bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of surface charge self-organization on gate-induced 2D electron and hole systems
Authors: Tkachenko Vitaly A. , Tkachenko Olga A. , Baksheev Dmitry G. , Sushkov Oleg P.
Published: March 2021

A simple model has been suggested for describing self-organization of localized charges and quantum scattering in undoped GaAs/AlGaAs structures with 2D electron or hole gas created by applying respective gate bias. It has been assumed that these metal / dielectric / undoped semiconductor structures exhibit predominant carrier scattering at localized surface charges which can be located at any point of the plane imitating the GaAs / dielectric interface. The suggested model considers all these surface charges and respective image charges in metallic gate as a closed thermostated system. Electrostatic self-organization in this system has been studied numerically for thermodynamic equilibrium states using the Metropolis algorithm over a wide temperature range. We show that at T > 100 K a simple formula derived from the theory of single-component 2D plasma yields virtually the same behavior of structural factor at small wave numbers as the one given by the Metropolis algorithm. The scattering times of gate-induced carriers are described with formulas in which the structural factor characterizes frozen disorder in the system. The main contribution in these formulas is due to behavior of the structural factor at small wave numbers. Calculation using these formulas for the case of disorder corresponding to infinite T has yielded 2–3 times lower scattering times than experimentally obtained ones. We have found that the theory agrees with experiment at disorder freezing temperatures T ≈ 1000 K for 2D electron gas specimen and T ≈ 700 K for 2D hole gas specimen. These figures are the upper estimates of freezing temperature for test structures since the model ignores all the disorder factors except temperature.
Effect of bismuth additions on the thermophysical and thermodynamical properties of E-AlMgSi (Aldrey) aluminum semiconductor alloy
Authors: Ganiev Izatullo N. , Abulakov Aslam P. , Jayloev Jamshed H. , Yakubov Umarali Sh. , Safarov Amirsho G. , Abulkhaev Vladimir Dz.
Published: March 2021

The economic feasibility of using aluminum as a conductive material is explained by the favorable ratio of its cost to the cost of copper. In addition, one should take into account that the cost of aluminum has remained virtually unchanged for many years.

When using conductive aluminum alloys for the manufacture of thin wire, winding wire, etc., certain difficulties may arise in connection with their insufficient strength and a small number of kinks before fracture. Aluminum alloys have been developed in recent years which even in a soft state have strength characteristics that allow them to be used as a conductive material.

The electrochemical industry is one of the promising application fields of aluminum. E-AlMgSi (Aldrey) conductor aluminum alloys represent this group of alloys. This work presents data on the temperature dependence of heat capacity, heat conductivity and thermodynamic functions of the E-AlMgSi (Aldrey) aluminum alloy doped with bismuth. The studies have been carried out in "cooling" mode. It has been shown that the heat capacity and thermodynamic functions of the E-AlMgSi (Aldrey) aluminum alloy doped with bismuth increase with temperature and the Gibbs energy decreases. Bismuth additions of up to 1 wt.% reduce the heat capacity, heat conductivity, enthalpy and entropy of the initial alloy and increase the Gibbs energy.
ACTH6-9-PGP improves memory consolidation processes in rats
Authors: Dodonova Svetlana A. , Bobyntsev Igor’ I. , Belykh Andrey E. , Vorvul’ Anton O.
Published: March 2021

Introduction: The His-Phe-Arg-Trp sequence corresponding to the 6-9th amino acid residue of the adrenocorticotropic hormone molecule (ACTH6-9) is the critical pharmacophore of all endogenous melanocortin receptor agonists. In order to effects prolongation it may be stabilized by the addition of the amino acid sequence Pro-Gly-Pro (PGP) to the C-terminus. The aim of this work was to study the effect of ACTH6-9-PGP (HFRWPGP) on the processes of memory consolidation in the model of passive avoidance conditioning in comparison with ACTH4-7-PGP effects.

Materials and methods: The study was carried out on the model of passive avoidance conditioning. The effects of ACTH6-9-PGP were studied after its intraperitoneal injection to male Wistar rats at doses of 0.5, 5, 50, 150, and 450 μg/kg 15 minutes before the experiment, whereas the effects of ACTH4-7-PGP– under the similar conditions at doses of 50, 150, and 450 μg/kg.

Results and discussion: It was found that ACTH6-9-PGP had a pronounced stimulating effect on the memory consolidation process in the dose range from 0.5 μg/kg to 150 μg/kg, significantly increasing the latent period of an animal entering the dark chamber. Administration of ACTH4-7-PGP led to an improvement in the consolidation processes of the acquired conditioned reflex at the doses of 50 μg/kg and 450 μg/kg.

