bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Elected Scholars on Interfaith Harmony in Pakistan - A Research Study
Authors: Azhari Dr. Hafiz Ghulam Anwar , Alam Zahoor
Published: July 2020

Islam is a humanity based religion and unity plays of a vital role in it. It is not possible for a humane person to deny the importance of unity for a better society. It is the one thing that leads the nations of the world in the way of progress and prosperity. On the other hand chaos and anarchy is such a curse that makes a nation fall into the depths of disgrace. No enemy needs to fight such nation to defeat it. Their own internal conflicts and chaos is enough to dismantle them. Unfortunately this egoism and prejudice has reached its climax among the Muslims of Pakistan. We have failed ourselves in building a balanced progressive and welfare society based on two nation theory. Witnessing this situation many scholars from different schools of thoughts have tried their best towards the progress of inter-Muslim harmony and tolerance. In this regard they have highlighted the evil effects of chaos and positivity of unity. They have also brought forward such advises both in speech and written through which damage caused by sectarianism can be handled.
ANALYSIS OF THE IDEOLOGICAL ORIGINS OF ARMED STRUGGLE IN ISLAM
Authors: Sami Ud Din  , Muhammad Dr. Dost
Published: July 2020

Armed struggle is an issue of life- and -death judgments and that’s why it needs solid justification from ethical and religious principles. Defending human life and preserving the society from anarchy, disintegration and destruction sometimes waging armed struggle become necessary and a group of people or nation is compelled to do so. Now one of the important aspects in this regard is, in which circumstances the nation is allowed for an armed struggle. All of the major world religions provide guidelines in this domain from strong militancy to absolute pacifism and just war theory. Islam too acknowledges the right of defense and preserving life to human beings. This paper seeks to map out the ideological approaches to armed struggle in Islam. The important scriptures from the holy Quran, Narrations of the holy prophet are briefly introduced and the relevant verses are extracted and summarized in the light of exegesis.
The punishment of a Muslim blasphemer (In the context of Ibne-Abidin's opinion
Authors: Abdur Rab  , Nawaz Dr. Rab
Published: July 2020

Ibne-Abidin (1198–1252 AH / 1783–1836 CE) is one of the most prominent Jurist and Islamic scholar in the 13th century Hijri and his most valuable work in this regard is his 32 papers. He discussed in the light of Quran and Sunnah varius points and principles regarding blasphemy of prophet (PBUH) in the 15th paper. This research article will highlight Ibne Abidin opinion about Muslim blasphemer, his point of wieve on the blasphemer punishment and the main cause of this penalty. The research will further alaborate and analyse the opinion of Ibne Abidin on the repentence of muslim blasphmere and his arguments keeping in wieve the work of authentic scholars on the above mentioned topics.
Economic Professions of Women During the era of the Prophet hood
Authors: Kausar Dr. Sajeela , Akhtar Sameem
Published: July 2020

Islam is a rational religion. It puts its instructions to its followers to secure their worldly as well as eternal life. Islamic orders regarding socio-economic and family life are basically based upon the construction of such a society which not only have a successful social and economic status, rather a strong, peaceful and value based family life as well. Islam balances this social set-up by putting the financial responsibility solely on male, and domestic on female. But, this principle is much flexible as per need and situation. If, needed, Islam not only allows women to participate in economic activities, rather properly determines their rights and creates ease for her in this regard.

Women have been participating in economic activities during the golden era of the Prophet (SAW).There are many examples and various fields in which women has performed her economic contribution. This paper will highlight some of the..
Witnesses of poetry in two exegesis "Attibyan " and "qurtubi"
Authors: Muhammad Ghulam , Badshah Dr. Hafiz Muhammad
Published: July 2020

Poetry had a significance role in the Arab traditions that they used to give grave importance to poets as compared to speakers and leaders. Arabs had considered the poets as the defenders of their tribes and casts. Furthermore, it was a common praxis in Arabic tradition to celebrate the birth anniversaries of their prominent poets with dignity as the people of other tribes also used to pay commendations and aspirations on that occasions.  The quotation of the well-known and specialist of Quranic sciences , Ibne Abbas , shows the emerging strength as he said , Arabic poetry may be helpful and useful to absorb and elucidate the meanings of the Quranic words. whith reference to this importance, many interpreters of the Qur'an seek  help from arabic poetry to exegete the verses of the Holy Quran. Abū Ja'far Muḥammad Ibn Ḥasan Tūsī “995- 1067 AD” in his exegesis "Al-Tibbyan Fi Tasir al Quran " and " Imam Abu Abdullah Al-Qurtubi " , 1214 -1273 AD , in his exegesis "Jami’li-Ahkam" and "Al-Jami' li Ahkam al-Qur'an ", used many verses of Arabic poetry to interpret the verses of the Holy Quran.so in this reference, we will discuss in this article ;

poetry and its importance

promotion of " Istishhad "

models of istishhad with Arabic poetry in two exegesis
The Principles of Legal Opinion Concerning Islamic Law in Hanfi School of Thought
Authors: Chishti Ihsan Ullah , Sadiqi Khesro Ul Mulk
Published: July 2020

