bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prenatal care disruptions and associations with maternal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Groulx Taylor , Bagshawe Mercedes , Giesbrecht Gerald , Tomfohr-Madsen Lianne , Hetherington Erin , Lebel Catherine
Published: January 2021

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spread across Canada in March 2020, provinces imposed strict lockdowns causing restrictions and disruptions to health care. These changes impacted how pregnant individuals received prenatal care and experienced childbirth. The additional stress caused by these changes may negatively affect the well-being of pregnant individuals and the developing child. This study investigated the impact of the pandemic on prenatal care and birth plans of pregnant individuals in Canada and potential associations with maternal mental health. Data from 4604 participants was collected from English- and French-speaking Canadians between April 5-June 1, 2020 as part of the Canada-wide Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic study. Symptoms of maternal depression, general anxiety, and pregnancy-related anxiety were assessed. Participants also answered questions about disruptions and changes to prenatal care and their birth plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between prenatal care disruptions and maternal mental health. Cancellation of prenatal appointments and birth plan changes (specifically changes to childcare during birth and change of support person attending the birth) were significantly associated with greater odds of experiencing clinically-elevated depression, anxiety, and/or pregnancy-related anxiety symptoms. These results illustrate the need for reliable and accessible prenatal care during the pandemic, such as the integration of mental health screenings and co-ordination of prenatal care providers.
Situation perception mediates the link between narcissism and relationship satisfaction: Evidence from a daily diary study in romantic couples
Authors: Rentzsch Katrin , Wieczorek Larissa Lucia , Gerlach Tanja M.
Published: January 2021

Research has shown that diverging romantic relationship outcomes of grandiose narcissism can be explained by differential associations of agentic and antagonistic aspects of narcissism. In this study, we wanted to further investigate the underlying mechanisms by examining how narcissists perceive daily situations with their partner. In an online diary, 171 couples reported on 1941 daily situations experienced together. Analyses revealed that agentic narcissism was positively and antagonistic narcissism was negatively related to daily relationship satisfaction. These effects were differentially linked through distinct situation perceptions: Agentic narcissism was positively linked with relationship satisfaction through perceiving daily situations as, for example, containing more romance, sexuality and love, while antagonistic narcissism was negatively linked with relationship satisfaction through perceiving, for example, more threat, criticism, and accusation. Results are discussed in light of the NARC model and with respect to person-situation transactions in romantic relationships.
Association of subcortical grey-matter volumes with life-course-persistent antisocial behavior in a population-representative longitudinal birth cohort
Authors: Carlisi Christina , Moffitt Terrie , Knodt Annchen R. , Harrington HonaLee , Langevin Stephanie , Ireland David , Melzer Tracy , Poulton Richie , Ramrakha Sandhya , Caspi Avshalom , Hariri Ahmad R. , Viding Essi
Published: January 2021

Objective:Neuropsychological evidence supports the Developmental Taxonomy Theory of Antisocial Behavior, suggesting that abnormal brain development distinguishes life-course-persistent antisocial behavior from adolescence-limited antisocial behavior. Recent neuroimaging work confirmed that prospectively-measured life-course-persistent antisocial behavior is associated with differences in cortical brain structure. Whether this extends to subcortical brain structures remains uninvestigated. Methods:This study compared subcortical grey-matter volumes between individuals characterized by life-course-persistent, adolescence-limited or low-level antisocial behavior. Participants were members of the Dunedin Study, a population-based birth cohort of 1037 individuals born in New Zealand between 1972-1973 and followed to age 45. 672 Study members previously defined as exhibiting life-course-persistent, adolescence-limited, or low-level antisocial behavior based on repeated assessments from ages 7-26 were included. Grey-matter volumes of 10 subcortical structures were compared across groups. Results:The life-course-persistent group (N=80;59% male) had lower volume of amygdala, brain stem, cerebellum, hippocampus, pallidum, thalamus, and ventral diencephalon compared to the low-antisocial group (N=441;47% male). Differences between the life-course-persistent and the adolescence-limited group (N=151;54% male) were comparable in effect-size to differences between the life-course persistent and low-antisocial group, but were not statistically significant due to less statistical power. Grey-matter volumes in the adolescence-limited group were near the norm in this population-representative cohort and similar to volumes in the low-antisocial group. Conclusions:Although this study cannot establish causal links between brain volume and antisocial behavior, it constitutes new biological evidence that all people with antisocial behavior are not the same, supporting a need for greater developmental and diagnostic precision in clinical, forensic, and policy-based interventions.
Momentary Emotion Differentiation: The derivation and validation of a framework to study within-person fluctuations in emotion differentiation
Authors: Erbas Yasemin , Kalokerinos Elise Katherine , Kuppens Peter , van Halem Sjoerd , Ceulemans Eva
Published: January 2021

