and compares them to the reality using several named case studies of developing countries. It is evident that many agreements are in place with good intentions to develop the educational sector in the regions. However, infrastructural challenges, limited personnel training, retrogressive cultural beliefs, inaccessibility to schools, and poor-quality education hinder the full realization of inclusive education for individuals with disabilities. In line with these challenges, this chapter proposes several recommendations to alleviate the highlighted challenges.
Automatic Detection and Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: M. Thanga Aarthy , R. Menaka , R. Karthik
Published: March 2021

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders are increasing gradually every year. One in 100 children are diagnosed with brain function disorder. There are wide categories of disorder such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder, learning, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), etc. In this work, the focus is on ASD, its clinical methods, and analysis in various research works. ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder which affects the intellectual functioning, social interaction (adaptive behavior), and has a specific obsessive interest. At present, there is no known cure for ASD, but the level of the pathological condition can be reduced when it is detected early. Early detection is tough and challenging till date. Many researches were carried out to ease the early detection for clinicians. Each method has its own merits and demerits. This chapter reviews and condenses various research works and their efficacy in analysis for the early diagnosis and improvement in children with autism.
Dyscalculia
Authors: Prusty Anjana , Yeh Chia Jung , Sengupta Rakesh , Miller Ashley
Published: March 2021

Among learning disorders, dyscalculia remains less well-known and understood within the field of education. Research shows that children with dyscalculia face various challenges at schools and in their day-to-day life, situating this disorder as one demanding immense recognition. This chapter will address dyscalculia and its impact on different age groups by examining various theories of dyscalculia. Some research shows that the literature has tended to focus on particular difficulties and symptoms experienced by different age groups. Upon review, it becomes evident that research regarding dyscalculia has not yet been examined from a cohesive perspective, illustrating a lack of unification that undermines a more global understanding of this condition. Thus, this chapter aims to provide school rehabilitation professionals an overview of dyscalculia, useful definitions and characteristics, the diagnosis methods, and the current treatment procedures and interventions.
Cardiovocal syndrom arare case of hoarseness of voice
Authors: Ekanayake L. S. B. , Dayaratne K. G.
Published: March 2021

IntroductionHoarseness of voice is a common clinical presentation in ENT practice, which may have different   etiological causes. The causes may vary from local pathology of larynx to a neurogenic reason of central nervous system or recurrent laryngeal nerve pathology. Cardiovocal syndrome may cause hoarseness secondary to left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy when left recurrent laryngeal nerve is mechanically affected due to enlarged cardiovascular structure. In this article we present a case of left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy due to Cardiovocal syndrome or Ortner’s syndrome in a 75-year-old female. ConclusionsOrtner's syndrome may be overlooked and unless specifically looked for may be regarded as an idiopathic cause. The diagnostic methods currently used for investigation of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy specially the CT scan of carina to skull base may have these inherited disadvantages. As the lowest plane of the scan is so proximal to inferior region of the aorto pulmonary window an interpreter may easily miss the aneurism unless specifically looked for. One effect of this would be under diagnosis and when spotted it would be highly inadequate to assess the heart and rest of the thoracic aorta as clearly demonstrated in our patient which needed further studies. It would be a more efficient to include the heart in the CT scans in patients with extra laryngeal   causes of left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy at least among cardiovascular risk factors.
Polymorphous adenocarcinoma on the base of tongue: a rare case
Authors: Balasubramaniam A. , Thirumaran B.
Published: March 2021

Polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC) is a distinct neoplasm of the minor salivary gland. Most patients present with an asymptomatic mass in the hard palate.” Rarely, “the mass can also occur in the” base of the tongue. A 56-year-old female patient, presented to ENT clinic, Teaching Hospital Jaffna with a history of voice change for 4 months. Her physical examination revealed fissured tongue, a mass of 1×1.5 cm in size with intact mucosa located at the left side of the base of tongue, which was crossing the midline and infiltrated into the deep tongue muscles. Deep biopsy revealed polymorphous adenocarcinoma. She was treated with radiotherapy.  PAC is ‘unusual’ to arise at the base of the tongue. It is important to diagnose and treat it accordingly.
Thyroid gland with absent isthmus
Authors: Jayasena K. D. N. U. D. , Dayaratne S. M. , Kumara S. P. P.
Published: March 2021

No abstract available
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) evidence based management - state of the art
Authors: Lakshan M. T. D. , Drahaman A. M. P. , Perera M. B.
Published: March 2021

IntroductionSudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is defined as an acute hearing loss occurring within the period of three days (3) with the least magnitude of 30dB or more in three or more contiguous frequencies. Optimum management of SSNHL is disputed. This article attempts to review current literature on the subject and propose a protocol of management. MethodsLatest guidelines on the SSNHL were accessed through Google Scholar database and reviewed for appropriateness. Studies assessing the management options were included. Efficacy of interventions were assessed, and recommendations made. Results17 publications including European Consensus Document and AAO HNS recommendation were assessed. Conclusions1. Systemic steroids use has a clear definitive recommendation in unison.2. Intratympanic steroid use has been proposed mainly for salvage therapy.3. Combined modality treatment options have been used with mixed outcome.4. Based on the findings a protocol for management of SSNHL is proposed.
Use of povidone iodine as a nasal and oral antiseptic to prevent spread of SARS CoV-2 amongst health care workers
Authors: Lakshan M. T. D.
Published: March 2021

No abstract available
An Exploratory Study on the Psychological and Epigenetic Correlates of Internet Addiction
Authors: Cerniglia Luca , Cimino Silvia , Lodha Pragya , Karia Sagar , Desousa Avinash
Published: March 2021

Background:

The dopamine active transporter (DAT) gene has been implicated in various psychiatric disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and externalizing behaviors. Studies on the methylation loci of DAT and Internet addiction (IA) are sparse. The study aimed to look at the association between various methylation loci of the DAT gene and IA, impulsivity, and other related variables.

Methodology:

Thirty-two youths with 10/10 genotype of DAT gene were administered the IA Test, Barratt's Impulsivity Scale (BIS), and Adult Self-Report Scale and using buccal swab methylation loci 1–7 of DAT gene were assessed. The data were analyzed by a correlation between various variables and a multiple regression analysis.

Results:

It was noted that the met5 allele (r = 0.844, P < 0.01) and met7 allele (r = 0.517, P = 0.01) correlated with DAT MEDIA scores. The total scores on the BIS and Internet Addiction Scale (IAS) also showed a positive correlation (r = 0.641, P = 0.01). Positive correlations were also noted between the scores on IAS and rule-breaking behavior as well as withdrawn behavior. Similar positive correlations were found between total scores on the BIS and rule-breaking behavior, withdrawn behavior, and intrusive behavior.

Conclusions:

Further studies in larger samples are needed to draw conclusions on the relationship between DAT gene methylation loci and IA or impulsivity.
Organizing online faculty development programs to strengthen medical education in India: Need of the hour
Authors: Shrivastava Saurabh , Shrivastava Prateek
Published: March 2021

There is an immense need to improve the skills of curricula delivery by training medical teachers. There arises the need to periodically train teachers through faculty development programs (FDPs). In fact, FDPs in the field of medical education have been acknowledged as an important component for the acquisition of skills for new faculty, for refinement of skills, and for better delivery of the medical curriculum. The implementation of online FDPs is a better option for improving the skills of medical teachers. These programs expose faculty to the domain of e-learning, which in itself is an important domain in medical education. However, the existing challenges in the smooth conduction of online FDPs cannot be ignored, and we have to support the staff in the smooth organization of these much-needed courses. In conclusion, online FDPs have the potential to enhance the skills and transform the effectiveness of medical teachers in their teaching–learning sessions and in their professional careers. Amidst the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it has become the need of the hour to conduct a series of online FDPs and empower faculty members in the domains of teaching–learning, assessment, research, curriculum planning, and evaluation.
Associations between anisometropia and depth of amblyopia in Benghazi, Libya
Authors: Eldressi Sabah , B. Gebril Mariam
Published: March 2021

Background: Amblyopia is a disorder characterized by a decrease in the best-corrected visual acuity in one or both eyes with no clear structural anomalies or ocular pathology. There are three primary types of amblyopia: anisometropic, strabismic, and sensory deprivation amblyopia. Anisometropic amblyopia occurs in children having a difference in refractive error between the two eyes and occurs in the more ametropic eye. Furthermore, there is a strong association of anisometropia with strabismus. Aim: The study aimed to investigate the association between age, sex, laterality, and type of refractive error on the depth of anisometropic amblyopia. Settings and Design: This was a retrospective (observational) study. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 23.0 software. Materials and Methods: One hundred and nine patient's files with anisometropic amblyopia were investigated, who were followed in a pediatric eye clinic in Sohail Elatrash's eye hospital Benghazi, Libya, between January 2008 and December 2018. Results: There is no effect of the type of gender on the depth amblyopia with P = 0.57. Furthermore, there is no difference in the predominance of amblyopia between the right and left eye (P = 0.93). Age is correlated in a positive manner with the depth of amblyopia (P = 0.035). Conclusions: in our study, eye laterality and gender had no effect on the depth of anisometropic amblyopia. The age and the smallest amount of astigmatism difference between both eyes had a direct proportion on the depth of anisometropic amblyopia.
Reactivity of human antisera to codon optimized SARS-CoV2 viral proteins expressed in Escherichia coli
Authors: Toh Yee-Huan , Huang Yu-Weng , Chang Yo-Chen , Chen Yi-Ting , Hsu Ya-Ting , Lin Guang-Huey
Published: March 2021

