bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Scottish National Party and the Economics of Nationalism: from Oil to Renewables?
Authors: Camp-Pietrain Edwige
Published: October 2023

The SNP’s nationalism is based on Scotland’s economic resources, especially oil. Such a strategy helped the party gain representation in the House of Commons from the 1970s and was still regarded as an asset in the run-up to the 2014 referendum on independence. However, in the following months, the SNP had to admit that an independent Scotland could no longer rely on declining oil and gas revenues to balance its books and would have to turn to renewables. This U-turn has reinforced the international outlook of the party’s nationalism—both for resource management and for cooperation with other countries.
“Conheceis a verdade, e a verdade vos libertarás”: teoria da conspiração ambiental-climática e populismo no início do governo Bolsonaro (2018-2020)
Authors: Behr Klaus Ramalho von
Published: October 2023

O argumento principal defendido neste artigo é o
de que as teorias da conspiração ambiental-climáticas propagadas no
início do governo Bolsonaro ajudaram a fomentar uma ideologia
populista – isto é, a ideia de que há uma luta moral entre o ‘povo de
bem’ contra ‘elites corruptas’ e de que o líder populista é o único
representante legítimo deste povo porque representa seus valores
morais. Para sustentar este argumento, realizamos uma análise de
conteúdo qualitativa de 36 discursos conspiratórios em torno da
questão ambiental-climática proferidos por cinco atores da alta cúpula
do governo Bolsonaro (Jair Bolsonaro, Eduardo Bolsonaro, Ernesto
Araújo, Filipe Martins e Olavo de Carvalho) entre 2018 e 2020. A
partir dessa análise qualitativa, evidenciamos uma estrutura
conspiratória da seguinte maneira: elites globais, intelectuais,
tecnocráticas e de esquerda buscam instrumentalizar a pauta
ambiental-climática – em especial via doutrinação ideológica e
alarmismo – para justificarem um controle generalizado sobre as
soberanias das nações e as liberdades dos indivíduos. Foi constatado
que desmascarar e resistir ao ambientalismo foram as duas mensagens
morais principais que essa estrutura conspiratória emana. Diante esta
luta moral entre a verdade e a liberdade, na qual as mudanças
climáticas e a Amazônia estão inseridas, Bolsonaro é apresentado como
líder patriótico que defende a soberania, o desenvolvimento e os
interesses do povo e da nação.
Jouer au jeu sans jouer le jeu. Apports et limites du jeu dans l’apprentissage des étudiantes infirmières
Authors: Passavant Valérie , Passavant Éric
Published: October 2023

Les étudiantes en soins infirmiers de troisième année ont des difficultés à assimiler le rôle propre infirmier dans la prise en charge des effets secondaires des chimiothérapies anticancéreuses. Plutôt que le cours magistral habituel, nous avons expérimenté un jeu, afin de favoriser l’over learning, la mobilisation et le transfert de connaissances. Les étudiantes ont apprécié cet enseignement plus horizontal, proche de ce qui est vécu en stage, mais les résultats à l’évaluation demeurent faibles. Introduire le jeu dans l’apprentissage permet de créer une dynamique positive, mais ne suffit pas à améliorer les méthodes de travail et à transformer le rapport au savoir des étudiantes en difficulté.
Effets d’une recherche collaborative basée sur un « dispositif d’écriture de type monographique »
Authors: Colay Élisabeth
Published: October 2023

Pendant une « recherche avec » centrée sur la relation pédagogique en cours d’espagnol, basée sur un dispositif inspiré des groupes d’écriture monographique et ancrée dans l’approche clinique d’orientation psychanalytique, une sorte d’homologie entre l’expérience au sein du groupe et les pratiques avec les groupes-classes a pu être repérée. Un travail sur l’accueil des singularités dans les classes semble s’être effectué tandis que s’élaborait l’émergence des singularités dans le groupe, grâce à une énonciation subjectivée réassurant les participants dans leur posture enseignante pour s’ouvrir à l’imprévu.
La formation d’animateur socioculturel : de l’Union européenne au marché local
Authors: Bock Cyrille
Published: October 2023

Dans cet article, nous nous demandons dans quelle mesure l’éducation populaire s’inscrit dans le marché des nouvelles formations d’animateur. À ce titre, trois niveaux d’analyse sont proposés : tout d’abord, l’influence des directives européennes dans les formations, en particulier le processus de Bologne, afin d’appréhender l’influence de l’Union européenne sur les formations ; ensuite, les stratégies des pouvoirs publics en termes de plan de formation à l’échelle nationale dans le but de saisir les orientations nationales des formations ; enfin, l’interprétation des acteurs à un niveau local vise à mettre en lumière la place accordée à l’éducation populaire dans trois marchés locaux (Paris, Grenoble et Toulouse). L’intérêt est donc d’analyser l’influence des directives initiées par l’Union européenne sur les formations d’animateurs socioculturels. Par déclinaison, la place de l’éducation populaire est interrogée à la fois à travers les diplômes et les acteurs qui les proposent.
A modified mode shape data-based method for beams structural damage detection
Authors: Lima Júnior Will José de , Assis Wayne Santos de
Published: October 2023