Emotion differentiation refers to the tendency to label emotions in a granular way. While differentiation is an important individual difference in the context of psychological well-being (Kashdan et al., 2015), it is unknown how it fluctuates within individuals. Such a within-person measure is important, since it would allow the study of how changes in differentiation predict subsequent levels of other variables of interest. Here, we present a framework to study emotion differentiation at the within-person level by introducing a momentary emotion differentiation index. This index is directly derived from the classical emotion differentiation index, the intra-class correlation. We first give a theoretical derivation of this index. Next, using data from two experience sampling studies, we show how this new momentary index is related to other momentary indicators of well-being, and take the first steps in building its nomological network. A better understanding of within-person fluctuations in emotion differentiation will allow us to identify the causes and consequences of these fluctuations, and search for ways to teach individuals to increase their level of emotion differentiation.
Situating and Extending the Sense of Should. Reply to comments on “The sense of should: A biologically based framework for modeling social pressure”.
Authors: Theriault Jordan E. , Young Liane , Barrett Lisa Feldman
Published: January 2021

We would like to thank Constant, Friston, and Ramstead, Fotopoulou, Jebari, Rai, Tsakiris, and Tummolini and Pezzulo for their insightful comments. We are honored to have our work read so thoughtfully and by the encouragement to extend our thinking even further. Two themes we observe in the comments are (a) the question of what the boundaries of the sense of should are (including whether it has explanatory value in itself, or whether it is something to be explained), and (b) how it can be generative for understanding other social phenomena, such as politics, morality, and embodiment. We believe that these two themes complement each other, and that by clearly delineating the boundaries of the sense of should we can sharpen its theoretical connections to social cognition as understood in the broadest sense.
Mapping Welfare State Development in post-Neoliberal Latin America
Authors: Cruz-Martinez Gibran
Published: January 2021

Why have some countries in Latin America and the Caribbean developed more comprehensive welfare systems than others? Do political and economic factors help us signal the (un) favourable paths taken by countries with different degrees of welfare state development in the XXI century? This paper addresses limitations of previous comparative research to continue (re) searching the conditions of welfare state development. A composite multidimensional welfare state development index (WeSDI) is constructed for 18 countries between 2000–2015. The four dimensions are the magnitude of social expenditure, the scope of coverage of welfare programmes, quality of the coverage of welfare programmes and outcomes of welfare institutions. The WeSDI uses goalposts (i.e. natural zeros and aspirational targets) to normalise individual indices and avoid the “relativity problems” of results. We use crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to test how necessary and/ or sufficient eight political and economic conditions are (alone or in combination) to foster multidimensional welfare state development in the region. The causal conditions are openness to external shocks, debt obligations, revenue-collection capabilities, labour movement strength, strength of the left, policy legacies of welfare institutions, size of the outsider population and quality of democracy. The paper confirms the relevance of democratic strength, and revenue-collection capabilities as sufficient conditions of the highest levels of welfare state development in the (post) neoliberal era. In addition to labour movement strength, these same economic and political factors are relevant to understand the conditions behind very low levels of welfare state development.
The Dietary Pattern, Nutritional Status, and Dual Burden of Malnutrition
Authors: Yadav Kiran
Published: January 2021

India is currently witnessing the dual burden of malnutrition. The growing risk of overweight and obesity among Indians, accompanied by high undernutrition, is a big cause of worry. This paper is trying to focus on the trends and patterns of dual burden in India and how this dual burden is associated with diet and nutrition patterns. This paper tries to analyse the changes in dietary pattern from 2004-05 to 2015-16 and how it changes across the region and gender in India. We also discuss its association with the dual burden. Along with the consumption expenditure pattern, we also consider here the role of the level of physical activity in malnutrition. The paper also confers about the Public Distribution System that launched to address malnutrition in India and its challenges.
Effects of different mulches and net house on crucifer aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) population, growth and yield of broadleaf mustard (Brassica juncea)
Authors: Regmi Rajendra , Poudel Sanjay , Shrestha Arjun Kumar , Thapa Resham Bahadur , Tiwari Sundar
Published: January 2021

Crucifer aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae, is a key pest of broadleaf mustard and other crucifers. An alternative integrated management approaches are recommended to keep the pest below economic threshold level. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of mulching and net house on aphid population, growth and yield of broadleaf mustard. Experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design with four replications from September to December 2016 at Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. Five treatments used in experiment was untreated control, black plastic mulch only, reflective plastic mulch only, black plastic mulch plus imidacloprid 70 WSG @ 0.13gm/liter, and net house plus black plastic mulch. The results showed that the lowest population of crucifer aphid was recorded inside the net house with black plastic mulch and black plastic mulch with imidaclorpid 70 WSG @ 0.13g/L spray. Reflective plastic mulch was superior as compared to black plastic mulch and control to reduce the aphid population. Similarly, the highest yield (26.86t/ha) was obtained inside the net house with black plastic mulch followed by black plastic mulch with imidacloprid spray (25.99 t/ha). But the benefit-cost ratio was the highest (4.09) in black plastic mulch with imidacloprid spray followed by reflective plastic mulch (3.42), black plastic mulch (3.32), and net house with black plastic mulch (3.10). Benefit-cost ratio was lower in net house with black plastic mulch but products are safe from toxins and potentially profitable in long run. Considering its ecological cost, the use of pest exclusion net is recommended as a viable option for controlling insect pests of broadleaf mustard.
Determinants of food demand among urban households in Minna Metropolis, Niger State, Nigeria
Authors: Obalola Oyeyode Tohib , Tanko Likita , Aboaba Kazeem Oriyomi , Abubakar Bello Bunza , ODUM Emmanuel Egbodo Boheje , Agboola Babatola Olasunkanmi , Ibrahim Kobe Hussein , Audu Rabiu Omeiza , Danilola Samuel Temitope
Published: January 2021

