bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Currículo de Odontopediatria nos cursos brasileiros de graduação em Odontologia
Authors: Da Costa Vanessa Silva , Wanderley Marcia Turolla , Haddad Ana Estela , Rezende Karla Mayra , Raggio Daniela Prócida , Imparato Jose Carlos , Bönecker Marcelo
Published: August 2020

O objetivo deste estudo foi coletar informações relativas aos conteúdos de Odontopediatria desenvolvidos nos cursos de graduação em Odontologia brasileiros. Para a coleta dos dados foi utilizado um questionário eletrônico, enviado a cada curso com a solicitação de que fosse respondido por um professor da área. Em janeiro de 2017, segundo registros no sistema e-MEC, 372 instituições ofereciam o curso de Odontologia no Brasil. Dessas, 76 responderam que o curso era novo e que esses conteúdos ainda não tinham sido ofertados. Assim, a amostra total foi inicialmente reduzida para 296 instituições, entre as quais 139 responderam o questionário (taxa de resposta=47%). A disciplina de Odontopediatria foi geralmente oferecida em dois semestres (42,4%), com carga horária média de 84,5 horas para atividades teóricas e 34,2 horas para a parte laboratorial. Observou-se que 35,3% dos cursos não possuíam atividades laboratoriais. Sobre o atendimento clínico, 38,1% não atendiam a crianças de 0 a 3 anos e a média de horas de atendimento clínico a crianças maiores de 3 anos foi de 119,3 horas. Os elementos e dimensões aqui tratados devem nortear o aprofundamento das investigações sobre a qualidade da formação no que diz respeito ao perfil generalista por um lado, e por outro, ao currículo da disciplina de Odontopediatria.
Clinical application of short tandem repeat polymorphism analysis in the differential diagnosis of early hydatidiform mole and hydropic abortion
Authors: Wang J. , Chen S.W. , Qin X.Y. , Zheng X.Z. , Wang P. , Cai X.Y.
Published: August 2020

Objective: To determine the clinical differential diagnosis value of short tandem repeat polymorphism (STR) analysis in early hydatidiform moles (HMs) and non-molar gestations. Methods: Four hundred eighty-one patients with suspected HMs were examined using traditional pathology methods and STR analysis. The value of the STR method in distinguishing HMs from non-molar gestations was evaluated. Results: Among 481 patients with suspected HMs, 177 were diagnosed with HMs and 304 with non-molar gestations based on histopathologic examination. The STR genotypic results show that 151 patients were diagnosed with HMs, including 63 complete HMs and 88 partial HMs. Three hundred thirty patients were diagnosed with non-molar gestations, including 43 patients with chromosome abnormalities. Among 63 complete HMs, 56 were monosyllabic and 7 were dispermic. All 88 partial HMs were dispermic. The histopathologic diagnoses in 84 patients were not in agreement with STR analyses. Among the 84 cases, 29 were incorrectly diagnosed with non-molar gestations and the others were incorrectly diagnosed with HMs by histopathologic examinations. The chi-test result demonstrated that the two methods were quite different. Conclusion: STR polymorphism analysis is a rapid, simple, and accurate method that can be utilized for accurate diagnosis of early HMs and hydropic abortions.
Fulfillment of the criteria for diagnosis of cephalo-pelvic disproportion: ACOG guidelines
Authors: Srisukho S. , Srisupundit K. , Tongsong T.
Published: August 2020

Purpose: To determine the proportion of cesarean delivery due to CPD without fulfillment of the criteria for diagnosis. Materials and Methods: The obstetric database, between January 2010 and December 2012, was assessed to identify the records of cesarean delivery due to CPD, and the complete medical records were comprehensively reviewed. The degree of adherence to the guidelines on diagnosis of CPD was determined using the criteria recommended by American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in 2003 compared with that based on the new ACOG 2014 guidelines. Results: During the study period, 475 women underwent cesarean delivery indicated by CPD. The percentages of cases diagnosed with CPD without fulfilling the criteria recommended by ACOG 2003 and ACOG 2014 were 19.37% (92 cases) and 92.42% (432), respectively. Regarding ACOG 2003, cases with non-adherence to the guidelines were mainly associated with diagnosis in the latent phase (55 cases; 11.58%), missed diagnosis for macrosomia in cases of prelabor cesarean section (25 cases; 5.26%), and unfulfilled criteria for diagnosis in the second stage (7 cases; 1.47%). Conclusion: Approximately 19% based on ACOG 2003 guidelines and 92% based on ACOG 2014 guidelines failed to meet the criteria for diagnosis of CPD, suggesting that strengthening diagnosis may reduce a large number of unnecessary cesarean sections.
Methylmalonic acidemia in prenatal diagnosis
Authors: Zhou B.F. , Duan C.X. , Tang D.L.
Published: August 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to report the prenatal diagnosis for methylmalonic acidemia. Materials and Methods: Isolated methylmalonic acidemia was diagnosed by analyzing organic acids in the blood and urine. The specific subtype of methylmalonic acidemia was determined by molecular genetic testing. Prenatal diagnosis for methylmalonic acidemia includes ultrasound examination, conventional karyotyping using cultured amniocytes, chromosomal microarray analysis, and targeted sequencing using uncultured amniocytes. Results: We identified a novel mutation (NM_172250.2; c.491G>A) in the MMAA gene that might be associated with methylmalonic acidemia. The fetus and her father are both carriers of this mutation. Conclusion: A combination of prenatal ultrasound, conventional karyotyping, chromosomal microarray analysis, and target sequencing will provide a more accurate risk assessment for methylmalonic acidemia.
Effect of aminophylline on restoration of spontaneous respiration and recovery profiles during anesthesia without using muscle relaxants in patients undergoing brief gynecological procedure
Authors: Jeon Y.S. , Jun E.H. , Kim J.H. , Choi S.T. , In J.H.
Published: August 2020

