bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing instructors’ usage of emojis in distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authors: Al-Zou’bi Reem , Shamma Fathi
Published: February 2021

This research assessed instructors’ usage of emojis in distance education for high diploma students. A quantitative approach was employed comprising an e-survey consisting of 11-items, one closed-ended question, and two open-ended questions. The participants were a randomly selected sample of 343 high diploma students, 243 attending Al al-Bayt University (AABU) in Jordan and 100 students attending the Arab Academic College in Haifa (AAC). The results indicated that instructors’ usage of emojis in distance education was moderate in both universities. All students strongly preferred instructors to use emojis to express what is on their minds as an alternative to facial expressions, and female instructors were more active in using emojis in virtual lectures. The emoji used most frequently by distance education instructors for the sample was the thumbs-up emoji ( ). Based on the results, several recommendations are put forth that will be of value to researchers and workers in this field.

 

Keywords: Distance Education; Emojis; COVID-19
Students’ extraneous cognitive load in cell biology lectures
Authors: Juanengsih Nengsih , Rahmat Adi , Wulan Ana Ratna , Rahman Taufik
Published: February 2021

This study aims to analyse students’ extraneous cognitive load (ECL) in cell biology lectures. Participants in the study were 31 students of the Biology Education Department who attended the Cell Biology course from a university in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Cell Biology lectures include fours topics. The data of ECL were measured using questionnaires with a semantically differential scale, containing statements about students’ mental efforts in understanding the information received in the lectures. The data obtained were then tabulated, categorised according to the mental effort rubric, and made into percentage for each step of the VARK (Visual, Aural, Read/write, Kinaesthetic) approach. The results of the data analysis show that students' mental effort (ECL) in understanding each concept in Cell Biology lectures through the VARK approach is generally in the lower category. This is indicated by the very high percentage in the low category for  visual, aural, read/write, and kinaesthetic steps.       

 

Keywords: Extraneous cognitive load, cell biology, VARK;
The implementation of balinese folflore-based civic education for strengthening character education
Authors: Sanjaya Dewa Bagus , Suartama I Kadek , Suastika I Nengah , Sukadi Sukadi , Dewantara I Putu Mas
Published: February 2021

The objective of this study is to analyse the affectivity of satua (Balinese folklore)-based character education in the instructions of civic education in primary schools in Buleleng Regency, Bali. This study used the experimental design in testing the affectivity of folklore-based instructions in the competency and character of primary school students. The instruments used to collect data in this study were questionnaires, test of learning outcomes, score inventory and self-evaluation. The questionnaire was designed to find out the feasibility of folklore-based instructions. The test on learning outcomes was used to find out their scores. The data analysis used the multivariate analysis of variance. The results of the study indicated that a) learning using Balinese folklore is better than conventional learning in students’ civic knowledge, b) learning using Balinese folklore is better than conventional learning in students’ attitude and c) learning using Balinese folklore is better than conventional learning in students’ skills.

Keywords: Balinese folklore, civic education, character education
Methods for identifying communicative and organisational skills in professional training of future foreign language teachers by tools of modern informational technologies
Authors: Bosa Vita P.
Published: February 2021

The purpose of the article is devoted to the problem of researching the level of formation of communicative and organisational skills in the professional training of future foreign language teachers by tools of modern information technology (IT). Based on the analysis of the problem of professional training of foreign language teachers by means of modern IT, the state of development of methods for identifying communicative and organisational abilities of future foreign language teachers and features of the process of their training for foreign language communication activity by instruments of modern IT was clarified. According to the results of the analysis of the problem, it was noted that the majority of students who communicate in a foreign language have psychological difficulties and have communicative and organisational barriers due to their psychological characteristics. The selection of methodological tools for the study of professional training of future foreign language teachers by instruments of modern IT followed the described criteria and indicators of the formation of communicative and organisational skills.

Keywords: Communication and organisational skills, means of modern IT, standardised methods, individual psychological features
The effect of leadership styles on improving communication method among academic administrators
Authors: AlOqlah Reema Mahmoud Abod
Published: February 2021

This study aimed at exploring the effect of leadership styles on improving communication methods in Saudi universities from the perspective of faculty members. Four-hundred questionnaires were distributed to faculty members in the Saudi universities, 313 questionnaires were valid for analysis. The results showed that the most common leadership style among academic administrators in Saudi universities is the democratic style, followed by the laissez-faire leadership style, while the autocratic leadership style came in the third and last rank. Also, the results showed that one of the most common methods of communication is non-verbal communication related to symbols, movements, and expressions. in addition, the results revealed a significant effect was found positive of democratic leadership style on a communication method and a negative significant effect was found of autocratic leadership style and laissez-faire leadership style on communication method.

