bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traumatic spinal cord injury in southern Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alnaami Ibrahim , Alsaleh Saleh , Al-Amri Mohammed S. , Al-Alamri Ayman , Al-Zahrani Fares , Al-Amri Mohammed A. , Khan Mohammed Abid
Published: April 2021

Introduction:

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an unbearable neurological disorder. which has a destructive socioeconomic effect of affected individual, their families and the healthcare systems. Stressful spinal cord damages are caused by road traffic misfortunes, violence, sports or falls.

Methods:

Retrospective study of 112 spinal cord injured patient admitted to Aseer Central hospital (ACH) between the years 2016 and 2018.

Results:

The present study includes 112 cases of TSCI patients who admitted to Asser Central Hospital and surgically treated, with mean age 32.1 ± 14.12 years. Males were the mostly affected by almost 90.2%. Lower level of education is seen in 69.6% of patients; while only 30.3% of patients had university education or higher. Motor vehicle accidents (MVA) and falls are the only two causes of spinal cord injuries in this study; however, MVA was the cause of SCI in (79.5%) and 20.5% for falls.

Conclusions:

MVAs are the most source of spinal cord injuries in Southern Saudi Arabia with high male predominance. Despite the lack of significance between shorter time to surgery, and improvement in ASIA score, it was found that shorter time to surgery plays an important role in reducing the post-operative intensive care unit and ward stay, potentially reducing possible long stay related complications and eventually reducing health care cost.
Combating COVID-19 pandemic in India
Authors: Sharma Neha , Vyas Shaili , Mohapatra Archisman , Khanduri Rakhee , Roy Pritam , Kumar Raman
Published: April 2021

The concept of Herd immunity is a key factor for epidemic control. According to it only a proportion of entire population needs to be immune either via natural infection or vaccination. The idea of herd immunity via natural infection rather than vaccination is a bit controversial, as it is not clear how long will the antibodies last, and whether re-infection or re-activation of the virus can occur after the antibodies starts weaning from the body. It has been suggested that coronavirus will likely become similar to a seasonal flu once the herd immunity is attained. Till then, it will continue causing outbreaks year-round and there could be multiple waves of virus transmission before achieving herd immunity. Therefore, the public needs to learn to live with it, and continue practising the best prevention measures, including wearing of masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and avoidance of gathering.
Cutaneous nodules as a first presentation in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Olarinoye-Akorede Sefiya , Jimeta Desiree , Olarinoye Gboyega Musbau , Adewuyi Sunday
Published: April 2021

Out of all skin neoplasms, metastasis accounts for only about 2%, and breast cancer is the second commonest malignancy to metastasize to the skin after malignant melanoma. Although triple-negative breast cancer patients tend to have metastatic disease at presentation, cutaneous metastasis is unusual. In this report, we present a 47-year-old asymptomatic woman whose attention was drawn by her hairdresser to a scalp swelling 2 months prior to presentation. Similar swellings were noticed on the back, arms, and thighs. One month later, a left breast lump was noticed during a clinical breast examination by a physician. She was in good physical condition but had generalized cutaneous nodules. Further investigations revealed canon ball metastasis to the lungs, and histopathology with immunohistochemistry confirmed triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma with cutaneous metastasis. Skin involvement in breast cancer signifies advanced disease. Therefore, high index of suspicion is necessary so as not to overlook early sinister nodules as benign dermatological condition.
One year of breast cancer in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Jimoh Mutiu A. , Ajani Mustapha A. , Folorunso Sharif A. , Fatunla Ebenezer O. , Aruah Chinedu S. , Abdus-Salam Abbas A. , Ogunbiyi John O.
Published: April 2021

Background:

Breast cancer is a major public health problem in most low- to medium-income countries of the world because of its high morbidity and mortality rate. Histopathological features are vital in risk assessment, selection of treatment and prognostication in breast cancer patients. This study aimed to assess the histopathological features of all breast cancer cases seen in a tertiary hospital in the year 2018.

Methods:

This is a retrospective review of all breast cancer cases histologically diagnosed and confirmed by three Pathologists at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan over a one-year period from 1st January 2018 to 31st December, 2018.

Results:

A total of 236 breast cancer cases were seen during this period, 234 (99.2%) were females while only 2 (0.8%) were male. 163 (69.7%) patients were between the fourth and sixth decades of life, 65 (27.8%) patients were above sixth decade while 6 (2.5%) patients were below fourth decade. Invasive ductal carcinoma of No Special Type (NST) was the commonest histological subtype 212 (89.8%). Grade 1 cases were 25(10.6%), Grade 2 129 (54.7%) and Grade 3 cases were 40 (16.9%) while 42 (17.8%) were not graded. Lymphovascular invasion observed in 98 (41.5%) of the cases. 54 (22.9%) had immunohistochemistry out of which 23 (43.4%) were triple negative while 8 (3.4%) were triple positive.

