bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Renal Involvement in Children with Tuberous Sclerosis
Authors: Keskinoglu Ahmet , Tekgül Hasan , Kabasakal Caner
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is a multisystemic disease with a genetic component. The central nervous system is most commonly involved. Renal involvement is also common. In this study, renal involvement was investigated descriptively and analytically in children with TS.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study was performed on TS patients followed in a neurology clinic. The result variable is renal involvement. Other demographic, health-related, and family characteristics were examined as independent variables. Other system involvements in children with TS were presented analytically. Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed with SPSS 24.0 software.

Results:

The total number of children diagnosed with TS was 52. Renal involvement was found in 9 (17.3%) of these children. Frequency of renal involvement was not statistically increased according to independent characteristics which were obtained from patient files (demographic characteristics, presence of neurological problems in the family, weight and height percentiles, and other system involvements in children with TS).

Conclusion:

In our study, renal involvement was found to be less frequent than the reported in the literature. It may be more relevant to conduct studies with higher number of children with TS for risk assessment of renal involvement.
Perception of mothers in Owerri, South-East Nigeria about teething in infants
Authors: Odinaka Kelechi Kenneth , Benedict Edelu , Ifeyinwa Amamilo , Emeka Nwolisa Charles , Achigbu Kingsley
Published: March 2021

Background:

Teething is a natural and physiological process in growing infants. It is one of the major milestones in the development of the child and has been attributed to cause a myriad of problems to the infant.

Aim:

This study sought to determine the knowledge, beliefs and practices of mothers from Owerri, South-East Nigeria on childhood teething.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study that involved 127 mothers who attended the infant immunisation clinic of Federal Medical Centre Owerri over 3 months from September to November 2018.

Results:

Fifty-one (41.7%) infants had the eruption of the first tooth on or before 5 months of age. A good proportion 111 (87.4%) of mothers believed that tooth eruption in infants will come with illness, while 55 (43.3%) of the mothers had in the past experienced symptoms with teething in their babies. Seventy-three (57.5%) of the mothers use medications as prophylaxis for teething-associated problems. Mother's education did not significantly influence the use of teething prophylaxis (31.4% of mothers with tertiary education administered medications to their children during teething compared to 54.2% of mothers with lower educational background, P = 0.094, χ
2 = 6.392).

Conclusion:

Mothers in Owerri, South Eastern Nigeria irrespective of their educational status still have wrong perceptions and beliefs about teething and majority routinely administer medications for presumed teething problems.
Perceived labour-pain and parity are not determinants of tokophobia amongst birthing mothers
Authors: Eleke Chinemerem , Steve-Tamuno Ogochukwu-Mbonu F. , Agu Ifeyinwa S. , Bempong-Eleke Esther N.
Published: March 2021

Background:

Maternal health experts opine that poor control of labour-pain could result in traumatic childbirth experience which could lead to tokophobia.

Aim:

This study examined the association between perceived labour-pain and tokophobia amongst mothers who had normal vaginal birth in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital Nigeria.

Methods:

A cross-sectional design was used. A sample size of 218 randomly selected birthing mothers was examined for the study. Fear of childbirth and numeric analogue scale for labour-pain interview questionnaires designed by the research team were used for data collection. Data were collected through face-to-face interview of consenting postnatal mothers at 24–36 h after labour. Collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at P < 0.05.

Results:

About 85.3% of the respondents had severe perceived labour-pain. Only 2.8% of the respondents suffered moderate tokophobia. Occupation was significantly associated with tokophobia (P = 0.047) and homemakers (unemployed women) were more likely to suffer tokophobia. Perceived labour-pain, parity and age were not significant determinants of tokophobia (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:

Severe perceived labour-pain is widespread, whereas tokophobia is not very common in South-Southern part of Nigeria. Tokophobia was predicted by unemployment but not perceived labour-pain, parity and age. Midwives and other obstetric care givers should incorporate mental health services into prenatal care of unemployed women and advocate for adequate analgesia during labour to further reduce perceived labour-pain.
Intestinal helminthiasis in pregnancy
Authors: Odunvbun Williams Obukohwo
Published: March 2021

Background:

Pregnant women are vulnerable to the negative effects of intestinal helminthiasis, due to increased nutritional demands during pregnancy and in severe cases may contribute to anaemia in pregnancy.

Aim:

The study was conducted to ascertain the pattern of intestinal nematodes among pregnant women in Delta State and the likely effect on their packed cell volume (PCV).

Methods:

This was a prospective cross-sectional study, involving 300 eligible, consenting antenatal women at the booking clinic of Eku Baptist Government Hospital in Delta State, between 1 January 2019 and 31 March 2019. Stool and blood samples were collected from every participant for analysis and evaluation, respectively, for helminthic pattern and PCV. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was used to capture relevant data. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 24.

