bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Irregular Professionalism: The Military Competence of American Revolutionary Militia
Authors:   , Avery Arthur Jared
Published: June 2024

During the Revolutionary War, many key Patriot leaders believed that militia were untrustworthy and useless in battle. After the American victory, many of the same men proclaimed their support for the militia as the foundation of the new nation's defense. The debate on the efficacy of Patriot militia continues into modern scholarship; some historians credit the militia with an important strategic role in the war, while others consider them a mere footnote in a conflict that was truly won by the Continental Army. This series of case studies examines four American expeditionary militia units to assess their level of military competence and professionalism. The results show that militia units were far from amateur, and many conducted their operations in a professional military manner. This supports a conclusion that militia both contributed to the American victory and remained a practical means of defense for the young nation.
A Conductor's Guide to Sergei Rachmaninoff's (1873-1943) "Six Choral Songs for Treble Voices," Op. 15 (1895)
Authors:   , Augsten Jacob Elliot
Published: June 2024

This dissertation aims to investigate and provide a conductor with an educational resource guide to Sergei Rachmaninoff's Six Choral Songs for Treble Voices (1895). This project will provide music educators with a comprehensive guide with many of the details that a conductor might need to successfully teach the work, including suggested pedagogical techniques; potential musical challenges and subsequent strategies; gestural conducting; historical and political context surrounding the two different versions of the work's first movement and how a conductor might approach the choice between the two; literal and poetic translations of the texts; and an IPA transcription for the work. Despite the eminence of Rachmaninoff's oeuvre and his objective place in the canon, the rationale for this project stems from the rarity of the work itself, its merit, its accessibility to a wide range of treble ensemble ability levels, and its lack of attention both in performance and academic spheres. This set of choruses is the composer's only contribution to the collection of music for treble ensembles and is part of a relatively minuscule amount of treble choir repertoire composed by early and pre-twentieth-century Russian composers. Op. 15 is also the only work written for choir and piano accompaniment. Performances of the work are also rare, and few recordings exist. Though published in 1895, all sources suggest that the work did not receive its premiere performance until 1973. The choral writing is vastly accessible. Though many challenges and educational opportunities exist throughout the work for ensembles of all levels, this is music that can be performed not only by advanced collegiate and professional choirs, but by developing collegiate ensembles, community choirs, and even high school choirs.
Niobium and Tantalum Carbides: Deposition, Stability under Oxidative Environments and Their Application in Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction Reaction
Authors:   , Alhowity Samar Ali A.
Published: June 2024

Transition metal carbides (TMCs) are of increasing interest for catalytic processes. Their performance and stability under common oxidative conditions in catalytic reactions are crucial for several applications, including catalysis and electrochemical reactions. In this work, we report a detailed XPS study of the interactions of stoichiometric NbC and TaC surfaces with common oxidizing agents like O2 and H2O, which are important media in many chemical processes. Experimental results showed that NbC reacts with O2 to produce Nb sub-oxrides, while TaC is inert to O2 exposure. TaC surfaces are more sensitive to H2O vapor, with a greater surface oxidation and hydroxylation. Atmospheric oxidation of NbC and TaC was also studied, and results showed that both films oxidized yielding to the formation of Nb2O5 and Ta2O5, hydroxylated/ oxide carbon species, and some adventurous carbon build-up. TMCs are catalytically active in many reactions, especially those involving electrochemical nitrogen reduction reactions (NRR) to ammonia. Experimental and DFT calculations were used to provide insight on how carbide surface structures change electrochemically and how that evolution relates to NRR activity. Results showed that NbC has NRR activity at pH 3.2 after immersion in 0.3 M NaOH, leaving niobium suboxides. However, photoemission data showed that the Nb2O5 overlayer is restored after polarization to -1.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl, inhibiting NRR activity. TaC, on the other hand, is inactive for NRR at potentials more positive than -1.0 V, as NaOH treatment fails to remove the Ta2O5 surface layer induced by ambient exposure. The study also found that the formation and stabilization of intermediate oxidation states on the surface of transition metal ions are crucial for N≡N bond activation and NRR activity.
The Role of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in Teacher Professional Development during COVID-19: A Systematic Review
Authors:   , Alqarawy Meshael Abdulrahman S.
Published: June 2024

