bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Approach for Collision Minimization and Enhancement of Power Allocation in WSNs
Authors: Singh Debabrata , Bhanipati Jyotishree , Biswal Anil Kumar , Samanta Debabrata , Joshi Shubham , Shukla Piyush Kumar , Nuagah Stephen Jeswinde
Published: December 2021

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have attracted much more attention in recent years. Hence, nowadays, WSN is considered one of the most popular technologies in the networking field. The reason behind its increasing rate is only for its adaptability as it works through batteries which are energy efficient, and for these characteristics, it has covered a wide market worldwide. Transmission collision is one of the key reasons for the decrease in performance in WSNs which results in excessive delay and packet loss. The collision range should be minimized in order to mitigate the risk of these packet collisions. The WSNs that contribute to minimize the collision area and the statistics show that the collision area which exceeds equivalents transmission power has been significantly reduced by this technique. This proposed paper optimally reduced the power consumption and data loss through proper routing of packets and the method of congestion detection. WSNs typically require high data reliability to preserve identification and responsiveness capacity while also improving data reliability, transmission, and redundancy. Retransmission is determined by the probability of packet arrival as well as the average energy consumption.
Cardiac Arrest during Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) due to Acute Right Ventricular Failure
Authors: Kersey Cooper B. , Medhane Fitsumberhan , Pattock Andrew M. , Liu Linda , Huang Gary , Lele Abhijit V. , Kwon Younghoon
Published: December 2021

The case of a patient who suffered cardiac arrest while undergoing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is presented here. A 75-year-old man with moderate right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension became bradycardic and hypotensive after receiving propofol for procedural sedation. His profound hypotension ultimately led to a pulseless electrical activity (PEA) cardiac arrest. TEE images captured immediately prior to cardiac arrest show a severely dilated and hypokinetic RV, consistent with acute right ventricular failure. This case highlights the potentially fatal consequences of procedural sedation in patients with RV dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension.
Competition Equilibrium Analysis of China’s Luxury Car Market Based on Three‐Dimensional Grey Lotka–Volterra Model
Authors: Wu Xiao-Lan , Wang Sheng-Yuan , Liu Ya-Zhen , Liang Jing , Yu Xin
Published: December 2021

An enterprise must be able to conduct in‐depth analysis of the existing data as the information has certain grey characteristics, if it wants to occupy a dominant position in the fierce market competition. In this paper, a compound three‐dimensional grey Lotka–Volterra model is developed to carry out the grey transformation of the original data, so that the data can have better simulation accuracy, and the observation noise of the original data can be reduced. The competitive situation analysis based on the three‐dimensional grey Lotka–Volterra model can help enterprises better understand the market situation. This paper takes the luxury brand automobile market in mainland China as an example to conduct a competitive analysis and a balanced development simulation. It can be found that, based on Three Species System Analysis, there is a symbiotic relationship among automobile enterprises and that the three species model can be adopted in analyzing the competition and cooperation among enterprises. Through balanced development of a Symbiotic System Analysis, the results of symbiotic optimization under the achievable equilibrium state of three populations are obtained and they show that the proposed method can be used effectively to conduct the market competition analysis. It is thus of great importance to study the relationships among enterprises as it is helpful for enterprises to make strategic policies.
In Vitro Evaluation of Native Taro Boloso‐I Starch as a Disintegrant in Tablet Formulations
Authors: Balcha Balla Tamrat , MaryJoseph Nisha , Belete Anteneh
Published: December 2021

Introduction. In drug delivery, solid dosage forms, of which tablet is the commonest, are still the leading preferences. An area of research focus in tablet drug delivery is the search for tablet excipients. This study was aimed at evaluating and optimizing native Taro Boloso‐I starch as a tablet disintegrant. Methods. The response surface method with central composite design (CCD‐RSM) was used for the analysis and optimization of the concentration of native Taro Boloso‐I starch and compression force. Wet granulation method was used for the preparation of paracetamol tablets. The response variables considered were tablet crushing strength, friability, and disintegration time. Results and Discussion. Both the native Taro Boloso‐I starch concentration and compression force had increasing effect on the tablet breaking force. The friability of the tablets was shown to decrease with increasing levels of the disintegrant concentration. On the other hand, compression force had a decreasing effect on friability in the investigated range. The disintegration time of the tablets was found to decrease with the concentration of the starch. The paracetamol tablets prepared with the optimized levels of native Taro Boloso‐I starch and compression force showed tablet breaking force of 116.24 N, friability of 0.153%, disintegration time of 1.36 min, disintegration efficiency ratio of 562.3 N/(%Min), and comparative disintegration efficiency ratio of 13.6 with respect to commercial potato starch. Conclusions. The tablets exhibited improved crushing strength, friability, in vitro disintegration time, and disintegration efficiency ratio which suggest the novel applicability of the native Taro Boloso‐I starch as an efficient pharmaceutical tablet disintegrant.
On the Determinants of the Square-Type Stirling Matrix and Bell Matrix
Authors: Choi Eunmi , Jo Jiin
Published: December 2021

We study determinants of the square-type Stirling matrix

S

∗

and the square-type Bell matrix

B

∗

. For this purpose, we prove that

S

∗

and

B

∗

have LU factorizations

S

∗

=

L

S

U

S

and

B

∗

=

L

B

U

B

where the diagonal entries of

U

S

are

k

k
−
1

, while those of

U

B

are

k
!

