bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation Procedures in Medical Laboratory Testing: A Systematic Review of Best Practices
Authors: Ali Abdalla , Hamza Alneil , Saleh Haidar
Published: September 2024

Background: Validation procedures are essential in medical laboratory testing to ensure the accuracy and reliability of test results. As laboratory technologies evolve, staying informed about the need for continuous updates and standardization of validation practices is crucial. This knowledge keeps us at the forefront of high-quality diagnostic services and the latest advancements in the field. Objectives: This systematic review aims to identify and synthesize best practices for validation procedures in medical laboratory testing from 2010 to 2024, highlight common challenges, and provide recommendations for enhancing validation protocols. Methods: A thorough literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for 31 studies published between 2010 and 2024. Studies on validation procedures for various medical laboratory tests, including clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, immunoassays, and point-of-care testing, were included. Data were extracted and analyzed to identify trends, standard practices, and gaps in existing validation protocols. Results: The review included 31 studies, revealing several key findings: Standardization of validation protocols significantly improves the accuracy and reliability of laboratory tests. This review focuses on the exciting potential of machine learning and advanced analytical techniques, which have the power to enhance validation processes significantly. Emerging diagnostic technologies like next-generation sequencing and liquid biopsy require rigorous validation to ensure clinical applicability, instilling a sense of caution and responsibility in the audience. Our responsibility is to ensure that adequate quality control measures are in place. These measures are critical for maintaining the integrity of point-of-care and rapid diagnostic tests. Compliance with regulatory requirements is crucial for patient safety and effective validation practices. Conclusion: While robust validation procedures are vital for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of medical laboratory tests, this review underscores the need for continuous updates and standardization of protocols to keep pace with technological advancements.
44 Years of FFU Synthetic Railway Sleeper
Authors: Koller Günther
Published: September 2024

In the 1970s, FFU (Fibre Reinforced Foamed Urethane) was developed by Japanese Railways in collaboration with Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd. This technical report provides an overview of the production process and summarizes various material performance tests conducted by technical universities in Europe. Additionally, it addresses the lateral track resistance of German Railways before ballast compression and after more than 20 million load tonnes had been applied, compacting the ballast. To implement this technology in Finland, a full-body performance test at minus 65 degrees Celsius was required by the client. Meanwhile, the city of Warsaw's public transport operator requested a test to simulate vandalism fire scenarios under bridges and FFU sleepers. In 2010, 30 years after the first installation, the Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI) of Japan retrieved sleepers from test tracks to assess their performance. The results showed that the sleepers were still in excellent condition, prompting RTRI to inform Japanese Railways that the technology could safely be used for another 20 years, reaffirming the proposed 50-year lifespan. Furthermore, the Technical University of Graz in Austria conducted a life cycle cost analysis for various countries, focusing on the use of FFU sleepers on bridges with open steel decks. For Germany, the study calculated an effective domestic interest rate of 25% for German Railway bridges, indicating strong economic viability. From a safety perspective, TNO, a Dutch research institute, examined the effects of FFU dust during on-site operations such as sawing and drilling. The results confirmed that working with FFU materials poses less risk compared to traditional wood, making it a safer option for on-site workers. This compilation of test results and real-world performance data highlights the reliability, longevity, and safety advantages of FFU technology for railway applications.
Psycho-Productive Skill Test Items Construction and Validation in Motor Vehicle Mechanic Work for State Wide Assessment in Technical Colleges
Authors: Opeyemi Olaitan , Ariyo Oluwatimilehin , Ike Joshua
Published: September 2024

The technical colleges in Nigeria face challenges in assessing the psycho-productive skills of motor vehicle mechanic students due to a lack of standardized assessment tools. This study focused on the development and validation of psycho-productive multiple-choice skill tests (PMCST) for assessing the practical performances of technical college students in motor vehicle mechanic work across Ekiti and Ondo States. Adopting an instrumentation research design, instrumentation research design was considered appropriate because the study developed an instrument for assessment of practical skills of students. The study targeted a population of 350 National Technical Certificate (NTC) III students, encompassing three ability groups: 57 high, 201 average, and 92 low ability students. A draft copy of the PMCST, comprising 180 items, was generated and utilized as the instrument for assessment in five technical colleges across both states. Data analysis was performed using the split-half technique and Kudder-Richardson (K-R20), yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.84 for the test. Significant differences were found in the mean scores of the three ability groups. Among the recommendations arising from the study is the suggestion that examination bodies such as NABTEB, WAEC, and NECO integrate the PMCST into their certification processes for NTC students.
Innovative Approaches to Expansion Loop Design for Enhanced Piping System Durability
Authors: Elahibakhsh Yahya
Published: September 2024