The systematic review in this study focuses on questionnaire-based quantitative and qualitative studies that focus on the role of massive open online courses (MOOCs) in teacher professional development, with a concentration on the COVID-19 lockdown period. Sixteen studies were selected to be included in this systematic review based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study was designed to answer four main questions: (a) how have MOOCs been used in teacher professional development during the COVID-19 crisis? (b) what are teachers' perspectives toward using MOOCs for professional development? (c) what teacher skills reported as critical in those studies can be improved using MOOCs? and (d) what challenges faced by teachers during the use of MOOCs for training are reported in those studies? The results of this review reveal that (i) MOOCs were used to support teachers moving online, improve their personal skills during that crisis, and allow them to meet teachers in different areas and share their experience through online camps; (ii) teachers viewed a set of positive and negative aspects of the available MOOCs, and they addressed some criticisms of the available MOOCs and factors that may impact the success of MOOCs; (iii) MOOCs during the COVID-19 pandemic focused on developing three types of skills in teachers: online teaching skills, personal skills, and specialization skills; and (iv) financial and technical challenges, the quality of the available MOOC content, and the lack of time combined with their duties during that time are the most critical challenges teacher faced.
Westernization as Lingua Franca: Historical and Discursive Patterns of Hegemony in Global Higher Education
Authors:   , Moore Mallory Carson
Published: June 2024

Westernization as a historical process of universalizing western cultural and societal norms has, in terms of global education, evolved into a narrative of competition, resource-hoarding, erasure, and general accumulation of capital by the few. Universities and colleges are hubs for the production and reproduction of ideologies and ways of knowing that permeate the highest echelons of the global milieu and contribute to the creation of the global imaginary. The research questions that guided this study asked how Western hegemony is dialogically reinforced in global higher education at the regional and supranational level, and how historical determinants have impacted the regional and supranational translation and manifestation of Western educational models. Through a framework of world system theory and world society theory, I analyzed narratives and calls for improved global higher education at the regional and supranational level to identify mechanisms that have upheld western hegemony within global higher education. I employed a comparative-historical, mixed-methods analysis that utilized two qualitative approaches: historical narrative inquiry through a systematic review of journals and discourse analysis of documents published by the supranational and regional organizations sampled in this study. The overarching mechanisms that allowed for the maintenance of westernization were capacity in Africa, identity in LATC, and affect in Europe. The biased operationalization of global quality indicators has allowed for contemporary reproductions of colonial representations. Historical processes of colonization have evolved to maintain the global imaginary of world society while concretizing the asymmetric relationships of a networked society within the world system. These findings contribute to the body of literature on the manner in which global higher education systems interpret, mediate, sustain, and resist processes of westernization.
Experimental Investigations of Steel Scuffing and Coatings for Scuffing Prevention
Authors:   , Jacques Kelly Joan
Published: June 2024

To improve the lifetime, enhance engine performance, decrease emissions, and inhibit tribological failures of fuel injection system components, the component materials need to resist scuffing under conditions of high temperatures, high pressures, and low viscosity fuel lubrication. The objectives of this dissertation are to improve the materials implemented in future fuel injection system designs by developing a laboratory-scale experimental method to induce scuffing on baseline steel materials and use this experimental method to evaluate various materials for their resistance to scuffing failures. An experimental method to reliably produce scuffing events on AISI 52100 steel was developed by altering the contact condition parameters of previous experimental methods, such as the counterbody material, sliding velocities, and normal loads, amongst other parameters. The proposed method allows for the rapid evaluation of surfaces and coatings for their suitability in fuel injection system applications. Multiple materials were evaluated for their friction and wear reduction properties, including three different compositions of additively manufactured steels, tungsten carbide and cobalt-based thermal spray coatings, chromium nitride coatings, diamond-like carbon coatings, and tribocatalytic MoVN-Cu coatings. The results indicate that several of the coating materials and one of the additively manufactured steel alloys are promising candidates for implementation in emerging fuel injection systems to lower friction and prevent scuffing and wear. The properties of these materials responsible for their superior tribological behavior, such as the mechanical and thermal properties, were characterized and discussed.
An Investigation and Analysis of the Curricula of Undergraduate Vocal Performance Programs in South Korea, and Curricula Suggestions through a Comparison with Those in the United States
Authors:   , Jung Eun Ji
Published: June 2024

Despite its relatively short history, classical singing training in South Korean music colleges has shown quantitative and qualitative growth. Korean undergraduate voice programs have been graduating an abundance of eminent singers who are achieving success in the global music world. The purpose of this research is to examine the evolution of Western classical voice programs in South Korean undergraduate music institutions. By analyzing the strengths and challenges of their voice curricula, comparing them with leading music colleges and universities in the United States, this document will offer suggestions for curricular changes which will train excellent singers while offering practical courses that encourage other career opportunities that will support their long-term financial security.
Seven Movements from "Missa Festiva" (1817) of Marcos Portugal (1762–1830): A Vocal Score with Critical Commentary
Authors:   , Brites Pereira David Coelho Júlia
Published: June 2024