Purpose of Investigation: The purpose was to evaluate the effects of aminophylline on returning of spontaneous respiration and recovery profiles during propofol-fentanyl-sevoflurane anesthesia without muscle relaxants in patients undergoing day care gynecological surgery. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six patients were enrolled. Either aminophylline 3 mg/kg (group A) or saline (group C) was administered to each patient. Tidal volume (Vt), respiratory rate (RR), and end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2), apneic time, recovery time, discharge time and modified observer’s assessment of alertness/sedation scale (MOAA/S) were evaluated. Results: Apneic time and recovery time were significantly shorter in Group A than in Group C (P < 0.01). MOAA/S, tidal volume (P = 0.02) and ETCO2 (P = 0.03) were significantly improved in Group A compared with Group C. Conclusion: Aminophylline effectively reduced apneic and recovery time, thereby improving respiratory and recovery profiles during anesthesia with propofol, fentanyl, and sevoflurane in brief day care surgeries.
Neka pitanja suradnje države i katoličke crkve u području kaznenog prava
Authors: Pleić Marija , Vukušić Ivan
Published: August 2020

Predmet je ovog rada analiza odnosa države i Katoličke crkve u području kaznenog prava. Nakon izlaganja o temeljnim načelima odnosa države i Crkve, autori se bave pobliže pitanjem suradnje u kaznenom postupku u odnosu na obvezu prijavljivanja kaznenih djela, obvezu obavještavanja crkvenih vlasti o provođenju istrage protiv klerika te specifičan položaj vjerskog ispovjednika u kaznenom postupku u svojstvu svjedoka. U četvrtom poglavlju ispituju se granice suradnje države i Crkve u kontekstu Kaznenog zakona, konkretno putem analize kaznenih djela neprijavljivanja počinjenog kaznenog djela te pomoći počinitelju nakon počinjenog kaznenog djela. Također, analizira se doseg načela nepovredivosti ispovjedne tajne u kaznenom pravu i odnos prema kaznenom djelu neovlaštenog otkrivanja profesionalne tajne. Autori zaključuju o nužnosti učinkovite međusobne suradnje države i Crkve u slučajevima uključenosti klera u kazneni postupak, nužnosti pravodobnog prijavljivanja kaznenih djela te o obvezi apsolutnog poštovanja načela nepovredivosti ispovjedne tajne.
Đenoveška škola pravnog realizma
Authors: Keršić Marin
Published: August 2020

U radu su predstavljene neke temeljne ideje đenoveškog pravnog realizma, smjera u teoriji prava koji se javlja u drugoj polovici 20. st. u Italiji, te njegovi najistaknutiji predstavnici. Cilj je rada ukazati na relevantnost nekih ideja talijanske teorije prava za hrvatsku pravnu znanost te njihove praktične implikacije. Strukturno, u radu su prvo izložena obilježja pravnog realizma općenito (skandinavskog i američkog), a potom i obilježja đenoveškog pravnog realizma kao jedne njegove varijante. Predstavnici škole o kojima se u radu govori su Giovanni Tarello, Riccardo Guastini, Paolo Comanducci, Mauro Barberis, Pierluigi Chiassoni i Giovanni Battista Ratti, a u radu se razmatra sljedeće: ideja o središnjoj ulozi tumačenja i višeznačnosti samog pojma; popis od 15 interpretativnih argumenata koji može (ili bi trebao) služiti kao svojevrstan alat tumačima; karakteristike pravila i načela (kao dviju vrsta normi) i njihovo razlikovanje; tumačenje i način primjene ustavnih načela; implicitne (prešutne) norme; antinomije i načini rješavanja sukoba koji nastanu između samih kriterija za rješavanje antinomija; primjena logike u pravu kroz primjenu teorije skupova na pravo te pojam otklonjivosti (derogabilnosti).
THE FORMATION OF A “SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM” IN UPPER GERMANY: LEONHARD FRONSPERGER’S (1564) “ON THE PRAISE OF SELF-INTEREST”
Authors: Klump Rainer , Pilz Lars
Published: August 2020

In 1564 Leonhard Fronsperger, a military expert and citizen of the Free Imperial City of Ulm in Upper Germany, publishes a booklet “On the Praise of Self-Interest” (“Von dem Lob deß Eigen Nutzen”). Using the form of a satirical poem, he demonstrates how the individual pursuit of self-interest can lead to the common good. Writing long before Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith, Fronsperger presents a thorough analysis of all kinds of self-interested social, political and economic relations. His praise of self-interest demonstrates how over the sixteenth century the interplay of economic success (in particular in major trading cities), amore realistic conception of human behavior and some aspects of Humanism and the Reformation led to a new understanding of the origins of economic dynamics. This became the basis for what Weber (1904-05/2009) would later term “the spirit of capitalism”.
Pengaruh Desain Kerja dan Kualitas Kehidupan Kerja terhadap Efektivitas Kerja Guru SMP Negeri di Kecamatan Jati Asih Bekasi Selatan
Authors: Hatmoko Prasetyo Dwi
Published: August 2020

