bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human resources for health density and its associations with child and maternal mortality in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Authors: Madad Zahra , Pishgar Farhad , Ghasemi Erfan , Khajavi Alireza , Moghaddam Sahar , Farzadfar Farshad
Published: January 2021

Background: The Family Physician and Social Protection Scheme for Iranian rural inhabitants was launched in June 2005 to improve physician density. To our knowledge, a comprehensive study of the impact of the Scheme on mortality-related health indicators has not been conducted. Aims: To investigate the effects of health workforce density on maternal, neonatal, infant and under-5 mortality rates in rural areas of the Islamic Republic of Iran between 2005 and 2011. Methods: We built mixed-effects Poisson regression models including mortality measures as response variables and physician and behvarz (community-based health worker) densities as independent variables, using data from the Iranian Vital Horoscope tool, annual Households Income and Expenditure Survey, and DTARH software. We also included population sizes, age of inhabitants, rate of urbanization, years of schooling, and wealth index in each district, as well as effect of time, as covariates. Results: Physician density was significantly associated with child mortality rates (1.5%, 1.1% and 63.5% decrease in neonatal, under-5 and maternal mortality with a 1-unit increase in physician density per 1000 individuals). In the model built for infant mortality rate, physician density and behvarz densities were not significantly associated with this measure. Conclusions: Improving the distribution of family physicians was associated with lower child and maternal mortality. Improvements in behvarz densities were not associated with decrements in these rates, which probably calls for improvement in access to more professional health services and facilities.
Estimated and projected prevalence of tobacco smoking in males, Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2000–2025
Authors: Fouad Heba , Commar Alison , Hamadeh Randah , El-Awa Fatimah , Shen Ze , Fraser Charles
Published: January 2021

Background: Three global reports published by the World Health Organization (WHO) report trends in the prevalence of tobacco smoking from 2000 to 2025 based on data from national surveys. Aims: The is study aimed to: (i) compare current and projected prevalence rates of tobacco smoking presented in these reports for males ≥ 15 years in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region; and (ii) assess changes in the prevalence rates in the context of changes in tobacco monitoring and control policies in these countries. Methods: Regional and country-level data on tobacco smoking were extracted from the trend reports. Percentage point differences between the estimated prevalence of tobacco smoking in 2010 and the projected prevalence in 2025 were calculated for countries with available data. Data on implementation of national surveys and policies on tobacco use were obtained from relevant WHO reports. Results: In the latest trend report (2019), the prevalence of male current tobacco smoking is projected to decrease by less than 2 percentage points in the Region (from 33.1% in 2010 to 31.2% in 2025). The projections for male tobacco smoking for 2025 in the 2019 report are more encouraging than in the 2015 report in seven of the eight countries of the Region. For five of these seven countries, implementation of tobacco monitoring and tobacco control policies improved over the same period. Conclusions: Countries of the Region need to conduct additional national tobacco-use surveys to improve the accuracy of prevalence estimates and projections. Such data can help guide policy-makers to implement policies to control tobacco smoking.
Impact of government budget on health prepayment levels: evidence from OECD countries
Authors: Zhang Ying , Vanneste Jacques , Pan Wenqing , Zhang Liuyue
Published: January 2021

Background: Health prepayment, a key indicator under the Sustainable Development Goals monitoring framework, is strongly associated with household financial protection; however, the impact of government health budget on the level of prepayment has rarely been discussed. Aims: To address the following research questions. (1) Does a higher government health budget translate into higher prepayment rates in the healthcare financing system? (2) What are the effects of government health budget on public prepayment and private prepaid plans? (3) What are the heterogeneities between groups of countries with different income levels and public health prepayment systems? Methods: Analysis of panel co-integration, impulse response function, and variance decomposition were conducted in 34 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) members for the period 1995–2016. Results: Government health budget has a long-running equilibrium relationship with the level of public and total prepayment. However, a stable relationship could not be confirmed with private prepaid plans. Moreover, government health budget played a significant positive role in explaining the fluctuations in the total and public prepayments over a long time, that is, 51 and 37 periods, respectively. Considering differences between groups of countries, the impacts are greater for those with higher income levels and more public-dominated health-financing systems. Conclusions: Government health budget has a long-time relationship with the levels of both total prepaid expenditure and public prepayment. By contrast, it does not systematically crowd out private prepaid plans.
A New Secured E-Government Efficiency Model for Sustainable Services Provision
Authors: Alotaibi Youseef
Published: January 2021