Conclusion:

Histopathological features suggesting aggressive disease was predominantly observed. Efforts should be made towards early diagnosis, adequate evaluation and prompt treatment. Cancer care should be fully incorporated in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Autoimmune hepatitis in a Northern Nigerian woman
Authors: Manko Muhammad , Jabir Abdullahi , Bello Ahmad K. , Liman Al Mustapha , Mustapha Shettima K.
Published: April 2021

Autoimmune hepatitis is an unrelenting inflammation of the liver of unknown etiology. It is a relatively rare disease that commonly affects women and mostly present as chronic hepatitis. It is basically classified into types 1 and 2. The patient is a 56 year old Northern Nigerian woman with background thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis who presented with jaundice and fatigue and elevated liver enzymes with increased serum total protein and low serum albumin. Further evaluation showed non-reactive hepatitis B and C markers, features of chronic liver disease on abdominal ultrasound scanning, elevated anti-nuclear and anti-smooth muscle antibodies and increased serum IgG. Liver histology showed features of chronic hepatitis consistent with AIH. Diagnosis of AIH type 1 was eventually made and patient was started on prednisolone and azathioprine combination therapy with improvement of liver function test few weeks after commencement of therapy. To the best of our knowledge, only 2 cases of AIH has been reported in Nigeria, all from Ibadan, Southern Nigeria. No report of AIH from Northern Nigeria. We therefore report a case of AIH type 1 to increase awareness among clinicians.
Oral epidermoid cyst
Authors: Abdullahi Mohammed Adam Sheikh , Zarami Abba Bukar , Sanda Abubakar Kaka , Olasoji Hector
Published: April 2021

Background:

Epidermoid cyst of the oral cavity is very rare, slow-growing, benign neoplasm derived from the remnant of the neural tube. It accounts for less than 0.01% of all cystic lesions of the head and neck. Most of the intraoral cases are reported in the midline and floor of the mouth. Very rare cases are seen involving the tongue, lips, uvula, temporomandibular joint, maxillary, and buccal mucosa. The rare oral lesion is asymptomatic, but large masses present early with difficulty in breathing and swallowing. We report an uncommon case of epidermoid cyst in an infant with failure to thrive due to obstruction and inability to latch breast milk.

Case report:

A 40-day-old male infant presented with a large oral swelling in the floor of the mouth since birth. It measured 4 × 5 cm in size. Surgical excision with primary closure was successfully performed. The histopathological report confirmed the diagnosis of epidermoid cyst. The child recovered to full general health with no signs of recurrence.

Conclusion:

Oral epidermoid cyst is a rare neoplasm that may mimic dermoid cyst and teratoid tumors clinically. The treatment of choice is surgical excision; however, there is a recurrence rate of 33% and rarely transforms into malignancy.
Mushroom poisoning and outcome of patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital in North East India
Authors: Pandita Kawal Krishan , Topno Noor , Thappa Devinder Mohan
Published: April 2021

Background:

Of the estimated 5000 existing mushroom species, only 200 to 300 have been established to be edible and safe, whereas 50 to 100 species are known to be poisonous for human consumption. The toxicity profile of most other species has not been investigated. Consuming mushrooms gathered in the wild is risky, as most of the mushroom poisoning reported are due to accidental ingestion of poisonous mushrooms, which are often misidentified. To study the clinical characteristics of patients who got admitted with mushroom poisoning in North Eastern Indra Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong over the past 5 years.

Methods:

A retrospective study of case records of patients admitted with mushroom poisoning over 5 years in a tertiary care regional institute of northeastern India (NEIGRIHMS, Shillong) was carried out. Data collection was done using a pre-designed proforma.

Results:

Fifty-three patients were admitted with mushroom poisoning during the study period of 5 years (2014–2019). Maximum number (16; 30.19%) of the patients belonged to the age group of 11 to 20 years. A two and a half months old baby on breast milk is the youngest patient admitted with mushroom poisoning. Out of 53 patients with mushroom poisoning, 33 (62.26%) reported in six clusters, and 20 (37.74%) were admitted as individual mushroom poisoning patients. The majority, 40 (75.47%), of the patients survived and got discharged. Nine (16.98%) patients died due to complications of poisoning, and four (7.55%) patients left against medical advice. Most of the cases (21, 39.62%) were from Ri-Bhoi district. Most (17, 32.07%) of the mushroom poisoning occurred during the month of May, which coincided with the peak time of mushroom production in the state of Meghalaya.

Conclusions:

Wild mushroom is a part of routine food consumption in the tribal population of Meghalaya. Nearly 75% of the patients admitted with mushroom poisoning recovered, whereas 16.98% died due to poisoning complications.
Virtually cyclic dimension for 3-manifold groups
Authors: Joecken Kyle , Lafont Jean-François , Sánchez Saldaña Luis Jorge
Published: April 2021

Let

\Gamma

be the fundamental group of a connected, closed, orientable

3

-manifold. We explicitly compute its virtually cyclic geometric dimension

\underline{\underline{\mathrm{gd}}}(\Gamma)

. Among the tools we use are the prime and JSJ decompositions of

M

, acylindrical splittings of groups, several push-out type constructions, as well as some Bredon cohomology computations.
Динамика точки в осесимметричном гравитационном потенциале кольца и центра
Authors: Sakharov Aleksandr Vadimovich
Published: April 2021