Damage detection methods based on changing modal parameters have received considerable attention in engineering applications due to the satisfactory results and the low associated cost compared with other techniques. The Mode Shape Data Based Indicator (MSDBI) is a damage indicator available in the literature, being used to identify damage in beam structures from the mode shape, mode shape slope and mode shape curvature, in the undamaged and damaged configurations of the element under study. However, in some situations, the configuration of the displacement mode shape of the ith mode, of the undamaged structure compared to the damaged one, presents mirroring. The damage identification algorithm could be a better indicator when these situations occur. Them, this paper presents a proposal to modify this method, called MSDBIM. The proposed modified method (MSDBIM) and the traditional method (MSDBI) were applied in two numerical examples that were elaborated in commercial software of finite elements, namely a simply supported concrete beam and a fixed-end steel beam in different single and multiple damage scenarios with sensitivity studies. A new discretization for the fixed-end beam was performed to assess whether there is a direct influence on the damage identification method. The results show that the proposed method (MSDBIM) performs better than the traditional method (MSDBI).
Geotechnologies applied to geographic information system (GIS) of Fish farming in Rondônia state, Western Amazon
Authors: Albuquerque Paulo de Tarso da Fonseca , Souza Ricardo Henrique Bastos de , Rocha Daiane de Oliveira , Cavali Jucilene , Santos Alex Mota dos , Dantas Filho Jerônimo Vieira
Published: October 2023

This research demonstrated a Geographic Information System (GIS) of licensed fish farms in Rondônia state, Brazil. Based on structuring of the GIS, spatial analyzes of location and distribution of fish farms were carried out in relation to highway network; to drainage; to microregions of Rondônia and the verification of the density. Methodological procedure consisted of modeling the Database (DB), whose information was obtained from Secretaria do Estado de Rondônia para Desenvolvimento Ambiental (SEDAM/RO), which holds the references of licensed fish farms processed in SPRING and ARCGIS 9 Arcmap 9.3 software. For spatial statistics, the Kernel density estimator was applied. The main result is the fact that GIS made it quick and easy to search for data and information about the fish farms studied. The highest density was 4937.64 fish farms per unit area in Ji-Paraná microregion, which is located in the Central region of Rondônia state. In thematic mapping, the fish farms showed some spatial dependencies, as follows: I – They depend on main access, highway BR 364. II – The cluster of fish farms is arranged where there is greater availability of water, that is, they depend on water courses. Therefore, positioning and distribution of fish farms take place in the three main microregions, Ji-Paraná 40.30% of licensed fish farms, followed by microregions of Cacoal 16.02% and Ariquemes 15.87%.
Use of ChatGPT in anatomy learning: A tool to be used wisely
Authors: Kosgallana E. W.
Published: October 2023

No abstract available
Nursing student perspectives on clinical instructor performance
Authors: Fibriansari Rizeki Dwi , Astuti Anggia , Abidin Zainal
Published: October 2023

The rapid development of higher education in nursing and science and technology in Indonesia is still having problems related to the quality of learning, student graduates, and variations in academic quality that affect the quality of higher education. The perspective of nursing students is deemed a crucial factor for assessment and plays a significant role in enhancing learning activities and clinical practices. This study aimed to assess the perspectives of nursing students regarding the performance of their clinical instructors. This study employed a quantitative descriptive research design with an explanatory survey approach, utilizing a cross-sectional methodology. The criteria for selecting respondents consisted of 3rd and 5th-semester students who had completed clinical nursing practice in hospitals. The primary variable examined in this research was the performance of clinical instructors. Data collection was conducted using an instrument in the form of a Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) that employed a Likert scale to measure student perspectives on clinical instructor performance. To analyze the correlation between student satisfaction and the five aspects of the CEQ, Spearman's Rho correlation was employed. Nursing student perspectives on clinical instructor performance using CEQ-23 have an overall effect on student satisfaction with a p-value of 0.000. The aspect that has the most influence on student satisfaction was the scale of Generic Skills with 67,7%. Technical proficiency and effective communication skills, clinical instructors must also possess a comprehensive understanding of their roles and functions in guiding students. To enhance the quality of teaching and institutions, it is essential to establish teaching objectives that prioritize the development of general skills and ensure that students comprehend these objectives. Moreover, it is crucial to maintain manageable workloads for instructors. Clinical instructors should consistently offer valuable feedback and guidance to students.
Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of head and neck involvement in IgG4-related disease
Authors: Pehlivan Umur Anil , Karaali Kamil , Ilhan Hatice Deniz , Soy Mehmet , Arslan Didem , Kaya Omer , Kisla-Ekinci Rabia Miray , Cakir-Pekoz Burcak , Cay Ummuhan , Acikalin Arbil , Agildere Ahmet Muhtesem
Published: October 2023

Objective:

To evaluate the radiological features of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) in the head and neck region.

