bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tunicate swarm algorithm with deep convolutional neural network-driven colorectal cancer classification from histopathological imaging data
Authors: AL-Ghamdi Abdullah S. AL-Malaise , Ragab Mahmoud
Published: March 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most popular cancers among both men and women, with increasing incidence. The enhanced analytical load data from the pathology laboratory, integrated with described intra- and inter-variabilities through the calculation of biomarkers, has prompted the quest for robust machine-based approaches in combination with routine practice. In histopathology, deep learning (DL) techniques have been applied at large due to their potential for supporting the analysis and forecasting of medically appropriate molecular phenotypes and microsatellite instability. Considering this background, the current research work presents a metaheuristics technique with deep convolutional neural network-based colorectal cancer classification based on histopathological imaging data (MDCNN-C3HI). The presented MDCNN-C3HI technique majorly examines the histopathological images for the classification of colorectal cancer (CRC). At the initial stage, the MDCNN-C3HI technique applies a bilateral filtering approach to get rid of the noise. Then, the proposed MDCNN-C3HI technique uses an enhanced capsule network with the Adam optimizer for the extraction of feature vectors. For CRC classification, the MDCNN-C3HI technique uses a DL modified neural network classifier, whereas the tunicate swarm algorithm is used to fine-tune its hyperparameters. To demonstrate the enhanced performance of the proposed MDCNN-C3HI technique on CRC classification, a wide range of experiments was conducted. The outcomes from the extensive experimentation procedure confirmed the superior performance of the proposed MDCNN-C3HI technique over other existing techniques, achieving a maximum accuracy of 99.45%, a sensitivity of 99.45% and a specificity of 99.45%.
A weak form of soft $ \alpha $-open sets and its applications via soft topologies
Authors: Al-shami Tareq M. , Mhemdi Abdelwaheb
Published: March 2023

In this work, we present some concepts that are considered unique ideas for topological structures generated by soft settings. We first define the concept of weakly soft $ \alpha $-open subsets and characterize it. It is demonstrated the relationships between this class of soft subsets and some generalizations of soft open sets with the help of some illustrative examples. Some interesting results and relationships are obtained under some stipulations like extended and hyperconnected soft topologies. Then, we introduce the interior and closure operators inspired by the classes of weakly soft $ \alpha $-open and weakly soft $ \alpha $-closed subsets. We establish their master features and derive some formulas that describe the relations among them. Finally, we study soft continuity with respect to this class of soft subsets and investigate its essential properties. In general, we discuss the systematic relations and results that are missing through the frame of our study. The line adopted in this study will create new roads in the branch of soft topology.
New applications of various distance techniques to multi-criteria decision-making challenges for ranking vague sets
Authors: Palanikumar Murugan , Kausar Nasreen , Ahmed Shams Forruque , Edalatpanah Seyyed Ahmad , Ozbilge Ebru , Bulut Alper
Published: March 2023

Using the Fermatean vague normal set (FVNS), problems requiring multiple attribute decision making (MADM) have been resolved in this article. This article focuses on the log Fermatean vague normal weighted averaging (log FVNWA), logarithmic Fermatean vague normal weighted geometric (log FVNWG), log generalized Fermatean vague normal weighted averaging (log GFVNWA) and log generalized Fermatean vague normal weighted geometric (log GFVNWG) operators. Described the scoring function, accuracy function and operational laws of the log FVNS. The Euclidean and Humming distance are extended with numerical examples. The features of the log FVNS based on the algebraic operations, including idempotency, boundedness, commutativity and monotonicity are also examined. A field of applied engineering called agricultural robotics has been compared to computer science and machine tool technology. Five distinct agricultural robotics including autonomous mobile robots, articulated robots, humanoid robots, cobot robots, and hybrid robots are randomly chosen. Findings can be compared to established criteria to determine which robotics are the most successful. The results of the models are expressed as a natural number $ \alpha $. We contrast several existing with those that have been developed in order to show the effectiveness and accuracy of the models.
Sudden cardiac death multiparametric classification system for Chagas heart disease's patients based on clinical data and 24-hours ECG monitoring
Authors: Cavalcante Carlos H. L. , Primo Pedro E. O. , Sales Carlos A. F. , Caldas Weslley L. , Silva João H. M. , Souza Amauri H. , Marinho Emmanuel S. , Pedrosa Roberto C. , Marques João A. L. , Santos Hélcio S. , Madeiro João P. V.
Published: March 2023

