bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Multi Detector Computed Tomography Cervicocerebral Angiography in Evaluation of Patients with Stroke
Authors: Mallula Balaji Varaprasad , Chintala Jithender Reddy , Boppanna Srinadh , S. Annapurna
Published: August 2020

Background: Stroke is the second single most common cause of death in the world causing approximately 6.7 million deaths each year. It has a greater disability impact on an individual than any other chronic disease. The aim of the study is to review the value of CTA in detection and evaluation of non-traumatic cervicocerebral vascular disease (stroke). Subjects & Methods: A prospective observational study conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Kamineni Hospitals, L.B. Nagar, Hyderabad over 60 patients during April 2016 to May 2017. Results: Out of 60 patients, 35(58.3%) patients had ischemic stroke, 25(41.6%) had hemorrhagic stroke. Overall stroke was seen mostly in the age group of 61-70 (28.3%) years, with a Male to female ratio of 3:2. Conclusion: Hypertension was the most common risk factor associated with this disease, followed by diabetes. CTA helps in accurate diagnosis, risk stratification and planning management protocols.
Role of Early Intervention in Improving the Clinical Outcome of Acute Pancreatitis by Image Guided Percutaneous Catheter Drainage of Pancreatic Collections
Authors: Sudha Chittoor Ramya , Samireddypalle Yugandhar , Reddy Umamaheswara V , Dembla Sagar , Gurudutt P. Varty  , Dhawan Ankita Sanjeev , Amitha K S Vikrama
Published: August 2020

Background: To assess the role of image guided percutaneous drainage of acute pancreatic collections in influencing the clinical outcome     of patients. Subjects and Methods: This is a prospective study done in the department of intervention radiology, Narayana medical college. About 20 cases have been performed in our institution from January 2019 to December 2019. All these drainage procedures have been done under CT guidance. All these cases were strictly followed during their hospital course. Clinical success has been defined as control of sepsis and prevention of MODS without the requirement of surgical debridement. Results: Out of twenty cases, which we intervened, there was an improvement in clinical outcome in fourteen cases with the prevention of septic shock and multiorgan failure. Three cases were critically  ill   at the time of admission and succumbed to MODS (Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome). The other three cases required additional surgical intervention-debridement. In which, there was increased morbidity with delayed recovery in two cases, and one case developed MODS and expired. Conclusion: Image guided Percutaneous catheter drainage is a safe and effective technique to drain pancreatic collections. Adequate knowledge regarding the interpretation of imaging findings, time to intervene, adequate expertise for performing the procedure, close follow up with regular clinical assessment is vital in the management of patients in acute pancreatitis. Early and aggressive intervention helps reduce the morbidity and mortality by preventing the evolution of MODS.
A Study on Role of Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Dengue Fever
Authors: Naidu Y. Thathayya , R. Kiranmai
Published: August 2020

Background: Dengue Fever is an acute mosquito transmitted viral infection caused by one of the 4 serotypes of the genus flavivirus which has become a major international public health problem. The diagnosis of DF is often delayed owing to time taken for availability of serology test results. Moreover, this test is expensive and not widely available. Ultrasonography (USG) is a cheap, rapid and widely available non-invasive imaging method. In recent years several studies concluded that Ultrasonography of the chest and abdomen can be an important adjunct to clinical profile in diagnosis of DF and diagnosis can be made early in the course of the disease compared with other modes of diagnosis. The aim of  the study is to demonstrate the ultrasound findings of dengue fever and also evaluate the specificity of gall bladder findings in dengue fever. Subjects and Methods: We conducted a prospective study in Govt Medical College& Hospital, Srikakulam and Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences, Amalapuram, A.P. Study included 50 patients referred to the department of Radio-Diagnosis and Imaging for Ultrasonography with clinical suspicion of dengue fever, during a period of July 2018 to December 2019. USG of the abdomen, pelvis and chest was performed in  all cases and findings were noted. Dengue serology was performed later and all the ultrasound findings were correlated with dengue serology. Results:  In our study of 50 patients all the patients studied were diagnosed with dengue fever based on dengue serology. In our study, 100%  of our patients diagnosed with DF (by dengue serology) showed gall bladder wall thickening, 88% showed splenomegaly, 44% showed ascites. Pleural effusion was present in 30% of which 66.66% of pleural effusion was bilateral and the rest 33.33% was right sided. Isolated left sided pleural effusion was not found in our study. Hepatomegaly was present in 28% of our patients. In our study mortality and complications from dengue fever were not seen. Conclusion: Ultrasound findings in dengue fever are gall bladder wall thickening, splenomegaly, ascites, pleural effusion and hepatomegaly. In an area where DF is an epidemic, when Ultrasonography shows gall bladder wall thickening in a febrile patient with thrombocytopenia DF should be suggested On Ultrasonography, when there is gall bladder wall thickening, splenomegaly, ascites, and pleural effusion in a febrile patient with thrombocytopenia in a DF epidemic area a diagnosis of DF should be considered in a differential diagnosis until proved otherwise.
Usefulness of CT Scan and MRI for the Detection and Evaluation of Brain Tumors
Authors: D. Saraswathi  , G. Srirama Murthy
Published: August 2020