Results:

Three-quarter of the women were below the age of 34 years. Over 80% (238/282) of the women were parous. Fifty-six per cent (158/282) of the women had secondary education. More than Fifty percent of respondents (154/282), were traders. Seventy-two (25.5%) women had a helminthic infestation. Ascaris lumbricoides accounted for the highest (62.5%) type of worm, followed by Necator americanus (23.6%). Pregnant women who had their toilet within their houses had a statistically significantly fewer helminthic infestation (P < 0.001). Hand washing was associated with a statistically significant reduction in helminthic infestation among the women (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in helminthic infestation across the trimesters (P = 0.224). Women with helminthic infestation had statistically significantly lower PCV (P < 0.001). Women with hookworm and mixed infestations had statistically significantly lower mean PCV (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

A high prevalence of A. lumbricoides and hookwoom infestation among pregnant women was found in this study. Helminthiasis was associated with reduced PCV. The routine antihelminthics for pregnant women attending Eku Baptist Government Hospital, is recommended by these findings.
Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer
Authors: Ansari Firdous
Published: March 2021

Background:

According to the World Health Organization, human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer, which is the fourth most common cancer in women, with an estimated 266,000 deaths and 528,000 new cases in 2012. Usually, HPV infections cause no symptoms but it is also reported that 99% cervical cancer cases are linked to genital infection with HPV and it is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract.

Aim:

The aim of the study is to review the literature to describe what research has been done and what can be the future prospect.

Methods:

To search for the literature search engine, PubMed and Google were searched by inputting different key words, for example, HPV and cervical cancer. Studies considered were broadly associated with either HPV and cervical cancer or its worldwide scenario and socio-economic status.

Results:

Considered studies showed that Genital HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, whereas a considerable number i.e., 90% cases of cervical cancer, HPV was detected. The largest proportion attributable to HPV reported were about 75%, 70%, 70% and 60% of vaginal cancers, oropharyngeal cancers, vulvar cancers and penile cancers, respectively. Various identified risk factors as well as different suggested methods are also described to protect against HPV.

Conclusion:

We may conclude that as it is sexually transmitted infection and causes no symptoms, so proper care should be taken in intimate hygiene management.
Perceived evidence-based practice competency among Saudi nurse managers
Authors: Alamri Majed
Published: March 2021

Background:

Nurse managers have a vital part in the integration of evidence-based practice (EBP) in the clinical setting. This study measures perceived EBP competency among Saudi nurse managers. This survey was conducted in four government hospitals in Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

A total of 308 Saudi nurse managers in four government hospitals utilizing a descriptive cross-sectional method were employed. A survey was used to determine the EBP competency. Nurse managers are somewhat competent in EBP (1.19). This holds true in both subcategories: knowledge (1.15) and activities (1.21). It was observed that the fewer years' experience as a manager the better the EBP competency.

Conclusion:

There is a need to review the strategies to integrate EBP in actual practice in the Kingdom, especially since EBP is associated with nurses as a researchers' role. EBP competency (1.0) is 0.78 EBP activity and 0.22 EBP knowledge. Only years of experience impacted EBP competency when linear regression was run. Nurse managers new to a unit perceived that they are more competent and show the willingness to learn, implement, and utilize EBP.
Ocular manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease in the Taif region of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic, patient prospective
Authors: Alghamdi Abdulhamid S. , Alrubaie Nada S. , Sarriyah Jehan F. , Alqahtani Bushra A. , Alshehri Bushra F. , Alghamdi Shadi A. , Alahmari Ali M. , Attar Mohammed A. , Dammas Omar A.
Published: March 2021

Background:

Ocular manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) considered being the most common extraintestinal complication. Eventually, early detection and management improve the patient's quality of life as well as prevent potentially visually threatening complications.

Objectives:

To assess the prevalence and pattern of ocular manifestations among patients with inflammatory bowel disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods:

Cross-sectional study was performed using anonymous online surveys were administered which included the participant's demographics, prevalence and pattern of IBD intestinal and ocular manifestations, precipitating factors, and quality of life. Data were analyzed using (SPSS) version 20 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Chi-squared test Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests were applied. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Informed consent and ethical approval were obtained.

Results:

A total of 216 participants responded to the survey with 50.50% of females and 49.50% were male. About 90.3% of the participants had their GIT symptoms start before their eye symptoms. Almost two-thirds of the participants, (68.5%) suffered from frequent severe bowel symptoms that prevented them from carrying out work and/or perform the normal daily activity. Furthermore, one-third of the participants (31.6%) are unemployed and described a positive family history (32.8%). More than 75% of participants described eye symptoms associated with the intestinal disease activity which range from mild self-limiting to more severe ones that required hospital visits (50%). Although, majority of participants (90.00%) did not routinely receive official referral to ophthalmologist. The non-significant difference was found between the presence of eye symptoms and participant's gender, marital status, educational level, stress, and smoking habits.

