bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lessons from the Field: What Improv Teaches Us About Collaboration
Authors: Pappas Erin , Dohe Kate
Published: September 2022

In this article, we delve into the ways that our working relationships benefit from techniques derived from improvisational comedy. This is not as unusual as it might seem at first glance: major corporations have long used consultants from Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade, and other established improv centers to foster collaboration, improve communication, and increase resilience among staff. These techniques help us navigate the shifting landscape of library partnerships, as well as through changing roles and responsibilities, promotions, and reorganizations. We share our techniques through an immersive workshop, and offer a few of its take-away lessons here.
Rightsizing Project Management for Libraries
Authors: Harper Val
Published: September 2022

Project management is a current topic in management, and project management offices are springing up in many organizations. Libraries may not need a project management office, but adoption of project management techniques, rightsized for library needs, can focus scope, define and organize tasks, and manage resources for many kinds of projects. The University of New Hampshire Library has implemented selected aspects of project management and is learning where these principles can be applied most effectively for successful projects. This paper describes UNH’s use of selected project management techniques and tools in a major collection integration and relocation project.
Connector, Catalyst and Common Good: Defining the Academic Library of the 21st Century
Authors: Jaguszewski Janice , McGuire Lisa A.
Published: September 2022

Clearly articulating how an academic library inspires and transforms teaching, learning and research is critical for library leadership. Conveying the library’s deep expertise throughout the knowledge lifecycle (discovery, use, creation, and sharing) and demonstrating its ability to provide solutions to information problems are core to what an academic library brings to campus collaborations. At the University of Minnesota, the Health Sciences Libraries have developed a “Space as a Service” model of collaboration that positions them as a vital component of a larger Interprofessional Learning and Education Center within the University’s Academic Health Center. We describe and discuss six fundamental principles that guide our vision of an academic library as a Connector, Catalyst, Common Good and Service-Rich Environment, and offer a template for applying this model to a range of disciplines.
The Age Demographics of Librarians and the Organizational Challenge Facing Academic Libraries
Authors: Lewis David W , Orr Kindra
Published: September 2022

The age demographics of the librarian workforce will create organizational challenges for academic libraries. The large baby boomer cohort, which is approaching retirement, needs to be replaced by millennials. There are a relatively small number of librarians in the Gen X cohort and in most cases, they have come late to leadership opportunities. Creating an organization that uses the skills and abilities of all three generations will be challenging and will require attention to both organizational structure and culture. It will also require a purposeful focus on leadership development and the provision of opportunities for people throughout the organization so that all can make significant contributions and can meaningfully influence the work and direction of the library.
A Change of Pace: Successfully Transitioning to Tenure-Track Librarianship
Authors: Hughes Cynthia
Published: September 2022

This article explores the experiences of librarians who have transitioned from working in non-tenured track positions in any type of library to a tenure-track positions in academic libraries. The author conducted a survey of librarians who have attempted the career change and shares their motivations for accepting a tenure-track position, the reasons why some librarians disliked tenure, their scholarship experiences, and their advice to others to help them successfully navigate the stressful tenure process.
Promotion & Tenure Procedures: A Study of U.S. Academic Libraries
Authors: Connell Ruth Sara
Published: September 2022

This article reports on the results of a study of tenure and promotion procedures at U.S. institutions where academic librarians are faculty. The author surveyed librarians from 200 institutions of higher education on promotion and tenure issues, and received 104 responses. Topics covered include: who performs reviews, whether organizations use library committees and/or university wide ones, how many external reviewers are used and what they are asked to review, and what documentation guides these processes. The results were compared for (1) institutional control (public/private), (2) small, medium, and large institutions, and (3) simplified basic Carnegie classification. The statistical results are presented.
Finding the Ties that Bind: Coalition Building In Loosely Coupled Academic Libraries
Authors: Chavez Lyena C.
Published: September 2022

Pressures are building for academic library leaders. Leaders face budget cuts, space re-purposing, staffing shortages, and expectations to meet evolving faculty and students’ research needs. Leaders must not only manage library operations, but also successfully guide and lead within a sea of unpredictable, evolving institutional forces and activities. Loosely coupled organizational theory provides library leaders insights and guidance as they organize and plan. Leaders must recognize, understand, and leverage the strengths of these systems. It is up to them to bring together appropriate coalitions to foster collaborations and cohesions not only among library staff members, but across disciplinary communities within academia. By finding and securing these ties that bind in loosely coupled libraries, leaders can successfully further goals and foster innovation.
Moral Leadership: Shared Accountability for Staff Growth & Development
Authors: Kautzman Amy M.
Published: September 2022

This paper shows evidence that technology is threatening the viability of library staff positions in a real and fast moving manner. Considering the certainty of job insecurity and loss, how does a leader own her responsibility to engage staff in serious conversations regarding their current and future reskilling and employment options.
A Position of Strength: The Value of Evidence and Change Management in Master Plan Development
Authors: Sarjeant-Jenkins Rachel
Published: September 2022

