bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical study and optimization of GO/ZnO based perovskite solar cell using SCAPS
Authors: Johrin Norsakinah , Chee Fuei Pien , Nasir Syafiqa , Moh Pak Yan
Published: August 2023

This paper focuses on the numerical study of hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells. It investigates the incorporation of a graphene oxide (GO) thin layer to enhance solar cell efficiency. The study demonstrates that the GO layer improves interaction with the absorber layer and enhances hole transportation, resulting in reduced recombination and diffusion losses at the absorber and hole transport layer (HTL) interface. The increased energy level of the Lower Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) in GO acts as an excellent electron-blocking layer, thereby improving the VOC. The objective is to explore different structures of perovskite solar cells to enhance their performance. The simulated solar cell comprises a GO/FASnI3/TiO2/ZnO/ITO sandwich structure, with FASnI3 and ZnO thicknesses adjusted to improve conversion efficiency. The impact of thickness on device performance, specifically the absorber and electron transport layers, is investigated. The fill factor (FF) changes as the absorber and electron transport layers (ETL) increase. The FF is an important parameter that determines PSC performance since it measures how effectively power is transferred from the cell to an external circuit. The optimized solar cell achieves a short-circuit current density (JSC) of 27.27 mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 2.76 V, a fill factor (FF) of 27.05% and the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.39% with 400 nm of FASnI3 and 300 nm of ZnO. These findings suggest promising directions for the development of more effective GO-based perovskite solar cells.
Does gender diversity in the audit committee influence corporate dividend policy? Evidence from French listed firms
Authors: Halaoua Sameh , Boukattaya Sonia
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the gender diversity of audit committees has a significant impact on the level of a dividend payout ratio using a sample of French firms listed on the Société des Bourses Françaises 120 (SBF 120) index after quota law enactment (from 2012 to 2019). While previous studies examined the effect of board gender diversity on dividend policy, we focus on women representation on audit committees. In fact, women membership in board committees reflects their involvement in corporate governance and decision-making, especially in a context where gender diversity is enforced. Overall, our results are in line with the outcome hypothesis and show a positive effect of female representation in audit committees on corporate dividend payouts. Additionally, we show that the size and independence of audit committees are positively related to the dividend payout ratio. Our findings are robust for alternative measures of dividend payments.
Dynamic behavior of a stochastic SIR model with nonlinear incidence and recovery rates
Authors: Zhao Xiangming , Shi Jianping
Published: August 2023

The spread of infectious diseases are inevitably affected by natural and social factors, and their evolution presents oscillations and other uncertainties. Therefore, it is of practical significance to consider stochastic noise interference in the studies of infectious disease models. In this paper, a stochastic SIR model with nonlinear incidence and recovery rate is studied. First, a unique global positive solution for any initial value of the system is proved. Second, we provide the sufficient conditions for disease extinction or persistence, and the influence of threshold $ \tilde{R_{0}} $ of the stochastic SIR model on disease state transition is analyzed. Additionally, we prove that the system has a stationary distribution under some given parameter conditions by building an appropriate stochastic Lyapunov function as well as using the equivalent condition of the Hasminskii theorem. Finally, the correctness of these theoretical results are validated by numerical simulations.
“Eles nos dizem tudo o que estão fazendo”: ciência e conspiração nos discursos terraplanistas
Authors: Almeida Rafael Antunes
Published: August 2023

A partir da análise dos discursos terraplanistas, este ensaio apresenta os pilares argumentativos do movimento e discute os problemas metodológicos associados ao estudo de coletivos críticos aos cientistas. No exercício da descrição, trabalha-se com a noção de “empatia hostil” (Bubandt 2009) de dois modos: como o principal processo por meio do qual os terraplanistas se constroem e como uma possível estratégia metodológica adotada para estudá-los.
Le tournant sensible de la médiation culturelle
Authors: Grassin Anne Sophie
Published: August 2023

L’émoussement de la sensibilité des visiteurs aux œuvres d’art est une réalité à laquelle les institutions culturelles sont aujourd’hui confrontées. Afin de recréer du lien et du sens face aux œuvres, les musées se sont engagés dans « un tournant sensible ».
Es falso también que tenga ficha de lanza y estafador…”. Sobre el despliegue de etiquetas y normativas chilenas en torno a la cuestión gitana durante el siglo XX
Authors: Jiménez Araya Pablo
Published: August 2023

El objetivo de esta investigación exploratoria es contextualizar la llamada “cuestión gitana” en el siglo XX chileno, a partir del análisis de varios episodios protagonizados por gitanos y de las referencias contenidas en la literatura, el folklore y la prensa, así como también en visiones de higienistas, teorías criminológicas, casos judiciales y disposiciones legales. De este modo, se procura conocer las formas en que el Estado chileno y otras instituciones arbitraron e intervinieron respecto de la población gitana, reajustando legislaciones y discursos criminalizadores (ya asignados a otros grupos), valiéndose también de las etiquetas contra los gitanos gestadas en territorio europeo.
Power Structure as a Guide to Organizational Culture
Authors: Kanhaiya K. S. S.
Published: August 2023

