bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Refractive Outcomes and Optical Zone Decentration After SMILE Between Patients With Symmetrical and Asymmetrical High Astigmatism
Authors: Yu Na , Hou Xiangtao , Luo Yiqi , Chen Xi , Zhuang Jing , Yu Keming
Published: April 2023

Purpose:

To compare the refractive outcomes and optical zone decentration between patients with symmetrical and asymmetrical high astigmatism after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

Methods:

This was a prospective analysis of 89 patients (152 eyes) with myopia and astigmatism of more than 2.00 diopters (D) treated with the SMILE procedure. There were 69 eyes with asymmetrical topographies (asymmetrical astigmatism group) and 83 eyes with symmetrical topographies (symmetrical astigmatism group). Decentralization values were assessed using the tangential curvature difference map preoperatively and 6 months after surgery. Decentration, visual refractive outcomes, and induced changes in corneal wavefront aberrations were compared between the two groups 6 months postoperatively.

Results:

Both groups achieved favorable visual and refractive outcomes, with a mean postoperative cylinder of −0.22 ± 0.23 and −0.20 ± 0.21 D in the asymmetrical and symmetrical astigmatism groups, respectively. In addition, visual and refractive outcomes and induced changes in corneal aberrations were comparable between the asymmetrical and symmetrical astigmatism groups (all
P
> .05). However, the total and vertical decentration in the asymmetrical astigmatism group was greater than that in the symmetrical astigmatism group (all
P
< .05), whereas no significant differences were found in the values of horizontal decentration between the two groups (
P
> .05). There was a weak positive correlation between induced total corneal higher order aberrations and total decentration (
r
= 0.267,
P
= .026) in the asymmetrical astigmatism group but not in the symmetrical astigmatism group (
r
= 0.210,
P
= .056).

Conclusions:

An asymmetrical corneal surface might affect treatment centration after SMILE. Subclinical decentration may be associated with the induction of total higher order aberrations, but it did not affect high astigmatic correction or induced corneal aberrations.

[
J Refract Surg
. 2023;39(4):273–280.]
Public Perception of Awareness and Adaptation of Cryptocurrency in Brunei Darussalam
Authors: Rahman Nur Aqilah Adilah Hj Abd , Susanto Heru
Published: April 2023

Cryptocurrency has been around since 2008 when Satoshi Nakamoto issued a white paper. Satoshi also claimed to be the creator and developer of Bitcoin, the first type of cryptocurrency. This research looks at Bruneians' understanding of Crypto-currencies, their perceptions, and their awareness and acceptance of cryptocurrency in Brunei Darussalam. This research used questionnaires as a method of gathering data. Who would have thought that cryptocurrency was known to almost all levels of age, it did not only focus on higher education respondents, and that the fact it was male-dominated? Cryptocurrency in Brunei is not widespread yet. The awareness of cryptocurrency in Brunei is deficient because information is inadequate. Bitcoin is yet to be the most well-known cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is seen as an asset instead of currency by the general public. Information primarily obtained is mainly from social media, family, friends, word of mouth, and press releases from AMBD.
Price Volatility in Cryptocurrencies
Authors: Sivaprakkash S.  , Vevek S.
Published: April 2023

Cryptocurrency is a digital currency which works as a medium of exchange through a computer network. This study aims at modelling the volatility of selected cryptocurrencies by adopting different models of the GARCH family and providing empirical evidence on the fit of conditional volatility. The research is based upon daily U.S. dollar price indexes of Bitcoin (BTC/USD). The data were collected for a time period from October 2021 to April 2022. The every-day price data was further drilled down to arrive at OHLC (open-high-low-close) price for every quarter of the day. The dataset for the analyses were compiled from the website https://cryptowat.ch/ which is an open source and offers free downloadable dataset using Power BI. The first part of the article will focus on the introduction of topic matter concerned. The second part covers around a few literature reviews in the light of volatility in cryptos. The third part will focus on the methodology adopted followed by the results and discussion in the fourth part. Finally, the fifth and last part will provide concluding remarks.
Modeling Time-Varying Co-Movements Between Major Cryptocurrencies and Foreign Exchange Markets
Authors: Güngör Arifenur , Güngör Mahmut Sami
Published: April 2023

This chapter scrutinizes the dynamic linkages between major cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies of developed and emerging countries. To do this, the authors estimate the Scalar-BEKK GARCH models from September 2017 to January 2022. To shed light on the effects of specific events, the authors also estimate the models for the sub-periods: the great crypto crash, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the vaccination. Empirical results suggest that the time-varying relationships between the crypto- and fiat currencies highly depend on the country- and crypto-specific dynamics. By the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies, it is not an easy venture to define the stylized facts on those dynamic relationships. The most striking result shows a sharp and massive decline in the conditional covariances between the cryptos and the fiat currencies of developed countries except the Japanese Yen at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Adult Learners' Perceptions of Online Language English Learning in China
Authors: Liu Yauyau , Lei Junru , Chiu Dickson K. W. , Xie Zerong
Published: April 2023