Agricultural products including rice, yam and cowpea play significant roles in the food consumption of urban dwellers. However, increase in crop production cost has continued to threaten urban food price in Nigeria. This study analyzed the determinants of demand for food commodities among urban households in Minna metropolis. Data were collected from 110 household heads of urban residences, which were selected through a three-stage random sampling technique. Data collected for the study were analyzed using multiple regression technique. The results showed that rice, yam and cowpea were price in-elastic. The cross-price elasticities for rice, yam and cowpea were -0.132, 0.028 and 0.005 respectively. The computed own price, cross price and income elasticity of demand for rice were –0.308, -0.132 and 0.018 respectively. For yam, the computed values were -1.262, 0.028 and 0.289 respectively. While for cowpea, these values were -0.530, 0.005 and 0.002 respectively. For the income elasticity, rice and cowpea were proven to be normal goods and yam as a luxury good. The social protection strategies in form of food aids policy should be put into action to minimize the inflationary pressure on food items in the urban areas.
Bridging yield gap of winter maize using improved agronomic management practices
Authors: Devkota Richa , Pandey Prem , Karki Tika Bahadur , Marahatta Santosh , Sah Shrawan Kumar
Published: January 2021

Appropriate combinations of inputs determine the productivity of crops. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different combinations of inputs on the yield of winter maize at National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, Chitwan. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications comprising of six treatments (T1= Hybrid (H) + recommended doses of NPK (RD) + irrigation (I) + high density (HD) (83333 plant ha-1) + improved weed management practice (IWMP), T2=Open pollinated variety (OPV)+RD+I+HD+IWMP, T3=OPV+ farmer’s doses of NPK (FD)+I+HD+IWMP, T4= OPV+FD+rainfed (R)+HD+IWMP, T5=OPV+ FD+ R+low  density (LD) (55555 plant ha-1) + IWMP, T6=OPV+FD+R+LD+ farmer’s weed management practice (FWMP). The research result revealed significant variation on the grain yield among the different treatments. The highest grain yield (5357 kg ha-1) was obtained when hybrid maize was grown with recommended dose of fertilizer, higher density, irrigation and improved weed management practices. This treatment was followed by replacement of OPV in the above treatment (4410.77 kg ha-1). The decline in yield due to replacement of OPV from hybrid was 17.67 percent. The percent yield decline from full Package of practices (T1) were 23.01, 47.81, 36.66 and 35.95 when input combinations OPV+FD+I+ HD+IWMP, OPV + FD+R+HD+IWMP, OPV+FD+R+LD+IWMP and OPV+FD+R+LD+ FWMP respectively were used..The contrast for grain yield between hybrid vs. OPV, RD vs. FD and Irrigated vs. Rainfed were significant. Therefore, present investigation showed hybrid maize, recommended dose of fertilizer and irrigation were the most important inputs for improving maize productivity in winter season in Chitwan like climatic condition.
Nepalese legal standard of milk and common milk products and its implications
Authors: Upadhyay Namdev , Khanal Bipisha , Acharya Yogendra , Timsina Krishna Prasad
Published: January 2021

The milk and milk products are diversified and there is increasing awareness about the quality standards of products among the consumers.Therefore this study reviewed the legal standard of milk and common milk Products in Nepal and its implications using desk review and exploratory research.In Nepal, the department of food technology and quality control has developed several legal standards for the quality assurance of milk and milk products. National Dairy Development Board has established the Code of Practice for Dairy Industry 2004 which directs six criteria for the standardization of milk and milk products like Organoleptic test, Clot On Boiling (COB) test, Alcohol Test,Fat test and Solids-Not-Fat (SNF)test,  Adulteration test, phosphate test, and microbial and coliform test. The review identified the quality standards of milk products like ghee, butter, paneer, milk powders but some quality parameters for ice-creams and cheese are still missing. The research identifies the quality non-compliance rate of milk and milk products that is about 19% which is in a decreasing trend. To the effective implementation of the legal standards, maintenance of health and hygiene of livestock at the production site, lab and infrastructure support at the distribution site, and creating consumer awareness to the consumer site is imperative.
Bibliothekspraktikum während der COVID-19-Pandemie: Erfahrungen mit Online-Praktika an der Universitätsbibliothek Wien
Authors: Kalová Tereza
Published: January 2021

Studierende der Bibliothekswissenschaft müssen auch in der jetzigen Situation unter häufig erschwerten Bedingungen berufliche Erfahrung in Bibliotheken sammeln. Bibliotheken sollten wiederum den wichtigen Input und neue Ideen, die Praktikant*innen liefern können, wegen der erhöhten Sicherheitsmaßnahmen nicht verlieren. In der Abteilung Repositorienmanagement PHAIDRA-Services der Universität Wien, die sich generell über ein großes Interesse von Praktikant*innen freut, wurde daher im Sommer 2020 ein neues Konzept für Online-Praktika entwickelt. Die erste Gruppe von vier Studierenden von der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin hat im Oktober–November 2020 ein vierwöchiges Praktikum im Homeoffice absolviert. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird auf das Konzept des virtuellen Praktikums eingegangen. Weiters werden die Erfahrungen der beteiligten Mitarbeiter*innen der UB Wien und die Rückmeldungen der Praktikant*innen dargestellt. Die gesammelten Erfahrungen der Abteilung PHAIDRA zielen darauf ab, anderen Bibliotheken Ideen für eine mögliche Umstellung auf Online-Praktika zu bieten.
Malicious Use of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Bazarkina Darya Yu. , Pashentsev Evgeny N.
Published: January 2021