About 6.5 million people are infected with Chagas disease (CD) globally, and WHO estimates that $ > million people worldwide suffer from ChHD. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) represents one of the leading causes of death worldwide and affects approximately 65% of ChHD patients at a rate of 24 per 1000 patient-years, much greater than the SCD rate in the general population. Its occurrence in the specific context of ChHD needs to be better exploited. This paper provides the first evidence supporting the use of machine learning (ML) methods within non-invasive tests: patients' clinical data and cardiac restitution metrics (CRM) features extracted from ECG-Holter recordings as an adjunct in the SCD risk assessment in ChHD. The feature selection (FS) flows evaluated 5 different groups of attributes formed from patients' clinical and physiological data to identify relevant attributes among 57 features reported by 315 patients at HUCFF-UFRJ. The FS flow with FS techniques (variance, ANOVA, and recursive feature elimination) and Naive Bayes (NB) model achieved the best classification performance with 90.63% recall (sensitivity) and 80.55% AUC. The initial feature set is reduced to a subset of 13 features (4 Classification; 1 Treatment; 1 CRM; and 7 Heart Tests). The proposed method represents an intelligent diagnostic support system that predicts the high risk of SCD in ChHD patients and highlights the clinical and CRM data that most strongly impact the final outcome.
A two-grid ADI finite element approximation for a nonlinear distributed-order fractional sub-diffusion equation
Authors: Hou Yaxin , Wen Cao , Liu Yang , Li Hong
Published: March 2023

In this paper, a two-grid alternating direction implicit (ADI) finite element (FE) method based on the weighted and shifted Grünwald difference (WSGD) operator is proposed for solving a two-dimensional nonlinear time distributed-order fractional sub-diffusion equation. The stability and optimal error estimates with second-order convergence rate in spatial direction are obtained. The storage space can be reduced and computing efficiency can be improved in this method. Two numerical examples are provided to verify the theoretical results.
Autoregressive distributed lag estimation of bank financing and Nigerian manufacturing sector capacity utilization
Authors: Saka Kamilu A. , Bolanle Yisau I.
Published: March 2023

This study examined the short-term and long-term relationship between credit financing by commercial banks and capacity utilization of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria. The study employed both classical Multiple Linear Regression (OLS-MLR) and the autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) to analyze data representing the period 1981–2020 relating to sectoral credit finance,labor employment,and capacity utilization from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin (2020) and World Bank Development Indicators (2021). Further,the two estimation procedures were performed within a classical endogenous Cobb-Douglas production function framework that takes technical change into consideration. The bounds test indicated no long-term relationship between bank financing and average capacity utilization of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria. However,the ARDL results revealed that bank financing exerts a positive but insignificant short-term impact on the average capacity utilization of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria. Consequently,the researchers affirm that credit financing by commercial banks in Nigeria has no significant impact on the capacity utilization of the country's manufacturing sector,in neither the short run nor the long run.
Koncept socijalnih investicija u zdravstvenom sustavu
Authors: Šimunković Gordana , Babić Zdenko
Published: March 2023

Focusing on human capital, social investments provide an answer to the social challenges facing social development in recent decades. In the context of human capital, investing in health has multiple channels of influence especially if it is present from an early age: a person will stay active longer, be more productive and contribute to the economy and society. The paper aims to gain an insight into the extent to which Croatia’s health policy is in line with the concept of social investment presented through the European Commission’s document Investing in Health, which builds on the basic document on social investment: Towards Social Investment for Growth and Cohesion. For this purpose, the analysis of strategic health policy documents and the comparative analysis of data on investments in the health system from both the Eurostat database and domestic data sources are used. There is also a detailed comparative analysis of (in) equality of access to health services in Croatia in the EU context, and of the importance of individual components of health care from the perspective of social investment. It is noticed that the Croatian health policy follows the idea of social investment described in the document Investing in Health with certain shortcomings, but there is a shift towards overcoming some shortcomings such as, for example, a serious lack of evaluation in the implementation of certain measures and programs adopted. Key words: health investment, social investments, human capital, health policy
Učinkovitost hrvatskog zdravstvenog sustava - usporedba sa zemljama Europske unije
Authors: Buljan Antonija , Šimović Hrvoje
Published: March 2023

The aim of the paper is to analyse the indicators of the healthcare system efficiency in Croatia and to assess its effectiveness based on a comparison with other EU countries. The analysis of the efficiency of the healthcare system in Croatia and 21 selected EU countries in the period from 2013 to 2018 was conducted by the application of the dynamic DEA window analysis (WDEA). According to the results of the analysis, the overall efficiency of expenditure on healthcare in relation to average life expectancy is on the lowest level in Croatia, amounting to 57% in 2018. While cost-effectiveness of the Croatian healthcare system is on the maximum level of 100%, systemic effectiveness amounts to only 48%. According to the aforementioned indicator, Croatia has recorded the lowest efficiency in relation to the selected EU countries, the efficiency of which amounted to 88% in 2018. Therefore, inefficiencies of the healthcare system are generated during the transformation of intermediary inputs into treatment outcomes, which means that Croatia could achieve the same health outcomes with a lesser engagement of intermediary resources. According to the results of the panel analysis, smoking and alcohol consumption are the key determinants of the efficiency of healthcare protection in EU countries. Croatia does not invest enough into health promotion measures and prevention of diseases, for which it spends only 3% of the overall expenditure on healthcare. Strengthening of public healthcare policies against smoking and alcohol consumption and the increase of excise duties on tobacco products and alcoholic beverages could indirectly influence the improvement of health outcomes, while maintaining the existing levels of expenditure on healthcare. Key words: healthcare system efficiency, financial sustainability of healthcare system, DEA method.
Legal Aspects of Recognizing COVID-19 As an Occupational Disease in The Republic of Croatia
Authors: Milošević Milan , Brborović Hana , Žaja Roko
Published: March 2023