Рассмотрена задача о трехмерном движении пассивно-гравитирующей точки в потенциале, создающемся однородным тонким неподвижным кольцом и точечной массой, расположенной в центре кольца. Движение пассивно-гравитирующей точки допускает два первых интеграла. Сначала рассматривается интегрируемый случай инвариантного движения в плоскости экватора, затем общий случай трехмерного движения, для которого проведена классификация возможных траекторий движений точки в зависимости от значений величин первых интегралов. Также произведено сравнение результатов работы с некоторыми предыдущими результатами, полученными другими авторами для аналогичных задач.
Детерминанты в квантовых матричных алгебрах и интегрируемые системы
Authors: Gurevich Dmitrii Il'ich , Saponov Pavel Alekseevich
Published: April 2021

Определены квантовые детерминанты в квантовых матричных алгебрах, связанных с парами совместных брейдингов. Установлены соотношения между этими детерминантами и так называемыми столбцовыми и строчными детерминантами, которые часто используются в теории интегрируемых систем. Кроме того, с помощью обобщенных янгианов, связанных с парами совместных брейдингов, построены общения квантовых интегрируемых спиновых систем. Показано, что такие системы не определяются однозначно "квантовым координатным кольцом" базового пространства $V$. Например, "квантовая плоскость" $xy=qyx$ порождает две различные интегрируемые системы: рациональную и тригонометрическую.
Разрыв цепочки взаимодействующих броуновских частиц: гумбелева предельная теорема
Authors: Aurzada Frank , Betz Volker , Lifshits Mikhail Anatolievich
Published: April 2021

В статье исследуется поведение конечной цепочки броуновских частиц, взаимодействующих в соответствии с попарным квадратическим потенциалом, причем один конец цепочки фиксирован, а другой отодвигают с малой скоростью. Нас интересует предел при малой скорости и малой дисперсии броуновского шума.
Мы изучаем момент, когда цепочка "рвется", т.е. расстояние между двумя соседними частицами превышает определенную величину.
В режиме, где как скорость удаления, так и размер шума существенно влияют на поведение цепочки, доказываются предельные теоремы для времени и места разрыва.
О точных принципах больших уклонений для обобщенного процесса восстановления
Authors: Borovkov Alexander Alekseevich
Published: April 2021

Рассматриваются два принципа больших уклонений (п.б.у.) - "обычный" (при выполнении "усиленного" условия Крамера) и "расширенный", когда выполнено лишь стандартное условие Крамера, а функционал уклонений может быть конечным и для разрывных траекторий. Стандартная формулировка этих принципов содержит две асимптотические оценки (сверху и снизу) для логарифмов вероятностей того, что нормированная траектория процесса принадлежит заданному множеству $B$. Найдены условия на множество $B$, при которых эти оценки совпадают и принципы больших уклонений принимают форму точных асимптотических равенств. Такие п.б.у. названы точными. Установлено, что оценивающий отрезок обычного п.б.у. вложен в оценивающий отрезок расширенного п.б.у. и что, стало быть, выполнение точного расширенного п.б.у. влечет за собой выполнение точного обычного п.б.у. Полученные результаты в полной мере справедливы и актуальны для случайных блужданий (частного случая обобщенных процессов восстановления).
Rise and Fall of Essentialist Social Theories: Recapitulation and Critique
Authors: Molla Belete
Published: April 2021

This article is a recapitulation and critique of the rise and fall of essentialist social theories from the Antiquities through the modern period; more emphasis will, however, be placed on modern social theories. The article tries to give an overview of discourses that would cumulatively lead to the eventual development of intercultural discourses. It will also devote a section in which it goes back to the Antiquities in order to test for any subjectivist marks that are identifiable with ancient proto-anthropological representations of the cultural other; and this, in order to see if they are said to lend problems for modern day theories of representation. This article will also note both the lowlights and the highlights of the period under consideration through estimates made from the view point of humanism; it hopes to establish a background against which an interpretive attitude would take shape in later periods which would develop hand in hand with the emergence of critical voices that animate twentieth century discourses. Accordingly, while I take as the lowlights of the essentialism of modernity the institutionalization of discourses that promote monologue and alterity, I take as the highlights the beginning of ruptures in modern train of thoughts; a beginning that is especially marked by the decline of idealist metaphysics and the attendant rise of hope owing to the turning up of critical vantages that seek to help concretize the human spirit in the primacy of openness, interpretation, communication, fusion, etc.