(

k
≥
1

).
Outcomes of Endolymphatic Sac Surgery for Meniere’s Disease with and without Comorbid Migraine
Authors: Orabi Norman A. , Kellermeyer Brian M. , Roberts Christopher A. , Wetmore Stephen J. , Cassis Adam M.
Published: December 2021

Purpose. To explore outcomes of endolymphatic sac surgery for patients with Meniere’s disease with and without the comorbid condition of migraine. Materials and Methods. A retrospective chart review of adult patients undergoing endolymphatic sac surgery at a single tertiary care center from 1987 to 2019 was performed. All adult patients who failed medical therapy and underwent primary endolymphatic sac surgery were included. The main outcome measures were vertigo control and functional level scale (FLS) score. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, and audiometric outcomes were tracked as well. Results. Patients with Meniere’s disease and migraine had a stronger association with psychiatric comorbidities (64.29% vs. 25.80%,

p
=
0.01

), shorter duration of vertigo episodes (143 vs. 393 min,

p
=
0.02

), and younger age (36.6 vs. 50.8 yr,

p
=
0.005

) at the time of endolymphatic sac surgery. Postoperative pure tone averages and word recognition scores were nearly identical to preoperative baselines. Class A vertigo control (47.92%) was most common, followed by class B vertigo control (31.25%). The FLS score improved from 4.2 to 2.8 (

p
<
0.001

). Both patients with and without migraine had classes A-B vertigo control (66.67% vs. 80.95%) without any statistically significant difference (

p
=
0.59

). Of the patients who required secondary treatment (10.42%), none had migraine. Conclusions. Endolymphatic sac surgery is an effective surgical intervention for Meniere’s disease with and without migraine. Patients with comorbid migraine tend to be younger and present with psychiatric comorbidities.
Gene Sequence Clustering Based on the Profile Hidden Markov Model with Differential Identifiability
Authors: Ren Xujie , Shang Tao , Jiang Yatong , Liu Jianwei
Published: December 2021

In the era of big data, next-generation sequencing produces a large amount of genomic data. With these genetic sequence data, research in biology fields will be further advanced. However, the growth of data scale often leads to privacy issues. Even if the data is not open, it is still possible for an attacker to steal private information by a member inference attack. In this paper, we proposed a private profile hidden Markov model (PHMM) with differential identifiability for gene sequence clustering. By adding random noise into the model, the probability of identifying individuals in the database is limited. The gene sequences could be unsupervised clustered without labels according to the output scores of private PHMM. The variation of the divergence distance in the experimental results shows that the addition of noise makes the profile hidden Markov model distort to a certain extent, and the maximum divergence distance can reach 15.47 when the amount of data is small. Also, the cosine similarity comparison of the clustering model before and after adding noise shows that as the privacy parameters changes, the clustering model distorts at a low or high level, which makes it defend the member inference attack.
Syntheses, Characterization, and Antibacterial Evaluation of P. grandiflora Extracts Conjugated with Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Murei A. , Pillay K. , Samie A.
Published: December 2021

Background. With the recent increase in antibiotic resistance to conventional antibiotics, gold nanoparticles, and medicinal plants, extracts present an interesting alternative. Objectives. This study aimed to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate Pyrenacantha grandiflora Baill extracts and gold nanoparticle conjugates against pathogenic bacteria. Methods. We synthesized gold nanoparticles by chemical and biological methods. The nanoparticles were characterized by the use of UV-visible spectrophotometry, followed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Gold nanoparticles were conjugated to plant extracts and analyzed with a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR). We determined the antimicrobial activity of the conjugates using well diffusion and the microdilution assays. Results. The UV–visible spectra of gold nanoparticles showed a synthesis peak at 530 nm. FTIR analysis indicated functional biomolecules that were associated with plant extract conjugated gold nanoparticles; the formation of C–H group and carbonyl (C=O) groups, –OH carbonyl, and C≡C groups were also observed. Biologically synthesized nanoparticles were star-shaped when observed by TEM with an average size of 11 nm. Gold nanoparticles synthesized with P. grandiflora water extracts showed the largest zone of inhibition (22 mm). When the gold nanoparticles synthesized by the biological method were conjugated with acetone extracts of P. grandiflora, MIC as low as 0.0063 mg/mL was observed against beta-lactamase producing K. pneumonia. The activity of acetone extracts was improved with chemically synthesized gold nanoparticles particularly when beta-lactamase producing E. coli and MRSA were used as test organisms. A synergistic effect was observed against all tested bacteria, except for MRSA when gold nanoparticles were conjugated with acetone extract. Conclusion. Overall, P. grandiflora tuber extracts conjugated with gold nanoparticles showed a very good antibacterial activity that improved both plant extract and gold nanoparticle’s individual activity.
Research on Energy-Saving Optimization of Rural Houses in Specific Regions Based on Internet of Things
Authors: Yang Yong , Liu Xiancheng , Tian Congxiang
Published: December 2021