Occupational diseases are diseases directly induced by work and working conditions. In the Republic of Croatia, according to the procedure set out by law, occupational diseases are reported and recognized by the Croatian Health Insurance Fund and registered and monitored in the Registry of Occupational Diseases kept by the Croatian Institute for Public Health – Department of Occupational Health. Diagnoses are under responsibility of occupational medicine specialists and are carried out according to modern occupational health criteria, which include determining the clinical picture of the disease and the damage caused by the work process. The recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease is extremely important for the worker considering the financial and pension benefits according to the applicable laws and regulations. Most workers who have had COVID-19 as a professional disease do not get the disease recognized as an occupational disease while they are sick. The length of the acute disease is shorter than the process of application and evaluation of occupational disease. However, the recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease may be important for the future. Should any of the complications (e.g. post COVID-19 syndrome) arise in the future, the worker holds their rights under health insurance. The scientific and healthcare community is still in the process of evaluating and recognizing complications of COVID-19 disease and their long-term impact on health and work ability. Key words: occupational disease, legislation, public health, occupational medicine
Velimir Šonje: Mirovine za 21. stoljeće
Authors: Bejaković Predrag
Published: March 2023

The pension system in modern society has several functions, the main ones being the equal distribution of the income of individuals and families throughout life, encouraging individual and national savings and alleviating poverty during old age and work inactivity. One of the most important goals of pension insurance is maintaining the income of the elderly and it seems as the program was quite successful there. While older people are sometimes much more common belonged to the relatively poor, today's indicators point to quite positive effects, that is, to significance
Ear Recognition Using Rank Level Fusion of Classifiers Outputs
Authors: Resmi K. R.  , Joseph Shijo M. , Raju G.  , Swain Debabrata , Das Om Prakash , Acharya Biswaranjan
Published: March 2023

An individual's authentication plays a vital role in our daily life. In the last decade, biometric-based authentication has become more prevalent than traditional approaches like passwords and pins.   Ear recognition has gained attention in the biometric community in recent years. Researchers defined several features for the identification of a person from ear image. The features play a vital role in the success of classification models. This paper considers an ensemble of features for designing a new classification model. The features are assessed in isolation as well as through feature-level fusion.  Subsequently, a rank-level fusion for classification is introduced. The experiments are conducted on both constrained and unconstrained ear datasets. The results are promising and open up new possibilities in machine learning-based ear recognition
Cyber Security for Medical Image Encryption using Circular Blockchain Technology Based on Modify DES Algorithm
Authors: Abeer Salim Jamil  , Abdul Monem S. Rahma
Published: March 2023

Recently, with the requirement for protecting the privacy of images transferred over the internet and media networks. The need to protect these images from hacking by unauthorized persons and from the manipulation of these images has become very important in this research, Block chain technology was used for its importance in cybersecurity. To maintain the confidentiality of the patient's medical data, as a result, to solve this problem requires increasing the strength of the key used in the encryption process, which is responsible for ensuring the security of the image .In this paper, it is proposed to use block chain technology with the Data Encryption Standard (DES) algorithm for the purpose of increasing the degree of security of the transmitted images by enhancing the key during the process of encrypting the transmitted images as well as increasing the degree of authentication between the sender and receiver. Experimental outcomes manifested that the security of encryption image that gained via the suggested algorithm is higher, performing the goal of protecting the information of medical image, as presented by the results obtained in Entropy, MSE, and PSNR.
Modified pectoral nerve block versus bi-level erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia after radical mastectomy surgery: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Cesur Sevim , Aksu Can , Güler Sertaç Ata , Kuş Alparslan
Published: March 2023

Background: Regional anesthesia techniques constitute an important part of successful analgesia strategies in the perioperative care of patients undergoing breast surgery. The advent of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia has led to the development of fascial plane blocks. The large array of blocks available for postoperative analgesia in breast surgery has increased the accessibility of regional anesthesia but has also created a dilemma of choice. This study compared the analgesic efficacy of the ultrasound-guided modified pectoral nerve (PECS) block and erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in patients undergoing radical mastectomy.Methods: Seventy women were enrolled in this prospective, double-blind, randomized control trial. After exclusion, 67 female patients who underwent radical mastectomy were finally analyzed. Ultrasound-guided PECS blocks and ESPBs were performed with 30 ml 0.25% bupivacaine. Postoperative morphine and pain scores were compared between the groups.Results: Postoperative total morphine consumption in the first 24 h was significantly higher in the PECS group (P < 0.001). The ESPB group exhibited significantly reduced morphine consumption at all postoperative time points. Numeric rating scale scores were lower in the ESPB group at 6, 12, and 24 h postoperatively at rest and when coughing.Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided bi-level ESPBs provided better postoperative analgesia than PECS blocks after radical mastectomy surgery.
Investigating the Association of IL12B and INFG Polymorphisms with the Risk of Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome and Glaucoma
Authors: Fakhraie Ghasem , Ghanavi Jalaledin , Saliminejad Kioomars , Farnia Poopak
Published: March 2023