 Keywords: Leadership style, Communication method, Faculty Members, Academic Administrators
‘Desire to learn, learn to shine’: Idolizing motivation in enhancing speaking skill among L2 learners
Authors: Kumar Tribhuwan
Published: February 2021

This paper aims to analyze the effect of motivation in the development of English speaking skills on second language acquisition. There are so many excellent teaching methods that vary in effectiveness. Motivation is the driving force for learning another language, and integration of that language into the person’s identity. Motivation is the practical reason for learning a second language. Data collection was done from two Indian universities named: Patna University and Patliputra University, from each university 50 students were randomly selected. Speaking English is one of the best needs of individual in both the students’ academic and a professional field. The second language students should be encouraged not only in the classroom but also outside to speak in English. In achieving this goal, motivation can be used as magical catalyst in learning L2. With this viewpoint, this research focuses on 3 main motivational factors to analyze the role of motivation in developing speaking skills: identifying the motivation function in promoting speaking skills; researches on motivational factors for English as second language; suggesting impact and strategies in stimulating learners in developing speaking skills. close-ended questionnaires using relevant types of questions are chosen to conduct data collection. For the research, descriptive statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. The mean value was used to represent the analysis results. Within this paper, the researcher identified several factors that affect students’ motivation to learn second language. Motivation is surely, of great importance in this phenomenon, and is often critical in its development.

 

Keywords: language skills, L2 learner, motivation, second language; speaking skill;
Sportive university students and life satisfaction
Authors: Turgut Murat
Published: February 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of life satisfaction of individuals participating in sports or physical activity within the scope of gender, age, income status, parental education level and active sports. The sample of the study consisted of 442 people from Kastamonu Province. Parametric analysis methods were used to analyse the data. Independent t-test was used to determine the difference between two groups and one-way analysis of variance was used to determine the difference between two groups. According to the findings, there was no statistically significant difference between age and income status. In other words, life satisfaction levels of the participants were found to be high. The highest mean subscale was found to be the relationship satisfaction dimension with a mean of X̄ = 4.90 and the lower mean was the overall life satisfaction sub-dimension with a mean of X̄ = 3.50. In parallel with this situation, it was determined that life satisfaction levels of the participants varied according to different variables.

Keywords: Life satisfaction, physical activity, sport, students, university.
An Ethos of Inclusion for Global Nursing Practice
Authors: Upvall Michele J.
Published: February 2021

The Year of the Nurse and Midwife, 2020, is an opportunity for global nurses to realize the ethos of inclusion for transformative global nursing partnerships. Including all partners in developing and maintaining the relationship provides the foundation for bidirectionality whereby all partners learn and grow personally and professionally from each other. Guidelines, theoretical models, and Codes of Ethics are suggested for applying an ethos of inclusion in all global nursing partnerships.
Contributions to the Dance Flies (Diptera: Empididae) of Siirt Fauna, Turkey
Authors: ÇİFTÇİ Mustafa Cemal
Published: February 2021

The adults of the Empidid flies are small to medium-sized, usually shiny black or densely grey dusted species. The adults are very important in pollination because they are flower visitors. Turkey has a wide variety of habitats and species diversity. Although it seems to consist mostly of flat plains, mountainous regions are also found in the east and northeast parts. For this reason, species diversity has increased. Siirt province is rich in steppe but forests cover less space and the summers are quite hot and arid. Siirt also has variable elevation and this positively affects species diversity. This study was carried out in Siirt between 2014-2016. Specimens were collected from different habitats with using a hand net. As a result of the field studies, 15 empidid species were determined in Siirt Province. Among these 15 species, five species belong to the genus Hilara and ten species belong to the genus Empis. And also, Hilara clavidipes Chvála, 2008, H. freidbergi Chvála, 2008 and H. fusitibia Strobl, 1899 are new records for the Turkish fauna. When we compare the species number of the Empididae family from the world and Europe, the number of the known species from Turkey is relatively low, thus constituting the idea that Turkey should be better screened with local faunistic studies.
Spatial Market Integration of Rice in the World
Authors: SADIQ Sanusi , SINGH Invinder Paul , AHMAD Muhammad Makarfi
Published: February 2021