There are rules for everything and same goes for Fatwa where it is mandatory for every Mufti to learn the specified rules and abide by them, if he does not follow the prescribed rules his Fatwa will be considered void. One of the most common misconceptions amongst Muslims is that Shariah is the same for all the Muslims and it includes all the issues; however, in reality the texts of Shariah are not confined and it does not cover all the issues and circumstances that evolve with time, vary from place to place, and customs as well. This is the core for the need of Fatwa, for verily if Fatwa did not exist people would have face a lot of hardships regarding numerous issues. Allah Almighty does not not impose any hardship on human being in the religion. Hence, Fatwa is required for every age and era, it is necessary for every Mufti to be cautious about it because people follow the Islamic teaching according to Fatwa, and its authenticity depends upon the correctness of Fatwa and Mufti, and same goes for its incorrectness as well. In every school of thought there are specified rules and regulations for Fatwa and they abide by them. Therefore, it is obligatory for a Mufti to learn their rules and try to the best of his knowledge to avoid mistakes. The principles of Fatwa are very important, one of these principles states: Fatwa will be on preferred statement, but at the time of need. To issue a Fatwa, it is essential to have read its fundamental books. The paper discuss fatwa according to Hanafi’s school of thoughts and their specified principles which are being followed.
Una aproximación al saber de estudiantes universitarios sobre ambiente y conductas proambientales. Un estudio realizado con ingresantes a la carrera Ingeniería Agronómica en la UNLu
Authors: Abasto Patricia , Galván Matilde , Di Ciocco César
Published: July 2020

El presente trabajo se realizó con el objetivo de indagar acerca de los conocimientos sobre temas ambientales generales, los hábitos cotidianos, la predisposición hacia el cuidado del ambiente y el índice de cultura ambiental de un grupo de estudiantes ingresantes a la carrera ingeniería agronómica de la Universidad Nacional de Luján (UNLu) y consistió en una encuesta escrita, individual y anónima realizada a 81 alumnos. Los resultados obtenidos permiten afirmar que resulta necesario promover no solo la difusión de conocimientos vinculados al impacto de las actividades de producción agropecuaria sobre el ambiente natural, sino también la separación de residuos, la reutilización de materiales tales como papel, vidrios o metales, la compra de productos que sean amigables con el ambiente, la disminución del consumo de productos innecesarios, la utilización de bolsas reutilizables al hacer las compras y los desplazamientos a pie o en bicicleta y con el fin de lograr que estos hábitos puedan extenderse a un mayor número de personas. Estos resultados, sumados al interés expresado por los encuestados en participar en diferentes acciones vinculadas al cuidado del ambiente natural, invitan a pensar en la importancia de desarrollar acciones de educación ambiental desde las distintas instituciones educativas, incluida la universidad.

Abstract

The present work was carried out with the aim of inquiring about knowledge on general environmental issues, daily habits, predisposition towards caring for the environment and the index of environmental culture of a group of students entering the agronomic engineering career at the National University of Luján (UNLu) and consisted a written, individual and anonymous survey of 81 students. The results obtained confirm that it is necessary to promote not only the dissemination of knowledge related to the impact of agricultural production activities on the natural environment, but also the separation of waste, the reuse of materials such as paper, glass or metals, the purchase of products that are friendly to the environment, the decrease in the consumption of unnecessary products, the use of reusable bags when shopping and traveling on foot or by bicycle and in order to ensure that these habits can be extended to a greater number of people. These results, added to the interest expressed by the respondents in participating in different actions related to the care of the natural environment, invite us to think about the importance of developing environmental education actions from the different educational institutions, including the university.
Valoración económica de las amenidades de un cenote en Pebá, Yucatán, México
Authors: Callaghan-Capetillo Michelle Ann , Huchim-Lara Indris Guadalupe , Hernández-Cuevas Francisco Iván , Rodríguez-López Bernarda , Cantón-Duarte Montserrat G , García-Burgos Adriana
Published: July 2020

La valoración económica de los servicios ecosistémicos además de contribuir a su conservación, garantiza el uso adecuado de los recursos. En este sentido, el ecoturismo representa una fuerte alternativa para alcanzar el desarrollo rural sustentable, no obstante, es importante realizar estudios sobre la percepción económica de los turistas para fomentar y conservar los recursos naturales ligados a esta actividad. El presente trabajo se basa en el método de valor contingente para estimar la disposición a pagar por la conservación de los servicios ambientales que el cenote de Sambulá, en el Municipio de Pebá del estado de Yucatán, México, provee. El estudio es cuantitativo y de corte transversal ya que para el análisis de los resultados fue utilizado el modelo econométrico probit ordenado. Los resultados muestran que las variables procedencia local y nacional, así como el número de actividades realizadas en el centro turístico indicen de forma positiva en el aumento de probabilidades de disponer mayores cantidades de dinero para la conservación, mientras que la edad y la percepción de limpieza del lugar inciden de forma negativa.

