bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Importancia de las Habilidades Blandas para el Ejercicio del Profesional Contable
Authors: Jiménez Jiménez Sara Sonia , León Alberca Tatiana Betzabé
Published: May 2024

Las habilidades blandas son capacidades que mejoran el desempeño laboral y las relaciones interpersonales, en el contexto actual, el entorno laboral experimenta avances constantes, requiriendo que los contadores desarrollen habilidades blandas además de sus conocimientos técnicos especializados. La investigación tiene como objetivo general: Analizar las habilidades blandas que en contabilidad se valoran como fundamentales para el ejercicio profesional y como objetivos específicos: Identificar las habilidades blandas prioritarias en los profesionales de la Contabilidad, y, describir las habilidades blandas que los estudiantes consideran importantes para su formación profesional. Se utilizó una metodología de enfoque mixto, utilizando un diseño de investigación de campo descriptiva. Se llevaron a cabo encuestas dirigidas a estudiantes de la carrera de Contabilidad y Auditoría de la Universidad Nacional de Loja y a los profesionales contadores de manera aleatoria. Los resultados resaltan que el trabajo en equipo es una habilidad blanda de alta prioridad para ambos grupos. Sin embargo, se observó una discrepancia en la valoración de habilidades como liderazgo, negociación, empatía, comunicación, resolución de problemas y adaptabilidad siendo consideradas más prioritarias por los profesionales que los estudiantes. Se destaca la necesidad de que los estudiantes reconozcan la relevancia de estas habilidades para su desarrollo profesional futuro.
La Planificación Didáctica Consciente (PDC) en la Formación Inicial Docente en Educación Física
Authors: Núñez Campos José Adalberto , Arias Aguilar María Alejandra
Published: May 2024

La planificación didáctica requiere que, en la práctica docente, los futuros docentes tengan plena conciencia de fundamentos pedagógicos y didácticos que garanticen la generación de aprendizajes en los estudiantes de Educación Básica. Contradictoriamente a lo plasmado, en la formación docente, no siempre se adquieren los mencionados fundamentos a pesar del trabajo con planes y programas de estudios vigentes, así lo demostró la investigación. Por lo que, para la investigación, se planteó la pregunta ¿Cómo un modelo pedagógico centrado en la planificación didáctica consciente orienta la formación docente de los estudiantes del 4° de la licenciatura en Educación Física en la adquisición de insumos pedagógicos y didácticos para planificar eficazmente el aprendizaje? Para lo cual se diseñó y operó un modelo pedagógico orientador de los procesos de formación didáctico y pedagógico de los estudiantes normalistas en el área de la Educación Física, que durante la implantación del modelo se atendió la generación de aprendizajes considerando la integración de los fundamentos pedagógicos y didácticos en los procesos de planificación didáctica consciente, con alumnos de 4to grado, integrantes de dos micro aulas con 16 participantes cada una, en la Escuela Normal de Educación Física de Morelia. La investigación se desarrolló desde el enfoque cualitativo, en correspondencia con el paradigma socio crítico, el método implementado fue la investigación-acción; el Modelo Pedagógico centrado en la planificación didáctica consciente (PDC) en la formación inicial del docente de Educación Física se aplicó durante 39 sesiones. El resultado obtenido fue la orientación de la formación docente en la adquisición de insumos pedagógicos y didácticos no considerados en el plan de estudios 2002, lo que permitió al futuro docente planificar eficazmente para conducir el aprendizaje. Los resultados obtenidos en este proceso formativo fueron contundentes, evidenciando en las intervenciones una congruente orientación del proceso enseñanza aprendizaje de la Educación Física, con fundamentos científicos.
Desarrollo del software “Cálculo en Caloductos” (CALCA) para el diseño de tubos de calor (Heat Pipes)
Authors: Guevara Rosales Yinmar Paul , Mena Farfán Karl Vladimir
Published: May 2024

El presente trabajo tiene como propósito fundamental el desarrollo de un programa de cómputo que permita analizar, caracterizar y diseñar un caloducto bajo tres diferentes geometrías básicas y que utilice algunos de los fluidos más comunes tanto orgánicos como inorgánicos. Se ha incluido, además, la posibilidad de trabajar con termosifones bajo la misma tónica que para los caloductos. La metodología para el desarrollo del algoritmo y la elaboración del programa utiliza las principales ecuaciones y modelos matemáticos teóricos que gobiernan el comportamiento de los límites de funcionamiento y la capacidad de transferencia de calor del dispositivo. Se han incluido en el algoritmo del programa de cómputo ecuaciones y modelos matemáticos reportados tanto en la literatura como las utilizadas y generadas en artículos de investigación. Mediante el empleo de estas expresiones y modelos matemáticos el programa de cómputo permite establecer los perfiles de presión y temperatura a lo largo del caloducto tanto para el flujo de vapor como para el líquido de retorno dentro de la estructura capilar, simula las secciones de evaporación, adiabática y de condensación, permite subdividir cada sección simulando la posición de termopares, representar gráficamente los valores de presión y temperatura para el flujo bifásico y obtener tablas de la información generada. Se incluye el cálculo del calor suministrado y transportado, el cálculo de la presión del vapor y la representación gráfica y tabular de los perfiles de presión y temperatura a partir de la información experimental que de algún caloducto específico se obtenga. Mediante el empleo del lenguaje de programación Visual Basic se generó un programa de cómputo al que se ha denominado CALCA, “cálculos de caloducto”, cuya operación y funcionamiento resulta ser muy amigable con una fiabilidad bastante aceptable de acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos y comparados con los existentes en la literatura. Con el presente se pretende contribuir al desarrollo del área, concretamente en lo que a la transferencia de calor en los llamados” heat pipes” o caloductos se refiere, así como constituirse en un aporte tecnológico de aplicación al incorporarse un programa que permita ser utilizado y mejorado por los estudiosos del campo.
Рабочая тетрадь. Комплект рабочих листов к III разделу «Россия при первых Романовых»
Authors: Sergeeva N. G.
Published: May 2024

