bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and pattern of dyslipidemia among patients with ischemic stroke in a tertiary care center in south- south Nigeria
Authors: Chibuike Eze Nwafor  , Nicole Onep-Onne Ogbak
Published: April 2024

Background: Stroke is a major public health problem worldwide. Dyslipidemia is a significant risk factor for ischemic stroke, but its prevalence and characteristics in this population remain understudied. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the prevalence and patterns of dyslipidemia among individuals diagnosed with ischemic stroke in a tertiary care center in South-South Nigeria. Materials and Method: This is a retrospective hospital-based study on Ischaemic stroke patients admitted to GoodHeart Medical Consultant Hospital, Port- Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria, from July 2022 to June 2023. Results: The study comprised 33 subjects consisting of 18(54.5%) males and 15(45.5%) females. The mean age of the total population was 62.6 ± 12.49. The most prevalent age group was elderly (>61 years) 20 (60.6%). The females were older than the males with a mean age of 64.1 ± 2.50 and 61.3 ± 12.69 respectively. The overall prevalence of dyslipidaemia was 97%, whereas the most common form of dyslipidaemia was reduced HDL (57.6%). There was no significant difference in dyslipidaemia among male and female stroke patients, nevertheless 63.6% of the males had dyslipidaemia. Conclusion: Dyslipidaemia was common in the overall study population particularly reduced HDL and elevated LDL. The study revealed no statistically significant difference between gender and dyslipidaemia in stroke patients, nevertheless dyslipidaemia was more in the male stroke patients than females. Hence, prevention of dyslipidaemia as well as other risk factors is key to reducing the burden of stroke in our country.
Network Analysis Revealed the Role of Helplessness as a Central Feature Among Late-Life Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Stage Dementia
Authors: Hong Sumin , Cha Eun Jung , Moon Yeonsil , Ryu Seung-Ho , Jeon Hong Jun
Published: April 2024

Objective It has been reported that depressive symptoms in older adults are different from those in younger adults, especially when accompanied by cognitive decline. However, few studies have investigated the network structure of depressive symptoms in this population.Methods The participants consisted of 627 older adults (>60 yr) who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early stage dementia. Among them, 36.7% were male and the mean age was 76.20±7.71 years. The Korean form of Geriatric Depression Scale (KGDS) was used to evaluate their depressive symptoms and network analyses were performed using bootnet R-package to identify the central features among depressive symptoms.Results Of all the KGDS items, we found that KGDS 2 (often feel helpless) had the highest node strength followed by KGDS 21 (in good spirits), KGDS 14 (not confident at all), and KGDS 15 (cheerful and happy). In terms of node betweenness, KGDS 2 also showed the highest value. The edge weights of edges connected to node KGDS 2 were strongest in KGDS 3 (restless and fidgety) and KGDS 28 (easily get tired).Conclusion In this study, we presented which symptoms are central among the elderly with MCI and early stage dementia. This result not only increases the understanding of depressive symptoms in this group but would also help determine target symptoms in the treatment program.
Effects of Narrative Exposure Therapy for Treating Depressive and Anxious Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Geng Chen , Zhang Miao , Zhang Lily , Yin Hai , Wang Suyun
Published: April 2024

Objective Narrative exposure therapy (NET) has been used in various contexts for the treatment of the effects of trauma, with promising results in clinical trials. However, its effects on anxiety and depression are still unclear. The present study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of NET on depression and anxiety.Methods The Embase, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, Web of Science core collection, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Database, and Wangfang databases were searched from the earliest records to March 2023. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, evaluated the risk of bias, and cross-checked the data. Meta-analysis was performed using the program RevMan 5.3.Results Eleven randomized controlled trials with a total of 754 participants were included in the study. The results showed that NET reduced both the depression (standard mean difference [SMD]=-0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.73–-0.29, p<0.00001) and anxiety (SMD=-0.65, 95% CI -1.13–-0.18, p=0.007) scores of the patients. Furthermore, NET was found to alleviate negative emotions associated with guilt (mean difference [MD]=-3.60, 95% CI -5.52–-1.68, p=0.0005) and negative change (MD=-5.80, 95% CI -9.76–-1.83, p=0.004).Conclusion This analysis showed that NET can alleviate depression and anxiety. It may thus be used in clinical settings to alleviate patients’ negative feelings and aid their overall recovery.
Impact of Omicron-Variant SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Depression and Anxiety: A Community-Based Study in Korea
Authors: Kwon Youngsook , Park Jina , An Eunkyoung , Jung Sukyoung , Kweon Kukju
Published: April 2024