Abstract

The economic valuation of ecosystem services contributes to their conservation and guarantees the proper use of resources. In this sense, ecotourism represents a reliable alternative to achieve sustainable rural development. However, it is essential to conduct studies on tourists' economic perceptions to promote and conserve the natural resources linked to this activity. The present work is based on the contingent valuation method to estimate the willingness to pay for the conservation of the environmental services that the waterhole of Sambulá, in the Municipality of Pebá of the state of Yucatán, Mexico, provides. The study is quantitative and cross-sectional since the ordered probit econometric model was used to analyze the data. The results show that the variables of local and national origin and the number of activities carried out in the tourist center indicate positively in the increase of probabilities of having higher amounts of money for conservation. In contrast, the age and the perception of the cleanliness of the place have a negative impact.
REVIEW ON HEALTH IMPACT OF HAZARDOUS AND SAFEST TRADITIONAL COOKWARE WITH AYURVEDIC APPROACH
Authors: Charu Bansal  , Saleha Zaina  , Vinod Parihar
Published: July 2020

Human is evolved and nourished by food so food has been given the prime importance since Vedic period, but if our food itself is polluted then how the development of health hazards can be prevented or checked. The contamination of food is a major concern especially for developing countries like India. Today, society are very careful about the selection of food but unfortunately attention has not been given about selection of cookware and the impact of these cooking utensils on health. Number of good looking cookware sets are made by very dangerous material and coated by toxic chemicals to. Most commonly used cookware sets are Aluminum, Plastic and Non-stick cookware. During cooking process these cookware sets releases many hazardous substances like Teflon, BPA, Aluminum etc., which contaminates food and ultimately reaches to the body and linked as a causative factor for many diseases like Cancer, Alzheimer's disease etc. According to FDA materials that are used to make utensils should not allow to migrate into food. Though, traditionally Earthen pots, Cast- iron, glass, bamboo and copper, stone cookware sets were in use. Those were added therapeutic value in the cooked food. Thus, attention must be needed to choose the correct utensils for cooking which should be safe and beneficial for health. In Ayurveda during the description of eight dietary principles, importance of Vasana (utensils) is mentioned under the description of Karana (processing techniques of food items). Ayurveda believes that container helps in transformation of qualities of food items. Different kinds of utensils had been shown both positive and negative effect on body. Hence, this article makes an attempt to gathered data and compiled to find the health impacts of newly evolved as well as traditional cookware options in society.
Domestic and Global Dimensions of Post-Communist Institution-Building
Authors: Sharafutdinova Gulnaz
Published: July 2020

This article reviews four recent books that inquire into the nature and challenges of institution-building in the post-communist region. The main lessons learned from this scholarship relate to the complexity of establishing effective domestic institutions securing property rights and
the role of various domestic and global factors that shape these processes. Domestic variables include political connections, bargaining power, and the nature of a social equilibrium that shapes norms, expectations, and behavior of economic actors. Global factors include structural constraints
and opportunities associated with the global financial system and institutions.
Eccentricity-paced atmospheric carbon-dioxide variations across the
middle Miocene climate transition
Authors: Raitzsch Markus , Bijma Jelle , Bickert Torsten , Schulz Michael , Holbourn Ann , Kučera Michal
Published: July 2020

Abstract. The middle Miocene climate transition ~ 14 Ma marks a fundamental step towards the current “icehouse” climate, with a ~ 1 ‰ δ18O increase and a ~ 1 ‰ transient δ13C rise in the deep ocean, indicating rapid expansion of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet associated with a change in the operation of the global carbon cycle. The variation of atmospheric CO2 across the carbon-cycle perturbation has been intensely debated as proxy records of pCO2 for this time interval are sparse and partly contradictory. Using boron isotopes (δ11B) in planktonic foraminifers from drill site ODP 1092 in the South Atlantic, we show that long-term pCO2 variations between ~ 14.3 and 13.2 Ma were paced by 400 k.y. eccentricity cycles, with decreasing pCO2 at high eccentricity and vice versa. Our data support results from a carbon-cycle model study, according to which increased monsoon intensity at high eccentricity enhanced weathering and river fluxes in the tropics, resulting in increasing carbonate and organic carbon burial and hence decreasing atmospheric CO2. In this scenario, a combination of the eccentricity-driven climatic cycle and enhanced meridional deep-ocean circulation during Antarctic ice-sheet expansion may have both contributed to the pCO2 rise following Antarctic glaciation, acting as a negative feedback on the progressing glaciation and helping to stabilize the climate system on its way to the late Cenozoic “icehouse” world.
Diagnosis toward predicting mean annual runoff in ungauged basins
Authors: Gao Yuan , Yao Lili , Chang Ni-Bin , Wang Dingbao
Published: July 2020