Organizational culture is a crucial element for the success of any organization. It encompasses shared beliefs, values, attitudes, and assumptions that influence how members perceive and respond to situations. Power structure affects the organizational culture significantly, including how employees behave, communicate, and collaborate. This chapter explores the advantages and disadvantages of different power structures, their relationship with organizational culture, and their impact on organizational adaptability to change. Organizational culture strategies are essential for adapting to change. Providing an overview of different types of strategies, their advantages, and disadvantages, the chapter emphasizes the importance of aligning power structures with organizational culture strategies. A case study is also included, and the chapter highlights the significance of understanding the power structure's influence on organizational culture strategies and the importance of an aligned approach. The chapter concludes by suggesting future research directions in the field.
Role and Challenges of Bioprinting in Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Datta Sudipto , Barua Ranjit , Das Samir
Published: August 2023

Bone grafting is a type of surgery for reconstructing damaged and defective bones by medical professionals. But the surgery is very complex and challenging as it needs precise and accurate skills of the medical professionals, and it is costly and time-consuming. The grafted bone size and shape should match the targeted area. To overcome these challenges, bioprinting comes into play. By using bioprinting technology, the exact structure that is to be fitted in the targeted location can be fabricated by scanning the target using a 3D scanner or taking medical images like MRI or CT scan and then reverse engineering the same structure needed for the target location using bioprinting technology, which ultimately improves the patient's quality of life and satisfaction. In this chapter, various types of bioprinting types for bone scaffold fabrication, the materials which are used for fabricating bone scaffolds like bioceramic, metals, and polymers are described as well as the limitations and challenges are described briefly.
The Role of Bioengineering in Healthcare
Authors: Dhivya S. , Areche Franklin Ore , Senthil Kumar B. R. , Hariprabhu M. , Mutha Swati
Published: August 2023

Bioengineering, also known as biological engineering, is a discipline that explores the application of mathematics, chemistry, physics, and computer science to analyze and design new processes or tools to bridge gaps in the life sciences. It is a field that encompasses a wide range of sub-disciplines, including food and biological process engineering, agricultural engineering, technical resource engineering, and biomedical engineering. Bioengineering uses so-called biotechnology, which the United Nations defines in the Convention on Biological Diversity as technology that uses the biological systems of living organisms or their derived biological systems to produce or modify products or processes for specific uses. This chapter deals with the area of bioengineering that currently benefits or will benefit in the future from the possibilities of artificial intelligence.
Role of Social Media in Greta Thunberg's Climate and Sustainability Action
Authors: Murugan Satheesh Pandian , Devika Rani J. , Govindaraju Vimala , Narasimhaiah Ramakrishna , Babu H. L. , Kandasamy Ravindran , Sanyal Shouvik
Published: August 2023

Climate change remains a threatening issue to humanity, and lots of people still think of climate change as a growing issue that needs regular measures to curtail it. However, it is not such an easy task to influence a huge mass, but now it has become possible by social media. Because the role played by social media is enormously huge nowadays and many are relying on the internet to gain knowledge, gather data, and socialize. A 16 year old Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg has used social media to raise her voice against climate change and started her first school strike, Fridays For Future, against this in August 2018 at the Swedish parliament. In propagating this narrative, she uses various social media and digital platforms to attract people and institutions in developing a climate activist movement with a united voice and intention. This chapter reveals Greta's social media activity, how Greta uses the affordances of social media to frame the climate crisis and to build a worldwide action-based conversation.
Usage of Social Media in Education
Authors: Manickam Thirupathi , Desai Kavitha , Sudha M. , Bhagyalakshmi Macherla , Vinayagamoorthi G. , Devapictahi Joel Jebadurai
Published: August 2023

The pandemic is anticipated to have a significant economic impact, and it already has a terrible effect on schooling worldwide. Due to the coronavirus's quick spread, educational institutions worldwide are making the drastic leap from delivering course materials in person to doing so online. The rapid use of digital technology represents a significant paradigm change that may ultimately transform the Indian educational system. The COVID-19 scenario provides an opportunity to test new tools and technology to make education more relevant for students who cannot travel to campuses. With online learning and evaluation, there is a chance to increase knowledge and productivity while acquiring new skill sets and expedited professional talents. In this chapter, the authors have examined the educational difficulties and opportunities brought on by the sudden COVID-19 epidemic, followed by a discussion of how the Indian educational system has to be recalibrated.
Exploring the Significance of Media Psychology in Human Communication During the Era of Digitalization
Authors: Sankar Ganesh R. , Ganesh B. , Sha Nadia , Mariyappan M. S. R. , Srividhya T. , Lakshmi Priya R.
Published: August 2023