Рабочие листы предназначены для учащихся 7 класса VII вида. Можно использовать для всех учеников для вдумчивого смыслового прочтения параграфа и закрепления пройденного материала, для проверки домашнего задания, для дистанционного обучения. Рабочие листы позволяют поставить оценки за урок наибольшему количеству учащихся.
Peningkatan Kecerdasan Emosional untuk Keadilan Sosial: Studi Kasus Pelatihan Vipassana Bhavana di Komunitas Vipassana Bhavana Bimbingan YM. Jinadhammo Mahathera, Maha Cetya Prajna Buddhists Center Medan
Authors: Lie Nie , Siu Ong Cin , Selwen Panir , Lamirin Lamirin
Published: May 2024

Pelatihan vipassana bhavana bimbingan YM. Jinadhammo Mahathera, yang diadakan secara rutin di komunitas vipassana bhavana, bertujuan untuk menjawab problematika dalam dinamika kehidupan manusia dan emosinya. Manusia cenderung dikuasai oleh nafsu keinginan, pikiran, dan emosi negatif yang sulit dikendalikan, yang mengakibatkan stres, depresi, ketakutan, kekhawatiran, dan reaksi destruktif lainnya. Solusi untuk mengatasi problematika ini adalah melalui pelatihan vipassana bhavana, yang bertujuan untuk mencapai pandangan terang. Pandangan terang memungkinkan individu melihat fenomena kehidupan dengan jernih, menyadari bahwa kehidupan selalu berubah (anicca) dan dipengaruhi oleh keserakahan (lobha), kebencian (dosa), kebodohan (moha), dan penderitaan (dukkha) yang berputar dalam siklus yang tak terputus, hingga mencapai keadaan anatta (tanpa aku atau diri), yaitu Nibbana. Pelatihan vipassana bhavana juga mengembangkan kesadaran (sati), yang jika dilatih dengan tekun dan kesungguhan hati, dapat membantu membentuk kecerdasan emosional, kepribadian yang lebih positif, kemampuan beradaptasi, dan sikap yang positif dalam menghadapi tantangan kehidupan. Dengan pikiran yang positif, batin yang jernih, dan kesabaran, individu dapat dengan mudah menemukan solusi untuk mengatasi rintangan dan tantangan yang dihadapi dalam dinamika kehidupan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif dengan melibatkan 45 anggota komunitas vipassana bhavana sebagai subjek penelitian. Analisis data dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode deskripsi dan regresi linier sederhana, dengan tingkat signifikansi 95% (α = 0,05) dan pengolahan data menggunakan program SPSS 25.0. Hasil analisis data menunjukkan bahwa variabel vipassana bhavana memberikan sumbangan sebesar 71,7% terhadap kecerdasan emosional komunitas vipassana bhavana, sementara 28,3% sisanya dijelaskan oleh variabel lain. Dengan demikian, penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa terdapat pengaruh positif dan signifikan dari pelatihan vipassana bhavana terhadap kecerdasan emosional komunitas vipassana bhavana.
Social Work Competencies In School Settings: Addressing Adolescent Adjustment Challenges
Authors: Wahab Abdul , Manjunathswamy Manjunathswamy , D Preethi
Published: May 2024

Social work is a helping profession that has the power to improve people’s lives on an individual, family, group, and community level. Increasing society’s overall well-being. In order to help students succeed academically, schools, parents, and communities depend on school social workers. They take the initiative in formulating policies for handling crises, providing support services and managing school behaviors. The period of growth and development that comes between childhood and maturity is known as adolescence. The psycho-social stage of development is characterized by increased stress, behavior problems, and conflict. School social workers offer direct and indirect assistance to students, families, and school personnel. The aim of the present research is to study adolescent student’s adjustment problems and explore the competencies of social workers in dealing with school-going adolescents’ problems, data was collected in shivamogga city with a  convenient and purposeful sampling technique with the help of ‘The AISS-SS scale,  the findings show that most of the adolescent students have problems related to mental health which they can’t express and social work competencies were playing an important role in dealing with adolescent mental health and adjustment problems in schools.
PENERAPAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN PROBLEM BASED LEARNING DALAM MENINGKATKAN KEMANDIRIAN BELAJAR PESERTA DIDIK DALAM PEMBELAJARAN IPA
Authors: Suhayati  , Syachruroji  , Nulhakim Lukman
Published: May 2024

Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui apakah kemandirian belajar peserta didik kelas V mengalami peningkatan setelah penerapan model pembelajaran berbasis masalah, serta mendeskripsikan bagaimana model tersebut diterapkan untuk meningkatkan kemandirian belajar siswa kelas V pada kelas IPA,  dan mengetahui perbedaan kemandirian peserta didik antara kelas eksperimen yang mengikuti pembelajaran menggunakan model problem based kearning dengan kelas kontrol tanpa dilakukan model pembelajaran problem based learning. Penelitian ini memakai metode kuasi eksperimen. Populasi dalam penelitian ini kelas V SDN Margasari dengan sampel kelas VA sebagai kelas eksperimen dan kelas VB sebagai kelas kontrol. Teknik pengumpulan data meliputi wawancara, observasi, angket, dan dokumentasi. Selanjutnya dianalisis menggunakan uji N-Gain dan statisik inferensial. Hasil dinyatakan dengan uji N-Gain yang mempunyai  nilai rata-rata 0,3581, selain itu nilai rata-rata skala akhir sebesar 81,75 pada kelas eksperimen dan 72,17 pada kelas kontrol. Hasil penelitian diperoleh dari uji-t pada tafar ?=0,05 diperoleh nilai Sig. (2- tailed) sebesar 0,000<0,05, maka H0 ditolak dan H1 diterima. Disimpulkan bahwa terdapat peningkatan kemandirian belajar peserta didik kelas V pembelajaran IPA dengan menggunakan model problem based learning.
Rediscovering the Developmentalist-Productive Roots of Welfare State Policies
Authors: Johnson Karl E.
Published: May 2024

Persistent calls for social investment-oriented social policy suggest that existing social policies are unsustainable and need radical rethinking. Instead, this paper argues that we need to better understand how long-standing policies have enabled society’s adaptation to socioeconomic changes and forestalled experiences of marginalization, poverty, and acute vulnerability. Inspired by the historical success of Nordic-style social policies, I reconsider the relation between development studies and welfare state studies, synthesize ideas from both, elaborate on the inclusive strand of welfare developmentalism, and introduce a conceptual framework for explaining why existing social policies may be simultaneously protective and productive. Applying social developmentalist ideas from the Global South to the traditional welfare state literature of the Global North, this paper advances a theoretical explanation for why what I term “developmental welfare state policies” defy standard economic assumptions through preventive investments that inhere in existing policy variants. It cautions against promoting separate social investment policies or characterizing policies as exclusively passive or activating.
Advancing Lightweight Digital Trust Architectures in the Internet of Medical Things
Authors: Das Sayani , Mitra Archan
Published: May 2024

This research investigates the development of a lightweight digital trust architecture within the internet of medical things (IoMT). Employing a multi-faceted methodology, it commences with a systematic literature review, identifying gaps in IoMT security and digital trust frameworks. A theoretical framework, tailored for IoMT, is proposed, integrating resource-efficient cryptographic protocols, dynamic trust management, and scalable authentication mechanisms. The framework's practical applicability is examined through three case studies: a smart hospital system, remote patient monitoring, and IoMT in clinical trials, showcasing its efficacy in diverse IoMT applications. The study highlights the balance between security robustness and computational efficiency in IoMT, suggesting an iterative approach for adapting to evolving technologies and threats. This research contributes significantly to the understanding of digital trust in IoMT, providing a foundation for secure, efficient medical IoT solutions.
A Digital Trust Architectural Model for Connected Medical Devices in the Healthcare Environment
Authors: Kuppusamy Palanivel
Published: May 2024

The healthcare sector has seen a digital revolution in smart devices, information systems, cloud services, and smart technology. The advancement of digital healthcare services has made treatment easier and more accessible. However, the healthcare sector is now the target of most cyberattacks that are impacted by data breaches. Healthcare data breaches are exposing a larger volume of records, and resulting in financial losses. Protection models are needed to analyze the pattern of healthcare data breaches and detect and forecast outcomes. This chapter aims to study the importance of cyberattacks and propose a digital trust architectural model for connected medical devices in the real-time healthcare environment.
Healthcare Records Maintenace in Smart Cities for Healthcare 4.0
Authors: Rastogi Rohit , Jain Rayush , Mishra Prabhinav , Shahjahan Mohd
Published: May 2024