Marcos António da Fonseca Portugal (1762–1830) is considered by several Luso-Brazilian musicologists to be the most prolific and influential Portuguese composer in history, having impacted the Portuguese and Brazilian music scene significantly during his lifetime. Marcos Portugal achieved international fame for his large-scale works, which include sacred compositions, Italian opera seria, as well as farsas and opera buffa in Portuguese. Despite the reputation he achieved during his lifetime, today his works are understudied and underperformed, even in Lusophone countries. Such an oversight is noticeable particularly as regards his sacred music corpus. For this reason, I have chosen Missa Festiva (1817) as the subject of this dissertation. Creating a vocal score of the solo, duo and trio movements of Missa Festiva will be helpful not only for performers, but also for scholars and conductors who wish study this work. A vocal score makes accessible the performance of individual movements when only piano, organ, or another keyboard instrument is available. By facilitating the performance and analysis of Missa Festiva, this document will contribute to the work's dissemination and to a better understanding of the value of early nineteenth-century Luso-Brazilian virtuosic vocal sacred music. The manuscript used for the transcription and orchestral reduction into a vocal score of movements III-IX is BR-Rcm MS CRI-SM59 from the Acervo Musical do Cabido Metropolitano do Rio de Janeiro, from 1818 (images included in the dissertation).
Human Cerebral Organoids in Pillar/Perfusion Plates for Modeling Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors:   , Acharya Prabha
Published: June 2024

Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs)-derived brain organoids have potential to recapitulate the earliest stages of brain development, serving as an effective in vitro model for studying both normal brain development and disorders. In this study, we demonstrate a straightforward approach of generating multiple cerebral organoids from iPSCs on a pillar plate platform, eliminating the need for labor-intensive, multiple transfer and encapsulation steps to ensure the reproducible generation of cerebral organoids. We formed embryoid bodies (EBs) in an ultra-low attachment (ULA) 384-well plate and subsequently transferred them to the pillar plate containing Matrigel, using a straightforward sandwiching and inverting method. Each pillar on the pillar plate contains a single spheroid, and the success rate of spheroid transfer was in a range of 95 - 100%. Using this approach, we robustly generated cerebral organoids on the pillar plate and demonstrated an intra-batch coefficient of variation (CV) below 9 – 19% based on ATP-based cell viability and compound treatment. Notably, our spheroid transfer method in combination with the pillar plate allows miniaturized culture of cerebral organoids, alleviates the issue of organoid variability, and has potential to significantly enhance assay throughput by allowing in situ organoid assessment as compared to conventional organoid culture in 6-/24-well plates, petri dishes, and spinner flasks.
The Compositional Language of Gabriela Ortiz (b. 1964) in "Códigos Secretos" (2004) for Flute and Electroacoustic Sounds
Authors:   , Vallejo Vallejo Maria
Published: June 2024

This dissertation provides a performance guide of Códigos Secretos for flute and electroacoustic sounds (2004) written by Gabriela Ortiz and commissioned by Mexican flutist Alejandro Escuer. Ortiz's compositional language reflects the influence of her teachers in Mexico and London, and the exposure to the evolving musical landscape during her formative years. Her decision to explore the electroacoustic realm stemmed from her fascination with the unlimited possibilities offered by working with a variety of acoustic sources and technological equipment that allowed her to experiment with different musical ideas, compositional processes and unique soundscapes. Códigos Secretos presents various challenges due to the absence of a preface or guide and several elements that may be unfamiliar to flutists, making it challenging or inaccessible to understand and perform the piece. The performance guide includes detailed explanations of the flute and computer scores, addresses discrepancies between different versions of the piece, and provides guidance on improvisatory sections and the execution of extended techniques. These elements enhance the performer's understanding of the piece and facilitate effective engagement and synchronization with the computer, enabling an artistic performance. The purpose of this dissertation is to inform performers and researchers about Gabriela Ortiz's compositional language, raise awareness about the diversity of Mexican music, and bring Ortiz's compositions to a broader audience, making her works more accessible.
Development of Community-Based Homestay Tourism in Nigeria: A Stakeholder Perspective
Authors:   , Ijose Opemipo Alaba
Published: June 2024