Methods:

In this radiology-based study, radiological features, clinical, laboratory, pathological findings, and prognosis of nine patients with head and neck involvement diagnosed with IgG4-RD were investigated retrospectively.

Results:

The median age of the patients was 38 years (range: 2.5-79 years), and there were six males and three females. The most common symptoms and clinical findings of the patients were eyelid and lacrimal gland swelling, painless exophthalmos, and ophthalmoplegia. The most common site of involvement on MRI was the orbit. Orbital involvement was followed by branches of the trigeminal nerve, sinonasal cavity, cervical lymph nodes, and dural involvement. The most common and remarkable imaging features were T2 hypointensity and diffuse homogeneous contrast enhancement.

Conclusions:

Head and neck involvement of the IgG4-RD, has specific imaging features that can help with diagnosis. Thus, early diagnosis and better outcomes can be achieved with increasing awareness of these features of this relatively new pathology.
Surgical exposure for vitrectomy in retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Lambat Sarang P , Somani Shashank S , Nangia Prabhat V , Nangia Vinay B
Published: October 2023

Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of lateral canthotomy, sub-tenon anesthesia injection, and the use of modified speculum for gaining adequate surgical exposure during surgery for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Fourteen eyes of 10 consecutive patients undergoing microincisional vitrectomy surgery (MIVS) for stage 4 and stage 5 ROP were included. There was a significant widening of the palpebral fissure height and length using this technique. No patient developed a lens injury during the surgery. All the canthotomy incisions completely healed at a four-week follow-up visit. This is a safe and effective technique for increasing surgical exposure in cases of ROP requiring vitrectomy.
A study on knowledge, attitude, and practice about eye donation among medical students and healthcare professionals at a tertiary hospital in Eastern India
Authors: Parija Sucheta , Chakraborty Koyel , Sahu Dinesh Prasad
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

To assess and analyze the rate of knowledge, attitude, and practice patterns about eye donation among medical and healthcare professionals in a tertiary care hospital in eastern India.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted on medical students, resident doctors, and nursing and paramedical staff at a tertiary institute in the year 2020. A pretested, structured questionnaire consisting of 28 questions in the three subsections based on knowledge and awareness, attitudes and beliefs, and practice patterns mainly willingness to donate eyes by pledging, was noted. All the responses were individually scored, and the total scores were calculated. Univariate analysis was done to find out the factors that had a positive or negative influence on the knowledge and willingness about eye donation.

Results:

Around 270 participants responded to this survey. The majority of the respondents (206, 76.3%) were below 30 years and 64.4% were males. Awareness about eye donation was 95.6% but a willingness to pledge was observed in 51.5% of participants. The total practice score was lower among nonmedicos compared with medicos (3.33 ± 1.22 vs 3.74 ± 0.64), (P < 0.001). On univariate analysis, the Crude Odds Ratio with a 95% confidence interval was 25.787 (5.18–128.33) in the occupational category (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The study reported an adequate knowledge level among doctors and healthcare workers. The practice pattern among the nursing staff and paramedical workers needs to be improved as they can play a pivotal role in strengthening the hospital corneal retrieval program. They can also be the key messengers during public awareness campaigns for eye donations in our country.
Comparative study of surgical outcomes of twin-site phacotrabeculectomy with mitomycin C in primary open-angle glaucoma versus primary angle-closure glaucoma
Authors: Maheshwari Devendra , Pillai Madhavi Ramanatha , Kanduri Swathi , Nair Indu J , Kader Mohideen Abdul , Ramakrishnan Rengappa
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

To compare the surgical outcomes of twin-site phacotrabeculectomy with Mitomycin C (MMC) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) versus primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG).

Methods:

Prospective, comparative, observational study. Patients with visually significant cataract and primary glaucoma were divided into two groups: POAG and PACG. They underwent twin-site phacotrabeculectomy with MMC and followed up on days 1, 15, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months. Baseline and follow-up visits were compared to find the differences in intraocular pressure (IOP), antiglaucoma medications (AGM), success rates, anterior chamber depth (ACD), and axial length (AXL).

Results:

There were 50 eyes each in POAG and PACG groups. Mean IOP reduction from baseline to 12 months (21.22 ± 6.0 to 11.40 ± 2.8—POAG group vs 24.16 ± 7.6 to 12.42 ± 3.2—PACG group) was statistically significant in both groups (P < 0.001), but no significant difference between groups (P = 0.095). There was a statistically significant decline in the number of AGM in POAG [1.66 (0.7) to 0.38 (0.7), P < 0.001] and PACG [2.10 (0.7) to 0.70 (0.8), P < 0.001]; the decline was more in POAG (P = 0.012) at last visit. Probability of overall (complete and qualified) success at 12 months postop was 72.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 57.4–82.4] in PACG and 84.0% (95% CI: 70.5–91.7) in POAG group. There was a significant increase in ACD and a decrease in AXL in both groups (P < 0.001). More interventions were required in the PACG group (38, P = 0.012).