Time series data (1966 to 2017) that covered prices of six selected major exporting rice markets in the world were used to determine the integration of rice markets in the world. The collected data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. In spite of the long-run price association among the selected six markets, the poor extent of market co-integration made the law of one price (LOP) not to hold i.e. elusive in these markets. Except for Pakistan and China markets, all the remaining markets were quite competitive as they have a high degree of market integration- stable equilibrium that absolved any short-run shocks that generate discontinuity and asymmetric price responses. Pakistan market has a dominant role in price formation of all its contemporary five markets while China market viz. leverage effect (inventory accumulation) is not affected by any local shock that emanated from the five markets. However, the local shock generated from China market is felt by all the selected markets. Furthermore, it was observed that international trade in rice marketing is very useful in Cambodian; USA, and China markets as volatility of their respective current prices was quite persistent. Based on the forecast, it can be inferred that the rice prices of the selected markets will adjust according to supply and demand. Therefore, for the development of a single integrated economic rice market in the world, there is a need to strengthen the linkages and interconnectedness among the major exporting rice markets for faster transmission of price and commodity management for efficient allocation. This can be achieved by enhancing the development of market infrastructure viz. assaying, grading, sorting, standardization, quality assurance, physio-sanitary standardization; use of e-trade and e-commerce, value addition, transportation, and other back-end supply chain.
What is your image of future, Russia? Express information
Authors:   Институт социально-политических исследований ФНИСЦ РАН, Москва, Россия, Левашов Виктор Константинович , Великая Наталия Михайловна ,   Институт социально-политических исследований ФНИСЦ РАН, Москва, Россия, Шушпанова Ирина Сергеевна ,   Институт социально-политических исследований ФНИСЦ РАН, Москва, Россия, Афанасьев Владимир Александрович ,   Институт социально-политических исследований ФНИСЦ РАН, Москва, Россия, Гребняк Оксана Валерьевна ,   Институт социально-политических исследований ФНИСЦ РАН, Москва, Россия, Новоженина Ольга Петровна ,   Институт социально-политических исследований ФНИСЦ РАН, Москва, Россия
Published: February 2021

В издании представлены экспресс-результаты социологического исследования «Устойчивость социально-политического развития российского общества и меняющийся образ будущего в массовом сознании граждан», отражающие динамику восприятия основными группами и слоями населения социально-политической реальности и образа будущего России. Представлены мнения граждан об актуальных тревогах и перспективах развития страны, политической системе общества и экономическим реформам. Экспресс-информация отражает динамику отношения респондентов к общественным структурам и институтам власти. Приводится эмпирическая информация о том, в каком обществе хотели бы жить граждане нашей страны и какие понятия могли бы лечь в основу политики возрождения России. Для исследователей, аналитиков, преподавателей, аспирантов, студентов, специализирующихся на изучении социально-политических процессов, политиков, организаторов и активистов избирательных кампаний, управленческого персонала.
Aliran Kepercayaan Dalam Administrasi Kependudukan
Authors: Pransefi Megamendung Danang
Published: February 2021

Indonesia adalah negara dengan pluralitas yang tinggi baik dari suku , bahasa, sampai dengan agama maupun kepercayaan yang dianut tiap-tiap warganya. Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945 sebagai dasar konstitusional Negara Republik Indonesia memberikan kebebasan bagi setiap warga negaranya untuk memeluk agama atau kepercayaan sesuai yang diyakini tiap-tiap mereka. Tersirat dari penjelasan pasal 1  Undang-Undang Nomor 1 PNPS Tahun 1965 bahwa agama yang dipeluk oleh masyarakat Indonesia adalah Islam, Kristen, Katolik, Hindu, Buddha, dan Khong hu cu. Hal ini seakan menjadi sebuah acuan bahwa agama yang diakui di Indonesia hanyalah enam agama tersebut, sedangkan jauh sebelum datangnya agama di Indonesia sudah ada kepercayaan-kepercayaan yang diyakini berbagai masyarakat di seluruh penjuru nusantara yang sejatinya turunan dari nenek moyang mereka. Dari dua hal tersebut dapat dilihat adanya kesenjangan akan perlakuan negara terhadap agama dan kepercayaan. Kesenjangan ini semakin tampak setelah adanya pasal Undang-Undang Administrasi Kependudukan yang memberi tanda strip (-) kepada pemeluk agama atau kepercayaan selain enam agama diatas walaupun tetap dicatat dan dilayani di kantor pencatatan. Sampai pada tahun 2016 kelompok penghayat kepercayaan menggugat Undang-Undang Administrasi  Kependudukan ke Mahkamah Konstitusi untuk memperjuangkan kesetaraan akan pengakuan negara terhadap kepercayaannya.
Kebijakan Restrukturisasi Pinjaman Pada Peer To Peer Lending
Authors: Yuharnita Salsabila
Published: February 2021

Covid-19 merupakan sebuah pandemi yang dialami oleh banyak negara di dunia, termasuk Indonesia. Adanya pandemi ini berdampak pada berbagai sektor, salah satunya ekonomi. Dampak ekonomi salah satunya dirasakan dalam perjanjian pinjam-meminjam yang saat ini marak digunakan yaitu perjanjian pinjam meminjam uang berbasis teknologi atau Peer to Peer Lending (P2PL). P2PL tidak dilakukan secara tatap muka, tetapi hanya melalui online. Penyelenggara P2PL merupakan perantara antara pemberi pinjaman dan penerima pinjaman. Dalam kondisi pandemi, P2PL mengalami kemungkinan risiko yaitu gagal bayar oleh penerima pinjaman. Untuk mengurangi risiko gagal bayar, penyelenggara P2PL menawarkan fasilitas pengajuan restrukturisasi pinjaman bagi penerima pinjaman. Ketentuan terkait fasilitas restrukturisasi pinjaman ditentukan oleh masing-masing penyelenggara karena belum adanya peraturan yang mengatur terkait restrukturisasi pinjaman pada P2PL. Beberapa upaya restrukturisasi pinjaman yang dapat dilakukan dalam P2PL yaitu grace period dan perpanjangan waktu. Apabila telah dilakukan upaya restrukturisasi pinjaman, namun tetap terjadi sengketa, maka dapat diselesaikan dengan jalur litigasi maupun non-litigasi.
Healthcare Reform in the United States: Difficult Road
Authors: Zeveleva G.
Published: February 2021