This study explored the feasibility of developing community-based homestay tourism in Nigeria. Stakeholder theory was used to develop a strategy to ideally develop homestay tourism in the local communities, using Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State as a case study context. The approach entails assessing practicability and acceptability, the operational feasibility, and the potential outcome of developing community-based homestay tourism. A qualitative research design was deployed to capture credible results for this study, which entailed engaging tourism stakeholders through a focus group discussion data collection method conducted via Zoom. The participants were purposefully selected based on their experience in the tourism industry and their willingness to participate in the study. The various groups of stakeholders who provided data during the focus group discussion were academia, tour operators, NGOs, and local community stakeholder groups, respectively. The results showed that Nigeria's tourism state is at its lowest level due to a lack of funding, government attention, and insecurity. It was confirmed that the development of community-based homestay tourism would be practicable in Nigeria provided all stakeholders collaborated to formulate enabling tourism policies, agreed to co-manage, put into consideration the plight of the locals, and ensured the locals held a relevant position within the homestay management committee, were funded, and created effective strategies to market and promote the destination. For homestay tourism to be accepted in the local communities, the benefits must be communicated to the potential operators, the local culture must be respected, and economic benefits must be shared with equity.
"Transcendence": An Original Composition in Three Movements
Authors:   , Taraporevala Kahan Kai
Published: June 2024

Transcendence is a composition in three movements representing categories of human needs and self-actualization. Psychologist Scott Kaufman makes an analogy between each category of needs and aspects of a sailboat. Transcendence makes similar correlations between the music in the three movements and types of human needs. The first movement, for solo piano titled Seeds of Time, represents Kaufman's description of a boat's hull and our basic needs for security. The second movement, Arcane Pathways, is for quintet (flute, clarinet, piano, violin, violoncello) and signifies the boat's sails and our need for growth. The third movement is an SATB choir and piano work titled Abadi, symbolizing the sailboat in motion and our ongoing journey of self-actualization. In this approach to life humans forge paths toward living meaningful lives and for the well- being of others. The metaphor of self-actualization manifests in the music as it evolves and cycles through themes present in all three movements. The increased number of instruments and performers as the composition goes through its three movements parallels Kaufman's ideas of transcendence which involve growing as individuals until we eventually contribute to and connect with the wider community and world around us.
Disorienting Resilience: Exploring Resilience with Women Graduate Students in Design-Related Programs
Authors:   , Donaldson Christina
Published: June 2024

The term resilience is overused and under theorized. This dissertation challenges prevailing resilience discourses, exploring the tensions of embodied and experiential relationships with resilience that complicate the overly reductive and overly positive notion of resilience as a virtue of neoliberal subjects. Understanding resilience in the context of contemporary Western society necessitates unraveling the societal conditions shaped by the dominant neoliberal capitalist ethos of production. To address these problems, I explore how resilience is lived in the impasse of the crisis ordinary. Guided by affect theory, critical phenomenology, and queer theory, my study centers on ambiguity, subjectivity, and normativity in order to contend with the complexities and contradictions of resilience. Through a novel impassive bricolage methodology, I explore the lived and embodied experiences of resilience through relational, reflexive, and creative processes of autohistoria-teoría, flashpoint methodology, heuristic inquiry, and a participatory, reflexive thematic analysis. This study engaged with three women co-researchers who have recently completed graduate programs in design-related fields. Data collection included written reflections, interviews, focus group recordings, and creative works. Analysis revealed three central themes: disorientation, movement, and disconnection. For these co-researchers, resilience emerged as a complex and ambiguous phenomenon, responding to the push and pull between self and the normative world. Reconceptualizing resilience as emerging from and including queer affects, I redirect focus from linear progression, attending instead to ambiguous and awkward movements of the impasse. By unraveling resilience, my project opens up ways to live the impasse by loosening attachments to good-life fantasies and embracing happiness without guarantees.
How are Preservice Educators Prepared to Work with Paraprofessionals? An Analysis of Teacher Preparation Programs and Faculty Perspective
Authors:   , Walker Christine Elizabeth
Published: June 2024

Paraprofessionals have a wide range of responsibilities in the educational system to support students' academic, behavioral, and social needs. The law does not specifically define how paraprofessionals will receive training for these tasks, but many districts require teachers to fill this role. While some educators may receive adequate training, literature shows that the majority of preservice and in-service teachers feel unprepared to train, manage, and supervise paraprofessionals. In this exploratory study, grounded qualitative methods were used to analyze data from course materials and semi-structured interviews regarding faculty perspectives of current practices used in teacher preparation programs. Themes which emerged from the data included: (1) Informal or ad hoc training; (2) Recognition of the need to support conceptual awareness; and (3) Infrastructural issues. Participants in this study used their knowledge, background, and experiences to create meaningful and relevant activities with concepts that preservice teachers need to work with paraprofessionals. However, instruction tended to be informal or ad hoc due to a number of infrastructural issues and constraints surrounding current practices. The findings of the study were congruent with previous literature regarding course materials, activities, and types of training. Additionally, this study revealed some issues at the national, state, and local levels that have influenced the extent of information provided to preservice teachers regarding working with paraprofessionals.
Understanding Antibiotic Effects on Microbial Growth in Anopheles stephensi Mosquitoes: Correlating Optical Density Measurements with qPCR Analysis
Authors:   , Qadri Tanvi
Published: June 2024