Background:

Immune responses may be involved in the development of pseudoexfoliation (PEX), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG), and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) pathogenesis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of IL12B rs3212227 A/C and INFG rs1861494 T/C polymorphisms with the risk of PEX, PEXG, and POAG in an Iranian population.

Methods:

Totally, 55 POAG, 57 PEX, and 78 PEXG patient cases as well as 79 healthy controls were included in this study. Genotyping of the IL12B and INFG polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods using TaqI and FauI restriction enzyme, respectively.

Results:

Results indicated that IL12B AC genotype was significantly higher in POAG (36.4%; P < 0.001; odds ratio [OR] = 4.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7–10.0) and PEX patients (36.4%; P = 0.023; OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1–6.9) compared to the control group (12.6%). The C allele could be considered a risk factor for POAG (P = 0.002; OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 3.1–6.8) and PEX (P < 0.001; OR = 3.4, 95% CI: 3.4–7.3). INFG TC genotype was significantly higher in PEX (38.6%; P = 0.007; OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.3–6.3) and PEXG patients (37.2%; P = 0.009; OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1–6.9) compared to the control group (19.0%). The C allele seemed to be a risk factor for PEX (P = 0.002; OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.4–5.7) and PEXG (P = 0.009; OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2–4.7).

Conclusion:

Overall, IL12B was associated with susceptibility to POAG and PEX, and IL12B C allele increased the risk of POAG and PEX. In addition, INFG was associated with susceptibility to PEX and PEXG, and the INFG C allele seemed to be a risk factor for PEX and PEXG.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and MicroRNAs
Authors: Mishra Sanjukta , Sarangi RajLaxmi , Das Swarnalata , Mishra Amresh
Published: March 2023

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous, noncoding RNA molecules that regulate the expression of their target genes. The biological functions of miRNAs have been explored considerably. Numerous studies have demonstrated that extracellular miRNA could be implemented as a biomarker for several diseases. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. NAFLD embodies an array of defects extending from elementary steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which might advance to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma, which are closely linked to increased activity hepatic morbidity and mortality. Liver biopsy is acknowledged as the most precise practice for diagnosis and staging of NAFLD. Invasive drawbacks have prompted the likelihood of introducing an alternative noninvasive approach for consideration. Several lines of evidence have revealed that miRNAs are emerging as a potentially useful noninvasive marker for the development and progression of NAFLD. In addition, recent studies have identified that miRNAs take part in lipid metabolism linked to NAFLD and its advancement to severity. This article reviews the contemporary corroboration associating miRNAs and NAFLD and emphasizes the potential role of miRNA as a circulatory biomarker that could alert the growing prevalence of NAFLD. Furthermore, it acknowledges the valuable compendium of information regarding biogenesis and the role of circulating miRNA in lipid metabolism, which is intimately linked to NAFLD.
Modulation of Platelet Functions by European Toad (Bufo Bufo) Skin Secretions Components
Authors: Udovychenko Iryna , Halenova Tetiana , Artemenko Oleksandr , Vovk Tetiana , Raksha Nataliia , Olexii Savchuk , Ostapchenko Liudmyla
Published: March 2023

Background:

A growing number of reports indicate that amphibian skin secretions may have a remarkable medical importance; however, the effects of the components of some dermal secretions on blood platelets and hemostasis are inadequately recognized. Since our previous studies demonstrated that the general Bufo bufo skin secretions induced platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma, this work was designed to study the effects of the components of some fractions on platelet functions to comprehend its possible mechanism of action as platelet modulators.

Methods:

Chromatographic separation of B.
bufo general skin secretions was carried out using size exclusion chromatography. Rabbit platelets were purified by column chromatography on Sepharose 4B. Various aspects of platelet function such as activation, aggregation, and adhesion were evaluated.

Results:

One fraction, out of 7, dose-dependently induced aggregation of isolated platelets and was used in further experiments. The studied fraction was shown to induce platelet adhesion onto fibrinogen-coated surface. Furthermore, the results demonstrated the effects of the fraction on some processes that involved in platelets activation: The fraction components facilitated (Ca2+)i mobilization and attenuated platelets Akt phosphorylation, but had no effect on platelet serotonin secretion. Membrane integrity was determined using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. No increased LDH release was recorded that means no platelet damage, which could lead to misinterpretation of the data, occurred.