E-government projects in some developing countries face many challenges to provide sustainable services for e-efficiency. Literature shows that most governments suffer from lack of technology and restrictions associated with budgets and human resources. These factors constitute the main obstacles impeding the effective implementation of sustainable and secured e-government services. In addition to these obstacles, the e-government efficiency models adopted by some developing countries do not deliver an appropriate strategic plan for disseminating all sustainable and secured e-government services. Therefore, this paper proposes a new secured model for e-government efficiency to provide sustainable and e-efficiency services. This goal can be achieved using five determinants: detailed process, streamlined services, quick accessibility, use of latest techniques, and trust and awareness, which are discussed in this study. The proposed model has been validated by using a pilot study conducted through case study and method of application and implementation. The findings indicate that both service providers such as governments and users of e-government services took advantage of the proposed model. Accordingly, sustainable e-government services may increase.
The Role of Governance in Achieving Sustainable Cybersecurity for Business Corporations
Authors: Alashi Shahad A. , H. Badi Dhuha
Published: January 2021

The study discusses the role of governance in the sustainability of cybersecurity for business corporations. Its objectives focus on tracking technology developments and their impact on industrial espionage attacks and theft of industrial intellectual property. It also identifies the indicators and effects of such espionage and theft on business corporations. The study is based on the content analysis methodology for analyzing intellectual production pertinent to cybersecurity governance and industrial cyber espionage. The study concludes that relying on information and communication technology without adopting a cybersecurity integrated approach including technical, organizational, and social measures leads to the disclosure of a corporation’s trade secrets by unauthorized persons. Moreover, loss of competitive advantage and damage to the corporate’s financial affairs and reputation may occur. The most important indicators of the study predicting dangers affecting business corporations are the absence of a strategic plan for cybersecurity, inefficient programs for training and cybersecurity awareness, and a lack of secure infrastructure. The vulnerability of business corporations to breaches has many implications. The study shows that cybersecurity governance in turn prepares the corporation to encounter risks targeting its trade secrets. The study finds that there are three integrated elements processes, technology, and persons, for establishing an effective cybersecurity governance program. Accordingly, the main aspects of cybersecurity governance can be employed. The study highlights a range of challenges that business corporations may face when implementing the cybersecurity governance program. These challenges are related to cybersecurity strategy, unified processes, implementation and accountability, senior leadership control, and resources.
Integrating Light-Weight Cryptography with Diacritics Arabic Text Steganography Improved for Practical Security Applications
Authors: Alkhudaydi Malak G. , Gutub Adnan A.
Published: January 2021

Cryptography and steganography are combined to provide practical data security. This paper proposes integrating light-weight cryptography with improved Arabic text steganography for optimizing security applications. It uses light-weight cryptography to cope with current limited device capabilities, to provide acceptable required security. The work tests hiding encrypted secret information within Arabic stego-cover texts, using all common diacritics found naturally in the Arabic language. The study considers different challenging situations and scenarios in order to evaluate security practicality. It further carries out simulations on some short texts from the Holy Quran, taking them as standard authentic texts, that are fixed and trusted, therefore providing realistic study feedback that is worth monitoring. Our improved approach features preferred capacity and security, surpassing the best previous diacritics stego approach, showing interesting potential results for attractive enlightening exploration to come.
Cybersecurity Management for Virtual Private Network (VPN) Applications: A Proposed Framework for the Governance of their Use in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alashi Shahad A. , Aldahawi Hanaa A.
Published: January 2021

By using the research process, this study addresses the attitudes of the members of Saudi society towards using Virtual Private Network (VPN) applications and the former’s perceptions of the latter’s concept, security, and privacy, in addition to monitoring their risks to cybersecurity. The main objective of the study is to present a proposed framework for the governance of the use of VPN applications in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to strengthen cybersecurity management. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researchers used two methods: the social survey method and the content analysis method. The researchers also relied on the questionnaire tool to collect information from the 455 individuals in the study sample. The study yielded a set of findings, the most important of which are as follows: The use of free VPN applications represents 91% of the sample of the study. Also, the study revealed confusion in perceptions of the actual concept of VPN applications, which may be common among users, and showed a diversity of attitudes and motives for using VPN applications, most of which are related to entertainment. Moreover, the study showed that the study sample individuals had some knowledge about the risks of VPN applications to cybersecurity, although most of them did not use cyber protection means. The study recommended the need to organize and manage the use of VPN applications, conduct an evaluation of VPN applications available on Saudi smartphone stores, and prohibit those which contain security vulnerabilities and malware. The study proposed a framework for the governance of the use of VPN applications in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which comprised three dimensions: legal, organizational and awareness-based dimensions.
Aspectos inmunológicos del pénfigo: relación de dos casos
Authors: Barba Sergio , Vivar Nicolas , Borja Julio , García Marco
Published: January 2021

Presentamos dos casos de pénfigo foliáceo diagnosticados en base al cuadro clínica, exámenes de laboratorio inmunológico e inmunofluorescencia de los cortes de piel afectada. Lo más llamativo de estos casos es el aumento neto de gemma-globulinas, especialmente de IgG, la poca afectación sobre el sistema del complemento, la ausencia de anticuerpos anticomponentes nucleares y citoplasmáticos celulares, asàcomo muy probable depresión cualitativa y/o cuantitativa de la respuesta inmune celular.  