The topic of media psychology is multidisciplinary, and people's interactions with media in many spheres of their lives from work to education to entertainment to social engagement are ever-evolving. By fusing a comprehension of human behaviour, cognition, and emotion with a comparable comprehension of media technology, media psychologists seek to provide answers to these problems. As the globe gets more linked, media is now present in practically every aspect of life and is becoming a more essential field of study. Media psychology, in contrast to some media studies, is not merely about the content. Media psychology takes the entire system into account. Understanding the effects of technology depends heavily on psychology. By merging their knowledge of human behaviour, cognition, and emotion, media psychologists seek out answers and solutions.
Does Context Matter?
Authors: Çebi Ayça , Çolak Canan , Reisoğlu İlknur , Özdemir Tuğba Bahçekapılı
Published: August 2023

Digital competence is one of the most fundamental competences pre-service teachers should have. Training programs have been carried out to support digital competence. It is also important to examine how pre-service teachers plan to use the knowledge and skills that they have gained from the digital competence training in different contexts. Thus, this case study examined the pre-service teachers' perspectives on personal, pedagogical, and professional digital competence in digital competence training. The study was conducted with 30 pre-service teachers. As a result, the digital competence training supported pre-service teachers to develop a perspective for reaching their personal, pedagogical, and professional goals through activating their information and data literacy, communication, and collaboration, digital content creation, safety, and problem-solving competence areas.
Digital Skills and Competencies for a Changing Labor Market in Indonesia
Authors: Ayuningtias Hani Gita
Published: August 2023

Digital skills and competencies are becoming increasingly important in today's rapidly changing labor market in Indonesia. The adoption of new technologies and the increasing digitalization of work processes have created a significant demand for individuals who possess the necessary digital skills and competencies to succeed in the modern workplace. Many industries in Indonesia are rapidly adopting digital technologies to improve productivity and efficiency. This means that workers lacking digital skills and competencies are disadvantaged in the job market and may struggle to find employment. As more tasks become automated, workers who possess digital skills and competencies will be better positioned to adapt to new job requirements and remain employable. The growth of the digital economy in Indonesia is creating new job opportunities in fields such as e-commerce, digital marketing, and data analytics. Workers with digital skills and competencies will be better positioned to take advantage of these opportunities and succeed in these industries.
New Trends in Organizational Learning and Its Impact on Business
Authors: Yazıcı Ayşe Meriç
Published: August 2023

This study examines emerging trends in organizational learning and their profound impact on modern businesses. In an era marked by rapid technological developments, globalization, and changing customer expectations, businesses must constantly adapt to remain competitive. Organizational learning as a strategic tool plays a crucial role in fostering employee development, supporting innovation, and improving overall business performance. The paper begins by providing an overview of traditional approaches to learning in organizations and highlights the limitations that hinder their effectiveness in the dynamic business world. In conclusion, this study shows how adopting the latest trends in organizational learning can increase competitive advantage and foster a culture of innovation in businesses. By empowering employees with personalized, collaborative, and data-driven learning experiences, businesses can adapt more effectively to change and unlock their full potential in an ever-evolving business environment.
NFTs Enabling Ownership and Value in the Metaverse
Authors: Sisodia Himanshu
Published: August 2023

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) revolutionize digital property rights and the representation of value. NFTs provide various digital assets with transparency, immutability, and traceability by leveraging blockchain technology and smart contracts. NFTs represent tangible assets digitally, bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds. Luxury brands such as BMW, Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci use NFTs in the metaverse to facilitate distinct brand experiences and expression. NFTs authenticate digital identities and property in virtual environments, thereby promoting self-expression and social interactions. They establish a new economic paradigm, facilitating the exchange of value across domains and the preservation of intellectual property. Scalability, sustainability, and legal issues present themselves, necessitating solutions such as layer-2 scaling and copyright protection. It is essential for platforms, creators, and regulators to collaborate in order to establish standards and frameworks.
Next Generation of the Web Will Engage Your Senses
Authors: Kenwright Benjamin
Published: August 2023

This chapter explores the emerging trends in the web-based XR (Extended Reality) technology, which is expected to shape the next generation of the web. XR refers to the spectrum of technologies that extend the reality of the physical world by integrating virtual and augmented reality elements. The chapter discusses how web-based XR experiences can engage our senses by creating immersive and interactive environments that go beyond the traditional 2D screen. The authors argue that the current web technology stack is evolving to support more powerful and seamless XR experiences that can be accessed through standard web browsers. The chapter also examines the challenges and opportunities that arise from the integration of XR technology with the web, including issues related to privacy, security, and accessibility. Overall, this book chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the potential of web-based XR technology and its impact on the future of the web.
The Future of Web 3
Authors: Eskandarzadeh Azadeh
Published: August 2023