Keywords: modernity, anthropology, critique, other, self
Claude Sumner and the Quest for an Ethiopian Philosophy
Authors: Merawi Fasil
Published: April 2021

African philosophy emerged out of the rationality debates and the need to affirm the existence of a unique African intellectual tradition that primarily reflects on the legacies of colonialism. Such a debate also centered on whether there is a unique philosophical tradition rooted on African traditional practices. In such a context, Ethiopian philosophy represents a unique approach in defying the colonial bias which is founded on the idea that philosophy is exclusively a western mode of thinking. It is also unique in being available among others in a written form which is absent in other philosophical traditions in Africa. In this paper, I will develop a critical exposition of Sumner’s studies into the written, oral and sapiential sources of Ethiopian philosophy. I will discuss the contributions of Claude Sumner in light of questioning Eurocentric bias that undermined the existence of non-western philosophies, escaping the charge of ethno-philosophy, and situating Ethiopian philosophy on different modalities of Ethiopian experience. To attain such an undertaking, Sumner’s investigations on Ethiopian philosophy and their major contributions to the attempt to introduce a unique philosophical tradition in Ethiopia will be discussed. Through a discussion of Sumner’s works on Ethiopian philosophy, this paper attempts to situate the place of Ethiopian philosophy within the need to reflect on our existential predicaments. I will start my discussion by situating the forces that motivated Sumner’s pursuits, and also elaborating on Sumner’s explorations into the classical, oral and written sources of Ethiopian philosophy
Pastoral Conflict, Emerging Trends and Environmental Stress in Nyangatom, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Temesgen Thomas  , Taddesse Berisso
Published: April 2021

This study examined the dynamics of conflict, emerging trends and relationship between inter-pastoral conflicts and environmental changes in Nyangatom, Southern Ethiopia.  The study employed a qualitative approach and exploratory case study research design.  The study revealed that inter-pastoral conflicts stem from multiple and compounding dynamics. The environmental change has escalated intense inter-pastoralists’ contestation and conflicts, including cross-border conflict, on the scarce and fast-depleting natural resources. Indeed, there is a causal link between inter-pastoral conflicts and environmental changes. In this regard, the environmental factor has uniquely affected the Nyangatom due to the drying of Kibish River and rapid invasion of Prosopis–Juliflora in their key grazing lands. In response to environmental stresses as part of the traditional copying mechanism, the Nyangatom cross border deep into South-Sudan to their ethnic kin of Toposa and into Kenya that usually causes frequent cross-border conflicts with Turkana pastoralists. Irrespective of discernible risk of conflicts, they used to migrate to Mursi and Surma territories that caused conflict. And yet, the Nyangatom has often engaged in frequent conflicts with Dasanach. The study suggests alternative livelihood options and an understanding of the complex conflict dynamics in view of the cause-effect relationships for future management of inter-pastoral and cross-border conflicts in the region.
In Vitro antibacterial activity of rumex nervosus, plantago lanceolata, solanum incanum and lepidium sativum against selected bacterial pathogens of human and animals
Authors: Abebe Endalkachew , Mekonnen Negesse
Published: April 2021

Medicinal plants are used as a primary means of tackling different ailments especially in developing countries. In the present study, the leaves of Rumex nervosus, Plantago lanceolata, Lepidium sativum and Solanum incanum were collected and extracted by maceration method using 70% methanol. The extracts were concentrated and the yields recorded. Antibacterial effects of the extracts were tested on selected bacteria such as Streptococcus, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, E. coli, and Salmonella which were obtained from Haramaya University, Veterinary Microbiology Laboratory. Preliminary screening test for the extract was made using agar disc diffusion method and subsequently the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by agar dilution assay based on the zone of bacterial growth inhibition. The finding indicated that Rumex nervosus showed have the highest zone of inhibition (20mm) against the genus Salmonella followed by Plantago lanceolata with the zone of inhibition (16mm) against L. monocytogenes. On the other hand, Lepidium sativum and Solanum incanum did not have any antibacterial activity against all the cultured bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration of Rumex nervosus against S. aureus were 1.56x103μg/ml and that of Plantago lanceolata against L. monocytogenes were 6.25 x103μg/ml and 1.25 x 104μg/ml, respectively. From the findings it can be concluded that Rumex nervosus and Plantago lanceolata have shown to be a better antibacterial activity against selected bacterial pathogens, while leave extracts of other medicinal plants do not have any effect. Fractionated components of the plants might show better effect which needs further investigation using different solvent and standard medium.Keywords: Agar disc diffusion, Antibacterial activity, Rumex nervosus, Plantago lanceolata, Solanum incanum, Lepidium sativum
Yanagita Kunio (1875–1962). Pionier japońskich badań folklorystycznych
Authors: Splisgart Jacek
Published: April 2021

Yanagita Kunio (1875–1962). Pioneer of Japanese folklore studies

The Meiji era (1868–1912) pushed Japan towards a modern, industrialized and, most of all, positivist state. This era plays an important role in shaping the ethnographic (anthropological, folklore) thought in the country. However, this is only one side of the coin, a medal which, apart from a gigantic leap in civilization, had a reverse – traditional, familiar, “Japanese” side. Japan went through two important periods of modernization in the years of 1868-1962. From a feudal country ruled by samurai transformed into a country capable of competing with the previously industrially developed colonial powers, and after World War II, giving up imperial ambitions, transformed into a modern state. During the century, numerous changes have occurred in the streets of the Japanese capital. From the carriages, trough automobiles, and finally, after 1945, to the jets flying overhead. It was in such times that the pioneer of Japanese ethnography, folklore or socio-cultural anthropology, Yanagita Kunio, came to live and work. This text aims to present the profile and main theses of this Japanese researcher.
Ekonomiczne aspekty funkcjonowania nosokomeionów we wczesnym Bizancjum
Authors: Milewski Ireneusz
Published: April 2021