Background: Intracranial tumors can arise from various locations in the brain parenchyma. Computed tomography scan (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are important modalities for diagnosis of intracranial tumors. The aim of the study is to study the usefulness of CT scan and MRI for the detection and evaluation of brain tumors. Subjects and Methods: This was a prospective cross sectional study comprising of 95 patients diagnosed with brain tumors clinically. CT scan was done in all the patients and MRI was done in 45 patients. Findings were correlated with histopathology. Results: In the present study, age group distribution included from 20 years to more than 50 years.In the present study males were predominant and the male to female ratio was 1.3:1. All the cases, (100%) presented with seizures, followed by headache, hemiparesis and vomiting. Conclusion: CT scan and MRI imaging modalities are of utmost importance in diagnosing brain tumors. Early diagnosis is important and the imaging guides the neurosurgeon regarding appropriate surgical approach.
"Huck Finn at King Arthur's Court"
Authors: Poole Ralph
Published: August 2020

F. O. Matthiessen was a key player in an event which took place at Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg in the summer of 1947 and which launched the legendary Salzburg Seminar and may be considered the birth of American studies in Europe. Matthiessen's reflections on this remarkable session, From the Heart of Europe, remains outstanding in its conjuring of a humanist vision amidst ruins. This travelogue, his last major—if largely forgotten—work published shortly before his suicide, has been variously reassessed as an elegiac document of his tragic failure, as a politically deluded scholar, and as a groundbreaking foray into sketching out a radically alternate transnational understanding of American studies avant la lettre. These highly diverging perspectives on Matthiessen's final book, in particular, and on the professional and personal troubles during his last years, more generally, account for the lasting myth-making fascination with Matthiessen, which has left its mark not only on academic discourses ranging from socialist criticism to queer theory but may also be found in the novels of May Sarton (Faithful Are the Wounds) and Mark Merlis (American Studies). Hence, this article reflects on Matthiessen's impact on the 1947 seminar and traces the legacy of this controversial founding father of American studies.
Relationship between Suicidal Ideation and Cognitive Distortion Among Undergraduates
Authors: Xiong Tan Yao , Madihie Amalia , Saili Jamayah , Abu Bakar Mohamad Azhari , Abu Bakar Rizal , Mahmud Mohd Izwan
Published: August 2020

Suicide has become a debilitating issue. Although it is a preventable condition but failure to understand the thinking pattern could significantly dampen the effort to avert it. Despite being an important issue, there is still a lack of study centralising into the thinking pattern when suicidal thoughts are mooted in. Due to this gap, this study was set to examine the relationship between cognitive distortion and suicidal ideation. Using purposive sampling 414 students whose were seeking career advice were recruited to participate in this study. Results indicated that there was a significant relationship between cognitive distortion and suicidal ideation. Using multiple regression, the finding showed that out of 10 thinking patterns, overgeneralisation contributes the most to the suicidal thoughts. These findings will help professionals to understand better the nature of suicidal ideation and assist them in providing better services and alleviating its symptoms. This study also discussed the limitations and the directions for future research.
Factors that Influence the Quality of Life Among Undergraduate School of Quantitative Sciences (SQS) Students in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)
Authors: Yusof Zahayu Md , Ayob Maryam Rukayyah , Amran Ahmad Shahrizal , Norizan Farah Hanim
Published: August 2020

The concept of quality of life broadly encompasses on how an individual measures the goodness of multiple aspects of their life, as there are number of challenges to develop a meaningful understanding of the quality of life. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that contribute to the quality of life among undergraduate SQS students. The respondents of this cross-sectional study were 273 undergraduate students from School of Quantitative Sciences, which was selected via convenient and snowball non-probability sampling method. The collection of the primary data was performed using a questionnaire including demographic and quality of life questions. Analysis of the data was conducted through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 2.6. All the 32 items are tested for its’ reliability using the Cronbach’s alpha, and KMO’s. The values are 0.891 and 0.876 respectively. According to the results, there are six factors that contribute/ influence the QoL for the undergraduate SQS students that involved in this study, which are family, friends, academic, social wellbeing, physical and financial, and environment. The value of Cronbach alpha for each factor indicates that the reliability of internal consistency is high and reliable and the KMO’s value for the factor pattern is meritorious and the Bartlett's test of sphericity also resulted with a significant value of p < 0.05.
Kesan Pembelajaran Berasaskan Permainan Digital Minecraft Terhadap Pencapaian Murid Tahun Lima dalam Pecahan
Authors: Tangkui Rayner Bin , Keong Tan Choon
Published: August 2020