Conclusion:

Phacotrabeculectomy with MMC causes a significant reduction in IOP and improvement in biometric parameters in both POAG and PACG. Patients with PACG required more postoperative interventions, while a lesser number of antiglaucoma medications were needed in POAG patients.
Comparison of prevalent management options to treat acute central serous chorioretinopathy
Authors: Pradhan Atish K , Behera Umesh C
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

To study the acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) management strategies practiced at a tertiary eye care center in eastern India.

Methods:

In a retrospective chart review study, the clinical outcomes of three different management approaches to treating acute CSC were analyzed. Individuals with follow-ups of fewer than 6 months were excluded. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the prognostic markers of CSC resolution.

Results:

In the 10-year study period (January 2013–July 2022), 206 eyes were included. Placebo treatment was the preferred practice (48.5%; n = 100 eyes). Watchful observation without placebo was the management strategy in 30.6% (n = 63) of the eyes, and 20.9% (n = 43) of eyes received focal lasers. Risk factor modification was attempted in all. There was no significant difference in the resolution rate (P = 0.819), time to resolution (P = 0.331), and disease recurrence (P = 0.067) among the groups. Univariate logistic regression analysis did not favor any of the treatment strategies predicting resolution and recurrence.

Conclusion:

Alternative treatment modes did not score over the natural history of acute CSC regarding disease resolution, vision gain, and disease recurrence. The study reaffirms observation as the standard of care for acute CSC.
Transcranial Sonography in Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism
Authors: Durmaz Seyma Eroglu , Kursun Oguzhan , Oztekin Nese , Karadag Yesim Sucullu
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:

Transcranial sonography (TCS) is a noninvasive imaging method that practices ultrasound waves to examine the brain structure changes in many neurological pathologies, including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and parkinsonism. It allows for the visualization of the substantia nigra (SN), which is affected in these conditions and other brain parts. This technique has shown promise in aiding the diagnosis, follow-up, and progress of PD, in addition to differentiating it from other movement disorders. Our research explores the reliability of TCS in the diagnosis of PD and its impact on the differential diagnosis of atypical parkinsonism syndromes.

Subjects and Methods:

This study involved 52 PD patients, nine with other parkinsonism, and 54 healthy people. The same neurosonologist, blind to the patient’s diagnosis, assessed each individual’s SN, and the hyperechogenic area measurement was obtained. These measurements were compared between PD patients, with other forms of PD, and healthy people. In addition, hyperechogenic regions were compared based on the PD subtypes, dominant disease side, severity, and duration of the disease.

Results:

PD patients were presented with the highest value of SN hyperechogenic regions. TCS had an 87.5% specificity and a 73.3% sensitivity rate for the diagnosis of PD. The akinetic-rigid subtype of PD showed higher hyperechogenicity. In PD patients, there was no correlation between the disease side, length of the disease, Hoehn and Yahr stage, and SN hyperechogenicity.

Conclusion:

The results of this research demonstrate that the visualizing of SN hyperechogenicity with TCS in PD has diagnostic significance and may be valuable in the differential diagnosis of atypical parkinsonism disorders. However, the evaluation of only the SN may not be sufficient to advantage from TCS in the diagnosis of other parkinsonisms, and it may be essential to investigate the mesencephalon, other basal ganglia, and the third ventricle.
A rare diagnosis: Acute bilateral vasitis mimicking incarcerated bilateral inguinal hernia
Authors: Bugis Bassam Hussain Mohammed , Alarifi Mishal , Alzahrani Saeed , Hasan Rami
Published: October 2023

Inflammation of the vas deferens or what known as acute vasitis is an under-reported condition that usually presents with scrotal or inguinal pain and swelling which can be misdiagnosed and treated as many other conditions. Here, we present one of the first cases to be reported in the literature with bilateral manifestation. A 28-year-old male patient presented complaining of bilateral testicular and inguinal pain associated with inguinal swelling for 3 days. Initially, the patient was being evaluated as a case of incarcerated bilateral inguinal hernia, but with the aid of radiological imaging, the patient was diagnosed correctly and the unnecessary surgical intervention was prevented.
Trimodal therapy versus radical cystectomy for cT2N0M0 urothelial muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Single-center experience
Authors: Fallatah Moayid , Alkahtani Ali S. , Alrumayyan Majed , Alotaibi Mohammed F. , Alkhateeb Sultan , Mokhtar Alaa Ahmed , Altaweel Waleed
Published: October 2023

Background:

Bladder cancer is ranked the ninth most common cancer in the world. Locally, the incidence of bladder cancer has increased tenfold over the past 26 years. Radical cystectomy (RC) is considered a gold standard management option for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), but trimodal therapy (TMT) has shown comparable oncological outcomes in selected patients.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective study in which we reviewed medical records of patients diagnosed with MIBC without nodal disease or distant metastasis (cT2N0M0) who underwent either RC or TMT. Demographic data, comorbidities, histopathological and clinical staging, neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy, and follow-up were analyzed.