The article identifies the main risks and threats related to national and international psychological security (PS) in BRICS countries (particularly China, India, and Russia) and posed by the malicious use of artificial intelligence (AI). The main methods of research are systemic, scenario, and case analyses. The authors maintain that PS threats, both national and international, created by the malicious use of AI should be considered at three levels. At the first level, a false negative image of AI is spread. The second level of PS threats is directly related to the malicious use of AI (MUAI), but an attack on public consciousness is not its main goal. The MUAI designed primarily to cause psychological damage belongs to the third, and highest, level of PS threats. Synthetic AI products (combining a number of technologies, which can increase the damage from their hacking or malicious use) create a whole range of new risks and threats to BRICS countries. The reorientation of commercial AI systems, the malicious use of deepfakes and chatbots, the use of bots to set agendas, deranking, and AI phishing technologies also pose a threat. The main methods of destructive impact through MUAI are illustrated by the examples China, India, and Russia. BRICS policy documents state readiness for joint action against the MUAI. At this point bilateral agreements play the leading role in the development of AI cooperation of BRICS member states, but their declarations clearly state the intention to join forces against the misuse of information and communications technology (ICT). National regulation pertaining to AI and efforts to counter its malicious use are still at the fledgling stage in most countries. This makes it all the more important for each of the BRICS member states to develop international cooperation and share experience. BRICS’s potential in this sphere is still very far from being fully tapped.
Kazakhstan and the Eurasian Economic Union
Authors: Yuneman Roman A.
Published: January 2021

Since its early days, the Republic of Kazakhstan has been participating in all forms of Eurasian integration, yet in the last decade its integration policy has undergone significant changes. This article examines the evolution of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy with regard to Eurasian integration. To disclose the reasons for it, the present study uses the foreign policy model of a rising power within the framework of an international institution. The results of the analysis make it possible to say that since 2009 Kazakhstan has made a transition from the strategy of investing into the development of Eurasian integration institutions to a strategy of extorting (hold-up) political and economic concessions. This transition was driven by the change in the balance of external opportunities for Kazakhstan—from unfavorable at the beginning of the integration process to favorable after 2014.
Turkey’s Activity in the Caucasus
Authors: Areshev Andrei
Published: January 2021

Turkey’s foreign policy activity is probably designed to create an additional platform for foreign policy bargaining with Moscow on issues of interest to Ankara, and not by any means only in the South Caucasus. Along with bilateral interaction with Azerbaijan and with the countries of Central Asia, political, economic and humanitarian cooperation within the framework of the “Turkic Council” is being strengthened.
Experience of Teaching Anthropology: Interrogating the Semester System at Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Authors: Dahal K. B.
Published: January 2021

This article deals with the teaching of medical anthropology and research methodology under the newly reintroduced semester system at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. It mainly consists of my experience of teaching anthropology under the semester-based education system in its Central Department of Anthropology for postgraduate anthropology students. In addition, it comprises of information acquired from students and colleagues from the Department and other colleges about the very subject. This paper does not provide any guideline for a better course of action for teaching anthropology. Instead, this paper emphasizes the imperativeness of the semester system that facilitates employing student-centred and interactive teaching and encourages elevating their potential through the effective teaching-learning mechanism. It portrays how the typical pedagogical approaches adopted under the semester system can contribute crucially to facilitate students to enhance their skills in critical reading and creative writing.
Contemplation of Anger: An Application of The Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta In Dispelling Anger
Authors: Thakuri Y. B. M.
Published: January 2021

One of the widely written literature on the contemplative aspects of Buddhism is mindfulness, and Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta is one of the most important discourses related to mindfulness practice. Although the Sutta itself clearly suggests dispelling anger as one of the benefits of cultivating mindfulness, the application of mindfulness practice in dispelling anger is a very little studied subject. There are two sections in Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta that are closely related to contemplation of anger, namely ‘contemplation of mind’ (cittānupassanā) and ‘contemplation of hindrance’ (nīvaraṇapabba). According to these sections, the contemplation of anger helps in dispelling anger in three main ways, that is by enabling one to know the presence of anger, to abandon it, and to avert verbal and bodily expressions of anger. This paper examines these two sections and their application in dispelling anger. The examination is based mainly upon the Pāḷi canonical texts. Some commentarial texts and works related to mindfulness practice are also used whenever deemed practically relevant.
ROBUST TUNING OF POWER SYSTEM STABILIZER PARAMETERS USING THE MODIFIED HARMONIC SEARCH ALGORITHM
Authors: Abdul Kareem Hiba Zuhair , Hasan Mohammed Husam , Aqeel Mohammed Ameer
Published: January 2021