Keupayaan untuk memahami dan menguasai konsep pecahan akan menyediakan asas yang kukuh untuk memahami konsep matematik yang lebih kompleks serta membantu dalam melakukan penyelesaian masalah yang melibatkan pecahan dalam kehidupan seharian. Namun demikian, dapatan pentaksiran antarabangsa Trends in Mathematics and Science Studies (TIMSS) dan Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) menunjukkan bahawa pencapaian pecahan di kalangan murid di Malaysia adalah di tahap kurang memuaskan iaitu berada di bawah skor purata antarabangsa. Dengan mengambil kira perkembangan inovasi dan kecanggihan permainan digital masa kini, tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji kesan pembelajaran berasaskan permainan digital menggunakan Minecraft terhadap peningkatan pencapaian murid dalam pecahan. Kuasi-eksperimen dengan reka bentuk ujian pra dan ujian pasca kumpulan rawatan dan kumpulan kawalan yang melibatkan 65 orang murid tahun lima dalam dua buah kelas sedia ada telah dijalankan. Melalui pensampelan kluster, sebuah kelas terpilih sebagai kumpulan rawatan manakala kelas yang satu lagi terpilih sebagai kumpulan kawalan. Kumpulan rawatan terdiri daripada 31orang murid yang didedahkan dengan kaedah pembelajaran berasaskan permainan digital menggunakan Minecraft manakala kumpulan kawalan terdiri daripada 34 orang murid yang didedahkan dengan kaedah konvensional. Data dianalisis menggunakan ujian-t dua kumpulan sampel tak bersandar bagi membandingkan min skor pencapaian ujian pasca bagi pecahan antara kumpulan rawatan dengan kumpulan kawalan. Terdapat perbezaan signifikan dalam min skor pencapaian antara kumpulan rawatan (m = 51.096, sp = 17.242) dengan kumpulan kawalan (m = 35.235, sp = 18.171). Hasil kajian ini akan lebih menggalakkan pelaksanaan pembelajaran berasaskan permainan digital menggunakan Minecraft dalam pengajaran matematik bagi meningkatkan pencapaian murid dalam pecahan.
Technological Addict among Today's Human
Authors: Saidon Nurul Haidah , Ahmad Zaini Muhammad Ilham , Asyraf Sukry Muhammad Athif , Mohd Ishar Mohamad Izzuan
Published: August 2020

Generally speaking, the issue of humans are technological addicts due to the Industrial Revolution 4.0 already has been described as a serious one where most of the humans nowadays actually can’t live without a single type of technology because we’re now living our life to the fullest with technology development. This issue makes most of the country in this world, including Malaysia, are alert with these problems, while some have described it as a normal or generated issue that will not affect our lives and it just a part of the revolution of the world. Thus, this research will lead us to a deeper knowledge about the scenario behind all of these scenes that occur right now. Moreover, this research also will approach the issue of humans are technological addicts by doing some interviews with society such as students, and lecturers who are addicts with the technology and help them to overcome this problem. The findings showed that it is just a natural issue but the scene behind it, the causes can be related to our natural human need for stimulation, interaction, and changes in the environment with great efficiency especially when we are dealing with stress. Furthermore, the finding showed that the role of parents, society, and follow-up techniques could solve this problem slowly but surely.
Faktor Tingkah Laku Pelajar, Kekangan Masa, Beban Tugas Dan Tekanan Kerja Dalam Kalangan Guru
Authors: Kamarudin Suhaimi Bin , Taat Muhamad Suhaimi
Published: August 2020

Tekanan kerja merujuk kepada tindak balas atau reaksi fisiologi dan psikologi terhadap situasi atau keadaan persekitaran organisasi yang dipengaruhi oleh beberapa faktor dalaman dan luaran sehingga mewujudkan rangsangan negatif terhadap tahap kesihatan dan tingkah laku individu. Kajian ini dijalankan adalah bagi menentukan hubungan faktor tingkah laku pelajar, kekangan masa, beban tugas dengan tekanan kerja guru yang mengajar di kawasan bandar dan luar bandar di Sabah. Kajian juga bertujuan bagi mengenal pasti perbezaan tahap tekanan kerja berdasarkan ciri demografi iaitu lokasi sekolah dan jantina guru. Seramai 350 orang guru telah dipilih bagi mewakili populasi dengan menggunakan kaedah pensampelan rawak berstrata dan rawak mudah. Instrumen kajian diadaptasi daripada Teacher Stress Inventory (TSI) yang dbina oleh Boyle, Borg, Falzon dan Baglioni (1995) dan Fimian (1988). Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa kesemua faktor pemboleh ubah yang dinyatakan mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan dengan tekanan kerja. Selain itu, dapatan kajian juga menunjukkan guru yang mengajar di kawasan bandar dan luar bandar masing-masing mengalami tahap tekanan kerja yang rendah, manakala guru perempuan dilihat lebih berisiko mengalami tahap tekanan kerja yang tinggi berbanding guru lelaki.
An Ayurvedic Approach to Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc (Gridhrasi)
Authors: Kumari Ritu , Singh Naimish Raj , Varsakiya Jitendra
Published: August 2020