Healthcare records management systems are essential for ensuring the security, integrity, and accessibility of patient data. Data breaches, unauthorized access, and inefficiencies in data sharing are all issues that traditional systems face. This chapter describes a novel approach to healthcare records management that incorporates block chain technology, specifically Ganache, Truffle, Meta Mask, and the MEAN stack. Meta Mask improves the user experience by providing a secure and easy-to-use authentication mechanism. The MEAN stack aids in the creation of a responsive and dynamic web application. The proposed system's design, implementation, and testing are all part of the research methodology. Security assessments, performance benchmarks, and user feedback are all examples of evaluation metrics. The results show increased data security, streamlined access controls, and improved data sharing capabilities.
AI-Powered Marketing Revolutionizing Customer Engagement Through Innovative Strategies
Authors: Vasundhara S. , Venkatesh K. Srivarun , Manimegalai V. , Sundharesalingam P. , Sathyakala S. , Boopathi Sampath
Published: May 2024

This chapter delves into the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in content marketing, highlighting its potential to revolutionize customer engagement strategies. It highlights the evolving consumer preferences in the digital age, the growing demand for personalized content experiences, and the challenges faced by marketers. AI's ability to analyze vast datasets and extract actionable insights enables businesses to create hyper-targeted content, driving higher engagement and conversion. The chapter also discusses how leading brands have successfully implemented AI-driven content strategies to enhance customer engagement and foster brand loyalty. AI-powered analytics provide actionable insights into content performance, enabling continuous refinement and optimization of marketing strategies. This chapter highlights the potential of AI-powered content strategies in boosting customer engagement and driving sustainable business growth in a competitive digital landscape.
Managing the AI Period's Confluence of Security and Morality
Authors: Pandey Deepti , Jain Aaditya , Suneetha A. , Gupta Poonam , Sriramakrishnan G. V. , Gopi Adapa , Pramanik Sabyasachi
Published: May 2024

This chapter examines the complex interplay between ethics and privacy in the context of artificial intelligence (AI). Concerns about data privacy and ethical consequences have grown as AI technology has proliferated. The abstract explores the moral conundrums that result from gathering, analyzing, and using sensitive data, highlighting the need for strong frameworks that strike a compromise between advancing technology and defending individual rights. It looks at the difficulties in preserving privacy in AI-driven systems while abiding by moral standards, providing information on the state of affairs, possible dangers, and viable fixes for building an ethical and open AI ecosystem.
New Age Technologies and Marketing Management
Authors: Maliya Rama M. , Adesara Harsshvi , Patel Viza
Published: May 2024

In the modern era, the rapidly evolving landscape of technology has significantly impacted marketing management practices. New age technologies have completely changed how firms approach client interaction and marketing strategies, including artificial intelligence, big data analytics, virtual reality, augmented reality, blockchain, and the internet of things (IoT). Big data and the IoT will also be investigated in terms of their impact on marketing management. Businesses can now collect enormous volumes of customer data thanks to AI-powered algorithms and data analytics, which has boosted customer segmentation, personalized marketing campaigns, and real-time insights for better decision-making. This chapter is about an in-depth examination of the dynamic link between new generation technology and marketing management. The chapter's goal is to provide marketing professionals, academics, and business executives with the information and tools they need to harness the potential of these technologies and successfully traverse the ever-changing marketing landscape by studying real-world case studies and expert insights.
ZARA
Authors: Mishra A. B. , Dodke Simran Devendra
Published: May 2024

Zara, the flagship brand of Inditex, has revolutionized the fashion industry with its unique approach to fast fashion. Zara has completely transformed the fashion business. Zara's success can be attributed to its extensive incorporation of technology, that contributed to the company's ability to effectively manage its supply chain, improve the design management, and provide a seamless consumer experience. This case study examines Zara's key strategies, including its technological influence on vertically integrated supply chain, rapid design-to-sale cycles, and customer-centric retail approach. This case study is based on secondary data.
Bane and Boon of Hallucinations in the Context of Generative AI
Authors: Sakib S. M. Nazmuz
Published: May 2024

The phenomenon of hallucinations takes place when generative artificial intelligence systems, such as large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, generate outputs that are illogical, factually incorrect, or otherwise unreal. In generative artificial intelligence, hallucinations have the ability to unlock creative potential, but they also create challenges for producing accurate and trustworthy AI outputs. Both concerns will be covered in this abstract. Artificial intelligence hallucinations can be caused by a variety of factors. There is a possibility that the model will show an inaccurate response to novel situations or edge cases if the training data is insufficient, incomplete, or biassed. It is common for generative artificial intelligence to generate content in response to cues, regardless of the model's “understanding” or the quality of its output.
A Conceptual Framework for Consumer Engagement in Social Media Influencer Posts
Authors: Kanaveedu Aswathi , Kalapurackal Jacob Joseph , N. Elangovan , Sinha Mudita
Published: May 2024

Influencer marketing has received significant attention and is considered as the best way to build consumer engagement with the brand. However, research on Influencer marketing is burgeoning, and it is important to study the consumer behaviour associated with influencer marketing. Therefore, this study proposes a logical conceptual framework by integrating various construct such as ad recognition, informativeness, deceptiveness, irritation, entertainment, ad content value, and consumer engagement from various theories and provides implications for marketers to frame an effective marketing campaign and policymakers to formulate policies to protect consumers from deceptive advertising practice.
Harmony in Consumption
Authors: Thomas Ponny , Kayarkatte Narayan
Published: May 2024