Expansion loops are critical components in piping systems, designed to manage stress caused by thermal expansion and contraction, thereby ensuring the system's durability and safety. This study investigates innovative approaches to optimizing expansion loop design, focusing on improving the performance and reliability of piping systems under various operational conditions. The research examines multiple configurations, including alterations in loop length, shape modifications, and the incorporation of additional loops, to assess their impact on stress distribution within the system. While the primary focus of this study is on static stress analysis, transient operational factors, such as water hammer, were also considered in the analysis to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the loop configurations' performance under various conditions. The findings demonstrate that while increasing the loop length can effectively reduce stress, alternative designs, such as double loops or modified shapes, offer superior stress management, particularly in space-constrained environments. The study concludes that optimal expansion loop design should accommodate thermal expansion and provide robustness against potential transient effects, contributing to a more reliable piping system. These insights provide valuable guidelines for the design and optimization of piping systems across various industrial applications.
Keplerian Rotation Curve of the Milky Way
Authors: Colenbrander Bernard , Hulscher Willem
Published: September 2024

Use is made from the data from the Gaia satellite of 2013, which measured the rotation of our galactic system by parallax measurements. This implies that the rotation velocities were measured directly without applying the Doppler effect. The results from Gaia allow for a new understanding of flat rotation curves of galactic systems. The study uses earlier findings that the G measurements collected by CODATA show that the gravitational constant G is not a universal constant of nature, but depends on the distance to the center of a mass. At a place where G is larger, the inert mass of, for example, an electron will be larger. This leads to the concept of gravitational spectrum shift. It implies that the emitted spectrum of a star depends on its location within its galacticum. A different spectrum means a different redshift and that implies that the Doppler method for measuring the rotational velocities of stars generally provides wrong data. From available literature the Milky Way rotation curves for conditions with low as well as high accelerations are considered. The two different cases are the nearby solar region and a region far away from the galactic center. Within the solar region all spectra originate with the same G value as near the Sun, and therefore the Doppler method can safely be used. This is different for the case far away from the galactic center, where the impact of the center of mass of the Milky Way on G is small. The conclusions, which have been obtained by analyzing available data, lead to flat rotation curves with a Keplerian decline without introducing dark matter.
Artificial Intelligence Adoption and Project Success: A Mixed-Method Study
Authors: Lawal Yusuf , Abdul-Azeez Ibraheem , Olateju Olawale
Published: September 2024

AI's growing acceptance is changing project management's human-centric approach. Project management is using AI to automate and support duties. This change could improve workflows, decision-making, and project efficiency. The full influence of AI on project success is unknown. There is little empirical evidence linking AI use to project outcomes. This ignorance highlights the necessity to study AI's impact on project management. The project management AI industry is expected to expand 38% annually. Since the late 1980s, AI has improved project management by providing more intelligent and autonomous help. Data privacy, accountability, strategic leadership, communication, innovation, and emotional intelligence are important ethical issues. This study examines how AI adoption affects project success through communication and feedback. This mixed-method study examines how AI adoption affects project success. The quantitative phase measured AI communication, feedback, and project progress via a predefined questionnaire. The sample includes construction, IT, manufacturing, healthcare, and finance project managers and team members. Multiple regression analysis and structural equation modelling were employed in IBM SPSS AMOS to examine AI adoption and project success measures. A qualitative phase of semi-structured interviews with respondents contextualised the quantitative data. Thematic analysis gleaned insights from interview transcripts. AI's impact on project success was examined using integrated data, with ethics in mind. The study examined AI tool-project success relationships using a structural equation model. Communication mode, feedback style, and frequency explained 3% of project success variance. Quantitative research showed that AI communication frequency improves project success, whereas mode and style negatively impact it. Participants' qualitative comments indicated six themes that match quantitative findings, and their replies enhance quantitative results and recommend improvements. The study concluded that AI communication frequency positively increases project success, while mode and style negatively affect it. The mixed-methods approach showed that AI tools alone cannot ensure project success; communication style and frequency are. The study recommended among others that organisations should integrate AI tools into project management systems, match AI communication modes to project team preferences, optimise feedback styles, and provide regular updates to improve AI communication. Project teams need ongoing training.
Navigating Uncertain Terrain: Unveiling the Factors Influencing E-Governance Adoption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Mobonda Raphael , Nyazabe Sllife , Myung-Jin Lee , Mofunda Vogel , Mbembo Justin
Published: September 2024