This case study exemplifies the efficacy of Ayurvedic medications and procedures in the management of prolapsed intervertebral disc (PIVD), where disc bulge with nerve impingement at L5-S1 was diagnosed radiologically. A 24-year-old patient presented to the OPD of Dept. of Kayachikitsa, Ch. Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan, New Delhi, with complaints of severe low back pain radiating to the bilateral lower limb, rendering him unable to do his day-to-day activities. The pain started 8 months back, but the intensity of pain became severe in the last 1 month so much so that he had to rely upon others to do his routine activities and this brought about considerable financial impact also. This case was diagnosed as PVID or lumbar disc herniation at the L5-S1 level based on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) report. The patient was treated with Panchakarma procedures and Ayurvedic oral drugs and got satisfactory results with no side effects. The visual analog scale (from 9 to 0), Oswestry disability index (from 58% to 17%), SLR (from 35° left and 30° right to 90° in bilateral limbs), ESR (from 45 to 8), and MRI report were considered as parameters of assessment. Sustained and satisfactory improvement was noted at the follow-up after 2 months and protrusion of disc was resolved during treatment. After the course of treatment, the pain was completely resolved during the walking or rest condition and during the follow-up period, he also resumed his work with no disquiet. This case study validates that PIVD can be successfully treated with the Ayurvedic treatment modality.
Increasing the efficiency of a Peltier device by assessing the thermal performance of liquid-cooled microchannel heat sinks
Authors: Administrator System , Sharpe Lauren , Burhanuddin Navil , Majcan Tiana , Rebolledo Jonathan
Published: August 2020

Water is, arguably, Earth's most valuable and vital resource. Devices that extract water from the atmosphere have been intensely researched as a means of harvesting potable water in environments where it is otherwise scarce. One such device is a Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC); a device that utilises the Peltier effect to cool a system. TECs are a promising solution for atmospheric water generation (AWG) over their competitors due to their simplicity and refrigeration capabilities. Despite these advantages, TECs are still considered mostly inefficient as they demand relatively high costs and energy consumption. This meta-analysis focuses on optimising the efficiency of small-scale Peltier devices. It explores the means of optimising the liquid cooled heat sink by using a specific flow field microchannel configuration such that less pumping power is required to push the coolant and more energy can be saved. A combination of optimal operating current of the Peltier device and of a novel flow liquid-cooled microchannel heatsink configuration with bifurcated fins using Galinstan as a coolant promises a significant increase in water production per unit of energy consumption for the AWG system.
Meta-analysis of concrete as a thermal energy storage medium
Authors: Administrator System , Mourad Guina , Lennox Harry , Turner Madeline , Traynor Madison
Published: August 2020

Solar energy is a renewable energy source however sunlight is only available during limited hours in the day. Researchers are looking towards an efficient energy storage system to ensure constant energy output. Concrete can be used as a filler material in a solar thermal energy storage system. This meta-study compared the heat capacity and thermal conductivity of concrete to other solid materials and concrete aggregates, allowing for the viability of concrete storage systems to be examined. The heat capacity of concrete was 5-10% higher than the comparative solid materials like brick and sand. Additionally, concrete without cement replacement materials were found to be more thermally conductive than concrete with added fly ash, blast furnace slag or silica fume with conductivity decreasing between 81-87%. However, concrete with the supplementary cementitious materials possess a higher heat capacity than concrete without cement replacement with capacity increasing by 25% at 30% replacement by fly ash with a grain size 300-600µm. When compared to the energy efficiency of other thermal energy systems, a concrete thermocline is shown to be less efficient than a molten salt two-tank energy storage system by less than 5%. Therefore, while concrete is a viable solid filler material in thermal energy storage systems, a molten salt two-tank thermal energy storage system is marginally more efficient. However, a partial cement replacement by supplementary cementitious materials can extend the effectiveness of the concrete thermal storage.
Airborne measurements and large-eddy simulations of small-scale gravity waves at the tropopause inversion layer over Scandinavia
Authors: Gisinger Sonja , Wagner Johannes , Witschas Benjamin
Published: August 2020

Abstract. Coordinated airborne measurements were performed by two research aircraft – Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) Falcon and High Altitude and Long Range Aircraft (HALO) – in Scandinavia during the GW-LCYCLE II (Investigation of the life cycle of gravity waves) campaign in 2016 to investigate gravity wave processes in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) region. A mountain wave event was probed over southern Scandinavia on 28 January 2016. The collected dataset constitutes a valuable combination of in situ measurements and horizontal- and altitude-resolved Doppler wind lidar and water vapour measurements with the differential absorption lidar (DIAL). In situ data at different flight altitudes and downward-pointing wind lidar measurements show pronounced changes of the horizontal scales in the vertical velocity field and of the leg-averaged momentum fluxes (MFs) in the UTLS region. The vertical velocity field was dominated by small horizontal scales with a decrease from around 20 to < 10 km in the vicinity of the tropopause inversion layer (TIL). These small scales were also found in the water vapour data and backscatter data of the DIAL. The leg-averaged MF profile determined from the wind lidar data is characterized by a pronounced kink of positive fluxes in the TIL and negative fluxes below. The largest contributions to the MF are from waves with scales > 30 km. The combination of the observations and idealized large-eddy simulations revealed the occurrence of interfacial waves having scales < 10 km on the tropopause inversion during the mountain wave event. The contribution of the interfacial waves to the leg-averaged MF is basically zero due to the phase relationship of their horizontal and vertical velocity perturbations. Interfacial waves have already been observed on boundary-layer inversions but their concept has not been applied to tropopause inversions so far. Our idealized simulations reveal that the TIL affects the vertical trend of leg-averaged MF of mountain waves and that interfacial waves can occur also on tropopause inversions. Our analyses of the horizontal- and altitude-resolved airborne observations confirm that interfacial waves actually do occur in the TIL. As predicted by linear theory, the horizontal scale of those waves is determined by the wind and stability conditions above the inversion. They are found downstream of the main mountain peaks and their MF profile varies around zero and can clearly be distinguished from the MF profile of Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. Further, the idealized large-eddy simulations reveal that the presence of the TIL is crucial in producing this kind of trapped wave at tropopause altitude.
Denitrification and associated nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions from the Amazonian wetlands
Authors: Guilhen Jérémy , Al Bitar Ahmad , Sauvage Sabine , Parrens Marie , Martinez Jean-Michel , Abril Gwenael , Moreira-Turcq Patricia , Sánchez-Pérez José-Miguel
Published: August 2020