The article focuses on a healthcare reform, one of the pillars of Barack Obama’s presidency. The author argues that the reform was driven by social considerations, and the goal was to make the American healthcare system more just by implementing universal mandatory health insurance. The author analyses how implementation of Obama’s reform has turned into an arduous process, and why the enactment of some of its regulations were postponed. The article examines why some of the new regulations have already begun to function, while others are due to begin in 2018 and 2020. In 2014 the reform entered its critical phase, as its most controversial element on mandatory health insurance for all Americans came into effect. Failure to comply is met with the fine, while citizens with low incomes can rely on state support. Opponents of the reform are still undertaking efforts to eliminate the universal health insurance requirement. The author comes to the conclusion that despite the challenges Obama has already made the pages of history as the president who succeeded in implementing universal health insurance. One of his greatest achievements has been the triumph over many of the healthcare reform’s opponents as he wrote the reform into law in the spring of 2010. All previous attempts to reform the national system had been met with failure due to conservative resistance. The controversy around this topic stems from many Americans’ understanding of fundamental values. The central point of debate is not about the American healthcare system, but rather about what kind of country the United States of America will be in the 21st Century. Democrats believe that the reform will make the country more just, while their opponents fear that the USA will turn into a welfare state with less freedom and more control of federal authority.
Latin America between OAS and CELAC
Authors: Kheifets V. , Khadorich L.
Published: February 2021

The paper presents an analysis of the major trends of regional development in Latin America in the context of integration processes that occur in the Western Hemisphere at the subregional and regional levels. The main research question is: what would be the role of the oldest regional organization – the OAS – in the emerging regional architecture? Today, the OAS faces another crisis related mainly to the expansion of a post-liberal regionalism, which formed the basis of the recently emerged CELAC. Identifying the main prerequisites for the development of a new type regionalism in Latin America, comparing the OAS and CELAC, the authors attempted to determine the characteristics of both groups, their potential and prospects. As a result, it was concluded that the unconditional opposition of the OAS to CELAC is rather fallacious, because the two associations have substantive structural and functional differences; moreover, their image among officials differs significantly. Thus, there is no doubt that CELAC, as well as other Latin American groups, performs a complementary function when it comes to solving problems within Americas in general, while the OAS, as well as any other intergovernmental group, is greatly dependable on the political will of its member states.
Nuclear Arms Control: the End of History?
Authors: Arbatov A.
Published: February 2021

The article is addressed to an unprecedented crisis of the system and process of nuclear arms control – including nuclear arms reduction and non-proliferation. During a half century history of the practical nuclear disarmament (counting from the 1963 partial nuclear tests ban treaty – PTB) this process has had many ups and downs, but never has it been so deeply deadlocked. Although the two main nuclear treaties are still implemented: the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) of 2010 and the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) of 1987, their future is increasingly uncertain and their validity is eroding, just as that of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1968 and other agreements in this crucial sphere. For the first time in the last fifty years the world is facing a real threat of totally loosing control over the most destructive weapons created in the history of mankind. What is the most amazing – this is happening half a century after the end of the Cold War, when the hopes emerged that nuclear disarmament would finally become a realistic proposition. Dramatic events in and around Ukraine are badly exacerbating the crisis of nuclear arms control, but they are not its original cause. The article is analyzing the principal reasons of the present crisis: the transforming post-post Cold War world order; Russia’s position and role in the new international environment; the military-strategic, economic and technological developments, which are leading to disintegration of former conceptual premises and mechanisms of nuclear arms control and which are not adapted to the changing objective realities. In conclusion some general proposals are provided with the aim of saving, adopting and enhancing nuclear arms limitation and non-proliferation.
The carbon stock as indicator of peatland recovery after fire in Central Kalimantan
Authors:   Balai Penelitian dan Pengembangan Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Banjarbaru, Abdul Qirom Muhammad , Yuwati Tri Wira ,   Balai Penelitian dan Pengembangan Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Banjarbaru, Syaifuddin Syaifuddin ,   Balai Penelitian dan Pengembangan Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Banjarbaru
Published: February 2021