Objective This study seeks to evaluate the association between the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the severity of depression and anxiety in the Korean community during the period dominated by the Omicron variant.Methods We used data from the 2022 Daejeon Mental Health Survey, involving data of 985 participants aged 19–69 years. The data collected included SARS-CoV-2 infection experience, days post-infection, and depression and anxiety symptoms evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7, respectively. Additionally, physical health, social activity status, and sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, age, marital status, educational level, and household income were collected. The association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and depression and anxiety were examined. Further analyses explored association between days post- infection and the severity of depression and anxiety.Results There was no significant correlation between SARS-CoV-2 infection and depression and anxiety in the overall population. Notably, participants under 50 years of age exhibited a transient worsening of depression and anxiety, followed by a decrease in symptoms within 40 days. Participants aged 51 years and older showed no significant change in depression and anxiety.Conclusion This study discerned transient effects of Omicron variant infection on depression and anxiety, particularly in younger individuals. A prospective study encompassing a larger sample size is imperative to investigate the influence of SARS-CoV-2 infection on depression and anxiety.
The Impact of Prolonged Duration of Untreated Illness on Clinical Correlates in Chronic Schizophrenia: Exploring the Relationship With Suicide Risk
Authors: Zhang Ke , Wang Chenxi , Gou Lei , Li Yaxi , Li Cui , Luo Guoshuai , Zhang Xiangyang
Published: April 2024

Objective Studies on duration of untreated psychosis are common in patients with schizophrenia, but few studies have investigated the relationship between duration of untreated illness (DUI) and suicide, especially in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Therefore, we intended to investigate the relationship between DUI and suicide and clinical correlates in patients with chronic schizophrenia.Methods A total of 1,555 Chinese patients with chronic schizophrenia were enrolled in this study. DUI was measured in years, reflecting the prolonged untreated periods observed in this population. Clinical correlates were assessed, including symptoms, cognitive functioning, and body mass index. Suicidal ideation and attempts were also examined. Statistical analyses, including multivariate models, were employed to investigate the associations between DUI and clinical correlates while controlling for potential confounders.Results The study revealed a significant proportion (23.3%) of patients with chronic schizophrenia in China received their first treatment after a 4-year delay, with the longest untreated duration reaching 39 years. Patients with longer DUI exhibited more severe negative symptoms, lower immediate memory scores, a higher likelihood of being overweight, and surprisingly, a reduced likelihood of suicidal ideation and attempts. Each additional year of untreated illness was associated with a 3% decrease in the risk of suicidal ideation and attempts.Conclusion The findings underscore the prevalence of extended untreated periods in Chinese patients with chronic schizophrenia and highlight the impact of DUI on negative symptoms, cognitive function, and body weight. Intriguingly, a longer DUI was associated with a lower risk of suicidal ideation and attempts.
Novinari kao odgovorne osobe kod povrede časti i ugleda
Authors: Galiot Mijo , Brizić Bahun Vanesa
Published: April 2024

Tema su rada novinari kao odgovorne osobe u kaznenim i građanskim postupcima koji se vode radi zaštite časti i ugleda povrijeđenih informacijom objavljenom u medijima. Stoga je u kratkim crtama izložen odnos prava na zaštitu časti i ugleda i slobode izražavanja s obzirom na posebnu ulogu i položaj novinara. U nastavku su analizirana pravila koja uređuju neposrednu odgovornost novinara posebno u svakom od navedenih postupaka kako bi se utvrdilo je li postojeće zakonodavno rješenje odgovarajuće u shvaćanju i primjeni u sudskoj praksi, a imajući u vidu i izražena načela Europskog suda za ljudska prava. Posebno je obrađeno pitanje potrebe daljnje dekriminalizacije kod kaznenih djela protiv časti i ugleda. Također su analizirane posljedice tumačenja određenih zakonskih odredbi Zakona o medijima i Zakona o obveznim odnosima u sudskoj praksi i njihov utjecaj na pravni položaj novinara uz prijedlog mogućih rješenja uočenih problema.
Harnessing Blockchain to Transform Healthcare Data Management
Authors: Treiblmaier Horst , Rejeb Abderahman , Gault Mike , Khurshid Anjum , Norta Alex , Poteet Jim , Sivagnanam Suresh
Published: April 2024

The proper management of healthcare data is a complex endeavor that needs to balance the requirements and interests of many stakeholders. Previous research has identified and detailed many innovative blockchain-based use cases, but the current state of healthcare data management is still far from perfect. In this paper we present the findings from a panel discussion with healthcare professionals, who elaborate on the current situation in healthcare data management as well as the future role that blockchain can play in this sector. Based on the findings of this panel, we structure the research field of healthcare data management in a comprehensive framework and provide numerous avenues for future research. The outcome is a framework that highlights the important role of patients and their sensitive data, structured into several areas. From a patients’ perspective, we specifically elaborate on trust and privacy as well as the expected benefits. Additionally, four important data properties are identified: integrity, security, sharing and transfer, and interoperability. We outline the importance of the respective areas and derive several timely and important research questions that form the foundation of a future research agenda for blockchain-driven innovation in healthcare data management.
Implementasi Metode Kano dan Importance Performance Analysis pada Pengembangan Sistem Pelayanan Puskesmas
Authors: Anisah Siti
Published: April 2024