Power System Stabilizer is used to improve power system low frequency oscillations during small disturbances. In large scale power systems involving a large number of generators, PSSs parameter tuning is very difficult because of the oscillatory modes’ low damping ratios. So, the PSS tuning procedure is a complicated process to respond to operation condition changes in the power system. Some studies have been implemented on PSS tuning procedures, but the Harmony Search algorithm is a new approach in the PSS tuning procedure. In power system dynamic studies at the first step system total statues is considered and then the existed conditions are extended to the all generators and equipment. Generators’ PSS parameter tuning is usually implemented based on a dominant operation point in which the damping ratio of the oscillation modes is maximized. In fact the PSSs are installed in the system to improve the small signal stability in the system. So, a detailed model of the system and its contents are required to understand the dynamic behaviours of the system. In this study, the first step was to linearize differential equations of the system around the operation point. Then, an approach based on the modified Harmony Search algorithm was proposed to tune the PSS parameters.
ABSTRAK: Penstabil Sistem Kuasa digunakan bagi meningkatkan sistem kuasa ayunan frekuensi rendah semasa gangguan kecil. Dalam sistem kuasa berskala besar yang melibatkan sebilangan besar penjana, penalaan parameter PSS adalah sangat sukar kerana nisbah corak ayunan redaman yang rendah. Maka, langkah penalaan PSS adalah satu aliran rumit bagi mengubah keadaan operasi sistem kuasa. Beberapa kajian telah dilaksanakan pada prosedur penalaan PSS, tetapi algoritma Harmony Search merupakan pendekatan baru dalam prosedur penalaan PSS. Dalam kajian sistem kuasa dinamik ini, langkah pertama adalah dengan memastikan status total sistem dan keadaan sedia ada diperluaskan kepada semua penjana dan peralatan. Parameter penalaan generator PSS biasa dilaksanakan berdasarkan titik operasi yang dominan di mana nisbah corak ayunan redaman dimaksimumkan. Malah PSS dipasang di dalam sistem bagi meningkatkan kestabilan isyarat kecil dalam sistem. Oleh itu, model terperinci sistem dan kandungannya diperlukan bagi mengenal pasti perihal sistem dinamik. Kajian ini, dimulai dengan melinear sistem persamaan pembezaan pada titik operasi. Kemudian, pendekatan berdasarkan algoritma Harmony Search yang diubah suai telah dicadangkan bagi penalaan parameter PSS.
FVS-TECHNOLOGY: INTELLECTUAL SEARCH TOOLS
Authors: MUMINOV BAHODIR , Bekmurodov Ulugbek
Published: January 2021

It is enough to have 3 basic stages of the modules in the SPD of a diversified corporate network: (F) - the method of submitting the request, i.e. the method of forming the expression of the information needs of the system user (S) - the function of the correspondence of the electronic resource to the request degree of compliance with the request and the found electronic resource; (V) - method of presenting electronic resources. Combining these three stages for models, methods, and software modules of the AML, is referred to as FSV technology (FSV platform, FSV Framework). FSV technology is an instrumental software platform based on a client-server architecture, integration and modification of models, and methods and algorithms of AML in the information environment of corporate networks. The following architecture has been developed for the FSV technology proposed for the search index in data retrieval systems.
ABSTRAK: Tiga peringkat asas modul adalah cukup dalam pelbagai rangkaian korporat SPD iaitu: (F) - kaedah penyerahan permintaan, kaedah membentuk ungkapan keperluan maklumat pengguna sistem (S) - fungsi surat-menyurat sumber elektronik bagi permintaan tahap pematuhan permintaan dan sumber elektronik yang dijumpai; (V) - kaedah penyampaian sumber elektronik. Gabungan tiga peringkat model, kaedah dan modul perisian AML, dipanggil teknologi FSV (platform FSV, rangka FSV). Teknologi FSV adalah platform perisian instrumen berdasarkan seni bina pelanggan-pelayan, integrasi dan pengubah suaian model, kaedah-kaedah dan algoritma AML dalam persekitaran maklumat dalam rangkaian korporat. Seni bina ini telah di bina bagi teknologi FSV yang dicadangkan bagi indeks carian dalam sistem dapatan data.
INVESTIGATION ON THE MECHANICAL, THERMAL, BIO-DEGRADATION, AND BIO-COMPATIBILITY PROPERTIES OF POLY (LACTIC ACID) / POLY (ETHYLENE GLYCOL) BLEND
Authors: Zarinkolah Zohreh , Bagheri Hamed , Hosseinkhani Saman , Nikkhah Maryam
Published: January 2021