With the expansion of social energy use, the optimization of residential energy conservation has become urgent and important. The research on rural housing in areas with hot summers and cold winters started late and is relatively backward in terms of housing energy saving, which greatly hinders the sustainable development of rural areas. The application of the Internet of Things technology helps to provide a stable technical guarantee for energy-saving optimization. Therefore, this paper takes the energy-saving optimization design of rural houses in hot summer and cold winter areas based on the Internet of Things technology as the research theme. This article first takes H rural area as the research object and analyzes the climatic conditions of the place, that is, the typical characteristics of hot summer and cold winter. Then, the intelligent temperature acquisition system is designed, and the working process and main hardware modules of the system are introduced. This text combines GPRS and Internet of Things technology, designs the temperature control system, and carries on the test to the system operation effect. The test results show that during the heating period in January, before and after the temperature control system controls the room temperature, the maximum relative error between the set temperature value and the actual temperature value is 0.49 and 0.27, respectively. It can be seen that the intelligent temperature energy-saving control system can collect the indoor temperature in real time and can well control the heating equipment.
Facile and High-yield Synthesis of N-doped Carbon Quantum Dots from Biomass Quinoa Saponin for the Detection of Co2+
Authors: Zhou Cuo , Wu Shunwei , Qi Shenghui , Song Weijun , Sun Chunyan
Published: December 2021

Hydrothermal synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from natural biomass is a green and sustainable route for CQDs applications in various fields. In this work, the preparation and characterization of CQDs based on quinoa saponin were investigated. The optimum synthetic conditions determined by orthogonal experiments were as follows: 2 g quinoa saponin powder and 0.04 mol ethylenediamine reacted at 200°C for 10 h. The relative fluorescence quantum yield (QY = 22.2%) can be obtained, which is higher than some results reported in the literatures. The prepared CQDs had a small and uniform size (∼2.25 nm) and exhibited excitation wavelength-dependent blue light emission behavior. The CQDs displayed excellent sensitivity for Co2+ detection along with good linear correlation ranging from 20 to 150 µM and the detection limit of 0.49 µM. The CQDs prepared in this experiment were successfully implanted into soybean sprouts for fluorescence imaging. The sprouts could grow healthily even soaked in the CQDs solution for two weeks, demonstrating the low toxicity of the CQDs. The advantages of the CQDs, such as low cost, ease of manufacture, nontoxicity, and stability, have potential applications in many areas such as metal ion detection and biosensing.
Nonuniform Finite Difference Scheme for the Three-Dimensional Time-Fractional Black–Scholes Equation
Authors: Kim Sangkwon , Lee Chaeyoung , Lee Wonjin , Kwak Soobin , Jeong Darae , Kim Junseok
Published: December 2021

In this study, we present an accurate and efficient nonuniform finite difference method for the three-dimensional (3D) time-fractional Black–Scholes (BS) equation. The operator splitting scheme is used to efficiently solve the 3D time-fractional BS equation. We use a nonuniform grid for pricing 3D options. We compute the three-asset cash-or-nothing European call option and investigate the effects of the fractional-orderαin the time-fractional BS model. Numerical experiments demonstrate the efficiency and fastness of the proposed scheme.
The survival of school financing management in COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Sujasan Sujasan , Wibowo Udik Budi
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to explore the survival of school financing management during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assure the quality of teaching and learning continuously. This study used a qualitative design, and data collection is carried out by observing resource persons and in-depth interviews, analysis or analysis of documentation and a combination of the three as triangulation method. The collected data were analyzed using an interactive model. The results showed that financial management strategies in managing school finances effectively and efficiently, through transparency, accountability and responsibility, are considered to have contributed to the prospects, quality, progress and sustainability of education in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is based on the fact that many quality and good schools eventually experience setbacks due to the lack of transparency, accountability and responsibility in the management of education funds. Openness in schools can promote accountability and fight corruption in education, if it is implemented effectively and any malpractice is dealt with clear consequences. The implication is the strategies of education financing management in terms of transparency, accountability and accountability need to be carry out consistently to ensure the improvement of school quality runs in a sustainable manner.
A meta-analysis study on the attitudes of pre-service music teachers towards the teaching profession in Turkey
Authors: Demirbatır Rasim Erol , Özer Zeynep
Published: December 2021