Ubiquitous internet access over the past decade has provided opportunities to learn languages online. However, most of the online language learning studies focus on higher education perspectives, while the related learner contribution on the commercial platform has yet to be explored. This study investigates Chinese adult learners' perception of learning English on the online course platform through a qualitative research approach. The semi-structured interview questions comprise five parts: learners' background, learning situation (frequency and time spent), assessment of instructors and teaching materials, preference of delivery model (with traditional classroom compared), and their attainment from the online learning platform. These findings can help platform operators better understand the perception of Chinese amateur adult learners and fill the literature gap to provide educators with insights and references on current research agendas.
A Research on Children's Literature and Its Status in Teacher Training
Authors: Hernández-Delgado Lourdes , López-Valero Amando , Jerez-Martínez Isabel
Published: April 2023

This contribution presents research on children's literature and the training of educators. This discipline is fundamental to the education of children, as it is the gateway from adult knowledge to the cognitive and emotional development of the youngest children. Using a survey-type methodology, research was carried out with students of the bachelor's degree in teaching specialising in early childhood and primary education at the University of Murcia, Spain. Besides learning about thinking in teaching, the interest of the study lay in comparing the results of the two specialisations in order to check whether attitudes to children's literature are different according to the type of study pursued. The conclusions show that there are differences in attitudes and thinking, with primary education teachers' perception of children's literature being less restrictive in terms of the concept than early childhood education teachers.
A Lesson in Shakespearean Insults
Authors: Swann Sarah
Published: April 2023

Offering a practical and accessible resource for teachers working with Shakespeare's plays, the focus is on the opening dueling scene in Romeo and Juliet. Pupils focus on the language of Elizabethan insults to build knowledge of conflict. The chapter provides a sequential breakdown of a traditional four-step English lesson: a starter activity; the setting of a concrete learning objective; the main activities; and a plenary. Questioning strategies are explored which move pupils from lower to higher order thinking through clearly defined stages. As well as offering resources which teachers can adapt for use in their own classrooms, there is opportunity for the teacher to demonstrate something of their own thespian tendencies by hurling insults around their classroom. As remarked elsewhere to the quiet pupil diligently on task, they may whisper sinisterly: “Go thou and fill another room in hell,” (King Richard II) or shriek in an unhinged manner at the pupil attempting to copy someone else's answers: “What, you egg! Young fry of treachery!” (Macbeth).
Expanding the Dialogic Possibilities in Literature Classrooms
Authors: Tsolakis Christos , Mamoura Maria , Frydaki Evangelia
Published: April 2023

The aim of the present study is to explore the core dialogic mechanisms in literature classroom discourse. Through these mechanisms, dialogicality is guided by a new proposed framework of interpretive dialogue. These mechanisms are explored in the micro (SEDA framework) and meso-levels (microtransitions between dialogic subjects) of discourse of a two 2-hour classroom talk, where the method of interpretive dialogue is being implemented. The dialogic parameters of the linguistic expressions in interpretive dialogue (i.e., the utterance and the factors that define it) were also considered. Main results show that interpretive dialogue presupposes an initial strong point of contact between the classroom and the equivocal parts of the text. This asymmetrical contact will form the basis of the main dialogue to come. From that point on, teacher's topic control fades with the world of the text being only the point of departure of student's responsive interpretative acts.
Advancing Elementary-Level Students' Linguistic/Cultural Proficiencies Through Children's Literature
Authors: Hibbs Brian
Published: April 2023

This chapter outlines a research study designed to document and understand the relevancy of children's literature in Spanish to elementary-level university students' linguistic and cultural competencies. Participants in the study were enrolled in three second-semester Spanish courses at a large land-grant university in the southwestern United States. During the study, students read two children's books and participated in a series of class activities designed to deepen their understanding and appreciation of various grammatical structures and cultural phenomena in the books. Data for the study were obtained and triangulated through journal entries, surveys, and focus-group interviews. Findings from the study demonstrated that, from the students' perspectives, the children's books contributed to their linguistic proficiency by providing them with multiple opportunities to access input and produce output in Spanish in meaningful ways while also promoting their cultural proficiency by immersing them in the cultural story worlds of the books.
The Pedagogy of Literacy and the Anti-Hegemonic Factors
Authors: Bocciolesi Enrico
Published: April 2023