This research provides a comprehensive examination of the factors influencing e-governance adoption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It leverages a combined framework integrating the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model. This approach, integrating specific variables like trust, which encompasses information security, is particularly relevant in the context of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's unique socio-political environment, where digital governance offers significant potential for improving public services and fostering transparency. The research employs a robust methodology, including a survey of 154 respondents and the use of Covariance-based Structured Equation Model analysis to identify the key factors influencing e-governance adoption. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners working on e-governance initiatives, not only in the DR Congo but also in developing countries facing similar challenges. Results show that users value e-governance systems that are easy to navigate and use. The access to accurate and relevant information is essential for effective e-governance adoption. Furthermore, facilitating conditions such as access to resources, knowledge, and compatible technology are crucial for enabling citizen engagement. Additionally, social influence, including social norms and perceived image, impacts users' attitudes and intentions towards e-governance adoption. Building trust in government is critical for encouraging citizen participation and adoption of e-governance services.
Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Human Diseases in Nono-Sele District, Illubabor Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
Authors: Hareru Abadir , Gudesho Girma , Getachew Samuel , Awoke Ashebir , Tesfa Esubalew
Published: September 2024

Plants are used by human societies for a variety of purposes, including food, clothing, and shelter, religious rituals, ornamental, and health care. The aim of this study was to investigate an ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants and related indigenous knowledge of the community of the study area. A crossectional study design was employed and Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect ethnobotanical information from 325 informants. Informants were sampled by using Cochran sample size formula and Snowball technique was used to select informants. Moreover, semi-structured interview, group discussion, market survey, guided field walk and observation were methods of ethnobotanical data collection. SPSS version 25 and MS excel spreadsheet version 16 were used to analyze ethnobotanical data. Ninety three (93) plant species belonging to 77 genera and 39 families were documented. The most frequently reported plant species belong to family Asteraceae 12 (12.9%) followed by Fabaceae 10 (10.8%), Solonaceae 8 (8.6%) and Lamiaceae 7 (7.5%) family. Herbs accounted the highest proportion 42 (45.16%) followed by tree 25 (26.88%). Most of the herbal remedies were prepared from leaves 66 (50.4%) followed by fruits 16 (12.4%). Most of the herbal medicines were prepared from fresh 110 (84.3%) plants and mode of preparation was mostly by crushing 52 (39.69%). Among mode of administration of medicinal plants oral route 84 (64.1%) was the dominant route of administration. The study area is rich in medicinally important plant species and it is a good reservoir of medicinal plants.
A Review Reliability and Availability Analysis of IEC 61850 Based Substation Communication Architectures
Authors: Muhammad Atiku , Saha Akshay
Published: September 2024

Modern Ethernet technology's high-speed capabilities enable efficient data transfer, and its leadership in the LAN space further distinguishes Ethernet as an intriguing communication method. For important substation automation applications to operate successfully, communications must meet cost, performance, and reliability requirements technology for substation automation management. The IEC 61850 standard was published by the International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC) to provide interoperability among enterprise substation automation systems for communication networks within power substations. This standard specifies Ethernet-based communication systems for substation automation systems (SAS). With the aid of Ethernet switches, Ethernet offers versatility in terms of configuring different designs. On the other hand, before using appropriate Ethernet architectures for critical applications in substations, they must be assessed for availability and reliability. This study uses the reliability block diagram (RBD) approach to analyse the availability and reliability evaluation of practical Ethernet Cisco device topologies. With a typical transmission substation in mind, dependability block diagrams for intra-bay and inter-bay communications have been created. Additionally, the dependability and accessibility of the actual Ethernet topologies have been compared, and some recommendations have been derived from the findings. These recommendations include the following Index Terms: substation automation systems (SAS), availability, IEC 61850, smart electronic device (IED), and dependability.
Strategic Importance of Location for Export Competitiveness: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Nege Teshome , Abegaz Mekonnen
Published: September 2024

This comprehensive assessment of the literature looks at the strategic significance of location for export competitiveness. In order to provide a nuanced understanding of how geographic location affects firms' ability to compete in export competitiveness, the review synthesizes key findings and insights from a thorough analysis of 71 scholarly articles from reliable databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, JSTOR, Science Direct, PubMed, DOAJ, and IEEE Xplore. A number of criteria are identified and categorized in the evaluation, including market accessibility, established trade routes and infrastructure, availability of resources, capital, and inputs, institutional support, trade agreements, economic integration, and regulatory framework. Important factors that affect export competitiveness include the innovation environment, industry clusters, the agglomeration effect, the availability of skilled workers, and proximity in terms of language and culture. The case study on best practices has been delivered. Moreover, it highlights gaps in the literature and offers insightful information for new lines of inquiry. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the strategic significance of geography in influencing enterprises' export plans and performance in the global marketplace by combining empirical data with theoretical frameworks. The review's conclusions broaden our theoretical and practical understanding of how firms' location decisions are influenced by location, which helps managers run their businesses profitably.
Performance Evaluation of Woybo Irrigation Scheme: Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Gensa Serawit , Woldemichael Abraham , Zewdie Moltot
Published: September 2024