The objective this study was to determine whether music teacher candidates’ attitudes towards the teaching profession in Turkey differ with respect to different variables. In this direction, a meta-analysis study was carried out on the pre-service music teachers’ attitudes towards their profession. The study consists of 12 studies chosen with predetermined criteria. Since the effect sizes of these studies display a heterogeneous structure, the random effects model was conducted. Effect sizes in the random effects model were calculated by using Hedges g coefficient with 12 studies for gender and nine studies for the form of high school graduated. Taking the results of the findings into consideration, it was concluded that the attitudes of female music teacher candidates towards the teaching profession are more positive than male candidates. There is no difference between Fine Arts and other high schools regarding the variable of the form of high school.
Mapping metacognitive awareness of Chinese language learners
Authors: Sholihah Diana Nur , Arifa Zakiyah , Ratnasari Kartika , Ifawati Nur Ila
Published: December 2021

The role of metacognitive awareness on language teaching and learning have been confirmed by several studies, but the discussions of this topic in Chinese as foreign language are limited. The aim of the present research was to map metacognitive awareness profile of Chinese language learners. Total respondent of this research was 80 Chinese language learners (38 males and 42 females) which comprise secondary students. Convenience sampling technique was employed to select the respondents. Meanwhile, the metacognitive awareness data were collected utilizing Junior Metacognitive Inventory. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistic. Mann-Whitney U Test was employed to investigate the significance differences of metacognitive awareness between male and female. The findings showed that 46.25% of Chinese Language Learners have a good metacognitive knowledge, 28.75% fair, 20% very good, 3.75% poor, and 1.25% very lacking. The finding also showed that 40% students have good metacognitive regulation, 36.25% fair, 15% very good, 7.50% poor, and 1.25% very lacking. In addition, between male and female students have no significant difference in knowledge of cognition. On the contrary, regulation of cognition female learners (Mdn= 32.50) significantly (U= 551.000, p0.05) better compared to male (Mdn= 30).
A 24-sectors direct power control-feedforward neural network method of DFIG integrated to dual-rotor wind turbine
Authors: Benbouhenni Habib
Published: December 2021

In this work, a 24-sector direct power control (24-sector DPC) of a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) based dual-rotor wind turbine (DRWT) is studied. The major disadvantage of the 24-DPC control is the steady-state ripples in reactive and active powers. The use of 24 sectors of rotor flux, a feedforward neural network (FNN) algorithm is proposed to improve traditional 24-sector DPC performance and minimize significantly harmonic distortion (THD) of stator current and reactive/active power ripple. The proposed method is modeled and simulated by using MATLAB/Simulink software under different tests and compared with conventional 24-sector DPC.
Microgrids dynamic stability interconnected through low voltage AC network
Authors: Singh Vinit Kumar , Verma Ashu , Bhatti T. S.
Published: December 2021

Renewable energy based microgrids have main challenges of maintaining its frequency-voltage characteristics and system becomes more complex when they are interconnected. These sources being intermittent in nature need to be supported by other resources like diesel/biogas such that at time of small variation in load or natural sources (wind/solar), power requirement is met through support provided by diesel/biogas-based system. Also, the controller should be fast enough to minimize the changes such that system reaches steady state. In this paper, renewable based rural microgrid consisting of wind, solar and biogas is modeled and interconnected through low voltage AC (LVAC) line. Also, one of the microgrid modeled is connected to the main grid as well as drawing power from the other microgrid. Control approach have been developed in such a way that whenever there is disturbance in the system due to increase/decrease in load or input to the renewable energy sources the biogas-based system of individual microgrid increases/decreases its generation to support the system requirement. No extra power is drawn either from the LVAC network or main grid as desired. modeling of system and its dynamic Study has been carried out in MATLAB/Simulink.
Optimal placement and sizing of distributed generation for loss minimization using ABC optimization
Authors: Valavala Madhu
Published: December 2021

The distributed generation (DG) refers to the use of the nearby units of small generation or in the sleefelzentres. Revisions have shown that unfitting choice of the position and scope of the DG can lead to bigger system sufferers than DG's sufferers. Public services are already available before the high loss of energy loss and of the mediocre voltage profile, in particular developing countries cannot tolerate any increase in losses. From optimal allocation, public services in the reduction of system losses improve tension adjustment and improve delivery reliability. This article aims to minimalize the annual system's annual loss through the appropriate positioning and size of the DG units. The artificials bee colony (ABC) of EPA are inspired by the behavior of the API feeding, this method is incredibly conventional, a stroke or a peoplated stochastic optimization algorithm to meet the solution of the specified problem. At MATLAB, a probabilistic approach is simulated to reach the target indicates that the size of the DGs to be installed to reduce almost the same loss as a percentage that the situation in which the load power is considered constant.
Factors influencing poor academic performance among urban university students in Bangladesh
Authors: Shahjahan M. , Ahmed Kazi Rumana , Al Hadrami Ahmed , Islam Md. Rabiul , Hossain Sharmin , Khan Md. Sabur
Published: December 2021

Poor academic performance is challenging for students, parents, and teachers. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the factors associated with the poor academic performance of 661 undergraduate students who scored CGPA ≤2.5 from a selected private university of Dhaka City, Bangladesh, using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested and self-administered questionnaire. Of the study participants, male preponderance (88.4%) was found, and 77.9% of them selected the study programs by themselves. Poor academic performance was found significantly correlated with irregular class attendance (p=0.003), father’s low education level (p
Differences in learners’ critical thinking by ability level in conventional, NHT, PBL, and integrated NHT-PBL classrooms
Authors: Rijal Muhammad , Mastuti Ajeng Gelora , Safitri Dian , Bachtiar Suhaedir , Samputri Salma
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to analyze the effect of conventional, Problem-Based Learning (PBL), Numbered-Head Together (NHT), and integrated PBL-NHT learning models on the low- and high-ability students’ critical thinking. This quasi-experimental study used a pretest-post-test nonequivalent control group design with a four-by-two factorial pattern. The analysis results showed that learners’ critical thinking was impacted by learning models implemented in the classroom and influenced by the interaction between the learning models and learners’ academic abilities. There was no difference in critical thinking among low-ability students who were taught with PBL, conventional, and integrated PBL-NHT, but a difference was found in students taught using NHT. There was no difference in critical thinking between high-ability students taught with conventional and NHT instruction, but there was a difference between students taught with PBL and integrated PBL-NHT instruction. To foster critical thinking, pupils with low academic ability should be taught using NHT, whereas those with high academic ability should be taught using PBL or an integrated PBL-NHT approach.
The correlation between metacognitive skills and scientific attitudes towards the retention of male and female students in South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: Adiansyah Romi , Corebima Aloysius Duran , Zubaidah Siti , Rohman Fatchur
Published: December 2021

This was quantitative correlational research, which investigated the correlation between metacognitive skills and scientific attitudes towards the retention of male and female students in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The research sample was biology education students in the second semester, with 104 students consisting of 47 males and 57 females. The instruments employed in this study were those for assessing metacognitive skills, scientific attitudes, and retention. Metacognitive skills and retention were measured using essay tests, while scientific attitudes were measured using observation sheets. The results indicated that the value of the simultaneous contribution of metacognitive skills and scientific attitudes towards to the retention of female students was higher than that of male students. The effective contributions of metacognitive skills and scientific attitude towards male students' retention were 3.33% and 24.67%. Metacognitive skills and scientific attitudes both contribute 14.5% and 17.2%, respectively, to female students’ retention.
Understanding the concept of the Pi (π) number for pre-service teacher
Authors: Cholily Yus Mochamad , Suwandayani Beti Istanti
Published: December 2021

This study examined the learning of Pi (π) numbers in elementary school mathematics. This research was conducted by employing case study method containing a single case concerning the Pi (π) numbers. A total of 432 pre-service teachers participated in the study from the academic year of 2019-2020. This research employed observation, interview, and document analysis as the data collection tool. The conduct of the research involving the teachers and pre-service teachers was made in the classroom environment. The practice that participants posed for the account of Pi (π) number were analyzed by descriptive analysis technique in the scope of qualitative analysis. The data obtained from the participants were summarized and interpreted according to the predefined theme, and findings were arranged by a direct citation of the problems. Based on the analysis of the research, it showed that participants had problems in determining Pi (π) numbers as Pi (π) numbers are only taught by memorization methods. The teachers also did not understand about the source of Pi (π) number. Learning Pi (π) numbers are directly practiced through problems and formulas. Understanding the formula of plane figures is also not yet understood, so teachers and students basically only memorize the formula.
Improving teaching effectiveness through transformational leadership and integrity
Authors: Ahmad Masduki , Rochimah Heni
Published: December 2021

The study aimed to determine the impact of transformational leadership and integrity on the performance of a company. The research sample was 123 lecturers at As-Syafi’iyah Islamic University, Indonesia. The analysis model of this study was a path analysis. Observation and questionnaires were used to obtain the research data. Teaching effectiveness measures how well educators' instruction aligns with learning objectives and provides the best possible outcomes for students who are taking the course. Hypothesis testing was performed using the t-test. The SPSS software version 25 was applied in statistical calculations. The results showed that transformational leadership and integrity have direct and positive impact on the teaching effectiveness. Transformational leadership has a direct and positive impact on the integrity. It is suggested to implement the better transformational leadership to achieve the better the teaching effectiveness.
Medical crisis during pandemic: Career preferences change in medical student
Authors: Natalia Dian , Syakurah Rizma Adlia
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major threat to global education. Incidental emotions of fear and anxiety during pandemic have unconsciously influenced preference and outcome about their future career. This study aimed to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic towards career preference change in medical students. A total of 1,027 responses from all over the medical students in Indonesia were collected from an online questionnaire which was broadcasted through social media from 14th July 2020–21st July 2020. This study was using Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and Depression Anxiety Stress-Scale-21 (DASS-21) to assess fear of COVID-19, stress, anxiety, and depression. Out of 1,027 respondents, 44.6% had stressed, 47.8% had anxiety, and 18.5% had depression with an average FCV-19S score was 17.1. The result showed that the fear and anxiety of COVID-19 during the pandemic had associated significantly with the career decisions in medical students (p=<0.05). Indonesian policymakers had to keep in mind that the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic in medical students is due to the high mortality COVID-19 cases of health workers in Indonesia. Health workers need adequate working conditions and specific protection, this requires prompt attention from stakeholders.
Differentiable Subset Pruning of Transformer Heads
Authors: Li Jiaoda , Cotterell Ryan , Sachan Mrinmaya
Published: December 2021

Multi-head attention, a collection of several attention mechanisms that independently attend to different parts of the input, is the key ingredient in the Transformer. Recent work has shown, however, that a large proportion of the heads in a Transformer’s multi-head attention mechanism can be safely pruned away without significantly harming the performance of the model; such pruning leads to models that are noticeably smaller and faster in practice. Our work introduces a new head pruning technique that we term differentiable subset pruning. ntuitively, our method learns per- head importance variables and then enforces a user-specified hard constraint on the number of unpruned heads. he importance variables are learned via stochastic gradient descent. e conduct experiments on natural language inference and machine translation; we show that differentiable subset pruning performs comparably or better than previous works while offering precise control of the sparsity level.1
Instance-Based Neural Dependency Parsing
Authors: Ouchi Hiroki , Suzuki Jun , Kobayashi Sosuke , Yokoi Sho , Kuribayashi Tatsuki , Yoshikawa Masashi , Inui Kentaro
Published: December 2021

Interpretable rationales for model predictions are crucial in practical applications. We develop neural models that possess an interpretable inference process for dependency parsing. Our models adopt instance-based inference, where dependency edges are extracted and labeled by comparing them to edges in a training set. The training edges are explicitly used for the predictions; thus, it is easy to grasp the contribution of each edge to the predictions. Our experiments show that our instance-based models achieve competitive accuracy with standard neural models and have the reasonable plausibility of instance-based explanations.
State and COVID-19 Response in the Asian Tiger Economies
Authors: Khondker Habibul Haque
Published: December 2021

By comparing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Tiger economies, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore, this article examines the advantages and limitations of the statist command and control approaches to crisis management. Local, regional, and global politics as well as global political economy impinge and influence the state response. The article argues that a combination of factors – the institutional memory, overall state capacity and efficacy rooted in the preexisting institutional nexus, performance legitimacy, trust, reliance on scientific rationality, and integration with global scientific networks – stood in good stead in dealing with the crisis. Yet, as the crisis rolled on, some of the stellar performers showed considerable gaps in planning and politics trumped sensible policies. Despite the commonality, the article shows that there were important differences in the responses of the three Tiger economies, especially in rolling out the vaccines, which can be explained not only by the state capacity but also the larger global politico-economic contexts. The article argues that the state capacity is affected by the global dynamics, the specificity of geopolitical and historical contexts, which must be factored in in explaining successes and failures of state responses.
The Legitimacy of Traditional Leaders in Democracies
Authors: Chahongnao Shimreisa
Published: December 2021

This study analyses the issue of legitimacy that unfolds to understand the authority claims of traditional leaders underpinned by customary law in contrast to modern law and legislations in the democracies of two erstwhile British colonies: South Africa and the Tangkhul Nagas of India and Myanmar. The study enquires: if the warrant of modern and traditional law, the fulcrum of traditional leaders’ legitimacy, is questioned in the democratic dispensation, what is the underlying basis of legitimacy that makes traditional leaders resilient? It employs historical, cultural and linguistic analysis to understand how traditional leaders mediate legitimacy. It concludes that cultural cognitive categories like metaphors and aphorisms are instrumental in leveraging the legitimacy claims of traditional leaders across countries.
EU Criminal Law and Electronic Surveillance: The Pegasus System and Legal Challenges It Poses
Authors: Rojszczak Marcin
Published: December 2021

The introduction of modern forms of communication, such as encrypted messengers or VoIP telephony, has forced law enforcement agencies to use new technologies to carry out surveillance of people facing criminal proceedings. Rather than relying on the interception of communications during transmission, modern surveillance systems are often based on breaking or bypassing the security features of a user’s mobile device – making it possible to conduct various forms of surveillance that include audio and video recording. One example of such a system is Pegasus – a tool that was initially used to pursue national security objectives but is now increasingly applied in criminal surveillance.

The introduction of technical innovations in criminal surveillance must include an examination of their compatibility with legal constraints laid down to protect the individual against the risk of arbitrariness and abuse of power. The effectiveness of surveillance should never be the sole determinant for tasks undertaken by public authorities.

The aim of this article is to demonstrate that the implementation of modern surveillance measures such as Pegasus must also include a review of existing legal regulations to ensure that the use of these products’ extended capabilities is under proper control and complies with the rule of law.
‘Mama I Can’t Breathe!’: Black/African Women of Faith Groaning for Social Justice and Gender Equality
Authors: Parsitau Damaris , Mombo Esther , Dah Ini Dorcas , Gitonga Tatiana Wairimu
Published: December 2021

This article explores some residual entanglements of colonialism, Christianity, and Afro-western engagement in Africa by using the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police and his cries for “breath” and “mama” as a framework for examining the following. First, we argue that one way in which the repercussions of the transatlantic slave trade remain evident in Africa is the continued police brutality and dehumanization of African citizens. Secondly, with the invocation of “mama,” we consider the plight of African women and colonial/postcolonial Christianity, challenging the African church’s silence on social justice issues, and complicity in the exclusion/oppression of women. We call the church to reckon with its silence, and we offer a corrective towards constructing a theological and missiological response to our cries for breath. While this article is based on African feminist reflections, it invites global participation and indicates wider implications for social and gendered justice.
La nouvelle image de l’homme dans la philosophie franco-allemande du XVIIe à la fin du XXe siècle
Authors: Dastur Françoise
Published: December 2021

Ce qui est en marche en France du XVIIe au XVIIIe siècle, c’est le processus en quelque sorte irréversible de l’émancipation de l’homme, par la conquête de la liberté intérieure avec Descartes et son cogito, puis par la conquête de la liberté politique avec la révolution de 1789. Mais c’est en Allemagne avec Marx, Nietzsche et Freud que cette centration excessive de l’homme sur lui-même va se voir profondément mise en question. Le culte ainsi rendu à la raison humaine a en effet conduit à un développement des techniques et des sciences qui a permis à l’être humain de s’arracher de manière progressive à l’ordre de la nature, comme le montrent ces grands critiques de la technique moderne que sont Martin Heidegger en Allemagne et Jacques Ellul en France. A l’individualisme qui s’est largement répandu dans les sociétés démocratiques s’oppose dans la philosophie franco-allemande du XXe siècle l’accent mis sur la nécessité pour l’être humain d’être en rapport avec ses semblables, comme le montrent les œuvres de trois philosophes français, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty et Levinas, qui se fondent tous trois sur l’œuvre fondatrice du philosophe allemand Edmund Husserl. C’est à partir de là que l’on peut voir apparaître une nouvelle et paradoxale image du sacré, comme en atteste en Allemagne la poésie de Hölderlin et en France la pensée de Levinas. La perspective anthropocentriste qui a guidé le développement de l’homme occidental depuis la Renaissance se voit ainsi radicalement mise en question. Le dialogue franco-allemand qui a marqué le développement de la pensée philosophique doit par conséquent aujourd’hui s’ouvrir à des influences plus lointaines, à la fois occidentales et orientales, qui sont celles des penseurs écologiques du XIXe siècle et du début du XXe siècle.
COVID-19 Viral Logics, Social Inequality and Hegemonic Mimicry: Deconstructing the Language of Cultural Parasite
Authors: Abdul-Jabbar Wisam Kh.
Published: December 2021

Drawing on Michel Serres’ philosophical notion of the parasite, this essay examines human responses to COVID-19 that mimic parasitic behavior and uncovers social inequalities by exploring the cultural hegemony of viral logics perpetuated by the media. How can Serres’ notion of the parasite help us reconfigure structural inequalities experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic? First, the essay examines the viral logic of internalization, which seeks to normalize, if not appropriate, the impact of the pandemic through the rhetoric of togetherness. This particular viral logic induces people to internalize the coronavirus pandemic’s illusion as a crisis shared equally by all. The essay argues that this viral logic of internationalization resonates with the French philosopher’s parasite logic, which, in Serres’s words, “expresses a new epistemology, another theory of equilibrium.” Second, this study examines the viral logic of correlation, which designates certain marginalized cultural groups as infected, and therefore regarded and (mis)treated like the virus itself. This blame-game behavior mimics the parasite’s violation of the host’s chain of order and the creation of a new order that is self-serving. Hence, the parasite becomes, according to Serres, “an interruption, a corruption, a rupture of information.” The essay argues that although mimicry becomes the theatre of cultural inequality that dominates communication for the parasitic operator, both viral logics of parasitic mimicry eventually slip into mockery.
What Determines Profitability in the Indian Automobile Industry?
Authors: Tyagi Shilpi , Mahajan Varun
Published: December 2021