Conclusion: The range of effective doses of ACTH6-9-PGP is lower than that of ACTH4-7-PGP, which indicates the greater activity of HFRWPGP sequence in relation to memory consolidation processes and allows considering this peptide as a promising molecule for creating nootropic pharmacological drugs.
Gonadal development and sexuality of Larkinia grandis (Arcida: Arcidae) inhabiting southeastern Gulf of California
Authors: Sotelo-Gonzalez Maria I. , García-Ulloa Manuel , Góngora-Gómez Andrés M. , Salcido-Guevara Luis A. , Arzola-González Juan F. , Sepúlveda Carlos H. , Sánchez-Cárdenas Rebeca
Published: March 2021

Larkinia grandis (Broderip & G.B. Sowerby I, 1829), an important fishing resource for Mexican communities, is an Arcidae clam. It is also considered a species with aquaculture potential. In this work we investigated the gonadal phases and sexuality in a population of L. grandis in the Gulf of California. Our findings support the hypothesis that there is one male per female in the population studied. It also documents that the shape, position and color of the gonads of L. grandis are consistent with observations in other Arcidae species. Additionally, five gonadal phases are differentiated and described in males and females (development, mature, spawning, post-spawning and resting), with a noticeable presence of brown cells during post-spawning and the onset of the resting phase, suggesting that those cells are involved in the reabsorption of remnants. Additionally, asynchronous gametogenesis in males, synchronic gametogenesis in females and batch spawning are defined. The results of this contribution can be used in the efforts to protect this bivalve.
Rivalités de puissance, idéologies et multilatéralisme
Authors: de Montbrial Thierry
Published: March 2021

Les temps actuels sont turbulents avec des puissances impériales aux ambitions contradictoires et en rivalité, notamment sur le plan idéologique. La Chine se veut la première puissance mondiale d’ici 2049. La France doit poursuivre ses efforts pour que le projet européen sorte renforcé et propose un modèle cohérent de développement.
Easy-Weigh-Out: Design and Implementation of Internet of Things-based Smart Luggage System
Authors: Farooq Mohammad Haasin , Zain Muhammad , Khalid Muhammad Bilal , Zafar Saima
Published: March 2021

The Internet of Things (IoT) has dominated the digital world by enabling thousands of physical devices to communicate with each other and share useful data over the Internet. With use cases spanning every sphere of modern life, the IoT is all set to revolutionize the traveling sector by extending services associated with safety, security, surveillance, tracking, comfort, and a lot more. This paper presents the design and implementation of a prototype Easy-Weigh-Out, based on the principles of the IoT which enables a user to run Android-based mobile application and view the weight of luggage and track its location without any contact with it. The hardware of the system is built around Arduino UNO microcontroller which interfaces with a load cell (20 kg) via A/D converter and a NEO-6M Global Positioning System (GPS) module for tracking of the bag. The system uploads data to a Cloud server using ESP8266 Wi-Fi module. Our results show the real-time weight and tracking of the bag at a click of a button as well as long-term data logging.
Development of an e-Coaching Framework to Promote Sleep Hygiene Using Machine Learning
Authors: Laflor Arturo , Vazquez-Briseno Mabel , Murillo-Munoz Fernanda
Published: March 2021

Computational sciences have gradually allowed scientists to develop novel technological projects to promote a healthy way of life. Most efforts have focus in promoting healthy diets and physical activity. Sleeping is also a crucial activity for humans. Poor sleep quality has adverse effects on health and might lead to physical and mental deterioration. Many computer systems have been used to measure sleep quantity and quality; however, there are few efforts to guide users about aspects that can influence sleeping. Sleep hygiene is a concept that allows controlling sleep-related habits and promoting good sleep quality; unfortunately, modern lifestyles can cause people to adopt wrong habits without being aware of their impact on sleep quality. This work describes a framework developed to guide user’s during the day in order to achieve good sleep quality during sleep time. A set of sleep hygiene factors (SHFs) intended to control hours before going to sleep was defined. The framework identifies personal SHFs using machine learning algorithms; furthermore, a new algorithm was designed to improve results. The framework also includes a mobile persuasive system to encourage users to control personal SHFs.
Utopian B-School Classroom Where Expectation Meets Reality
Authors: Lakhera Sonali
Published: March 2021

The supremacy of some business schools like Harvard and IIMs in the ranking ladder makes them desirable to the students as compared to the clusters down the ladder. The result is a greater number of admissions in the former category as compared to the latter. The question that arises is, What makes the top-ranking institutions a class apart? The answer is, the creation of the product that is a class apart. The chapter discusses various means including the pedagogy and curriculum to make the business school classroom a conducive environment to create an elite class of future managers and entrepreneurs. The main objectives of this study are to understand the differences in the students and the need for reinventing the pedagogy as to suit the needs of individual student thus converting the conventional classrooms into utopian classrooms for them. The chapter also explains the importance and attributes of a good curriculum in a business school.
Developing Cultural Competence
Authors: Smith Erika Cornelius
Published: March 2021

The growing popularity of short-term study abroad and faculty-led immersion offer scholars and educators a new opportunity to study the impact of cross-cultural experiential learning practices on fostering cross-cultural competency among business students. Rising foreign direct investment, international trade, the growing significance of emerging markets, and other socio-political elements of globalization are reshaping 21st century business practices. Pedagogies of business education, including sales and marketing education, must adapt to these changes and provide an emphasis on cross-cultural understanding and its impact on business decision making, along with fostering skills for cultural sensitivity. This article will review two relevant theoretical frameworks, transformative learning theory, and experiential learning theory, which describe the processes by which students develop intercultural competence, particularly with respect to faculty-led, short-term study immersion programs. It will outline a series of best practices for designing, measuring, and implementing such programs in higher education and conclude with brief recommendations for future research.
Plowing a Fertile Ground for Transformative Management Education
Authors: Castrillon-Orrego Sergio A.
Published: March 2021