Performance evaluation of irrigation scheme is vital for realizing the present status and identifying the area for improvement. The study was conducted in Woybo irrigation scheme which is located in Boloso Sore district, Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia. This study was aimed to evaluate the performance of Woybo irrigation scheme with internal performance indicators. A total of nine demonstrating farmers' fields were selected from three canal reaches (head, middle, and tail) through purposive sampling. Primary and secondary data were collected, recorded, and analyzed. To measure the water applied to each experimental field, Parshall flume was installed, and soil samples were taken to determine soil texture, field capacity, permanent wilting point, and soil moisture content before and after each irrigation event at regular soil depth intervals. The results revealed that the mean conveyance efficiency was 60.85% and the application efficiency was 48.53%. Water distribution uniformity, deep percolation, and storage efficiencies were 84.56%, 51.47%, and 85.22%, respectively. However, the overall irrigation efficiency was found to be 29.53%, which was poorly performed due to inadequate water application, ineffective field water management, and low efficiency in water delivery systems. The main factors contributing to the poor water delivery performance included failures in water regulating gates, leakages, and siltation of canals. To address these problems, recommendations are made such as improvements in water application techniques should be implemented, through proper irrigation scheduling, water conservation practices, surge irrigation techniques, and providing extension support, training, and experience sharing. Additionally, maintenance and lining of earthen canals are necessary, along with the replacement and repair of leakages and broken water regulating and controlling structures. These measures can help to upgrade water delivery efficiency and improve the overall performance of the irrigation scheme.
Performance Evaluation of Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Varieties in Buno Bedele Zone, South Western Oromia
Authors: Tesiso Mohammed , Firdisa Garoma
Published: September 2024

Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is one of the most important oil crops of Ethiopia and it is considered as the main food crop and the least expensive source of oil for the farmers in many highlands of the country. Even though numerous improved linseed varieties have been released in Ethiopia, the mean seed yield per unit area of the crop remains low due to poor access to improved varieties. To improve the crop’s production and productivity, testing the performance of improved linseed varieties in potential agro ecologies where the varieties have never been grown before is an essential activity. A study was carried out with the objective of testing the performance of improved linseed varieties and their genetic variability for seed yield and related traits in Bedele, Dabo Hana and Didesa districts of Buno Bedele zone, south western Oromia, Ethiopia. This experiment was carried out using twelve linseed varieties were used for investigation (Bekoji-14, Kassa-2, Welen, Bekoji, Kuma, Yadano, Furtu, Bakalcha, Dibane, Horesoba & Jitu) and one local check were sown in randomized complete block design with three replications during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 main cropping seasons. Six (6) quantitative morphological traits were collected and analyzed by using R-software accordingly. Combined analysis of data from the three locations revealed that there is significant difference among varieties for days to flowering, days to maturity and grain yield, but non-significant for plant height (cm), number of primary branches per plant and number of capsules per plant. Significant effect of location was observed in plant height, number of primary branch per plant, number of capsule per plant and grain yield however non-significant in days to flowering and days to maturity. The interaction of Variety X location was significant for days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height and grain yield, however non-significant for number of primary branch per plant and number of capsule per plant. The maximum seed yield was recorded in varieties Kuma (1588.9 kgha-1) followed by Beokoji-14 (1476.7 kgha-1) and the lowest yield (978.9 kg/ha-1) was obtained from local check. The combine AMMI analysis for seed yield across environments revealed significantly affected by environments that hold 26.6% of the total variation. The genotype and genotype by environmental interaction were significant and accounted for 12.40% and 19.42% respectively. Principal component 1 and 2 accounted for 10.78 % and 6.13% of the GEI respectively with a total of 16.91% variation. In general, Kuma and Bekoji-14 varieties were identified as the best varieties for yielding ability, stability and recommended in the area and with similar agro-ecologies.
Research in the Field of Anatomical Vegetative Organs of Cotton
Authors: Viktorovna Tutushkina , Aleksandrovna Safiulina
Published: September 2024