Abstract. In this paper, we quantify the CO2 and N2O emissions from denitrification over the Amazonian wetlands. The study concerns the entire Amazonian wetland ecosystem with a specific focus on three floodplain (FP) locations: the Branco FP, the Madeira FP and the FP alongside the Amazon River. We adapted a simple denitrification model to the case of tropical wetlands and forced it by open water surface extent products from the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite. A priori model parameters were provided by in situ observations and gauging stations from the HYBAM Observatory. Our results show that the denitrification and the trace gas emissions present a strong cyclic pattern linked to the inundation processes that can be divided into three distinct phases: activation, stabilization and deactivation. We quantify the average yearly denitrification and associated emissions of CO2 and N2O over the entire watershed at 17.8 kgN ha−1 yr−1, 0.37 gC-CO2 m−2 yr−1 and 0.18 gN-N2O m−2 yr−1 respectively for the period 2011–2015. When compared to local observations, it was found that the CO2 emissions accounted for 0.01 % of the integrated ecosystem, which emphasizes the fact that minor changes to the land cover may induce strong impacts on the Amazonian carbon budget. Our results are consistent with the state of the art of global nitrogen models with a positive bias of 28 %. When compared to other wetlands in different pedoclimatic environments we found that the Amazonian wetlands have similar emissions of N2O with the Congo tropical wetlands and lower emissions than the temperate and tropical anthropogenic wetlands of the Garonne (France), the Rhine (Europe) and south-eastern Asia rice paddies. In summary our paper shows that a data-model-based approach can be successfully applied to quantify N2O and CO2 fluxes associated with denitrification over the Amazon basin. In the future, the use of higher-resolution remote sensing products from sensor fusion or new sensors like the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission will permit the transposition of the approach to other large-scale watersheds in tropical environments.
Technical note: Estimating light-use efficiency of benthic habitats using underwater O2 eddy covariance
Authors: Attard Karl M. , Glud Ronnie N.
Published: August 2020

Abstract. Light-use efficiency defines the ability of primary producers to convert
sunlight energy to primary production and is computed as the ratio between
the gross primary production and the intercepted photosynthetic active
radiation. While this measure has been applied broadly within terrestrial
ecology to investigate habitat resource-use efficiency, it remains underused
within the aquatic realm. This report provides a conceptual framework to
compute hourly and daily light-use efficiency using underwater O2 eddy
covariance, a recent technological development that produces habitat-scale
rates of primary production under unaltered in situ conditions. The
analysis, tested on two benthic flux datasets, documents that hourly
light-use efficiency may approach the theoretical limit of 0.125 O2 per photon under low-light conditions, but it decreases rapidly towards
the middle of the day and is typically 10-fold lower on a 24 h basis.
Overall, light-use efficiency provides a useful measure of habitat
functioning and facilitates site comparison in time and space.
Prognostic Factors in Patients with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Authors: Jaramillo-Ramírez Hiram J. , Hernández-Ríos Jeremy J. , Martínez-González Fátima M. , Gutiérrez-Bañales Luz A. , García-Valenzuela Eliot R. , Beltrán-López J. Andrés , Peterson Jorge L. , Yocupicio Flor M. , Ruíz-Luján Rodolfo
Published: August 2020

Background: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a disease with a high mortality rate, caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a bacteria transmitted to humans by infected ticks. In 2008 there was a Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) outbreak in the city of Mexicali, México, resulting in an increased mortality rate amongst the area population.

Methods: Case-series study of patients admitted to the General Hospital of Mexicali between 2014 and 2019 with a confirmed diagnosis of RMSF. Mortality was compared dividing the population on those ≤20 and younger than ˃21 years of age.

Results: A total of 129 patients’ records during a 5-year period whose diagnosis was RMSF confirmed with PCR were included. Mortality was compared among patients admitted who were younger than ≤20 years of age with that among patients who were older than ˃20 years of age (61 versus 68 respectively), the latter being higher with an OR 4.2 (p<0.0001).