Absorbable sutures are widely used in surgery. In addition to acceptable mechanical properties, the surgical sutures should exhibit favorable degradability properties. In this research, the mechanical and thermal properties, hydrophilicity, biodegradability, pH changes, and drug release profile of polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) alloy were examined to fabricate absorbable sutures. The test results for the mechanical properties showed that the strength of the PLA/PEG alloy decreased with increasing PEG content, leading to an increase in elongation. The differential thermal analysis indicated that the resulting material was above its glass transition temperature (Tg) at ambient temperature and was thus flexible enough. According to the degradation test results, the alloys were degraded similar to the commercial sample. Furthermore, the pH measurements revealed that the degradation of the alloy had no significant effect on the pH of the environment. Bupivacaine hydrochloride was incorporated into a certain amount of PLA and PEG, and the drug release rate was then measured. The sample provided a suitable substrate for burst release. Moreover, the cytotoxicity test was carried out to evaluate the biocompatibility properties of the PLA/PEG alloy and it was found that this alloy is biocompatible and the biocompatibility of the material decreases with increasing drug loading.
ABSTRAK: Sutur boleh serap telah digunakan dalam pembedahan secara meluas. Tambahan kepada sifat-sifat mekanikal ini, sutur pembedahan perlu memiliki ciri-ciri kebolehurain yang dikehendaki. Dalam kajian ini, sifat-sifat mekanikal dan terma, kehidrofilikan, kebolehuraian, perubahan pH, dan profil penguraian ubat asid polilaktik (PLA) dan aloi polietilena glikol (PEG) telah dikaji bagi mencipta sutur boleh serap. Hasil kajian mendapati sifat-sifat mekanikal menunjukkan kekuatan PLA/PEG aloi berkurangan dengan penambahan level PEG, menyebabkan bertambahnya pemanjangan. Analisis pembezaan terma menunjukkan hasil bahan adalah melepasi suhu perubahan gelas (Tg) pada suhu sekitar dan oleh itu sangat lentur. Berdasarkan hasil kajian degradasi, aloi ini telah digradasi seperti sampel komersial. Tambahan lagi, ukuran pH menunjukkan degradasi aloi ini tidak menunjukkan kesan langsung pada pH persekitaran. Bupivacaine hidroklorida dimasukkan ke dalam PLA dan PEG, dan kadar ubat dibebaskan kemudiannya diukur. Sampel substrat yang bersesuian disediakan bagi pelepas letus. Tambahan, ujian Kesitotoksikan telah dijalankan bagi menilai ciri-ciri keserasian-bio aloi PLA/PEG dan didapati aloi ini serasi-bio dan keserasian-bio bahan berkurangan dengan penambahan beban ubat.
PREPARATION OF THE ELECTROSPUN POLYVINYLIDENE FLUORIDE / POLYVINYL ALCOHOL SCAFFOLD AS A POTENTIAL TISSUE REPLACEMENT
Authors: Hamzah Mohd Syahir Anwar , Razak Nurul Amira Ab , Ng Celine , Azize Akmal Hafiszi Abdul , Sukor Jumadi Abdul , Fhong Soon Chin , Idris Mohd Safiee , Nayan Nadirul Hasraf Mat
Published: January 2021

:  Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a piezoelectric material, is commonly used in tissue engineering due to its potential for mimicking the electrical microenvironment of biological conditions for tissue development. In this present research, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was introduced into electrospun PVDF fabrication through an electrospinning process, aiming to enhance the nanofibrous membrane's biocompatibility properties by improving the hydrophilicity properties to act as an artificial tissue scaffold. The electrospun PVDF/PVA membranes are found to be optimum at a PVDF-to-PVA ratio of 90:10 due to its excellent mechanical, morphological, and hydrophilicity conductivity properties. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy verified strong hydrogen bonding interaction formed between the fluorine group of PVDF with oxygen-containing in the hydroxyl group of PVA. In-vitro cell culture showed that the enhanced hydrophilic property of electrospun PVDF/PVA could significantly enhance the cell growth. These positive results indicated that the scaffold could be implemented as artificial tissue material for tissue engineering applications.
ABSTRAK: Polivinilidena fluorida (PVDF) adalah bahan piezoelektrik yang biasa digunakan dalam kejuruteraan tisu kerana potensinya menyerupai keadaan persekitaran mikro-elektrik biologi bagi perkembangan tisu. Dalam penyelidikan ini, polivinil alkohol (PVA) diperkenalkan ke dalam fabrikasi pintalan-elektro PVDF melalui proses pemintalan-elektro, yang bertujuan bagi mengembangkan sifat biokompatibiliti membran nanogentian dengan meningkatkan sifat hidrofilik bagi menjadi perancah tisu tiruan. Membran pintalan-elektro PVDF / PVA didapati optimum pada nisbah PVDF-ke-PVA, 90:10 kerana sifat kekonduksian, mekanikal, morfologi dan hidrofiliknya yang sangat baik. Spektroskopi transformasi inframerah Fourier (FTIR) mengesahkan interaksi ikatan hidrogen yang kuat terbentuk antara kumpulan fluoro PVDF dengan oksigen yang terkandung dalam kumpulan hidroksil PVA. Kultur sel secara in-vitro menunjukkan bahawa sifat hidrofilik pintalan-elektro PVDF / PVA dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan sel secara signifikan. Hasil positif ini menunjukkan bahawa perancah ini dapat digunakan sebagai bahan tisu buatan bagi aplikasi kejuruteraan tisu.
THE HARMONIC COMPOSITION OF CURRENT IN ZERO-WORKING WIRE WITH NON-LINEAR LOAD
Authors: Yudaev Igor , Rud Evgeny , Yundin Mikhail , Ponomarenko Tamara , Isupova Aleksandra
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this study was experimental investigations and a study of the nature of the change in the main harmonic components of the current in the neutral working wire of a three-phase four-wire network with a voltage of 0.38 kV. The study of the amplitude-phase-frequency characteristics of currents flowing in an electric network with a predominant non-linear load is one of the most urgent tasks, the solution of which will increase the efficiency of electric power transmission and eliminate the negative consequences due to the current flow in a zero-working wire in the network at 0.38 kV. To study the effect of load changes on the amplitude-phase-frequency characteristics of currents in the linear and zero working wires at the input of the load node, measurements were carried out by certified electrical measuring instruments namely, the “Resource-UF2M” and “Hioki 3196”. With these devices, the phase voltages at the input to the load node were measured. The analysis of the results obtained for the load node whose power was formed mainly by a lighting system with fluorescent and LED lamps and a system of office electrical receivers (computers, copiers, printers, scanners, etc.) was performed. It can be concluded that a current comparable to the currents of the linear wires of the network flows from the load node with the predominant nonlinear power receivers through the zero-working wire. At the same time, in the zero-working wire of the network, the third harmonic current prevails over the main frequency currents.
ABSTRAK: Tujuan kajian ini adalah penyelidikan eksperimental dan kajian mengenai sifat perubahan komponen harmonik utama arus dalam wayar kerja neutral rangkaian empat wayar tiga fasa dengan voltan 0.38 kV. Kajian mengenai ciri-ciri frekuensi-amplitud-fasa arus yang mengalir dalam rangkaian elektrik dengan beban bukan linear yang dominan adalah salah satu tugas yang paling mendesak, penyelesaiannya akan meningkatkan kecekapan penghantaran tenaga elektrik dan menghilangkan akibat negatif yang disebabkan ke arus semasa dalam wayar sifar bekerja di rangkaian pada 0.38 kV. Untuk mengkaji kesan perubahan beban pada ciri frekuensi-fasa frekuensi arus dalam wayar linier dan sifar pada input nod beban, pengukuran dilakukan oleh alat pengukur elektrik yang disahkan iaitu, "Resource-UF2M" dan "Hioki 3196". Dengan peranti ini, voltan fasa pada input ke simpul beban diukur. Analisis hasil yang diperoleh untuk simpul beban yang kekuatannya dibentuk terutama oleh sistem pencahayaan dengan lampu pendarfluor dan LED dan sistem penerima elektrik pejabat (komputer, mesin fotokopi, pencetak, pengimbas, dll.). Dapat disimpulkan bahawa arus yang setanding dengan arus wayar linier rangkaian mengalir dari nod beban dengan penerima kuasa bukan linier yang dominan melalui wayar sifar. Pada masa yang sama, dalam wayar sifar rangkaian, arus harmonik ketiga berlaku berbanding arus frekuensi utama.
The Effectiveness of Computer-Based Learning in Developing Academic Skills for Children with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Algahtani Faris
Published: January 2021