Libraries are experiencing significant change in how space is being used as well as increasing pressure from their funding and governance bodies to demonstrate the continued need for library physical space. There is a growing demand for library spaces that reflect different ways of accessing and using information, support learning and building community, and encourage creativity and the creation of new knowledge. To assist them in determining how to move forward, many libraries are developing master plans – multi-year high-level plans providing direction and vision but allowing flexibility to accommodate unanticipated needs – for their physical spaces and service delivery models. The challenge for libraries is to ensure that their master plans reflect the dynamic world in which they are situated and are supported by clients and other library stakeholders.
Meetings: A Framework to Improve Effectiveness and Employee Satisfaction
Authors: Molaro Anthony
Published: September 2022

Meetings are a necessary, but often unexamined part of organizational life. Meetings are used to make decisions, distribute information, brainstorm solutions, and report on progress. Meetings take up a massive part of a librarians or managers day, but we seldom talk about how effective meetings are, or how to properly run a meeting. This paper describes the role of meetings on employee satisfaction, employee attitude, and on meeting effectiveness. Drawing upon research and literature in the fields of business and LIS, the paper concludes with a framework and strategies to run more engaging and effective meetings.
Technology, Collaboration, and Learning: Perceptions and Effectiveness of US Public Library Staff Professional Development
Authors: Stephens Michael , Mitchell Stacey A , Zickau Ari
Published: September 2022

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the preferences and perceptions of professional development (PD) activities for public library staff. The survey instrument was distributed to public librarians and paraprofessionals throughout the United States. Beyond the challenges of time and money, a picture emerged from the data of what might best serve the needs of librarians and paraprofessionals for PD. Staff want to feel encouraged and supported about learning for their jobs. The chance to network and meet in groups is preferred by most respondents with short webinars and online learning filling in the gaps, especially if content goes beyond the usual introductory level. From these findings, it is possible to suggest three “action plans” for improving PD for public library professionals and paraprofessionals. These plans include: developing structured and supported PD programs as part of public library administration, promoting a culture of learning throughout the institution, and participating in and contributing to state and regional opportunities for PD of public library staff.
Library Leadership Lessons Gleaned from WWII Submariners
Authors: Gaetjens Stuart
Published: September 2022

Many aspects of good leadership have not changed over time. This article uses examples from World War II submarining, particularly Capt. Eugene Fluckey’s experiences, as a launching point for discussing modern academic library leadership. There are six points of leadership discussed which alternate between submarining and libraries: selecting team members, cross-training, respecting the individual, developing esprit de corps, communicating hard truths, and thinking big thoughts.
Agile-ish: Bringing Agile and Scrum into Project Management for Digital Collections Metadata
Authors: Ballinger Linda
Published: September 2022

Implementations of agile values and principles are increasingly seen in project management beyond their original home in software development. Most library projects drawing on agile and scrum, agile’s most popular methodology, have needed to adapt these principles and methods to varying degrees, but most have been in environments similar to software development. The Pennsylvania State University Libraries’ cataloging department was interested to see if agile and scrum approaches could be successful in managing a metadata project involving an ad hoc team, composed of members volunteering part of their time to the project, and inexperienced in the work needed for the project. While the Penn State Libraries project used extensively modified versions of agile and scrum, we have concluded that using these principles and methods, even if adapted, can greatly improve the process and the outcome of many projects.
New and Noteworthy: Dealing with Dysfunction
Authors: Bartlett Jennifer Ann
Published: September 2022

It is the rare library that does not experience some level of dysfunctional behavior among staff. Problems arise when weak leadership, poor communication, and lack of goals result in toxic behaviors including gossiping and bullying. Several recent publications offer tips on identifying and dealing with dysfunctional library workplaces.
Are you being served? Embracing servant leadership, trusting library staff, and engendering change
Authors: Meulemans Yvonne Nalani , Matlin Talitha R.
Published: September 2022

It is self-evident that academic libraries and librarianship are changing in substantive ways, ranging from the types of material we collect, the way we approach information literacy instruction, to our positions within college and university organizational charts. In response to a rapidly changing environment, library administrators may try to quickly bring about changes in library policies, structure, and more. However, in the process, library administrators may inadvertently adopt rigid top-down approaches that can disenfranchise and disengage library workers, resulting in outcomes that serve neither students or workers. A servant leadership approach to authority and influence may be a means to reverse this frustrating trajectory. Servant leadership requires that administrators focus on the existing expertise and the development potential of library workers as the means for ensuring fulfillment of the library’s mission in an environment of constant change. Furthermore, this approach requires administrators to begin by accepting library workers’ perspectives as their reality, instead of dismissing those perspectives. This approach shares the same foundations of two central practices of librarianship: reference and instruction. Librarians must believe users’ information needs, listen to their experiences and with this information, consider ways to aid the user in progressing toward their goal. A challenge to this approach is that it requires more work for library administrators and library workers through consideration of different types of information and looking closely at voices of disagreement and resistance. While servant leadership appears more complex with slower progress, the end result of sincere engagement and effort by everyone in the library has the potential to aid in achieving the changes needed to keep academic libraries thriving.
New and Noteworthy: Reviewing Basic Leadership Competencies – Emotional Intelli
Authors: Bartlett Jennifer A.
Published: September 2022