Puskesmas is a community health service. Improving public health services can be achieved through providing excellent and quality health services. In terms of the performance of the puskesmas administrative services, there is no information system for processing patient data, which has an impact on the quality of services in the puskesmas. The aim of this research is to create a web-based knowledge management system that assesses the quality of health services provided by health centers. This will measure the gap between the actual performance of the Puskesmas, patient expectations, and the level of satisfaction experienced by patients. The system will also propose alternative solutions to increase patient satisfaction. in improving the quality of services provided by Community Health Centers. The methods used in the research are Importance and Performance Analysis (IPA) and the Kano method. The reason for choosing the IPA method is because IPA can be used to measure respondents' mastery of research attributes and can also measure the importance of an attribute based on respondents' perceptions. This research uses the Kano technique to categorize the features of a product or service based on their ability to fulfill customer desires effectively. The result of this research is a Knowledge Management System designed for Community Health Center services, which has the potential to reduce knowledge gaps.
Investigating companies' commitment to inclusive corporate culture preservation
Authors: Schabasser Christina
Published: April 2024

Diversity and inclusion are important metrics for employers to build a reputation as an employer of choice. However, existing literature provides an ambiguous understanding of the topic, as debates among scholars regarding the actual impacts of diversity on the performance of organizations are ongoing. In this regard, this study surveyed 173 employees to obtain an honest picture of how they perceived their employers' commitment to preserving diversity and inclusion at work. This study found that many respondents were unsure of the inclusive practices their employers carried out due to gaps between what their employers promised to deliver and what they actually delivered.
I.N. Kolesnikov, K.VThe Russian Federation during the period of constitutional construction in 1992—1993
Authors: Kolesnikov Ilya , Kasparyan Konstantin , Dyachenko Olga
Published: April 2024

This article is devoted to the analysis of the development of the constitutional process in the Russian Federation in the early 1990s. The authors examine the features of Russia's domestic political development in 1992-1993, explore the causes and consequences of the political confrontation between the highest executive and legislative authorities in the country, study the ideological platforms and economic priorities of the warring parties, their policy regarding relations with regional elites, explore the political concept, which served as the basis for the development of the Constitution of the Russian Federation in 1993 and justify the need for amendments (2020, summer).
The evolution of rural culture in the North Caucasus region in the 1920s: the role of the Komsomol
Authors: Shitova Anastasia , Slezin Anatoly
Published: April 2024

The history of the Russian peasantry by referring to the unique period of transformations in the village way of life and its traditional institutions is an urgent problem of peasant studies. Based on the materials of the North Caucasian region, the article shows the impact of the Komsomol activities on changes in the daily life of peasants in the South of Russia in the 1920s. In particular, much attention is paid to: revealing the role of youth in transformations; changes in family life; equality of women as an ideological principle; links between religion and women’s “emancipation”, including national areas; the use of new forms of leisure and sports among women and youth; mass character and organization as main principles of work.
“Tarikh-i-Rashidi” by M.Kh. Dulati as a source on the history of the Kazakh Khanate
Authors: Maxutova Albina , Dyusenova Nursulu , Toraigyrov Yerzhan , Kudaibergenuly Bolat , Zhumatay Samat
Published: April 2024

Analyzing the works of scientists who conducted the research, based on the data of the well-known classical work by M.Kh. Dulati “Tarikh-i-Rashidi” associated with the Kazakh Khanate, we can find answers to many questions that interest us. First of all, M.Kh. Dulati noted the most valuable information about the creation of the Kazakh Khanate. He understood the responsibility to future generations and, for that reason, he substantiated the year of the foundation of the Kazakh Khanate, the period of the reign of the Kazakh sultans.
The Kolomna Machine-Building Plant during the First World War: manufacturing of military and civilian products
Authors: Sergomasov Mikhail , Murzak Natalia
Published: April 2024

The article presents the peculiarities of the Kolomna Machine-Building Plant during the First World War. The process of expanding production is shown by increasing the production of steam locomotives for military field railways, medium-speed piston engines for navy ships and submarines, as well as new products for the enterprise - artillery shells, machines for the production of barbed wire, machine-gun carriages, marching infantry and artillery kitchens.
DiGRA 2024 Extended Abstract: Compliance with loot box regulation in the UK, the Netherlands, China, South Korea, and Taiwan
Authors: Xiao Leon Y.
Published: April 2024