This article presents data from scientists who have studied and are currently studying the morphology and structural features of cotton peel. Information is provided on the shape, size, and ultrastructure of the seed surface, including the structure and height of the outer and inner integuments. The studies involved both cultivated varieties and accessions, as well as wild diploid and tetraploid species and their subspecies from various habitats. During the study, a cross-section of cotton leaves was also analyzed. The height and dimensions of the various tissues that make up the cotton leaf were determined. As a result, a pattern was identified that correlates with the tolerance of leaves to pests. And so, if the mesophyll structure has an isolateral type of structure, then the possibility of tolerance to piercing-sucking parasites increases. The studied representatives have a dorsiventral type of mesophyll. And this, in turn, does not help protect the leaf from the penetration of the aphid stylet into the spongy parenchyma and the sucking of nutrients from the sieve tubes of the vascular bundles located closer to the abaxial side of the leaf, as well as the mesophyll. transport cells rich in metabolic products. The height of the columnar parenchyma in all studied representatives is quite high, but it is possible that tolerance is influenced not by the thickness of the columnar layer itself, but by the difference between the thicknesses of the spongy and columnar parenchyma, and the thickness of the spongy parenchyma should not exceed 98.5 microns. Thus, that among the studied representatives, the most tolerant representatives to insect pests will be G. herbaceum ssp frutescens 2n=56, A-833 2n=56.
Effect of Hybrid Nanofillers on the Mechanical Characteristics of Polymethyl Methacrylate Denture Base Composite
Authors: Aldwimi Issam , Alhareb Ahmed , Akil Hazizan , Hamid Zuratul
Published: September 2024

The research study focused on enhancing the mechanical characteristics of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture bases. PMMA is commonly used in dentistry due to its easy fabrication, cost-effectiveness, and favourable physical properties. However, its limitations include low wear resistance, hardness, and mechanical strength, making it less suitable for long-term dental applications. To address these limitations, the study employed a combination of hybrid nano-fillers, specifically HNTs (halloysite nanotubes) and MWCNTs (multi-walled carbon nanotubes), at varying loading levels to improve the mechanical characteristics of the PMMA composite. These nano-fillers underwent treatment by using a coupling agent to enhance their compatibility with PMMA. Key findings of the research include that introducing HNTs/MWCNTs into the PMMA matrix led to a substantial increase in flexural strength, with a significant improvement of 109.1 MPa compared to unfilled PMMA. This indicates that the composite material became more resistant to bending or deformation. There was a substantial rise in flexural modulus values, suggesting improved stiffness in the nanocomposite compared to unfilled PMMA. In addition, the tensile strength of the PMMA composite increased by 64.4 MPa with the addition of the hybrid nano-fillers, indicating enhanced resistance to stretching or pulling forces. The study found that the improvement in flexural and tensile strength was dependent on the concentration of MWCNTs. Increasing the MWCNT concentration up to 0.75 wt.% led to improved mechanical properties, but further increases resulted in a reduction in PMMA properties. Although there was a modest improvement in Vickers hardness (approximately 18.93 kg/mm2), the addition of HNTs/MWCNTs as hybrid nano-fillers effectively enhanced the properties of the PMMA nanocomposite. The study concludes that incorporating hybrid nano-fillers into PMMA could contribute to the longevity and durability of dental composites, addressing some of the material's inherent limitations. The specific combination and concentration of nano-fillers played a crucial role in determining the mechanical properties of the resulting nanocomposite.
The Unity-Idea According to Quentin Skinner: A Lesson in the Use of Educational Concepts in the United Kingdom and Italy
Authors: Boccacci Daniel
Published: September 2024

This article reflects on the importance of Quentin Skinner's method for historical-educational research. This work explores some of its key concepts: ideas as “tools” used for persuasive argumentation, the heuristic inconsistency of the concept of influence, the unity-idea understood as an umbrella category that involves abstractions, the concept of context and the technique of intertextuality. Through a review of studies that have welcomed Skinner’s methodology, the article also highlights how, both in the European and American contexts, there is a growing interest in educational research towards his investigative strategy. The analysis then focuses on two case studies on the concept of unity-idea: one on the idea of progressivism, widespread in the British tradition, and one on the idea of Christianity, developed in Italian personalist pedagogy. These two terms are similar “tools” in standardizing the complex educational reality, bringing different meanings and attitudes closer together. Skinner's analytical approach warns against this operation, because the use of general concepts, sometimes useful and necessary, can become an obstacle to the understanding of authentic meanings. Excessive trust in universal principles without a reflection that enters into historical complexity can lead to an ethical intellectualism for which a good theory is sufficient to change and improve practices. The valorization of historically solid meanings is a guarantee for an authentically transformative educational theory and practice.
The Analysis of the Coordination Degree of Higher Education in Yunnan Province
Authors: Li Xue , Liao Sheng , Gao Ke
Published: September 2024