In this project, an outgrowth and optical density (OD) measurement step was developed and validated for an established protocol for antibiotic treatment of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. This step allows the elimination of uncleared mosquitoes from experimental pools. Our findings suggest that, as previously demonstrated, antibiotic treatment reduced the mosquito microbiome to an extent, as evidenced by decreased bacterial growth observed through OD readings of our experimental samples. Additionally, qPCR analysis of 16S abundance provided quantitative data on bacterial abundance, which further supported the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment. Finally, a comparison of mosquito samples pooled randomly or with high OD individuals removed showed a significant improvement in bacterial clearance in samples with our refinement step included. The method established here can generate experimental samples for third-generation sequencing with minimal bacterial contamination for robust hypothesis testing. The addition of OD measurement is a rapid, cost-effective step that can potentially improve hypothesis testing on large pools of samples. This study contributes to our understanding of the impact of antibiotic treatment on mosquito microbiomes. Improvements in molecular and bench-level techniques can greatly contribute to our ability to gain insights into the role of microbes in mosquito biology.
Liquid Phase Exfoliation of Tungsten Diselenide for Environmental Gas and Breath Sensing
Authors:   , Zaman Ashique
Published: June 2024

In this work, we performed an experimental analysis using a two-dimensional semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), specifically tungsten diselenide (WSe2), for gas sensor applications. Our method entailed building a chemically liquid exfoliated WSe2 gas sensing device with gold (Au) electrodes to measure its reaction and sensitivity to environmental gasses such as CO2 and N2. The 2D thin film was created through a solution processing method and electrically coupled in a two-terminal configuration; photonic curing system along with the hot plate annealing process was used on the thin film for rapid annealing, enhancing particle connectivity, stable crystal structure, and increasing overall electrical conductivity. The inkjet printing technology is used to explore the potential of the 2D thin film fabrication process that defines a well-controlled and scalable additive manufacturing process at the nano level that makes it possible to develop next-generation flexible devices. The additive nano-manufacturing process allowed us to establish the film's structure and chemical properties before measuring the electrical characteristics of the films when exposed to CO2 and N2 gases at room temperature. To explore and validate the sensitivity to human interaction with the gas-sensing device, we carried out further experiments with direct exposure to human breath in an open environmental space which shows a promising landmark for developing a next-generation flexible breath-sensing device.
Trypanosoma cruzi: Awareness and Knowledge Levels of Professional "Dog People" Exposure Rates in a Select Group of North Texas Client Owned Dogs, and a Historical Perspective of Screening Efforts in Domestic Dogs
Authors:   , Pace Wendy Lee
Published: June 2024

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent in Chagas disease, is a parasitic protozoon that can cause cardiac and gastrointestinal dysfunction in most mammals. It is generally considered a disease of poverty endemic to many areas throughout Latin America. Despite increased interest in the USA, the scope of the disease is not known. Research has suggested that canine Chagas disease may be escalating in the USA but that cases may be underestimated. The objectives of this project were to assess the awareness and knowledge about Chagas disease in *dog people*, identify the rate of exposure or infection in North Texas client owned dogs and explore the history of canine Chagas disease throughout the Americas over time. Contributions include (1) survey participants who have some level of professional involvement with dogs are generally aware regarding Chagas disease but struggle to adequately identify the causative vector, (2) a baseline seropositive rate of 2% was identified in North Texas client owned dogs, and (3) a systematic review of the literature resulted in a compilation of all available canine screening efforts across the Americas over time. Further addressing the problem of Chagas disease in dogs, and humans, will require the standardization of diagnostic methods and development of clinically accessible treatment and or prevention options.
Application of Spatiotemporal Data Mining to Air Quality Data
Authors:   , Biancardi Michael Anthony
Published: June 2024