Abstract. The present work diagnoses the prediction in mean annual runoff affected by the uncertainty in estimated distribution of soil water storage capacity. Based on a distribution function, a water balance model for estimating mean annual runoff is developed, in which the effects of climate variability and the distribution of soil water storage capacity are explicitly represented. As such, the two parameters in the model have explicit physical meanings, and relationships between the parameters and controlling factors on mean annual runoff are established. The estimated parameters from the existing data of watershed characteristics are applied to 35 watersheds. The results showed that the model could capture 88.2 % of the actual runoff on average, indicating that the proposed new water balance model is promising for estimating mean annual runoff in ungauged watersheds. The underestimation of runoff is mainly caused by the underestimation of the spatial heterogeneity of soil storage capacity due to neglecting the effect of land surface and bedrock topography. A higher spatial variability of soil storage capacity estimated through the Height Above the Nearest Drainage (HAND) indicated that topography plays a crucial role in determining the actual soil water storage capacity. The performance of mean annual runoff prediction in ungauged basins can be improved by employing better estimation of soil water storage capacity including the effects of soil, topography and bedrock. The purpose of this study is to diagnose the data requirement for predicting mean annual runoff in ungauged basins based on a newly developed process-based model.
An analysis on temporal scaling behavior of extreme rainfall of
Germany based on radar precipitation QPE data
Authors: Pöschmann Judith Marie , Kim Dongkyun , Kronenberg Rico , Bernhofer Christian
Published: July 2020

Abstract. We investigate the depth–duration relationship of maximum rainfall over the whole of Germany based on 16 yrs of radar derived Quantitative Precipitation Estimates (namely, RADKLIM–YW, German Meteorological Service) with a space–time resolution of 1 km and 5 min. Contrary to the long–term historic records that identified a smooth power law scaling behavior between the maximum rainfall depth and duration, our analysis revealed three distinct scaling regimes of which boundaries are approximately 1.5 h and 1 d. Few extraordinary events dominate a wide range of durations and deviate to the usual power law. Furthermore, the shape of the depth–duration relationship varies with the sample size of randomly selected radar pixels. A smooth scaling behavior were identified when the sample size is small (e.g. 10 to 100), but the original three distinct scaling regimes became more apparent as the sample size increases (e.g. 1000 to 10 000). Lastly, a pixel wise classification of the depth–duration relationship of the maximum rainfall at all individual pixels in Germany revealed three distinguishable types of scaling behavior, clearly determined by the temporal structure of the extreme rainfall events at a pixel. Thus, the relationship might change with longer time series and can be improved once available.
Present-day and future Greenland Ice Sheet precipitation frequency from CloudSat observations and the Community Earth System Model
Authors: Lenaerts Jan T. M. , Camron M. Drew , Wyburn-Powell Christopher R. , Kay Jennifer E.
Published: July 2020

Abstract. The dominant mass input component of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) is precipitation, whose amounts and phase are poorly constrained by observations. Here we use spaceborne radar observations from CloudSat to map the precipitation frequency and phase on the GrIS, and we use those observations, in combination with a satellite simulator to enable direct comparison between observations and model, to evaluate present-day precipitation frequency in the Community Earth System Model (CESM). The observations show that substantial variability of snowfall frequency over the GrIS exists, that snowfall occurs throughout the year, and that snowfall frequency peaks in spring and fall. Rainfall is rare over the GrIS and only occurs in regions under 2000 m elevation and in the peak summer season. Although CESM overestimates the rainfall frequency, it reproduces the spatial and seasonal variability of precipitation frequency reasonably well. Driven by the high-emission, worst-case Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario, CESM indicates that rainfall frequency will increase considerably across the GrIS, and will occur at higher elevations, potentially exposing a much larger GrIS area to rain and associated meltwater refreezing, firn warming, and reduced storage capacity. This technique can be applied to evaluate precipitation frequency in other climate models and can aid in planning future satellite campaigns.
New Literacies for Engineering Students: Critical Reflective-Writing Practice
Authors: Badenhorst Cecile M. , Moloney Cecilia , Rosales Janna
Published: July 2020

Engineering education has long resulted in professional engineers with the required technical skills to meet the profession’s needs. Yet in today’s rapidly changing, globalised world, engineers will need more than technical competencies to meet the requirements of their professional work. Incorporating different literacies in engineering education might help with this shift. We introduce the idea of including critical reflective writing practice on the idea of being an engineer into engineering curricula. Our study explored how fourteen engineering graduate students were mentored on how to reflect critically on their professional identities through narrative writing. The students wrote the narratives while attending a pilot co-curricular Institute that focused on developing leadership, communication, and professional skill-building. We analysed the narrative writing produced by participants using the constant comparison method of analysis. Key findings show that (a) narrative methodologies are valuable for tapping into the reflective non-technical, process aspects of the profession; and (b) critical reflective writing practice was challenging for participants and required comprehensive scaffolding. If scaffolded and embedded in engineering curricula, critical reflective writing practice could contribute significantly to a 21st century engineering identity.
Writing the Literature Review: Graduate Student Experiences
Authors: Walter Lori , Stouck Jordan
Published: July 2020