This article examines the ways in which Web 3.0 technologies can be advanced through research and innovation across disciplines. To completely benefit from the semantic web, efforts must be made to establish semantic standards and compensate data providers. To ensure ethical AI in the Web 3.0 era, researchers in the field must fixate on creating systems that are both reliable and readily explicable. Enhanced scalability, usability, and governance models are among the objectives of developing decentralized technologies like blockchain. When decentralized and AI-enabled systems become the norm, security, privacy, and accountability research will become increasingly crucial. Multi Stakeholder engagement will be required to resolve governance concerns in order to maximize the benefits of Web 3.0 while minimizing the risks.
Applications of Deep Learning and Machine Learning in Smart Agriculture
Authors: Kaur Amrit pal , Bhatt Devershi Pallavi , Raja Linesh
Published: August 2023

Machine learning (ML) and deep learning can be used in the smartest way possible to improve productivity in agriculture. The Food and Agriculture Organization's research shows that the crop's production is rising. One of the finest methods to monitor agricultural yield is through smart agriculture. Applications of ML and deep learning help to discover and resolve problems that crop growth encounters. In agriculture, the production of crops can be enhanced by applying machine learning and deep learning methodologies. These methods demonstrate the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence in the agriculture sector. The idea of “smart farming” keeps an eye on all processes, disease prediction, and agricultural pests. ML is used to extract meaningful information from huge datasets. Deep learning evaluates structural characteristics, meteorological data, and climatic factors to help anticipate agricultural diseases using practical and economical techniques. The deep-learning techniques enhance agricultural research's capacity to sense the overall classification of agriculture.
GUI-Based End-to-End Deep Learning Model for Corn Leaf Disease Classification
Authors: Revathy G. , Jeyabharathi J. , Arieth Madonna , Ramalingam A.
Published: August 2023

Food security is a major problem worldwide. Ensuring that the crops produced are both safe and wholesome is crucial not only for people as the ultimate consumers of the crops, but also for farmers. Plant diseases are responsible for a significant percentage of crop losses. This alleviates the need for a fast and accurate model to discriminate and identify plants with diseases. The base chapter chosen aims to achieve the same through deep learning. The data set used in the work was obtained from Plant Village Dataset. The work customs deuce pre-trained models, EfficientNetB0 and DenseNet121, to citation the traits of the plants. The extracted traits are then fused together through concatenation to allow the model to read the more meaningful crop trait data. This also ensures that the different sets of feature data read by the two models compensate for any feature loss during extraction. It turns out that the above method gives better results associated to other models.
Bioactive Nutraceuticals for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Bajaj Sakshi , Fuloria Neeraj Kumar , Fayaz Faizana , Kumar Bhumika , Fuloria Shivkanya , Pottoo Faheem Hyder
Published: August 2023

Studies recognize amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as a neurodegenerative illness attributed to motor neuron loss. The mechanics of neurodegenerative disorders are multifactorial and complex. Evidence suggests some commonly shared pathways, like mitochondrial dysfunctioning, intracellular Ca2+ overload, inflammation, and oxidation stress. Often multiple pathways coexistence offer limitations for therapeutic interventions. Several clinical and preclinical studies report the relation between nutrional state and ALS. Nutrition management in ALS is quite complex, as during ALS the physical, physiological, and psychological effects must be considered and addressed. Due to limited medications, careful attention over nutrition imposes positive impact on the course of the disease. Nutrition-based methodologies focus on different pathways in a progressive physiological manner without causing extreme adverse impacts. Based on research focusing on improvement of prognosis and dietary interventions for ALS symptoms, many patients seek nutraceuticals or dietary nature complementary/alternative medicines.
In Vitro Anti-HIV Activities of Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds and Their Importance in Complementary Systems of Medicine
Authors: Singh Ajeet
Published: August 2023

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients face great socio-economic problems in obtaining treatment. There is an urgent need for new, ecofriendly, safe, and inexpensive anti-HIV agents. Traditional medicinal plants are a valuable source of novel anti-HIV agents and may offer alternatives to expensive medicines in future. Various medicinal plants or plant-derived natural products have shown strong anti-HIV activity and are under various stages of clinical development in different parts of the world. Areca catechu Linn., Azadirachta indica A. Jusss., Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa, Argemone mexicana Linn, Hypericum indicum Linn., Terminalia chebula Retz., Plumbago indica Linn., Asparagus racemosus Willd., Curcuma longa Linn., Coleus forskohlii Andrews, Rubia cordifolia Linn. etc. reported promising anti-HIV potential. The chapter was directed towards discussion of anti-HIV activity of various medicinal plants and their natural extracts.
Medicinal Plants for Gout Treatment
Authors: Tung Bui Thanh
Published: August 2023