Objective:

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus continues to pose a serious threat to public health worldwide. The development of rapid diagnostic kits can assist the Tzu Chi Foundation in supporting global volunteers working to provide relief during the current pandemic.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, nucleotide sequences derived from publicly available viral genome data for several domains of the SARS-CoV2 spike and nucleocapsid (N) proteins were chemically synthesized, with codon optimization for Escherichia coli protein expression. No actual viral particles were involved in these experiments. The synthesized sequences were cloned into an E. coli expression system based on pQE80L, and expressed viral proteins were subsequently purified using Ni-affinity chromatography. Western blotting was conducted using human antiviral sera to assess the response of codon-modified viral proteins to COVID-19 patient sera.

Results:

N protein was expressed in amounts large enough to support large-scale production. The N-terminal domain, receptor-binding domain (RBD), Region 3, and the S2 domain were expressed in small but sufficient amounts for experiments. Immunoblotting results showed that anti-N IgG and anti-N IgM antibodies were detected in most patient sera, but only 60% of samples reacted with the recombinant RBD and S2 domain expressed by E. coli.

Conclusion:

The results indicated that codon-optimized SARS-CoV2 viral proteins can be expressed in E. coli and purified for rapid antibody detection kit preparation, with the codon-optimized N protein, RBD, and S2 protein demonstrating the most potential.
Comprehensive Quality Evaluation of ShuXueNing Injection Employing Quantitative High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Fingerprint and Chemometrics
Authors: Zhang Yu , Xu Xin , Qi Hua-Wen , Liu Yu-Cheng , Dong Jia-Tao , Xi Gui-Cai , Jin Hong-Li , Liu Yan-Fang , Liang Xin-Miao
Published: March 2021

Objective:

In this study, a comprehensive and effective quality method for evaluating the efficacy of ShuXueNing injection (SXNI) was developed.

Materials and Methods:

Quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint, the quantitative analysis of multicomponents by a single marker (QAMS) method, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to distinguish 53 batches of SXNI samples from 7 manufacturers.

Results:

A total of 53 batches of samples were analyzed to establish antithesis fingerprint of SXNI, and 12 peaks of the common model were collected and used for the similarity analysis. Meanwhile, six index flavonoid components were determined by the QAMS method, using rutin as internal reference substance. The accuracy of the QAMS method was confirmed by investigating the relative deviation between the QAMS method and the traditional external standard method. The results demonstrated that there was no significant difference (RE < 1%), suggesting that QAMS was a reliable and convenient method for the content determination of multiple components. The HCA and OPLS-DA methods drew a similar conclusion. The 53 batches of SXNI samples from 7 manufacturers were categorized into five groups, indicating that chemometrics could reveal the quality differences of SXNI between the manufacturers.

Conclusions:

The method established herein was efficient and successful in assessing the quality of SXNI, and that it may be potentially employed in the quality control of related products composed of Ginkgo biloba extract.
حديث:(( لن يفلح قوم ولوا أمرهم امرأة )) دراسة حديثية فقهية
Authors: خلود محمد حسن زين الدين خلود محمد حسن زين الدين
Published: March 2021

موضوع البحث:حديث: « لَنْ يُفْلِحَ قَوْمٌ وَلَّوْا أَمْرَهُمُ امْرَأَةً » دراسة حديثية فقهية.خطة البحث: يتكون البحث من مقدمة، وفصلين، وخاتمة، وفهارس. المقدمة: وتحتوي على أهمية الموضوع، وأسباب اختياره، وأهداف البحث , ومشكلته, والدراسات السابقة، وخطته ، والمنهج المتبع فيه.الفصل الأول: وفيه دراسة حديثية فقهية من ناحية السند والمتن والإستنباط واستخلاص الحكم.الفصل الثاني: وفيه أبرز الشبهات المثارة حول الحديث والرد عليها. الخاتمة: وفيها أهم نتائج البحث والتي منها لابد من الحذر من التأويل العقلاني للنصوص الشرعية بما يوافق الهوى.
مستوى الضغوط النفسية الناتجة عن انتشار فيروس كورونا المستجد (COVID-19) لدى عينة من أفراد الجالية الأردنية في حائل
Authors: د. سمر صيتان الصمادي د. سمر صيتان الصمادي
Published: March 2021