The results of companies' compliance with the aforementioned requirements will be assessed through fieldwork in five regions (China, South Korea, Taiwan, the UK, and the Netherlands) examining the 100 highest-grossing games in each of those regions. The highest-grossing games in each region will be analysed in detail to identify loot boxes and any compliance measures that have been implemented. We would be able to learn how prevalent loot boxes are across different regions, which helps our international understanding of the issue. Importantly, the results can inform the policymakers of those regions whether their rules are being effectively complied with and enforced. In addition, the lawmakers of other countries considering similar regulations could also benefit from these insights on implementation, compliance, and enforcement.
DiGRA 2024 Extended Abstract: Illegal loot box advertising on social media: An analysis of Meta and TikTok ad libraries
Authors: Xiao Leon Y.
Published: April 2024

As to conclusions, the present study found that the vast majority of video game ads on social media platforms failed to disclose that the game being advertised offered in-game purchases and loot boxes in particular. Companies need to better understand their legal obligations when advertising video games offering loot boxes. Players and parents need additional protection. As this remains a work-in-progress, during the presentation at DiGRA, further reflections on the results will be shared, including how the adverts also broke other advertising rules, such as failing to accurately depict gameplay or by objectifying women.
A Review of the Migration of Hydrogen from the Planetary to Basin Scale
Authors: Lodhia Bhavik , Peeters Luk , Frery Emanuelle
Published: April 2024

The occurrence of natural hydrogen and its sources have been reviewed extensively in the literature over the last few years, with current research across both academia and industry focused on assessing the feasibility of utilising natural hydrogen as an energy resource. However, gaps remain in our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the large-scale transport of hydrogen and migration through the deep and shallow Earth and within geological basins. Due to the unique chemical and physical properties of hydrogen, the timescales of migration within different areas of Earth vary from billions to thousands of years. Within the shallow Earth, diffusive and advective transport mechanisms are dependent on a wide range of parameters including geological structure, microbial activity, and subsurface environmental factors. Hydrogen migration through different media may occur from geological timescales to days and hours. We review the nature and timescale of hydrogen migration from the planetary to basin-scale, and within both the deep and shallow Earth. We explore the role of planetary accretion in setting the hydrogen budget of the lower mantle, discuss conceptual frameworks for primordial or deep mantle hydrogen migration to the Earth's surface and evaluate the literature on the lower mantle's potential role in setting the hydrogen budget of rocks delivered from the deep Earth. We also review the mechanisms and timescales of hydrogen within diffusive and advective, fossil versus generative and within biologically moderated systems within the shallow Earth. Finally, we summarise timescales of hydrogen migration through different regions within sedimentary basins.
Quantifying water availability in basins holding the majority of global lithium resources
Authors: Kirshen Alexander , Moran Brendan James , Munk Lee , Russo Aeon , McKnight Sarah , Jenckes Jordan , Corkran Daniel , Bresee Magdalen , Boutt David
Published: April 2024

Demand for lithium is expected to increase by as much as 40 times over the coming decades. More than half the world’s lithium resources are found in brine aquifers at the intersection of Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. As lithium exploration increases, accurate estimates of water availability are critical for water management decisions, particularly in this region home to communities and ecosystems relying on limited water resources. We develop the first region-specific water availability assessment with 28 active, near-production, and prospective lithium-producing basins. We modify the AWARE method by re-calculating availability minus demand using a novel available water approach and evaluate the impacts of freshwater use from future lithium mining. Our results reveal that commonly used hydrologic models overestimate streamflow by as much as 6000%, leading to inaccurate water scarcity classifications. We also find that, on average, water availability could decrease by 8-107% depending on lithium production quantity and processing technology.
Evaluating the General Psychopathological Factor (p-Factor) using the DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure in the General Population
Authors: Soda Takafumi , Toyama Asako , Takeda Mizuho , Kunisato Yoshihiko , Yamashita Yuichi
Published: April 2024

The general psychopathological factor, referred to as the p-factor, is gaining increasing attention because it contributes to the elucidation of pathophysiology and development of treatments. However, indicators for eciently measuring the p-factor in a brief and simple manner are lacking. This study examined the DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure (DSM-XC) as a potential tool for assessing the p-factor. The DSM-XC is a brief and comprehensive screening tool for a broad spectrum of mental disorders; yet its utility and psychometric properties for measuring the p-factor have not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the reliability and validity of the DSM-XC as a scale for measuring the p-factor. A total of 985 participants from clinical and non-clinical populations responded to the DSM-XC and questionnaires related to various mental disorders. The results indicated that the total DSM-XC score had sucient test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and convergent validity. Factor analysis revealed that the DSM-XC can account for several specific factors, including internalizing symptoms and thought disorders, in addition to the general factor of psychopathology. These findings suggest that the DSM-XC is a valuable tool for measuring the p-factor in a short time. This convenient tool is expected to contribute to the development of alternative diagnostic systems for mental disorders, thus enhancing our understanding of psychopathology.
Compendium of risks, resources and resilience: Interactive data visualisation
Authors: Nieuwenhuis Rense , Thaning Max , Bartova Alzbeta , Van Lancker Wim
Published: April 2024