Se hacen algunas especulaciones acerca del origen infeccioso de la enfermedad, probablemente con la participación de ciertos tipos de virus “lentos” que actuando sobre un sistema inmunológico alterado producirían la enfermedad activa.

También compararemos los resultados de dos esquemas de tratamiento; uno que hemos denominado “conservador” que contempla la eliminación de las ampollas, manejo metabólica, híbrido, electrolítico correctos, con medidas profilácticas para evitar infecciones sobreñadidas, como si tratara de una quemadura superficial extensa y que nos ha dado buenos resultados; y otro esquema, “clásico”, usando esteroides e inmunosupresores, que es muy peligroso y que quizá contribuyó a producir la muerte a una paciente con probables alteraciones inmunológicas profundas
Valores de algunas determinaciones inmunológicas normales en nuestro medio
Authors: Barba Sergio , Proaño Victor , Carrera Alfredo
Published: January 2021

Se analizan 678 determinaciones inmunológicas en personas sanas o con otras afecciones sin compromiso inmunológico, que concurren al Hospital General de las Fuerzas Armadas, de Quito.

Por el método de inmunodifusión  radial se dosifican las inmunoglobulinas G, A y M en el suero ; IgA en saliva; valores de C3 y alfa-1 antitripsina en el suero.

Los valores obtenidos tienen buena correlación estadística y se les ha clasificado en tres grupos de edades: de 0-12; de 13-60 años y de más de 60, en relación a épocas de la vida influyentes en la madurez inmunológica de las personas. Estos demuestran que los límites inferiores de las cifras son mayores en nuestra población en la determinación de inmunoglobulinas, complemente, alfa-1 antitripsina. Los valores altos son concordantes con los de referencia internacional.
Síndromes RINO-SINU-BRONQUIALES en el Ecuador
Authors: Barba Sergio
Published: January 2021

Se hace un estudio tendiente a individualizar los llamados síndromes rino-sinu-bronqueales y a establecer las semejanzas y diferencias con el asma clásica de tipo alérgica. Se dice que son alteraciones de las vías respiratorias que tienen como origen alteraciones de las vías respiratorias altas que se complican frecuentemente en problemas broncoespásmicos que le dan características especiales y muy frecuentemente con problemas broncoespásmicos que le dan características  especiales y muy frecuentemente confundidas con el asma. La padecen especialmente los niños, con alguna preferencia atópicos, que no presentan mucha positividad en sus estudios alergológicos, pero que en las pruebas espirométricas demuestran alteraciones del VEF de 0 a 25 primero y más tarde del 25 a 75, dándole características obstructivas mixtas: de tipo central y periférico. Esto también se demuestra en las curvas flujo-volumen con la disminución del volumen Peak. Se hacen algunas consideraciones de etiopatogenia, las cuales confluyen hacia el síndrome de hiperreactividad bronquial que está estudiándose ampliamente en este tiempo. También se notan algunas acotaciones respecto al tratamiento, y pronóstico de enfermedad.
La asociación sulfanamida- trimetoprim en infecciones experimentales con Clostridium septicum
Authors: Soria Carlos
Published: January 2021

Infecciones experimentales con C. septicum en ratones sirvieron para estudiar comparativamente el efecto quimoterapéutico de soluciones con sulfametaxozole, sulfadiazina o sulfadoxina, en asociación con trimetoprim. Se estudió el efecto de algunas vías de administración terapéutica asàcomo las dosis óptimas y la influencia del número de dosis de cada tratamiento en el curso de infecciones letales. Se observó la influencia de la edad y peso de los animales confrontados, asàcomo el tiempo de la infección transcurrido antes del tratamiento.  Los resultados obtenidos demuestran la efectividad de estos quimoterápicos de amplio espectro en el control de infecciones letales con C. septicum. Esta efectividad parece depender del inoculum de confrontación usado, de la edad y peso de los animales huéspedes, del tiempo de la infección transcurrida antes del tratamiento, asàcomo de la vía de administración y del tipo de tratamiento de usado. Una combinación cuidadosa de estos parámetros, especialmente cuando se usó al asociación de estos parámetros, especialmente cuando se usó la asociación terapéutica sulfadoxina-trimetoprim por la vía intramuscular, dio como resultado altos números de sobrevivencia ante infecciones que en animales controles resultaron ser letales. Se discute el significado de estas observaciones en términos del curso de la infección bacteriana dependiente del mecanismo de acción de cada asociación terapéutica estudiada
Can We Still Afford Human Rights? Critical Reflections on Universality, Costs and Proliferation
Authors: Henderson Emma
Published: January 2021

Book Review: Jan Wouters, Koen Lemmens, Thomas van Poecke and Marie Bourguignon (Eds.) [Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies]. 2020. Can We Still Afford Human Rights? Critical Reflections on Universality, Costs and Proliferation. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1789905120, ISBN-10: 1789905125, 369 pp.
Fotonarrativas de práticas pedgógicas: uma análise sobre as percepções de gênero na educação infantil
Authors: Batista Raquel Aparecida , Sicardi Nakayama Bárbara Cristina Moreira
Published: January 2021