Economical aspects of nosokomeia in early Byzantium

In the 4th century, an époque of intensive Christianisation of the Roman Empire, a new form of providing aid to fellow neighbours appeared, namely charity organizations. Although there were several types of them, in practice the differences between them were quite seamless. Depending on needs, hospital functions were carried by ksenodochia (inns for Christian pilgrims and other travellers), ptochotrophia (shelters for the poor), gerokomia (homes for the elderly) and most of all nosokomia specialised in treating the sick. Also, the Church legislator of the time (synods and councils) and the secular lawmaker (the emperor) did not differentiate the scope of activities of the aforementioned institutions. Since the sick, the poor or pilgrims (or any other exhausted travellers), no matter their age, were able to find shelter or help in each of those institutions, they were commonly perceived as identical. The sources we have, however, do not provide an answer to the question of how this issue was regulated in practice, if only due to the prevention against spreading various diseases (separating the contagiously ill, including most of all lepers, from less severe cases). The sources we know do not also provide an explicit answer to another important question, namely whether in such types of Christian charitable institutions also pagans, Jews or even „heretics” were able to find treatment.
Information on the subject of early Byzantine hospitality are found mainly in hagiographic, papyrus or normative texts of the time (mainly in the legislature of emperor Justinian). The geographical range of Christian charitable institutions in the period of our interest is considerably well known, yet it is a different case in terms of attempts to estimate their numbers and size. In that matter, if we were to count individual foundations mentioned in the sources as well as those known from field research, it would turn out that in the whole Eastern Roman Empire only several dozens of such institutions had been functioning since the beginning of the 7th century; numbers, which undoubtedly are considerably underestimated. We already find them since the 20s of the 4th century in Egypt and later on in Asia Minor, in Syria, Palestine and obviously in the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, Constantinople. In greatest numbers the Christian charitable institutions were established most of all in large cities or in the case of specialised medical centres such as leprosoria (homes for lepers), in their nearby areas. They were run mostly by the local clergy (presbyterians or deacons) or monks, who would also take care of financing them. Money (as well as other goods) needed for their functioning were collected by means of small contributions and most of all through sizeable donations and last will testaments made by affluent founders.
Bełchatów 2030: alternatywne scenariusze transformacji
Authors: Ruszkowski Paweł
Published: April 2021

Bełchatów 2030: The Altenative Scenarios of the Transformation

The article presents strategic dilemmas of the Bełchatów mining and energy complex. The coal lobby aims to continue the conventional profile by launching a new open pit in Złoczew, and experts from environmental organizations propose to enter the green investment trend. A responsible strategy for the survival of the Bełchatów energy complex as an employer must assume alternative scenarios.
Thị trường bất động sản và bất bình đẳng thu nhập tại Việt Nam: Thực trạng và hàm ý chính sách
Authors: Cường Lê Kiên , Tùng Lê Thanh , Hùng Trần Mạnh
Published: April 2021

Nền kinh tế Việt Nam đang duy trì một xu hướng tăng trưởng mạnh mẽ trong hơn ba thập kỷ qua. Trong bối cảnh đó, thị trường bất động sản Việt Nam cũng có những bước phát triển đáng ghi nhận. Tuy nhiên, sự phát triển nhanh thị trường bất động sản với mặt bằng giá cả bất động sản tăng mạnh cũng đang có những tác động nhất định làm bất bình đẳng thu nhập gia tăng tại Việt Nam. Bài viết đã phân tích thực trạng phát triển thị trường bất động sản trong mối quan hệ với vấn đề bất bình đẳng thu nhập tại Việt Nam trong những năm qua. Trên cơ sở các phân tích thực trạng, bài viết cũng đưa ra một số hàm ý chính sách nhằm thúc đẩy sự phát triển thị trường bất động sản hài hòa với việc giảm thiểu bất bình đẳng thu nhập tại Việt Nam trong thời gian tới.
Flipgrid: Students’ Perceptions of its Advantages and Disadvantages in the Language Classroom
Authors: Mango Oraib
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate students’ perceptions of the effects of using Flipgrid (FG) on their learning experiences and their perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of its use in the Arabic as a foreign/world language (AWL) classroom. Thirty students participated in this study and completed a survey composed of an 18-item, 5-point Likert-type questionnaire and open-ended questions. Results indicated that even though students were skeptical about using FG in the beginning, they developed positive attitudes towards its use by the end of the semester. FG provided students with a safe, low-stress platform for language practice while allowing them to track their progress, which in turn helped learners gain more confidence in their listening and speaking skills. Students enjoyed using FG and perceived it as having a positive influence on their language learning as well as on their social and cognitive engagement in the classroom. The main disadvantage listed by 27% of the participants was the lack of immediate feedback on their recorded Flipgrid.
Information, Media and Technology Skills in terms of Curricula, Process and Product in Middle and High Schools
Authors: Hazar Esin , Akkutay Ülker , Keser Hafize
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study is to examine how middle and high school curricula and practices support students to acquire information, media and technology skills. In the qualitative dimension of the study which was designed according to the mixed method, document analysis, observation and interview were used. The 23-itemed Information, Media and Technology Skills Competency Scale was used for the quantitative dimension of the study. Content analysis was performed for analysing the curricula, data obtained through observations and interviews. In the analysis of the data obtained from the scale, frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean and standard deviation values were used in the central and prevalence measurements. The results of the curricula analysis show that problem solving and information and data literacy skills were outnumbered in all analysed curricula. The activities carried out in the classroom during the observation and interview process were mostly related to information and media literacy and problem solving. According to the results of the scale; middle and high school students considered themselves to be relatively moderate in their information, media and technology skills. While the highest score of the students was of information and data literacy; programming skills were the weakest dimension.
The Effect of Instragram Usage in Buying Decision
Authors: Riskinanto Anggar , Fandiyah Fanny
Published: April 2021