هدفت الدراسة الى الكشف عن مستوى الضغوط النفسية الناتجة عن انتشار فيروس كورونا المستجد (COVID-19) لدى عينة من أفراد الجالية الأردنية في حائل، وتكونت العينة من (161) فرداً، ولتحقيق الهدف تم استخدام المنهج الوصفي وقامت الباحثة ببناء مقياس الضغوط النفسية واستخدامه، وتم معالجة بيانات الدراسة احصائياً باستخدام معامل ارتباط بيرسون ومعادلة كرونباخ ألفا والتكرارات والمتوسطات الحسابية والانحرافات المعيارية واختبار "ت" وتحليل التباين الأحادي والمقارنات البعدية بطريقة شفيه، وأظهرت النتائج وجود مستوى متوسط من الضغوط النفسية لدى أفراد الجالية الأردنية على الأداة ككل وفي كل مجال من مجالاتها، ووجود فروق دالة احصائيا تعزى لأثر النوع الاجتماعي في جميع المجالات وفي الدرجة الكلية وجاءت الفروق لصالح الإناث، كما وجد فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية تعزى لأثر الحالة الاجتماعية في الجانب الجسدي وفي الدرجة الكلية وجاءت الفروق لصالح المتزوج، بالإضافة إلى وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية تعزى لأثر عدد الأولاد في الجانب الجسدي وفي الدرجة الكلية، وجاءت الفروق لصالح من لديه 1-5 من الأبناء. وأوصت الدراسة بتصميم برامج ارشادية لتخفيف الضغوط النفسية عن هذه الفئة، وإجراء المزيد من البحوث حول تأثير انتشار الوباء في المجتمعات على الحالة النفسية وأثر ذلك في الحياة الأسرية والأداء المهني، ومنح الأفراد إجازات استثنائية بعد انتهاء جائحة كورونا والسماح لهم بالعودة للوطن ورؤية الأهل.
قضايا صناديق الثروة السيادية الخليجية في عينة من الصحف العربية والاجنبية دراسة تحليلية
Authors: د. أنور عبدالوهاب مساعد الجزاف د. أنور عبدالوهاب مساعد الجزاف
Published: March 2021

هدفت الدّراسة التعرّف على أهم القضايا والموضوعات التي تناولتها الصحافة العربية والصحافة الأجنبية للموضوعات المتعلّقة بصناديق الثَّروة السيادية الخليجية، والتعرّف على الفنون التي استخدمتها الصحف العربية والأجنبية لطبيعة معالجتها لقضايا صناديق الثَّروة السيادية الخليجية، واتّجاهات المادة الصحفية لعيّنة الدّراسة، ومصادر الحصول على المعلومات عن الموضوعات المتعلّقة بصناديق الثَّروة السيادية الخليجية، ومسارات البرهنة والإقناع عند تناول قضايا صناديق الثَّروة السيادية. استخدمت الدّراسة منهج المسح الإعلامي، ثمّ استخدمت تحليل المضمون لجمع بيانات الدّراسة، وتكوّنت العيّنة من (215) مادة منشورة في الصحف العربية المطبوعة، ومن (210) مواد منشورة في الصحف الأجنبية المطبوعة، متعلّقة بالقضايا والموضوعات المتعلّقة بصناديق الثَّروة السيادية الخليجية. وتوصّلت نتائج الدّراسة إلى أنّ أكثر موضوعات الاتصال الاقتصادية التي تناولتها المواد المنشورة لموضوعات صناديق الثَّروة السيادية الخليجية في الصحف العربية، هي " السحب من احتياطي الأجيال القادمة " بنسبة (20.9%)، وأنّ أكثر موضوعات الاتصال الاقتصادية التي تناولتها المواد المنشورة لموضوعات صناديق الثَّروة السيادية الخليجية في الصحف الأجنبية، هي "التلاعب بالأسواق العالمية" بنسبة (16.8%).
UPAYA PEMBERIAN PENGHARGAAN UNTUK MEWUJUDKAN KEDISIPLINAN GURU SD NEGERI WULUNGSARI DALAM MENGERJAKAN ADMINISTRASI KELAS
Authors: Yudiyanti Yudiyanti , Purnasari Pebria Dheni
Published: March 2021