Gout is a complex form of arthritis characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in the joints. Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that is triggered by the crystallization of uric acid within the joints and is often associated with hyperuricemia. Natural products offer many options to reduce the progress and symptoms of diseases, including gout. Natural compound structures including lignans, flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols, triterpenes, sterols, and alkaloids have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and XO activities. In this chapter, the author presents medicinal plants and isolated compounds that are used to prevent and reduce signals of the pathogenesis of gout disease.
Nutraceuticals for Fibromyalgia and Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Mishra Garima , Singh Pradeep , Pottoo Faheem Hyder , Javed Md Noushad , Zeleke Mulugeta Molla , Yimer Yohannes Shumet
Published: August 2023

Both neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia are horrific painful conditions arising due to impairment in the somatosensory nervous system and the musculoskeletal system, respectively. They share some common symptoms like hyperalgesia, allodynia, insomnia, cognitive deficits, and mood disturbances. It is believed that fibromyalgia is the consequence of dysfunction of the central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, imbalance in neurotransmitters, and psychological and emotional stress. Henceforth, these pain syndromes have become a major challenge for healthcare professionals due to their complex etiology and poor availability and effectiveness of the drugs. Notably, the available synthetic drugs possess serious side effects including physical dependence and tolerance. Therefore, researchers are now seeking natural-based therapy for modulating chronic pain conditions. This chapter has been written with the intention of exploring the beneficial effects of various nutraceuticals including herbal dietary supplements in neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.
Effect of Instagram Influencer Parasocial Relationship on Follower Behaviors
Authors: Al Sulaiti Sara , Ben Mimoun Mohamed Slim
Published: August 2023

Social media influencers (SMI) are considered effective marketing weapons that firms increasingly use to endorse their products and brands. However, with the enormous diversity of social media and the multiplicity of SMI, marketers need to understand how to choose the right SMI on the right social media for a specific product or brand. This study aims to improve understanding of the influence of SMI followers' behaviors by studying how parasocial relationship (PSR) interacts with SMI's expertise for products with different levels of involvement to impact consumers' behaviors. The authors proposed a three-hypotheses (nine sub-hypotheses) model that was tested via a scenarios-based survey. Data was collected from 1230 Instagram users living in Qatar. These results confirm the importance of PSR, SMI's perceived expertise, and product involvement in predicting the effectiveness of an SMI endorsement. They also highlight the need to consider the different interactions between these three variables.
MD-S3C3
Authors: Pan Heng , Zhang Yaoyao , Liu Jianmei , Si Xueming , Yao Zhongyuan , Zhao Liang
Published: August 2023

In medical data sharing, the data access control authorities of the sharing entities and computing capabilities of the sharing platforms are asymmetric. This asymmetry leads to poor patient control over their data, privacy disclosure, and difficulties in tracking data sharing. This aarticle proposes a cooperation model of cloud and chain (CMCC) for the secure sharing of medical data. In the CMCC, the power equivalence of blockchain nodes limits the control authority asymmetry between doctors and patients in medical data sharing. Moreover, a cloud server is used to store medical data, and some of the node-side computations are handed over to the cloud, which addresses the asymmetric computing capability asymmetry between the cloud and ordinary nodes. Based on the CMCC, a secure medical data sharing scheme based on proxy re-encryption mechanism is proposed. This scheme realizes secure medical data sharing, especially the patient's complete control of the data. The security and performance analysis show that the proposed scheme outperforms the existing ones.
Designing Serious Games for Senior Executive Strategic Decision Making
Authors: McKay Kenneth , Gandhok Tejpavan , Shah Darshi
Published: August 2023

Senior executive strategic decision making is a prized skill. The analysis of available literature yields three key conclusions: i) strategic decision-making skills, especially in high complexity and ambiguity leverage ‘adaptive expertise' which is very different from the dominant discourse on narrow domain ‘expert performance;' ii) unlike focused skills which can be developed by concentrated, high repetition practice, adaptive expertise requires higher order meta-cognitive skills in addition to wide domain knowledge and managerial skills. Third, emerging literature suggests serious games can help to improve capabilities in decision making and cognitive skill, but there is a limited range of games or research explicitly focused on strategic decisions, while there is extensive body of knowledge on such simulations and measures for in-the-moment type decisions. The authors propose several frameworks and design requirements incorporating three levels of skills including higher cognition.
A Research on Reasons Leading to Environmentally Responsible Manufacturing Practices and Their Effects
Authors: Karakuş Güzide
Published: August 2023

This study aims to determine the reasons that lead businesses to environmentally responsible manufacturing, the practices carried out, and the effects of these practices on cleaner production performance and business performance. Within the scope of the research, the survey was applied to the companies operating in the shipbuilding sector in Turkey. Research data were analysed using descriptive analysis, correlation, and regression methods. As a result of the analysis carried out, it was concluded that in environmentally responsible manufacturing practices, internal reasons are more effective than external reasons, environmentally responsible manufacturing activities are positively associated with clean production performance, and cleaner production performance has a positive effect on business performance. The main limitation of the study is the small size of the sample, and it is recommended to contribute to the practitioners in environmentally responsible manufacturing by conducting new research with larger sample sizes in different sectors.
Position
Authors: Anthony Michael
Published: August 2023