Peat swamp forest fire was the main cause of the huge carbon stock loss. Forest recovery after fire took a huge cost and long period of time. The aim of this research was to determine the carbon stock on various peat land condition and management intervention and utilize it as bio-indicator for degraded peat swamp forest recovery after fire. The data was collected from three location representing three sites: after 1997 fire (ex 1997), unburnt secondary forest and area that was severely burnt in 2005 but already re-planted. Measurement was carried out on the vegetation carbon stock namely seedlings, saplings, poles and trees. The carbon stock was determined using 5 sampling plots on secondary forest and 6 plots on other sites. Carbon counting was using allometric equation. The result showed that the carbon stock was affected by the various type and management intervention of the sites especially at the rehabilitation site. The carbon stock of ex-1997 and secondary forest was not significantly different on all stages of vegetation including the total number. The carbon stock on ex-1997 and secondary forest was 258, 95 Mg/Ha and 254,36 Mg/Ha, respectively. The condition showed that ex-1997 site had the ability to naturally recovered. The rate of recovery can be approached with carbon stock estimation as indicator for peatland recovery after fire. The indicator can be used on sites with no species diversity requirements as recovery factor such as protected or conservation areas. Keywords: natural, allometric, degradation, indicator
Scientist as Parrhesiastes
Authors: Scotognella Francesco
Published: February 2021

The scientific community of the XX and XXI centuries is a very large companionship, very fragmented and spread all over the world. Moreover, the status of the scientist, which in most cases is a member of the States’ apparati, is significantly different with respect to the one of the scientists up to the First World War.The concepts of scientific revolution of Thomas Kuhn and scientific anarchy of Paul Feyerabend should be reconsidered in this contest. In particular, the anarchist modus operandi should be shifted from the scientific method, that has become significantly standardized with protocols, to the sociology of the scientific community. A pluralism of the scientific method is possible, but an anarchy in the relationships among scientists emerges as more important. The scientist is in many cases a parrhesiastes, a person that says the truth even when he is going to pay because of that, that defends the developed theory or model, by respecting the protocols established in the scientific community. On the other side, each scientist should be a patient beholder that accepts the more solid, and intersubjectively recognized, theories of other scientists.
Local and Global Stability Analysis for Gilpin-Ayala Competition Model Involved in Harmful Species Via LMI Approach and Variational Methods
Authors: Rao Ruofeng
Published: February 2021

Firstly, the author do dynamic analysis for reaction-diffusion Gilpin-Ayala competition model with Dirichlet boundary value, involved in harmful species. Existence of multiple stationary solutions is verified by way of Mountain Pass lemma, and the local stability result of the null solution is obtained by employing linear approximation principle. Secondly, the author utilize variational methods and LMI technique to deduce the LMI-based global exponential stability criterion on the null solution which becomes the unique stationary solution of the ecosystem with delayed feedback under a reasonable boundedness assumption on population densities. Particularly, LMI criterion is involved in free weight coefficient matrix, which reduces the conservatism of the algorithm. In addition, a new impulse control stabilization criterion is also derived. Finally, two numerical examples show the effectiveness of the proposed methods. It is worth mentioning that the obtained stability criteria of null solution presented some useful hints on how to eliminate pests and bacteria.
Diet-Derived Exogenous miRNAs As Functional Food Components: Facts and New Perspectives
Authors: Khurana Pankaj , Gupta Apoorv , Varshney Rajeev
Published: February 2021

Exogenous miRNAs derived from dietary substances have been shown to be orally transferred to the mammalian system and proven to remain active to regulate host-gene expression. This way they have become an active area of research as functional food components and aspects for dietary supplementation. They are being studied as a new class of metabolically targeted therapeutics that work through diet manipulation and may hold promise for a therapeutic approach in reducing the risk of life-threatening diseases. However, a substantial amount of evidence also defies this dietary miRNA concept in terms of their absorption, bioavailability, cellular uptake and its physiological effects in the mammalian system. But recent advances in the identification of some unique sequence and structural characteristics of dietary miRNAs and a deeper understanding of their stability in host peripheral blood for its cellular uptake have strengthened the whole concept. The review comprehensively summarizes the mechanism for miRNA extracellular transport, absorption through the gastrointestinal tract (GI), stability in peripheral blood, and cellular uptake in mammalian cells. It recapitulates the shreds of evidence, related to the influence of dietary miRNAs on gene expression based on the source of the origin (plant vs animal), and compares their cross-kingdom behaviour in terms of their unique sequence and stem-loop structure properties that help them to get stabilized in the mammalian system. The review also summarizes the parameters required for maintaining the sustainable uptake and bioavailability of the dietary miRNAs with existing examples of successful in-vivo and in-vitro delivery of dietary miRNA for augmented therapy. Lastly, it provides an overview of the available and required databases, webserver, and tools that can be used for the successful identification of potential dietary miRNA candidates.
Euler-Bernoulli Beam Theory: First-Order Analysis, Second-Order Analysis, Stability, and Vibration Analysis Using the Finite Difference Method
Authors: Fogang Valentin
Published: February 2021