This chapter explores nascent marketing and consumer science developments, emphasizing ethical and sustainable practices. This study examines various aspects of ethical marketing in the digital era, eco-conscious consumer behaviour, the fight against greenwashing, and promotion. A comprehensive analysis reveals the importance of harmonizing business operations with ethical and environmental standards. The chapters provide valuable insights and strategies for businesses, policymakers, and consumers to effectively navigate the ever-changing realm of sustainability and ethics in the marketplace, encompassing innovative educational initiatives and authentic branding. In essence, the chapter espouses the necessity of adopting a harmonized stance towards consumption—emphasizing the well-being of individuals, the environment, and economic growth.
Journalism Practice and Personal Branding on Social Media
Authors: Gorgulu Sahika
Published: May 2024

An important area of expertise that takes its share from digital transformation is journalism. Social media and the enhanced online services, which reshaped many sub-elements of journalism from news production to publishing activities, enabled the emergence of independent working models differentiated from the practices of corporate life. While the freelance working model brought ease in terms of providing flexible working hours and practical decision-making processes in the content creation process, it also led to the need for additional promotional activities for journalists in terms of personal branding awareness and reliability. The current study aims to examine the digital publishing practices and personal branding processes of freelance YouTube publisher journalists. Findings indicate journalists aim to seek balance among three contextual dilemmas, namely, user interaction, self-promotion, and news content creation.
New Trends in Consumer and Tourism Marketing Science
Authors: Suryani Wan
Published: May 2024

The pandemic period from 2020 to 2022 has given rise to new trends in tourism marketing and consumer science. This situation has an impact on the tourism industry throughout the world, including Indonesia. The impact of the pandemic on the tourism industry is quite important because it is linked to other sectors such as hotels, transportation, and micro, small and medium enterprises. One of them is that consumers are more aware of their need to find information to organize their travel trips independently by using the internet. Another trend in marketing science is the shift towards sustainable tourism, where tourists when traveling will look for products that are environmentally friendly and responsible for protecting the environment. When tourists travel, they look for unique experiences with the authenticity of the places they visit. Trends change in consumption and promotion patterns in tourism, focus on online shopping experiences, use of new technology and changes in communication channels by utilizing digital technology.
Rural Tourism and Wine Experience
Authors: Machado Annaelise Fritz , Sousa Bruno Barbosa , de Oliveira Frederico Ferreira , Rocha Alexandra Abreu , dos Reis Janderson Damaceno
Published: May 2024

This study aims to understand some of the main trends in rural tourism and wine sensorial experience. The research study brings together a proposed conceptual model to understand some of the main determinants of rural tourism demand and wine tourism experience. The rural tourism product is a complex reality where there are numerous demographic and functional variants that contribute to its definition and that result in various types of accommodation and experiences. In specific, wine tourism as the intersection between tourist and winemaking activities has been a much explored theme, nationally and internationally, by the scientific community, which has boosted scientific investigation about this issue. The present study represents an important contribution in relation to the rural management of tourist destinations and the development of the relationship with the consumer. From an interdisciplinary perspective, the manuscript presents preliminary insights for rural tourism, but particularly in the context of winemaking experience.
Optimizing Post-Editing Strategies in Human-Computer Interaction
Authors: Geng Xiaolong
Published: May 2024

This investigation underscores the significant impact of PE strategy selection on both the cognitive and operational aspects of translation. Highlighting the critical role of PE skills development in translator education, the study proposes several avenues for further research, including broadening participant demographics, integrating diverse and mixed-methods approaches, keeping pace with technological advancements, and engaging in longitudinal studies. These insights offer valuable directions for refining PE methodologies, enhancing translator training programs, and ultimately, elevating the quality of translations.
Morphometric relationships of blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus, Linnaeus, 1758) caught in Negombo coastal waters in Sri Lanka.
Authors: Wickramage S. W. , Perera H. A. C. C.
Published: May 2024

Length-weight relationships provide information about the blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) population for successful stock management. Morphometric measurements of Two hundred fifty (250) crab samples were obtained from April to November 2019, of which 128 were males, and 122 were females, showing a sex ratio of 1:1. Chi-square test indicated that the sex ratio was not significantly different from the expected value of 1:1 at 5% level of significance (χ2cal = 0.144, χ2tab = 3.84). Carapace width (CW) was measured at the nearest 0.001 cm using a vernier calliper, and total body weight (W) was measured at the nearest gram (g) using a digital scale. The carapace width of males ranged from 7.28 - 15.7 cm, whereas it varied from 3.06 - 15.8 cm in females. The body weight of male crabs varied from 22.45 - 334.6 g, and females had a range from 23.0 - 275.35 g. Length-weight relationships for male and female crabs were W=0.0495CW3.0469 (R2=0.8526) and W=0.063CW2.9428 (R2=0.8179) respectively. Student’s t-test showed that the growth of male crabs was positive allometric (t = 5.64, p<0.05) and negative allometric (t = -8.21, p<0.05) for females. The mean condition factors for males and females were 5.68±0.12 and 5.65±0.12, respectively, indicating no significant difference between males and females (p=0.882) by two-sample t-tests. Providing baseline data, the present study recommends further studies for successful utilization, development and management of this crab species as it has been recognized as a commercially valuable species with a high market demand.
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty for the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction. How should success be determined?
Authors: Lien Marie , Æsøy Mathias Sørstrand , Hjelle Karin , Almås Bjarte , Juliebø-Jones Patrick , Ulvik Øyvind
Published: May 2024