Conclusion: RMSF in hospitalized patients has a high mortality rate in spite of early treatment in all age groups, without showing any predominance in gender. However, patients older than 20 years of age had a higher mortality rate than those younger than 20 years, without any predominance in gender.
Bordering Through Religion: A Case Study of Christians from the Muslim Majority World Seeking Asylum in the UK
Authors: Madziva Roda
Published: August 2020

The current global ‘crisis’ of the refugee movement has drawn to the forefront longstanding public worries about welcoming and accommodating refugees, especially in liberal democratic States. While religion is central to refuge, very little is known about the experiences of individuals seeking refugee protection on religious grounds and even the racialisation of religious identities within the asylum adjudication system. Drawing on ethnographic research with Christians from Pakistan, who are seeking asylum in the United Kingdom (UK), this paper explores the religious discrimination that this group faces within the context of the UK’s current hostile environment. Findings reveal a complex issue of misdirected Islamophobia, along with other multi-layered forms of stereotyping. By exploring and engaging with these issues, the paper aims to highlight the complex ‘borders’ that those seeking protection on religious grounds have to negotiate as they move through the asylum adjudication system.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Migration, Vulnerability and Violence
Authors: Bhatia Monish , Lousley Gemma , Turnbull Sarah
Published: August 2020

The contributions to this special issue within this double issue tackle some of the pressing, contemporary issues across the migration landscape. Paying attention to stratifying factors including race, gender and class, the six articles that make up this special issue critically analyse migrant vulnerability as well as resilience and resistance. Adopting different theoretical and methodological approaches, they engage with a variety of contexts and geographical sites (Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom [UK]). The collection cuts across various disciplines but retains a strong commitment to uncovering the violence of denial, exclusion and deprivation while at the same time making visible migrant struggles and lived experiences.
How do Lawyers Engineer and Develop LegalTech Projects? A Story of Opportunities, Platforms, Creative Rationalities, and Strategies
Authors: Dubois Christophe
Published: August 2020

Over the last 15 years, the working context of lawyers has undergone many changes. Evolving in an increasingly competitive, deregulated, and globalized market, they are subject to higher tax pressure while being exposed to unbridled technological innovation. Indeed, a growing number of entrepreneurs are using digital solutions to provide online legal services that are supposed to be faster and cheaper. If many of them are nonlawyer legal entrepreneurs, many lawyers are also engineering innovative projects and launching their own start-up companies, known as “LegalTech” or “LawTech.” However, few studies—or none to our limited knowledge—provide an empirically grounded analysis of such projects, leaving some questions unanswered. Who are these entrepreneurial lawyers? How and why do they engineer and develop LegalTech projects? How do they challenge the legal profession? To answer these questions, this article draws on a qualitative study of three contrasted start-ups Belgian lawyers have recently developed. The research methodology combines gray and scientific literature reviews, web-document (hereafter “manifestos”) analysis, and semi-directive interviews led with the start-up’s founders (n = 5), the Bar Association’s representatives (n = 3), and some members of the main Belgian LegalTech network (n = 4).
O RITUAL NA ERA DIGITAL
Authors: Almeida Saulo Vinícius
Published: August 2020

O presente estudo parte do diagnóstico realizado pelo filósofo Byung-Chul Han sobre a atual sociedade digital e neoliberal, para pensar as novas demandas que se impõem aos artistas no que diz respeito a procedimentos de criação artística e formulação de narrativas. Para tanto, serão descritas e analisadas as ações desenvolvidas pelo acionista russo Pyoter Pavlensky, entre os anos de 2012 e 2017, visando perceber como o artista tem se relacionado com o contexto apresentado e com os desafios impostos pelo cenário político, em especial a ascensão do autoritarismo na Rússia, assim como pelas inovações comunicacionais suscitadas pela utilização de plataformas virtuais. A hipótese defendida neste artigo é de que Pavlensky agencia diversas camadas discursivas, de forma consciente ou inconsciente, a saber: gesto ritual com referências arcaicas, o envolvimento de agentes do governo como consequência da eficácia ritual do gesto, a memória coletiva acerca de fatos históricos, a simbologia do espaço onde é realizada cada ação, o corpo material e a viralização de imagens simulacro nas redes sociais como forma de criar narrativas de legalidade, legitimidade e competência, as quais são necessárias no embate contra o sistema de poder dos governos da Rússia e da França, assim como são essenciais para o desvelamento das estruturas de domínio e opressão concretizadas na figura dos governos neoliberais.
ESCRITURAS DO CORPO E TEXTO DO FEMININO
Authors: Couto Flavia Fernandes
Published: August 2020

O presente artigo tem como objetivo discorrer sobre o processo de criação e transposição à cena dos diários da escritora Anaïs Nin, no espetáculo Anaïs Nin à flor da pele, tendo como foco as suas reflexões sobre sexualidade, gênero e abordando o cunho libertário de sua obra que estimulou diversos movimentos emancipatórios feministas. Além disso, pretende-se refletir sobre o processo de composição das escrituras do corpo nesse solo, que teve como eixo o estudo da dança flamenca, que a autora praticava, partindo do princípio decolonial dessa expressão artística, de sua construção de corpo insurgente, bem como da exaltação de um feminino não subserviente e liberto. Esse artigo visa, por meio da contribuição do processo criativo do espetáculo Anaïs Nin à flor da pele, tecer uma reflexão sobre práticas artísticas no contexto das poéticas de gênero e das escrituras do texto e corpo do feminino na cena contemporânea.
NA ENCRUZILHADA PEDAGÓGICA
Authors: Alberto Schonhorst Laís
Published: August 2020