This article argues in favor of a holistic and ethically grounded educational framework for managers, oriented to fine-tune business with developmental requirements. Considering the multiple environmental, social, and economic challenges the world faces today, business goals are approached in terms of genuine humankind developmental obligations. Acknowledging the urgent need to prevent some eschatological scenarios, a critical and mindful methodology is used to diagnose, evaluate and reorient the role of business and management education. Sustainable development goals (SDGs) are proposed as beacons to channel and ethically assess the potential of business to contribute in concrete terms to integral development, using them as prisms through which comprehension, criticisms and transformations can be articulated.
Learning Entrepreneurship in Higher Education Through Flow Theory and FLIGBY Game
Authors: Almeida Fernando , Buzády Zoltán
Published: March 2021

This article performs an exploratory study of the potential of flow theory and FLIGBY game to contribute to develop entrepreneurship competencies among higher education students. For this purpose, this study considers the use of a focus group consisting of eight students enrolled in the entrepreneurship course in a higher educational institution in Portugal, in which students for two months explored FLIGBY. The results obtained allowed us to conclude that FLIGBY was also suitable to be explored in the context of entrepreneurship classes. Students emphasized the potential of the game to be applied for training of management skills, the recognition of their leadership skills, and the exploration of new approaches to the management challenges. Finally, it should be noted that the benefits offered by FLIGBY were experienced differently by students with professional experience in IT and management fields. Those students emphasized the application of the game to the real world and the potential offered for FLIGBY for allowing students to explore new skills and actions.
OER and Management Education in India
Authors: Agrawal Neeti
Published: March 2021

This chapter discusses the strategic perspective of OER in Management Education specifically in India. The study is exploratory and descriptive in nature and is based more on the secondary data. The primary data is in the form of informal feedback from the faculty and academic associates of Business Management in the State Open Universities having Management Departments/Schools in India. The primary data has been gathered using awareness, use, innovation methods and content delivery as the basic parameters for the purpose of study. The data was collected using informal questionnaire. The findings of the study show that there is limited awareness regarding the concept and theory of OER and therefore the use of the resource are not as expected. The study is limited to the Distance Learning Universities and the conventional Universities offering distance education have been omitted.
Business Literacy Education in the Digital Age
Authors: Geylani Ozlem
Published: March 2021

The digital world currently presents many learning tools and knowledge sources about business literacy. Considering today's learners, digital improvements suggest time-saving learning tools and processes for individual or mass learning activities. Since the industrial age and through the knowledge age, we still use and improve network elements in the digital age. Computers, tablets, televisions, cell phones are instantly becoming the distributors of knowledge in or out of spaces. However, learners in the digital age by the freedom of internet connection points may easily reach to videos, podcasts, or especially, to games that are based on individual learning activities. In respect to the aim of this chapter, an overview is targeted about the understanding of business literacy in the digital age, and it also mentions financial literacy as a supporting literature review. The research finally proposes a realization on the dilemma of the abundance of the knowledge in business and financial literacy leaving out the scarcity of digital tools and sources.
Cross-Cultural Business Education
Authors: Maheshkar Chandan , Sharma Vinod
Published: March 2021

Today, the scenario of cross-cultural businesses has made it incomparable to the earlier practices as well as an academic phenomenon, due to increasing internationalization and immigration in global job markets. The chapter attempts to notify the significance of culture in business and need for cross-cultural business awareness. It examines how the inclusion of cross-cultural perspectives into business practices will help to create a dynamic environment that facilitates enhanced competence to companies operating across cultures. This chapter has been developed in two parts. In its first part, the chapter discusses the cross-cultural problems and their possible solutions to effectively manage the cultural diversity. In the second part of the chapter, a model, Global Industry Academia (GIA) framework of business education has been introduced. This model enables the B-schools to explore essential constituents of contextual paradigms of change and interpret the complexities of business practices in diverse settings to develop cross-culturally sensitive managers of tomorrow.
Multilingual Education for International Business
Authors: Díaz Juan Carlos , Aguilar-Barrientos Sara , Schmidt Heiko Marc
Published: March 2021

Education for future international business (IB) practitioners must be linked to a clear multilingual and multicultural approach. In this chapter, the authors present a case of study of the setup, aspects, and implementations of an IB undergraduate program carried out mostly in a foreign language (English). The program here presented also requires students to acquire a third language, and thus has become the first IB program of its kind in Colombia. The consequences, challenges, and opportunities derived from this multilingual approach to business education are then discussed in this chapter. Through data collected from the study program, it is possible to draw attention to the link between linguistic skills and academic performance, which leads to a short overview of the cognitive correlates to multilingualism and the learning process aspects associated with the use of a foreign language in the classroom. Finally, the authors draft some recommendations for educators and professionals designing IB study programs with a multilingual approach.
Teaching and Learning Cultural Metacognition in Marketing and Sales Education
Authors: Phelan James E.
Published: March 2021