This paper presents an approach to the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory (EBBT) using the finite difference method (FDM). The EBBT covers the case of small deflections, and shear deformations are not considered. The FDM is an approximate method for solving problems described with differential equations (or partial differential equations). The FDM does not involve solving differential equations; equations are formulated with values at selected points of the structure. The model developed in this paper consists of formulating partial differential equations with finite differences and introducing new points (additional points or imaginary points) at boundaries and positions of discontinuity (concentrated loads or moments, supports, hinges, springs, brutal change of stiffness, etc.). The introduction of additional points permits us to satisfy boundary conditions and continuity conditions. First-order analysis, second-order analysis, and vibration analysis of structures were conducted with this model. Efforts, displacements, stiffness matrices, buckling loads, and vibration frequencies were determined. Tapered beams were analyzed (e.g., element stiffness matrix, second-order analysis). Finally, a direct time integration method (DTIM) was presented. The FDM-based DTIM enabled the analysis of forced vibration of structures, the damping being considered. The efforts and displacements could be determined at any time.
Achieving Public Participation through Risk Management for Sustainable Procurement Management in Devolved System of Governments in Kenya
Authors: Njagi Eunice Gitiri , Namusonge Gregory S. , Shale Noor Ismail
Published: February 2021

Public participation is a concept enshrined in the Kenyan constitution, 2010 with an intention to devolve powers to the common citizens and increase transparency and accountability hence may play a role towards public procurement sustainability. However, the relationship between public participation through risk management and sustainable procurement management has not yet been established despite many community-based infrastructure projects facing a lot of supply disruptions, health and safety issues as well as poor supplier selection in county governments in Kenya. The study, therefore, intended to assess the influence of public participation through risk management for sustainable procurement management in devolved systems of government in Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive study design. The target population was 1146 while 348 respondents were sampled through a stratified sampling method from Makueni, Machakos, and Kitui Counties. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data, descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze collected data while the F-test was used to test the hypothesis of the study. SPSS aided in data analysis. Key findings of the study indicate a positive and linear relationship between public participation (risk management) and sustainable procurement management.  A recommendation is therefore made to both national Government and county governments to stipulate and implement policies that would improve public participation so as to improve sustainable procurement management in devolved systems of government. The study proposes that another public participation framework stipulates (Procurement planning, contract administration, monitoring, and evaluation) as well as other counties be investigated in order to have a holistic picture of the phenomena and the entire country.
Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Right Lower Extremity from Ruptured Appendicitis
Authors: Funk Shawn , Warren Kelley , DeNapoli Thomas S. , Mitchell Ian C.
Published: February 2021

Case:

The patient is a 16-year-old girl with history of dermatomyositis in remission for several years who presented with complaints of right thigh pain and elevated inflammatory markers. She presented to the Emergency Room (ER) on separate occasions and was diagnosed with right lower extremity necrotizing fasciitis secondary to ruptured appendix. She underwent 11 surgical procedures and extended hospital stay.

Conclusion:

This case is a unique presentation of ruptured appendicitis without abdominal pain that presented as right lower extremity necrotizing fasciitis and posed a diagnostic challenge. This case illustrates the importance of diligent evaluation and aggressive surgical management in musculoskeletal infections.
A New Guide for the Arthroscopically Assisted Latarjet Procedure
Authors: Imai Shinji
Published: February 2021

Background:

The Latarjet procedure is a commonly used treatment for recurrent shoulder instability. However, its neurological complication rate has been reported to be as high as 10%. During the Latarjet procedure, the neurovascular structures are relocated inferiorly and medially. I hypothesized that the risk of nerve injury would be reduced by assisting the inferior-medial relocation of the neurovascular structures intraoperatively.

Methods:

Seventeen consecutive patients with shoulder instability accompanied by glenoid bone loss were treated with an all-arthroscopic Latarjet procedure assisted by the novel low-profile SaSumata (SS) guide. The SS guide is inserted through a portal made above the coracoid process and is attached to the coracoid process by 2 pre-fix screws (i.e., temporary pre-fixation screws). Unlike previous techniques, the SS guide is not shuttled from 1 portal to the other to redirect the bone graft from the donor site to the recipient site; instead, it remains attached to the graft throughout the procedure. The SS guide brings the coracoid graft along an inferior-medial trajectory, pushing aside the neurovascular structures with the help of a switching stick. Owing to its semicircular pronged head, the SS guide holds the graft until the pre-fix screws are exchanged with permanent screws. All patients were clinically assessed and underwent computed tomography (CT) scans.

Results:

This maneuver was performed arthroscopically in 17 patients, with no conversion to open surgery and no neurological injuries. No patient had recurrence of dislocation after follow-up for a minimum of 24 months. The mean Subjective Shoulder Value was 87.5% ± 11.7%. The mean Rowe score was 88 ± 15.7. The bone block was optimally positioned between 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock and was flush with the glenoid facet in 16 of the 17 patients. There was 1 fracture of the bone block. The mean operation time after the first 5 patients was 125 ± 23 minutes.