O presente artigo apresenta resultados parciais da pesquisa de mestrado desenvolvida no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação na Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) - Campus de Sorocaba. Tendo como objeto de estudo a prática pedagógica da pesquisadora e de três professoras da Educação Infantil. A pesquisa buscou responder o seguinte questionamento: Quais percepções de gênero se revelam nas práticas pedagógicas das professoras de Educação Infantil? Para responder tal questão o estudo estruturou-se dentro da perspectiva qualitativa e utilizou-se como produção de dados a construção de narrativas (oral e escrita) a partir de fotografias da prática pedagógica das docentes participantes da pesquisa. Os resultados evidenciam que as percepções sobre gênero das professoras pesquisadas, em alguns momentos demonstram priorizar aspectos biológicos, em outros aspectos sociais, no entanto existe por parte delas a intenção consciente de romper com certos modelos hegemônicos e promover práticas motivadoras de equidade de gênero.
Adapting to the Transitional Stage of the Doctoral Environment: An Autoethnography of Socialization
Authors: Matthews Angela
Published: January 2021

Aim/Purpose: Adapting to the doctoral environment can be a difficult transition. This article emphasizes the importance of academic socialization as a means of integrating into the doctoral culture and persisting during the initial transition to doctoral study.

Background: To address the problem of doctoral attrition, I share a personal narrative of problems and persistence during the first year of doctoral coursework. By sharing my initial resistance to social learning and eventual appreciation of merging the social into the academic, this narrative demonstrates the positive impact of socialization on my first year, thus promoting socialization as a means of acclimating to the doctoral environment.

Methodology: This project utilizes the qualitative research method of autoethnography to examine my personal experiences adapting to the doctoral environment and connects those experiences to the larger higher education community.

Contribution: Since people often connect more with stories than with numbers, my narrative offers struggling doctoral students an opportunity to see possible aspects of themselves in the lived experiences of someone who persisted, to see that they are not alone with their struggles and understand that supplementing their independent studies with social experiences could be a good way for them to persist in their own doctoral studies.

Findings: Although I preferred independent work and significantly underestimated the value of social experiences when entering my first year of doctoral study, peer-to-peer interaction quickly became an essential element in my adaptation to the doctoral environment.

Recommendations for Practitioners: Results of this study suggest that even when new doctoral students typically prefer solitary work, they should still seek out social learning experiences as a means of acclimating to the doctoral environment. University faculty and staff should incorporate social learning activities into the first year of their programs to promote socialization of their first-year doctoral students and increase their chances of persistence.

Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers should use a variety of methods to examine the experiences of doctoral students and look at the data in new ways to better understand doctoral student needs and uncover new ideas to assist them.

Impact on Society: By sharing storied experiences of struggles and success, I hope to inspire doctoral students to work with their peers and support one another as they try to persist.

Future Research: More personal experiences of doctoral students are needed to give us a better understanding of the obstacles they encounter, so we can uncover additional strategies to combat those issues and improve persistence.
Coal ash Portland Cement Mortars Sulphate Resistance
Authors: Menéndez Esperanza , Argiz Cristina , Sanjuán Miguel Ángel
Published: January 2021

Coal fly ash (CFA), coal bottom ash (CBA) are residues produced in thermo-electrical power stations as result of the coal combustion in the same boiler. Therefore, some characteristics of the coal fly ash (CFA) are comparable with those of the coal bottom ash (CBA). Nevertheless, coal bottom ash size is larger than coal fly ash one. Consequently, it was found that it is necessary to grind the coal bottom ash (CBA) to reach a similar size to that one of the CFA. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the performance of Portland cement mortars made with coal fly ash (CFA), coal bottom ash (CBA) or mixes (CFA+CBA), against sulphate attack. The methodology is based on the expansion of slender bars submerged in a sodium sulphate solution (5%) according to the ASTM C-1012/C1012-13 standard. It has been found that mortars elaborated with CEM I 42.5 N (without ashes) presented the largest expansion (0.09%) after a testing period of 330 days. Mortars made with CEM II/A-V exhibited lower expansion (0.03%). Summing up, it can be established that mortar expansion decreases when the coal ash amount increases, independently of the type of coal ash employed. The novelty of this paper relies on the comparison between the performances of Portland cement mortars made with coal fly ash (CFA) or coal bottom ash (CBA) exposed to external sulphate attack. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091640 Full Text: PDF
Prediction of Compressive Strength of Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) with Silica Fume Using Neural Networks Models
Authors: Serraye Mahmoud , Kenai Said , Boukhatem Bakhta
Published: January 2021

Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is a relatively new type of concrete with high workability, high volume of paste and containing cement replacement materials such as slag, natural pozzolana and silica fume. Cement replacement materials provide a wide variety of benefits such as lower cost, reduced consumption of natural resources, reduced carbon dioxide emissions and improved fresh and hardened properties. SCC is used in many applications such as sections with congested reinforcement and high rise shear walls and there is a need for the prediction of the performance of SCC used. Artificial Neural networks (ANN) are widely used in civil engineering for the prediction of the performance of some engineering materials such as compressive strength and durability. However, currently, studies on SCC containing silica fume are very rare. In this paper, an artificial neural networks (ANN) model is developed to predict the compressive strength of SCC with silica fume using the Levenberg-Marquardt back propagation algorithm based on a database from 366 experimental studies. The model developed was correlated with a nonlinear relationship between the constituents (input) and the compressive strength of SCC (output). To evaluate the predictive ability and generalize the developed model, other researchers’ experimental results were compared with the model prediction and good agreements are found. A parametric study was conducted to study the sensitivity of the ANN proposed model to some parameters such as water/binder ratio and superplasticizer content. The model developed in this study can potentially be used for SCC compressive strength prediction with very acceptable results and a high correlation coefficient R2=0.93. The developed model is practical, easy to use and user friendly. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091642 Full Text: PDF
Fuzzy Knowledge Based System for Suitability of Soils in Airfield Applications
Authors: Sujatha A. , Govindaraju L. , Shivakumar N. , Devaraj V.
Published: January 2021

Proper design of roads and airfield pavements requires an in-depth soil properties evaluation to determine suitability of soil. Soft computing is used to model soil classification system's dynamic behaviour and its properties. Soft computing is based on methods of machine learning, fuzzy logic and artificial neural networks, expert systems, genetic algorithms. Fuzzy system is a strong method for mimicking human thought and solves question of confusion. This paper proposes a new decision-making approach for soil suitability in airfield applications without a need to perform any manual works like use of tables or chart. A fuzzy knowledge - based approach is built to rate soil suitability in qualitative terms for airfield application. The proposed model describes a new technique by defining fuzzy descriptors using triangular functions considering the index properties of soils as input parameters and fuzzy rules are generated using fuzzy operators to classify soil and rate its suitability for airfield applications. The data obtained from the results of the laboratory test are validated with the results of the fuzzy knowledge-based system indicating the applicability of the Fuzzy model created. The approach developed in this work is more skilled to other prevailing optimization models. Due to its system’s flexibility, it can be suitably customized and applied to laboratory test data available, thus delivering a wide range for any geotechnical engineer. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091643 Full Text: PDF
An Investigation of the Impact of Social Media on Construction Project Management
Authors: Al-Shehan Ansam Omar , Assbeihat Jamal M.
Published: January 2021

One of the most important aspects of managing a project is communication. Although this issue has been widely covered in management, a lack of attention has been given in the project management, slight is known as the impact of social media tools on construction project management. The main purpose of the present study is to explore the potential of social media for the construction of the project management and to understand some of the difficulties that arise from social media implementation. For this purpose a 12 question and 20-item questionnaire has been employed and distributed as a soft copy questionnaires among the sample of 400 engineers who work in the construction field, either in the private sector including contracting and consulting companies (grade one and two) or in the public sector in Jordan. The number of participants who said that they apply social media tools in their projects was 357, while 43 participants, were eliminated as they do not apply social media tools in their work. The collected data from 375 participants were analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results indicated that there is a positive impact of social media on project management and project team in construction projects especially in reducing time. Coringly, the study revealed the existing difficulties that arise from social media use in projects. The study also has concluded that using social media in the project is highly important to organize the management project recently. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091644 Full Text: PDF
Comparison of Nondestructive Testing Method for Strength Prediction of Asphalt Concrete Material
Authors: Al-Mattarneh Hashem , Dahim Mohammed
Published: January 2021

Concrete is one of the most common construction materials used in rigid pavement, bridges, roads, highways, and buildings. Compressive strength is one of the most important properties of concrete, which determines its quality. This study aims to present the use of a new surface dielectric method to estimate concrete compressive strength. Six concrete mixtures were produced with compressive strengths ranging from 30 to 60 MPa. Compressive strength and strength development were determined during 28 days of curing. All concrete mixes were tested using the ASTM standard. The dielectric properties, ultrasound velocity, and rebound number of all concrete mixes were also measured at each day of curing. The results obtained from the proposed dielectric method in predicting the compressive strength of concrete were compared with the rebound hammer and ultrasonic velocity that are frequently used to evaluate the compressive strength of concrete.  The dielectric method shows a higher square correlation coefficient than the other two methods. The results also indicate that combined more than one method of nondestructive techniques will lead to higher prediction and could help to reduce some errors associated with using a certain method alone. The result indicate that the finding of this study could lead to help in reducing the time of evaluating concrete during construction and could also provide tools for practicing engineer to take decision faster with more confidence level on quality of concrete. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091645 Full Text: PDF
ACCESSIBILITY OF INTERNATIONAL WEBPAGES:A PRELIMINARY SURVEY
Authors: Rout Nachiketa , Amarnath Reegan , Chandramohan Neeradha
Published: January 2021