The authors return to the points made in their article published in the inaugural edition of this journal to expand upon recommendations to healthcare industry leadership regarding electrical power security. If best practice is to be data driven, then healthcare executives can take action by funding front-line experts to participate in the United States standards system as a user-interest to assure best practice has been discovered by a balance of interests. As of yet, there is no standard approach for developing resilience metrics for hospitals in Italy, in the European Union, or the United States. When that condition is present, then leaders and managers will default to federal agencies or the market itself – an imperfect taskmaster. Engineers learn from failures, but they do not like to learn the hard way. Perhaps artificial intelligence will assist this journey in reconciling the competing requirements of safety and economy in healthcare facilities. In any case, best practice discovery should rest upon the foundation of data recommended by Lord Kelvin.
Ultrasonography for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections, Noninfectious Cysts, Foreign Bodies, and Burns in the Critical Care Setting
Authors: Craven Kelli A. , Luckey-Smith Kyle , Rudy Susanna
Published: August 2023

There are multiple opportunities for the use of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of skin and soft tissue differentials. Ultrasonography is inexpensive, easily reproducible, and able to provide real-time data in situations where condition changes and progression are common. Not only does bedside ultrasonography provide the clinician an in-depth look beyond epidermal structures into body cavities, it remains a safe, nonionizing radiating, effective, cost-efficient, reliable, and accessible tool for the emergency management of life- and limb-threatening integumentary infections. Unnecessary invasive procedures are minimized, providing improved patient outcomes. Integumentary abnormalities secondary to trauma, surgery, and hospitalization are common among critical care patients. This article provides a brief overview and evidence-based recommendations for the use of ultrasonography in the critical care setting for integumentary system conditions, including common skin and soft tissue differentials, foreign bodies, and burn depth assessment.
Resuscitation Quality Improvement: Improving Clinicians’ Performance
Authors: Mota Sergio
Published: August 2023

Background

Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) renewal occurs every 2 years, quality of performed CPR at the study site was below American Heart Association (AHA) standards. Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) is a new AHA program with the premise that practicing CPR more frequently using audiovisual feedback can improve performance.

Objective

To identify whether performance of chest compressions during training reassessments improves with RQI.

Methods

This study used a preintervention-postintervention design. Critical care nurses from 2 intensive care units performed a baseline round of chest compressions. These baseline data reflected CPR performance with traditional training. The next week, participants completed RQI training. Two weeks after RQI training, participants performed chest compressions. Five weeks after RQI training, participants performed a third round of chest compressions. The compressions performed 2 and 5 weeks after RQI used audiovisual feedback.

Results

Thirty nurses participated. Before intervention, the mean (SD) for overall compression compliance was 32.68% (26.96%), depth was 67.76% (30.15%), and rate was 39.95% (27.41%). The first postintervention (RQI plus 2 weeks) mean (SD) increased to 75.33% (33.70%) for overall compression compliance, 97.43% (12.04%) for depth, and 80.89% (29.35%) for rate. The second postintervention (RQI plus 5 weeks) mean (SD) decreased slightly to 73.16% (36.36%) for overall compression compliance, 96.57% (13.04%) for depth, and 78.75% (31.83%) for rate.

Conclusion

Frequent CPR using RQI technology, with its immediate audiovisual feedback, helps maintain skills, which may improve patient outcomes.
Educational intervention for the prevention of internet addiction disorder among 15-19-year-old adolescents in Colombo district, Sri Lanka
Authors: Ariyadasa Gayan , De Silva Chithramalee , Gamagedara Nimal Shantha
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Internet addiction disorder is growing as a potentially problematic condition, especially among adolescents. Nonetheless, the condition is widespread and problematic, limited scientific evidence is available on the prevention, and efficacy of the treatment globally as well as locally.Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the developed educational package for the prevention of Internet addiction disorder among 15-19-year-old adolescents in Colombo district.Methods: The study was a quasi-experimental study to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention for the prevention of Internet addiction disorder. The educational package was developed on Social Cognitive Theory. The contents were designed following a literature review, expertise from a multidisciplinary panel, and using the preliminary results of the descriptive cross-sectional study. Adolescents from two educational zones in Colombo district were purposefully selected for the Intervention group (n=280) and control group (n=290). A self-administered questionnaire including a validated Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Sinhala version was used for the data collection. Following the implementation of the educational package, primary and secondary outcomes were compared between study groups by chisquare test and paired t-test using the SPSS-21 version.Results: Following the intervention, the proportion of adolescents with Internet addiction disorder in the intervention group was less in comparison with the control group and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=9.026, df=1, p=0.003). There was a statistically significant difference between the mean differences of pretest and post-test IAT scores (t=-0.412, df=279, p=0.001) with the reduction of mean IAT scores among the intervention group. The proportion of study participants engaged in social media (χ2=10.6,df=1, p=0.001) and excessive engagement in internet gaming (χ2=5.514, df=1, p=0.019) among the intervention and the control groups revealed a statistically significant difference in favor of the intervention group.Conclusions: The developed educational package was found effective for the prevention of Internet addiction disorder and recommended to use in future prevention programs and to aid the policymakers and administrators in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of Internet addiction disorder among this age group.
Identifying high-risk children for dental caries in school settings: A simple predictive model
Authors: Wickramasinghe Danushi , Usgodaarachchi Udaya
Published: August 2023