In this "New and Noteworthy" column, we highlight recent and basic publications pertaining to emotional intelligence, one of the 14 Foundational Competencies identified by LLAMA as being necessary for leaders and managers.
Research Participation and Employment of Persons with Autism Spectrum in Library and Information Science: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Everhart Nancy , Anderson Amelia M
Published: September 2022

Persons with autism spectrum disorder are a growing population and important to library and information science research and employment in libraries. Including them in all stages of research about the neurodivergent experience is valuable, and their input and participation is increasingly used in technology research, particularly usability studies. Neurodiverse persons also have unique abilities that align with a wide array of information professions and accommodations can be made that allow them to thrive in the workplace. It is critical that meaningful involvement of autistic individuals is a component of making policy at all levels.
What Do You Get When You Mix Libraries and Entrepreneurship? The Case of an Innovation Hub at a Large Research Library.
Authors: Leebaw Danya , Tomlinson Carissa
Published: September 2022

This article presents a case study of the University of Minnesota (UMN) Libraries collaboration with the UMN Carlson School of Management’s (CSOM) Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship (HCE) to create an innovation hub in our most heavily trafficked undergraduate library. During the same time that academic libraries have added makerspaces and have routinely invited partners into their buildings, entrepreneurship support has become a strategic priority for universities, business schools, and business libraries. The story of our innovation hub represents a confluence of these trends, and illustrates some of the challenges and benefits brought on by inviting a new kind of partner into the library space.
Not Another Survey! Use Interviews Instead to Understand Needs in Your Library
Authors: Broadbent Dan
Published: September 2022

Assessment in libraries is an essential part of managing library resources to meet the needs of patrons and stakeholders. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of two assessment devices—surveys and interviews—in particular as they apply to libraries.
Editor's Message
Authors: Nelson Elizabth
Published: September 2022

Cataloging & Collection Development Librarian
Beyond Good Intentions: Developing and Operationalizing Values in the Structure of Digital Library Programs
Authors: Holdzkom Elizabeth , Lopez Mark , Owens Trevor , Salas Camille , Seroka Lauren
Published: September 2022

Defining values for an organizational unit has become a standard practice for creating and supporting successful teams across sectors in business, government, and nonprofits. Given the centrality of professional values for librarians and archivists, this practice is particularly salient for work in library and archives organizations. At the same time, implicit values in technology sector organizations have been widely criticized for leading to staff burnout and contributing to increased precarity and harm to employees. This presents a significant challenge for digital library organizations that often straddle aspects of start-up and information technology organizational culture and library and archives culture. This case study presents the development of a set of values for the newly created Digital Content Management (DCM) section at the Library of Congress. The authors provide general context and background on this effort, then describe the approach to collaboratively developing shared values and the resulting work to refine how those values are operationalized in ongoing work activities and processes. This case study also aims to provide useful information to others working in digital library programs to support this same kind of reflective praxis.
Changes in lung diffusion capacity after SARS-CoV-2 infections in highly trained athletes
Authors: Schmucker A* , Jerg A* , Schulz SVW , Zorn J , Vollrath S , Steinacker JM
Published: September 2022

Objectives: By now, many long-term symptoms after COVID-19 are described, mostly concerning hospitalized patients. Our aim was to investigate the long-term effect of COVID-19 on the lung function with focus on the diffusion capacity of athletes. Methods: 99 athletes (34.17±11.94 years, 56% female) after COVID-19 and 36 athletes (25.80±6.70 years, 65% female) without COVID-19 as controls were included. Symptom severity and lung function were assessed. Lung function of controls were compared with athletes after COVID-19 and changes in patients with dyspnea (during infection and at time of appointment) and changes over time between infection and examination on lung function were examined. Results: Exertional dyspnea during the infection was reported by 51% of athletes after COVID-19, respectively 27% at the time of examination (158±137 days after infection). 30% of athletes after COVID-19 showed a reduced Diffusion Capacity of the Lungs for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO <80% of the predicted value). Athletes after COVID-19 showed a significant reduced forced vital capacity (p<0.01) and forced expiratory volume at 1s (p<0.01) compared to controls. Dyspnea during infection was associated with a significant reduction in DLCO (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in lung function parameters depending on dyspnea at examination or depending on the duration between infection and examination. Conclusion: In athletes after COVID-19-Infection, static and dynamic lung volumes seem to be slightly reduced. Furthermore, athletes reporting dyspnea have lower than predicted DLCO. Factors could be reduced alveolar membrane function and lung perfusion. In the follow-up of athletes with dyspnea during infection, evaluation of diffusion capacity seems to be important. Key Words: COVID-19, Pulmonary Sequalae, Pulmonary Function, Post-COVID
Os indesejados do século XXI: crianças desacompanhadas detidas na fronteira México-EUA
Authors: Assis Glaucia Oliveira
Published: September 2022