Aim: The study aimed to investigate the effect of using a computer-based program in developing academic skills (reading, writing and arithmetic) for children with mild intellectual disabilities as compared to the conventional teaching instructions. Methods: The study was conducted in intellectual institutions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A randomized controlled trial design was adopted in the study to determine the impact of the intervention. The study sample was composed of boys (n = 19) and girls (n = 21) aged 6 – 10 years who were selected purposively, and randomly assigned to the experimental group and control group. The two-division experimental group one for boys (n = 8) and the other for girls (n = 12) in the experimental group was studied by using an academic skills development program or a computer-based program. Results: The results indicated that there is a positive impact of the academic skills development program, which was applied to the experimental group to improve academic skills. The reason for the absence of gender differences in academic skills for the educational program is the similarity of the educational environment and the activities used in the educational program in terms of skills, activities, training methods, similar abilities and intellectual preparations for the genders, and for their interaction with the program itself. In addition, the program corresponds to the developmental characteristics of both genders, and there are no impediments to the application of the program in both genders.
Digital Literacy Tools to Enhance English Reading and Writing Skills: A Detailed Literature Review
Authors: Joseph Victoria , Khan Najmonnisa
Published: January 2021

This study examines, explore and analyse the factors which enhance students’ English reading and writing skills through digital literacy tools. Literature was reviewed to gather and select important research papers for this study, and the research articles reviewed were of the qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method in approach. Areas such as digital literacy tools, communication (reading & writing) skills, TPACK teaching model and socially shared cognition theory were given position. Digital literacy tools comprised of tablets, laptops, computers, digital interactive whiteboards, digital audiobooks, videos, smartphones and multimedia and so on. Vocabulary, phonic awareness, reading comprehension, reading fluency and reading with expression are of the factors of reading skills while grammar skills, spelling and vocabulary, writing simple and compound sentences, rearranging the jumbled words to correct sentences and writing paragraphs are the factors of writing skills. A conceptual framework (DLTCTC) was developed by the researcher while carefully exploring the literature.
Vital Ageing: An Emerging Challenge in Pakistan
Authors: Zeeshan Mahwish , Sultana Aneela
Published: January 2021

Ageing is one of the most significant social transformations of the twenty first century around the globe. The largest age cohort that is expected to grow in the developing countries further in the next three decades is that of the older persons i.e. above sixty years of age. This is a Review paper sheds light on understanding ageing as a natural phenomenon. There are numerous socio-cultural factors impeding in acceptance of this reality. In Pakistan, age inclusive sustainable development goals are desired to tackle unemployment and underemployment institutional care is the need of the hour. Keeping in view the population projections of 2050, there is a dire need to strategize for population aging through policy making and implementation from both public and private sector of the country. In Pakistan the disjuncture of apt measures taken by the stakeholders, can multiple volume and graveness of the issue.
The First Successful Endovascular Management of Posterior Fossa Arteriovenous Malformations in Nepal: Case Series
Authors: Phuyal Subash , Agrawal Pooja , Dawadi Kapil , Paudel Raju , Lamsal Ritesh
Published: January 2021