The concept of resilience is increasingly prominent in the policy discourse of the EU and its member states. It’s conceptualisation and monitoring, however, remain under-developed (Bartova et al., 2023; Nieuwenhuis et al., 2023) – in particular when applied to social issues related to inequalities and families. In this deliverable, we present an interactive visualisation of socio-economic risks, resources, and resilience among families in Europe, alongside descriptive evidence of social policies. Resilience is typically defined around two main concepts: (1) exposure to a risk, and an (2) outcome (Mohaupt, 2009). We defined resilience as absence of a negative (socio-economic) outcome despite exposure to a risk factor (Nieuwenhuis et al., 2023). A determining factor for the ability to cope with negative risk factors are people’s resources. We expect that people with resources are better equipped to absorb risks or adapt to a risk factor and thus avoid a negative outcome. However, people do not live in isolation but tend to form families and/or households. There is a considerable variation in family forms and households, which necessarily shapes the risks individuals and families are facing as well as the resources available to them. In other words, families differ in their exposure to risk and their ability to deal with this risk through their resources, which then lead to different outcomes. We argue that when the concept of resilience is applied to social issues, it should explicitly acknowledge that there are socio-economic inequalities between different families, including the extent to which families are exposed to risks, have the resources to respond to those risks, and how this results in varying socio-economic outcomes.For the deliverable documented here, we compiled individual level survey data from EU-SILC and transformed them into an interactive visualisation to demonstrate how risks, resources and socio-economic inequalities vary across European families and households. To contextualise the variation in risks, resources and outcomes, we also included a visualisation of a wide range of social policies. The visualisation itself is the deliverable D2.3 and is accessible through the rEUsilience website (http://www.reusilience.eu/compendium).
Strengthening Bangladesh-Russia Relations for Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Rahman Md. Sayedur
Published: April 2024

At present, Bangladesh and Russia have a special relationship. It is proven that Russia is a tested and trusted friend of Bangladesh. From the very beginning of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state, Russia has always stood by its welfare and development. Establishing diplomatic ties since 1972, bilateral relations have not always been smooth due to a lack of political will, particularly during the martial law regime. There are many potential areas of cooperation that could prosper together if both friendly countries utilize them. This paper identifies several potential areas of mutual cooperation and argues that to attain sustainable development, Bangladesh-Russia relations need to be strengthened more and more. This study explores the potential areas through various channels for greater interest, friendship, and opening up a new era in bilateral issues. The study also looks into the challenges and opportunities for the Bangladesh-Russia economic partnership. It investigates issues related to trade barriers, infrastructure development, and energy cooperation. Additionally, this study examines the impact of political and diplomatic factors on the economic relationship between Bangladesh and Russia. The study is based on a combination of primary and secondary sources, including surveys with key stakeholders, economic data analysis, and a review of relevant literature.
Participatory Development Approach for the Rural Road Networks: A Case of Infrastructure Development Office, Kaski
Authors: Tiwari Rabindra
Published: April 2024

This study aims to assess people’s participation in the rural road projects in Kaski District of Gandaki Province. The data were collected from 50 conveniently selected residents along the road project alignment Dopahare-Kristi-Bakrek- Pawaigaude area, using the convenient sampling procedure. This study is descriptive, and the questionnaires were used to collect data concerning the people’s participation and road infrastructure development in the villages. The findings of the study reveal that the presence of poor rural road infrastructure, both in quality and access, the road sector was found external resource-dependent, deficient in resource mobilization and topography of the rural area by itself escalates the problem. The community participation is not well-institutionalized in this project. The study concludes that public participation is crucial in developing a country like Nepal. People’s participation in Nepal is limited only for elite people, but not for people from disadvantaged groups. Though people’s participation has increased in Nepal over the last few decades but people from the underprivileged groups do not participate to the same extent of the elite group, which creates disputes in the society. This study recommends all concerned bodies such as the local communities, the municipality, and other stakeholders to take their responsibility to solve this critical issue.
Application of Project-Based Learning in Classrooms: An Innovative Pedagogy for Sustainable Education
Authors: Adhikari Gopi Raj
Published: April 2024

In this modern age, the learners want practicable knowledge to adapt to the fast pace of technological modernization. This research has dealt the very concept of application of project based learning (PBL) approach in teaching learning activities. It develops their inherent ability enhancing sustainable education exploring their ability, and strengthening confidence for their all-round development. The qualitative research has been designed with the questionnaire accessing 50 respondents. The core area of the research is Janaprakash Secondary School of Pokhara-29, Gandaki Province, Nepal. The primary data have been collected and literature reviews have been supportive for the research. Similarly, 15 different questions have been developed for the research. For the validity 10 secondary level experienced teachers have been asked to respond to the questionnaire. Professionally teachers and students, and demographically males and females of 15 to 55 years old respondents have been selected for responses. The results show that the PBL approach is applicable to enhance the sustainable development of the new era through education. The study concludes that an application of PBL in teaching learning activities enhances the competence of the learners.
Directing the Contemporary Theatre: The Case of Oki’s Night of Ijalo
Authors: Olatunji Olalekan F. , Ojo Abayomi C.
Published: April 2024