Conclusion:

Most of the IBD patients suffered from significant ocular manifestations with frequent hospital visits. Misdiagnosis and/or inadequate management negatively affect the quality of life of IBD patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Risk-based Ophthalmic screening strategy may reduce the impact of IBD.
Selection of the optimal dosage of tranexamic acid to reduce blood loss during pediatric cleft palate surgery
Authors: Shafa Amir , Shetabi Hamidreza , Adineh-Mehr Lili , Bahrami Keivan
Published: March 2021

Objective:

The aim of the present study was to evaluate and select the optimal dosage of tranexamic acid (TXA) to reduce blood loss during cleft palate surgery in children.

Materials and Methods:

This randomized double-blind clinical trial was performed on 80 children under 3 years of age that were candidates for cleft palate surgery. These children were divided into four groups as follows: the first, second, and third groups received 5, 7.5, and 10 mg/kg of TXA, respectively. Moreover, the fourth group was considered as the control group. Before induction of anesthesia and then every 15 min during the surgery, some parameters such as mean arterial pressure, heart rate, SpO2, and ETCO2 were recorded. Moreover, the amount of blood loss during the surgery, the level of surgeon's satisfaction, and incidence rate of complications were assessed and recorded.

Results:

The amount of blood loss during the surgery in TXA groups receiving dosages of 5, 7.5, and 10 mg/kg with the means of 63.75 ± 10.62, 61.25 ± 15.03, and 61.00 ± 14.29, respectively, was significantly lower than that of the control group with the mean of 92.25 ± 19.83 (P < 0.001). Moreover, no significant difference was found between the three groups receiving TXA dosages in terms of the amount of blood loss, the level of surgeon's satisfaction (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:

According to the results of the present study, all three dosages of TXA had a significant role in reducing blood loss in cleft palate surgery. Given the potential for increased risk of side effects from the drug, it seems safe to use the minimal dosage of this drug to control and reduce blood loss during cleft palate surgery in children <3 years of age.
Modelo de análisis para canales de YouTube: aplicación a medios nativos digitales
Authors: Sixto-García José , Rodríguez-Vázquez Ana Isabel , Soengas-Pérez Xosé
Published: March 2021

Introducción y metodología: Se investiga la participación en YouTube de una muestra internacional de periódicos nativos digitales de referencia a partir de un modelo de análisis propuesto por los autores. Discusión: La evaluación tiene en cuenta las variables que caracterizan los modelos periodísticos de producción y distribución de contenidos en los escenarios convergentes actuales tales como la implementación de estrategias de cross-promotion, el empleo de narrativas transmedia o la habilitación de comunidades de usuarios o de espacios específicos para la cocreación. Resultados y conclusiones: Los resultados diagnostican un sistema de trabajo fundamentado en rutinas productivas basadas en la difusión multiplatorma y crossmedia donde, por una parte, se evidencian las fortalezas que YouTube ofrece para los medios de comunicación y, por otra, se destapan carencias significativas que repercuten directamente en los niveles de engagement con los públicos y en una disminución del tráfico web, de la cantidad de suscriptores de los canales y del número de visualizaciones de los vídeos.
Неявная функция. Управляемость и возмущение задач оптимального управления
Authors: Avakov Evgeny Rachievich , Magaril-Il'yaev Georgii Georgievich
Published: March 2021

Доказывается специальная теорема о неявной функции, позволяющая
получить содержательные результаты об управляемости динамических
систем и возмущении задач оптимального управления.
Библиография: 8 названий.
Единственность решения нелокальной задачи для одного
эллиптико-гиперболического уравнения с сингулярными коэффициентами
Authors: Zaitseva Natalya Vladimirovna
Published: March 2021

Для уравнения переменного типа с сингулярными коэффициентами
в прямоугольной области исследуется краевая задача
с нелокальным интегральным условием типа Самарского-Ионкина.
Методом спектрального анализа установлен критерий единственности
поставленной задачи.
Библиография: 15 названий.
Гладкие полные пересечения Фано основной серии в торических многообразиях
Authors: Przyjalkowski Victor Vladimirovich , Shramov Constantin Aleksandrovich
Published: March 2021

Доказано, что гладкое хорошо сформированное полное пересечение Фано
в торическом многообразии, имеющее ранг Пикара $1$ и размерность не
меньше $2$, является взвешенным полным пересечением.
Библиография: 17 названий.
О непрерывных эндоморфизмах целых функций
Authors: Shishkin Andrei Borisovich
Published: March 2021