The objective research is to obtain information concerning to the effect of job design and quality of work life toward teacher’s work effectiveness. The research methodology used survey. Respondents were chosen by simple random sampling technique. Result on the analysis it is concluded that (1) there the positive direct effect of job design towards workeffectiveness, (2) there is positive direct effect of quality of work life towards work effectiveness and (3) ) there is positive direct effect of job design towards quality of work life
Evaluating aerosol and splatter during orthodontic debonding: implications for the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Llandro Hayley , Allison James R , Currie Charlotte , Edwards David , Bowes Charlotte , Durham Justin , Jakubovics Nicholas Stephen , Rostami Nadia , Holliday Richard
Published: August 2020

Introduction: Dental procedures often produce splatter and aerosol which have potential to spread pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. Mixed guidance exists on the aerosol generating potential of orthodontic procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate aerosol and/or splatter contamination during an orthodontic debonding procedure.Material and Methods: Fluorescein dye was introduced into the oral cavity of a mannequin. Orthodontic debonding was carried out in triplicate with filter papers placed in the immediate environment. Composite bonding cement was removed using a slow-speed handpiece with dental suction. A positive control condition included a high-speed air-turbine crown preparation. Samples were analysed using digital image analysis and spectrofluorometric analysis.Results: Contamination across the 8-metre experimental rig was 3% of the positive control on spectrofluorometric analysis and 0% on image analysis. There was contamination of the operator, assistant, and mannequin, representing 8%, 25%, and 28% of the positive control spectrofluorometric measurements, respectively.Discussion: Orthodontic debonding produces splatter within the immediate locality of the patient. Widespread aerosol generation was not observed.Conclusions: Orthodontic debonding procedures are low risk for aerosol generation, but localised splatter is likely. This highlights the importance of personal protective equipment for the operator, assistant, and patient.
THE TIME-SPACES OF CAPITALISM: SUZANNE DE BRUNHOFF AND MONETARY THOUGHT AFTER MARX
Authors: Baronian Laurent
Published: August 2020

The paper is dedicated to Suzanne de Brunhoff’s monetary thought and shows how her analysis of very concrete monetary and financial problems of her time led her to develop the most innovative contributions to Marxist theory of money since classical Marxism. Concepts such as noncontemporaneity of capitalism with itself, pseudo-social validation, conflict centralization or State management of money and labor power reflect her profound analysis of the ways capitalism generates very particular relationships to space and time. It is by looking at this spatio-temporal dimension of Brunhoff’s concepts that this paper aims to reveal the novelty, power and fruitfulness of her monetary analysis. The first part of the paper seeks to define the meaning of the notion of general equivalent extracting from her reading of Marx's Capital, before situating her approach in relation to Institutionalist theories of money. The second turns to Brunhoff’s analysis of the particular time-spaces of capitalism.
Latent variables for region of interest activation during the Monetary Incentive Delay Task
Authors: White Evan J. , Kuplicki Rayus , Stewart Jennifer L. , Kirlic Namik , Yeh Henry , investigators T , Paulus Martin P , Aupperle Robin
Published: August 2020

Background: The Monetary Incentive Delay Task (MID) has been used extensively to probe anticipatory reward processes. However, individual differences evident during this task may relate to other constructs such as general arousal or valence processing (i.e., anticipation of negative versus positive outcomes). This investigation used a latent variable approach to parse activation patterns during the MID within a transdiagnostic clinical sample.Methods: Participants were drawn from the first 500 individuals recruited for the Tulsa-1000 (T1000), a naturalistic longitudinal study of 1000 participants aged 18-55 (n = 476 with MID data). We employed a multiview latent analysis method, group factor analysis, to characterize factors within and across variable sets consisting of: (1) region of interest (ROI)-based blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) contrasts during reward and loss anticipation; and (2) self-report measures of positive and negative valence and related constructs.Results: Three factors comprised of ROI indicators emerged to accounted for >43% of variance and loaded on variables representing: (1) general arousal or general activation; (2) valence, with dissociable responses to anticipation of win versus loss; and (3) region-specific activation, with dissociable activation in salience versus perceptual brain networks. Two additional factors were comprised of self-report variables, which appeared to represent arousal and valence.Conclusions: Results indicate that multiview techniques to identify latent variables offer a novel approach for differentiating brain activation patterns during task engagement. Such approaches may offer insight into neural processing patterns through dimension reduction, be useful for probing individual differences, and aid in the development of optimal explanatory or predictive frameworks.
Anakku, belahan jiwaku: Pola asuh yang tepat untuk membentuk psikis anak
Authors: Miftakhuddin
Published: August 2020