A partir de minha experiência como capoeirista e pesquisadora das artes da cena, este artigo elabora uma reflexão acerca da capoeira angola como prática educativa contra hegemônica. Dedica-se a refletir sobre a capoeira angola e suas possíveis relações pedagógicas contextualizadas em espaços universitários dedicados a formação em artes cênicas. O estudo parte das proposições de Luiz Rufino Rodrigues Júnior sobre a Pedagogia das Encruzilhadas e encontra aproximações com a concepção pedagógica de Bell Hooks, que defende a educação como prática da liberdade. A capoeira, assim como demais conhecimentos versados pelas culturas afrodiaspóricas, emerge como uma epistemologia de fronteira, onde o corpo representa fundamental elemento de produção e partilha do saber.
Evaluation of storage methods of beef by microbiological and chemical indicators
Authors: Kukhtyn Mykola , Salata Volodymyr , Berhilevych Oleksandra , Malimon Zoya , Tsvihun Anatoliy , Gutyj Bogdan , Horiuk Yulia
Published: August 2020

Meat and meat products are a major part of a person's ration. However, due to their high nutritional value, they are a favorable environment for the development of microorganisms and require refrigerated storage. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the storage methods for refrigerated and frozen beef by microbiological and chemical parameters and to suggest criteria for evaluating beef by the content of psychrotrophic microorganisms. It was found out that the storage of beef meat with an initial mesophilic bacterial content of about 4.88 log CFU.cm-2 of surface and psychrotrophic bacteria 3.79 log CFU.cm-2 at temperature 0 °C is only possible for 8 days, further, the microbiological indices exceed the acceptable standards. Investigation of the dynamics of microflora reproduction during the storage of beef in the frozen state at temperature -2 to -3 °C for 20 days established a decrease in 1.3 times the number of mesophilic bacteria in 10 days of storage. At the same time, the number of psychrotrophic microorganisms during this storage time was increased in 4.5 times, and 20 days in 7.9 times and amounted to 5.3 log CFU.cm-2 of surface area. This indicates that the storage of meat in the frozen state inhibits or completely stops the development of mesophilic microorganisms for 20 days. It was found out that storing of beef in the cooled state at a temperature of 0 ±0.5 °C for more than eight days is impractical, as its biochemical indices are worsening and signs of spoilage are appearing. At the same time, storing of beef in the frozen state at a temperature of -2 to -3 °C for 20 days does not cause such significant biochemical changes as in beef stored in the cooled state at a temperature of 0 ±0.5 °C for 16 days. Therefore, we have experimentally substantiated the quantitative indicators of the content of psychrotrophic microorganisms on the surface of beef intended for storage in a cooled or frozen state. The proposed microbiological criteria will improve the safety of beef.
Organizational Climate and Employee Performance: Examining the Mediating Role of Organizational Commitment and Moderating Role of Perceived Organizational Support
Authors: OBENG ANTHONY FRANK , QUANSAH PRINCE EWUDZIE , COBBINAH ERIC , DANSO STEPHEN ABIAM
Published: August 2020

Engaging employees and being supportive in enhancing their well-being in an organization is very paramount. Past studies show that these practices and policies are beneficial to the commitment level of the employer and the employee in the attainment of employee performance. This study was then conceptualized to examine the moderating effect of perceived organizational support on the relationships between organizational climate and organizational commitment and organizational commitment and employee performance. Also, the mediating effect of organizational commitment in the relationship between organizational climate and employee performance. Drawing on employees from the power generation companies in Ghana, a systematic sampling method was employed in choosing 371 respondents for the study. Hierarchical regression in SPSS software (version 23) was employed to analyze the hypotheses. It was observed that organizational commitment partially mediated the relationship between organizational climate and employee performance. However, perceived organizational support had no moderation effect on the relationship between organizational climate and organizational commitment. Furthermore, perceived organizational support had no moderation effect on the relationship between organizational commitment and employee performance. These results suggest that with an effective organizational climate, organizational support does little to strengthen or weaken employee performance. The practical implication is also discussed.
Vermicast of Earthworm as Ecosystem Engineers within Different Vermireactor Shape
Authors: Kilowasid Laode Muhammad Harjoni , Sanjaya Muhammad Fahyu , Rakian Tresjia Corina , Alam Syamsu , Djafar Muhammad Kabil , Muliddin Muliddin
Published: August 2020