Работа посвящена линейным непрерывным операторам, действующим в пространстве целых функций. Исследованы свойства таких операторов, связанные с определением операторов типа свертки в пространствах аналитических функций. Сформулированы следствия, уточняющие аппроксимационную теорему в ядре оператора симметричной свертки и дуальное определение дифференциальных операторов в комплексной области.
Библиография: 20 названий.
LEGAL AUDIT QUALITY AND FRAUD RISK: THE CASE OF TUNISIAN LISTED COMPANIES
Authors: Lajmi Azhaar , Khiari Wided , Ouertani Oumaima
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of legal audit quality on the likelihood of accounting fraud, for a sample of 48 companies listed on the Tunisian stock market over the period between 2014 and 2018. Based on the logit panel regression, we have shown that the audit firm's membership in one of the Big networks and the rotation of external auditors are two major determinants in the reduction of cases of fraud in Tunisian companies. In addition, the results showed that joint audit deteriorates the quality of auditing and thus increases the risk of fraud. This study provides new insights in terms of legal audit and fraud risk in the Tunisian context based on the econometrics of panel data, which is a valuable method to measure the impact of several actions alone or simultaneously. It has allowed us to analyze the behaviors of companies by considering the effect of many proxies of legal audit quality.

JEL Classification Codes: G32, M42, C23.
International standards on the rights of convicted persons in places of imprisonment
Authors: Pidgorodynskyi Vadym , Tykhonenko Vadym , Tsekhan Dmytro , Kaminskyi Petro , Kravchenko Serhii
Published: March 2021

The relationship between crime and punishment has never been isolated. Under the influence of socio-economic, political, and cultural changes, metamorphoses of the institution of execution of punishments took place; in particular, the rights of convicts were liberalized. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the historiography of this phenomenon in terms of international standards, as well as the peculiarities of their implementation. The work aims to characterize the implementation of international standards on the rights of prisoners in terms of historiography and legal regulation. The object of research is the norms of international law. The subject of the study is social relations that arise in the implementation of international standards on the rights of convicts in prisons. The research methods were dialectical, systemic, structural, formal-legal, historical-legal, methods of analysis, synthesis, induction, and deduction. As a result, international standards for the rights of prisoners serve as a model, an example of rational social relations in the penitentiary environment. Key aspects that should be universally considered by the governments of all countries are identified and described.
Formation and development of the foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey with the Turkic-speaking states of Central Asia
Authors: Gumarov Farkhad Linarovich , Galiullin Marat Zufarovich , Karimova Luiza Kajumovna , Kamaletdinova Elvira Imbelevna
Published: March 2021

So far, the country has not had an official document defining the concept of foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey. The relevance of the problem under study lies in the need to define modern approaches to the Foreign Policy of the Republic of Turkey with respect to Central Asian States. The objective of this article is to analyses the evolution of Turkish foreign policy towards Turkish-speaking states since the early 1990swhile determining the role and importance of these states to Turkey. Historical-genetic and chronological methods have been used as tools to support historical study. The historical and genetic method allows to track the dissemination and consistent of changes in the object of this study. In addition, the method of research and presentation of chronological problems contributes to consistent coverage of the peculiarities of significant events of regional and international importance. The study revealed a tendency to transform Turkey's policy towards The Turkish-speaking states of Central Asia, since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
International Experience in Assessing the Effectiveness of Law Enforcement Agencies in Crime Prevention
Authors: Halunko Vira , Shkuta Oleh , Predmestnikov Oleh , Petrenko Nataliia , Holenko Nina
Published: March 2021

The objective of the investigation was to analyze some international experience in assessing the effectiveness of law enforcement in crime prevention. Methodologically, the dialectic method, typical of materialistic philosophy, was combined with scientific techniques of cognition. It is concluded that the basis for assessing the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies in different countries is based on a set of quantitative and qualitative criteria; sometimes such criteria conflict with each other, as some are beneficial for bureaucratic reporting, while others reflect the public's interests. Public opinion, as one of the main criteria, is becoming increasingly important in assessing the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies in some countries (e.g., the Slovak Republic), and in the US, France, Japan, Austria, and Italy, it is a traditional evaluation tool. Ambiguous is the use of statistics to assess the effectiveness of law enforcement in certain countries and Finally, there are countries where criminal statistics are a priority to determine the effectiveness of law enforcement and in others not.
Chaos Theory: The Case of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Wuhan, China from the perspective of international relations
Authors: Kovalevskaia Natalia Vladimirovna , Fedoritenko Iuliia Alexandrovna , Leahy William
Published: March 2021