Observa-se, no final do século XX, um aumento da percepção, na comunidade internacional, com relação à circulação de trabalhadores migrantes, a fluxos de pessoas em busca de uma vida melhor e que se deparam com políticas migratórias cada vez mais restritivas. Neste cenário, tem-se notado um crescimento de crianças que migram sozinhas ou desacompanhadas dos pais, retidas nas fronteiras. Assim, embora, em termos demográficos, não possamos falar de uma ampliação dos fluxos migrantes, pois as taxas internacionais giram em torno de 3%, as narrativas midiáticas acerca desses fluxos constroem discurso de “invasão”, da ameaça, disseminando pânico moral em relação aos imigrantes, contribuindo para que sejam tratados com preconceito e discriminação. Assim, imigrantes e refugiados, dentre eles as crianças desacompanhadas, constituem uma “nova” categoria de indesejáveis que emerge neste início de século. O objetivo deste artigo é compreender, a partir da produção que cruza perspectivas da História Transnacional, da Antropologia das Mobilidades e da Sociologia, o medo do “outro”, que se traduz em sistemas de vigilância cada vez mais duros e restritivos, que levaram ao aumento do encarceramento de crianças e adolescentes desacompanhados nas fronteiras. O artigo analisa crianças separadas de suas famílias na fronteira do México com os Estados Unidos, em abrigos e centros de trânsito, em que são colocadas em situação análoga à das prisões, pois ficam encarceradas.  As fontes são levantamento bibliográfico sobre crianças desacompanhadas, matérias na encontradas na imprensa, dados da OIM e da ONU sobre o encarceramento de crianças, através das quais buscamos compreender os contextos nas sociedades de acolhimento que produzem hierarquias entre os migrantes desejáveis e os indesejáveis.
Simulation of residential CO exposures from portable generators with and without CO hazard mitigation systems meeting requirements of voluntary standards
Authors: Emmerich Steven J , Polidoro Brian , Hnatov Matthew , Buyer Janet , Brookman Matthew J
Published: September 2022

This report documents work performed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) under an interagency agreement in support of the Commission's effort to address the carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning hazard associated with consumer use of portable generators. This report documents the plan, developed by NIST and CPSC staff, for a computer simulation study performed by NIST and provides examples of the study results. CPSC staff will use the study's results to evaluate the effectiveness of CO hazard mitigation requirements that were adopted in two voluntary standards in 2018. These two ANSI-approved standards are ANSI/PGMA G300-2018, Safety and Performance of Portable Generators (referred to as PGMA G300) and UL 2201, Standard for Carbon Monoxide (CO) Emission Rate of Portable Generators, Second Edition (referred to as UL 2201). Both voluntary standards have requirements for a system that will shut the generator off when specific CO concentrations are present near the generator. PGMA G300 also has other requirements, including a notification to the user after the generator has shut off, while UL 2201 has a reduced CO emission rate requirement. The methodology of the simulation study was largely similar to that used by CPSC staff to evaluate the benefits of the proposed rule issued by the Commission in 2016 to address the hazard of CO poisoning from portable generators. This simulation study used the same forty buildings, weather conditions, and generator characteristics to study the rate at which the CO emitted from the generator accumulates in, transports within, and leaves the homes and detached garages for generators with and without the CO mitigation requirements prescribed in the voluntary standards. The plan involved performing approximately 140,000 simulations using NIST's indoor air quality modeling program CONTAM. This report presents the simulation plan and detailed CO and COHb simulation results for sample scenarios from two of the houses and one of the detached garages. Note: At the request of CPSC staff, NIST staff performed additional simulations using a 15 % longer run time for UL 2201 generators in a subset of the house models. These simulations are documented with sample results in new Appendix D of this report.
Un marco normativo para las empresas sociales en España para el freno de la desigualdad
Authors: Macías Ruano Antonio José
Published: September 2022

Economía social y empresa social son propuestas de generación de riqueza fuera de la concepción capitalista de retribución a la inversión, con distintas acepciones y contenido dispar. En España, se ha desarrollado legislativamente un concepto de economía social basado en estructuras jurídicas que pueden perseguir, exclusivamente, el interés colectivo de sus integrantes y no el general económico o social.En Europa, en paralelo con el concepto de economía social, surge en Italia el de empresa social, para cualquier entidad que ejerza con carácter permanente y principal una actividad económica en pro del interés general, al margen de la forma social. En España no existe una norma específica para empresas sociales, solo alguna regulación sobre estructuras jurídicas que pueden ser calificables como tales. Se propone la fórmula de su presencia legislativa para la mejora de la colectividad y que reduzca la desigualdad más allá de los integrantes de una estructura cualquiera.
Arkeologi langs Hålogalandsvegen
Authors: Bruun Inga Malene , Oppvang Janne
Published: September 2022