Conclusions:

The SS guide was a useful tool for performing the arthroscopically assisted Latarjet procedure for recurrent anterior shoulder instability, with good functional results.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Fuzzy-assignment Model by Using Linguistic Variables
Authors: Radhy Zainb Hassan , Maghool Firas Hussean , Kamal Nagham
Published: February 2021

This work addressed the assignment problem (AP) based on fuzzy costs, where the objective, in this study, is to minimize the cost. A triangular, or trapezoidal, fuzzy numbers were assigned for each fuzzy cost. In addition, the assignment models were applied on linguistic variables which were initially converted to quantitative fuzzy data by using the Yager’sorankingi method. The paper results have showed that the quantitative date have a considerable effect when considered in fuzzy-mathematic models.
Modeling of Cutting Rock: From PDC Cutter to PDC Bit—Modeling of PDC Cutter
Authors: Chen Pengju , Miska Stefan , Yu Mengjiao , Ozbayoglu Evren
Published: February 2021

The main purpose of this paper is to present our polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutter model and its verification. The PDC cutter model we developed is focused on a PDC cutter cutting a rock in 3D space. The model studies the forces between a cutter and a rock and applies the theory of poroelasticity to calculate the stress state of the rock during the cutting process. Once the stress state of the rock is obtained, the model can then predict rock failure by the modified Lade criterion (Ewy 1999). This work also developed a trial-and-error procedure to predict cutting forces, and the stress state of a rock before cutting process is also considered.

A complete verification of the cutter model is conducted. The model results (i.e., predicted cutting forces) are compared with measured cutting forces from cutter tests in multiple published articles. The major influencing factors on cutting forces—backrake angle, side-rake angle, depths of cut, worn depth (or wear flat area), and hydrostatic pressure—are all studied and verified. A good agreement between the model results and cutter test data is found, and the overall mean relative error is approximately 15%. The influence of inhomogeneous precut stress state of a rock is also studied. Overall, the cutter model in this paper is complete and accurate. It is ready to be integrated into a PDC bit model.
Rescaling Method for Improved Machine-Learning Decline Curve Analysis for Unconventional Reservoirs
Authors: Li Boxiao , Billiter Travis C. , Tokar Timothy
Published: February 2021

Decline curve analysis (DCA) has been widely applied in production forecasting of wells in unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs. However, traditional curve-fit-based methods fall short of forecast accuracy due to three weaknesses: first, they cannot capture the reservoir signals not modeled by the underlying DCA model formulas; second, when predicting the production of a target well, the production history of other wells in the geologic formation (which is valuable information) is not considered; third, the wells’ geographic, geologic, wellbore, well spacing, and completion properties, which are highly relevant to production capability, are not used. More recent approaches have begun replacing traditional DCA with machine-learning methods [e.g., random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR), etc.] for production forecast. Nevertheless, these methods are still suboptimal in detecting similar production trends in different wells, leading to large forecast error.

A new and simple method called dynamic production rescaling (DPR) is developed to improve the accuracy of machine-learning DCA (ML-DCA). By combining DPR with common ML-DCA methods, we observe that the error mean, deviation, and skewness can be significantly reduced by 15 to 35% compared with ML-DCA without DPR. The error reduction is 30 to 60% compared with automatic curve fit of the traditional modified Arps DCA model. DPR has been tested successfully on monthly production data of over 20,000 unconventional horizontal wells in the Permian and Appalachian basins for both long- and short-term forecasts. The significant error reduction is consistent across different basins and formations. DPR is computationally efficient, so a large number of wells can be analyzed automatically and quickly. Moreover, the effectiveness and efficiency of DPR is independent of the underlying machine-learning algorithm, further demonstrating its robustness.
Oral Magnesium Supplementation for Insomnia in Older Adults: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis
Authors: Mah Jasmine , Pitre Tyler
Published: February 2021

Background: Magnesium supplementation is often purported to improve sleep; however, as both an over-the-counter sleep aid and a complementary and alternative medicine, there is limited evidence to support this assertion. The aim was to assess the effectiveness and safety of magnesium supplementation for older adults with insomnia. Methods: A search was conducted in three databases comparing magnesium supplementation to placebo or no treatment. Outcomes were sleep quality, quantity, and adverse events. Risk of bias and quality of evidence assessments were carried out using the RoB 2.0 and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approaches. Data was pooled and treatment effects were quantified using mean differences. For remaining outcomes, a modified effects direction plot was used for data synthesis. Results: Three trials were identified comparing oral magnesium to placebo in 151 older adults in three countries. Pooled analysis showed that post-intervention sleep onset latency time was 17.36 minutes less after magnesium supplementation compared to placebo (95% CI -27.27 to -7.44, p=0.0006). Total sleep time improved by 16.06 min in the magnesium supplementation group but was statistically insignificant. All trials were at moderate-to-high risk of bias and outcomes were supported by low to very low quality of evidence. Conclusion: This review confirms that the quality of literature is substandard for physicians to make well-informed recommendations on usage of oral magnesium for older adults with insomnia. However, given that oral magnesium is very cheap and widely available, there is weak evidence supporting improved sleep parameters after magnesium supplementation for insomnia symptoms.
Assessment of human health risks associated with heavy metals accumulation in the freshwater fish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus in Bangladesh
Authors: Maruf Md Abdullah-hil , Punom Nusrat Jahan , Saha Badhan , Moniruzzaman Mohammad , Suchi Priyanka Dey , Eshik Md. Mostavi Enan , Rahman Mohammad Shamsur
Published: February 2021