The objective of the article was to reveal the international imbalances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic through the coordinates of chaos theory. Methodologically it is a critical essay based on documentary observation. To understand the current state of world politics and the balance of power in international relations, it is appropriate to use chaos theory. At the beginning of the article, the origins of chaos theory are an interdisciplinary study, and its basic concepts are introduced. The value of using chaos theory and its great potential for analysis and applications in the study of international relations is shown in the example of the 2019-2020 events in Wuhan is the capital of Hubei Province in the People's Republic of China (PRC). associated with the onset of a COVID-19 viral infection that has spread around the world. At the end of the article, conclusions are drawn and the strengths and weaknesses of the use of chaos theory in dialectical relation to international relations are revealed, both as a field of study and at the same time as geopolitical reality.
Fiscal mechanism in public administration of social risks
Authors: Bulba Volodymyr G. , Goncharenko Maryna V. , Yevtuxov Oleksandr V.
Published: March 2021

Through a critical document-based methodology, the research analyses the essence of social risks as the object of public administration, proposes their classification, tests the need for interconnection of social and fiscal policies, bases the structure of the financial and budgetary mechanism for public management of social risks and, consequently, proposes to improve it by increasing investment in human capital to prevent social risks. It is concluded that the orientation of the social protection system to countervailing measures in relation to certain groups of the population seeks to solve the problem of poverty by strengthening tax distributional processes, increasing the amount of social spending on total state spending, but if it fails to increase the effectiveness of social programmers, the main social problems will not be solved. It is established that the main direction of improvement of the public social risk management tax mechanism should be the minimization of the compensatory nature of the financial provision of the consequences of social risks and, the activation of the application of investment tools for the prevention of their occurrence.
Criminal Liability for Organization of Illegal Migration
Authors: Talan Mariya Vyacheslavovna , Begishev Ildar Rustamovich , Zhukova Tatyana Gennadievna , Bersei Diana Davlenovna , Musina Regina Rustеmovna , Magometovich Bairamkulov Asker
Published: March 2021

The article discusses the criminal responsibility for illegally organizing migration, using a comparative documentary-based methodology. Constant changes in public life suggest the need to improve states' criminal policy in the field of establishing responsibility for organizing illegal migration, both nationally and internationally. An analysis of the provisions of international criminal law makes it possible to consider various legal approaches to the criminalization of acts in the field of migration. The document underpins the need to develop a unified approach to determining the characteristics of the crime in question, as it is transnational. It is concluded that, regardless of the different approaches of States to recognize illegal population migration, the organization of this illegal activity, in the presence of certain signs, should be recognized as a crime. At the same time, the organization of illegal migration is defined as the commission by a criminal group (association of criminal groups) of actions aimed at creating the conditions for the illegal movement of foreign nationals across the state border or their illegal presence in each country.
Rules of criminal liability for corruption offences and their prevention
Authors: Andrii Borovyk , Inna Vartyletska , Yuliia Vasylenko , Andrii Patyk , Olena Pochanska
Published: March 2021

The objective of the article is to conduct a comparative legal study of Ukrainian and international standards of criminal liability for corruption offences and their prevention. The research methodology includes the following methods: system-structural method, formal-dogmatic method, historical method, grouping method, comparative-legal method, legal modeling method and others. As a result, the peculiarities of anti-corruption regulatory-legal provisions and police practice in the states analyzed are clarified, with the selection of relevant positive and negative trends, principles of construction of anti-corruption policy, specificity of the conceptual apparatus, etc. Emphasis is placed on the need to further harmonize Ukrainian legislation with international agreements and the practice of their implementation. It is concluded that negative trends in foreign countries have been found to be the result of non-compliance with relevant commitments to combat and prevent corruption.
Impurities Detection in Intensity Inhomogeneous Edible Bird’s Nest (EBN) Using a U-Net Deep Learning Model
Authors: Ying-Heng Yeo  , Kin-Sam Yen
Published: March 2021

As an important export, cleanliness control on edible bird’s nest (EBN) is paramount. Automatic impurities detection is in urgent need to replace manual practices. However, effective impurities detection algorithm is yet to be developed due to the unresolved inhomogeneous optical properties of EBN. The objective of this work is to develop a novel U-net based algorithm for accurate impurities detection. The algorithm leveraged the convolution mechanisms of U-net for precise and localized features extraction. Output probability tensors were then generated from the deconvolution layers for impurities detection and positioning. The U-net based algorithm outperformed previous image processing-based methods with a higher impurities detection rate of 96.69% and a lower misclassification rate of 10.08%. The applicability of the algorithm was further confirmed with a reasonably high dice coefficient of more than 0.8. In conclusion, the developed U-net based algorithm successfully mitigated intensity inhomogeneity in EBN and improved the impurities detection rate.
A Qualitative Research on Foreign Language Teaching Anxiety
Authors: Aydin Selami
Published: March 2021