Thinking about cultural assumptions, referred to as cultural metacognition, can help increase awareness, build trust, and create successful marketing and sales outcomes. The role of cultural metacognition in marketing and sales education helps students build a cultural metacognition knowledge base and promotes appreciation of its importance and effect on business enhancement. The context of this article will help amplify knowledge, ideas, and skills necessary to connect various issues of teaching and learning cultural metacognition. This article will facilitate business educators' teaching practices that foster learning cultural metacognition and its effects on marketing and sales. The ultimate goal is to help elevate teaching, learning, and assessment practices related to the topic of cultural metacognition in marketing and sales education.
Educational Programs in Social Entrepreneurship
Authors: Blagov Yury Evgenievich , Aray Yulia Nikolaevna
Published: March 2021

The chapter presents a review of Russian and international experience in implementing educational programs in the area of social entrepreneurship. The authors analyze the specifics of the emergence and development of these programs, which reflect the dualism of the essence of social entrepreneurship. The chapter provides a classification of programs on the global market of business education by their types and forms of implementation. The authors list the peculiarities of education in the sphere of social entrepreneurship in Russia. They examine, in detail, the complementary professional in-service training program called “Project Management for Social Entrepreneurs,” which is administered in the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg State University with the support of the Citi Foundation since 2012. They conclude that it is important to teach business leaders attending MBA/EMBA programs to help them shape social entrepreneurship competencies aimed at creating shared value.
The Effects of Mistreating Management Variability on Work Attitudes and Behaviors
Authors: Maroofi Fakhraddin , Kahrarian Fatemeh
Published: March 2021

The finding of this research indicates that individuals in a work unit are likely to develop negative attitudes and engage in deviate behaviors in response to a manager who is more mistreating toward some unit members but not toward others. These effects were found to be strong after explaining for each individual's personal experience of misuse from the manager. The findings are significant because they highlight the importance of mistreating management variability as a distinct unit-level construct. In sum, the findings highlight the importance of examining mistreating management at both the individual and unit levels of analyzes. This research shows that, in a work unit, non-targeted members are caused some of these negative outcomes because they are the unfair interpersonal treatment of others. Organizations should educate managers on how contradictory interpersonal treatment of subordinates impacts the fairness of the work unit and the negative implication on both targeted and non-targeted subordinates.
Entrepreneurship Education in Engineering Curriculum
Authors: Mani Mukta
Published: March 2021

Entrepreneurship education programs are commonly offered in business schools, but recently, the educationists have started recognizing the need for such programs in engineering education. This chapter is targeted to empirically explore the suitability of entrepreneurship education in engineering curriculum from the perspective of students. The study attempts to unearth the levels of willingness of engineering students to take entrepreneurial activities and investigate the factors that motivate them and the factors that deter them to go for entrepreneurship. The analysis revealed that the students are highly interested in taking entrepreneurship as a career option because of some intrinsic motivating factors such as being their own boss, chasing their dreams. They consider decision-making skills, risk-taking capacity, creativity, communication skills, and ability to prepare business plan are the most important skills. However, lack of experience and funds deter them. The right kind of entrepreneurship education programs can promote more entrepreneurial activities among the engineering students.
Employability Skills in Higher Education Sector in India
Authors: Meenambigai R. , Saravanakumar N. , Ambeth I. , Pragadheeswari R. , Thiyagarajan P.
Published: March 2021

The youth of India constitutes 28 percent of the Country's population and never before have there been so many young people; never again is there likely to be such potential for economic and social progress. How we meet the needs and aspirations of young people will define the common future. India as a developing Country needs to invest heavily in young people's education and health and protect their rights. The formal system of skilled workforce creation by way of Industrial Training Institutes/ Industrial schools produces only 2 percent people. It is very meager when compared to the skilled workforce of 47 percent in China and 80 percent in Japan. Livelihood opportunities are affected by supply and demand mismatch. On the supply side, India is failing to create enough job opportunities; and on the demand side, professionals entering the job market are lacking in skill sets. This results to the rising unemployment rates along with low employability issues. Skilling is the key to unlock this mismatch between the existing educational scenario and the industrial requirement.
The Role of a Chief Mission Officer in Maintaining Mission in Schools and Colleges of Business
Authors: Burns David J. , Mooney Debra K. , Schwaig Kathy S.
Published: March 2021

In the present competitive environment, it is becoming increasingly important for schools and colleges of business to establish distinctive identities to differentiate themselves from their competition and to provide unique offerings to best prepare their students to be adept contributors in their future careers. The missions of schools and colleges of business play a key role in this endeavor. Once identified, however, maintaining a unique identity can be more difficult than initially establishing one. This chapter proposes the use of chief mission officers (CMOs) as key individuals or groups of individuals as a means to ensure continuing integrity of the mission of a school or college of business to facilitate the maintenance of a distinct position in the marketplace.
Research, Theories, and Pedagogical Practices of Cultural Metacognition in Cross-Cultural Business Education
Authors: Phelan James E.
Published: March 2021