The paper surveys the extent to which the international webpage’s applied accessibility statements. Methodology includes thirty one international websites have been evaluated for 17 accessibility features prescribed in the accessibility statement by the Directorate of Standardization testing and quality certification (STQC) along with five accessibility features prescribed byWeb content accessibility guidelines (WCAG).The average score obtained was seven. Top scorers were the Ministry of Road and Transport (21), National institute for Empowerment of Person with Multiple Disabilities (16) and Yahoo webpage (12) Bottom scorers were Wikipedia (7), American Speech and Hearing Association (8), Meccawebpage (8) Massachusetts university (6) and International telecommunication union, toolkit for Disables (6).The features which are significantly applied (p<0.05) are Headings, Subheadings, Titles, Tooltip, Connection with social networking and Videos. The feature which were not significantly used by the websites are Skip to main content, icons, Accessibility features, Adjust contrast scheme and Increase text spacing other Twelve features were used in consistently. Hence the accessibility statements which enable merging the digital divide are yet to be appreciated internationally.
MICRO FINANCING SCHEMES & THEIR IMPACT ON POVERTY REDUCTION - A STUDY CONDUCTED ON MEMBERS OF SELF HELP GROUPS IN PUNJAB (INDIA)
Authors: Kaur Tejbir , Singh Rajdeep
Published: January 2021

In a country like India where faster, sustainable and inclusive growth is the objective/mission of the government, there arises a need to study the impact of microfinance through SHG’s (Self Help Groups) on poverty reduction. The current study examines to what extent microfinance through SHG’s has helped the members in raising their economic status. The target population for the study was the members of SHG’s at district Fatehgarh Sahib. A sample of 100 members out of the universe was selected using convenience sampling and a survey was conducted. The reliability of data was confirmed by using cronbach’s reliability test. Descriptive statistics and cross tabulation have been used to analyze the data. The study shows a positive impact of micro financing Schemes on poverty reduction.
REVIEW ON ASSESSMENT OF DEPRESSION BY BECK DEPRESSION INVENTORY (BDI) AND HAMILTONDEPRESSION RATING SCALE (HDRS)
Authors: Shahlaei Leili , Hasan Shahizan , Ahmad Norshafrin , Kiumarsi S.
Published: January 2021

The study aimed at investigating how to apply two familiar tools formeasuringdepression among diabetic patients in Iran. The study discusses about two inventories and emphasizes that depression is such an important issue that needs to receive a great deal of attention in order to create grounds to be prevented or cured. The issue of concept of tools was also discussed in the study. The discussion in the paper is based on the conceptual framework of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS).Thesetools are appropriate for the study because they allowthe reader to understand how to measureand identify symptoms of depression.  The paper recommends that the tools should be carefully applied in order to improve mental health and reduce the prevalence of depression.
“RAMANUJAN’S CONGRUENCES AND DYSON’S CRANK”
Authors: Das Sabuj
Published: January 2021

In 1944, Freeman Dyson conjectured the existence of a “crank” function for partitions that would provide a combinatorial result of Ramanujan’s congruence modulo 11. In 1988, Andrews and Garvan stated such functions and described the celebrated result that the crank simultaneously explains the three Ramanujan congruences modulo 5, 7 and 11.  Dyson wrote the article, titled Some Guesses in the theory of partitions, for Eureka, the undergraduate mathematics journal of Cambridge. He discovered the many conjectures in this article by attempting to find a combinatorial explanation of Ramanujan’s famous congruences for P (n), the number of partitions of n indeed, Ramanujan’s formulas lay unread until 1976 when Dyson found In the Trainty College Library of Cambridge University among papers from the estate of the late G.N.Watson. In 1986, F.Garvan wrote his Pennsylvania state Ph.D. Thesis Precisely on the formulas of Ramanujan relative to the crank. In view of this theoretical description, the story of the crank is a long romantic tale and the crank functions are intimately connected to all partitions congruences. In 2005, Mahlburg stated that the crank functions themselves obey Ramanujan type congruences.
THE EFFECT OF METFORMIN ON BODY WEIGHT IN POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME PATIENTS
Authors: El-Shabrawy Yasser , Alhaboby Alaa , Hassan Nageeb Abdulgaleel , Bloukh Sameer Issa , Shahwan Moayad Jamal
Published: January 2021

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCO) is an endocrine disease that is characterized by a set of symptoms including irregular menstruation, subfertility, skin changes, hirsutism and weight gain.

The pathogenesis of PCO is mostly related to increase androgens and insulin resistance. Treatment is mostly symptomatic hence metformin is being used due to its effect in decreasing gluconeogenesis and by increasing peripheral utilization of glucose, in addition to its lowering effects on androgen. Thus, Metformin role in PCO treatment ranges between managing insulin resistance, promoting ovulation and treating hirsutism to some extent. Some studies showed that Metformin is effective in lowering body weight in PCO patients, yet it is not being indicated officially for this purpose.