During the recent global pandemic, social paradigms have reversed, and people have found themselves trapped in fears, uncertainties, and primary needs for relationships. Emerging educational issues stimulate an in-depth examination of the dominant themes in the contemporary curricular context and seek meaningful readings. To clarify, this chapter focuses on a pedagogical reflection, not an exhaustive one, which offers some perspectives and alternatives for literacy from the perspective of liberation and the reappropriation of one's cultural variations and historical roots. The reflective essay refers to a cross-reading of the methodologies used in the non-European contexts, and it is concluded that it is crucial for the educational community to recover and reappropriate the educational and cultural space of life. Through a literacy pedagogy, we are able to recover complex education in a deschooled and deconstructed environment, which is reduced to a few critical symbols and meanings.
Managing Festivals With Smart Technologies and Their Contribution Towards Destination Promotion
Authors: Sharma Sahil , Dogra Jeet
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a scholarly synthesis of contemporary smart event technologies under a clear three phase event classification. The constructed conceptualisation is designed as an ideal synthesis of tech basics, utilisation benefits, and real examples. In the pre-event phase, uses of 3D event diagramming software are discussed. The actual-event phase provides a comprehensive discourse on - beacon technology, geo fencing, radio frequency identification (RFID), near field communication (NFC), wrist band, mobile app, chat bots, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) - using some real examples from iconic international events/festivals such as Coachella, Tomorrowland, Glastonbury, etc. Lastly, in the post-event phase basics and uses of smart event data is explained.
Destination Marketing and Branding of Nashik
Authors: Gawde Gayatri , Behera Sachin Kumar , Kulshreshtha Sharad Kumar
Published: April 2023

This chapter presents a case study, highlighting the importance of wine tourism with its connection with the Sula Wine Festival that happens in Nashik, Maharashtra. This case study presents an exploratory study of the Sula Wine Festival, with a focus on educating readers on its prominent features, USP, and attractions for the people interested in wine festivals. The study further explains some of the distinct advantages of Nashik such as its soil, location, and wide range of attractions nearby. The key objective of the case study is to make the readers aware of the power of wine festivals in tourism and encourage the blending of tourism and wine consumption for marketing and branding Nashik.
Value Creation of Destinations by Destination Management Organisations Through Strategic Planning and Promotion of Fairs and Festivals of NE India
Authors: Goswami Angshumi
Published: April 2023

This chapter aims to add value to available existing literature in term of highlighting the catalytic roles and responsibilities of destination management organisations (DMOs). Moreover, it aims to study the involvement of DMOs in strategic planning and promotion of local fairs and festivals. Destination management organisations (DMOs) act as torchbearers of every global and local tourism destination and are indispensable when promoting a destination through events and festivals. In this context, the sustainable development of the destination is imperative and a crucial factor for prospective visitors and guests. This chapter shall comprehensively discuss DMOs and their underlying roles and responsibilities. Moreover, it shall highlight the operational activities undertaken by city-level DMOs in relation to the strategic planning and promotion of events being hosted. This study shall be purely based on reviews done on existing literature supported by cases of major fairs and festivals specifically with reference to North Eastern India.
Long-Term Forecasting of Tourism Festivals Post COVID-19
Authors: Clarke Rachel Chanel
Published: April 2023

Forecasting festivals and destination tourism does not involve a secret recipe held by industry gatekeepers but is the applying tools, techniques, and systems. The significance that the COVID-19 pandemic contributes to the greater landscape of destination festivals is multifaceted as time progresses. Sales determinants are affected by a change in the labor force, logistic delays, health and safety concerns, and many factors still to be monitored and readapted through forecasting. Changes in social interactions, such as norms of personal space between family, friends, and strangers, have shifted, causing festival planners to be aware of directional signals that affect festival gatherings (McClure et al., 2020). Long-term forecasting tools assess the cultural shifts of consumer segmentation, revealing the adverse effects that COVID-19 has on demographic trends. Consequently, this chapter provides context while identifying forecasting methodologies and a framework for festivals and destination tourism post-COVID-19.
Capital Indicators for Hotel Customer Experience to Support Strategic Management
Authors: Ramos Célia M. Q. , Ashqar Rashed Isam , Matos Nelson , Sousa Carlos M. R.
Published: April 2023

Information management is crucial to control and correct the deviations of the organization and support the decision-making process in tourism and hospitality. It is also important to provide relevant data to reduce uncertainty in the decision process while helping to define scenarios, investigate hypotheses, and make predictions to build a vision of the company's future. The use of information systems to manage tourist information, nowadays, no longer guarantees competitiveness in the sector or the survival of the company. There is a need to look at organizations to capitalize on and develop their intellectual capital. This chapter investigates how to use tourist information to achieve the strategy desired by hoteliers to increase the capital associated with the customer and the economic performance of organizations. Therefore, this chapter presents the literature review on knowledge management and capital indicators applied to hospitality. As result, this study identified a set of capital indicators associated with the brand, customers, loyalty, distribution channels, and collaborators.
The Role of the Internet in Pre-Trip Stage
Authors: Carneiro Maria João , Dinis Gorete
Published: April 2023

The internet is increasingly adopted to plan tourism trips, being used to consult various information sources and search different types of information. However, previous research does not provide an in-depth perspective of the role of Internet in the pre-trip stage. The main objective of this chapter is to understand the role of the internet in the pre-trip stage, the type of sources consulted, and information searched, as well as how this search is affected by sociodemographic characteristics, daily hours using the internet, and travel behavior. A questionnaire survey was carried out (N=299), administered face-to-face and online, to people living in Portugal who made a leisure trip of three or more nights in the last three years. Descriptive analyses, t tests, and correlations were performed. Results are relevant to support the decision making of tourism organizations when conveying information on the internet and in providing appropriate services to each target market.
Sensory Marketing
Authors: Viegas Carina , Agapito Dora , Pinto Patrícia
Published: April 2023