This study examines the factors that influence Purchase Intention to customers when they want to buy Yellowfit Kitchen products through social media Instagram. This study applies the TAM (Technology Acceptance Model) model and several additional variables namely Information Quality including Intrinsic, Contextual, Representational, and Accessibility; and Source Credibility include Trustworthiness, Expertness, and Reputation. This research is a quantitative study, data obtained through a questionnaire distributed to 398 respondents who had bought Yellowfit Kitchen. The method used is PLS (Partial Least Square). The questionnaire results obtained were analyzed using SmartPLS. The analysis shows that there are (1) a significant relationship between Information Quality and Perceived Ease of Use (2) a significant relationship between Source Credibility, Perceived usefulness, and Perceived Ease of Use (3) Attitude Toward Behavior is influenced by Perceived usefulness, and Perceived Ease of Use Use; (4) Purchase Intention is influenced by Attitude Toward Behavior. From the results of a comparison of O2O e-commerce research, this study provides a more detailed explanation of the Elaboration Likehood Model related to Information Quality and Source Credibility that influences purchase intentions. Purchase Intention is the final stage of a customer to buy a product that is needed or seen. TAM is easy to use in the use of social media. The research is expected that startup company Yellowfit Kitchen can continue to increase sales and also provide useful information through their social media.
What’s so Critical about Critical Reflection? The Role of Critical Reflection for Improving Doctoral Research Practice
Authors: Hardware Shawnee
Published: April 2021

In this article, I demonstrate how I used critical reflection to improve my teaching practice while conducting my PhD fieldwork. More specifically, I reflect on the 4-month qualitative case study that I conducted in a Jamaican Grade 7 classroom. My research project explored if and how multiliteracies pedagogy paired with sociocultural theory can improve inner-city students’ English language development (ELD) and engagement. To achieve my research objectives, my fieldwork comprised of four main steps and seven data collection tools including 1 month of teacher observation, 2 months teaching of the teacher’s class, interviewing both student and teacher, and a one-week observation of the teacher’s class. Due to the rigour of my methodology, I experienced three triumphs and one pedagogical challenge. Reflecting on these can be useful for emergent scholars and researchers to help improve their research practice and to reduce its limitations.
Inquiry and Participatory Action Research in Primary School
Authors: McDougall Christine
Published: April 2021

In Jamaica, learner-centered instruction is commended for teaching a curriculum focused on environmental education and sustainable development. This study investigated the potential of participatory action research (PAR) as an inquiry-based instructional method in a sixth-grade Jamaican classroom. Mixed methods compared the academic performance of students between teacher-led and PAR-driven groups, and analyzed key attributes of sustainable development. Though practicing PAR had no significant effect on students’ academic performance, perceived collaboration skills, and interest in science, participants displayed leadership skills, such as self-confidence, commitment, and teambuilding. Moreover, the inquiry group conducted cross-curricular research towards place-based environmental improvement. These assets correspond to the Jamaican educational objective of integrating multiple disciplines and stakeholders in the equation for a sustainable future and warrant a further evaluation of PAR in Jamaican schools.
Integrating Articles into Teaching English to Young Learners II Course in ELT Department
Authors: Takkaç Tulgar Ayşegül
Published: April 2021

While relevant literature presents us different studies examining teaching English to young learners from an application and practice perspective, its theoretical side, i.e., how to instruct pre-service teachers in foreign language departments to teach the language to young learner profiles is still an area needing investigation. Conducted in English Language Teaching department at a state university in Turkey, this case study was purposed to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating articles into TEYL II course. The participants were 36 students taking TEYL II course in the third grade. The data of this case study were collected through open-ended questions and classroom observations. The data were analyzed through conventional content analysis. The results revealed that integrating articles into TEYL II course had educational, linguistic, affective and individual/group-work-related contributions to participants. Setting out from the results, it can be suggested that articles can be rich sources of theoretical content and offer a scientific base for discussion. Besides, article integration in courses with applicable content is also suggested.
Autobiographical Memory and Future Imaginings as a Resource for Pedagogical Understanding in Initial Teacher Education
Authors: Hinchion Carmel
Published: April 2021