In contemporary times, the sophistication of media gadgets coupled with the development of the media-savvy audience has necessitated the theatre to devise alternative ways to sustain audience attention and interest. This has required theatre directors to revisit their approach to interpreting contemporary performance by engaging several elements of aesthetic communication to enhance the overall outlook of the performance and boost show business. Contemporary theatre directors, as the example of Olumide Oki (2023) illustrates, have identified this need by establishing a deliberate use of media elements and thus birthing techniques essential for the creation and interpretation of the contemporary performance. This paper engages Hans-Thies Lehmann’s post-dramatic theatre as a theoretical framework. It is a descriptive study that secures its data through participant observation of the 2023 production of Night of Ijalo by the Zion Royal Theatre. Based on the perception that the media has become an intrinsic part of the daily routines of the contemporary audience, Oki prioritizes the need to create a media-intensive theatre experience for the media-savvy audience. Hence, he adopts a mixed-media technique to boost his directorial interpretation and provide a seamless connection with the audience's demand through the deliberate use of aesthetic communication, intermediality, sound prerecording, mediation and mediatisation, and spectacle. With the mixed-media technique which includes the use of several media elements, Oki presents the media as a quintessential part of the contemporary performance and recommends it to theatre directors as a valuable technique for enhancing directorial interpretation and creating a media-oriented theatre experience.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Higher Education: Growing Academic Integrity and Ethical Concerns
Authors: Khatri Bishnu Bahadur , Karki Parbata Devi
Published: April 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is scaling rapidly in higher education globally. Considering the increasing significance of artificial intelligence in higher education (AIHEd) and the absence of a comprehensive review on it, this paper delves into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence in higher education (AIHEd), its academic integrity and ethical concerns. The study has applied qualitative approach by using literature review as a research design and method to facilitate the aim of the study.The analysis of the paper reveals that AI has the potential to make a significant contribution to enhancing teaching and learning experiences, improving productivity and efficiency, as well as fostering inclusivity and accessibility. On the contrary, the increasing utilization of AI in higher education (AIHEd) raises the concerns about academic integrity and ethical issues, as it has the potential to lead to plagiarism, impede critical thinking, suppress creativity, and erode originality in teaching, research, and scholarship. Hence, upholding the integrity of scientific research requires a rigorous commitment to ethical and academic principles, placing human intelligence and critical thinking at the forefront of the research process. The advancement of artificial intelligence in higher education not only brings significant advantages, but also poses challenges to the fundamental principles, methodologies, standards, ethical considerations and academic integrity in both teaching and research. As a result, the primary focus should be on embracing the opportunities and benefits that arise from this advancement and effectively addressing any potential risks and challenges.
Trends of Gender Gaps in Nepal: A Statistical Analysis
Authors: Gautam Susmita
Published: April 2024

This paper applied two panel data on GII (1996 to 2022),and EFI (1996-2022) to understand the trends of gender gap in Nepal. Recently, UNDP (2023b) has developedGSNIbased on data from wave 6 (2010-2014) and wave 7 (2017-2022) of WVS (2023). However, index is not available for Nepal. In this context, this article examined dimensions of WVS by defining gender gap in four thematic areas such as secondary education, representation in parliament, participation in labor force, and life expectancy, suggesting they are associated with ODA and some economic freedom indices.
Editorial Note
Authors: Wickramaarachchi Nishani
Published: April 2024

Editorial Note
Impact of Greenery in the Window View on Visual Sustained Attention with Special Reference to Classrooms of Children with Down Syndrome
Authors: Nushara K. D. C. M. , Hettiarachchi Anishka
Published: April 2024

One in every 700 babies worldwide is born with an intellectual disability such as Down Syndrome (DS), Autism Spectrum disorders, Cerebral Palsy etc. Architecture significantly enhances users’ development skills by leveraging the environment to fulfill their mental and psychological needs, particularly by boosting sustained attention in learning spaces. Based on existing literature, this research focused on the impact of greenery in window view of the classroom on visual sustained attention (VSA) of children with DS. Data of 19 participants (10 male, 9 female) of a selected school in the ages of 9 – 16 years (mean age – 11.42 years) was collected on existing and introduced levels of greenery in window view using three dimensional simulations and analysed. The study revealed that the introduction of 40% to 60% of greenery at far view depth (Scenario B) has a positive impact on VSA over both the existing window view (Scenario A) and the window view with 80% to 100% greenery (Scenario C). However, scenario C did not show any positive impact over scenario B as assumed. One reason for this could be the inclusion of the sky view in scenario B, and the findings indicate that introduction of greenery in the window view has a positive impact on VSA of children with DS, if the sky view is maintained. These findings can be used towards a design framework for classrooms in the future contexts of education in Sri Lanka.
Noonan syndrome: molecular and clinical findings in individuals with PTPN11 pathogenic variants
Authors: Karaer Derya , Durak Taner , Karaer Kadri
Published: April 2024