This research aims to map previous studies using a multisensory approach to identify the impact of sensory stimuli on consumer behaviour in retail and to investigate the congruence among senses. The methodological approach was a systematic literature review, which compiles and synthesizes journal articles addressing the research objective and uses descriptive analysis to provide a detailed description of retail types. The approach of sense congruence is scarce in this research. A multisensory approach to sensory marketing (three or more stimuli) is still an unexplored domain. The recent research topic reveals knowledge gaps, regarding the relationship between multisensory cues. Understanding the impact of the sensory environment on consumer behaviour in a retail context contributes to advancing the study of congruence around more multisensory stimuli. Additionally, the findings expose that the senses of touch and taste have received the least consideration and provide opportunities for future research. Implications for marketing management in the retail context are discussed.
Impact of Knowledge Diffusion on the Performance of Indian Pharmaceutical Companies
Authors: Banerji Amit , Mahor Nirbhay
Published: April 2023

The study aims to improve understanding of knowledge dissemination on performance determinants in the Indian pharmaceutical industry. Panel data analyses have been used to describe R&D spillover mediated through fixed assets act as a knowledge diffusion pathway, along with five other factors that affect profitability. R&D spillover mediated through physical capital points to knowledge diffusion, albeit in a small way, indicating that such things can take a permanent shape all across the industry. Fixed assets' negative relationship with profitability results from a directional shift in the last two decades.
The Impact of Financial Technology on Profitability for Banks
Authors: Rashwan Abdel Rahman Mohamed , Kassem Zeinab Abd-Elhafiz Ahmed
Published: April 2023

The study aims to investigate the impact of the use of financial technology (FINTECH) on the profitability of banks; indicate the impact of using FINTECH to increase the quality of bank's services to provided customers; and clarify the impact of use on raising the operational efficiency of banks. The results of the study found that the use of financial technology in banks facilitates the procedures for securing the necessary financing for customers, and activating electronic services such as credit card payments, mobile phone technology, and other electronic services. FINTECH increases competition in banks by reducing barriers to entry for new products to the market. Banks use FINTECH to achieve efficient results in terms of reducing costs, increasing revenue growth, reducing risks, raising operational efficiency, and increasing profitability.
Teacher-Mentored Pre-Task Planning in Telecollaboration
Authors: Rezaeyan Mahshid , Gimeno-Sanz Ana Ma
Published: April 2023

While many studies have focused on providing authentic intercultural communication for successful intercultural learning outcomes, not enough attention has been paid to the role of the teacher as a pedagogical mentor. This chapter examines the role of the teacher as a pedagogical mentor in telecollaborative exchanges and provides empirical evidence for the effectiveness of strategies and techniques that teachers use to promote L2 learners' pragmatic competence and willingness to communicate. To this end, two groups of EFL learners were randomly assigned to two groups: teacher-mentored collaborative pre-task planning (n=32) and student-led collaborative pre-task planning (n=32). The participants completed the pre-tests and the post-tests: an input-based pragmatic test (acceptability judgment test), an output-based pragmatic test (discourse comprehension test), and an L2 WTC test. The results of the data analysis indicated that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in the discourse comprehension test and increased their WTC at the post-intervention stage.
Online Task Design for Language Learning
Authors: Loizidou Dora , Savlovska Dina
Published: April 2023

This study examines an asymmetrical telecollaboration project between tutors (future French language teachers) and learners (French language students) in which the tutors design pedagogical scenarios and help the learners to accomplish them. The research focuses on online task design and attempts to provide better understanding of interaction between tutors and learners and the degree of learner flexibility in the outcome. Based on socio-constructivist theory, it shows how the features of an action-oriented task design can influence the implementation of a task and the communication between the two groups. The hypothesis examined is that, in an asymmetrical telecollaboration project, the dominant interaction is student-tutor and the role of a tutor (as a teacher who corrects the learners) precedes the role of a peer. The research analyzes the instructions of the pedagogical scenarios and examines learner outcomes, as well as the interaction between the two groups. The findings of the study illustrated that the familiarity of their relationship has an impact on the outcome's language.
Applications and Implementations of Blockchain Technology Across the Various Sectors
Authors: Dewangan Shweta , Verma Santosh Kumar , Parganiha Bhanu , Dewangan Smita
Published: April 2023

Blockchain was originally intended as a means to enable a trustless cryptocurrency—Bitcoin. However, an increasing number of sectors and stakeholders view the technology as an attractive option to address existing business issues and disrupt traditional industries. Blockchain is a distributed ledger with big promise in financial services. Blockchain application cases have mostly been discovered in banking. Blockchain technology can help insurers innovate insurance products, growth products and services, fraud detection, and price improvements and cutting costs. Blockchain technology allows organizations to access enormous talent pools, readily verify facts, and not rely on third parties or third employers. Blockchain has become a new frontier for venture capital, attracting banks, governments, and businesses. In this chapter, the authors present a novel approach or methodology for utilizing blockchain technology to manage businesses or other types of industries.
Transitioning Business Practices in the Retail Industry Through Blockchain Technology
Authors: Dubey Archi
Published: April 2023