This thesis explores the use of spatiotemporal data mining in the air quality domain to understand causes of PM2.5 air pollution. PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter and is a major threat to human and environmental health. A review of air quality modeling methods is provided, emphasizing data-driven modeling techniques. While data mining methods have been applied to air quality data, including temporal sequence mining algorithms, spatiotemporal sequence mining methods have not been broadly applied to study air pollution. However, air pollution is highly spatial in nature, so such methods can offer new insights into air quality. This thesis applies one such method, the Spatiotemporal Sequence Miner (STS Miner) algorithm, to air quality data from a low-cost sensor network to explore causes and trends related to PM2.5. To facilitate the use of this method, an open-source library called OpenSTSMiner is developed to implement this algorithm. Various domain results are found; for instance, low temperature and low relative humidity are strongly associated with worsening levels of air quality. Lastly, to highlight the utility of the STS Miner algorithm, a comparison is presented between STS Miner and spatial Markov chains, another spatiotemporal modeling method used in the air quality domain.
How Perceived Value Influences Business Event Attendees Future Behavioral Intentions: A Comparison between Event Modalities
Authors:   , Sherrell Elisabeth Ann
Published: June 2024

Even two years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting and event industry's efforts must focus on understanding attendees' purchase behaviors and event modality preferences. This study aims to address these factors by using a 2 (Event modality: in-person or virtual) × 6 (six dimensions of perceived value: social value, emotional value, monetary value, functional value, novelty value, and convenience value) between-subject experiment design and a 6 (Six dimensions of perceived value (PV): social value, emotional value, monetary value, functional value, novelty value, and convenience value) x 2 (PV effect on word-of-mouth (WOM) intent and repeat purchase intent (RPI)) between-subject experimental design. Specifically, it applies the perceived value theory in investigating the effects of different value dimensions (social, emotional, monetary, functional, novelty, and convenience) based on attendee event modality (in-person or virtual) and their impact on WOM intent and RPI. The data was collected via Prolific. Different ANOVA and t-tests were conducted. The results suggest that event modality had little bearing on the six dimensions of PV. Results also showed that PV positively impacts WOM intent and RPI.
The Evolution of Cash Programming in Nepal: Implementing Agencies' Perspectives
Authors:   , Sharma Prabin
Published: June 2024

Cash assistance has emerged as a vital tool for supporting household recovery in Nepal after multiple disasters, including the 2015 earthquake, 2018 drought, and COVID-19 pandemic. This research engages with organizational learning theory to explore how cash programs evolved overtime and identify the challenges and opportunities encountered in program implementation. Using semi-structured interviews, I recorded the experiences of individuals from NGOs, INGOs, and donor agencies involved in managing these programs in Nepal. While initial skepticism from the government, limited resources, and beneficiaries' lack of access to financial institutions presented obstacles, cash programs empowered individuals to meet their needs and revitalized local economies. The research identifies that technological integration, use of market analysis, and collaboration with financial institutions as evidence of learning from past programs to inform new programs; however, government resistance remained a barrier. Interview participants emphasized the importance of collaboration, innovation, and adaptation to improve future cash programs and, build a more resilient Nepal that is better prepared for future disasters.
Crowd Counting Camera Array and Correction
Authors:   , Fausak Andrew Todd
Published: June 2024

"Crowd counting" is a term used to describe the process of calculating the number of people in a given context; however, crowd counting has multiple challenges especially when images representing a given crowd span multiple cameras or images. In this thesis, we propose a crowd counting camera array and correction (CCCAC) method using a camera array of scaled, adjusted, geometrically corrected, combined, processed, and then corrected images to determine the number of people within the newly created combined crowd field. The purpose of CCCAC is to transform and combine valid regions from multiple images from different sources and order as a uniform proportioned set of images for a collage or discrete summation through a new precision counting architecture. Determining counts in this manner within normalized view (collage), results in superior counting accuracy than processing individual images and summing totals with prior models. Finally, the output from the counting model is adjusted with learned results over time to perfect the counting ability of the entire counting system itself. Results show that CCCAC crowd counting corrected and uncorrected methods perform superior to raw image processing methods.
‘The Pain of Being and Not Being You’: Passion, Desire, and Queer Reading Encounters in Maria-Mercè Marçal’s La passió segons Renée Vivien
Authors: Gocławska Aleksandra
Published: June 2024

La passió segons Renée Vivien is the only novel written by the Catalan poet Maria-Mercè Marçal. A novel of many novels, a collage of many languages and genres, by its very form it constantly and systemically dilutes the figure of the author and that of the narrator. Structured around a mysterious manuscript of a screenplay around the life of Renée Vivien, the book seems to problematize the ontology of a literary text. In my paper, I look at the conceptualization of the reading encounter in the novel, as illustrated by the passionate, yet spectral relationship between one of the main narrators, Sara T., and Vivien, an English-born author who wrote in French in the fin-de-siècle Paris, and whose life and work Sara studies. I read the novel in the context of the reader reception theory, as understood by Roman Ingarden, and later Umberto Eco and Italo Calvino. The places of indetermination in Vivien’s life, rather than abstract entities, are political, as Vivien’s disorienting, lesbian life –the backbone of the novel’s plot – has been subjected to systemic silencing and ‘straightening’ by her biographers. Marçal points to certain, socially determined, standardized patterns of filling in the silences of a literary text, patterns that are often a result of a heteronormative and patriarchal bias. The text, rather than a machine, is conceptualized as a site of a passionate encounter between the author and the reader, a destabilizing, queer romance as a result of which the reader’s self may, as Emma Wilson has put it, ‘be re-viewed and identification may thus precede, endorse, or disrupt a fiction of stable identity’ (Wilson, 1996: 5).
The freedom to speak
Authors: Khawaja Sally , Carter Beth
Published: June 2024