The focus of this article is twofold: (a) It explores how autobiographical memory and future imaginings can be used as a resource for pedagogical understanding in Initial Teacher Education, and (b) The paper engages a methodological experiment where there is a layered reading of texts across time, 2008-2018.The paper presents, through a narrative analysis of autobiographical texts, the stories of two student teachers, Ciara and John (Text 1, 2008). These student teachers were in the early years of their undergraduate four-year programme in my university and I was their English Pedagogics lecturer. Later, I revisit these student teachers’ narratives and read them under new interpretative conditions based on their salient and punctum effects, significant and emotional effects, on me as a teacher educator (Text 2, 2018). Then, theorizing with relevant literature, I consider how to foster conditions and methodologies of growth as student teachers engage their autobiographical memories and imaginings. Ultimately, my findings underline that self-knowledge is central in the pedagogical encounter of self, other and subject matter (Latta & Buck, 2008) and that working with evocative, creative and emotionally attuned pedagogy can support this process of autobiographical / pedagogical understanding.
Using Indigenous Research Frameworks in the Multiple Contexts of Research, Teaching, Mentoring, and Leading
Authors: Reano Darryl
Published: April 2021

Indigenous research frameworks can be used to effectively engage Indigenous communities and students in Western modern science through transparent and respectful communication. Currently, much of the academic research taking place within Indigenous communities marginalizes Indigenous Knowledge, does not promote long-term accountability to Indigenous communities and their relations, and withholds respect for the spiritual values that many Indigenous communities embrace. Indigenous research frameworks address these concerns within the academic research process by promoting values such as: relationality, multilogicality, and the centralization of Indigenous perspectives. Indigenous research frameworks provide a framework that can be used in multiple contexts within higher education to bring equitable practices to research, teaching, mentoring, and organizational leadership. In this article, as a researcher who uses Indigenous research frameworks, I utilize autoethnography to engage in critical, reflexive thinking about how my perspective as an Indigenous researcher has developed over time. The purpose of this autoethnography is to reveal how Indigenous research frameworks may enhance higher education, especially for Indigenous students.
Bringing Classroom and Outside World Together: Mobile Instant Messaging via WhatsApp© for Extracurricular Writing
Authors: Erbay Çetinkaya Şakire
Published: April 2021

Mobile phones have a rapidly growing language teaching and learning potential due to various technologies and applications including instant messaging. However, the related literature mostly documents studies aiming at investigating their role for teaching vocabulary, pronunciation, and content, and thus there are calls to focus on other skills, including writing. Responding to these calls to solve the problem of research scarcity on other skills, I opted for a qualitative research design to investigate the pedagogical potential of WhatsApp©, perceive my students’ experiences, and evaluate the process with all strengths and weaknesses. I attempted to make contributions to the existing knowledge on the role of WhatsApp© as one of the most commonly utilised mobile instant messaging applications for language teaching. At the end of a 4-month-period, I gathered my detailed qualitative data from 44 preparatory programme English majoring students at a large-size public university in the northeast of Turkey via a self-devised open-ended questionnaire and conducted a thematic content analysis. My findings highlighted the potential of WhatsApp© as an educational tool to enhance language skills and allow practice chance, offer entertainment and increase interest, decrease anxiety and increase motivation, encourage participation, offer a better communication between the teacher and the students, and help self-improvement. However, no classroom implementation is without limitations, and WhatsApp©-geared interaction was no exception as the implementation had some challenges such as student inconvenience, emotion-related issues, technical problems, content-related and language issues. Based on my dual role, that is, both an academician and practitioner (pracademic), I offered some pedagogical implications for those who want to utilise mobile phones to bring classroom and outside world together to enhance language teaching.
I Am Not a Thief: Retelling My Story to Understand a Racist Encounter
Authors: Stewart Felicia
Published: April 2021

In the United States, acts of prejudice occur in many situations and spaces. Scholars and researchers hypothesize that these acts are often due to the racism that permeates our country. When seemingly racist acts occur, they are sometimes unreported, misunderstood or simply not addressed. As a Black woman falsely accused of theft, I endured assumptions made about me, and I made assumptions about my accuser. We are often left to speculate as to what fuels acts of racism, whether in the form of microaggressions or overt acts. As we try to assign reasons for others’ behaviors, we must also inspect the conditioning of our own thinking. In this study, I utilize both Critical Race Theory and Attribution theory while employing an autoethnographical approach to dissect an unexpected racial encounter. Racism is a palpable subject, and in re-telling the event, I uncover assumptions, locate structured biases and find an empowering voice that allows my perceived racist encounter to be addressed.
Using Drawings in Qualitative Interviews: An Introduction to the Practice
Authors: Brailas Alexios
Published: April 2021