Blockchain is a new technology that allows for the decentralized and transactional sharing of data across a large network of untrusted participants. It allows for new types of distributed software architectures. Although the technology was initially used primarily in digital currency, it is a promising technology in other areas as well. This chapter provides a simplified introduction to blockchain technology. It also discusses how blockchain technology can be used in some business processes in the retail sector to greatly benefit both customers and retailers. This chapter specifically discusses issues of retail supply chain management (SCM) and how blockchain technology is transitioning the retail supply chain management. The chapter discusses the market trend in blockchain adoption as well as some of the challenges.
Time to Re-Envision Vision Statements in Education
Authors: Baildon Mark C. , Arabi Hala Mohammed
Published: April 2023

In this chapter, the authors highlight several principles to develop and enact powerful vision statements that are truly visionary – bold, powerful, inspiring, imaginative, and collectively constructed. The chapter makes the case that vision statements should direct education toward transformative outcomes for both individuals and society by pointing the way toward new educational purposes, values, policies, programs, and practices that are necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Vision statements can help individuals and schools pivot toward new beliefs and behaviors at all levels of education; they can guide the everyday decisions and actions of people in schools; and they can be used to modify structures, policies, and processes that move organizations in transformative directions.
Revitalizing Supervisory Models in Education
Authors: Alkaabi Ahmed Mohammed
Published: April 2023

Supervision is a vital component of effective education and should be implemented as a regular practice to strengthen teachers' instructional methods in the face of ongoing accountability demands and responsibilities, which can hinder the primary purpose of teaching and learning. Supervision has evolved from rigid oversight to more supportive and tailored approaches that encourage teachers to reflect on their practices. As the key educators of students, teachers must remain current with the latest educational trends, pedagogy, methods, and best practices to achieve educational goals. This chapter aims to revitalize essential supervisory models within schools and underscores the importance of integrating adult learning theories and stage theories of adult and teacher development into supervisory processes, ultimately improving teaching and learning outcomes.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and School Leadership
Authors: Qablan Ahmad , Alblooshi Khadija Mousa , Alkaabi Fatima Ali
Published: April 2023

ESD aims at educating individuals to have competencies that enable them to think about the effects of their activities globally and locally, economically, socially, and environmentally and contribute to sustainability with their behaviors and also advance their society towards SD with their ideas and participation. School leadership plays a vital role in implementing and promoting ESD projects and initiatives. The ability of school leaders to effectively communicate with the school community and gain the commitment of students and staff is a critical component of the success of transforming education to tackle sustainable development issues. Therefore, to lead the change in their contexts, educational leaders must possess several critical competencies concerning the topic of ESD, including skills in strategic management, strategic and systemic thinking, an appropriate mindset, an open, broad view, and also the ability to envision school and education in a positive light, especially when it comes to ESD.
Digital Media and Their Implications on Diplomatic Practices in the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Authors: Makananise Fulufhelo Oscar , Sundani Ndivhuwo Doctor
Published: April 2023

This chapter explores the contemporary trends and debates on the use of digital media for diplomatic services and practices in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as 4IR, in the global south. The chapter emphases how digital diplomacy industrialized and evolved to be predominant during the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic as known as the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter has been strengthened by the practice theory for digital diplomacy transformations. Most prominently, the chapter establishes that digital media platforms played a vital role in diplomatic relations practices for the development and social change in the global south countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the chapter suggests strategic solutions to prevent digital diplomacy challenges and highlights the future of digital diplomatic practices in the global south.
Antiviral therapy in current clinical practice: Respiratory virus infections
Authors: Janage S. N.
Published: April 2023

No abstract available
Sensitivity of Exports to Change in Relative Prices and Nominal Exchange Rate: Case of Manufacturing Exports of Sri Lanka
Authors: Chamindani S. D. Nilanka
Published: April 2023

In 1950, Orcutt argued that ‘trade flows respond to changes in nominal exchange rate faster than to changes in relative prices’. Subsequently empirical studies have tested this hypothesis and have found mixed results. The experience of Sri Lanka, where it has been encountering a relentless fall is the share of its exports in the global trade during the past decade, provides an ample motivation to test this hypothesis to ascertain which policy instruments would stimulate its export performance faster. This study tests the Orcutt’s conjecture on Sri Lanka export flows to its six major trading partners, using annual data for the period 1970 -2019. Since the data is mix of I(1) and I(0), Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique is employed to incorporate the dynamic adjustments of relative prices and the nominal exchange rate. The findings indicate that, in the short run, exports respond only to changes in nominal exchange rate, but does not respond to the changes in relative prices. In the long run however, exports respond to changes in both relative price and changes in nominal exchange rate. The impact of changes in exchange rate are relatively higher in both short-run and long-run. The findings of this analysis are consistent with the Orcutt’s hypothesis and suggest that nominal exchange rate would be a more appropriate policy instrument to promote export performance of the country.
Impact of Facebook Advertising on E-brand Equity: Examining the Moderating Effect of Negative Sentiments with the Special Reference to Telecommunication Industry in Sri Lanka
Authors: Hewapathirana N. T. , Thilina D. K.
Published: April 2023