Difficulties with academic writing tasks, such as the literature review, impact students’ timely completion of graduate degrees. A better understanding of graduate students’ perceptions of writing the literature review could enable supervisors, administrators, service providers, and graduate students themselves to overcome these difficulties. This paper presents a case study of graduate students at a secondary campus of a Canadian research university. It describes survey data and results from focus groups conducted between 2014 and 2015 by communications faculty, writing centre staff, and librarians. The focus group participants were Master’s and Doctoral students, including students situated within one discipline and those in interdisciplinary programs. The questions focused on the students’ experiences of writing the literature review as well as the supports both accessed and desired. Data analysis revealed four themes: (a) literature review as a new and fundamental genre; (b) literature review for multiple purposes, in multiple forms, and during multiple stages of a graduate program; (c) difficulties with managing large amounts of information; and (d) various approaches and tools are used for research and writing. Using an academic literacies approach, the paper addresses implications for campus program development and writing centre interventions and furthers research into graduate students’ experiences of writing literature reviews.
Kongo Symbols, Catholic Celebrations: Adornment and Spiritual Power in Nineteenth-Century Religious Festivals in São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Monroe Alicia L.
Published: July 2020

This paper investigates the use of religious paraphernalia based on West Central African charms in the bodily adornment of participants commemorating the festival of Our Lady of the Rosary in late nineteenth-century São Paulo, Brazil. Our Lady of the Rosary constituted a popular patron saint for Black confraternities across imperial Brazil (1822–1889). During festivals for this patron saint, West Central African forced laborers and their descendants clad themselves and their children in fine clothes and conventional symbols of orthodox Catholicism, such as crosses and rosary beads, but also with locally sourced materials and objects including pacová, olho de cabra seeds, and jaguar teeth, which referenced or constituted symbols of authority and fertility in West Central Africa. Afro-Brazilians in the city of São Paulo crafted and wore material expressions of religiosity that demonstrated engagement with Catholicism and concurrent reliance on and public celebration of spiritual knowledge from West Central Africa.
Cervical cancer related to occupational risk factors: review
Authors: Brito-Marcelino Arthur , Duarte-Tavares Rodrigo Japur , Marcelino Katienne Brito , Silva-Neto Julio Alves
Published: July 2020

Background: Occupational risk factors are associated with many types of neoplasms including cervical cancer. Objective: To review the specialized literature for evidence on the relationship between cervical cancer and exposure to occupational hazards. Methods: Literature search in electronic databases using keywords cervical cancer and occupational risk. Results: Workers occupationally exposed to tobacco, fungi or bacteria, metalworking fluids and tetrachloroethylene used in dry cleaning and for metal degreasing exhibited higher susceptibility to cervical cancer. Conclusion: Few studies sought to investigate relationships between cervical cancer and occupational hazards, which hinders the attempts at establishing a causal link.
Prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints and quality of life among administrative technicians
Authors: Lima Thiago Bezerra Wanderley e , Albuquerque Jéssica Rodrigues , Fagundes Marina Gomes , Coutinho Carina Carvalho Correia
Published: July 2020

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders comprise muscle, tendon, synovial, nerve, fascial and ligament injuries alone or combined, with a proven or not relationship with work. They manifest as pain, paresthesia, feeling of heaviness and fatigue, and may cause temporary or permanent incapacity for work. Objective: To establish the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and quality of life of administrative technicians at a public institution who used computers at work for 5 years. Methods: The sample comprised 70 administrative technicians aged 20 to 69 who used computers at work for 5 years. We analyzed the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints by means of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and quality of life with SF-36. Interviews were performed in the workplace. The data were analyzed with SPSS 20.0 and the significance level was set to 5%. Results: SF-36 domain scores were considered satisfactory for all the participants. Prevalence of pain in the past 7 days (70%) and past 12 months (77.1%) was high. The lower back was the body site most frequently involved (38.6%). Conclusion: The prevalence of pain in several body sites was high among the analyzed administrative technicians. Pain might interfere with their work and lead to sick leave spells. Clinical assessments and interventions are needed to minimize this problem.
Cardiovascular risk, lifestyle and anthropometric status of rural workers in Pardo River Valley, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Authors: Nepomuceno Patrik , Santos Carine Muniz dos , Kleinpaul William Vinicius , Santos Polliana Radtke dos , Braz Cassiane de Mendonça , Rusch Maiara Helena , Duarte Ana Paula Pohl , Pohl Hildegard Hedwig
Published: July 2020

Background: The state of health of rural workers is influenced by the living conditions to which they are subjected, including social, economic, technological and organizational aspects. Given the scarcity of studies on this population of workers, establishing their profile is necessary. Objectives: To analyze cardiovascular risk according to demographic factors and anthropometric status of rural workers under the Pardo River Valley Regional Development Council (COREDE-VRP). Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study with rural workers in five municipalities in the COREDE-VRP southern region. We administered a structured questionnaire for lifestyle socioeconomic information, physical activity and self-reported health. Anthropometric measurements, resting heart rate and electrocardiogram (ECG) were performed to analyze heart rate variability (HRV). Results: Women exhibited higher cardiovascular risk, which in turn did not differ as a function of age, marital status, socioeconomic status or lifestyle. We found a relationship between cardiovascular risk and anthropometric measurements, but not with cardiovascular variables. Conclusion: Women exhibited higher cardiovascular risk, which was not associated with marital status, socioeconomic status, alcohol use, smoking, sleep disorders or physical activity. Therefore, we emphasize the relationship between cardiovascular risk and anthropometric variables, as well as the lack of association with heart rate and autonomic imbalance.
A study on the reuse of ash from sugarcane bagasse
Authors: Hobold Monique Carrer , Matos Alex Hahn , Silva Karen Amorin da , Duarte Glaucea Warmeling
Published: July 2020