Setiap orangtua punya cara membesarkan anaknya, bergantung pada budaya, tingkat pendidikan, kesejahteraan ekonomis, bahkan latar belakang keagamanaan. Metode yang ditempuh orangtua itu disebut sebagai pola asuh (parenting style). Teknik-teknik di dalamnya akan menjadi bagian utama dalam pembentukan kepribadian anak, termasuk kecerdasan, emosi, dan aspek psikologis lainnya.Namun demikian, terkadang orangtua tak menyadari apakah karkateristik psikologis anaknya sesuai dengan gaya pengasuhan yang mereka terapkan. Ketidaktahuan ini pada gilirannya berakibat pada kelalaian pengasuhan (salah asuh) dan berbagai penyimpangan (behavioral and psychological deviations). Itulah mengapa, pada beberapa kasus, ada anak kyai tapi ia adalah pemabuk dan penjudi, anak seorang guru tapi suka mem-bully teman sekolahnya, bahkan ada juga anak polisi yang justeru terlibat tawuran pelajar.Menurut psikolog, satu hal yang luput ialah kekeliruan dalam memahami situasi psikologis anak dan menyelenggarakan pendidikan keluarga yang sesuai. Sebab, masing-masing anak ialah individu yang unik. Mereka tidak bisa saling disamakan karena perkembangannya dipengaruhi nature (sifat alamiah dari gen orangtua) dan nurture (sifat yang terbentuk dari interaksi dengan lingkungan sosial).Persoalan di atas menjadi semakin rumit, lebih-lebih karena orangtua belum menemukan cara mengidentifikasi karakter anak, prosedur pengukuran kesehatan mental anak, bagaimana mengatasi depresi pada anak, dan bagaimanakah strategi mendidik yang disarankan agar psikologis anak tetap sehat. Buku ini berusaha menyajikan solusi atas problematika tersebut, dengan merujuk pada teori-teori psikologi, hasil penelitian, dan pengalaman empiris dari berbagai riset psikologis di Indonesia. Sebagai bahan kajian yang riil, buku ini juga mengangkat contoh-contoh kasus pola pengasuhan pada keluarga utuh, single parent, dan broken home.
Feasibility of a tablet-based program for training everyday planning in adolescents with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Palmqvist Lisa , Danielsson Henrik , Jönsson Arne , Rönnberg Jerker
Published: August 2020

Background: Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) show difficulties with everyday planning. A tablet-based training program for everyday planning may be a suitable intervention, but its feasibility must be evaluated. This study evaluated how behaviour changes during training and if individuals with ID can use technology by themselves. Method: 33 adolescents with ID and 30 younger children with a typical development were recruited. The participants were instructed to train in school for a total of 300 minutes. After the intervention, the participants were matched on Mental Age (MA) Results: Only 16% of the participants trained for all 300 minutes. Participants in the MA group trained for a longer time than the ID group. Both groups made fewer errors per task in the end compared to the beginning. Individuals with ID started off making fewer attempts per task and increased their activity during the training. This pattern was not seen in the comparison group. Conclusions: Both groups used the program without adult supervision. However, for some individuals in the ID group, the program might not have been feasible as they did not use the program as long as they were intended to. The ID group increased their activity during the training which might mirror a strategy development of how to use the program. The change in behaviour in activity on task attempts can be interpreted as individuals with ID needing a longer time to get familiarised with the technology. Tablet-based training programs are feasible for individuals with ID but it is necessary to follow up on usage-time.
Manipulations and Spins in Attention Disorders Research: The Case of ADHD and COVID-19
Authors: Ophir Yaakov , Raz Yaffa Shir
Published: August 2020

Background: Critics of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) warn against overdiagnosis and overtreatment of millions of children. Objective: The goal of this article is to raise awareness to manipulations and "spins" that might occur in attention disorders research. Method: An in-depth inspection was conducted on a high-profile study that suggested that ADHD increases the risk for infection with COVID-19 and that stimulants reduce that risk1. Two additional studies by the same first author were inspected as well – one that was published in the same journal and one that relied on the same dataset. Results: Seven manipulations and spins were identified, including inappropriate operational definitions, misrepresentations, and omissions that produced bogus results and might have concealed potential adverse effects of medications on COVID-19 outcomes. Without correcting for these distortions, it is therefore not possible to determine that ADHD increases the risk of COVID-19 and that stimulant medications reduce this risk. Conclusions: The manipulations and spins identified in this article may raise awareness to poor methodologies and biases that occur in the field of attention disorders, mainly due to the contaminating influences of the pharmaceutical industry. In turn, these biases may contribute to the ethically problematic phenomena of overdiagnosis and overmedication. Altogether, this article may encourage physicians to apply healthy scientific skepticism and serve scientists who wish to conduct reliable and transparent research on ADHD and its related medications.
Clinician Discipline Board Misconduct Decisions: A Study of Linguistic Differences
Authors: Strom Eric , Dykeman Cass
Published: August 2020