Conclusion:

The results suggest that components of the B. bufo skin secretions may be a promising source of natural compounds which can modulate platelet functions.
Influence of Genetic Variability in Toll-like Receptors (TLR 2, TLR 4, and TLR 9) on Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Disease Progression
Authors: Kaushik Gaurav , Vashishtha Richa
Published: March 2023

Background:

It has been demonstrated that toll-like receptors (TLR2), TLR4, and TLR9 which were initially known for recognizing bacterial products are involved in the detection of viral components. It was planned to undertake a prospective longitudinal study among ethnically homogeneous antiretroviral treatment and antitubercular treatment naïve human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients representing the north Indian population. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 polymorphism in HIV disease progression.

Methods:

The present study was designed to investigate genetic polymorphism in TLRs (TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9) among HIV-infected patients with and without TB coinfection. The study population consisted of two groups: (i) HIV-positive patients without TB infection and disease (n = 223, HIV-positive patients); (ii) HIV-positive patients with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) (n = 150, HIV-positive LTBI patients). These participants were of either gender between 18 and 60 years of age and treatment naïve for both TB and HIV. HIV-positive and HIV-positive LTBI patients were longitudinally followed up for t2 years to study HIV disease progression.

Results:

On comparing TLR2 and TLR4 allelic and genotypic frequencies between 306 HIV-positive patients (no TB/AIDS) and 47 HIV-positive patients progressed to active TB/AIDS, no significant difference was observed between the two groups. The frequency of “A” allele in TLR9 was found to be significantly increased in 47 HIV-positive patients who progressed to active TB/AIDS (61.7%) as compared to 42.16% in 306 HIV-positive patients (no TB/AIDS), (P < 0.001). Furthermore, a significantly increased frequency of “AA” genotype in TLR9 was observed in 47 HIV-positive patients progressed to active TB/AIDS (55.32%) as compared to 20.26% in HIV-positive patients (no TB/AIDS).

Conclusion:

Findings of the present study revealed that genetic variability in TLR9 may influence HIV disease progression. The AA genotype in TLR9 may be associated with progression to TB/AIDS for 2 years in HIV-positive patients.
Atypical Cutaneous Tuberculosis with an Unusual Course
Authors: Zeggwagh Zineb , Azendour Hasna , Znati Kaoutar , Senouci Karima
Published: March 2023

Cutaneous tuberculosis represents the fifth extrapulmonary form in Morocco after pleural, lymph node, urogenital, and intestinal tuberculosis. It is recognized to form a continuous immunopathologic spectrum, ranging from a high intensity to a low intensity of cell-mediated immunity, which explains the multiplicity and heterogeneity of anatomo-clinical forms. Association of multiple forms in the same patient is really rare. In this regard, we report a case of scrofuloderma on axillary tuberculosis adenitis associated to a lupus vulgaris in an immunocompetent patient, which was confirmed by histology, QuantiFERON-TB Gold test, and polymerase chain reaction. He received an antituberculous therapy with clinical regression of the lesions. In conclusion, cutaneous tuberculosis is still endemic in developing countries.The diagnosis is difficult because of its clinical polymorphism. That’s why it’s should be suspected clinically in the presence of any destructive or verrucous skin lesion evolving without healing for a long period and confirmed by bacteriological examinations and histology.
Evaluation of Endoscopic Septoplasty Outcomes Using Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Scale
Authors: Basappa Varun TGS , Dutta Angshuman , Naga Rahul , Gupta DK , Mathews Sunil
Published: March 2023

Inroduction:

Nasal obstruction is the most common complaint in an average ENT practice, and a deviated nasal septum is the most common cause of nasal obstruction. The deformities of the septum are usually congenital, developmental, traumatic, or iatrogenic in nature with traumatic and iatrogenic being the most common. The aim of the study was to evaluate patient-based outcomes on subjective-based opinion in patients undergoing endoscopic septoplasty.

Methods:

This study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital setting in western Maharashtra. This was a prospective observational study. The present study was conducted on 50 patients who presented with signs and symptoms attributed to septal deviation who underwent endoscopic septoplasty and followed up in the department of otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery, tertiary care hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The results of our study were analyzed on SPSS Software using “Paired t-test”.

Results:

On the statistical analysis of the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation score of patients (n = 50) at baseline and at postoperative 3- and 6-month follow-up, mean + standard deviation was 61.2 ± 11.18, 9.1 ± 5.32, and 8.1 ± 4.51, respectively, with P < 0.0001 preoperative and 3-month postoperative follow-up which is highly significant and P > 0.05 for 3- and 6-month follow-up and hence insignificant.