Sally Khawaja and Beth Carter discuss the importance of raising concerns within dentistry.
Research Self-Efficacy and Productivity of Select Faculty Members: Inferences for Faculty Development Plan
Authors: Pentang Jupeth T. , Domingo Jaynelle G.
Published: June 2024

Faculty members’ beliefs in their ability to conduct research and publish research outputs are expected to impact research productivity directly. Thus, the study described the research self-efficacy and productivity among faculty members, their research self-efficacy influence on productivity, and their challenges in research writing and publication. The study utilized a mixed-method sequential explanatory research design, with 36 and nine faculty member-participants for the quantitative and qualitative study. For the quantitative study, the faculty members’ research self-efficacy was ascertained using a validated questionnaire, and their research productivity was determined through a researcher-made survey instrument. Meanwhile, the qualitative study focused on the faculty members’ research writing and publication challenges, which were gathered through focus group discussions. Results showed average research self-efficacy and low research productivity among faculty members. Research self-efficacy significantly predicted research productivity regarding refereed and indexed publications, paper presentations, and bibliometrics. Further, themed findings showed that the faculty members encountered challenges such as a lack of research exposure, time constraints, lack of institutional support, and publication pressure. The study may serve as an inference for higher education institutions in designing faculty development plans and in-service training programs to capacitate its members.
Clinical research progress on acupuncture for the treatment of otogenic vertigo
Authors: Yi An-Na , Yang Ge , Wang Jia-Xin , Zhang Li-Qiong , Yuan Peng , Hong Jing-Tian , Zhou Lei
Published: June 2024

Otogenic vertigo is a common disorder that affects the vestibular system, which often results in considerable discomfort and impaired daily functioning. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including acupuncture and moxibustion, has been historically utilized to manage the symptoms of vertigo. However, the effectiveness and methodology of these treatments have rarely been investigated in the medical literature. This study reviews the existing literature on the point selection, method, and therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion to provide a reference for the TCM treatment of otogenic vertigo. A literature search was performed using the PubMed search engine. The terms used included otogenic vertigo, acupuncture treatment, and acupuncture point selection. A total of 34 relevant articles were retrieved from PubMed. These suggest that the clinical treatment of otogenic vertigo should consider the functions of zang-fu organs and meridians and select different acupuncture treatment methods according to syndrome differentiation based on the difference between deficiency and excess. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy should be based on acupoint selection, considering the syndrome differentiation, supplemented with experience. The treatment of otogenic vertigo with acupuncture and moxibustion refers to the selection of appropriate acupuncture methods under the guidance of TCM theory and following the principles of syndrome, disease, and meridian differentiation. Common acupuncture methods include body acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, scalp acupuncture, acupoint injection, electroacupuncture, and moxibustion. There are many acupuncture and moxibustion acupoints selected for the treatment of otogenic vertigo. Individualized treatment according to the patient’s specific condition is effective and safe, which can help to improve the patient’s vertigo symptoms and cerebral blood perfusion.
Effect of continuous nursing on treatment compliance and side effect management of coronary heart disease
Authors: Wei Juan , Li Bai-Wen-Xian , Han Shao-Jie , Zhuang Hong-Jie , Cao Wen-Hong
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

There are relatively few studies on continuing care of coronary heart disease (CHD), and its research value needs to be further clarified.

AIM

To investigate the effect of continuous nursing on treatment compliance and side effect management in patients with CHD.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study with patients from January 2021 to 2023. The study was divided into two groups with 30 participants in each group. Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and Self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to assess patients' anxiety and depression, and medical coping questionnaire was used to assess patients' coping styles. The pelvic floor dysfunction questionnaire (PFDI-20) was used to assess the status of pelvic floor function, including bladder symptoms, intestinal symptoms, and pelvic symptoms.