Purpose: RASopathies encompass a spectrum of disorders resulting from pathogenic variants in genes associated with the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (RAS/MAPK) pathway, critical for cellular functions like proliferation, differentiation and survival. Noonan syndrome (NS), the most prevalent form of RASopathies, presents with a myriad of clinical features including characteristic facial dysmorphisms, congenital heart defects, and developmental delays. Despite its clinical recognition, molecular confirmation remains elusive in a notable percentage of cases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical and molecular profiles of six patients diagnosed with NS, focusing on the role of PTPN11 gene mutations.
Materials and methods: Molecular evaluation was performed using PTPN11 gene sequence analysis and whole gene sequencing methods in six patients who were thought to have typical NS phenotypes based on clinical evaluations.
Results: Molecular screening in patients identified four different pathogenic variants in the PTPN11 gene. These variants, all heterozygous, were classified as pathogenic according to established criteria.
Conclusion: Our findings contribute to understanding the genetic landscape of NS and underscore the significance of molecular analysis in confirming diagnoses.
Attachment style and distress in couples experiencing sexual desire discrepancy
Authors: Muise Megan D. , Bockaj Amanda , O’Sullivan Lucia F. , Ronis Scott T.
Published: April 2024

Intimate partners’ sexual desire for each other can fluctuate throughout the course of their relationship, and greater difference between partners’ habitual level of sexual desire (i.e., sexual desire discrepancy [SDD]) is linked to lower sexual and relationship satisfaction ( Mark, 2015 ). Although some couples view SDD as a natural and normal part of a sexual relationship, others experience significant distress and may seek therapy. Based on a prominent literature on attachment among couples ( Birnbaum & Reis, 2019 ; Mark et al., 2018 ; Mikulincer & Shaver, 2007 ), the current study incorporated an actor-partner interdependence model to examine the dyadic associations between insecure attachment style (i.e., anxious, avoidant) and sexual desire among couples experiencing distressing or non-distressing levels of SDD. Couples ( N = 202; 51% female, 48% male, 1% different gender; M = 28 years old, SD = 5.05) were recruited through social media (e.g., Instagram, Twitter) and completed a survey assessing sexual distress, adult attachment style, and sexual desire. Although anxious and avoidant attachment did not moderate an association between SDD and sexual distress, higher levels of avoidant attachment were associated with sexual distress for the individual, but not with their partner’s distress. Findings suggest attachment may be essential for understanding individuals’ experience of sexual distress when coping with discrepant levels of sexual desire in romantic relationships.
Who Gets to Be “Canadian”? How Race Has Operated in Keeping Canada White
Authors: James Carl E.
Published: April 2024

“ Where are you from?” is often a question that is asked of some Canadians – typically, Canadians for whom skin colour, race, accent, language (other than English and French), name (last, first and nick-name), religion, place of residence, “appearance,” and the organizations or clubs to which they belong, play a role in why they are being asked the question in the first place. But why are “ assumed non-accented ‘non-visible’ Canadians not asked this question? And when individuals – based on identities by which they are read as “not from Canada” – answer the question with “Canadian,” why would they get a follow-up question: “Where are your parents from?”;and/ or “Where are you really from?” In taking up this question, I discuss the treatment, settlement and experiences of Black/African, Chinese, and South Asian Canadians in terms of how Canadian laws, policies, and practices have operated to keep them from entering the country, and in turn shaped their life conditions once here. With reference to how, building on colonialism, systemic racism structures the conditions racialized people encounter daily, I go on to discuss the ways in which the history of populating Canada accounts for racialized peoples' experiences with anti-Indigenous, anti-Black, and anti-Asian racisms in living on Turtle Island.
Evincing
Authors: Mothersill Shanique
Published: April 2024

Witnessing some of the most horrific scenes of terror, hate, and harassment, this work is about “evincing” 1 —evincing in and with the stories, voices, screams, hurt, and pain of the victims, the racially and culturally marginalized scholars who are harassed for their research. My reflections, while they led to a poetic art piece, are about the critical “ongoingness” of continuously revealing the evidence and truth of the unsafe world of doing, being, and sitting with online research. In the evincing, we censure and condemn hate and harassment while vituperating and execrating the perpetrators, cyberspaces, systems, and institutions that target, abuse, mistreat, and malign women; Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC); queer; disabled; and other marginalized scholars. Evincing is the ways in which their research work and lives remain present and alive through this art and those to come. In this evincing, their experiences of racism, misogyny, violence, isolation, powerlessness, helplessness, frustration, and fear are not simply spectacles for awareness. Rather, they are the grounds from which our methodologies for witnessing these scenes become our vocabularies in resistance, solidarities, and solutions. Evincing, then, is how we mobilize against these encounters of hate and harassment in celebration of safe, brave, healthy, and continuous academic journeys for all scholars.
“A Storage Place for Manure” and the Politics of Commemoration
Authors: Abel Kerry
Published: April 2024