Conclusion:

Endoscopic septoplasty results in significant improvement in disease-specific quality of life with high patient satisfaction.
Creating Sustainable Learning Environments in the Era of the Posthuman: Towards Borderless Curriculum
Authors: Dube Bekithemba , Mahlomaholo Sechaba , Setlalentoa Wendy , Tarman Bulent
Published: March 2023

This editorial is a culmination of various research on the area of posthuman theorization as applied to the field of education. It also focused on the need for borderless curriculum to circumvent global challenges such as genocide, terrorism among other things. It details the rationale of adopting a post human and borderless curriculum to respond to the ambivalence brought by the corona virus. The special issue gives alternatives which emerged during the pandemic and arms educators and learners with new models of learning that will ensure education system is not disrupted on the even another pandemic emerges. The argument of the special issue is that within the auspices of posthuman and borderless curriculum something else, and new is possible through working and thinking together.
Borderless Curriculum in the Post-Human Era: Reflections on the United States of America and South African Initial Teacher Pedagogical Practices
Authors: Dube Bekithemba , Campbell Elizabeth
Published: March 2023

This paper interrogates the opportunities and challenges of a borderless curriculum as the alternative to reimagine a better future premised on initial teacher education. The paper comes against the background that curriculum projects remain nationalised, depriving learners and educators of an opportunity to learn from the best educational practices outside their borders. The paper is located in posthumanism, where a borderless curriculum through technology can be positioned to respond positively to human tragedies such as war, systematic racism, human trafficking and conflict. Borderless curriculum involves unlearning in order to learn by harvesting best practices across borders to reimagine a comprehensive initial teacher education that addresses the lived realities of the learners globally. The paper argues that the posthuman era provides a platform for nations to share knowledge in the virtual and blended space to deconstruct prejudices while evoking living and working together across curriculum and spaces to improve initial teacher education.
Chosen-Key Secure Even-Mansour Cipher from a Single Permutation
Authors: Xu Shanjie , Da Qi , Guo Chun
Published: March 2023

At EUROCRYPT 2015, Cogliati and Seurin proved that the 4-round Iterated Even-Mansour (IEM) cipher with Independent random Permutations and no key schedule EMIP4(k, u) = k⊕p4 ( k⊕p3 ( k⊕p2 (k⊕p1 (k⊕u)))) is sequentially indifferentiable from an ideal cipher, which implies chosen-key security in the sense of correlation intractability. In practice, however, blockciphers such as the AES typically employ the same permutation at each round. To bridge the gap, we prove that the 4-round IEM cipher EMSP[φ]p4 (k, u) = k4⊕p (k3⊕p (k2⊕p(k1⊕p(k0⊕u)))), whose round keys ki = φi(k) are derived using an affine permutation φ : {0, 1}n → {0, 1}n with certain properties, is sequentially indifferentiable from an ideal cipher. The function φ can be a linear orthomorphism, or φ(k) := k≫a for some fixed integer a using cyclic shift. To our knowledge, this is the first indifferentiability-type result for blockciphers using identical round functions.
Secure Message Authentication in the Presence of Leakage and Faults
Authors: Berti Francesco , Guo Chun , Peters Thomas , Shen Yaobin , Standaert François-Xavier
Published: March 2023

Security against side-channels and faults is a must for the deployment of embedded cryptography. A wide body of research has investigated solutions to secure implementations against these attacks at different abstraction levels. Yet, to a large extent, current solutions focus on one or the other threat. In this paper, we initiate a mode-level study of cryptographic primitives that can ensure security in a (new and practically-motivated) adversarial model combining leakage and faults. Our goal is to identify constructions that do not require a uniform protection of all their operations against both attack vectors. For this purpose, we first introduce a versatile and intuitive model to capture leakage and faults. We then show that a MAC from Asiacrypt 2021 natively enables a leveled implementation for fault resilience where only its underlying tweakable block cipher must be protected, if only the tag verification can be faulted. We finally describe two approaches to amplify security for fault resilience when also the tag generation can be faulted. One is based on iteration and requires the adversary to inject increasingly large faults to succeed. The other is based on randomness and allows provable security against differential faults.
INFLUENCE OF THE STRUCTURE OF IRON-TITANIUM THERMAL SPRAYED COATINGS ON THEIR WEAR RESISTANCE
Authors:   Joint Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the NAS of Belarus, KUKAREKO Vladimir A. , BELOTSERKOVSKY Marat А. ,   Joint Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the NAS of Belarus, GRIGORCHIK Alexander N. ,   Joint Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the NAS of Belarus, SOSNOVSKIY Aleksey V. ,   Joint Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the NAS of Belarus
Published: March 2023