Posterior fossa arteriovenous malformations represent 7–15% of all intracranial AVMs. They carry a higher risk of rupture than supratentorial AVMs and are associated with considerable rates of morbidity and mortality. Available treatment options include conservative management, microsurgical resection, radiosurgery, endovascular embolization, or combinations of these modalities. Recent advances in endovascular techniques have revolutionized their management with better clinical outcomes. We illustrate two cases of posterior fossa AVMs treated by endovascular techniques with good clinical outcomes. The first patient also had associated flow-related aneurysms. One of these aneurysms had already ruptured, so it was coiled first followed by AVM nidus embolization using the same microcatheter. The second patient had a diffuse type of posterior fossa AVM for which staged-embolization was planned and the first-stage partial embolization was successfully performed.
Histopathological Spectrum of Non-Neoplastic and Neoplastic Lesions of Thyroid: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Ghartimagar Dilasma , Ghosh Arnab , Shrestha Manish Kiran , Thapa Sushma , Talwar Om Prakash
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Thyroid gland lesions are the most common endocrine disorders encountered globally. Diseases of the thyroid gland present with either an alteration of hormone secretion or as an enlargement of the thyroid gland. The objective of the study is to find the frequency of different thyroid lesions.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara from Jan 2005 to Jan 2020. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Ref: 330). Patients who had undergone thyroidectomy procedures for both non-neoplastic and neoplastic thyroid lesions were enrolled. Convenient sampling was done. IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 and Microsoft Excel were used.

Results: Out of 345 thyroidectomy specimens, 246 (71.3%) cases of non-neoplastic lesions, and 99 (28.69%) cases of neoplastic lesions were present. There were 54 males and 291 females with a male to female ratio of 1:5.4. The age ranged from 9 to 76 years with a mean age of 43.67 years. In non-neoplastic lesions, the predominant lesion was the colloid goiter with 205 (83.33%) cases followed by Grave’s disease and lymphocytic thyroiditis with 14 (5.69%) cases each. In neoplastic lesions, papillary carcinoma was the commonest lesion with 56 (56.56%) cases followed by follicular carcinoma with 14 (14.14%) cases and follicular adenoma with 13 (13.13%) cases. There were also 9 (9.09%) cases of anaplastic carcinoma in neoplastic lesions.

Conclusions: Colloid goiter and papillary carcinoma was the most commonly encountered non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesion with a female predominance. Rare tumors like anaplastic carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, and follicular carcinoma with anaplastic transformation were also encountered.
Prevalence of Valvular and Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation and the Application of Antithrombotic Treatment in a Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Dhungana Sahadeb Prasad , Ghimire Rinku
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation is a common atrial tachyarrhythmia with an increased risk of thromboembolism. This study aims to provide information about the application of antithrombotic treatment based on risk stratification schemes for stroke in real-life clinical practices.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in 260 patients admitted at the tertiary care hospital with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation from January 2019 to February 2020 after approval from the Institutional Review Committee (ref. no. 207/2018). Convenient sampling was used. Predisposing conditions for atrial fibrillation, risk factors for stroke, and the use of antithrombotics were obtained based on the pre-structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.

Results: The prevalence of valvular and non-valvular atrial fibrillation was 125 (48.0%), and 135 (51.9%) respectively. Among patients with a non-valvular variant, 102 (75.5%) had a CHA2DS2VASC score of ≥ 2 who were eligible for oral anticoagulants, 13 (9.6 %) patients received it with a majority having sub-therapeutic international normalized ratio. Among patients with valvular type, only 47 (37.6%) patients were receiving oral anticoagulants and 20 (42.5%) patients achieved therapeutic international normalized ratio. Two hundred forty three (93.4%) patients had dilated left atrium (≥40mm), 119 (45.9%) had hypertension and 27 (10.3%) had diabetes mellitus.

Conclusions: Antithrombotics were markedly underused in patients with atrial fibrillation. There is a need for proper application of risk stratification schemes for stroke and appropriate use of antithrombotics to prevent thromboembolism.
Congenital Cholesteatoma in A Case of Congenital Aural Atresia: A Case Report
Authors: Rayamajhi Pabina , Aggarwal Poonam
Published: January 2021

Congenital external canal atresia is one of the congenital ear anomalies that can occur in patients. Similarly, congenital cholesteatoma is also another congenital disease that is often diagnosed in early adulthood. Both the above-mentioned diseases can occur independently but the presence of both these entities is a rare occurrence and needs a high degree of suspicion aided by a computed tomography scan to make the diagnosis. We are presenting a case of a sixteen-year-old patient who presented with unilateral ear anomaly, earache, facial palsy, and postaural swelling and was diagnosed as a right sided congenital aural atresia with congenital cholesteatoma. He was surgically managed with right-sided modified radical mastoidectomy with canaloplasty and closure of mastoid fistula under general anesthesia.