While research mainly focuses on identification of anxiety, its causes and effects on the learning process and the ways to allay anxiety among foreign language learners, foreign language teaching anxiety has remained a research area that has not attracted much attention. Therefore, in the context of teaching anxiety among pre-service teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL), the current study aims to investigate the sources of foreign language teaching anxiety (FLTA). The sample group in the study consisted of 60 pre-service teachers. A background questionnaire, interviews, reflections and essay papers were used to collect qualitative data. The results indicated that pre-service teachers experience FLTA before, during and after their teaching activities. The study also concluded that the sources of FLTA are teachers’ personality, perceptions of low level language proficiency, fear of negative evaluation, teaching demotivation and amotivation, teaching inexperience and technical concerns. It was recommended that the curricula of pre- and in-service training programs should include topics to raise awareness of FLTA.
Consciousness-Raising or Unintentionally Oppressive?
Authors: Call-Cummings Meagan , Martinez Sylvia
Published: March 2021

Photovoice is typically used in community and participatory research to allow people to document and interpret their everyday lived experiences. However, often photovoice is used as a research method without deep reflection on its underlying goals and epistemological commitments to critically empower its participants and spark reflective dialogue within a community. This article showcases selections from a photovoice exhibit and its accompanying survey of exhibit attendees to explore possible negative unintended consequences of this action-oriented approach to research if researchers are not appropriately reflexive in how photovoice is used. Drawing on a long-term participatory action research (PAR) project with a research collective consisting of this article’s first author (a White, female university-based researcher), 25 Latino/a high school students and their White teacher, and through rigorous qualitative analysis of the stories that accompanied the photography as well as of the survey responses, the authors conclude that researchers and research collectives that use a photovoice approach to motivating social change and working for consciousness-raising must be careful to not unintentionally perpetuate status quo understandings of an issue or even unconsciously allow for a deeper entrenching of subtly oppressive treatment of historically marginalized populations.
Diving into Autoethnographic Narrative Inquiry: Uncovering Hidden Tensions Below the Surface
Authors: Eisenbach Brooke
Published: March 2021

As a graduate student, I was awakened to the world of autoethnographic narrative inquiry. It was a world I was eager to traverse as I completed my doctoral coursework, and engaged in my final dissertation research. Yet, I was unaware of my naiveté at inviting others to share in my lived experience. As I engaged in an autoethnographic narrative inquiry of my first year as an online teacher, I found myself entangled in a world of hidden tensions I never expected to uncover. In this article, I share the personal tensions that surfaced as I entered into the world of autoethnographic narrative inquiry.
Fostering Transformative Learning in an Online ESL Professional Development Program for K-12 Teachers
Authors: Sprow Forte Karin , Blouin David
Published: March 2021

This qualitative study examines evidence of transformative learning surrounding sociocultural issues in the K-12 classroom of in-service teachers, while participating in an online English as a Second Language (ESL) professional development program. Using inductive data analysis, precursors and catalysts to transformative learning were identified to understand the ways in which 24 purposefully sampled participants experienced learning. Areas explored included ways in which the candidates participated in critical reflection of their own perspectives, ways in which this process affected their meaning making of their experiences, potential for action in changing their practice as ESL educators, and transformative learning features present throughout their learning experiences. Findings reveal evidence of perspective shifts in this context that complement the professional dispositions identified as important for K-12 teachers: the importance of carefully choosing resource materials in professional development, and the necessity to encourage critical reflection in course activities.
Arab English Language Teaching Candidates Climbing the IELTS Mountain: A Qualitatively Driven Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study
Authors: Al-Issa Ali , Al-Bulushi Ali , Al-Zadjali Rima
Published: March 2021

As a high-stakes international language proficiency benchmark, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requires different and special Language Learning Strategies (LLS), which pose numerous challenges to its takers. Some Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) majoring in English Language Teaching (ELT), have therefore, failed to achieve an overall score of Band 6 on the IELTS as a language proficiency requirement and a condition mandated by the Ministry of Education for selecting English language teachers among. This qualitatively driven hermeneutic phenomenology study, hence, discusses this issue from an ideological perspective. The study triangulates data from semi-structured interviews made with six fourth-year ELT Student Teachers (STs) at SQU and the pertinent literature. The critical discussion revealed various ideologies about the powerful impact of the IELTS on the STs’ English language development. The findings have important implications for the practices of the teachers in the Omani ELT school system and elsewhere.
The Illness-Disease Dynamic: Psychological Wellbeing in Type 2 Diabetes: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Authors: McKenzie Claire , Bennert Kristina , Kessler David , Montgomery Alan
Published: March 2021