The paper studies the structure, phase composition and properties of thermal sprayed coatings made of Ti4Al titanium alloy and “Ti4Al + AISI420” pseudoalloy obtained by hypersonic metallization. It is shown that the deposited coatings include in the phase composition a large amount of titanium nitride TiN (up to 70 vol.%), which is formed during the metallization process. At the same time, an increase in propane pressure during metallization from 0.3 to 0.4 MPa leads to a slight decrease in the titanium nitride content in the sprayed coating. It is associated with an increase in the flight velocity of molten titanium droplets in an atmosphere of ionized gases and, accordingly, a decrease in the time of their interaction with ionized air nitrogen atoms. The porosity of the sprayed coatings made of titanium alloy Ti4Al is 30–35 vol.%, and their hardness and microhardness are 500–650 HV 1 and 1,300–1,600 HV 0.1, respectively. Coatings made of “Ti4Al + AISI420” pseudoalloy have a reduced porosity of 10–15 vol.%, and their hardness and microhardness are 500–600 HV 1 and 900–1,300 HV 0.1, respectively. It is shown that coatings made of Ti4Al alloy and “Ti4Al + AISI420” pseudoalloy are characterized by increased wear resistance under friction without lubricant. In particular, the intensity of mass wear of coatings Iq made of Ti4Al titanium alloy, obtained at propane pressures of 0.3 and 0.4 MPa, is 2.5–2.6×10–3 mg/m, and Iq for coatings made of “Ti4Al + AISI420” pseudoalloy is 1.0–1.1×10–3 mg/m. The reduced values of mass wear intensities of coatings made of “Ti4Al + AISI420” pseudoalloy are associated with the presence of TiN in them and relatively low porosity.
INVESTIGATING THE DEPENDABILITY OF SYNCHRONOUS MACHINE AT THE GENERATION STATION
Authors:   School of Advanced Technologies Engineering andSciences, Faculty of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Accra Institute of Technology, P.O. Box AN –19782, Accra-North, Ghana., Adorkor Emmanuel , Ababio Forson ,   School of Advanced Technologies Engineering andSciences, Faculty of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Accra Institute of Technology, P.O. Box AN –19782, Accra-North, Ghana., Darkwa Daniel ,   School of Advanced Technologies Engineering andSciences, Faculty of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Accra Institute of Technology, P.O. Box AN –19782, Accra-North, Ghana., Budu Bismark ,   School of Advanced Technologies Engineering andSciences, Faculty of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Accra Institute of Technology, P.O. Box AN –19782, Accra-North, Ghana., Essilifie ,Gilbert Enock ,   School of Advanced Technologies Engineering andSciences, Faculty of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Accra Institute of Technology, P.O. Box AN –19782, Accra-North, Ghana.
Published: March 2023

This paper investigates and analyze the dependability of the synchronous machines at the power generation station. The electrical power in practicality is not stable due to the rapid change of three-phase loads. This research presents a method to improve power quality and grid stability for power generation. By introducing synchronous machines, either virtual or physical connected to wind turbine, solar, and hydropower generator enable seamless operation in all operation modes and guarantees maximum power point tracking in grid-connected operation. The synchronous machines are dependable at the generation station due to their ability of sustaining the instability of the power system to improve generation and to curb transmission losses by injecting reactive power to compensate losses.
Penyelesaian Pelanggaran Administrasi Pemilu oleh Bawaslu
Authors: Lefteuw Maksimus , Pattiasina Lidia Priscilla
Published: March 2023

Introduction: The legal issues in this writing include how are the legal arrangements regarding the settlement of general election administration by Bawaslu and how to resolve election disputes by Bawaslu.

Purposes of the Research: This writing aims to find out and analyze how to resolve violations of general election administration by Bawaslu.

Methods of the Research: The research method used is normative, that is, research that primarily examines positive legal provisions and legal principles, explain and predicts in the direcrion of future legal developments

Results Originality Findings of the Research: The findings of this study prove that in legal arrangements regarding the settlement of election administrative violations by Bawaslu and the settlement mechanism that in an effort to resolve administrative violations, Bawaslu has the authority to resolve administrative violations in accordance with the provisions of the Bawaslu laws and regulations and the General Election Commission. The settlement mechanism based on the Election Law is not explained significantly but it is explained that non-criminal violations are administrative violations and these violations are reported and followed up by Bawaslu and the General Elections Commission.
Urgensi Laporan Penelitian Kemasyarakatan Dalam Penjatuhan Pidana Bagi Anak Pelaku Tindak Pidana
Authors: Patty Mercy Pratiwi , Hehanussa Deassy Jacomi Anthoneta , Wadjo Hadibah Zachra
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Reality shows that crimes are not only committed by adults, but also by children. Children who commit crimes must be held accountable for their actions that violate the law. Purposes of the Research: In order to analyze the juvenile offender, the law enforcement and sentencing process applied to the child is carried out specifically by prioritizing the best interests of the child. Methods of the Research: Type of research: Juridical Empirical, Data Sources include primary data and secondary data. Techniques for reviewing and collecting primary and secondary data are using literature studies and interview results. Data analysis used in legal research is qualitative analysis. Results Originality Findings of the Research: Based on the results of the study, it was found that the urgency of a community research report in imposing sanctions on children who commit criminal acts is an important matter. Community research reports that are made basically have an influence on the judge's decision in juvenile court. With the availability of community research reports, it can be used as consideration for judges in making their decisions as regulated in Article 60 Paragraph (3) of Law Number 11 of 2012 concerning the Juvenile Criminal Justice System. Furthermore, if the judge does not consider the community research report from the Community Counselor, the legal consequences arising from the decision on the child who commits the crime are null and void, as referred to in Article 60 Paragraph (4) of Law Number 11 of 2012 concerning the Juvenile Criminal Justice System.
Dualisme Makna Akta Pengakuan Hutang
Authors: Sinaga Roulinta Yesvery
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Deed of debt recognition as an authentic deed can be made in two forms, namely as a debt agreement or equivalent to a credit agreement and as an assessor agreement of a credit agreement deed that is grosse deed. Both types of debt acknowledgment deeds are still used in public life, the benefits and functions of each deed are different, because the position is different, the impact of the deed is also different.  