«Arkeologi langs Hålogalandsvegen» er det største arkeologiske prosjektet noensinne i Nord-Norge. I løpet av tre feltsesonger skal alle kulturminnene som vil bli berørt av den planlagte Hålogalandsvegen undersøkes. Statens Vegvesen er tiltakshaver. Sommeren 2021 var andre feltsesong, og 17 av i alt 32 lokaliteter ble undersøkt. Om lag halvparten av lokalitetene var fra eldre steinalder. Blant annet ferdigstilte vi arbeidet på den store boplassen Solli som ble påbegynt i 2020. Videre undersøkte vi Haukebø 2, en lokalitet som tydelig viser at fiske og utnytting av maritime ressurser sto sentralt. På Gausvik 5 så vi for oss noe lignende, men her var kun noen få steinalderfunn mens resten var fra jernalder. Lenger sør lå Forvikneset og Forvika like ved hverandre. Forvikneset kan en gang ha vært en stor lokalitet, men størsteparten har blitt fjernet i nyere tid. På Forvika var det spor av en teltboplass og muligens en tuft. Vår så langt eldste lokaltitet er Årbogen 1, noe som viste seg å være en liten teltboplass.De resterende lokalitetene som ble gravd, var ulike typer samiske kulturminner som dateres til middelalder og nyere tid. På Kåringskrysset ble arbeidet med å undersøke de to tuftene påbegynt, men de var langt mer komplekse enn antatt og i tillegg fant vi tre tufter til, så dette arbeidet fortsettes i 2022. På Nesset Kobbenesset undersøkte vi det som viste seg å være en smietuft. I Hamna og Bømark ble tre steingjerder dokumentert, mens vi på Kvitnes Middagshaugen gravde en teltboplass. Fredheim 1 og 2, Kistholmbukta og Sommarset viste seg og ikke være automatisk  fredete samiske kulturminner.
Using genetic programming to predict and optimize protein function
Authors: Miralavy Iliya , Bricco Alexander R. , Gilad Assaf A. , Banzhaf Wolfgang
Published: September 2022

Protein engineers conventionally use tools such as Directed Evolution to find new proteins with better functionalities and traits. More recently, computational techniques and especially machine learning approaches have been recruited to assist Directed Evolution, showing promising results. In this article, we propose POET, a computational Genetic Programming tool based on evolutionary computation methods to enhance screening and mutagenesis in Directed Evolution and help protein engineers to find proteins that have better functionality. As a proof-of-concept, we use peptides that generate MRI contrast detected by the Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer contrast mechanism. The evolutionary methods used in POET are described, and the performance of POET in different epochs of our experiments with Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer contrast are studied. Our results indicate that a computational modeling tool like POET can help to find peptides with 400% better functionality than used before.
Políticos contra los partidos. Experiencias antipartidos en Chile 1989-2017
Authors: Avendaño Octavio , Escudero Maria Cristina
Published: September 2022

Este artículo analiza experiencias antipartidos que emergieron en Chile entre 1989-2017. Se propone una tipología para reconocer las formas y manifestaciones antipartidos que han surgido al interior del sistema político, en especial lasadoptadas por partidos “tradicionales” y por quienes irrumpen por primera vez en la escena política. Se advierte que el fenómeno antipartidos puede ser adoptado tanto en organizaciones y liderazgos de izquierda como de derecha. Desde la izquierda la estrategia antipartido se utiliza para desplazar a los partidos que no han logrado impulsar transformaciones políticas y económicas profundas. En cambio, desde la derecha ha sido empleado como mecanismo de defensa del statu quo yque permite evitar transformaciones a la institucionalidad política vigente.
Imaging in Multisystem Complications of COVID-19 associated Coagulopathy: An Interesting Case Series
Authors: Bala Archana , Venkataraman Subramanian , Paulraj Jenikar , Gopalakrishnan Sai Shankar Mankuzhy , Balaganesan Harshavardhan
Published: September 2022