Background: Untreated caries in permanent teeth is the most prevalent condition worldwide. Use of a simple, validated caries risk prediction tool will offer a low-cost mechanism to identify high-risk children for targeted preventive programmes.Objectives: To develop and validate a caries risk prediction model for 5-6-year-old Sri Lankan children. Methods: Two case-control studies were done[p1]  for model development and validation. Cases and controls were defined as 8-9-year-olds with and without permanent tooth caries respectively. Based on dental records and confirmation by clinical examination, 120 cases and 360 controls for model development, and 100 cases and 100 controls for model validation were selected. Data was collected using dental records and a pretested parental self-administered questionnaire. Risk predictors were identified by logistic regression analysis. Cut-off point was determined by plotting a ROC curve. Results: Four risk predictors were identified: ‘having 5 or more posterior decayed teeth’ (OR= 2.1, 95% CI: 1.0 - 4.4), ‘brushing frequency of once or less’ (OR= 3.5, 95% CI: 2.1 - 6.0), ‘not using fluoridated toothpaste’ (OR= 3.2, 95% CI: 1.8 - 5.6) and ‘consuming more than two snacks containing fermentable carbohydrates in between meals’ (OR= 1.6, 95% CI: 0.9 - 2.9). A 10-point score was developed. Following external validation, a sensitivity of 31% (95% CI: 22.1% - 41.0 %) and a specificity of 87% (95% CI: 78.8% - 92.9 %) was obtained for a cut-off value of 2.5. Conclusion: The model could be used to identify high-risk children, especially in areas with higher disease burdens.[p1]Carried out
Development of a risk prediction model for endometrial carcinoma among postmenopausal women in the Western province of Sri Lanka
Authors: Jayawickrama Iresha Udayanagani , Abeysena Chrishantha
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Globally, endometrial carcinoma is the most common reproductive tract cancer among women. Risk prediction model is a simple, low-cost tool to identify women with increased risk of developing endometrial carcinoma. Objectives: The aim of the study was to develop a model to predict the risk of endometrial carcinoma among postmenopausal women in Sri Lanka.Methods: A case control study was conducted. The cases and the controls were defined as postmenopausal women who had and had not been diagnosed as endometrial carcinoma based on histological confirmation respectively. Variable selection was done considering the objectivity and feasibility of the measurements in addition to the statistical criteria. A scoring system [0-9] was designed based on weighted score of each risk predictor. Predictive validity of the model was tested by calibration and discrimination. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the cut-off value.Results: The developed model consisted of six predictors; Age >55 years, never conceived, age at menarche ≤11 years, ever experienced postmenopausal bleeding, having family history of any type of cancer among first degree relative, generalized obesity. Discrimination of the model was measured by the area under the ROC curve (0.92, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.88-0.95). Calibration with goodness of fit by Hosmer and Lemeshow test (p=0.72) was satisfactory. The tool demonstrated a good predictive ability with sensitivity of 79.5% (CI: 68.9%-87.3%) and specificity of 90.7% (CI: 86.8%-93.5%) at the cut-off point of 4.5.Conclusions: Model demonstrated good discrimination and well calibration. It can be used in screening of high-risk women for developing endometrial carcinoma.
Innovative approach in assessing the children's immunization status when it cannot be documented
Authors: Ateudjieu Jerome , Tchio-Nighie Ketina Hirma , Ndinakie Yakum Martin , Goura André P. , Amada Lapia , Sonkoua Isaac , Wakam Nkontchou Blaise , Kenfack Bruno
Published: August 2023