Results:

We included a total of 31 patients in the study, with 10 patients in the TMT group and 21 patients in the RC group. There was no significant difference in recurrence between the TMT and RC groups (P = 0.58). The TMT group had a higher percentage of local recurrence (40% vs. RC 5.2%, P = 0.018) but no significant difference in metastasis (0% vs. 10%, P = 0.420). The difference in overall survival between the TMT and RC groups was not significant (P = 0.25).

Conclusion:

TMT may be considered an alternative option for patients unwilling to undergo RC due to related complications and prioritize a better quality of life. However, the decision should be made after considering the cost of extensive follow-ups and patient compliance with surveillance.
Intelligent System for Automation of Security Audits (SIAAS)
Authors: Seara João Pedro , Serrão Carlos
Published: October 2023

Events related to cybersecurity failures have a high and growing financial, operational, and reputational impact, on organizations around the world. At the same time, there is a shortage of cybersecurity professionals. In addition, the specialization of professionals with the necessary skills in the area of cybersecurity is expensive and time-consuming. Taking these facts into consideration, this research has focused on the automation of cybersecurity processes, specifically those related to continuous vulnerability detection. To address this problem, a cybersecurity vulnerability scanner that is free to the community and requires no pre-expertise on the part of the operator, was developed. The artifact was tested by companies in the IT business, by systems engineers, most without cybersecurity background. The results demonstrated that the artifact was easy to install and that the reported results can be used by the operator in the context of an automatic and proactive securitization of the systems involved.
A Hybrid Named Entity Recognition System for Aviation Text
Authors: A Bharathi , Ramdin Robin , Babu Preeja , Krishna Menon Vijay , Jayaramakrishnan Chandrasekhar , Lakshmikumar Sudarasan
Published: October 2023

Named Entity Recognition (NER) is a crucial task in Natural Language Processing (NLP) that aims to identify and categorize named entities in text. While NER has been well-studied in various domains, it remains a challenging task in new domains where annotated data is limited. In this paper, we propose an NER system for the aviation domain that addresses this challenge. Our system combines rule-based and supervised methods to develop a model with little to no manual annotation work.We evaluate our system on a benchmark dataset and it outperforms baseline scores and achieves competitive results. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to develop an NER system that specifically targets aviation entities. Our findings highlight the potential of our proposed system for NER in aviation and pave the way for future research in this area.
Big Data and Machine Learning Framework for Temperature Forecasting
Authors: Mekala A , Baishya Bhaskar Kamal , Vigneswara Rao Kamarajugadda Tulasi , Vidhate Deepak A , Drave Vinayak A , Prasanth P Vishnu
Published: October 2023

This research aims to develop a Supporting Big Data and ML with a Framework for temperature forecasting using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). The proposed framework utilizes a massive amount of historical weather data to train the ANN model, which can effectively learn the complex non- correlations that are linear with the parameters and temperature. The input variables include various weather parameters, such as humidity, wind speed, precipitation, and pressure. The framework involves three main stages: data pre-processing, model training, and temperature forecasting. In the data pre-processing stage, the raw weather data is cleaned, normalized, and transformed into a suitable format for model training. The data is then split into training, validation, and testing sets to ensure model accuracy. In model instruction stage, the ANN trained model using a backpropagation algorithm to adjust affected by the inherent biases and model based on the input and output data. The training process is iterative, and Using the validation, the efficiency of the model is measured. set to prevent overfitting. Finally, in the temperature forecasting stage, the trained ANN model is used to predict the temperature for a given set of weather parameters. The accuracy of the temperature forecasting is evaluated using the testing set, and the results are compared to other forecasting methods, such as statistical methods and numerical weather prediction models. The proposed framework has several advantages over traditional temperature forecasting methods. Firstly, it utilizes a vast amount of data, which enhances the accuracy of the forecast. Secondly, the ANN model can learn the interactions between the input variables that are not linear and temperature, which cannot be captured by traditional statistical methods. Finally, the framework can be easily extended to incorporate additional weather parameters or to forecast other environmental variables. The results of this research show that the proposed framework can effectively forecast temperature with high accuracy, outperforming traditional statistical methods and numerical weather prediction models. Therefore, it has the potential to improve weather forecasting and contribute to various applications, such as agriculture, energy management, and transportation.
Bounded cohomology is not a profinite invariant
Authors: Echtler Daniel , Kammeyer Holger
Published: October 2023

We construct pairs of residually finite groups with isomorphic profinite completions such that one has non-vanishing and the other has vanishing real second bounded cohomology. The examples are lattices in different higher-rank simple Lie groups. Using Galois cohomology, we actually show that$\operatorname {SO}^0(n,2)$for$n \ge 6$and the exceptional groups$E_{6(-14)}$and$E_{7(-25)}$constitute the complete list of higher-rank Lie groups admitting such examples.
A four-dimensional cousin of the Segre cubic
Authors: Manivel Laurent
Published: October 2023