Cultural metacognition, or thinking about cultural assumptions, can help increase awareness, build trust, and create successful business outcomes. The role of cultural metacognition in business is vital. This chapter will enable building a cultural metacognition knowledge base, and promote appreciation of its importance and effect on business enhancement. The context of this chapter will amplify knowledge, ideas, and skills necessary to connect various issues of teaching and learning cultural metacognition in cross-cultural environments. The chapter will facilitate business educators' teaching practices that foster learning cultural metacognition and its effects on cross-cultural business practices. In addition, it includes discussion of the facts related to tools for developing metacognition skills, as well as suggestions for how to fill the gap between theoretical and practical implications. The ultimate goal is to help elevate teaching, learning practices, and research related to the topic of cultural metacognition in cross-cultural business education.
Bridging the Academic-Practitioner Divide in Marketing
Authors: Morgado Andre Vilares
Published: March 2021

In recent years, marketing practice has increased in complexity, becoming more challenging. This situation demands that marketing professionals be better prepared to face the difficulties of the market. Business schools play a key role in training marketing professionals. However, there is a strong divide between the expectations held by marketing professionals and those held in academia. This chapter considers this phenomenon from a theoretical point of view and explores its causes. The author argues that business schools are able to play a key role in bridging theory and practice in marketing. The chapter closes by offering several suggestions for how business schools might increase the relevance of marketing research while reducing the gap between marketing theory and practice. In particular, the chapter offers a set of policies that business schools can implement in order to close this gap.
Zakat and the Performance of Islamic Banks
Authors: Haron Razali , Mohamed Barre Galad , Othman Anwar Hasan Abdullah
Published: March 2021

The objective of this study is to examine the performance of Islamic banks (IBs) in Malaysia based on zakat (ZOA and ZOE) and ROA and ROE. This is to effectively understand the factors influencing the performance of IBs in Malaysia. The study employs a balanced panel of 15 IBs for the period 2009-2018 using the System-GMM. The study provides justifications why zakat is the appropriate measurement for IBs' performance. The study concludes that zakat is an appropriate performance measurement to explain the performance of IBs. This is because zakat is able to explain and truly reflects the performance of IBs, and as such, IBs should pay more zakat as they generate more profit. Zakat therefore has a role to contribute to Islamic social finance in the context of IBs. Furthermore, IBs have indispensable roles in supporting the economy of a country through their liquidity creation and risk transformation functions.
Delineating the Islamic Social Elements in Takaful
Authors: Muhammad Nasir Nur I'ffah , Hassan Rusni
Published: March 2021

During the past decades, much attention has been given to the development and growth of the commercial and profitable side of takaful (takaful al-tijari), whereby this side of takaful focuses primarily on the personal benefits or interests of takaful participants. This excludes the poor as well as the vulnerable in society at large due to the fact that they are not the takaful participants and do not contribute to the overall tabarru' fund. Having said so, the spirit that underlies these operational takaful efforts should not be overlooked. The takaful participants are in fact part of the society themselves; therefore, ensuring the well-being of the lives of others should be considered as an ibadah, and that responsibility should be upheld by all especially Muslims. This study aims to explore the social element in commercial takaful (takaful al-tijari) and how it can be amplified to contribute to the Islamic social finance ecosystem. This study adopts desk research as its methodology, where relevant past works of literature of secondary data such as books, journal articles, reports, and websites are reviewed and interpreted. This study appears as an attempt to discuss and highlight the opportunities for commercial takaful to contribute further to the Islamic social finance ecosystem. Findings of this study suggest that there is room for commercial takaful to contribute further to the Islamic social finance ecosystem.
A Framework for Observing Digital Marketplace
Authors: Almunawar Mohammad Nabil , Anshari Muhammad , Lim Syamimi Ariff
Published: March 2021

A digital marketplace is a virtual platform that creates values by managing interactions and transactions among participants in a multi-sided network. It creates a business ecosystem to support all participants, especially buyers and sellers, to transact efficiently and conveniently. Lately, digital marketplaces have created significant impact and disruption in many industries all over the world. As digital marketplace firms provide innovative, efficient business models as well as supportive business ecosystems, they may disrupt conventional firms that rely on physical interactions. Equipped with digital tools for transactions and interactions and supported by digital business ecosystems, digital marketplace firms can grow quickly and hence pose a serious threat to conventional firms. This paper discusses foundation theories related to digital marketplace such as transaction cost economy, network externalities, two-sided markets, and value network and uses these theories to construct a framework for observing digital marketplace.
Direction and Speed Control of DC Motor Using Raspberry PI and Python-Based GUI
Authors: Kolya Anup Kumar , Mondal Debasish , Ghosh Alokesh , Basu Subhashree
Published: March 2021

This paper presents the design and implementation of control strategy for both the speed and direction of a direct current (DC) motor using Android-based application in smart phone. The Raspberry Pi 3 with a motor driver controller has been used to implement the control action via Python-based user-defined programming. The Android application has been developed using Android Developer Tools (ADT) in Java platform. The Android apps work like a client and communicates with Raspberry Pi through wi-fi connectivity. Finally, a small graphical user interface (GUI) has been created in Python in order to interface and control the motor with buttons in GUI. The advantages of GUI are that it is attractive, user friendly, and even a layman can work with the application developed in GUI.
Unsupervised Clustering for Optimal Locality Detection
Authors: Cherukuri Praneet Amul Akash , Allagadda Bala Sai , Konda Anil Kumar Reddy
Published: March 2021