Background: Metformin is expected to have an effect of weight reduction in PCO patients This is the scope of this research which intends to explore this action.

Method: The Study design is cross sectional study using online questionnaire. Open and closed ended questions were included. 

Results: Based on the results the majority shows decrease in the weight, while only one reported increase in their weight and only one had the same weight during and after treatment with metformin.

Conclusions:  Metformin generally showed positive effect regarding reducing the body weight of the females diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome when used alone.
IMPROVING THERMAL WITHSTANDING CAPACITY OF THREE PHASE INDUCTION MOTOR USING NWCC METHOD
Authors: Khan Banti , Goyal Ashita , Kumar Chobey Ashutosh
Published: January 2021

Three phase induction motors are widely used in industries due to their various technical as well as economical advantages. About 60% of industrial electricity is consumed by these motors, but the heat generation inside the motor due to various losses is a critical factor which degrades the dielectric properties of insulation and shortening the lifespan of motor. This paper presents the capillary based water cooling method of three phase squirrel cage induction motor. In this method, a jacket of capillaries made of jute and cotton is used as a outer cover for the motor casing. A small air gap passage is provided in between motor casing and inner surface of jacket. Natural Water Cooling Capillaries (NWCC) method is used to lower down the surrounding temperature of motor which reduces heating limitations of motor. For this purpose we select a 1.1kW three phase, 50Hz squirrel cage induction motor. Heat run test is performed on this motor to determine the total loss of energy dissipated as heat on three phase squirrel cage induction motor with and without adopting capillary based water cooling method. Comparison is done on the basis of experimental result which shows that the temperature withstanding capacity of induction motor will increase by 15.5 % after adopting capillary based water cooling method. This is an economical method and no external energy is required for cooling purpose.
DEVELOPMENT OF ANDREWS-GARVAN-LIANG’S SELF-CONJUGATE S-PARTITIONS
Authors: Das Sabuj
Published: January 2021

In 2013, Andrews, Garvan and Liang defined Self-conjugate S-partitions. In 2011, Andrews stated the definition of spt(n). This paper shows how to find the Self-conjugate S-partitions of 4 and 5 respectively, and proves the Corollary-1 that is ‘The number of Self-conjugate S-partitions counted according to the weight w is congruent to the total number of smallest parts in all the partitions of n modulo 2’. This paper shows how to generate the generating functions for Msc(n) in different ways. This paper shows how to find the number of partitions of n with an odd number of smallest parts and a total number of even (respectively odd) parts, and shows how to find the number of partitions of n in odd parts without gaps, and also shows how to generate the generating functions for  and  respectively. This paper shows how to prove the further three Corollaries with the help of examples, and shows how to prove the three Theorems by easy algebraic method.
COIN BASED MOBILE CHARGER ON SOLAR ENERGY
Authors: Chafle Kalyani U. , Faruk B. M. , Shrivas R. S. , Sawarkar N.S.
Published: January 2021

The mobile phones are play’s vital role in the present communication. The coin-based mobile battery charger developed in this paper for providing a unique service to the rural public where grid power is not available for partial/full daytime and a source of revenue for site providers. This can be quickly and easily installed outside any business premises.This type of charger will be very useful for the public people; many times the battery becomes flat in the middle of the conversation in particularly at inconvenient times when access to a standard charger isn’t possible. The power supply for the charger is determined from solar power and current supply. When we put a coin, the coin detector detects the coin and the input is given to the controller. MOSFET acts as the switch in the circuit. This circuit can be placed in public places such as Bus stands, Railway stations, Hospitals.
CREATIVITY IN VISUAL ART
Authors: Singh Chauhan Bijender
Published: January 2021

This paper examines the nature of creativity in visual art. Creativity requires originality and effectiveness in the work of art whether it is a design or a painting. Originality is undoubtedly required. It is often labeled novelty, but whatever the label, if something is not unusual, novel or unique, it is commonplace, mundane or conventional. It is undoubtedly cannot be called creative work.

According to my opinion, creativity requires confluence of some instinct like intellectual abilities, knowledge, and style of thinking, personality, motivation and environment. It varies across time and place but nature of creativity essentially the same around the globe.
Beyond the washback of the English National Exam on learning: Subsequent impact on language learning strategies of first-year English majors
Authors: Thanh Minh Nguyen Huu
Published: January 2021