The generation of large amounts of ash from sugarcane bagasse by its producing countries is becoming a worldwide-problem. Its irregular application, such as in fertilizers, contaminates soil and water, causing a great environmental problem. Studies show it is possible to apply ash in some specific areas, such as replacement of portland cement, replacement of clay, as an adsorbent, in the treatment and stabilization of soils, in the pavement of road asphalt, among others. The objective of the present article is to evaluate which are the most promising areas for the use of sugarcane bagasse ash. The work was developed with a bibliographic search, using the bibliometrics technique. The results obtained show that it is possible to use ash in several different areas. However, having a detailed study of the characteristics of the ash obtained is important, because they are directly related to the regions and climates where sugarcane is cultivated, besides its granulometry, collection time the ashes in the boilers, pHs, curing time, etc. In conclusion, results can be very different for the same application area, depending on the properties of the ash obtained.
Primary tuberculosis of the breast: A rare case
Authors: Gaxa Luvo , Elliot Hlatshwayo Bafana
Published: July 2020

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a very common entity that is predominant in the developing countries. However, coming across TB of the breast is a rare, exceptional and an exciting experience. Primary breast TB incidence is reported to range between 0.025 and 0.1% in the developed countries compared to the incidence of breast TB in the developing countries which is approximated at 3–4.5% of TB cases. The breast is generally labeled as the body organ which is structured in such a manner that its environment is not conducive for the multiplication of the bacilli.
Case Report: A case of a 32-year-old female presented with an occasionally painful left breast and left axillary lumps over a period of two months duration. She had been well with no remarkable past medical history. There is no history of previous trauma and she was not exposed to people with TB at home and at work. There are no respiratory system signs of TB. Biopsies of the left breast lump as well as that of the left axillary lump were performed and the diagnosis of TB breast and the left axillary was clinched. The patient was then put on anti-TB treatment.
Conclusion: There are no specific clinical or radiological features of TB of breast. The final diagnosis of breast TB is made though histopathological findings. The radiological investigations help with the characterization of the extent of the lesions.
Intrapelvic trauma by metallic wire: Surgical challenges faced
Authors: Moura Diogo , Monico Jose , Freitas Joao , Figueiredo Antonio
Published: July 2020

Introduction: Penetrating pelvic trauma is rare and presents as one of the most difficult challenges to trauma surgeons.
Case Report: We present an unusual case of a 23-year-old male suffering a penetrating pelvic trauma by a projected metal wire. The wire was found in intrapelvic location, caused no internal organs injury and was safely removed using a Pfannenstiel extended approach.
Conclusion: Preoperative assessment of foreign body position is mandatory to set-up an efficient surgical procedure. The surgeon must have a profound knowledge of pelvic anatomy in order to choose the best option for the foreign body removal without any iatrogenic lesions.
Prevalence of weak D phenotype among D negative C/E+ blood donors in Morocco
Authors: EL Wafi Mariam , EL Housse Houria , Nourichafi Nadia , Bouisk Kamal , Benajiba Mohamed , Habti Norddine
Published: July 2020

Aims: Determination of D variants is important for selection of blood products and to prevent anti-D-related hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. The prevalence of weak D phenotypes varies significantly among different ethnic populations. In Morocco, D variants have not been fully characterized. The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence of weak D among D negative and C/E+ blood donors and distribution of Rhesus blood group antigens using serologic methods. Methods: A total of 15,865 blood samples from Moroccan blood donors were tested for D, C, c, E, e antigens by routine serologic methods. Among blood donors serologically D negative C+ and/or E+, 63 samples were tested for weak D by indirect antiglobuline test, enzymatic treated cells test and adsorption elution technique. Results: Among 63 samples tested, 10 were positive by serologic methods (15.87%). Six samples identified as weak D by enzymatic test and four samples identified as Del by adsorption elution. Rhesus blood group antigens are distributed as DCcee: 38.85% and dccee :8.77%. Conclusion: The prevalence of D variants must be considered in transfusional and obstetrical strategy for RhD typing to ensure blood transfusion safety by optimizing the management of D-negative RBC units and Rh immune globulins.
Bombay blood phenotype: Laboratory detection and transfusions recommendations
Authors: Suraci Nicholas , Mora Maximo
Published: July 2020