This paper researched the coordination degree of higher education in Yunnan Province. Firstly, the coefficients of weight index were derived from the available value of data reflecting the information entropy. The results show that the index with the highest weight of higher education is the ratio of teachers to students, and the lowest weight is the number of annual core articles. The weight value of each index is between 0.0793 and 0.3964; secondly, the index of higher education was cauculated in 2010-2021, and compared the index differences among different cities. The results show that the index score of the higher education scale in Yunnan province increased year by year, but the volatility of the education quality index score decreased. Kunming education scale index score ranked the highest in the province, Qujing, Dali and Honghe higher education scale index score in the province of the second ladder, Chuxiong, Baoshan, Lijiang, Yuxi, Wenshan, Dehong and Zhaotong higher education scale index score in the third ladder, Xishuangbanna, Lincang and pu'er higher education scale index score in the province the fourth ladder. The higher education quality index score of Kunming city is ranked first in the province, which is consistent with the higher education scale index score in the province. In the second step includes Zhaotong, Wenshan, Dali, Lijiang and other areas, Dehong, Honghe, Yuxi, Lincang, Pu'er, Qujing and other areas are in the third step, and Chuxiong, Baoshan and Xishuangbanna are in the fourth step. Finally, based on coordination and obstacle degree models, researched the main obstacle factors of higher education. The highest obstacles include the ratio of teacher to student, followed by the number of articles and the number of universities, and the number of teachers and students.
Iron levels and Associated Factors Among Preterm Delivered Infants in Five Selected Health Facilities in Mwanza Region, Northwestern Tanzania
Authors: Machangu Nakiete , Kayange Neema , Bakalemwa Respicious , Mabega Ndakibae , Kidenya Benson
Published: September 2024

Background: It is estimated that, in Tanzania 11percent of babies are born prematurely each year. Preterm delivered infants are more prone to iron deficiency because most of mother to child iron transfer occurs in the third trimester. Methods: This was a hospital based cross sectional study, conducted in five selected health facilities in Mwanza city. Three hundred and fifty preterm delivered infants aged 6 to 30 weeks were included in the study. Participants’ information was obtained by using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. To determine body iron level, blood was collected to measure serum ferritin, full blood picture and C reactive protein. Results: In every 100 infants, 20 had low iron levels, 1 had latent iron deficiency, 3 had iron deficiency and 9 had iron deficiency anemia. Increase in infant’s age and complementary feeding with cow’s milk were significantly associated with iron deficiency anemia. In addition, hemoglobin level and mean corpuscular volume in combination is not a good alternative of serum ferritin in diagnosing low iron. Recommendations: Food fortification with iron and iron supplementation among preterm delivered infants are needed to prevent iron deficiency among these infants. Further studies to determine why older preterm delivered infants are more prone to iron deficiency anemia including type of food they eat are needed. Hemoglobin level and mean corpuscular volume can be used to rule out those without low iron but not to diagnose those with low iron level.
“The Shifting Light of History”: Addressing Philosophy of Memory in Julian Barnes’s Elizabeth Finch
Authors: Bollinger Elena
Published: September 2024

This article discusses the narrative construction of various philosophical reflections on cultural memory in Julian Barnes’s novel Elisabeth Finch. It addresses the dichotomy between recollection and oblivion, presenting a memory process as a the “problem of forgotten evidence”, thoroughly discussed in today’s Cultural and Memory Studies. While contemporary scholars and philosophers aim at reflecting on the role of memory in metaphysics and epistemology, mainly relating the process of recollection either to personal identity, or the experience of time, space and epistemic rationale, the dimension of collective memory, and its foregrounding role in everyone’s self-perceptiveness, receives a considerably reduced critical attention. The literary analysis of Elizabeth Finch seeks to problematize this divisive understanding of functions of memory, proposing instead to consider the semantic complementarity of various processes of recollection/forgetting, connecting the narrative representation of events that one has personally experienced and the officially stated collective renderings of factual memory. It resists considering personal remembering and collective forgetting as ostensibly competing rationales, proposing to delve deeper into a tightly crafted relationship between the perception of one’s identity in time and epistemological framework of collective experience mostly focused on the officially stated dimension of memory. Revisiting discourses on religion associated with the narrative construction of borderlands in Julian Barnes’s Elizabeth Finch, this article contributes to reconsider collective memory and counter-memory not as mutually exclusive, but as synthetized and put into productive motion narrative dimensions. The intertextual articulation of discourses on religion fosters new theoretical perspectives for rethinking counter-memory not only as a mode of recovering silenced and contested versions of the European history, but also as a means of providing multidimensional and transcultural interpretation of the collective past. Perceived as a form of discursive resistance to any kind of political and social dominance, the narrative construction of “forgotten evidence” elucidates the complex post-dialectical relationship between official collective memory and marginalized counter-memory.
‘Lift me up!’: The New Major Discourses of Care and Ageing in Doris Lessing’s The Diaries of Jane Somers
Authors: Zarebska Zuzanna
Published: September 2024