The ongoing global threat of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been an issue of escalating concern due to its propensity to cause increased morbidity and mortality. Extensive reports have emphasised chest imaging findings in patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection leading to a greater understanding of pathogenesis in the lung. There is also an added lurking pernicious propensity of the virus to cause a distinct coagulopathy attributing to the increased virulence. Further, radiologists should be aware of thromboembolic imaging findings in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this case series, authors present six cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed on nasopharyngeal Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests presenting with various systemic thromboembolic complications. The purpose of this case series is to explore diverse imaging findings in patients with COVID-19 coagulopathy.
Comparison of Open Haemorrhoidectomy and Stapled Haemorrhoidopexy: A Hospital- based Prospective Study
Authors: Parmar Alpesh J , Patel Harsh A , Joshi Amitkumar H , Ninama Shireesh M
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Open Haemorrhoidectomy (OH) is a widely used procedure. While as a novel technique, Stapled Haemorrhoidectomy (SH) is gaining worldwide recognition for its benefits, regarding treatment procedures for Haemorrhoids or piles. Aim: To compare SH technique with OH technique on the basis of postoperative parameters including pain, resumption of daily activity, hospital stay, postoperative bleeding, urinary retention and anal incontinence. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based, prospective study was conducted in Department of Surgery at SCL Hospital, Saraspur, Ahmadabad, Gujarat, India, from August 2017 to July 2018. The study included 80 patients between the age group of 20 and 70 years, diagnosed to have grade III or IV haemorrhoids. The patients were divided into two groups. Group OH included patients undergoing open haemorrhoidectomy (n=40) and Group SH included patients undergoing stapled haemorrhoidectomy (40 patients). Postoperatively, patients of both groups were reviewed at the time of discharge. All patients were given a questionnaire and data collected verbally and analysed statistically. Comparative analysis between the two groups was done based on Student’s t-test. Results: Out of the total 80 patients, 36(90%) were males and 4(10%) females in OH group whereas 35(87.5%) were males and 5(12.5%) females in SH group. The mean age of patients in the OH group was 42.2 years, while for SH the mean age was 38.5 years. In both groups, postoperative anal incontinence was not seen. Based on independent Student’s t-test, the postoperative pain (p-value=0.024), postoperative hospital stay (p-value=0.032) and duration of resumption of daily activity (p-value=0.003) parameters found to be significantly lesser in SH group as compared to OH group. However, complications observed were comparable in both the groups like postoperative bleeding, urinary retention, and anal incontinence. Conclusion: Stapled Haemorrhoidopexy is safe procedure with number of advantages in terms of short operative time and less post op complications. However, as far as recurrence rate assessment in SH technique is concerned, long term follow-ups are required.
WhatsApp Mobile Application as a Learning Tool for Teaching Dermatology to Undergraduates
Authors: Williams Abhilasha , Thomas Emy Abi , Bhatia Anuradha
Published: September 2022

Introduction: The mobile app WhatsApp is gaining popularity in Medical Education informally over the last few years because of its easy availability, instant access and ease in transferring high quality medical images. Dermatology being a highly visual subject, WhatsApp can be used as a learning tool in addition to didactic lectures. Aim: To assess the perception of undergraduate students and faculty about e-learning using WhatsApp in Dermatology. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, in August 2020 among second year undergraduate students. Two modules based on Case Based Learning (CBL) were made and posted on a dedicated WhatsApp group (including students and dermatology faculty). Students were asked to send responses to questions on the group. Students and faculty were also asked to fill a pre-structured, prevalidated feedback questionnaire to assess their perception regarding the use of WhatsApp as a learning tool. Descriptive analysis was used. Open ended questions were analyzed by thematic qualitative analysis and expressed as percentages. Results: Total 80 students participated in the study, 50 students who filled the feedback questionnaire, 30 were females, mean age of the study group was 20.25 years. Twenty seven students (54%) were of the opinion that WhatsApp was a good motivator for Self Directed Learning (SDL) while 20 (40%) of them remained neutral. Twenty nine (58%) students wanted WhatsApp as an online teaching method to be part of teaching in Dermatology. Thirty students (60%) felt WhatsApp was a flexible learning tool in terms of time and place. Among total four faculty, 3 (75%) agreed that WhatsApp was a good learning tool, increased teacher-student interaction and was a good motivator to self-directed learning. Conclusion: If used with a well-structured educational research model, WhatsApp becomes a highly effective tool in medical education.
Improving Birth Registration Using the Health System: A Case Study from Somali Region of Ethiopia
Authors: Olusola Oladeji , Farah Abdifatah Elmi , Aden Bukhari Sheik , Oladeji Anjola , Issack Adam , Mohamed Juweria , Robins Ann , Elabe Mohamed , Mohammed Abdifatah Ali
Published: September 2022

Birth registration is the process by which the event and characteristics of a child’s birth are recorded in a country’s civil registry. Ethiopia has one of the lowest levels of civil registration in general globally, and of birth registration in particular with only 3 per cent of children under the age 5 registered with civil authorities. In Somali Region of Ethiopia, only 1% of children under 5 have their births registered. A major gap identified in the civil registration system in Ethiopia is the linkage between the health and the civil registration sectors with most children delivered at the health facilities or in the communities not appropriately registered. This case study used qualitative  and quantitative methods to  describe the process and outcome of  a pilot project on   improving birth registration using the  health system (health facilities and the community health structures) in  2 project woredas (districts) in Somali region of Ethiopia where no birth had been registered more than five years prior the pilot.