Data science is the most sought over domain in today's world and has been known for its accurate decision-making capabilities, delivering recommendations that have the best profits and much more. The demand for this analysis is the growing technology and population that opens a new dimension of demands leading to the world crisis in every sector. Clustering is the part that helps in making these decisions more accurate and has been evolving through time. Impacts of neighborhoods and localities for businesses are often marked by many factors. To understand the factors and outline them to the proper perspective, through this research the authors performed perspective data cleaning, wrangling, visualization to understand the factors and cluster them for a much prospective decision-making process.
Business as Usual or Digital Mechanisms for Change?
Authors: Rosedale Naomi Alexandra , Jesson Rebecca Ngaire , McNaughton Stuart
Published: March 2021

Mathematics classrooms have a long history of what has been termed ‘unidimensional' character: a proclivity for student practice routines and teachers as experts and keepers of knowledge. This study investigates affordances of student-created digital learning objects (SC-DLOs) as transformative, design-for-learning practices in the hands of students. Historical distinctions are drawn between digital learning objects (DLOs) and digital learning artefacts (DLAs) primarily for teacher assessment of student learning. SC-DLOs are conceived as students' design for learning for the peer learning community. Hence, SC-DLOs have additional and different learning potential that aligns with 21st century skill development. A corpus of mathematics SC-DLOs (n=155) were analysed from learner blogs (Year 7-8) in a 1:1 digital initiative in New Zealand. A mixed-methods approach was used to investigate features of students' multimodal design for learning. A framework of implications informs and problematises understandings of transformative digital creation by students in mathematics.
Mobile Phones-Assisted Practice and Note-Taking in Foreign Language Oral Production
Authors: Durán-Bautista Diana C. , Huertas-Malagón Sandra Patricia
Published: March 2021

In foreign language instruction, students are often exposed to computer-mediated testing in international exams and language courses; however, regular classrooms are not equipped with computer labs to offer a lesson coherent with that testing procedure. To fill this gap, mobile-assisted language learning emerges as a portable option for computer-mediated learning and testing. Hence, this action research aims to study the implementation of mobile phones-assisted practice, combined with note-taking, as test-wise and test-management strategies, to tackle the needs of 218 participants who were taking an English as a foreign language program at a Colombian university. In the diagnostic stage, learners expressed that the most difficult computer-assessed skill was speaking, due to lack of confidence and suitable strategies. Findings revealed an improvement in students' oral performance, collaboration levels, and high acceptance of mobile phones-assisted practice as a test preparation tool that facilitates autonomy, metacognition, and peer-feedback.
Optimization of Test Cases in Object-Oriented Systems Using Fractional-SMO
Authors: Panigrahi Satya Sobhan , Jena Ajay Kumar
Published: March 2021

This paper introduces the technique to select the test cases from the unified modeling language (UML) behavioral diagram. The UML behavioral diagram describes the boundary, structure, and behavior of the system that is fed as input for generating the graph. The graph is constructed by assigning the weights, nodes, and edges. Then, test case sequences are created from the graph with minimal fitness value. Then, the optimal sequences are selected from the proposed fractional-spider monkey optimization (fractional-SMO). The developed fractional-SMO is designed by integrating fractional calculus and SMO. Thus, the efficient test cases are selected based on the optimization algorithm that uses fitness parameters, like coverage and fault. Simulations are performed via five synthetic UML diagrams taken from the dataset. The performance of the proposed technique is computed using coverage and the number of test cases. The maximal coverage of 49 and the minimal number of test cases as 2,562 indicate the superiority of the proposed technique.
Dung-beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) assemblage in two livestock production systems in a southern Mexican High Plateau semiarid ecosystem
Authors: Hernández Benjamín , Barragán-Ramírez José L. , Navarrete-Heredia José L. , Quiroz-Rocha Georgina Adriana , Vásquez-Bolaños Miguel
Published: March 2021

In this work, we used measures of diversity and biogeographic patterns to evaluate the response of dung-beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) at two cattle ranches with different management systems on the southern Mexican High Plateau. The number of individuals and biomass were used as the primary diversity attributes of the assemblage. The 1D and 2D true diversity indexes of these attributes were examined, and the attributes were classified according to Halffter’s biogeographical patterns. In total, 1375 Scarabaeinae adults were collected, representing 11 species and seven genera. Site management regime did not significantly affect species richness or assemblage structure when the number of individuals was considered. However, species diversity and biomass turnover were higher in the system with holistic management than in that with semitechnified management. The proportions of Halffter’s biogeographical patterns also differed between the two production systems. In conclusion, the location under holistic management, despite having cattle production, contained a significant proportion of the Scarabaeinae species that are typical of the Mexican High Plateau. In contrast, the semitechnified system negatively impacted beetle abundance, leading to half the individuals, the dominance of species with high biomass, and the absence of groups typical of the region.
A prospective randomized double-blinded study of dexmedetomidine versus propofol infusion for orbital surgeries
Authors: Mukherjee Bipasha , Backiavathy Varsha , Sujatha R.
Published: March 2021

PURPOSE:

Orbital surgeries are traditionally taken up under general anesthesia. Local anesthesia combined with moderate sedation can also be considered as an alternative option. This study was performed to compare the safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine and propofol infusion for orbital surgeries under local anesthesia.