This note is devoted to a special Fano fourfold defined by a four-dimensional space of skew-symmetric forms in five variables. This fourfold appears to be closely related with the classical Segre cubic and its Cremona–Richmond configuration of planes. Among other exceptional properties, it is infinitesimally rigid and has Picard number six. We show how to construct it by blow-up and contraction, starting from a configuration of five planes in a four-dimensional quadric, compatibly with the symmetry group

{\mathcal S}_5

. From this construction, we are able to describe the Chow ring explicitly.
Cylinder Liner Velocity Calculation under Dynamic Condition in the
Pursuit of Liner Cavitation Investigation of an Internal Combustion
Engine
Authors: Chowdhury Sanjib
Published: October 2023

An analytical method for nonlinear three-dimensional (3D) multi-body flexible
dynamic time-domain analysis for a single-cylinder internal combustion (IC)
engine consisting of piston, connecting rod, crank pin, and liner is developed.
This piston is modeled as a 3D piston that collides with the liner as in a real
engine. The goal is to investigate the piston slap force and subsequent liner
vibration. Liner vibrational velocity is directly responsible for pressure
fluctuations in the coolant region resulting in bubble formation and subsequent
collapse. If the bubble collapse is closer to the liner surface, cavitation
erosion in the liner might occur. The mechanism of liner cavitation is briefly
explained, which would take a full computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to
develop, which is out of scope for the present work. However, as a first step,
the present method focused on a comprehensive and accurate estimation of the
highest inward and outward liner velocities, which are directly related to the
bubble formation and collapse, respectively. Sensitivity of liner velocity to
different engine-operating conditions (warm and hot, with highest skirt
temperatures of 178 and 130°C), piston pin bore offsets (thrust side,
anti-thrust side directions in the amounts of 0.6 mm, and the nominal no offset
case), and liner thicknesses are determined. Piston thermal growth is considered
as part of the analysis resulting in interference condition between piston skirt
and liner under the hot operating condition and low minimum clearance under the
warm condition. Correlation of liner velocity contour plots with real engine
liner cavitation erosion is presented. Analytical model showed a maximum liner
inward velocity of 55 mm/s with no piston pin offset under nominal
engine-operating configuration. A correlation has been found between location of
this highest liner velocity and location of the actual cavitation erosion in the
field.
Letter from the Special Issue Editors
Authors: Zhang Ronghui , Kolhe Mohan Lal
Published: October 2023

Letter from the Special Issue Editors
Patient Satisfaction with Quality of Nursing Services at Surgical Outpatient Department (SOPD) of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi
Authors: Musa G.L. , Umar A. , Joseph D.Z. , Hassan B.S.
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is an essential tool in measuring the quality of health care services; as it gives an idea of the staff's  progress towards patients' desires and is found to be useful in measuring patients' expectations. The study aimed to assess patient's  level of satisfaction with the quality of nursing services they had received at the surgical outpatient department of ATBUTH Bauchi,  Bauchi state, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted at the surgical outpatient department (SOPD) of ATBUTH,  Bauchi, using a SERVQUAL questionnaire.

Results: The result from the study shows that 110 (56.4%) of the respondents were males, while  85 (43.6%) respondents were females. and their ages ranged from 33 to 37 years. The majority 50 (25.6%) of the respondents were  business people. The variation in socio-demographic characteristics of patients was found to affect satisfaction by 27.5% among patients  receiving care in SOPD ATBUTH, with p<0.05. The patients' levels of satisfaction differed between the different nursing services but were  overall satisfied with the services they received.

Conclusion: The level of satisfaction of patients revealed by the grand mean score (4.11)  shows that the respondents generally agree that they were satisfied with the care they received. The study concludes that overall, the  patients were satisfied with the quality of nursing services they had received in the S.O.P.D of ATBUTH but recommended an investment  in modern technologies and training by the hospital management to help improve the quality of these services.
Trace Minerals and Antioxidant Enzyme Profile of Chronic Liver Disease Patients in Kano, Northwest, Nigeria
Authors: Mohammed I.Y. , Abdulyakeen K. , Ahmad M.B.
Published: October 2023

Background: Chronic liver disease is a major cause of death especially in low- and middle-income countries where increasing prevalence  has been noted recently. Free radicals-mediated tissue injury plays an important role in hepatic fibrogenesis while antioxidant vitamins  and a few trace minerals reduce tissue damage by scavenging free radicals.

Aim: To determine the blood levels of some selected  antioxidant enzymes and trace minerals in chronic liver disease patients in Kano.

Methods: Eighty-nine chronic liver disease patients and eighty-nine age and sex-matched controls were recruited for this study. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry and enzyme-linked  immunosorbent assay were used to measure trace minerals and antioxidant enzymes respectively. Data analysis was done using SPSS  version 21.0.

Results: Results showed that Glutathione Peroxidase (2.54±1.45 ng/mL vs 6.00±2.64 ng/mL), SOD (23.29±15.27 ng/mL vs  52.48±26.72 ng/mL), Zn (0.82±0.22 mg/L vs 1.07±0.26 mg/L) and Se (2.66±0.60 mg/L vs 3.32±0.55 mg/L) levels were significantly lower  (p<0.05) compared to their respective controls. Trace minerals (except Cu) and antioxidant enzyme levels decrease significantly with  increased severity of chronic liver disease.