Facebook advertising has become one of the most used social media advertising platforms in the Sri Lankan telecommunication industry. The industry is growing rapidly over the past decade of time and demand for telecommunication services has been enormously raised. In today's context, telecommunication service providers utilize Facebook advertising to accomplish specific marketing goals and objectives. Thus this study aims to interpret how Facebook advertising affects e-brand equity. Moreover, the researcher’s secondary aim is to examine the moderate role of negative sentiments. This analysis was quantitative and structured questionnaires were used to obtain primary data from the sample. The study used the convenience sampling method, which comes under non-probability sampling and three hundred thirty-three responses were collected from the western province which includes Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts. The data were analyzed using the software SPSS 25 to obtain descriptive statistics, comparing mean analysis and correlation analyses. The findings of the study revealed that Facebook advertising significantly impacted e-brand equity while negative sentiments significantly moderated the relationship between Facebook advertising and e-brand equity. Finally, the study contributes with several strategies for the telecommunication industry with their Facebook advertising practitioners in planning the advertising campaigns and improving the existing practices.
Prediction of Postoperative Lung Function in Lung Cancer Patients Using Machine Learning Models
Authors: Kwon Oh Beom , Han Solji , Lee Hwa Young , Kang Hye Seon , Kim Sung Kyoung , Kim Ju Sang , Park Chan Kwon , Lee Sang Haak , Kim Seung Joon , Kim Jin Woo , Yeo Chang Dong
Published: April 2023

Background: Surgical resection is the standard treatment for early-stage lung cancer. Since postoperative lung function is related to mortality, predicted postoperative lung function is used to determine the treatment modality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive performance of linear regression and machine learning models.Methods: We extracted data from the Clinical Data Warehouse and developed three sets: set I, the linear regression model; set II, machine learning models omitting the missing data: and set III, machine learning models imputing the missing data. Six machine learning models, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), Ridge regression, ElasticNet, Random Forest, eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) were implemented. The forced expiratory volume in 1 second measured 6 months after surgery was defined as the outcome. Five-fold cross-validation was performed for hyperparameter tuning of the machine learning models. The dataset was split into training and test datasets at a 70:30 ratio. Implementation was done after dataset splitting in set III. Predictive performance was evaluated by R2 and mean squared error (MSE) in the three sets.Results: A total of 1,487 patients were included in sets I and III and 896 patients were included in set II. In set I, the R2 value was 0.27 and in set II, LightGBM was the best model with the highest R2 value of 0.5 and the lowest MSE of 154.95. In set III, LightGBM was the best model with the highest R2 value of 0.56 and the lowest MSE of 174.07.Conclusion: The LightGBM model showed the best performance in predicting postoperative lung function.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and the Airway Microbiome: What Respirologists Need to Know
Authors: Sin Don D.
Published: April 2023

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The lower airways contain a rich and diverse microbiome, which may play a significant regulatory role in both health and disease. In COPD, the microbiome becomes perturbed, causing dysbiosis. Increased representation of members in the Proteobacteria phylum and certain members in the Firmicutes phylum has been associated with increased risk of exacerbations and mortality. Therapies such as inhaled corticosteroids and azithromycin may modulate the airway microbiome or its metabolites in patients with COPD. This paper provides an up-to-date overview of the airway microbiome and its importance in the pathophysiology of COPD and as potential therapeutic target in the future.
A novel Outer Membrane Vesicle-mediated mechanism of antimicrobial resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Dell'Annunziata F. , Folliero V. , Dell'Aversana C. , Doti N. , Donadio G. , Zannella C. , Dal Piaz F. , Izzo V. , De Filippis A. , Altucci L. , Boccia G. , Galdiero M. , Franci G.
Published: April 2023

Not available.
Valutazione di Eazyplex ® Candida auris per il rilevamento della colonizzazione cutanea da C.auris
Authors: Leone A. , Bondi A. , Zullo F. , Zaccaria T. , Curtoni A. , Casale R. , Costa C. , Cavallo R.
Published: April 2023

Not available.
Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) for detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA on amniotic fluid in primary infections during pregnancy: a safe and reliable diagnostic tool
Authors: Bonetti A. , Vola A. , Meroni V.
Published: April 2023

Not available.
Strategie di screening per infezione asintomatica da Leishmania in pazienti riceventi trapianto di rene
Authors: Ortalli M. , Deni A. , Mistral De Pascali A. , Balduccelli E. , Comai G. , Ferrara F. , Busutti M. , La Manna G. , Zanmarchi L. , Bartoloni A. , Caroti L. , Ibarra-Menes A. V. , Carrillo E. , Lazzarotto T. , Varani S.
Published: April 2023