METHODS:

Twenty patients undergoing orbital surgery by a single surgeon were enrolled in this prospective randomized study. Selected patients were randomly administered dexmedetomidine (Group D) or propofol (Group P). Hemodynamic and respiratory effects, sedation levels, recovery profile, analgesic properties, and satisfaction levels of the patients and the surgeon were assessed.

RESULTS:

There was a significant decrease in mean arterial pressures following drug administration compared to initial measurements in both the groups. However, a statistically significant decrease in heart rate was observed only in Group P. The sedation score at the end of loading dose was 3.3 ± 0.82 in Group D and 2.5 ± 0.52 in Group P and this difference was also statistically significant (P value-0.027). The surgeon's satisfaction score was 6.5 ± 0.71 in Group D and 5.6 ± 1.07 in Group P (P value – 0.045). There were no statistically significant differences observed in patients' satisfaction, pain, and anxiety scores in either group. No major hemodynamic changes or complications were noted in either of the groups.

CONCLUSION:

Dexmedetomidine, in comparison to propofol, provides better sedation levels with good hemodynamic stability. It also offers better surgeon satisfaction, thus providing a useful alternative for general anesthesia in selective patients undergoing orbital surgery.
Inverting peripheral hyperopic defocus into myopic defocus among myopic schoolchildren using addition power of multifocal contact lens
Authors: Allinjawi Kareem , Kaur Sharanjeet , Akhir Saadah M. , Mutalib Haliza A.
Published: March 2021

PURPOSE:

The purpose was to determine the minimum near-addition power needed using Proclear® multifocal D-Design contact lens (adds: +1.50 D, +2.50 D, +3.00 D, and +3.50 D) to invert the pattern of relative hyperopic defocus in the peripheral retina into relative myopic defocus among the eyes of myopic schoolchildren.

METHODS:

Twenty-seven right eyes (24 females and 3 males) of 27 myopic schoolchildren aged between 13 and 15 years were included in this study. The measurements of central refraction, peripheral refraction (between 35° temporal and 35° nasal visual field in 5° steps), and lag of accommodation were conducted using the Grand-Seiko WR-5100K open-field autorefractometer initially without correction (WC), followed by with correction using four different addition powers of Proclear® multifocal D-Design contact lens in random sequence. Axial length was measured using a handheld probe ultrasound A-scan (Tomey AL-2000).

RESULTS:

The relative peripheral refractive error showed high hyperopic defocus of +1.08 ± 1.24 D at 35° nasal and +1.06 ± 1.06 D at 35° temporal visual field WC. All Proclear multifocal contact lenses (MFCLs) decreased the peripheral hyperopic defocus with increasing addition powers (F [2.938, 47.001] = 13.317, P < 0.001). However, only +3.00 D addition and +3.50 D addition (P = 0.001) could invert the peripheral hyperopic defocus into peripheral myopic defocus. Apart from that, the +3.00 D addition lens showed the lowest lag of accommodation (+1.10 ± 0.83 D) among the other MFCL adds (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION:

A +3.00 D addition Proclear MFCL is the optimal addition power that can invert the pattern of peripheral hyperopic defocus into myopic defocus.
Traumatic total iridectomy with “pseudo-iris”
Authors: Rocha-de-Lossada Carlos , Marina Rodriguez-Calvo-de-Mora , Rahul Rachwani , Davide Borroni , Álvaro Santos O. , Carlos Hernando-Ayala
Published: March 2021

Blunt trauma may cause a wound in the site of the cataract incision in patients that have received this surgery, even decades after the procedure. The opening of the incision seems to avoid globe rupture, acting as a “liberating valve” We report a case of a 92-year-old woman with advanced dry macular degeneration who is referred to our department after suffering a blunt trauma in her left eye with a nightstand. She was diagnosed of a traumatic total iridectomy due to iris extrusion through a 2.75 mm cataract incision after injury and vitreous hemorrhage, sparing an intact intraocular lens and capsular bag, as well as peripheral remnants of cortical material in the capsular bag and anterior capsule opacity resembling ”pseudoiris“. After the vitreous hemorrhage was completely resolved she referred no photophobia. Consequently, although a bad visual acuity of the patient could mitigate patient's photophobia, we believed that her “pseudoiris” plays an important role in diminishing the possible symptoms of photophobia.
Evaluation and management consideration for children who are visually impaired
Authors: Shahid Khadija S. , Wilkinson Mark E.
Published: March 2021

Clinical low vision evaluations provided by optometrists or ophthalmologists trained and experienced in low vision rehabilitation care should be recommended for all children with a visual impairment, regardless of the cause of their vision loss, their age or the severity of their additional disabilities. This article discusses an effective model for pediatric vision rehabilitation service.
Depression
Authors: Merchant Heena , Khar Prerna Balkrihsen
Published: March 2021

Depression in men and women presents differently and there are various factors governing this. This article aims to elucidate these differences so that the management approach can be adopted as required and the morbidity be reduced.
Removal of massive subretinal organized blood clot with fragmatome
Authors: Chen San-Ni , Wu Alice C.
Published: March 2021