Conclusion: The findings suggested that trace minerals and antioxidants are reduced in  chronic liver disease patients and reduction correlated significantly with advanced disease.
Institutional-related Related Factors Associated with the Management Outcome of Patients Triaged During 48 Hours of Interventions at Accident and Emergency Department, Kenyatta National Hospital
Authors: Chelal Daniel Kimutai , Sum Tecla , Morema Everlyne
Published: October 2023

Objective: The study sought to evaluate institutional-related factors associated with the management outcome of patients triaged during  48 hours of interventions at the accident and  emergency department, Kenyatta National Hospital.

Methodology: The study was a  crosssectional study involving the triaged and coded patients flagged by scores using the Triage Early Warning Score (TEWS) whereby  structured questionnaires were used as well as an observation checklist. The study site was accident and emergency department,  Kenyatta National Hospital. The target population were all coded patients in the accident and emergency unit, a sample of 385 patients  were used during this study, data collection was through structured questionnaires and checklist to assess the healthcare provider and  institutional-related factors. A pilot study was done at Kakamega County Referral Hospital. Data analysis was done using Statistical  Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25, descriptive and inferential statistics were used to test the associated factors in relation to  the outcomes. The odds ratio was used to test the strength between the provider and health facility factors associated with the management outcome of triaged and coded patients, and a one-way analysis of variance was used to the differences in mean scores in  the institutional and provider factors. Data was presented in tables and bar graphs.

Findings: The study results indicated that there was a positive and significant relationship between institutional-related factors and management outcomes of triaged patients. This is depicted  by a Pearson correlation coefficient r=0.452 pvalue =0.008< 0.05 which was significant at a 0.05 level of significance. This implies that improved institutional-related factors result in an increase in the management outcome of triaged patients.

Conclusion and  Recommendations: It's therefore important to note that institutional-related factors have an impact on the outcome of triaged and coded  patients in the accident and emergency department, at Kenyatta National Hospital. Thus it's important for the institution to invest  in human resource capacity, procurement of equipment and drugs to be used as well as improve on infrastructure.
Sero-Prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis among People Living with HIV/AIDS in North-western Nigeria
Authors: Muhammad A.B , Kumurya A.S.
Published: October 2023

Background: Cryptosporidium species are obligate, intracellular, protozoan parasites belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa, which is a  substantial threat to HIV/AIDS-infected individuals with an estimated risk of infection of around 52% in developing countries.

Aim: The  study was aimed at determining the Sero-Prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis among people living with HIV/AIDS in North-western Nigeria.      

Methods: Structured questionnaires were administered to 90 participants who were selected by inclusion criteria sampling technique  with a total of 90 blood samples collected from them. Serological analysis of the blood samples was carried out using the Human    Cryptosporidium parvum (CP) ELISA detection test Kit. (Melsin Medical Co., Limited, China LOT NUMBER: 20191023), and CD4 cell count was performed.

Results: Out of the 100 participants, 19(19%) were found to be positive for Cryptosporidium parvum and 81(81%) were  negative with an overall prevalence of 19%. There was no statistical significance between Cryptosporidium infection and those who used  pit latrine (p=0.347), eating outside (p=0.494), reared animals (p=0.838) and the type of water source (p=0.641). The association between   Cryptosporidium parvum and the CD4+ count of the participants was determined using a statistically insignificant chi-square test (p=  0.409). The higher the CD4+ count, the lesser the risk for Cryptosporidium parvum infection.

Conclusion: This study reveals an overall Sero-Prevalence of 19% of C. parvum among HIV/AIDS patients and there is no association between CD4+ count and infection of  Cryptosporidium parvum.
Effect of Mentoring on Learning Skills of Undergraduate Nursing Students in North-Western Nigeria
Authors: Jafaru Y. , Gommaa H.I.M. , Suleiman M.A. , Sani D.K. , Umar A.B.
Published: October 2023

Background: The concept of how students learn is an important topic in education and crucial for improving the students’ quality of  learning. This brings about an increasing interest by policymakers and educators in how to encourage students learning. The study  aimed to investigate the effect of mentoring on the learning skills of undergraduate nursing students in north-western Nigeria.

Methods  and Materials: Quasi quasi-experimental design was adopted for the study. The intervention was mentoring on learning skills, and  learning skills were assessed before and after the intervention as pre-test and post-test respectively. The population of the study is  undergraduate nursing students in the four departments of nursing sciences in north-western states, Nigeria. The required sample size  was obtained using systematic sampling. Dennis Learning skills inventory was used for assessing the respondents' learning skills, while the mentoring action plan was used to deliver the mentoring intervention.

Results: The pre-intervention excellent and very good levels of  learning skills had the lowest aggregate mean percentages. The pre-intervention aggregate mean score was 2.06 (In maximum of 5).  The highest post-intervention learning skills of the respondents were mostly around excellent, very good and good. The post-intervention  aggregate mean score was 3.39. There was a significant difference between pre-intervention learning skills and post- intervention learning skills, P<0.001 with an effect size of 0.7.