Four main blood types routinely identified today are A, B, AB, and O. Universal donors have type "O" blood, and have no "A" or "B" antigens. In turn, no blood reactions will occur in recipients. Conversely, universal recipients having type "AB" blood will have no antibodies to the "A" or "B" antigens. Bombay phenotype has no "A" or "B" antigens, classifying it as "O" blood type. Furthermore, Bombay phenotype lacks expression of the H antigen, which is present on every blood cell. When mixed with any type of blood other than Bombay blood, hemolytic reactions occur. A 55-year-old male had his blood typed and screened after trauma activation for an eye injury. On forward grouping, the patient was identified as blood type "O". On reverse grouping, agglutination occurred. Laboratory procedures were evaluated and an expanded antigen panel was performed which confirmed this agglutination, which led to the suspicion of a rare blood type. The patient did not require blood transfusion and was further evaluated by New York Blood Center where the diagnosis of Bombay Phenotype was confirmed. This case emphasizes the importance of proper laboratory investigations for rare blood types, preventative strategies, as well as management of Bombay blood type.
Serosurvey of human T cell lymphotropic virus I/II among blood donors in Gombe (Nigeria)
Authors: Mohammed Manga Mohammed , Fowotade Adeola , Yuguda Saleh , Ahmed Iya Girei , Yahaya Mohammed , Munkaila Sheriff Yakubu , Ewean Chukwuma Omoruyi , Musa Yola Ibrahim , Ajani Bakare Rasheed
Published: July 2020

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of human T cell lymphotropic virus I/II (HTLV I/II) among blood donors at the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTHG), North-eastern, Nigeria.
Methods: A total of 355 blood donors were recruited at the hematology department of FTHG for a hospital based cross-sectional study and were screened/confirmed for HTLV I/II by ELISA and western blot methods.
Results: Seroprevalence of HTLV I/II among the 355 participants with mean age of 30.77 years (±8.27) was 6.5% on screening with ELISA but confirmed to be 0% by western blot. Majority were males, 352 (99.2%) and mostly (45.9%) between 21–30 years of age. Donors for family replacements predominated (85.1%) with more than half (58.6%) being first time blood donors.
Conclusion: This study reveals the absence of HTLV I/II among blood donors in Gombe North-eastern Nigeria. It also highlights the possibility of false positivity in some of the reported prevalence of HTLV I and II from some parts of Nigeria that were based on screening tests only. The importance of confirmatory testing in all research works on HTLV (including HTLV 3 and HTLV 4) is further strengthened with this study. There is however the need for a larger study and the use of molecular diagnostics to reconfirm this assertion.
Preparation of red cell concentrates in low-income countries: Efficacy of whole blood settling method by simple gravity in Burkina Faso
Authors: Sawadogo Salam , Nébié Kompingnin , Kafando Eléonore , Millogo Tieba , Ouattara Siaka , Dahourou Honorine , Ouédraogo Georges , Nana Sibiri , Deneys Véronique
Published: July 2020

Aim: This study aims to describe the characteristics of the red cell concentrates (RCCs) produced by whole blood settling in Burkina Faso.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the blood centers of Ouagadougou and Koudougou between 12th February and 15th March 2015. 427 blood units selected at Koudougou and divided into three groups were processed by settling method over three durations (methods I = 36–48 h, II = 48–72 h and III = 72–96 h). Other 139 units selected at Ouagadougou were processed by centrifugation (method IV). The RCCs units' characteristics were described by the mean of their hematocrit, volume, hemoglobin level and content. The residual plasma level, the hematocrit yield and the hematocrit concentration ability (ability of method to raise hematocrit in comparison with whole blood) have been used to assess methods efficacy.
Results: The volume and hemoglobin content of overall units met standard requirements. 2.1%, 14.2% and 27.7% of units respectively issued from methods I, II, III had hematocrit over 50%. The average volume (mL) was 372.88, 357.91, 350.30 and 332.26 respectively for method I to IV (p<0.05). The mean hematocrit (%) was respectively 45.42, 47.41, 48.24 and 62.28 (non-significant difference between methods II and III). The hematocrit concentration ability was respectively 1.14, 1.22, 1.24 and 1.51 and the proportion of residual plasma 0.39, 0.33, 0.30 and 0.09.
Conclusion: The RCCs obtained by settling method did not meet all standards. But we can hypothesize that they would be more effective and safe for patients. However, it is necessary to undertake further studies to verify it.
Comparative study of two automated pre-transfusion testing systems (microplate and gel column methods) with standard tube technique
Authors: Ono Takako , Ohto Hitoshi , Yasuda Hiroyasu , Hikichi Rie , Kawabata Kinuyo , Minakawa Keiji , Ono Satoshi , Kikuchi Masami , Sugawara Akiko , Saito Shunnichi , Takano Nozomi , E. Nollet Kenneth
Published: July 2020