Distress and depression often go unrecognised in people with diabetes. In this article, I present an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of the lived experience of people with Type 2 diabetes, based on individual in-depth interviews with 10 patients. The purpose of this research was to gain a deeper understanding of these psychological symptoms through a detailed examination of how patients interpret and respond to their experience of the condition. I propose a revised model for the connection between the disease of diabetes and patients’ lived experiences of illness, as one of embodied coexistence rather than relation. Through my analysis, I identify the psychological processes that might need to be addressed in an effective preventative support system.
ANALYSIS OF VOLTAGE NON-SINUSIDALITY IN POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS WITH INDUCTION HEATING UNITS
Authors: Rudi Dmitriy Yu. , Gorelov Sergey V. , Antonov Aleksandr I. , Vishnyagov Mikhail G. , Ruppel Aleksandr A.
Published: March 2021

The importance of the problem of improving the quality of electrical energy grew along with the development and widespread introduction of various high-performance technological installations in production, such as arc steel-making furnaces, welding installations, induction furnaces, etc. in accordance with the requirements of the standard GOST 30804.4.7–2013 and in accordance with the measurement program. A method for processing the research results obtained during the experiment is described. All power quality indicators are processed using computer programs created in the Labview graphical programming environment. The analysis of indicators of the quality of electrical energy to the requirements of GOST 32144-2013 was carried out, according to the results of which conductive low-frequency electromagnetic interference was detected in the 0.4 kV electrical network according to the coefficient of the n-th harmonic voltage components. The obtained values ​​of the indicators of the quality of electrical energy, characterizing the coefficient of the n-th harmonic components of the voltage, confirm the need to use technical means to reduce the influence of higher harmonics on electrical networks.
ACCURACY ESTIMATION FOR OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS NEUROMODELING OF THE OVERCURRENT PROTECTION IN A THREE PHASE MAINS
Authors: Ivanov Sergey O. , Lariukhin Aleksandr A. , Nikandrov Maxim V. , Slavutskii Leonid A.
Published: March 2021

Modern electric power facilities-stations and high-voltage substations have become digital objects with the active use of high-speed local networks directly involved in the technological process. Management, analysis and control of information exchange in the digital substation of the power system require the development of new tools and approaches. For these purposes, machine learning methods can be used, in particular, the artificial neural networks. The paper presents the results of neural network modeling of the operation of the overcurrent protection – as a variant of the information exchange analysis. An elementary perceptron is used as a neural network with the simplest structure. The optimized structure of the neural network and estimates of the accuracy of the neural network algorithm are given, depending on the size of the training sample (from 1000 to 50000 records), the number of training epochs. It is shown that the analysis of the neural network algorithm errors encountered during testing of the neural network enables to estimate the threshold (the setting value) current protection depending on the size of the training sample. It is found that the recognition of the protection trigger threshold in neural network modeling is violated only when the all three phase currents in electrical mains are close to the threshold. The possibilities of improving the proposed approach and its use for detecting anomalies in the information exchange and operation of secondary equipment of digital substations of the power system are discussed.
VITAMIN D SUFFICIENCY IN PATIENTS WITH NON-DEVELOPING PREGNANCIES
Authors: Denisova Tamara G. , Gruzinova Elena N. , Vasilieva Elvira N. , Sidorov Anatoliy E. , Denisova Elena A.
Published: March 2021

The aim of the study was to study vitamin D sufficiency in patients with non-developing pregnancies. The study included 32 women with the diagnosis "non-developing pregnancy" and 30 patients with a gestation period of 7–10 weeks. The women of both groups had the level of vitamin D determined by the content of 25 (OH)D in blood serum (an enzyme immunoassay was performed with a kit manufactured by BIOMEDICAGRUPPE (Germany)). Vitamin 25 (OH)D level was evaluated according to the clinical recommendations of the Russian Association of Endocrinologists (2015): physiological level–30-35 ng / ml and more, insufficient provision –10-20 ng/ml, deficient state − 10 ng/ml and less. It was found that there were more extragenital diseases in women with non-developing pregnancy than in patients of the control group, and the obstetric and gynecological history was more burdened in women with non-developing pregnancies. A high somatic morbidity, gynecological diseases and curettage of uterine cavity in the anamnesis negatively affect the development of the embryo and fetus. At this, it should be noted that women with non-developing pregnancies were found to be deficient in 25(OH)D, whereas in pregnant women the vitamin D content corresponds to the physiological values. In this regard, taking vitamin D supplements may be recommended for women when planning pregnancy and during pregnancy, especially in its early stages.
Gambling Tourism and Economic Development: Some Lessons from Macao
Authors:   Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece, Metaxas Theodore
Published: March 2021