Purposes of the Research: The purpose of this research is to see the differences in the actualization of the deed of recognition of debt in practice and to examine the position of the deed of debt recognition and the contribution of each deed in the legal relationship of the parties.  

Methods of the Research: This research was conducted in a normative juridical manner, namely by examining the existing secondary data in the field of law as library data which is focused on examining the application of rules or norms in positive law so that the data used by the author is secondary data.

Results Originality of the Research: The dualism of interpreting the meaning of debt recognition basically has the same hope, namely the existence of a legal relationship in debts and receivables, the position deed of debt recognition as an authentic deed has a formal function and the function of evidence, the strength of the debt recognition deed provides perfect evidentiary power. The position of debt recognition as a grosse deed should not be merely a scrap of paper because it requires a follow-up to the imposition of collateral through a separate deed of guarantee, then the debt recognition as an assessor agreement becomes an intermediary deed which seems futile. The dualism of the meaning of this deed of recognition of debt would not occur again and provide a harmonious understanding. if you really want to emphasize it, you should use the term 'debt agreement or credit agreement' which is domiciled as the main agreement, without a grosse deed followed by the binding of special guarantees, both individual and material guarantees for the interests and legal protection of the parties.
Semio-linguistic Norms and Variations of French in Urban and Commercial Spaces in Japan
Authors:   Dokkyo University, Kida Tsuyoshi
Published: March 2023

The presence of English has grown in public and commercial spaces of urban localities across the world, yet the French language is gaining an increasing presence in Japan and is thus characterizing its linguistic landscape of its cities. Many language signs in these cities containing names of shops or products in French, appear on storefronts and packages. These texts seemingly convey shop policies or product images rather than a correct use of the French language. These situations require us to cast questions such as the following: 1) Which categories produce signs in French? 2) Which demographics constitute targeted receivers of these signs? 3) To what extent to these demographics comprehend the language n these signs? 4) What are the formal features specific to these signs? 5) What are the motivations and identities of the stakeholders of signs? 6) What are the motives for opting for French rather than other foreign languages in Japanese society? To respond to these questions, in this article, I will report on my preliminary analysis of signage data collected over several years throughout Japan’s urban centres. For this, I will discuss the presence of foreign languages in Japanese society and its language (loanwords, writing systems, foreign language in the media), after which, the article alludes to the ethnolinguistic vitality of French in the society. This vitality of the French language in Japan’s urban linguistic landscapes is described by the form and presence of metalinguistic variation, that is, the form and meaning of elements of French in signage in Japan’s cities.
The Shifting Sub-text of Japanese Gendered Language
Authors:   Kansai University, Noguchi Mary
Published: March 2023

Sociolinguists (e.g., Holmes, 2008; Meyerhof, 2011) generally describe Japanese as a language with gender-exclusive elements. Personal pronouns, sentence-ending particles and lexicon used exclusively by one gender have been cataloged in English by researchers such as Ide (1979), Shibamoto (1985), and McGloin (1991). While there has been some research showing that Japanese women’s language use today is much more diverse than these earlier descriptions suggested (e.g., studies in Okamoto and Shibamoto Smith, 2004) and that some young Japanese girls use masculine pronouns to refer to themselves (Miyazaki, 2010), prescriptive rules for Japanese use still maintain gender-exclusive elements today. In addition, characters in Japanese movies and TV dramas not only adhere to but also popularize these norms (Nakamura, 2012). Thus, Japanese etiquette rules and media texts promote the perpetuation of gender-exclusive language use, particularly by females. However, in the past three decades, Japanese society has made significant shifts towards gender equality in the legal code, the workplace and education. I therefore decided to investigate how Japanese women use and view their language in the context of these changes. I draw data from three focus groups which I conducted in 2013 and 2019, and which comprised female university students who went through the Japanese school system after the Japan Teachers’ Union adopted a policy of gender equality. The goal was to determine whether Japanese women’s language use is shifting over time. The study suggests that Japanese women are slowly changing the gendered nature of Japanese, using very few of the traditional elements of onna kotoba (women’s language), and slowly adopting such traditionally masculine features as the use of omae and kimi as second-person pronouns, omitting bikago honorifics, and employing masculine lexical items such as umai, ku, hara, and kuso, which were until recently considered taboo for females to use. Although these trends are not yet evident in most public contexts, the language use and views of the participants in this study suggest that the shift in Japanese usage is steadily ongoing and forms a sub-text of Japanese language use.