This study was designed to investigate findings of misconduct against social workers, MFTs, and licensed counselors by employing a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of a linguistic corpus created from a randomized convenience sample of final determinations of disciplinary actions across eight states. The most frequent terms and collocates were assessed for five categories (family, substance, finance, sex, friend, and recordkeeping). Word counts are reported for each category. Collocate maps for the most frequent word in each category were produced. The results in all categories but recordkeeping were notable. In particular, among the friends and sexuality categories, “relationship” was the word with the highest frequency. This suggests the foundational nature of the therapeutic relationship is relevant to both clinical outcomes and to the occurrence of misconduct. For substance terms, the frequency of “alcohol” suggests that alcohol is more connected to findings of misconduct than is any other individual substance. Further, the collocates in the friends and sexuality word categories suggest that misconduct is frequently related to intimate relationships. Additionally, the nuclear family context of the collocates of the most frequent terms in the family word list are reflective of misconduct occurring in the context of the nuclear family relationships. One implication of this study is a recognition that clinical work within families is a specific area of heightened risk for professional misconduct. A second implication is that ongoing supervision and consultation to support healthy clinician self-care activities and to address protective strategies to avoid the risks of developing inappropriate clinician/client relationships is of vital importance.
Trajectories of adolescent life satisfaction
Authors: Orben Amy , Lucas Richard E. , Fuhrmann Delia , Kievit Rogier
Published: August 2020

Increasing global policy interest in measuring and improving population wellbeing has prompted academic investigations into the dynamics of lifespan life satisfaction. Yet little research has simultaneously assessed both adults and adolescents, although adolescence harbours developmental changes that could affect wellbeing far into adulthood. This study investigates how life satisfaction develops throughout adolescence, applying exploratory and confirmatory Latent Growth Curve modelling to UK and German data respectively (132,542 participants, 10-80 years). We find a near universal decrease in life satisfaction during adolescence: >99% of adolescents in both samples are estimated to experience a decline in life satisfaction. This decrease is steeper than at any other point across adulthood. Further, our findings suggest that adolescent females’ life satisfaction is lower than males’, but that this difference does not extend into adulthood. The study highlights the importance of adopting a lifespan perspective when studying subjective wellbeing in areas spanning research, policy and practice.
Exploring Genetic Influences on Birth Weight
Authors: Trejo Sam
Published: August 2020

A person’s birth weight is a robust predictor of their economic, educational, and health outcomes across the life course. But is birth weight simply a proxy for environmental conditions in-utero, or do biological processes related to birth weight themselves play an important role in healthy development during the prenatal period? To examine this question, we utilize an underexplored source variation in birth weight that is largely orthogonal to prenatal environmental conditions: an individual’s genes. We leverage the recent identification of specific genetic variants associated with birth weight to construct polygenic scores in two longitudinal studies and empirically validate and unpack the molecular genetic correlates of birth weight. A 1 SD increase in the birth weight polygenic score is associated with a ~100 gram increase in birth weight; sibling comparisons show this association mostly represents the causal effect of genes. The magnitude of the relationship between polygenic score and birth weight is increased for children who spend longer in the womb and children born to mothers with high maternal body mass index. Finally, the birth weight polygenic score causally affects downstream social and cognitive outcomes, providing support for the hypothesis that birth weight itself is intimately related to healthy prenatal development.
Deference is Dead (Long Live Chevron)
Authors: Richardson Nathan
Published: August 2020

Chevron v. NRDC has stood for more than 35 years as the central case on judicial review of administrative agencies’ interpretations of statutes. Its contours have long been debated, but more recently it has come under increasing scrutiny, with some—including two sitting Supreme Court justices—calling for the case to be overturned. Others praise Chevron, calling deference necessary or even inevitable. All seem to agree the doctrine is powerful and important. This standard account is wrong, however. Chevron is not the influential doctrine it once was and has not been for a long time. It has been eroded from the outside as a series of exclusions have narrowed its scope, and has been hollowed out from the inside as Justices have become ever more willing to find clear meaning in statutes, thereby denying deference to agencies. In recent years, agencies have won only a handful of statutory interpretation cases, and none in more than four years. Only once since 2015 has deference been outcome-determinative. At the Supreme Court level (though not, for now, in the circuit courts), deference is dead. The once-crystal Chevron has turned to mud. As a result, however, it is less likely to be formally overturned than widely believed—critics of deference and of administrative power on the Court would gain little. Instead, Chevron’s future is likely to be one of further decline, at least in the short term. This has implications for major policy areas like climate change, health care, and immigration where regulatory policy is necessary and challenges are likely to reach the Court.
Intercultural Awareness and Writing through the Use of WebQuest: Iraqi Students at Al- Awsat Technical University as a Case Study
Authors: Asadi Shahad Saleh Al
Published: August 2020

E-Learning platforms offer plenty of opportunities, pedagogies, and challenges in English Language Teaching (ELT). It is already being applied partially in most parts of the world, and certificates are issued from well-known universities. The cultural dimension in ELT has gained in importance. As long as English is a lingua franca, the needs of English foreign learners (EFL) are far from obtaining the skills or accent of the language. This study is significant because it tries to check to what extent can the intercultural awareness and writing through the use of WebQuest help the Iraqi learners to better up their writing skills. They need to understand the similarities and differences between their own culture and the targeted language culture, English. Iraqi learners are part of the EFL students, and it is time to start getting the intercultural awareness. This study is aimed to pay the Iraqi learners' attention to the intercultural awareness issues in order to improve their writing skills. Accordingly, an experimental research is conducted on forty-three first-year participants of Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University. The data of both the Pre-test and Post-test were analyzed by using the SPSS) statistical editor. Results have shown the following: First, the progress of more than (0.05≤) has been detected as far as students' understanding and using some intercultural concepts in their writings. Second, students show unique enthusiasm in surfing the net for assigning their homework about intercultural awareness's props.
The Effect of Using Padlet as a Vocabulary Knowledge Enhancement Application on Saudi EFL Female Learners, and their Attitudes toward its Value in Learning
Authors: Alabbad Abbad M , Bin Huwamel Hadeel Saad
Published: August 2020