This examination of the politics of historical commemorations uses the case study of a private family chapel in Devon, United Kingdom, that belonged to John Graves Simcoe, first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada from 1792 to 1796. Beginning in 1926, attempts were mounted repeatedly to have it recognized as a historic site as ideas evolved about what the site represented. Some two generations after the campaign began, the chapel and its grounds were donated to the province of Ontario and formally recognized as a historic site. The place of the chapel in changing interpretations of Canadian history remains simultaneously contested and ignored.
Assessing the feasibility of micro-computed tomography in comparing mineral densities and volume values of enamel and dentine in permanent premolars which were extracted teeth for orthodontic and periodontal treatment
Authors: Yildiz Semsettin , Yavuz Izzet , Kamalak Hakan , Akkus Zeki
Published: April 2024

The objective of our study was to show that the volumes of enamel-dentin tissues and mineral tissue densities of the teeth of young and adult individuals extracted for orthodontic and periodontal purposes could be measured using micro-computerized tomography. Non-decayed teeth extracted due to orthodontic and periodontal reasons were used. The teeth were scanned using a micro-CT (Skyscan 1172, Bruker, Belgium) device. The image data of the samples scanned with micro-CT were used in computer settings through the CTAn program for the calculation of the volumes of enamel and dentin tissues and their mineral densities. Comparisons between groups showed that there is no statistically significant difference between occlusal, middle, or apical zone mineral density values of the enamel and dentin tissues of the teeth in group 1 and group 2 (p>0,05). In addition, no statistically significant difference was detected between the mineral density values of average enamel and dentin tissues. Comparison between groups themselves showed a statistically significant difference between percentage ratios of enamel, dentin, and pulp volume compared to crown volume (p<0.05). We believe that the micro-CT technique is an imaging method that can perform accurate and sensitive measurements meant of volume changes observed in tooth tissues with time. In addition, we concluded that with micro-CT, the densities in enamel and dentin tissues in study groups could be measured reliably.
Analysis of Gempol Muslim Society’s Interest on The Use of E-Toll Card
Authors: Azizah Zumrotul , Demila Demila
Published: April 2024

This research is motivated by problems often occuring on toll roads, especially during transactions at the gate. Transactions that occur between officers and drivers take a long time because toll officials have to check the origin of the vehicle to determine the rate, then calculate the change. To anticipate congestion on toll roads, especially during peak days and hours because the queues at the toll booths are too long, a higher speed is required in making toll payments using the electronic toll service (e-Toll) at the Automatic Toll Gate (GTO). This research is a qualitative research, the data is obtained by natural setting. Data collection techniques were carried out by observation, interviews and documentation. The outline in collecting the data is that the author will find out about whether the Muslim community of Gempol knows about the e-Toll card, the community uses e-Toll for what reasons, then the researcher will find out the extent of interest in using e-Toll cards in the region of Gempol. The results showed that; first, the interest of the Gempol Muslim community in using e-Toll cards is still low because it is far from the target number. According to predictions of Jasa Marga employees, it still reached 17 percent as of January 2018, while the target figure is 100 percent. In addition, there are also many pros and cons of the bank's new product in the form of e-Toll. E-Toll card has no significant relationship with reducing congestion, although as of October almost 100% of toll gates in Indonesia use GTO, but for congestion it could be due to vehicle volume, road engineering, accidents, narrowing of lanes, reduction of lanes, number of gates tolls, and the number of toll gates opened. Second, the factors influencing the Muslim community of Gempol on the use of e-Toll cards are government regulations, the influence of advertisements and the public feel the benefits obtained from e-Toll.
Analysis of Soundness Level in the CAMELS Ratio Perspective
Authors: Muttaqin Muh. Syaukin , Putri Sindy Marchelia , Rumilah Siti
Published: April 2024

Banks in a country have an important role. One of its functions is as a financial intermediary whose operations are for the community. The soundness of banks and their stability are very important because they affect the ups and downs of an economy. It can foster public trust because people are increasingly selective in choosing financial institutions. Bank Syariah Mandiri is the bank with the highest total assets compared to other Islamic banks. The purpose of the study was to determine the level of soundness at Bank Syariah Mandiri during the 2017-2019 period using the CAMELS ratio. The results show that the soundness of Bank Syariah Mandiri Syariah, even though it has a greater total assets than other Islamic banks, is still not in the very healthy category because from the research results, Bank Mandiri Syariah is currently in the healthy category. However, on the sensitivity risk assessment, Bank Syariah Mandiri is in the very healthy category.