Drawings are employed by qualitative researchers in many creative ways, and in many different contexts, and a variety of different terms are used to describe similar techniques. I present here a concise description of two basic approaches to integrating participants’ produced drawings into verbal qualitative research interviews, along with characteristic cases of empirical research demonstrating how these approaches have been applied. I also provide a list of best practices and I discuss ethical issues. It is common for qualitative researchers to mix techniques in order to creatively address real-world research challenges. The proposed categorization, augmented by the list of best practices, can help researchers to effectively integrate drawings and verbal interviews into a multimodal research project.
ORGANİK İMAJ ÇERÇEVESİNDE ETKİNLİK TURİZMİ: MALAZGİRT ZAFERİ YIL DÖNÜMÜ KUTLAMALARI
Authors: GENÇ Koray
Published: April 2021

Destinasyon imajı potansiyel turistler nezdinde çeşitli yollarla oluşmakla beraber organik imajın daha değerli olduğunu söylenilebilir. Birçok destinasyon kendi değerleri ve kaynakları çerçevesinde etkinlikler düzenlemeye ve bu etkinlikleri kalıcı hale getirmeye çalışmaktadır. Ticari anlayışın güdüldüğü etkinliklere dahi milyonlarca insanın katılımının sağlanabildiği günümüzde, kendisine has bir yaşanmışlığın, günün, olayın olduğu destinasyonların turizm açısından büyük bir nimete sahip olduğunu söylemek mümkündür. Bu çalışmada yaklaşık bin yıldır farklı ölçeklerde düzenlenen ‘Malazgirt Zaferi Yıl Dönümü Kutlamaları’ konu edilmiştir. 2020 yılında düzenlenen etkinlikler, organik imaj oluşumunu destekleyen bilgi kaynakları olan haber içerikleri üzerinden değerlendirilmiştir. Nihayetinde devlet erkânının katılımıyla gerçekleştirilen etkinliklerin haber değeri taşıdığı ve Malazgirt destinasyonunun imajına katkı sağladığı vurgulanmıştır.
On the Ethics of Truthfulness: An Interview with Professor Thomas Osborne
Authors: Osborne Thomas , Vostal Filip
Published: April 2021

Professor Thomas Osborne (SPAIS, University of Bristol, author of Aspects of Enlightenment: Social Theory and The Ethics of Truth (1998) and The Structure of Modern Cultural Theory (2008) visited Prague in mid-2018 and presented a paper On Montesquieu, Markets and the Liberalism of Fear. The interview was conducted online by Dr. Filip Vostal (CSTSS, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences) in autumn 2020.
CHECKLIST OF HIGHER AQUATIC PLANTS OF OMSK REGION
Authors: Efremov A. , Evzhenko K.
Published: April 2021

The article presents the results of generalizing the factual material on the diversity of hydromacrophytes from the divisions Marchantiophyta, Bryophyta and Magnoliophyta in the territory of the Omsk region. For each species the geographical frequency of occurrence in natural zones, the group of halobility and trophicity are indicated. For the region 176 species of higher hydromacrophytes have been identified. The division Magnoliophyta is distinguished by the greatest species diversity, which includes 116 species (65.9% of all higher hydromacrophytes), the division Bryophyta accounts for 49 species (27.9%), Marchantiophyta – 7 (4.0%), the divisions Equisetophyta and Polypodiophyta include only 2 species each (1.1%). Currently in the region 24 species of higher hydromacrophytes are included in the number of protected species with an established category of protection or as species that need special attention to their state and natural environment. In total, the following moss species are known from several habitats: Riccia fluitans, R. frostii, R. rhenana, Ricciocarpos natans, Fissidens adianthoides, Paludella squarrosa and vascular plants: Ceratophyllum platyacanthum subsp. oryzetorum, Elatine hydropiper, Veronica beccabunga, Najas marina, Sagittaria trifolia, Potamogeton rutilus, including brackish Ruppia maritima, Althenia orientalis, Zannichellia palustris var. repens.
Open Innovation Practices, Product Development and Business Performance in Manufacturing Firms
Authors: Pinzón-Castro Sandra Yesenia , Maldonado-Guzmán Gonzalo , Mojica-Carrillo Elena Patricia , Rodríguez-González Rubén Michael
Published: April 2021

In the scientific literature on innovation, there is a growing interest of researchers and academics in the analysis and discussion of the phenomenon of open innovation, as well as in the documentation of the contribution of empirical evidence of the capacities of the development of new products. However, little is known about the relationship between open innovation practices, new product development, and business performance, which is why there is a call from researchers, academics, and industry professionals, for future guidance, studies in the analysis and discussion of these three constructs through large samples that allow generalization of the results obtained, for which this research has the main objective of filling this gap in the literature through an extensive review of the literature. Likewise, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 460 manufacturing companies in Mexico, analyzing the data set through confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation models. The results obtained suggest that open innovation practices have significant positive effects on both the development of new products and the business performance of manufacturing companies in the automotive industry.

JEL classification numbers: M31
Keywords: Open innovation practices, Product development, Firm performance, Manufacturing firms.