Earthworms as ecosystem engineers can modify the quality of vermibed assembled from mixed soil with organic material in a vermireactor. Various in shapes of the vermireactor are used to produce a vermicast for biofertilizer in agriculture. The objective of this research was to study the vermicast production and its quality produced from a variety of vermireactor shapes. Earthworm (Pheretima sp.) which was applied to the vermireactor consists of: with- and without of earthworms. Three shapes of the vermireactor, namely cylinder, square, and rectangular has been tested. Compost of Chromolaena odorata pruning mixed with soil was used as vermibed. The vermicast process ran until 28 days. The results showed that vermireactor with earthworms which were successfully converted to vermicast was about 49.24% from the vermibed volume, however, no vermicast formed was found from vermireactor without earthworms. The difference in vermicast produced from different vermireactor shapes was not significant. The value of pH, total-N, and C/N ratio among the vermicast was different. The number of the morphological character of bacteria colonies in the vermicast produced from the square vermireactor was the highest, while from cylinder vermireactor was the lowest. We concluded that the quality of vermicast from earthworm (Pheretima sp.) activity was determined by the shape of the vermireactor.
Teachers’ Knowledge of Special Educational Needs and Disability Students and Their Classroom Management Approaches
Authors: Gyasi Mercedes Nana Konadu , Okrah Abraham Kwadwo , Anku Joyce Senya Ama
Published: August 2020

Parents and many other stakeholders usually complain about equity and inclusivity of students with special educational needs (SEN) in the mainstream schools. The purpose of the study was to find out the level of teachers’ knowledge of special educational needs and disability students and their classroom management procedures and strategies. The study adopted qualitative paradigm and a descriptive approach to gather data and were thematically analysed. The findings showed that teachers’ knowledge of special educational needs and disability students was very limited. It revealed teachers’ lack of in-depth knowledge of inclusivity, enacted and operational policies and their application, and the classroom management procedures and management of students with special educational needs. It is recommended that teachers be examined appropriately and certified before allowing them to teach in schools. Teachers who are already teaching should be updated with the current trend of educational issues including inclusivity, equity and gender sensitivity.
Orientation and Editorial Group of China Cotton Journal
Authors: Zhang Huaming , Liao Dawei
Published: August 2020

China Cotton Journal is the first periodical publication in modern China's textile industry. It was founded by Chinese Cotton Mill Owner’s Association, which was founded in Shanghai in 1918. It played an important role in the communication of modern China's textile industry in terms of technology, management, etc. After the departure of the editorial group of China Cotton Journal, some editors founded other textile journals, and some joined other textile journals to continue their editorial work. Therefore, the idea and orientation of China Cotton Journal had an important impact on the textile journals in modern China.
Derivation and Interpretation of Expressiveness Devices in North Hail Arabic: Minimalist Account
Authors: Alshamari Murdhy
Published: August 2020

This paper investigates the interpretive properties of what are termed expressiveness devices, characterised as clitic, pronoun and demonstrative. In what seems to be cases of multiple expression of a single argument, the proposed investigation involves generative syntactic analyses to the interaction of a set of expressiveness devices with an associate DP, accounting for their interpretation at both LF and PF interfaces (Chomsky, 1995 et seq). Exploration of a set of North Hail Arabic (henceforth, NHA) data containing expressiveness devices, all of which agree in φ-features with the associate DP, it is shown that the expressiveness devices maintain rigid order in the left periphery of the clause, each generated for certain discourse-interpretive property expressing a distinct value of information structure, through establishing an Agree relation (Chomsky, 2001) with the associate DP. Amongst the insights the analyses show is that NHA allows for multiple probes agreeing with a single goal. In this way, a probing head probes through another c-commanded probing head, in which case the goal is visible to the upper probing head. Movement is therefore shown to be triggered in case where goal’s visibility, related to feature valuation, is not available, hence, movement presupposes agreement.
Reviewer Acknowledgements, Vol. 14, No. 9, September 2020
Authors: Lee Sunny
Published: August 2020

Reviewer Acknowledgements, Vol. 14, No. 9, September 2020
Review of the industrial applications of bacterial cellulose
Authors: Michałowski Michał , Wacikowski Błażej
Published: August 2020

Review of the industrial applications of bacterial cellulose. Bacterial cellulose (BC) differs from plant cellulose in fibre diameter, which for BC is between 20 and 100 nm. Literature data indicates that BC has a crystalline level of 90% and is thermally stable and has higher mechanical properties than plant cellulose. The purity of BC is estimated in the range of 98% because it is not contaminated with lignin, pectin and hemicelluloses like plant cellulose. The BC is used in medicine, cosmetics, electronics, food, paper and packaging industries. So far, bacterial cellulose has not been implemented for technological applications in the wood-based panels industry. Current research and development trends in the wood-based panels industry include the use of plant-based nanocellulose to improve selected properties of wood-based panels of various types. It should be assumed that BC may be a full value material ingredient in the production of wood-based panels, simultaneously improving mechanical and physical parameters of composites manufactured with its participation.
Correlation between the share of latewood and the density of sawn timber from the Silesian Forestry Region
Authors: Mańkowski Piotr , Krzosek Sławomir , Burawska-Kupniewska Izabela , Grześkiewicz Marek , Mirski Radosław
Published: August 2020

Correlation between the share of latewood and the density of sawn timber from the Silesian Forestry Region. The paper describes the results of density measurements and the share of latewood in pine wood samples (Pinus sylvestris L.) from the Silesian Forestry Region in Poland. The samples were obtained from sawn timber from different kinds of log: butt, middle and top. The place from which the timber was obtained (three different log kinds) was taken into account when assessing the correlation between wood density and the share of latewood.