Within the one-year study period, all 577 births assisted by health extension workers were provided with birth notification slips and 795 (98%) newborns have their birth registered and received birth certificates out of 809 total births reported in the project sites. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of health workers and community structure (mentor mothers) through their community sensitization and mobilization and active reporting process in facilitating registration of births in the civil registration system.
Knowledge Level of Farmers in Accessing Agricultural Information through Smartphone
Authors: Kungumaselvan T. , Theodore Ravi Kumar , Senthilkumar M. , Prathap D. Puthira , Vanitha G. , Duraisamy M. R.
Published: September 2022

The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge level of rice, millets, and cotton farmers on accessing agricultural information through smartphone. Ex Post Facto Research Design was followed in this study since it aimed to assess the knowledge level of farmers. The study was conducted during May and June 2022. It was decided to conduct the study on three types of crops representing wetland, dryland and commercial conditions, for comparison purposes. Based on maximum area under cultivation in the state, rice for wetland condition, millets for dryland condition and cotton for commercial farming were selected for the research. The study was conducted in three districts viz., Thanjavur, Salem and Virudhunagar, which were selected based on the highest area under rice, millets and cotton respectively. From each of the three districts, two blocks were selected and from the selected blocks, three villages from each block were selected for the study based on maximum area under the rice, millets, and cotton crop. Based on proportionate random sampling technique, 180 respondents were selected for the study. The responses of the respondents were subjected to frequency and percentage analysis. Most of the millet growers (90.00%), rice growers (86.67%), and cotton growers (85.00%) had low level of overall knowledge on accessing agricultural information through smartphone. Majority of the rice, millets, and cotton respondents had high level of knowledge on Uzhavan app, PM Kisan web portal, Google Pay, WhatsApp, and Google Play Store. The knowledge level could be enhanced by more promotional activities of extension workers by conducting awareness campaigns on important mobile apps and web portals related to agriculture, and by conducting trainings and demonstrations on utilizing smartphones for accessing agricultural information through browsing internet, mobile apps, and web portals.
Developing a Test to Measure the Knowledge Level of Farmers towards Market Intelligence
Authors: Ghouse L. Mohammed , Karthikeyan C. , Devi M. Nirmala
Published: September 2022

Market intelligence is a method of foreseeing what will occur in the near future. We must proceed from market data to information, and finally to market intelligence, in order to complete this process. This study attempted to develop a scale for measuring the knowledge level of farmers on market intelligence. Relevant items were gathered that covered all aspects of farmer’s market intelligence in agriculture. Thirty items were initially selected for this study and administered to 42 non-sample respondents. All of the items have been subjected to item analysis. The current study found that 12 items were chosen for the test administration based on the difficulty index, discrimination index, and point-biserial correlation. This test was found to be both valid and highly reliable (0.65). This may be used by social science researchers to assess farmers' expertise in market information as well as market intelligence.
Impact of Serum Vitamin D Status on the Outcome of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Neonates
Authors: Ayad Hebat Allah Mohammad , El-Mahdy Heba Said , Mabrouk Maaly Mohammad , Ibrahim Ashraf Mohammed
Published: September 2022

Objectives: The aim of this work was to study the status of serum vitamin D level on the outcome of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in neonates.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was carried out on 60 intubated neonates with gestational age > 32 weeks and ventilated for more than 48 h and included two groups, VAP group (n=30) and non-VAP group (n=30). Serum 25-hydroxy Vit D was tested at the start of mechanical ventilation, while blood culture and endotracheal culture were obtained after 2 days of mechanical ventilation and when VAP was suspected.

Results: The mean serum level of vitamin D in VAP group was statistically significantly lower than non-VAP group. Also, the total duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of O2 supplementation post extubation and duration of hospital stay were statistically significantly longer in VAP group. Although the mortality was higher in neonates developed VAP, it didn’t achieve a statistically significant difference. A cut off value of ≤17.35 ng/ml of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D showed a sensitivity of 83.33%, specificity of 100% and area under curve (AUC) was 0.895 to predict neonatal VAP.

Conclusion: 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency is an important risk factor for VAP development in neonates, and low vitamin D levels is associated with significant longer duration of mechanical ventilation, post extubation O2 support and hospital stay in neonates with VAP.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Their Management by Antioxidants
Authors: Koteeswaran K. , Keerthana N.
Published: September 2022