In this study, pangas and feed samples were analyzed to estimate the levels of metallic elements and to profile the human health risks due to consumption of contaminated fish. This investigation confirmed significant variations in heavy metal concentrations among different tissues of pangas in the order of Ni> Cu> Pb> Cd> Cr in pre-monsoon; and Ni> Cd= Cu> Pb= Cr in post-monsoon. Considerably higher concentrations of Pb, Cu and Cr were estimated in liver; and Cd and Ni were detected in muscle than other organs (p>0.05). Statistically significant higher amount of Cd, Ni, and Cu were observed in pre-monsoon than post-monsoon. Furthermore, three metal pairs showed significant association (Pb-Ni and Pb-Cu involved positively; Cd-Ni acted negatively). In pre-monsoon, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu concentrations of feed significantly differed than pangas contents; whereas only Cu varied during the post-monsoon. Regression analysis revealed the significant effect of Ni content in feed on the Cu deposition of pangas (p-value 0.027, that was <0.05). For the assessment of potential human health risk of the studied metals, estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR) indices were calculated. Studied EDI indicated that an average adult ingested a higher amount of Ni and Cu than the recommended intake limit. Nevertheless, only the higher EDI of Ni increases the value of THQ and HI than standard limit indicates adverse non-carcinogenic risk. However, lower CR of Pb confirmed no serious health hazard due to the ingestion of pangas. Factor analysis through principal component and cluster analysis suggested that higher concentrations of Pb and Ni may regulate by the feed used, geochemical properties or rapid industrialization in the study area. A proper monitoring for controlling the quality of fish feed with sustainable planning for industrialization could secure the booming of pangasius aquaculture in Bangladesh.
Bidirectional interconversion of microwave and light with thin-film lithium niobate
Authors: Xu Yuntao , Sayem Ayed , Fan Linran , Zou Chang-Ling , Wang Sihao , Cheng Risheng , Fu Wei , Yang Likai , Xu Mingrui , Tang Hong
Published: February 2021

Superconducting cavity electro-optics presents a promising route to coherently convert microwave and optical photons and distribute quantum entanglement between superconducting circuits over long-distance. Strong Pockels nonlinearity and high-performance optical cavity are the prerequisites for high conversion efficiency. Thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) offers these desired characteristics. Despite significant recent progresses, only unidirectional conversion with efficiencies orders of magnitude lower than expected has been realized. In this article, we demonstrate the first bidirectional electro-optic conversion in TFLN-superconductor hybrid system, with conversion efficiency improved by more than three orders of magnitude. Our new air-clad device architecture boosts the sustainable intracavity pump power at cryogenic temperatures by suppressing the prominent photorefractive effect that limits cryogenic performance of TFLN, and reaches an efficiency of 1.02% (internal efficiency of 15.2%). This work firmly establishes the TFLN-superconductor hybrid EO system as a highly competitive transduction platform for future quantum network applications.
Positive Effects of Walnut Meal Extracts on Memory Impairment of Alzheimer's Disease Mice Induced by D-Galactose
Authors: Lv Honglin , Chen Dan , Xu Chengmei , Ma Yage , Yang Jingjuan , Chen Chaoyin , Zhao Shenglan
Published: February 2021

Walnut kernel was a traditional Chinese medicine, as well as a brain power boosting food. Walnut meal (WM) was prepared from walnut kernel by cold-press deoil, which was rich in polyphenols. In this study, we investigated the positive effects of walnut meal extracts on memory impairment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice induced by D-galactose. After 6 weeks of WMP treatment, the behavioral results showed that WMP could significantly improve the learning and memory of D-galactose Model (MOL) mice. The biochemical assay showed WMP could increase the amount of Acetylcholine (Ach) and reduce the oxidative stress and inflammation. Meanwhile, WMP improved the expression of neural stem cells, restored the number and the shape of neurons. The RNA-seq analysis revealed 284 differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus were regulated by WMP treatment, among which Gzma, Apol11b, H2-Q6 were up-regulated, while Rny1, Scgn, Col6a3 were down-regulated. Further analysis disclosed the differentially expressed genes were relevant to PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cellular senescence, and particularly strongly interacted with the ribosomal family genes (Rpl35a, Rps27rt, Rpl3l, Rpl21, Rpl26). In addition, transcription factor Ep300 regulated genes of Cdkn1a, Spp1, and Tnfsf10 distinctly in the hippocampus, which were involved in inflammation and protein kinase. Transcription factor Pparg regulated genes of Angptl4, Fabp4, and Plin4, which were mainly expressed in PPAR (Peroxisome Proliferator-activated receptors) signaling pathway. This study might assist in identifying new targets to restore memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease.