bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health-Related Quality of Life Difference between Early Diagnosed and Finished Therapy of Nephrotic Syndrome in Children
Authors: Ruslie Riska Habriel , Darmadi Darmadi , Pakpahan Cennikon
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND: Nephrotic syndrome is the most common glomerular disease in children with high economic burden. The management of nephrotic syndrome at present is not only focusing in outcomes of disease but also the burden related to health-related quality of life (HRQOL). HRQOL of children with nephrotic syndrome is influenced by steroid dependence, steroid resistance, cytotoxic therapy, frequency of relapse, disease severity, socioeconomic status, and duration of illness. AIM: The objective of the study is to determine the difference of HRQOL in children between early diagnosed nephrotic syndrome and finished therapy of nephrotic syndrome. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and December 2018. Subjects were children aged 1–18 years with nephrotic syndrome and then divided into 2 groups based on either in the 1st week of full dose corticosteroid treatment or in the 1st week after finishing therapy equally. Demographical data, nutritional status, and laboratory results were obtained. HRQOL was measured using PedsQL 4.0 questionnaire in the Indonesian language. The difference of HRQOL was analyzed using independent T-test. RESULTS: A total of 100 subjects enrolled in this study and divided into two groups. Male-to-female ratio was 4:1 in early diagnosed group and 7.3:1 in finished therapy group. Mean age of subjects for the early diagnosed group was 4.6 years and finished therapy group was 5.3 years. Total HRQOL was improved after treatment administration in children with nephrotic syndrome (p < 0.001). The improvement was most significant in physical domain (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: HRQOL in children with early diagnosed nephrotic syndrome was lower compared to children with finished therapy of nephrotic syndrome.
Isotrema putalengense, a new species of Aristolochiaceae from northern Vietnam and two new combinations in Isotrema
Authors: Nguyen Quoc Binh , Nguyen Hieu Cuong , Tran Duc Binh , Nguyen Phuong Hanh , Luu Hong Truong
Published: August 2021

Isotrema putalengense Luu, Q.B.Nguyen & H.C.Nguyen is described as a new species from northern Vietnam. It looks most morphologically like I. wardianum but is distinguishable by a combination of different leafy and floral characters. Morphological comparison between the new plant and closest species is provided. In addition, combinations of two recently described Aristolochia species are made, namely Isotrema vuquangense (T.V.Do) Luu, Q.B.Nguyen & H.C.Nguyen and Isotrema yachangense (B.G.Huang, Yan Liu & Y.S.Huang) Luu, Q.B.Nguyen & H.C.Nguyen.
Dynamics of a density-dependent predator-prey biological system with nonlinear impulsive control
Authors: Tian Yuan ,   School of Mathematics and Statistics, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, China, Tang Sanyi ,   School of Mathematics and Statistics, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
Published: August 2021

Spraying insecticides and releasing natural enemies are two commonly used methods in the integrated pest management strategy. With the rapid development of biotechnology, more and more realistic factors have been considered in the establishment and implementation of the integrated pest management models, such as the limited resources, the mutual restriction between pests and natural enemies, and the monitoring data of agricultural insects. Given these realities, we have proposed a pest-natural enemy integrated management system, which is a nonlinear state-dependent feedback control model. Besides the anti-predator behavior of the pests to the natural enemies is considered, the density dependent killing rate of pests and releasing amount of natural enemies are also introduced into the system. We address the impulsive sets and phase sets of the system in different cases, and the analytic expression of the Poincaré map which is defined in the phase set was investigated. Further we analyze the existence, uniqueness, global stability of order-1 periodic solution. In addition, the existence of periodic solution of order-$ k $ ($ k\geq2 $) is discussed. The theoretical analyses developed here not only show the relationship between the economic threshold and the other key factors related to pest control, but also reveal the complex dynamical behavior induced by the nonlinear impulsive control strategies.
On nonlinear Schrödinger equations with random initial data
Authors: Duerinckx Mitia ,   Laboratoire de Mathématiques d'Orsay, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400 Orsay, France,   Département de Mathématique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Published: August 2021

This note is concerned with the global well-posedness of nonlinear Schrödinger equations in the continuum with spatially homogeneous random initial data.
Neural network training in SCILAB for classifying mango (Mangifera indica) according to maturity level using the RGB color model
Authors: Castillo-Castaneda Eduardo
Published: August 2021

Industries that use fruits as raw materials must, at some point in the process, classify them to discard the unsuitable ones and thus ensure the quality of the final product. To produce mango nectar, it is necessary to ensure that the mango is mature enough to start the extraction of the nectar; however, sorting thousands of mangoes may require many people, who can easily lose attention and reduce the accuracy of the result. Such kind of decision can be supported by current Artificial Intelligence techniques. The theoretical details of the processing are presented, as well as the programming code of the neural network using SCILAB as a computer language; the code includes the color extraction from mango images. SCILAB programming is simple, efficient and does not require computers with large processing capacity. The classification was validated with 30 images (TIF format) of Manila variety mango; the mangoes were placed on a blue background to easily separate the background from the object of interest. Four and six mangoes were used to train the neural network. This application of neural networks is part of an undergraduate course on artificial intelligence, which shows the potential of these techniques for solving real and concrete problems.
Preparing for medical education after the COVID-19 pandemic: insightology in medicine
Authors: Choe Yon Ho
Published: August 2021

It is necessary to reflect on the question, “How to prepare for medical education after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?” Although we are preparing for the era of Education 4.0 in line with the 4th industrial revolution of artificial intelligence and big data, most measures are focused on the methodologies of transferring knowledge; essential innovation is not being addressed. What is fundamentally needed in medicine is insightful intelligence that can see the invisible. We should not create doctors who only prescribe antispasmodics for abdominal pain, or antiemetic drugs for vomiting. Good clinical reasoning is not based on knowledge alone. Insightology in medicine is based on experience through Bayesian reasoning and imagination through the theory of mind. This refers to diagnosis of the whole, greater than the sum of its parts, by looking at the invisible using the Gestalt strategy. Identifying the missing process that links symptoms is essential. This missing process can be described in one word: context. An accurate diagnosis is possible only by understanding context, which can be done by standing in someone else’s shoes. From the viewpoint of medicine, Education 4.0 is worrisome because people are still clinging to methodology. The subject we should focus on is “human”, not “artificial” intelligence. We should first advance the “insightology in medicine” as a new paradigm, which is the “essence” that will never change even when rare “phenomena” such as the COVID-19 outbreak occur. For this reason, we should focus on teaching insightology in medicine, rather than teaching medical knowledge.
Beginning of outcome-based medical education: development of medical schools’ mission statements based on stakeholders’ priority
Authors: Kim Youngjon , Choi Hyoseon
Published: August 2021

Background: Many studies report the positive effects of outcome-based education in improving medical education quality. An important aspect of outcome-based education is the statement of learning outcomes, which is closely associated with medical schools’ mission, vision, and educational goals. Medical schools’ mission statement not only sets the standards to determine educational goals and outcomes but also provides an indicator to monitor and evaluate medical education quality.Purpose: This study identified a methodology to provide optimal mission statements at medical schools through the framework of suggested decision-making method.Methods: This study analyzed the focus of the mission development suggested by World Federation for Medical Education and Liaison Committee on Medical Education medical education standards and searched for appropriate decision-making methods based on these standards. In addition to validate the suggested framework of mission statement, case analysis of medical schools was conducted.Results: Consequently, a mission development method that applies the mission statement based on stakeholders’ priority (MSSP) was derived. The MSSP involves (1) content analysis, (2) candidate extraction, (3) priority evaluation, and (4) priority validation. The keywords of the mission system derived during this process were categorized and listed in ranks to be suggested as the mission, vision, and core values. The proposed MSSP was applied in two South Korean medical schools and, thereby, the mission, vision, and core values were determined for each medical school.Conclusion: The two schools’ case analysis verified MSSP’s effectiveness as a decision-making methodology to gather and converge diverse opinions from stakeholders for the mission statement at the medical schools.
Il francese tra intenzione e realtà: un approccio giuridico a partire da spunti problesociolinguistici
Authors: Alessi Nicolò
Published: August 2021

Après une introduction retraçant l’origine de la présence du français en Vallée d’Aoste et son régime juridique, l’article compare les intentions qui ont justifié la protection du français dans le système juridique valdôtain à la réalité de son emploi effectif. De ce point de vue, le hiatus qui s’est formé entre la position juridique du français – basée sur son équivalence par rapport à l’italien, l’autre langue officielle – et celle que, dans la réalité, il a atteint apparaît. En effet, si on analyse avec réalisme ce que le français représente dans le domaine valdôtain, on aperçoit une langue peu pratiquée et avec laquelle la population valdôtaine a un rapport faussé pour plusieurs raisons, dont le rôle important de l’approche politique de la question linguistique. L’article propose, dans sa partie finale, des idées pour donner un nouvel élan au français en Vallée d’Aoste.
(Re)constructing Leadership
Authors: Toh Seong-Yuen
Published: August 2021

This chapter elucidates Keith Grint's model of leadership as a viable dynamic option in our complex world. By locating the model within a social constructionist frame, this chapter demonstrates how far we have come in the evolving stream of leadership research. Seven main characteristics of the Grint's model of leadership are discussed to demonstrate how the model can help us to understand wicked problems, such as the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. The author also identifies two weaknesses of Grint's model: (1) organisational culture and (2) followership. Lastly, to address the two weaknesses, the author proposes an integrated model of leadership that combines the understanding of an adhocracy culture based on the competing value framework and Kelly's effective followership model. In conclusion, the integrative framework of leadership offers leadership researchers a model with more explanatory power in understanding the leadership phenomenon within the social constructionist supposition.
Five Critical Domains of Effective Leadership in Higher Education Administration
Authors: Conway Deirdre M.
Published: August 2021

Higher education today consists of a complex myriad of varying levels with individuals tasked to perform multiple roles and responsibilities. Faculty and staff find themselves tasked with multiple responsibilities and fewer resources. Many who embark on the journey of becoming academic administrators and leaders in higher education often do so based on their technical expertise and successes as a faculty member within the institution. Few organizations prepare faculty to step into leadership roles with the appropriate training. One area which often lacks training is in the area of individual leadership capabilities and connecting with others within the organization to accomplish a common goal. This chapter will provide insight into five critical domains necessary for individuals to focus on developing before entering into a leadership role within a higher education institution. Within each domain are central and core competencies which help to determine effectiveness in higher education leadership.
Comparative Review of the Regulatory Framework of Cryptocurrency in Selected Jurisdictions
Authors: Karisma Karisma
Published: August 2021

This chapter compares the current legal and regulatory landscape of cryptocurrency regulations of selected countries. Countries have adopted distinct and disparate regulatory approaches in regulating cryptocurrency. Countries such as Gibraltar, Malta, Switzerland, Singapore, and certain states in the United States have enacted proactive, enabling, and industry-specific laws to regulate cryptocurrency. The Philippines and Denmark are relatively forward-looking in their endeavour to regulate cryptocurrency by allowing its utilization and/or trade but with a restrictive and cautious approach. Certain countries have imposed rigorous restrictions or banned the usage or trade of cryptocurrency. With the rapid evolution and emergence of cryptocurrency markets, policymakers are adopting different trajectories to develop a suitable regulatory framework to regulate cryptocurrency. Countries around the world should harness the capabilities of cryptocurrency by devising favourable regulations rather than inhibit the application of cryptocurrency.
The Legality of Smart Contracts in a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO)
Authors: Pranata Andasmara Rizky , Tehrani Pardis Moslemzadeh
Published: August 2021

This chapter discuss the legality of smart contract in a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). The regulation framework of blockchain is developing rapidly with many countries such as Malta and Estonia utilizing and allowing the use of blockchain. While many researchers have discussed the legality of smart contract, its relation to DAO as one of blockchain's applications is rarely discussed. There are three issues discussed in this chapter: the definition of DAO, the definition of smart contract, and the legality of smart contract in DAO. Each country has their own legal threshold of a contract's legality, but there are generally five elements in a legal contract, namely offer and acceptance, consideration, intention, certainty, and completeness. It is possible for the smart contract to fulfil the five legal elements of a contract. As there are different regulations in different countries, there may have been different elements to the law. In conclusion, the legality of smart contracts, like blockchain itself, depends on who uses it, where it is used, and how it is used.
An Analysis on the Terms and Conditions of the Clickwrap Agreement and the Benefits of Maintaining the Click Wrap Agreement in Cloud Computing
Authors: Ram Dhiviya
Published: August 2021

One of the most unique forms of contracting is apparent in cloud computing. Cloud computing, unlike other conventional methods, has adopted a different approach in the formation of binding contract that will be used for the governance of the cloud. This method is namely the clickwrap agreement. Click wrap agreement follows a take it or leave it basis in which the end users are provided with limited to no option in terms of having a say on the contract that binds them during the use of cloud services. The terms found in the contract are often cloud service provider friendly and will be less favourable to the end user. In this article, the authors examine the terms that are often found in the cloud computing agreement as well as study the benefit that is entailed in adopting this contracting method. This chapter has undertaken a qualitative study that comprises interviews of cloud service providers in Malaysia. Hence, this study is a novel approach that also provides insight in terms of the cloud service provider perspective regarding the click wrap agreement.
Lifelong Learning of Civil Servants in COVID-19
Authors: Lalos Christos
Published: August 2021

Nowadays, a number of international developments in the economic, technological, social, and cultural fields make it necessary for more and more healthcare professionals to acquire a variety of knowledge and skills, adapted to the changes that take place, especially in information systems. To be able to meet the demands of our time, civil servants working in the field of health need to have a variety of interconnected qualifications on information systems, which must be renewed every now and then, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that there is a need for continuing education, which will help to acquire knowledge, develop their skills, expand the prospects in the field of health information systems and at the same time will contribute to tackling the pandemic.
The Pandemic of Tyranny
Authors: Martines Vicent
Published: August 2021

This chapter deals with some of the dangers of the “pandemic” of tyranny that can be made worse during a time of a medical pandemic. In any event, it can result in an attempt to subvert a democratic regime towards more conservative and reactionary political forms. The author studies the case of the Thirty Tyrants of Athens (a result of Athens´s defeat by Sparta in the Peloponnesian War and after the death of Pericles during the pandemic that decimated Athens when it was sieged by Sparta) who substituted democracy with an oligarchy. A fierce repression ensued in which Socrates died, a symbol of the free thought of democratic Athens. The author analyzes the effects of tyranny on people and the Renaissance humanists´ desire to always be vigilant about tyrannical government. He focusses on the civic humanists Francesc Eiximenis (Valencian Kingdom, Crown of Aragon) and Coluccio Salutati (Florence).
What Does “¡Quédate en casa!” (‘Stay at Home!') Mean for a Poor Woman?
Authors: Morales-López Esperanza
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this chapter is the discursive analysis of the online debate carried out in April 2020, in the middle of the confinement period of the COVID-19 pandemic, by a feminist group from Ecuador. The topic was to discuss the impact on poor women in the country of the consequences of the government order to be confined to the home: “¡Quédate en casa!” (‘Stay at home!'). From a constructivist perspective, the most relevant discursive-argumentative resources of the debate are analyzed, with the aim of revealing the participants' “framework of interpretation” or “narrative construction” based on their reflection of what was supposed to be an order issued by all governments, at the behest of the WHO (World Health Organization), but whose concrete materialization could not be realized in a similar way in all social contexts.
Folklore as a Response to the Pandemic
Authors: Samper Emili
Published: August 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken to the core the daily life of the world´s population and made fundamental changes to how people relate to one another. Like all great changes, this new situation has caused a variety of reactions, and as is always the case in troubled times, people have used folklore to express their concerns and fears. This chapter analyses some of the rumors that have circulated about the coronavirus and which exemplify how people have reacted to these circumstances in an attempt to find (very often quite unlikely) answers to questions and doubts about the origin of the virus, how to cure it, and vaccines. The aim is to use folklore to show how people express their doubts and fears in the face of the changes that are transforming society and even resort to humor to relieve the tension of such delicate situations.
Model for Antecedents of Attitude and Price on the Purchase Intention of Consumers and Trade of Counterfeit Luxury Products
Authors: Kundi Ghulam Muhammad , Mughal Yasir Hayat
Published: August 2021

Counterfeiting is a crime and harmful for the trade and business in any country; therefore, countries need to investigate and stop this crime. People must behave ethically and give awareness about fake products. The objective of this paper was to investigate the mediating effect of attitude and price sensitivity between social, moral, and personal antecedents and purchase intention of consumers towards trade of the counterfeit luxury products. This study has used data obtained through 1,150 questionnaires. Data were analyzed through Smart PLS-SEM. This study found that attitude and price sensitivity act as mediators. Further, the results of this study are consistent with theory of planned behavior. It is the first study of its kind conducted in Pakistan using PLS-SEM. Previously, studies focused only on the ethical aspect of trade whereas this study used the ethical, religious, individual, collective, status, risk, idealistic, informative, normative, price, and attitude dimensions. It is concluded that future studies can use cognitive behavior and consumer needs as mediators.
Collaborative Filtering Technical Comparison in Implicit Data
Authors: Kourtiche Ali , Merabet Mohamed
Published: August 2021

Recommendation systems have become a necessity due to the mass of information accumulated for each site. For this purpose, there are several methods including collaborative filtering and content-based filtering. For each approach there is a vast list of procedural choices. The work studies the different methods and algorithms in the field of collaborative filtering recommendation. The objective of the work is to implement these algorithms in order to compare the different performances of each one; the tests were carried out in two datasets, book crossing and Movieslens. The use of a data set benchmark is crucial for the proper evaluation of collaborative filtering algorithms in order to draw a conclusion on the performance of the algorithms.
Effect of Different Precursors Solution of NiO on the Properties of ZnO/NiO Nanocomposites Thin Films Grown by Spray Pyrolysis
Authors: Bouhank Antar , Bellal Youcef
Published: August 2021

In this paper, the influence of the precursors of nickel oxide (NiO) on the properties of ZnO/NiO nanocomposites thin films, grown by spray pyrolysis method, has been investigated. The nickel sulfate, nickel chloride and nickel nitrate have been used as precursors of NiO, each precursor has been mixed with Zinc oxide (ZnO)’ precursor to elaborate ZnO/NiO nanocomposites thin films with the method mentioned above. The aim of this paper is to confirm the similitude of precursors in the nanocomposites. For this reason, and to reveal this goal, some techniques were used as the structural analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) which a high intensity has been detected corresponds to the ZnO / NiO films with nickel chloride precursor, UV-Visible characterization depicts the presence of a maximum adsorption band appears in the ultraviolet range, the morphological characterization with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) reveals the roughness and the different grain size of particles, the big one of the latter agree, also, with to nickel chloride precursor used. The values of optical band gaps Eg are globally equal with high value noticeable agree with films that prepared with nickel chloride and zinc chloride precursors. The results obtained confirm the aim and a good agreement with the latter were found.
Study of the Structure, Microstructure and Temperature Dependent Thermal Conductivity Properties of SrTiO3: Via Y3+ Substitution
Authors: Tihtih Mohammed , Ibrahim Jamal Eldin F.M. , Kurovics Emese , Gömze László A.
Published: August 2021

Yttrium (Y) modified strontium titanate (SrTiO3) powders with initial concentration of Y in the range of 0 to 15 mol% were produced through sol-gel technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies show that all the prepared compounds have a perovskite cubic structure with the space group (Pm3m). The lattice constant, lattice strain and crystallite size of the as-prepared samples were estimated from the XRD pattern which reveals the incorporation of Y into SrTiO3system, moreover to investigate the quality of the prepared SrYT ceramics powder, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determined investigate the morphology, grain size and its distribution. The analysis of the thermal conductivity measurements performed on the obtained powders revealed the effect of the combination of temperature and Y content on the thermal conductivity value, Indeed, the minimum thermal conductivity was 4.12 W/(mK) obtained with 15%Y at 464 K.
Impact of Behavioural Intention on E-Wallet Usage During Covid-19 Period: A Study from Sri Lanka
Authors: Jesuthasan Sutharsini , Umakanth N.
Published: August 2021

In recent years, there is a noticeable increase in cashless transactions due to financial technology development. With the enhancement of fin-tech products like e-wallet, most consumers shift from cash-based transactions to cashless. In particular, locked down Citizens of the country had no other choice than to stay at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. The social distancing and avoidance of physical touch were the significant measures to escape from the COVID-19 virus. The use of digital transactions and electronic cash transfers was encouraged in every nook and corner of the country. The present empirical study aimed to investigate the significant predictors of behavioral intention on e-wallet usage during the COVID-19 period. This study adopted a practical research design to the online survey method to gather e-wallet users' perceptions in the study area by applying an extended technology acceptance model (TAM). The present study follows the quantitative approach to gathering data from 500 respondents using a Google Form. And collected data were analyzed using the regression model. The results indicate that Attitude, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived cost, perceived Risk, and COVID – 19 are the positive and significant predictors of e-wallet usage. In contrast, perceived usefulness, Subjective norms, and facilitating conditions do not significantly influence e-wallet usage. Further, e-wallets usage should be encouraged to avoid unnecessary visits to banks, implement social distancing, avoid physical touch while exchanging cash amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka and create a positive attitude among citizens of the country towards the adoption of a cashless economy. Finally, this study helps the digital marketplace's service providers understand the usefulness of using e-wallet for transaction purposes.
Factors influencing the Purchase Intention of Green Packaging among Millennials in Gampaha District of Sri Lanka
Authors: Munasinghe P. M. , Shantha A. A.
Published: August 2021

Fast moving consumer goods sector is one of the expanding industries that influences on the green marketing issues. This study seeks to understand how the impact of green packaging on consumer purchasing intention among millennial generation in Gampaha District. The main objective is “to identify the factors that mostly influence on millennial consumer’s green packaging purchase intention”. According to comprehensive literature review, the researcher identified 4 variables of purchase intention namely; Product Characteristics, Environmental Concern, Government Role and Demographic Factors. Further, researcher was able to recognize the most enhancing components for some independent variables. Then, examined the hypothesis by using PLS-SEM except the Demographic Factors. Therefore, Education, Income and Gender under demographic variables tested chi-square test, Pearson correlation and significances by using SPSS. The researcher distributed questionnaires randomly to selected sample of 200 respondents selected under the multi stage sampling method according to a proportion within the 8 GN Divisions out of 37 in Kelaniya DS Division in Gampaha District who age between 18 – 35 years. All examined variables determined positive relationship with Purchasing Intention except Gender. However, the outcomes represented that no significant effect of Government Role, Environmental Concern, Income, Gender and Investment of Government under the Government Role but other mentioned variables recorded 95% significant on Purchasing Intention. The study identified that younger generation has an awareness and knowledge about ecological behavior. The implications of this study formed awareness into buying intention towards ecological packaging which can be used by FMCG businesses in Sri Lanka when deigning product packages.
Drivers of the Purchasing Intention Provoked Via Facebook Advertising of Millennial Sri Lankans
Authors: Gayathree D. A. G. P. K. , Bandara B. S. S. U. , Thennakoon Navodani
Published: August 2021

Advertising plays a significant role in the current business world. In the digital platform, social media advertising is a new trend in developed and developing countries. In Sri Lanka, Facebook advertising covered a vaster audience compared to other platforms. There is a significant challenge to the business organizations in designing Facebook ads to successfully attract the target audience and motivate them to purchase the advertised products. Therefore, the primary purpose of the study is to analyze the effect of Facebook advertising to predict millennial consumers' purchase intention. The conceptual framework comprises of performance expectancy, along with informativeness and perceived relevance. Further, gender plays a moderating role in this study. The data collected using a self-directed questionnaire distributed among 200 participants. The findings revealed that gender moderates the relationship between perceived relevance and performance expectancy and informativeness and performance expectancy. Informativeness of advertisements was a significant factor in purchasing intention.
Factors Impact on Consumer Credit Card Usage Behaviour: Evidence from Sri Lanka
Authors: De Silva L. G. R. V. , Patabendige S. S. J.
Published: August 2021

Credit cards are widely popular financial product around the world which is attached to consumer’s daily lifestyle. Credit cards are used for all sorts of payments by consumers based on their requirements. Consumer credit card usage is differing from person to person hence this study examines the factor’s that impact on consumer credit card usage behavior in Sri Lanka. The study was conducted in the western province where the primary data for the survey was collected through a self-completed questionnaire which was distributed among 100 diverse credit card users. The sample of 100 respondents was selected through the convenient sampling technique and collected data were analyzed using a regression model and correlation analysis. This study finds a significant positive relationship between credit card attributes and credit card usage. A similar relationship was evident for social status and lifestyle variable and psychographic variable. Based on the results; credit card attributes emerged as the prominent factor impact on credit card use among Sri Lankan consumers. Further, the factors considered under this study were based on the research model developed under the conceptual framework. Whereas there are many other factors that could have influenced consumer credit card usage behavior. The findings of this study are very much helpful for the credit card issuers to structure their marketing strategies and to enhance the market share of credit card market. Similarly, this research will assist in changing the revenue structure of the credit card business.
Impact of Brand Citizenship Factors towards Customer Perception: A Conceptual Review on Non-Banking Financial Services Sector of Sri Lanka
Authors: Jayampathi G. A. Sanka , Weerasiri R. A. S.
Published: August 2021

The Main objective of the concept paper is to review of brand citizenship factors relates to customer perception. A special attention is paid to matters pertaining to the non-banking financial services sector in Sri Lanka. In order for the leasing industry to survive in a competitive market, all firms need to understand customers who are more inclined to reconsider their relationship with other paroral players and competitors. Marketing experts focus on investigating the factors that create and increase consumer value in this new light. Organizations sustain their competitive advantage though differentiation strategy and cost leadership. Employee’s brand behavior would be the best practices for brand differentiation. Inline within, scholars appreciate the concept of Brand Citizenship Behavior (BCB) as one of the theoretical contents that addressee’s customer perception. Most organizations are to maintain balance standpoint in brand citizenship management which highlights both external and internal brand management Sri Lanka is also a noted context whereas financial services apply such motivational strategies to train and retain brand committed salesforce. But organizations in the financial leasing sector still faces intensive issues for the customer perception due to on revelry competition among the parallel players and the competitors. This paper reviews how theoretical and empirical contributions address customer perception whilst special attention is made on non-banking financial services sector in Sri Lanka. Alongside, authors used a deductive approach so doing paper associated academic works and industry related publications to support arguments and discussions. A summarized discussion was made whilst key insights are concluded with future research suggestions.
Der p 38 Is a Bidirectional Regulator of Eosinophils and Neutrophils in Allergy
Authors: Hong Min Hwa , Kashif Ayesha , Kim Geunyeong , Park Beom Seok , Lee Na Rae , Yang Eun Ju , Mun Ji Young , Choi Hyosun , Kim Sang-Hoon , Kim Hyun Jik , Lee Soo Jin , Lee Ji-Sook , Hong Yujin , Kim In Sik
Published: August 2021

The house dust mite is the most common cause of allergic diseases, and TLR4 acts as an overarching receptor for allergic responses. This study aimed to identify novel allergen binding to TLR4 in house dust mites and unveil its unique role in allergic responses. Der p 38 was purified and characterized by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry–based peptide mapping. Biolayer interferometry and structure modeling unveiled TLR4-binding activity and the structure of recombinant Der p 38. The allergenicity of Der p 38 was confirmed by a skin prick test, and basophil activation and dot blot assays. The skin prick test identified 24 out of 45 allergic subjects (53.3%) as Der p 38+ subjects. Der p 38–augmented CD203c expression was noted in the basophils of Der p 38+ allergic subjects. In animal experiments with wild-type and TLR4 knockout BALB/c mice, Der p 38 administration induced the infiltration of neutrophils as well as eosinophils and exhibited clinical features similar to asthma via TLR4 activation. Persistent Der p 38 administration induced severe neutrophil inflammation. Der p 38 directly suppressed the apoptosis of allergic neutrophils and eosinophils, and enhanced cytokine production in human bronchial epithelial cells, inhibiting neutrophil apoptosis. The mechanisms involved TLR4, LYN, PI3K, AKT, ERK, and NF-κB. These findings may contribute to a deep understanding of Der p 38 as a bridge allergen between eosinophilic and neutrophilic inflammation in the pathogenic mechanisms of allergy.
Radiation-Induced Macrophage Senescence Impairs Resolution Programs and Drives Cardiovascular Inflammation
Authors: Sadhu Sudeshna , Decker Christa , Sansbury Brian E , Marinello Michael , Seyfried Allison , Howard Jennifer , Mori Masayuki , Hosseini Zeinab , Arunachalam Thilaka , Finn Aloke V , Lamar John M , Jourd’heuil David , Guo Liang , MacNamara Katherine C , Spite Matthew , Fredman Gabrielle
Published: August 2021

Radiation is associated with tissue damage and increased risk of atherosclerosis, but there are currently no treatments and a very limited mechanistic understanding of how radiation impacts tissue repair mechanisms. We uncovered that radiation significantly delayed temporal resolution programs that were associated with decreased efferocytosis in vivo. Resolvin D1 (RvD1), a known proresolving ligand, promoted swift resolution and restored efferocytosis in sublethally irradiated mice. Irradiated macrophages exhibited several features of senescence, including increased expression of p16INK4A and p21, heightened levels of SA-β-gal, COX-2, several proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines, and oxidative stress (OS) in vitro, and when transferred to mice, they exacerbated inflammation in vivo. Mechanistically, heightened OS in senescent macrophages led to impairment in their ability to carry out efficient efferocytosis, and treatment with RvD1 reduced OS and improved efferocytosis. Sublethally irradiated Ldlr−/− mice exhibited increased plaque necrosis, p16INK4A cells, and decreased lesional collagen compared with nonirradiated controls, and treatment with RvD1 significantly reduced necrosis and increased lesional collagen. Removal of p16INK4A hematopoietic cells during advanced atherosclerosis with p16-3MR mice reduced plaque necrosis and increased production of key intraplaque-resolving mediators. Our results demonstrate that sublethal radiation drives macrophage senescence and efferocytosis defects and suggest that RvD1 may be a new therapeutic strategy to limit radiation-induced tissue damage.
The importance of social emotional learning skills in assisting youth to successfully transition into the professional world
Authors: Marsay Gloria , Atitsogbe Kokou A. , Ouedraogo Abdoulaye , Nsubuga Henry , Pari Paboussoum , Kossi Enyonam Y. , Park Chong M. , Solberg V. Scott H.
Published: August 2021

Background: This article shares the results of research on educator perceptions of the nature and value of social emotional learning (SEL) skills undertaken in four African countries: Burkina Faso, South Africa, Togo and Uganda. Social emotional learning skills make up a large component of the ‘deep human skills’, which are important academic and workforce development skills.Objectives: Using samples of 50 Burkinabe, 68 South African and 32 Togolese and 66 Ugandan educators, this study describes the (1) SEL skills educators should be using to effectively teach their students and the (2) SEL skills the educators believe students should be using to be effective learners and successfully transition into the world of work.Method: Data collection methods include online and offline surveys, with the exception of Uganda that complemented their survey data with interviews. Thematic content analysis, using modified grounded theory, was used to analyse the data, as well as the qualitative data analysis software NVivo.Results: The results indicated seven common SEL themes shared across the four African countries. The SEL themes identified were consistent with the existing framework of Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) to some extent, especially around interpersonal relationships and decision-making skills.Conclusion: The findings indicate that the salience and importance of specific SEL skills varied based on the unique history and context of each country.
Delirium in Frail Older Adults
Authors: Kwak Min Ji
Published: August 2021

Delirium and frailty are prevalent geriatric syndromes and important public health issues among older adults. The prevalence of delirium among hospitalized older adults ranges from 15% to 75%, while that of frailty ranges from 12% to 24%. The exact pathophysiology of these two conditions has not been clearly identified, although several hypotheses have been proposed. However, these conditions are considered to be multifactorial in etiology and are associated with inflammation related to aging, alterations in vascular systems, genetics, and nutritional deficiency. Furthermore, clinically, they are significantly associated with frailty, which increases the risk of delirium by almost two- to three-fold among hospitalized older adults. With their multifactorial etiology and unknown pathophysiology, current evidence supports more practical multicomponent patient-centered approaches to prevent and manage delirium with frailty among hospitalized older adults. These comprehensive and organized bundled approaches can identify high-risk patients with frailty and more effectively manage their delirium.
Deconstructing the terrible gift of postcolonial African lives: An intertextual reading of Martin Egblewogbe’s Mr. Happy and the Hammer of God & Other Stories.
Authors: Adika Prince Kwame
Published: August 2021

This paper situates Martin Egblewogbe’s short story collection Mr. Happy and the Hammer of God & Other Stories (2008) within intertextual discourses as they relate to the tri-generational canon of Ghanaian, and by extension, African literature. It argues against the easy temptation of reading the work via uncontextualized metaphysical or existentialist paradigms, or what Wole Soyinka (1976) refers to as the undifferentiated mono-lenses of “universal humanoid abstractions,” and instead situates it within the Ghanaian tradition by pointing out the collection’s filiation to the specific trope of madness-as-a subversive-performance-of-resilience against the oppressive socio-political status quo in that tradition. The paper excavates the works of first generation postcolonial Ghanaian authors such as Armah, Awoonor and Aidoo, and reads Egblewogbe’s relatively recent debut oeuvre against them in a grounded epistemic manoeuvre that fractures assumptions about the work’s uniqueness and places it in on-going trans-generational dialogic exchanges about how to negotiate the fractious crucible that is postcolonial Ghanaian experience.
Antimicrobial resistance patterns and risk factors for cloacal Escherichia coli in chickens in central Tanzania
Authors: Newberry C.A. , Lane J.K. , Byrne B.A. , Mwanzalila M. , Hamza T. , Okachu J. , Kazwala R.R. , Smith W.A.
Published: August 2021

Antimicrobial resistance is a serious and escalating threat to global health. This study established a baseline antimicrobial resistance profile and prevalence for cloacal Escherichia coli in chickens in central Tanzania. Animal husbandry practices, flock size, and chicken breed were recorded for risk factor evaluation to elucidate potential drivers of resistance across populations. Cloacal samples were collected from poultry in Iringa, Tanzania, and E. coli isolates cultured were then tested for susceptibility to seven medically important antimicrobial drugs: ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefoxitin, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and tetracycline using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Over 94% of the 59 E. coli isolates tested were resistant to at least one antimicrobial drug, and over 61% of isolates were resistant to three or more classes of antimicrobial drugs. The highest prevalence of resistance found was to tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (88% and 86%, respectively), which were used regularly on many sampled chickens. Previous antimicrobial usage emerged as the only significant risk factor associated with increased detection of multi-drug resistant E. coli. Further surveillance and educational outreach about antimicrobial resistance and stewardship is recommended to reduce antimicrobial drug use and to limit the potential spread of resistance to antimicrobial drugs in Tanzania.
Pembesaran Ikan Nila (Oreochromis niloticus) pada Budidaya Sistem Resirkulasi Menggunakan Filtrasi Tanaman Hydrilla verticillata dan Ceratophyllum demersum
Authors: Pranata Bayu , Kusuma Aradea Bujana
Published: August 2021

Penelitian ini mengkombinasikan tanaman Hydrilla verticillata dengan Ceratophyllum demersum sebagai filter pada budidaya ikan Nila sistem resirkulasi. Tujuan penelitian yaitu untuk mengetahui tingkat pertumbuhan ikan Nila pada budidaya sistem resirkulasi. Filtrasi yang digunakan pada budidaya sistem resirkulasi yaitu tanaman H. verticillata dan C. demersum. Metode penelitian menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap (RAL). Adapun parameter yang diamati berupa kelangsungan hidup ikan, pertumbuhan mutlak, laju pertumbuhan spesifik (SGR), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) dan kualitas air. Kelangsungan hidup ikan selamat pemeliharaan yaitu 100%. Pertumbuhan bobot mutlak individu berkisar 8.76 sampai 16.6 gr/minggu. Laju pertumbuhan spesifik ikan Nila berkisar 2.74 sampai 4.49%. Nilai FCR sangat bagus yaitu 1.2 dan rata-rata nilai suhu, pH dan DO masih pada kisaran yang layak untuk pertumbuhan ikan Nila. Selama pemeliharaan hanya dilakukan satu kali pergantian air. Budidaya sistem resirkulasi tersebut sangat efektif dan efesien untuk diterapkan, terutama pada wilayah dengan ketersediaan air yang terbatas.
Kısıtlı Mühendislik Problemlerinin Karşılaştırmalı Ağırlık ve Maliyet Optimizasyonu
Authors: ÖZYÜKSEL ÇİFTÇİOĞLU Aybike
Published: August 2021

Mühendislik alanındaki gerçek dünya problemleri genellikle doğrusal olmayan veya kısıtlı tasarım problemleridir. Pek çok nedenden ötürü, bir mühendis yalnızca uygun şekilde çalışan herhangi bir tasarımı değil, en iyi tasarımı elde etmek ister. En iyi tasarımı belirleme sürecine optimizasyon denir. Optimizasyon ile mevcut kısıtlayıcıları sağlayarak belirli bir amaç fonksiyonunu elde edecek şekilde problemin en iyi tasarımı belirlenir. Bu çalışmada çeşitli eşitlik ve eşitsizlik kısıtlamaları olan çekme/basınç yayı, kaynaklı kiriş ve basınçlı kap tasarımları olmak üzere üç gerçek dünya mühendislik tasarım problemi optimize edilmeye çalışılmış, tasarım problemlerinin optimum değişkenleri belirlenmiştir. Optimizasyon sürecinde sekiz farklı algoritma kullanılmış, gerçek mühendislik problemlerine ait en iyi tasarımlar oluşturulmaya çalışılmıştır. Optimizasyon algoritmaları, meta-sezgisel algoritmaların alt dallarından olan evrimsel tabanlı, sürü tabanlı, matematik tabanlı ve fizik tabanlı algoritmalardan seçilmiştir. Bunların yanı sıra, algoritmaların sonuçları yakınsama eğrileri ve kutu grafikler yardımıyla birbirleri ile kıyaslanmıştır. Gri kurt algoritması her üç problemde de en başarılı performans gösteren algoritma olmuştur. Bunun yanı sıra, sürü tabanlı, fizik tabanlı ve matematik tabanlı algoritmalar gerçek mühendislik problemlerini optimize etmede diğer algoritmalardan daha iyi sonuç vermiştir.
Revisión histórica, dialectológica y sociolingüística del diminutivo en español [Historical, dialectological and sociolinguistic review of the diminutive in Spanish]
Authors: Hu Jingyuan
Published: August 2021

El diminutivo en español es un proceso derivativo altamente productivo de formación de palabras, que cuenta con una bibliografía amplia en el campo de la lingüística. Con el objetivo de entender mejor la evolución y el estado de la cuestión de este elemento lingüístico, se ha llevado a cabo una descripción sincrónica del diminutivo en español incluyendo los aspectos de variantes de sufijos en torno a un eje temporal, geográfico y social; para ello se ha realizado una revisión histórica de la evolución de los sufijos diminutivos, de la elaboración de mapas destinados a trazar la preferencia de cada sufijación tanto en España como en América Latina, así como un enfoque sociolingüístico del diminutivo centrándose en edad, sexo y clase social. Finalmente, se ha observado en diversa bibliografía que existe un uso ligeramente a favor por parte del sexo femenino, por una clase socioeconómica más humilde y por su uso en el ambiente rural.