The genre of Reifungsroman considers different temporal aspects of individuation. It aids and assesses the capacity of an older person to re-story their life, enter meaningful relationships, make amends with the past and productively evolve as an individual. Instead of focusing solely on the present, time is seen as a continuum in Reifungsroman with a special emphasis on the past events and narratives. This article will trace the late life transformation that Jane and Maudie undergo as all life is mutable and finite, awareness of which can make us more compassionate. In The Diaries of Jane Sommers, written by Doris Lessing and published in 1984 the narrator tells the story of the relationship she constructs with an elderly friend, Maudie, whom she meets in the streets of London and who triggers her identarian metamorphoses. Maudie embodies all the stereotypes of an old woman, she has crone-like features and an unforgiving temper. From the physical maladies to emotional suffering, Jane Sommers is herself a source of discomfort and displeasure to those around her. As the narrative unravels and cleanses Jane from rampant egoism, as she bathes after each visit to Maudie’s home, she deconstructs her old narratives and transitions into an empathetic self. As Maudie shades her trauma in words and being bathed by Jane, both undergo a process of healing. Maudie dies with dignity and out of this sacrificial moment of catharses, the meeting of the now and then, new Jane is born. She erases the old wry Jane, an ambitious and vain journalist in a women’s magazine, only concerned with success and everlasting youth, who spends time and her financial gains on material goods. This article will look into the discourses on ageing and the genre of Reifungsroman in The Diaries of Jane Sommers, Lessing’s fifth novel, published under a pseudonym and separately as two separate books: The Diaries of a Good Neighbour and If the Old Could against criticism from various editorial boards. I will analyse the processes of resignification of the minor discourses and their relationship towards the major discourses on growing older. I will consider Jana and Maudie as a two-faced Janus and a dyad of the old and the new, the ich and the poor, the successful and the unsuccessful: a crone, a witch and young woman whose polyphony of voices can re-story the narratives of women and ageing.
The Archaeology of Absence in Kamila Shamsie’s A God in Every Stone
Authors: Martins Margarida
Published: September 2024

Approximately 1.4 million Indians were recruited to the First World War. Despite their role in the war and the high number of deaths, most of the literature in English on the Great War has been narrowed down to British experience. However, in recent years their stories have been emerging through fiction, in academic research and educational projects resulting in a more complete picture of the war and who was involved. A British arts education group engaged students in a project designed to teach and share the stories of forgotten soldiers from World War I. Writing about the project in The Guardian in 2018 Kamila Shamsie claimed the aim was to teach school children about the war and the involvement of non-British recruits whose narratives had up till then been unknown. In academia, respected scholars such as Santanu Das or Claire Buck have undergone thorough research on the representation of Indian recruits through an analysis of literary texts and artefacts states that war memories of the Indian sepoy whose stories were left behind and forgotten on the battle ground. According to Das, the lack of stories by Indian recruits does not mean that history cannot be rectified since it is possible to recover the experience and memory of the recruits. Recently emerging literary representation of the Indian recruit provided historical insight into their experience shedding light on new perspectives of the War. The aim of this article is to analyse the representation of Indian recruits and their experience of World War I in Kamila Shamsie’s 2014 novel A God in Every Stone. I argue that through fiction, it is possible to construct a broader and more inclusive understanding of this historical event as well as to uncover deeper complexities and anxieties on the Indian colonial experience.
Julian Barnes’ England, England: Beyond Postmodernism and Dystopia
Authors: Sadeghzadegan Majid
Published: September 2024

Julian Barnes’ England, England lends itself to many types of critical readings as it garners many concepts and themes as diverse as identity, memory, history, nationality, rise and fall of a nation, and individual crises. All these are incorporated satirically, if not farcically, into the life a Martha Cochrane whose life milestones run in tandem with the three parts of the novel, which nostalgically cite how a nation’s glory ebbs away gradually. The present paper sets out to explore England, England in particular dimensions in order to come to better terms with its embedded themes, especially Englishness and English identity. With an esoteric literary aura and a resolute voice in portraying Englishness, its memory and the aesthetics thereof, the novel seeks to illuminate many hidden codes and messages in the guise of humor and satire. To unravel such encryptions, one needs to decipher them initially through an investigation of postmodernist elements and staples, such as paradoxes, simulacrum and parody, which constitute the most compelling plank of the thematic contents of the novel. Along this path, prominent names such as Linda Hutcheon and Baudrillard will emerge whose theoretical implications will be high on the critical agenda of the paper. On a different note, England, England, as a distinctly dystopian work, happens to equally send strongly nostalgic messages regarding the concepts of Englishness, past, present, and their memory through the portrayal of a dystopian wasteland. The ending portion of the paper will endeavour to shed light on how Barnes deploys such dystopian air and poetics to embellish his work further concerning Englishness. Ultimately, the papers will infer that the fall of grand narratives such as Englishness, identity, and memory is what it takes for a nation to rebuild and re-invent its identity.
Microwave-Induced Catalytic Oxidation of High-Concentration Dye Effluent Using CuFe2O4/ACF Combined with O3
Authors: Jun Xiao
Published: September 2024