During surveys, it is recommended that children immunization status should be based on immunization documents. It has been noted that in some communities, a number of children are claimed to be vaccinated but have no evidence of vaccination. This work is proposed to estimate routine immunization coverage in children based on both documented vaccination and the tracking of undocumented immunization. It was a community‑based survey targeting children aged 0‑59 months in which the immunization status of children was assessed based on vaccination documents and based on a questionnaire tracking immunization sites and period for children with undocumented vaccination. The vaccination coverage and completeness were estimated from data collected in immunization cards and re‑estimated after tracking the immunization status of children with no immunization cards. Of 1435 children reached in households, 1430 (99.7%) were included. Of 1072 children aged 12‑59 months, 194 (18.1%) received DPT‑Hi+Hb 3 with evidence and 399 (37.2%) with evidence and tracking. In the same age group, the dropout rate from DPT‑Hi+Hb 1 (157 doses administered) to DPT‑Hi+Hb 3 (127 doses administered) with evidence was 19.1% and 42.4% with evidence and tracking. The tracking of immunization status in children with no evidence of vaccination allows to determine their immunization status and to improve the reliability of the estimated vaccination coverage. This strategy could be adopted to be part of the planning and implementation of vaccination coverage surveys of EPI vaccines.
CORRELATION OF TRANSIENT ELASTOGRAPHY WITH LIVER IRON CONCENTRATION, AND SERUM FERRITIN LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH TRANSFUSION-DEPENDENT THALASSEMIA MAJOR PATIENTS FROM OMAN
Authors: Khan Hammad , Panjwani Vinodh , Al Rahbi Sara , Eltigani Abubakr , Qureshi Rizwan , Unnisa Khaleeq , Sehar Najmus , Mittal Alok , Pathare Anil
Published: August 2023

Aims: In a cross-sectional study we aimed to assess the correlation between ultrasound transient elastography (TE), serum ferritin (SF), liver iron content (LIC) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2* along with the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score as a screening tool to detect significant liver fibrosis among chronically transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDT) patients.

 

Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary health center treating TDT patients. Transient elastography was performed within 3 months of Liver MRI T2* examinations at the radiology department. T-test for independent data or Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze differences between groups and Spearman correlation with linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between TE liver stiffness measurements and Liver MRI T2* values along with SF levels.

 

Results: In this study on 91 patients, the median age (IQR) of the subjects was 33 (9) years and body mass index was 23.8 (6.1) kg/m2. Median (IQR) TE by fibroscan, MRI T2*(3T), Liver iron concentration (LIC) by MRI Liver T2* and SF levels were 6.38 (2.6) kPa, 32.4 (18) milliseconds, 7(9) g/dry wt., and 1881 (2969) ng/mL, respectively. TE measurements correlated with LIC g/dry wt. (rS =0.39, p=0.0001) and with SF level (rS =0.43, P=0.001) but not with MRI T2* values (rS =-0.24; P=0.98).

 

Conclusion: We observed that in transfusion dependent β thalassemia major patients there was a significant correlation with the TE measured by ultrasound transient elastography, and LIC by MRI as well as SF levels but not with the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score.

 

Key Words: Serum ferritin; Fibrosis-4; Transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia; Transient elastography; Magnetic resonance imaging
2022William-Kennedy expedition: Nunatsiavut Coastal Interaction Project (NCIP)
Authors: Limoges A , Normandeau A , Eamer J B
R , Van Nieuwenhove N , Atkinson M , Sharpe H , Audet T , Carson T , Nochasak C , Pijogge L , Winters J
Published: August 2023

The accelerating Arctic cryosphere decline severely impacts the land on which northern communities live through the presence of coastal and marine geohazards and coastal erosion, which further places the cultural heritage of coastal archaeological sites at risks.
Sea ice decline also compromises the formation of polynyas, with unknown consequences for the regional ecosystems. From the 10th to the 18th of July 2022, a scientific cruise onboard the research vessel William-Kennedy allowed the collection of a suite of samples and data from the marine coastal
environment of Nain, Nunatsiavut. In total, 42 surface sediment samples, 29 sediment cores, 41 conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) profiles, 13 water samples, 24 phytoplankton nets and 13 zooplankton nets were collected. The cruise allowed the deployment of 2 moorings equipped with sediment traps
in Nain Bay and within deeper offshore waters. Triangulation showed that the 2 moorings were correctly placed near their target locations. Drop camera transects were deployed in Webb Bay and at the easternmost tip of Paulmp;gt;'s Island to image the seabed and study benthic habitats. Finally,
acoustic sub-bottom profiling along the entire study area allowed a high-resolution characterization of the stratigraphy of the seafloor, helped identifying locations for sediment sampling and inferring geological information about the depositional environments. The material and data collected
during the research cruise will be key to 1) evaluating the productivity and dynamics of small recurring polynyas (i.e., rattles) on diverse timescales, 2) assessing marine and coastal geohazards (e.g., landslides) in relation to the deglacial history of Nain, 3) investigate the seabed geomorphology
in Webb Bay and linkages with permafrost and sea-level changes and 3) conducting benthic habitat characterization. Co-led by the University of New Brunswick (UNB) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), this cruise was done in collaboration with the Government of Nunatsiavut, Université du
Québec à Montréal, Université Laval, Dalhousie University and Memorial University, and was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and NRCan.