Not available.
Detection and molecular characterization of Human Parechovirus (HPeV) in respiratory infections in Lombardy (Northern Italy), from August 2022 to February 2023
Authors: Seiti A. , Pellegrinelli L. , Galli C. , Primache V. , Anselmi G. , Matteucci E. , Binda S. , Pariani E.
Published: April 2023

Not available.
Le meningoencefaliti virali: 10 anni di expertise diagnostica
Authors: Banchini I. , Liberatore A. , Primavera A. , Cantiani A. , Ferniani T. , Balboni A. , Borgatti E. C. , Lanna F. , Venturoli S. , Piccirilli G. , Petrisli E. , Gabrielli L. , Lazzarotto T.
Published: April 2023

Not available.
Trends in scientific output on artificial intelligence and health in Latin America in Scopus
Authors: Gonzalez-Argote Javier , Alonso-Galbán Patricia , Vitón-Castillo Adrián Alejandro , Lepez Carlos Oscar , Castillo-Gonzalez William , Bonardi Mabel Cecilia , Cano Carlos Alberto Gómez
Published: April 2023

Introduction: technological developments in artificial intelligence and health are necessary for Latin American health systems. Objective: to describe the trends in scientific production on artificial intelligence and health in Latin America in Scopus. Method: This is a retrospective bibliometric study of Latin American authors' scientific production on artificial intelligence and health in Scopus between 2012 and 2021. Production, visibility and impact indicators were used. VOSviewer and SciVal were used for data analysis. Results: 2871 articles were published, with a variation between 2012 and 2021 of 94.98%. 2,397 articles were original, and 2,741 were written in English. 58.3% were published in first-quartile journals, the most productive being Sensors (Ndoc=79) and Plos One (Ndoc=66). 64,128 citations were received (mean of 22.3 citations per article). Brazil was the most productive country (Ndoc=1420), and the institution was the University of São Paulo (Ndoc=288). 498 thematic groups were identified, and 1376 themes. 54% of the articles had international collaboration and 3.3% with academic-corporation collaboration. Conclusions: there is a growing scientific production on artificial intelligence and health in Latin America, written mainly in English, medical, engineering and computer science research areas, disseminated in specialized magazines in the first quartiles. Brazil and its institutions were the top producers. The main topics were predictive models and the application of artificial intelligence for classifying, diagnosing and treating diseases.
On the effective, nef, and semi-ample monoids of blowups of Hirzebruch surfaces at collinear points
Authors: de la Rosa-Navarro Brenda Leticia , Frías-Medina Juan Bosco , Lahyane Mustapha
Published: April 2023

This paper is devoted to determine the geometry of a class of smooth projective rational surfaces whose minimal models are the Hirzebruch ones; concretely, they are obtained as the blowup of a Hirzebruch surface at collinear points. Explicit descriptions of their effective monoids are given, and we present a decomposition for every effective class. Such decomposition is used to confirm the effectiveness of some divisor classes when the Riemann–Roch theorem does not give information about their effectiveness. Furthermore, we study the nef divisor classes on such surfaces. We provide an explicit description for their nef monoids, and, moreover, we present a decomposition for every nef class. On the other hand, we prove that these surfaces satisfy the anticanonical orthogonal property. As a consequence, the surfaces are Harbourne–Hirschowitz and their Cox rings are finitely generated. Finally, we prove that the complete linear system associated with any nef divisor is base-point-free; thus, the semi-ample and nef monoids coincide. The base field is assumed to be algebraically closed of arbitrary characteristic.
The Trajectory of Loneliness among Adolescent Game Players
Authors: Su Zexi , Jang Seung Ock
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this study is to explore the change trajectory of loneliness in adolescent game users by utilizing the "game player panel data" of the Korea Creative Content Agency. A latent growth model was used to explore changes in youth game players. The results of this study are as follows. Loneliness of adolescent game users changes nonlinearly. Loneliness among adolescent game players increases over time and then decreases as they enter adolescence. The study result suggests that loneliness in adolescence requires different interventions at different ages.
Fluoroscopic Landmark to Optimize the View of the Foramen Ovale Using the Neighboring Structure
Authors: Hong Ji Hee , Huh Se Nyung , Park Ki Beom
Published: April 2023

Radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) via trans-oval approach is effective treatment modalities for trigeminal neuralgia. Clear identification of the foramen ovale (FO) is the most important initial step for successful percutaneous procedures. The purpose of this study was to verify whether the medial end of the temporomandibular joint and the distance between the mandibular angle and the occipital inner line can be used as a fluoroscopic landmark to determine the proper angulation of the C-arm. Analysis of previously saved fluoroscopic FO images during RFT was performed. As a fluoroscopic landmark to guide a proper lateral and axial oblique rotation of the C-arm, the position of the medial end of the temporomandibular joint and the vertical distance between the mandibular angle and the occipital inner line were evaluated. When the FO was located at the most central point within the H-figure, the medial end of TMJ was always located within the mandibular notch. The maximum view of the FO was defined when the FO showed maximal short axis to long axis ratio. The FO showed the best view when the vertical distance between the mandibular angle and occipital inner line was 20.04 (5.1) mm. This study demonstrated that the medial end of the temporomandibular joint and the vertical distance between the mandibular angle and occipital inner line as a fluoroscopic landmark for obtaining the optimal view of the FO.
Initial Experiences of Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing in Daegu, South Korea – New Procedure with Familiar Tools
Authors: Do Ungjeong , Hwang Jongmin
Published: April 2023

Implantation of a permanent pacemaker is a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic bradycardia. Conventionally, ventricular lead is placed at the right ventricular (RV) muscles. Therefore, this causes interventricular dyssynchrony, and long-term high RV pacing (RVP) burden is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Hence, attempts to directly pace the cardiac conduction system have been made, and finally, a technique called left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has emerged. In our country, the clinical experience of LBBAP is in the early stages. Especially, LBBAP using standard stylet-driven leads (SDL), a major procedural method performed in our country, is also in the early stages, and there are only a few reports about this method worldwide. Herein, we are reporting our initial experiences of LBBAP with SDL. Compared to conventional RVP performed during the same period, LBBAP required an initial learning period a more extended procedure, and fluoroscopy time. However, the paced QRS duration was significantly shorter in the LBBAP group (LBBAP group 120.6 ± 13.0 msec, RVP group 165.2 ± 16.0 msec, p < 0.001). It is fascinating that simply adding a ventricular lead delivery sheath can create a whole new outcome, even at centers that are only familiar with the standard tools. Our experience will be helpful in arrhythmia centers that aim to start LBBAP for the first time.
Okul Öncesi Çocukların Sağlık Eğitimini Etkileyen Faktörlerin İncelenmesi
Authors: SABAZ Nagihan , YİĞİT Rana
Published: April 2023

Amaç: Bu araştırma, okul öncesi eğitime devam eden 3-6 yaş dönemindeki çocukların sağlık eğitimini etkileyen faktörlerin incelenmesi amacıyla gerçekleştirildi.

Gereç ve Yöntem: Kesitsel ve tanımlayıcı desendeki araştırma, Nisan-Haziran 2017 tarihleri arasında Mersin ilinde bulunan dört farklı devlet anaokulunda gerçekleştirildi. Araştırmaya bu okullarda okul öncesi eğitim alan, 3-6 yaş grubundaki 366 çocuğun annesi katıldı. Veriler Bilgi Formu ve okul öncesi çocuklar için Sağlık Eğitimi Ölçeği ile toplandı.

Bulgular: Okul öncesi çocukların %45.9’unun altı yaşında, %53.3’ünün erkek ve 44.8’inin bir yıldır okul öncesi eğitime devam ettiği, annelerin ise %27.3’ünün lise ve dengi okul mezunu olduğu saptandı. Ailelerin %84.7’sinin 1-3 arasında değişen sayıda çocuğu olduğu belirlendi. Çocuğun cinsiyeti, okul öncesi eğitime devam etme süresi ve yaşı Sağlık Eğitimi Ölçeği’nin kişisel güvenlik ve ilkyardım alt grubu puan ortalamaları üzerinde etkili olduğu belirlendi (p< .05). Cinsiyet ve ailedeki çocuk sayısının temizlik ve özbakım (p< .05); annenin öğrenim düzeyinin ise ruh sağlığı ve sosyal ilişkiler alt grup puan ortalamaları üzerinde anlamlı olarak farklılaştığı belirlendi (p< .05).

Sonuç: Okul öncesi dönemden itibaren çocukların sağlık eğitimi ihtiyaçlarının düzenli olarak izlenmesi ve ebeveynlerin sağlığı geliştirmek için yapılacak uygulamaların bir parçası olması sağlıkta güçlendirmeyi teşvik edebilir.
Implementasi Metode Rapid Application Development pada website profil (Studi Kasus Program Studi Administrasi Server dan Jaringan Komputer)
Authors: M. Nur Fuad  , M. Mujiono
Published: April 2023

Objektif.  Pembuatan website profil program studi Administrasi Server dan Jaringan Komputer bertujuan untuk memberikan informasi kepada pengunjung, selain itu website profil juga bisa digunakan sebagai media promosi program studi.

Material and Metode.  Penelitian ini menggunakan metode Rapid Application Development, untuk materialnya menggunakan framework boostrap dengan tinymce.

Hasil.  Berdasarkan hasil pengujian blackbox untuk fungsionalitas sesuai dengan desain yang telah dilakukan.

Kesimpulan.  Website Profil Program studi Administrasi Server dan Jaringan Komputer dapat diakses dan dimanfaatkan oleh pengunjung. Untuk mendukung perkembangan website perlu adanya pengelolaan dan perbaharuan isi dan informasi secara berkala, sehingga lebih bermanfaat bagi pengunjung.