Ozone-microwave catalytic oxidation system (O3/MIOP) is a new deep composite oxidation technology based on ozone and microwave-induced catalysis. In this paper, CuFe2O4 loaded on activated carbon fiber (CuFe2O4/ACF) was prepared by sol-gel method as microwave catalyst to degrade 6 L Basic Brown (500 mg/L) and actual wastewater with O3/MIOP technique. After the wastewater is subjected to ozone treatment for a period of time, it flows into the reactor from the water inlet through a peristaltic pump, and at the same time, a certain amount of CuFe2O4/ACF catalyst and H2O2 are added to the reactor. The results show that under the co-treatment of 60 min O3 and 5 min MIOP, the decolorization rate of basic brown at 500 mg/L reached 60%, and the B/C value increased from the initial 0.18 to 0.32.As to the actual wastewater, the B/C value after degradation tends to 0.3, which is easy to the next biochemical treatment. Furthermore, •OH and O2•- are measured to be the main active group in the process of degradation of Basic Brown under O3/MIOP treatment. These two reactive species accelerate the degradation of the dye during the reaction, thus increasing the reaction rate. This composited oxidation technology system was proven to be suitable and of practical value in high-concentration dye effluent treatment.
Mapping and Localization of Autonomous Mobile Robots in Simulated Indoor Environments
Authors: Tola Tsegaye , Mi Jing , Che Yan
Published: September 2024

Autonomously making a map, localizing within it, and planning with it are fundamental problems in mobile robotics. Every autonomous mobile robot system must include a solution to all three problems. These three problems are interconnected, with simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) being a well-known issue. However, there is indeed a growing and developing realization in the research field that path planning how a robot goes about mapping and finding an environment (and then operating in the environment such as starting to the destination point) can avoid degenerate conditions and greatly reduce SLAM complexity. In this paper, the implementation of an autonomous mobile robot system for indoor environments using open-source ROS packages and a combination of cartography algorithm and adaptive Monte Carlo localization (AMCL) algorithms has been implemented. The system addresses the challenge of developing three components such as mapping, localization, and path planning systems for indoor autonomous mobile robots. The mapping module creates a global map using the cartography ROS package and SLAM algorithm. The localization module estimates the robot's pose using the AMCL approach. The planning module generates collision-free trajectories and control commands using the moving base ROS package. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach and its valuable contribution to the robotics field. The cartography algorithm mapping algorithm generates accurate and reliable maps, while the localization algorithm successfully determines the robot's position with good performance. Additionally, the path planning algorithm effectively avoids both static and dynamic obstacles, ensuring smooth navigation in the environment.
Training College Students Grasp Autonomous Learning Strategies to Promote Them Growth
Authors: Hongye Wu
Published: September 2024

This article, guided by theories such as educational psychology, explores the issue of promoting local college students' autonomous learning through infiltrating autonomous learning strategies in Advanced Mathematics courses teaching. In theoretical learning and practical summary, the author found that local college students have learning deficiencies such as incorrect learning methods, weak independent thinking and self-learning abilities. In addition, high-quality higher mathematics learning can provides college students with a lot of opportunity for rational thinking, which helps to cultivate the rational thinking and rational spirit of college students who are in a critical period of rational development. Based on the learning deficiencies of local college students and the advantages of higher mathematics learning, this article proposes four teaching strategies to promote the growth of college students. The first teaching strategy is to clarify the learning objectives of higher mathematics and guide college students to learn independently. This strategy aims to overcome the shortcomings of traditional higher mathematics teaching, such as single content and incomplete teaching objectives. This teaching strategy clarifies the four-dimensional teaching objectives of advanced mathematics, including mastering knowledge, exercising thinking, improving self-learning level, and enhancing creativity. The mastery of knowledge should be achieved through knowledge learning, infiltrating educational common sense, enriching students' horizons, enhancing students' courage, appreciation, and self-awareness abilities to achieve the "six consciousness" education. The second teaching strategy is to impart self-learning strategies such as analysis and summarization to promote college students' autonomous learning; The third teaching strategy is to provide opportunities for college students to engage in self-directed learning and exercise, such as giving lectures and providing feedback; The final strategy is to evaluate self-directed learning using a self-directed learning scale to ensure learning effectiveness.