The study aims to investigate washback of the English National Exam (ENE) on learning and how they impacted English language learning strategies of first-year English majors at University of Foreign Language Studies, The University of Danang (UFLS, UD). Data was collected from a questionnaire administered to 120 first-year English majors and an interview conducted with ten randomly-selected students from the focus group. The findings indicated that given the ENE 2018 as an objective test with emphasis on language knowledge (grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation) and reading skills, previous learning practices of first-year English majors as the washback of ENE resulted in intense memorization of language knowledge to perform test-preparation exercises rather than concentrating on developing non-tested skills (listening, speaking, and writing). While some previous English learning practices have inherently benefited first-year English majors, they mainly exert negative effects and drive first-year English majors to develop and modify pre-existent strategies as well as adopt new ones for the development of all language skills. The study is instrumental in depicting potential effects of previous learning practices for the ENE on higher education specializing on English, thereby preparing first-year English majors to make adjustments and accommodate themselves with appropriate learning strategies at UFLS, UD.
Impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 en la práctica dermatológica en Colombia. Encuesta nacional
Authors: Arenas-Soto Claudia Marcela , Camacho-Pérez Laura Carolina , Morales-Cardona Camilo Andrés , Sanclemente-Mesa Gloria
Published: January 2021

Introducción: la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 ha causado una interrupción en la prestación de los servicios de salud de todo el mundo, con lo que ha modificado el ejercicio de la medicina. La dermatología, una especialidad medicoquirúrgica, en la que existe contacto estrecho con el paciente, ha experimentado reducción en el número de consultas y cancelación de procedimientos quirúrgicos y dermocosméticos, en cumplimiento de las recomendaciones y lineamientos nacionales e internacionales.
Materiales y métodos: estudio transversal descriptivo por medio de una encuesta aplicada por vía electrónica a los dermatólogos colombianos, miembros de la Asociación Colombiana de Dermatología y Cirugía Dermatológica. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la magnitud del impacto de la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 en la práctica de los dermatólogos colombianos.
Resultados: el 74% de los encuestados reportó suspensión de la consulta dermatológica, el 83% de procedimientos dermatológicos y solo un 6% atendía pacientes de urgencias durante el confinamiento obligatorio. Secundario a la pandemia por COVID-19, un 79% de los dermatólogos colombianos introdujo la modalidad de teleconsulta y los costos asociados al cumplimiento de las normas de bioseguridad generaron gastos imprevistos para el 20% de los encuestados.
Conclusiones: la situación actual es un gran reto para la especialidad, que no solo debe mitigar el riesgo biológico derivado del retorno a sus actividades presenciales, sino conocer e implementar medidas preventivas que permitan proteger la salud y el bienestar común, mientras se fortalecen las condiciones para un ejercicio seguro y de calidad, apoyado en las nuevas tecnologías.
Actualización en el tratamiento de las reacciones adversas cutáneas graves a los medicamentos
Authors: Meza-Corso María Fernanda , González-Ardila Cesar
Published: January 2021

A diferencia de las reacciones adversas a los medicamentos con manifestaciones cutáneas más frecuentes, las presentaciones graves, como el síndrome de hipersensibilidad a medicamentos con eosinofilia y el espectro del síndrome de Stevens-Johnson/necrólisis epidérmica tóxica, pueden tener complicaciones potencialmente mortales. Las investigaciones que evalúan el tratamiento de estas entidades están condicionadas por el estado crítico y la baja incidencia de los casos y hace que la evidencia de alta calidad sea limitada y no se logre establecer cuál es la terapia más efectiva. En esta revisión narrativa se abordan los tratamientos sistémicos comúnmente aplicados en pacientes adultos, el sustrato fisiopatológico, los esquemas terapéuticos y los efectos no deseados más frecuentes. Además, se describen nuevas alternativas que ofrecen potenciales aplicaciones.
Nevo de Spitz
Authors: Mejía-Montoya Milton , González-Alvarez Tatiana , Ospina Juan Pablo , Zuluaga-Lotero Daniela
Published: January 2021

El nevo de Spitz es una lesión melanocítica benigna poco común, compuesta de células epitelioides y/o fusiformes grandes, que usualmente se presenta en la infancia. Clínicamente son lesiones pequeñas, generalmente de menos de 6 mm de diámetro, con características histológicas benignas (arquitectura regular, escasas o nulas mitosis y ausencia de atipia celular). El patrón en estallido de estrella y el patrón vascular punteado son los patrones dermatoscópicos más frecuentes. El manejo puede ser expectante o excisional dependiendo de las características clínicas y la edad del paciente.
Certificado médico de complacencia parte 2
Authors: Maya José María
Published: January 2021

El certificado médico es un documento que contiene una declaración y que informa sobre datos personales de naturaleza sanitaria. Tiene por finalidad acreditar ante terceros un estado de salud o enfermedad o un proceso asistencial prestado, con el fin de optar a determinadas prestaciones, de ejercer ciertas actividades o de acreditar hechos de trascendencia civil. Cuando proceda o el paciente lo solicite, es deber del médico proporcionar un certificado sobre la asistencia prestada o sobre los datos de la historia clínica. Su contenido debe ser auténtico y veraz y será entregado únicamente al paciente, a la persona por él autorizada o a su representante legal. No es recomendable que el médico expida un certificado a familiares o personas que estén bajo su dependencia civil.