Conclusion: Mentoring is effective in changing the way nursing students  learn from inadequate learning skills to adequate learning skills.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Construction Business in Nigeria
Authors: Oyewobi L.O , Bilau A.A. , Oke E.A. , Jimoh R.A. , Ogunbode E.B. , Rotimi J.O.B.
Published: October 2023

Construction is one of the most important sectors in the Nigerian economy employing a large number of people in its workforce. The  industry contributed 4.09% of real GDP in 2019 to the Nigerian economy. This contribution may nosedive if concerted efforts are not  made as a result of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. However, the spread of the coronavirus pandemic has continued unabated  across the world, and both public and private sectors have formulated different ways of responding to the pandemic. Their responses  have attendant economic impact on all sectors of the economy, but that of construction seems to be the dire. The study is therefore  aimed at analysing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of construction businesses in the Nigerian construction industry. The study adopted quantitative research approach using questionnaire survey to obtain data on construction businesses from major  stakeholders’ in the industry. A combination of snowballing and purposive sampling techniques were used to obtain 312 valid responses  used for the analysis presented in this paper. The study reveals that the most severe impact of the COVID-19 is financial with 77% severity  index, this is followed by infrastructure impact with 74.4% while quality and safety impacts is the least ranked category with 53%.  These findings showed that the outbreak of the COVID-19 have significant impact on construction businesses. The study  recommends that parties to construction contracts should consider providing expressly outbreak of this nature in future in their  contractual arrangements with a view to dealing at the outset with the risks associated with them. Government should provide palliatives  for the construction industry post COVID-19 to be able to counteract the effects of the pandemic going forward. The study has  implication for the practitioners in the Nigerian construction industry as well as the policy makers to understand the significant role being  played by the industry and its effect on other sectors of the economy.
Sanitary Provision and Measures in Markets during Covid-19 Pandemic in Eldoret Municipality, Kenya
Authors: Kemboi F.J. , Letema S.
Published: October 2023

Markets are public gathering places for people and provide affordable food for city dwellers, especially in developing countries. On the  other hand, markets have been linked to significant disease outbreaks, raising public health concerns. This paper examines the adequacy  of sanitary facilities and sanitary measures during Covid-19 pandemic in Eldoret markets.The study employed a cross-sectional research  design and collected primary data through questionnaires, interviews, and observations. A total of 282 traders were selected using  stratified random sampling. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data, which was then presented through tables  and figures.The findings indicate that water supply is adequate and reliable in all three markets, toilet and urinal facilities are fairly  supplied, and showers are adequate in the Municipal Market, fair in the Main Market, and inadequate in the West Market. Hand washing  was done at the entrance as a coronavirus containment precaution in all three markets, but no hand sanitisers were used. During the  period, most traders in the markets donned face masks, and the markets were not fumigated. As a result, market compliance with  Covid-19 public health measures was low, posing a danger to Covid-19 spread.In conclusion, this study emphasizes the importance of  adequate sanitary facilities, proper sanitisation, and adherence to social distancing measures in marketplaces during the Covid-19  pandemic. The findings call for increased awareness and compliance with public health guidelines among traders, market authorities,  and relevant government agencies. By implementing necessary improvements and enforcing stricter measures, marketplaces can  contribute to mitigating the spread of Covid-19 and ensuring the health and safety of traders and customers. Further research is  recommended to explore the underlying factors contributing to low compliance and to assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed at  improving market hygiene and Covid-19 containment measures.
Strategies for Minimising Failure of Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Projects in North Central Nigeria
Authors: Gognaje Y.B. , Ganiyu B.O. , Oyewobi L.O. , Oke A.A.
Published: October 2023

The global adoption of the public-private partnership (PPP) concept has been driven by the growing demand for public infrastructure.  However, many PPP projects have faced challenges and yielded unfavourable outcomes such as failures, delays, and concession  revocations. This research paper aims to investigate the key factors influencing private investments in PPP markets in developing  countries like Nigeria. The study employed an empirical questionnaire survey, collecting data from PPP experts involved in six PPP  construction projects in northern Nigeria. Based on previous research, a set of 19 success factors and 21 failure factors were identified  and used as the basis for quantitative data obtained. The data were analysed using the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)  methodology. The findings of the study revealed that three critical failure factors (CFFs) played a role in the varying degrees of failure in  the studied PPP projects. These factors include public sector corruption, lack of competition and transparency in procurement processes,  and political interference during project implementation. On the other hand, six critical success factors (CSFs) contributed to the success  of the PPP projects to different extents. These factors encompassed the availability of suitable financial markets, a favourable investment  environment, appropriate risk allocation, competition in the procurement process, a comprehensive and realistic assessment of costs and  benefits, and trust among stakeholders. The results of this study can serve as a valuable reference for PPP stakeholders seeking to    minimize failure in the implementation of PPP infrastructure projects.