This study aimed to investigate the effects of using the digital learning tool Padlet to teach English vocabulary to Saudi females learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) within the context of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT). Specifically, it examined the attitudes and thoughts of these females toward the application and the effectiveness of using it as a learning platform. The study was set out to answer two questions; the first questions is “How effective is the application Padlet with regard to using a CLT approach to teach English vocabulary skills to Saudi female EFL learners?” while the second one is “What are users’ attitudes toward the online learning platform Padlet?”. The experiment was conducted for two weeks using Padlet. The population size was 50 Saudi females who were level-eight students at the English Language and Translation Department of Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After inclusion criteria (i.e., the results of an English language placement test) were applied, 30 students were selected for the study; this was done to ensure that the group was homogenous with regard to the level of English skill. The remaining participants then took a pretest; subsequently, the researcher and subjects engaged in seven instruction sessions using Padlet, during which the researcher followed a Communicative Language Teaching approach to presenting English vocabulary. After the experiment was concluded, the participants were given a posttest identical to the pretest in order to assess their knowledge and compare their vocabularies before and after the instructions were provided. In addition, the participants responded to an online survey designed to measure their attitudes toward Padlet. The participants’ scores and mean scores were calculated using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS); specifically, a one-sample t-test and a paired sample t-test were conducted. The findings revealed that the vocabulary instructions given using Padlet were effective at improving the English lexical knowledge of learners. The survey also revealed that the learners’ attitudes toward the tool were positive. Finally, the results indicated that the implementation of Communicative Language Teaching through Padlet was crucial to developing the participants’ English vocabulary skills.
Investigating the Effectiveness of YouTube as a Learning Tool among EFL Students at Baghdad University
Authors: Abbas Nawal Fadhil , Qassim Tabarek Ali
Published: August 2020

YouTube is not just a platform that individuals share, upload, comment on videos; teachers and educators can utilize it to the best maximum so that students can have benefits. This study aims at investigating how active and influential YouTube can be in the educational process and how it is beneficial for language teachers to enhance the skills of students. The study demonstrates different theoretical frameworks that tackle the employment of technology to enhance the learning/teaching process. It relies on the strategies of Berk (2009) for using multimedia media, video clips in particular to develop the abilities of teachers for using technology in classrooms. To achieve the objective of the study, the researchers develop a questionnaire and apply it to fourth-year college students, University of Baghdad, to give evidence and to prove the effectiveness of technology in the academic field. The paper examines classes where computers can be employed, and also shows the challenges that face teachers and educators concerning this application. The researchers conclude that YouTube is an essential tool in classrooms as it attracts the attention of students and develops their mentality and creativity. It also helps cover the materials comprehensively, especially language. YouTube brings the fun element into classes, which thereby meet the interests of students. Such findings have a significant impact on the learning process as the students will find the educational environment more encouraging and exciting. Besides, they find the material presented worth studying, and this way, they would appreciate the efforts exerted in explaining the information. The research intends to be of value to teachers for the use of technology and for students to have a better comprehension of the materials presented.
Writing for Journal Publications: A Case Study of Eight Computer Scientists in Algeria
Authors: Cheriguene Anissa , Tayeb Kebbache , Kerrache Chaker Abdelaziz
Published: August 2020

Journal publications written in English are a sina qua non condition for national and international recognition. Recent literature in applied linguistics and other fields has denounced the existence of some conventions and “rules” that govern a given research writing. That is, using a concise, clear and error-free language is demanded in order to increase accessibility and ease of understanding. With the aid of textual descriptive analysis, this paper attempts to review the most common linguistic reasons behind papers’ rejection. Eight papers of Ph.D. computer science students were collected and analyzed qualitatively in order to diagnose the main problems and challenges Ph.D. students face while writing for scholarly publication. Other than other linguistic lacunes, it is found out that the authors had problems mainly with using the right tone, choosing the correct words and the adequate tense use. Indeed, the results of this study are supposed to be of some use to writers who want to know what writing conventions, if there are any, are adequate for paper publication. Finally, some recommendations related to students’ problems in writing for scholarly publication are made.
The Effect of Using Conjunction as Cohesive Device on the Undergraduates’ Quality of Writing in Argumentative Essays of Jordanian EFL Learners
Authors: Shamalat Rawhi Yousef Salman Al , Ghani Che An Binti Abdul
Published: August 2020