This study tends to examine the firm-level profitability determinants of Indian automobile and ancillary industry which is recognised for its global competitiveness. The study uses recent dataset to investigate the firm-level profitability determinants in the Indian automobile and ancillary industry and records the effect of shifts in profitability due to change in economic environment. This study intends at using real financial balanced panel data for a period 1999–2019 and applies the two-step system generalised method of moments regression model with robust standard errors. The study has found that lagged profitability, marketing and advertising intensity, firm’s market power and operational efficiency have exercised positive impact on firm-level profitability. Negative and statistically significant impact of raw material import intensity and export intensity highlights the need of planning and implementation of appropriate investment strategies. The findings of this study suggest that firms should pay more attention to optimise their operating expenditures, marketing and advertisement expenditures and expand their market power as a part of their survival and growth strategy.

JEL Code: L25
The effect of curing schedules on fiber-matrix adhesion in carbon fiber–epoxy resin composites
Authors: ElKhoury Luke , Berg John C
Published: December 2021

Fiber-reinforced polymeric composites are used in a large and growing number of applications, all requiring different property sets including the nature of the fiber-matrix adhesion to which the present work is addressed. Specifically, the number of curing cycles, curing temperature and schedule, degree of cure, use of accelerants, annealing, and the use of fiber handling agents are investigated for systems of Hexcel IM7 carbon fibers embedded in Epon862 (resin) and Epikure Curing Agent W (hardener) using the single-fiber fragmentation method. The fractional extent of cure is monitored using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), so that comparisons are made at the same degree of cure (99%). Single-stage curing at the highest temperature produces the highest apparent adhesion, and the use of accelerants significantly increases the curing rate while maintaining the same level of adhesion. Accelerants in some cases, however, decrease the plastic yield strength of the specimens. Annealing reduces induced residual stress and apparent adhesion, but not below the baseline achieved at lower curing temperatures. Plastic yield strength and apparent adhesion decrease for any degree of cure lower than 95%, while the use of handling agents shows no effect on adhesion.
Re-examining the middle-class thesis: Class profiles of families employing migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheung Adam Ka-Lok
Published: December 2021

To what extent is employing migrant domestic workers (MDWs) a middle-class practice in Hong Kong? I drew quantitative data from the Population Census and a representative household survey to test the middle-class thesis. The results show that a significant proportion of the families that currently employ or had ever employed MDWs were not from middle-class backgrounds. As the practice of hiring MDWs spread to families from lower socio-economic backgrounds, it may be expected that the working and living conditions of MDWs may deteriorate due to the fewer resources of these families.
The Role of Food and Food Behaviors in Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Shimizu Rei , Barocas Briana , Cipollina Jessamin , Cotner Michaela , Murakami Nancy , Park Yangjin , Yang Sejung , Munson Michelle R.
Published: December 2021

There is a paucity of research that systematically examines how food behaviors play a role in intimate partner violence (IPV). Therefore, this qualitative study aims to answer the broad question, what role do food behaviors play in intimate relationships? Food behavior narratives emerging from participants of court-mandated domestic violence (DV) offender treatment programs were analyzed using grounded theory methods. Five themes emerged. Two described inflammatory/harmful roles: (1) food as a trigger for anger and violence and (2) food as a mechanism of “othering.” One theme described the role of food behaviors in promoting unequal and equal relationships: (3) food as an embodiment of gender roles. Two themes described reconciliatory/beneficial roles: (4) food as a mechanism of recognition and (5) and food as a representation of group rapport. Food behaviors can escalate into conflicts but can also be used as a tool to resolve conflicts. Limitations and the need for future research are further discussed.
Academia and Motherhood: A Narrative Inquiry of Ontario Academic Mothers’ Experiences in University Graduate Programs
Authors: Hillier Kimberly M.
Published: December 2021

This research provides a qualitative narrative inquiry into the experiences of academic mothers from a Southwestern Ontario university campus. Analysis of the semi-structured interviews and focus groups reveal six key themes regarding the nexus between motherhood and academia: (1) intersection of work and family; (2) embodied experiences of pregnancy; (3) mentoring and networking opportunities; (4) inconsistencies between institutional and program policies; (5) departmental support; and (6) an overall level of satisfaction in being a mother during graduate studies. These key findings are discussed and highlight some of the challenges associated with balancing motherhood, graduate studies, and family life. Issues related to maternal well-being, gender equity, diversity, and inclusion within academia are also discussed and shed light on the experiences of this increasing, yet largely overlooked demographic on Canadian university campuses.