Background: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is characterised by stenosis of the ureteral lumen at the level of the renal pelvis and proximal ureter. At Haukeland University Hospital, robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RLP) for UPJO has been performed since 2014. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the treatment and consider what determines treatment success.
Materials and methods: Retrospective review was performed of consecutive patients undergoing RLP between 2014-2022. Outcomes of interest included symptom relief, complication rates and renographic findings at follow-up. Treatment success was defined in terms of symptom improvement and/or improvement as well as relief of obstruction on renography.
Results: In total, 95 RLPs were performed in 54 women and 41 men, with a mean age of 40 years (IQR: 21-58). Flank pain was the most frequent presenting complaint (n = 81, 85%) followed by infection (n = 33, 35%). More than one indication for surgery was present in 1/3 of the patients. Urodynamic relevant obstruction on renography was found in 62 patients (65%) preoperatively. Mean operative time was 123 minutes (range 60-270). Two patients experienced minor intraoperative complications. At three months follow-up, 91% of patients had symptom relief, and no obstruction on renography was recorded in 64%. There was no significant association between improvement in symptoms and renography findings at follow-up, p = 1.
Conclusions: RLP can deliver a high success rate in terms of symptom relief and few complications. There was no association between renography findings and symptom relief at follow-up. Success after surgery should be determined by symptom relief rather than renography findings.
Variabilité et gain génétique des génotypes de haricot biofortifiés à l’Est de la République Démocratique du Congo
Authors: Kataliko R.K. , Muhasa B.K. , Ndulani L.K. , Kighoma A.K. , Mbahingana G.K. , Muhongya E.F. , Siviri L.K. , Kimani P.M. , Eleblu J.S.Y. , Asante I. , Ofori K.
Published: May 2024

La compréhension du mécanisme génétique responsable du contrôle des caractères agronomiques est très importante dans la mise en évidence des méthodes de sélection en amélioration végétale. Cette étude veut apprécier le niveau de variabilité et gain génétique au sein des génotypes des haricots biofortifiés à Butembo et Lukanga à l’Est de la République Démocratique du Congo. Une expérimentation a été réalisée sur 164 génotypes biofortifiés en Fe et Zn et cinq variétés locales (non-biofortifiés). Les données ont été prises sur le nombre de jours à la floraison, nombre de jours jusqu’à 75 et 90% de la maturité, nombre de gousses par pied et nombre de graines par gousse, le rendement en graines et le poids de 100 graines et soumises à l’analyse de la variance et au test de Tukey avant d’estimer les paramètres génétiques. La corrélation de Pearson et le clustering ont enfin été réalisés. Des différences significatives ont été observées entre le contraste qui oppose les génotypes biofortifiés aux variétés témoins localement cultivées au regard de tous les caractères étudiés à l’exception du nombre des gousses initiées par plant et le rendement. Les génotypes RW298, BF08-16-36A, BF08-1-77, RWV2359 et MV-14, avec un rendement supérieur à 2000 kg ha-1, ont été les plus prometteurs au regard du rendement. L’estimation des composantes de la variance a montré une héritabilité (sens large) modérée au regard du nombre de jours à la floraison et faible pour tous les autres paramètres. Aussi, le coefficient de variation génotypique a été modéré uniquement au regard du rendement et faible pour tous les autres caractères. Le gain génétique dans les générations courantes a été faible (<10%) pour tous les caractères étudiés impliquant une action non-additive des gènes dans le contrôle des caractères au sein des génotypes étudiés. Une corrélation positive significative a été observée entre le rendement et le nombre de gousses par plant et le nombre de graines par gousse. La construction du dendrogramme a permis de regrouper quatre clusters importants (Cluster 1 = 49 génotypes, Cluster 2 = 30 génotypes, Cluster 3 = 42 génotypes and Cluster 4 = 48 génotypes). Au regard des résultats observés, il est recommandé d’effectuer des sélections au sein du cluster 2 (couleur bleue du dendrogramme) regroupant les génotypes les plus prometteurs au regard du rendement ou d’exploiter l’hétérosis au sein des génotypes en étude.
Trends in childhood intussusception in a Nigerian tertiary hospital
Authors: Obiora Ezomike Uchechukwu , Ifeanyi Nwangwu Emmanuel , Sunday Chukwu Isaac , Chukwuemeka Aliozor Sampson , Arinze Onwuzu Chukwuka , Perpetua Nwankwo Elochukwu , Okwuchukwu Ekenze Sebastian
Published: May 2024