The goal of this research was to investigate the effect of use conjunctions on the overall quality of argumentative writing of Jordanian English as foreign language (EFL) learners. This mixed-method research included sixty (n=60) undergraduate students at the Department. of English Language and Literature at Mu’tah University in Jordan. The participants of the research were selected using purposive sampling method. The data of the research were collected using written essays and interviews. The data was analyzed using SPSS. The data was collected using analytical scale Jacob et al., (1981) to measure the quality of argumentative essays. The result of this research showed that there was a weak negative but irrelevant correlation between writing quality and the frequency of conjunctions as cohesive devices. This correlation indicates that the frequent and general use of devices in the writing of Jordanian students did not contribute to the quality of the writing under any conditions. Also the finding revealed that there is an extremely negative but irrelevant correlation between the use of conjunctions devices by Jordanian EFL students and their writing quality. Therefore, the correlation was negative and insignificant for Jordanian EFL students. More specifically, the result shows that the frequencies of conjunctions were not found as an indicator of good writing quality for Jordanian EFL students. This research is significant for providing a considerable number of pedagogical implications for further research that will offer great contribution to the field of teaching writing in EFL setting in Jordan in particular and English as second language (ESL) context in general. Moreover, the research has shown a better understanding of cohesive devices / conjunctions by Jordanian EFL students at Mu’tah University.
A taxonomic proposal for multiliteracies and their competences
Authors: Marzal Miguel-Ángel
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study is to analyze information and communication competences and their alphabets, both of which are necessary for effective knowledge-based content management. The evolution of the associated specialties or techniques, i.e., literacies, which have emerged to address this task more effectively are considered. The hypothesis that a taxonomic model can be used to order and coordinate literacies, in combination with an application metamodel within the framework of the Voremetur research project, was investigated. The methodology used to complete this analysis adopts an evolutionary approach comprising: (1) a first divergent phase describing the era of literacies and multiple literacies, in which field-specific competences and tools prevail; (2) a second convergent phase of information and digital literacy, whose associated competences become the targets of knowledge; and (3) a third divergent phase, based on multiliteracies, as a consequence of Big Data and its effects, to address which data literacy, together with “digital competences,” emerged as new and complex ways of processing web content. Based on this premise, the classifications introduced by Bawden, Stordy, Secker & Coonan, and Mackey & Jacobson are proposed as a taxonomic model, using the metamodel definition from the Voremetur project. This results in the proposal of a multiliteracy including implementations that range from visual literacy and new media literacy, strategies for the selection of keywords as taxonomic labels, semantic control to define taxonomic categories, to a metamodel definition based on the categories obtained in the taxonomy. The development of the metamodel is presented through a program oriented at higher education within the framework of academic literacy, as a means for incorporation into curricula, including a definition of its paradigmatic and conceptual framework, the factors relevant to its programming and instructional design, educommunication as a didactic methodology approach, and digital educational objects as didactic materials, followed by an appropriate evaluation.
Tooling up the Multi: Paying Attention to Digital Writing Projects at the Writing Centre
Authors: Bell Stephanie , Hotson Brian
Published: August 2020

With increasing regularity over the last decade, Canadian undergraduate students are being tasked with digital writing projects (DWPs), including wikis, blogs, video and audio essays, websites, and social media engagements. Currently, Canadian writing centres are silent about how DWPs are or might be supported within writing centre programming. To initiate the discussion, we asked our 2019 CWCA/ACCR conference workshop participants to consider ways of supporting a DWP in the writing centre. Our goal in the workshop, as well as in this paper, is to reflect on the ways writing centres are and can be supporting students working on digital writing projects. Workshop participants’ questions reveal several areas of attention beyond additional technology, including resources, pedagogical approaches, and writing centre programming and spatial design. Using this paper as an extension of our workshop, we examine the literature on digital and multimodal writing (which is largely American). It is in this literature that we find implications for building writing centre supports, involving both programs and spaces that foster student efforts to recognize media/modal affordances, develop and engage in design thinking, and build self-efficacious beliefs.
Survival of Patients after Left-to-Right Shunt Repaired of Congenital Heart Defect: A Comparison between Baseline Pulmonary Vascular Resistances
Authors: Jarutach Jirayut , Roymanee Supaporn , Wongwaitaweewong Kanjarut
Published: August 2020

Objective: This study compared the survival of patients with completely repaired pulmonary hypertension-associated congenital heart disease (PH-CHD) with a left-to-right shunt based on their pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRi). Material and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the demographics, disease characteristics, laboratory tests, hemodynamic characteristics and survival of patients with PH-CHD in our institute between January 2004 and January 2016 were reviewed. Results: Of 298 patients, 216 had a low PVRi (72.5%), 57 had a moderate PVRi (19.1%) and 25 had a high PVRi (8.4%). In the overall population, the 1-, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 96.6±1.0%, 94.2±1.5%, and 91.1±3.3%, respectively. At 10 years after the operation, patients with a low PVRi had the best survival, but patients with a moderate PVRi didn’t have significantly better survival than the patients with a high PVRi (98.6±0.8% vs. 81.9±5.5% vs. 76.5±11.2%, respectively; p-value<0.001 in low vs. moderate or high PVRi; p-value=0.8 in moderate vs. high PVRi). The World Health Organization functional class and PVRi were predictors of survival at 10 years after the operation. Conclusion: This study supports the recent 2015 European Society of Cardiology and European Respiratory Society guideline, which says that patients with a PVRi <4 Wood units m2 have the best survival, a PVRi of 8 Wood units m2 was proposed as the limit for considering surgery, and a PVR of 4–8 Wood units m2 as the range in which the proper approach should be considered on a case by case basis.
Self-Care and Family Support among People with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Kandel Shashi , Wichaidit Wit
Published: August 2020