This article aims to explore and document the relationship between forms of alternative tourism and economic development. More specifically, the subject of this investigation will be whether a small national economy is able to rely wholly or largely on tourist flows as a source of income and even to invest in a single type of tourism. Alternative forms of tourism, gaming tourism as well as the features of territorially limited countries and how they are linked to the case of Macao will also be objects of study and annotation. With the process of text production through scientific articles, statistical data, and reliable databases, this article attempts to satisfy the investigated relationship as well as the stemming questions.
Metabolic Stress and Blood Flow Restriction Training as Interventions for Skeletal Muscle Atrophy following Musculoskeletal Injury
Authors: Bower Michael
Published: March 2021

Skeletal muscle loss poses significant health issues to both the general clinical population, but also athletes recovering from musculoskeletal (MSK) injury. Whilst resistance training is known to induce skeletal muscle hypertrophy (SMH), 70% of an individual’s one repetition maximum (1RM) is required to elicit such changes. This is not always feasible for the abovementioned populations due to rheumatic limitations and thus, targeting metabolic stress as a stimulus for skeletal muscle hypertrophy may be more favourable than that of mechanical tension. Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training occludes venous out-flow, whilst sustaining arterial in-flow to the working muscle resulting in a pooling of anaerobic metabolites. As a result, resistance training loads as low as 20% 1RM are capable of eliciting hypertrophic effects equivalent to training at heavier loads, and this is mediated through both endocrine and intramuscular mechanisms. Safe administration of BFR is paramount, especially when prescribing to post-surgical athletes. As such, the coach or clinician in question must take careful consideration regarding pressure application, rest periods and various patient characteristics such as post-surgical timeframe and overall health status.
Analisis UNCLOS 1982 Terkait Permasalahan Yurisdiksi Negara dan Penegakan Hukum Atas Kapal Berbendera Negara Asing
Authors: Hadju Zainal Abdul Aziz
Published: March 2021

International Law has reign most interactions between States in the sea. The practice of illegal transshipment is a serious issue as it falls within both theft mode and smuggling through the transfer of cargo from one ship to another that occurs at sea. Including a crime which committed in the territory of one state but involving parties from another state or more. Law enforcement is a major concern when an offence of some kind of illegal transshipment occurs. The study aims to determine the jurisdiction of states in enforcing laws including in criminal matters that occurred over its sea where the country has sovereign rights, especially when the involvement of 3rd states party in the law enforcement on a ship which not entered into its territory, yet indicately committed a violation of the law in some states water area, this paper also study how the responsibility of 3rd states party towards of flag states of ships who feel harmed. This article was written using normative research methods with a statutory. Historical and conceptual approach explaining efforts from international organizations in resolving the issues of accountability of countries involved in the problem of Illegal Transshipment at sea in the 1982 UNCLOS perspective especially the process of law enforcement and dispute resolution by the International Tribunal for the Law of The Sea (ITLOS).
Problematika Pengujian Peraturan Perundang-Undangan Di Mahkamah Agung ( Kajian Terhadap Putusan Mahkamah Agung No. 65 P/HUM/2018)
Authors: Suparto Suparto
Published: March 2021

The Supreme Court (MA) decided that candidates for members of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) from political party administrators for the 2019 Election were still allowed, even though previously the Constitutional Court (MK) had banned it (Decision No. This conflict is due to differences in interpreting the timing of the implementation of the ongoing 2019 Election stage process. The Constitutional Court stated that the decision was enforced since the 2019 Election and this was not retroactive. Because it is still at the Provisional Candidate List (DCS) stage, so it is possible to change regulations. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court considers that the Constitutional Court's decision must be enforced after the 2019 Election or apply in the future (prospective), because the stages have been running, so that changes in requirements can be made The legal implication that occurs is that there is legal uncertainty for the General Election Commission (KPU) to follow which decision. To solve this problem can be used the doctrine of validity (enforceability of norms). The existence of a hierarchy of legal products being tested and a basis for testing certainly has a legal consequence of the existence of a hierarchy of norm validity in the decisions of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. When there is a conflict between the Supreme Court decision and the Constitutional Court, the verdict with the basis and object of examination in the hierarchy of laws and regulations that is higher, namely the Constitutional Court decision, has a higher validity than the Supreme Court decision. So that problems like this do not exist anymore, testing of laws and regulations should only be carried out by one institution, namely the Constitutional Court.
Association of depression with dental caries and periodontal disease at a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Owais Kareem  , Bushra Ijaz  , Shaheen Anjum  , Sadia Hadayat  , Iqra Tariq  , Maria Younis
Published: March 2021

Published in May - 2021