The purpose of the study was to describe using fragmatome in removing subretinal organized blood clot in eyes of age-related macular degeneration and massive subretinal hemorrhage. This study was an interventional, consecutive case series. Patients with massive subretinal hemorrhage with total or subtotal retinal detachment from age-related macular degeneration and organized subretinal blood clot were managed by creating large retinectomy. The less organized blood was removed with vitrector. The subretinal organized blood clot was removed by fragmatome. The retina was reattached with perfluorocarbon liquid, and laser was applied at the margin of retinectomy. Silicon oil was infused at the end of surgery. All patients had subretinal blood totally or subtotally removed. The organized blood clot, which was difficult to be removed by vitrector was easily and efficiently removed by fragmatome. Visual acuity improved in all eyes, and retina was well attached under silicon oil. Fragmatome offers a more efficient way in removing organized blood clot, which will much shorten the duration of operation.
مخاطر الإشعاع وتقييم مخاطر الإصابة بالسرطان في رواسب بحيرة التمساح، مصر
Authors: هشام محمود حامد أبوالزقالي هشام محمود حامد أبوالزقالي
Published: March 2021

. بحيرة التمساح من أكثر البحيرات إنتاجا للأسماك في مصر. تقع في منتصف قناة السويس وتبلغ مساحتها حوالي 16 كيلومتر مربع. تستقبل البحيرة حوالي 833000 متر مكعب يوميًا من مياه الصرف الصحي ومخلفات الصرف الصحي من الزراعة والصناعة والمصارف المنزلية. تركيزات نشاط النويدات المشعة الطبيعية؛ تم قياس 238U و232Th و 40K باستخدام مقياس الطيف الضوئي لأشعة جاما في 24 محطة تغطي كامل مساحة البحيرة والخليج الغربي. متوسط الأنشطة 238U و232Th و 40K كانت: 21.66 ± 11.20 و21.42 ± 11.68 و200.30 ± 141.10 بيكريل / كغ على التوالي. ومتوسطات عوامل الخطر الإشعاعي؛ معدل الجرعة الممتصة والفعالة (D)، المكافئ السنوي للجرعة الفعالة (AEDE)، ومكافئ الراديوم (Raeq)، ومؤشر الخطر الخارجي (Hex)، ومؤشر المستوى التمثيلي (I?r)؛ هي: 30.85 nGy h-1 و37.84 ?Sv/y و67.02 Bq/kg و0.18 (أقل من الوحدة) و0.23 على التوالي. كما أظهرت أنماط التوزيع اختلافات كبيرة في أنشطة النويدات المشعة ومعلمات الخطر بين المحطات التي تم فحصها. وأظهرت محطات الخليج الغربي ومنطقة المسار المترابطة بين الخليج والبحيرة أنشطة النويدات المشعة العالية، ومخاطر الإشعاع العالية التي تشير إلى نفايات الصرف الصحي، وجريان مياه الصرف الصحي هي المصادر الأساسية لأنشطة النويدات المشعة الطبيعية العالية ومخاطر الإشعاع. كان متوسط خطر الإصابة بالسرطان مدى الحياة (ELCR) 132.43 × 10-6 أقل بكثير من المتوسط العالمي. وبلغ أعلى مستوى تم تسجيله من ELCR 308.38 × 10-6، وهو ما لوحظ في منطقة الارتباط بين الخليج والبحيرة بعيدًا عن محطات الصيد والمناطق الترفيهية. أشارت التحليلات الإحصائية إلى أن النويدات المشعة 238U و232Th هي مصادر مخاطر الإشعاع المرتفعة مع شدة متساوية تقريبًا.
التوصيف الجزئي لعترات الفيبريوا المعزولة من يرقات السردين Spratelloides delicatulus (Pisces: Clupeida) المصابة في الطبيعة بالبحر الأحمر
Authors: محمود هاشم محمود هاشم
Published: March 2021

تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى بحث معدل الإصابة البكتريا في المراحل الأولى لسمكة السردين (سبراتللويدس دليكاتيليس) بالبحر الأحمر. حيث تم تجميع يرقات الأسماك موسميًا باستخدام الشبكة الضوئية من شواطئ البحر الأحمر أمام المعهد القومي لعلوم البحار والمصائد NIOF بالغردقة بمصر من يناير حتى ديسمبر 2018م. وقد تم إجراء الفحص الإكلينيكي والبكتريولوجي لتحديد معدل إصابة اليرقات التي تم تجميعها، وقد تم تعريف البكتريا المعزولة باستخدام الخوص المورفولوجية والبيوكيميائية على أنها فيبريو الجنوليتكس (20?) وفيبريو فلنفكس (18.6?) وفيبريو بارهيموليتكس (21.4?) وفيبريو هارفياى (22.9?) وفيبريو كولرا (11.4?) وفيبريو غير معرفة النوع (5.7?)، إضافة إلى ذلك تم تعريف هذه العترات البكترية باستخدام البيولوجيا الجزيئية باستخدام بريمرات مختلفة ونوعية لجينات الدراوه لأجناس الفيبريو المعرفة سابقا باستخدام الطرق البيو كيميائية، وقد كانت نتائج التعريف متطابقة. وقد خلصت الدراسة أن أجناس الفيبريو مسؤولة عن أغلب حالات العدوة والنفوق في يرقات أسماك السردين (سبراتللويدس دليكاتيليس) بالبحر الأحمر.