Aims: Clinically significant antibodies may become undetectable and still provoke transfusion reactions. Hemolysis has been reported among transfusion recipients with anti-Kidd that was undetectable by gel column but detectable by other methods.
Methods: We compared two automated technologies - microplate (MP) and gel column (GC) methods - with manual methods in ABO/RhD typing, irregular antibody screening, identification, titration, and detection threshold of mixed-field agglutination. Results: Automated systems agreed generally with tube results in 98% or more of ABO forward and RhD groupings, but showed weaker reactions in ABO reverse testing against A1 (K=0.88 with MP and K=0.77 with GC) and B cells (K=0.66 with MP and K=0.68 with GC) and failed to detect some anti-A (2 of 273 samples with MP) and anti-B (2 of 273 with MP and 1 of 272 with GC). MP missed 2 (anti-E and –Fyb) of 8 antibodies and GC missed 5 (2 anti-E and 1 each of -Fyb, -Jka and –Lea) of 10 antibodies, which manual PEG-IAT detected. Among 11 known alloantibodies, MP detected 7 antibodies at higher dilution than tube PEG-IAT, whereas GC showed lower scores in 7 samples than tube PEG-IAT and missed 2 clinically significant antibodies (anti-C and anti-Fyb).
Conclusion: Automated systems, comparable to manual tube technique for forward grouping of ABO and RhD, are less sensitive in ABO reverse testing. As GC more often failed to detect clinically significant antibodies of low-titer, users should be especially mindful of possible post-transfusion hemolysis.
Mediating Role of Employee Decision on Relationship Between Employee Separation Planning and Retirement Preparedness in Kenya
Authors: Gathiira Githaiga , Muathe Stephen , Kilika James
Published: July 2020

Globally, majority of employees particularly from public institutions are associated with poverty during retirement despite living well during employment life. Retirement preparedness is viewed as a deliberate planning process by an individual and ought to start a long while before actual organization – employee separation. It is therefore important to relook at the concept of employee separation planning and retirement preparedness when it is mediated by employee decision which is integral to the life mastery of control that an individual exhibit. The target population was 1,238 teachers aged 50 years and above and employed in public secondary schools in Kenya by 2017. A representative sample of 334 respondents was selected using multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using semi structured questionnaire and interview guide. Logit regression was used to establish the relationships between variables in the study and to test the null hypotheses at P ≤ 0.05 and 95% confidence level. The study found that employee decision making had partial mediating effect on the relationship between employee separation planning and retirement preparedness. The study recommended the government and the employer organizations to enact frameworks that encourages and stimulates employees to make decisions to engage in programmes geared towards separation planning for successful retirement preparedness.
English for Medical Purposes Should Not Be Silent: Promoting Intercultural Communication of EMP in China
Authors: Lu Yangyang
Published: July 2020

With the rapid growth of academic cooperation of medical science between China and the world, there has been an increasing demand of intercultural communication in English for medical purposes (EMP) in China. For a long time, people in China have attached importance to reading and writing in EMP while neglecting the listening and speaking ability of medical students. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the situation of intercultural communication between Chinese doctors and foreign patients and explain the significance of verbal communication in EMP. Based on data collected from discourse cases in Chinese medical settings, this paper demonstrates that EMP in China should pay more attention to the three critical elements: medical jargon, contextualized language, and cultural difference, and analyzes the significance of three elements through qualitative research. This paper also explores underlying reasons of intercultural communication failure between Chinese doctors and foreign patients, and helps to develop the idea that EMP teaching in China should not be silent.
Predictors of prostate bed recurrence on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with rising prostate-specific antigen after radical prostatectomy
Authors: Nasser Nicola J. , Chernyak Victoria , Shankar Viswanathan , Garg Madhur , Bodner William , Kalnicki Shalom , Klein Jonathan
Published: July 2020

Introduction: Radical prostatectomy (RP) is a standard treatment modality for localized prostate cancer. Biochemical failure after RP is usually evaluated with whole body imaging to exclude distant metastatic disease, and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect local recurrence in the prostatectomy bed. The goal of this study is to correlate disease characteristics and demographic data in patients with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after RP to determine association with MRI-detected cancer recurrence.

Methods: Sixty-four patients who underwent pelvic MRI for rising PSA after RP and had complete clinical and pathological data available were included. Using Chi-squared testing, we analyzed PSA levels, pathological disease characteristics (prostate cancer risk group, Gleason score, extracapsular extension, positive surgical margin, seminal vesicle involvement, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and PSA level before MRI), time from surgery to biochemical failure, and patient demographic characteristics as potential predictors of MR-detected local recurrence.

Results: Definite MRI-detected local recurrence was observed in 17/64 patients (27%). Eleven (17%) patients had a suspicious lesion with the differential of scarring, retained seminal vesicle, or recurrent cancer. Thirty-six (56%) patients had no evidence of tumor in the prostate bed or pelvis on MRI. Patient race was associated with likelihood of detecting a prostate nodule on MRI (p=0.04), with African-American patients having 82% lower odds of MRI-detected tumor recurrence compared with White patients (p=0.045). No other tumor or patient characteristic was significantly associated with MRI-detected recurrence.

Conclusions: African-American patients with biochemical failure after RP are less likely to have MRI-detectable recurrence in the prostate bed compared with White patients.