Objective: To assess the prevalence of self-care practices, and family support among people with type 2 diabetes. Material and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among outpatients for people with type 2 diabetes, at a teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. We modified the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, and Diabetes Family Behavior Checklist scales; to measure self-care practices and perceived family support, respectively, so as to better suit the Nepali context. We performed an exploratory factor analysis to identify independent, latent dimensions of family support. Results: We recruited 411 patients (56.9% females), aged between 25 and 92. From these, we found high levels of adherence to daily intakes of the oral hypoglycemic agent (98.2%) and insulin (100.0%), daily physical activity (86.4%) and daily vegetable consumption (78.3%). Respondents commonly reported that they, and their family members ate meals together (98.1%). Family members also suggested things to help them take their medications on time (89.5%) and additionally helped them to decide on changes based on their glucose test results (84.2%). Exploratory factor analysis uncovered three behavior dimensions: nagging and arguing (“authoritarian”), praise and encouragement (“supportive”) and plan-making (“planning”). Conclusion: We presented data on self-care as well as family support among people with type 2 diabetes, tailored to the local context. From the data a high level of medication adherence and daily physical activity was observed. “Eating together” was the most reported family support behavior. We identified three dimensions of family support behaviors, which are potentially helpful for future health promotion programs, and provides a methodological basis for future studies in other low and middle-income countries.
Zakony i zgromadzenia męskie w XX wieku w (Archi)Diecezji Łódzkiej
Authors: Pietrzykowski Jan
Published: August 2020

Na terytorium powstałej w 1920 roku diecezji łódzkiej podejmowały pracę zarówno nowe zgromadzenia zakonne, jak i zakony o starej metryce powstania. Pewną nowość stanowią zakony laickie działające okresowo: bracia doloryści, albertyni, Bracia Serca Jezusowego oraz posługujący ciągle: bonifratrzy i bracia szkolni. Z zakonów kleryckich i zgromadzeń zakonnych działających w czasach staropolskich jako pierwsi w 1919 roku przybyli do Pabianic Misjonarze św. Wincentego à Paulo. Po II wojnie światowej osiedlili się karmelici trzewiczkowi w Łodzi i filipini w Tomaszowie Mazowieckim. W okresie międzywojennym salezjanie zorganizowali trzy placówki: szkolno-wychowawczą w Łodzi, duszpasterską w Łodzi i opiekuńczą w Lutomiersku. Pozostałe zgromadzenia zakonne mają po jednej parafii w Łodzi i na terenie archidiecezji: oblaci (Grotniki), pasjoniści, klaretyni, sercanie (Bełchatów) i pallotyni. Jako ostatni w 2004 roku w trzypiętrowej kamienicy w Łodzi zamieszkali dominikanie. Duszpasterze zakonni swoją działalnością obejmują różne środowiska społeczne i usiłują realizować swoje posłannictwo w Kościele lokalnym.
Kasaty opactw cysterskich na Pomorzu Zaodrzańskim w okresie Reformacji
Authors: Ploch Gregor
Published: August 2020

Pomorze do okresu reformacji było krainą klasztorów i bogatego życia monastycznego, wszakże chrystianizacja regionu nastąpiła wyjątkowo późno, bowiem dopiero w XII wieku. Ze względu na pograniczne położenie i związaną z nim labilną sytuacją polityczną władcy sprowadzili ze Skandynawii oraz z głębi Cesarstwa Rzymskiego zakonników, którzy piastując funkcję duszpasterzy, przyczynili się do rozszerzenia wiary chrześcijańskiej na Pomorzu. W XII i XIII wieku zostały założone konwenty cysterskie, które do okresu reformacji prężnie rozwijały swą działalność, wpływając na życie publiczne oraz gospodarczo-polityczne. Reformacja przebiegała na Pomorzu sukcesywnie i spokojnie, z wyjątkiem miasta hanzy Stralsund, gdzie wypędzono kleryków katolickich. Zwolennikami nauki Lutra szybko stali się młodzi alumni konwentów, w tym również zakonu cysterskiego, którzy pod wpływem humanizmu szerzonego na uniwersytetach byli otwarci na „nową naukę” reformatorów. Zmiana postawy młodych zakonników doprowadziła do wewnętrznego rozłamu zakonów, w związku z tym oficjalne przejęcie wyznania augsburskiego przez książęta pomorskie w 1534 roku, ustanawiające odejście Pomorza od katolicyzmu było logiczną konsekwencją stanu rzeczywistego wśród wiernych. Powyższa rozprawa przedstawia przebieg kasat dokonanych na klasztorach cysterskich na Pomorzu Zaodrzańskim. Głównym punktem odniesienia do dokumentacji źródłowych są zapiski sporządzone w przypadku klasztoru Eldena przez jednego z naocznych świadków zdarzeń – młodego zakonnika Antona Remmeldinga, a późniejszego pastora ewangelickiego. Mimo zabarwienia ideologicznego kronikarza przedstawiającego wcześniejsze wydarzenia już po przejściu na luteranizm, zapiski są ciekawym źródłem przedstawiającym dramaty międzyludzkie zakonników, którzy znaleźli się na ideologicznym froncie podziału między zagorzałymi obrońcami od stuleci przekazywanych wartości a radykalną nową nauką.