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui peningkatan kedisiplinan guru SDN Wulungsari melalui pemberian penghargaan dalam mengerjakan administrasi kelas. Subjek penelitian ini adalah guru kelas I s/d VI di SDN Wulungsari Kec. Selomerto Kab. Wonosobo. Pendekatan yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif dengan metode Penelitian Tindakan Sekolah (PTS). Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan observasi dan dokumentasi. Selanjutnya data yang telah diperoleh dianalis dengan teknik analisis interaktif dari model Miles dan Huberman, yakni pengumpulan data, reduksi data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa data awal kegiatan penilaian pengerjaan administrasi guru kelas I s/d VI mencapai skor rata-rata 29,33 dengan kategori gagal. Setelah dilaksanakan pembinaan dan program pemberian penghargaan untuk mengerjakan administrasi kelas tahap berikutnya diperoleh hasil skor rata-rata 74 dengan kategori baik. Kondisi tersebut menunjukkan bahwa ada peningkatan yang signifikan dalam hal kedisplinan, terbukti pada kondisi awal banyak guru yang lalai atau malas mengerjakan administrasi kelas sehingga hasilnya termasuk ke dalam kategori gagal. Setelah diberikan perlakuan yakni pembinaan dan program pemberian penghargaan pada guru yang dapat menyelesaikan administrasi kelas dengan baik, maka guru yang lainpun mulai disiplin dalam mengerjakan administrasi kelas. Jadi, dapat disimpulkan bahwa pemberian penghargaan mampu meningkatkan kedisiplinan guru dalam mengerjakan administrasi kelas.
Evaluasi Kinerja Internal PT.Kimia Farma untuk Menjaga Keterampilan dan Motivasi Sumber Daya Manusia
Authors: Dwiki Cahyo Yudiantoro  , Bambang Soedijono WA  , Ferry Wahyu Wibowo
Published: March 2021

Pada era modern, suatu sistem pengendalian internal  tidak lepas dari perkembangan teknologi informasi. Ketika suatu bisnis perusahaan berkembang dan kebutuhan akan informasi meningkat, biasanya perusahaan akan meningkatkan sistem teknologi informasinya dan teknologi merupakan salah satu prioritas utama dalam pengendalian internal pada suatu organisasi atau perusahaan. Perkembangan teknologi informasi saat ini sangatlah cepat dan memberikan manfaat yang  positif    bagi  perusahaan.  Peranan  teknologi  informasi  dibutuhkan  untuk  kemajuan perusahaan dalam proses pengembangan bisnis dan perolehan  informasi yang cepat, akurat, dan dapat dipercaya. Untuk mengetahui keselarasan teknologi informasi dan menjaga motivasi kinerja karyawannya serta peran teknologi itu sendiri, dilperlukannya audit pada suatu perusahaan atau organisasi terebut. Hal ini dilakukan agar mendapatkan hasil keputusan yang baik berdasarkan hasil audit dalam organisasi atau perusahaan tersebut. Objek penelitian yang penulis ambil disini adalah PT. Kimia Farma pada tahun 2019 dengan menggunakan Framework COBIT 4.1 dan dengan metode pengumpulan data menggunakan wawancara serta kuisioner yang dibagikan kepada pihak yang terkait. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui menjaga nilai keterampilan dan motivasi sumber daya manusia pada PT. Kimia Farma serta diharapkan agar kualitas dan sumber daya manusia akan terus terjaga dan semakin membaik.
SMARTdenovo: a de novo assembler using long noisy reads
Authors: Liu Hailin , Wu Shigang , Li Alun , Ruan Jue
Published: March 2021

Long-read single-molecule sequencing has revolutionized de novo genome assembly and enabled the automated reconstruction of reference-quality genomes. It has also been widely used to study structural variants, phase haplotypes and more. Here, we introduce the assembler SMARTdenovo, a single-molecule sequencing (SMS) assembler that follows the overlap-layout-consensus (OLC) paradigm. SMARTdenovo (RRID: SCR_017622) was designed to be a rapid assembler, which, unlike contemporaneous SMS assemblers, does not require highly accurate raw reads for error correction. It has performed well in the evaluation of congeneric assemblers and has been successfully users for various assembly projects. It is compatible with Canu for assembling high-quality genomes, and several of the assembly strategies in this program have been incorporated into subsequent popular assemblers. The assembler has been in use since 2015; here we provide information on the development of SMARTdenovo and how to implement its algorithms into current projects.