For normal cell functioning generation of ATP is very important, and it is produced by mitochondria, and they also an important organelle. When sometimes mitochondrial dysfunction occur produces high energy will be demanded, and it is critical for cells such as signal transmission between neuronal cells and also affects cardiomyocytes. Mitochondria and their role to act as power house of the cell and through reactive oxygen species they transmit signaling between molecule and also determination of cellular fate. But sometimes the reactive oxygen species generated more that time, for maintaining normal homeostatic mitochondrial function rapid activation of antioxidant defense system that is required by mitochondrial electron transport. But that time antioxidant defense system is not responded properly or absent that cause mitochondrial dysfunction is occurred at that time they produce degenerative diseases in human beings that is nervous system, and they significantly contribute to produce a cardiac pathology because mitochondria are more abundant in cardiac tissues due to mitochondrial dysfunction, and also they are involved in lung related diseases that is asbestos, lung cancer, chronic airway disease and lung fibrosis. When compared to nuclear DNA the mitochondrial DNA is more sensitive to oxidants because they encode the mitochondrial proteins. When damages to mitochondrial DNA, that case impairment occurs in electron transport chain and potential loss in mitochondrial membrane.  In this review I concluded that by, oxidative stress induced mitochondrial dysfunction produced lung related heart related and neurological related disease and their one of the way of  prevention is by antioxidant induced mitochondrial biogenesis.
Predictors and Outcome of in-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients in Emergency Department Suez Canal University Hospitals
Authors: Elnaggar Mohamed Ragab , Zeid Ahmed El Sayed Abou , Elhadary Ghada Kamal , Ahmed Rasha Mahmoud
Published: September 2022

Background: In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is defined as cessation of cardiac activity, confirmed by the absence of signs of circulation, in a hospitalized patient who had a pulse at the time of admission. The purpose of the present study was to record the definitive predictors of IHCA, focusing on the relation between cause and outcome as well as the influence of location on survival.

Subjects and Methods: This prospective observational study (cross sectional) was carried out in Emergency Department at Suez Canal University Hospital and included 223 patients experiencing IHCA at the Emergency Department (ED).

Results: Our study showed return of spontanous circulation (ROSC) rate of 27.4%, which is lower than those reported in other studies from the region. In our study, we found that the overall mean duration for comprehensive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was 21 min (SD ± 10).We found that Pulse, RR, BP, Witnessed and advanced life support (ALS) interventions at time of event were significant positive predictors to ROSC with patients while age, modified early warning score (MEWS), Interval between collapse to start CPR and CPR duration were negative predictors to cognitive impairment with diabetic patients.

Conclusions: IHCA can be predicted using different variable related to patients vital data, laboratories, radiological investigations and patient demographic data which helps in predicting and modifying the outcome in limited situations.
Comparative Evaluation of Physical and Mechanical Properties in the Radial Positions of Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Timber
Authors: Fairoosa K. , Nair Suma
Published: September 2022

This study evaluated the variation of the physical and mechanical properties within coconut timber's radial position (dermal, sub-dermal, core). Properties were studied on the 55-year-old coconut palm from KAU coconut farm Vellanikkara, in Thrissur, district Kerala. The density of coconut timber at the radial positions was 862.3 kg m-3, 670.8 kg m-3 and 287.9 kg m-3, respectively, for the dermal, sub-dermal, and core positions. The average moisture content of coconut timber in the dermal, sub-dermal, and core positions was 15.7 %, 16.6 %, and 17.5 %, respectively. Compressive strength parallel to the grain at the three radial positions such as dermal, sub-dermal, and core is 32764.77 kg cm-2, 25591 kg cm-2, 7532.35 kg cm-2, respectively, and the compressive strength perpendicular to the grain was found as 46712.42 kg cm-2, 39233.3 kg cm-2, 22353.04 kg cm-2. Hardness measured at the side and ends of the dermal position is 1207.612 kg and 767.65 kg, respectively. In the sub-dermal position, 1035.7 kg and 750.88 kg, respectively. The core position is 252.34 kg and 359.31 kg, respectively.
Waterborne Coatings Encapsulating Living Nitrifying Bacteria for Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Chen Yuxiu , Krings Simone , Beale Alexia M. J. M. , Guo Bing , Hingley‐Wilson Suzanne , Keddie Joseph L.
Published: September 2022

Biofilm bioreactors are attracting growing interest in the wastewater industry, as they allow higher cell densities and thus higher reaction rates compared to conventional bioreactors. However, some commonly used nitrifying bacteria, such as Nitrosomonas europaea, are slow‐growing and need a prolonged period of time to develop a mature biofilm. Here, a biocoating or “living paint” is introduced, which is a synthetic biofilm made from a colloidal polymer (synthetic latex) binder encapsulating viable nitrifying bacteria at high density. Conventionally, the film formation of biocoatings is achieved by drying a bacteria/latex mixture. However, this fabrication is detrimental to the viability of the encapsulated bacteria because of the osmotic stress induced by desiccation. A nondesiccating film formation process is presented for biocoatings, which exploits two colloid science phenomena: coagulation and wet sintering. Desiccation‐sensitive, nitrifying bacteria are employed in the biocoatings to convert NH4+ to NO2− and then NO3−. These biocoatings have a conversion rate (NO2− and NO3− production) of 3 mg N g−1 d−1 that is five times higher than in conventionally desiccated biocoatings. The reactivity continues over a period of 1 month. The processing method for these living paints is transformative for wastewater treatment and other applications using delicate, desiccation‐sensitive microorganisms.