Background: Early presentation, high rate of successful non-operative treatment, low morbidity and mortality in childhood intussusception is common in High and Upper Middle-Income Countries but not in many Lower middle- and Low-income countries.
Aim: To assess the trends in the profile, treatment modalities and outcomes of intussusception in our hospital.
Materials and methods: Retrospective study over a 12-year period divided into two 6-year periods. Data entry/analysis was done using SPSS and various indices were compared between these two periods. Two-tailed t-test for two independent means was used to compare means while two-tailed Fisher exact tests were used to compare categorical variables. Results were presented as tables, means, ranges, percentages and a p-value less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.
Results: There was a significant increase in the proportion of successful non-operative treatment (18.6% vs 34%, p=0.03), reduction in the incidence of operative manual reduction (27.1% vs 12.8%; p=0.026), reduction in operative treatment (78.5% vs 63.9%, p=0.034), increased utilization of pre-intervention ultrasound (75% vs96.7%, p<0.0001) and reduction in hospital stay duration (10.47 ±7.95days vs 7.24±4.86 days; p=0.004).
Conclusions: Contribution of successful non-operative treatment to the overall treatment of intussusception significantly increased while that of operative manual reduction significantly reduced and bowel resection showed no change. Preoperative utilization of ultrasonography significantly increased while mean duration of admission reduced significantly, but late presentation, morbidity and mortality rates had no significant changes.
Keywords: Trends; childhood; intussusception; Nigerian; tertiary hospital.
Use of mobile hospitals to improve access to health services and promote primary health care: lessons from Zambia (2011-2018)
Authors: Kabwe Kabaso
Published: May 2024

Background: Mobile hospitals play a critical role in serving difficult to access populations. In 2011, they were introduced bythe Zambian government to improve access to health care. However, little is known about and/or documented about their usein Zambia, and other similar settings where people rely on them to access critical health care, or have to travel long distances tothe nearest health centre.
Objective: To understand the use of mobile hospitals in Zambia and share lessons on their implementation that may be usefulfor similar settings. It describes their design, implementation, and challenges.
Methods: The qualitative research employed document review, key informant interviews with 15 respondents, and observationof the operations of the mobile hospitals in the field.
Results: The research finds that while they help to reduce inequities associated with accessing health services, there needs to becareful resource planning and addressing of the major issues in health care such as human resources, infrastructure, and diseaseprevention before long term use.
Conclusion: The research not only highlights conditions that must be considered for the effective implementation of mobilehospitals, but also the need for engagement of various key stakeholders during agenda setting in order to build trust and buy in,which contribute to smoother implementation.
Keywords: Access to health care; mobile health; policy implementation; primary health care; Zambia.
Effect of fermentation agents on the pH, tta and microbial composition of Fufu dough
Authors: Ogbete E.C. , Ogbonnaya M.E. , Ofoeze M.A.
Published: May 2024

Fufu, a product of cassava has been adulterated by processors. They add toxic substances to the soaked roots to fasten the fermentation  days and make quick money. There is need to evaluate the effect of these fermentation agents on the microbial, pH and total titratable  acidity (TTA) of the fufu dough. Fufu dough was produced with fermentation agents; kerosene, detergent and palm ash and also with a  control without agent. They were wrapped in polyethylene bags, stored at ambient temperature and evaluated for storage and microbial  quality in the Biochemistry Laboratory of National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria. These samples were assayed for  chemical and microbial qualities which include pH and TTA. The results showed that the pH values ranged from 3.70 - 6.80, and Total  Titratable Acidity (TTA) values ranged from 0.004 - 0.048 %. The microbial analysis showed increase in fungal (2.1×108 (cfu/g)) and bacterial (1.0 ×106 (cfu/g)) counts as the storage time increased with the control having the least microbial load. The fungal isolates from  the samples are Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium spp, while the bacteria isolates from the samples include Bacillus spp  and Staphylococcus aureus. Statistically, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in appearance of the fufu as storage time  increased. The results from this study showed that the fufu with fermenting agents had higher microbial load than the control. It  therefore encourages healthy practices among the fufu producers by stopping the use of fermenting agents to reduce the proliferation  of pathogenic microorganisms in processed fufu.
Extension workers’ capacity for outreach to crop farmers on climate change resilience and adaptation in Edo state, Nigeria
Authors: Osuafor O.O , Onubogu H. , Edeh O.C. , Umeukeje A.P.
Published: May 2024

The study evaluated capacity for extension workers’ outreach to crop farmers on climate change resilience and adaptation in Edo State,  Nigeria. The study specifically described socio-economic characteristics of the extension workers; described capacities for outreach by the  extension workers; identified constraints to building capacities for outreach by the extension agents and identified strategies to  building capacities of the extension workers. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 69 extension workers. Data for this  study were obtained through the use of structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics and factor analysis were employed in the  analysis. The results showed that majority of the respondents (50.7%) were Extension Agent (EA) followed by 29.0% who were Block Extension Supervisors (BES). The result reveals that 34.8% of the extension staff to have attended between 1 to 4 conferences in the last  three years. About 44.9% of the respondents participate in workshops, training, seminars for extension workers and farmers. Majority (82.6%) of the respondents identified bush burning, massive deforestation and excess use of agro-chemicals in farming as the major  causes of climate change. A major constraints to building capacities for outreach by extension agents was absence of well-defined  agricultural policy (3.254). Restructuring of extension agents’ education and trainings was identified as a major strategy to building the  capacities of the extension workers. It is recommended that agricultural extension policies relating to climate change need to be  reviewed, among others.
Medical Practice and Litigation in the Global South - Towards Achieving Health for All in Nigeria
Authors: Atoe K. , Owozuwa E. S. , Oriaifo S. O.
Published: May 2024

The judicialization of healthcare and the right to health are the main topics of this article's analysis of the phenomena of medical practice and litigation in the Global South. It highlights the benefits and drawbacks of each strategy by contrasting the various tactics and results of medical safety litigation in Africa and Latin America. The significance of attaining universal health care and well-being for everyone in the Global South is also covered, as is the function of international cooperation and collaboration in this endeavor. The paper examines the prospects and problems posed among judicialization of healthcare in the context of social and economic equality and development using empirical data and interdisciplinary research.
Geo-Technical Sub-surface Exploration for Delineation of Structural Foundations: A Case Study of Technical University, Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Sedara S. O. , Olajide A. O. , Adekanye O. O. , Agbo K. O.
Published: May 2024

Sub-surface exploration provides valuable input regarding the type, age and depositional environment of geologic formations existing at a site for use in planning and interpreting the site conditions. Hence, the objective of this paper was to evaluate and provide data on the geo-technical sub-surface exploration for delineation of structural foundations in Technical University, Ibadan, Nigeria using Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) to determine the suitability of the sub-surface competence of the site for construction purposes and building development in the institution. The results indicated that the resistivity value of different geo-electric layers showed that geologic value greater than 20 m (thick weathered bedrock) can support massive civil engineering structure while 5-10 m can support small civil engineering structure.
Exploring the Prospect of Enhancing Cancer Radiotherapy in Hospitals and Health Care Centers in Nigeria Through Artificial Intelligence: A Promising Frontier
Authors: Momoh H. A. , Ibrahim H. A. , Abdulmalik M. O. , Bello A. I.
Published: May 2024

Radiotherapy remains a cornerstone in the treatment and management of cancer, however, current developments in artificial intelligence (AI) have shown promising opportunities in this field. Hence, the objective of this paper is to assess the need for integrating artificial intelligence to enhance cancer radiotherapy in hospitals and healthcare centers in Nigeria, using the twelve radiotherapy centers across the country. The article highlights the need for Nigerian hospitals and healthcare centers to start working towards embracing and integrating AI techniques into her radiotherapy (RT) procedures for optimized cancer treatment. Also, important groundwork required to ease the integration process is discussed. To highlight the need for Nigerian hospitals and healthcare centers to embrace and integrate AI into their radiotherapy procedures, a state-of-the-art review of accessible literatures from Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar was carried out. Finally, several applications of AI (machine/deep learning) techniques in radiotherapy were identified. Also, the current status of radiotherapy services in Nigeria and factors hindering its marriage with AI has been highlighted. Necessary groundwork required for a seamless AI integration was equally highlighted.
Contract Employment and Service Delivery in Tertiary Healthcare Institutions in Enugu State Nigeria
Authors: Nze Ujunwa Lilian , Udenta Jude , Eneh Maximus Ikenna
Published: May 2024

The study examinede Contract Employment and Service Delivery in Tertiary Healthcare Institutions in Enugu State. Specifically, the study  sought to: determine the contribution of contract employment to healthcare delivery in tertiary healthcare institutions, examine the  extent to which contract employment has assisted healthcare delivery in regard to emergency response in the tertiary healthcare  institutions and ascertain the effect of contract employment on Equipment maintenance for special procedure in tertiary healthcare  institutions in Enugu State Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive research design. The population of the study was 3694. Freund and  Williams formular was adopted in determining the sample size of 3342. Tables, frequency distribution and Mean Scores were adopted in  the analysis of data while z-test analysis was used in testing the hypotheses. The findings revealed that Contract employment has significantly contributed to healthcare delivery in tertiary healthcare institutions in Enugu State, Nigeria (where Z- value = 5.215 and the  critical Zvalue= 1.96), that contract employment had assisted in healthcare delivery in regard to emergency response time in tertiary  healthcare institutions in Enugu State, Nigeria ((whereZ- value = 4.096 and the critical Z-value= 1.96) and that Contract employment had  significant positive effect on Equipment maintenance for special procedure in tertiary healthcare institutions in Enugu State Nigeria  (where Z- value = 5.983 and the critical Zvalue= 1.96). The study concluded that judicious use of contract employment can enhance service delivery in these institutions by providing specialized expertise, promoting efficiency, and managing costs effectively. The study  recommended.