RESULTS

SAS score decreased from 57.33 ± 3.01before treatment to 41.33 ± 3.42 after treatment, SDS score decreased from 50.40 ± 1.45 to 39.47 ± 1.57. The decrease of these two indexes was statistically significant (P < 0.05). PFDI-20 scores decreased from the mean 16.83 ± 1.72 before treatment to 10.47 ± 1.3the mean after treatment, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that pioneering research in continuous care of CHD has a positive impact on improving patients' treatment compliance, reducing anxiety and depression levels, and improving coping styles and pelvic floor functional status.
Application of multidisciplinary team-based integrated traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in rotator cuff injury patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery
Authors: Cao Di-Ping , Yin Lei , Wang Yi-Fei , Liu Bing-Li
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a common surgical treatment for rotator cuff injuries (RCIs). Although this procedure has certain clinical advantages, it requires rehabilitation management interventions to ensure therapeutic efficacy.

AIM

To investigate the effect of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine (TCM-WM) under the multidisciplinary team (MDT) model on the postoperative recovery of patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery for RCIs.

METHODS

This study enrolled 100 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for RCIs at the Seventh People’s Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between June 2021 and May 2024. They were divided into a control group (n = 48) that received routine rehabilitation treatment and an experimental group (n = 52) that received TCM-WM under the MDT model (e.g. , acupuncture, TCM traumatology and orthopedics, and rehabilitation). The results of the Constant–Murley Shoulder Score (CMS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), muscular strength evaluation, and shoulder range of motion (ROM) assessments were analyzed.

RESULTS

After treatment, the experimental group showed significantly higher CMS scores in terms of pain, functional activity, shoulder joint mobility, and muscular strength than the baseline and those of the control group. The experimental group also exhibited significantly lower VAS and SPADI scores than the baseline and those of the control group. In addition, the experimental group showed significantly enhanced muscular strength (forward flexor and external and internal rotator muscles) and shoulder ROM (forward flexion, abduction, and lateral abduction) after treatment compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

TCM-WM under the MDT model improved shoulder joint function, relieved postoperative pain, promoted postoperative functional recovery, and facilitated the recovery of muscular strength and shoulder ROM in patients with RCIs who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
Prognostic role of the stromal cell derived factor-1 in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure
Authors: Zhang Li , Wang Jian-Yu , Zhao Cai-Yan , Shen Chuan , Chen Mei-Ru , Tian Zhi-Ying
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

Stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) plays a pivotal role in the recruitment of stem cells to injured livers. However, the changes of SDF-l in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) have yet to be elucidated.

AIM

To study the SDF-1 changes in patients with HBV-related ACLF.

METHODS

30 patients with HBV-related ACLF, 27 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 20 healthy individuals are involved in our study. The SDF-l mRNA expression in liver tissue was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to illustrate the expression of SDF-l, CXC receptor 4 (CXCR4) and Ki67. The serum SDF-l concentrations were also detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS

The expression of SDF-1 mRNA from ACLF patients was remarkably higher than that from other patients (both P < 0.05). The expression of SDF-l, CXCR4 and Ki67 from ACLF were the highest among the three groups (all P < 0.01). The serum SDF-l levels in ACLF patients were significantly lower than that in other patients (both P < 0.01). Moreover, in ACLF patients, the serum SDF-1 Levels were positively correlated with serum total bilirubin and international normalized ratio. In addition, the serum SDF-l levels in survival were significantly lower compared with the non-survivals (P < 0.05). The area under the curve for the serum SDF-1 level in predicting 28-d mortality was 0.722 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study provides the SDF-1 changes in patients with HBV-related ACLF. The SDF-1 Level at admission may serve as a promising prognostic marker for predicting short-term prognosis.
Efficacy of fexuprazan compared with rebamipide in Korean patients with gastritis: A matching-adjusted indirect comparison
Authors: Kim Gwang Ha , Lee Hang Lak
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

Gastritis is one of the most frequently diagnosed diseases requiring medical treatment in South Korea. Fexuprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, has been approved for treating gastritis and erosive esophagitis. Meanwhile, rebamipide is the most commonly used mucoprotective agent for acute and chronic gastritis in real-world settings in South Korea. However, there have been no studies comparing the efficacy of these two drugs yet.

AIM

To compare the efficacy of fexuprazan with that of rebamipide for acute and chronic gastritis.

METHODS

This was a matching-adjusted indirect comparison. Individual patient data from a phase III study of fexuprazan (10 mg BID) were compared with cumulative data from two matching studies of rebamipide (100 mg TID). Erosion improvement and healing rates were compared between two weeks of fexurapan, two weeks of rebamipide, and four weeks of rebamipide. The two main outcome variables were presented as percentages, and the risk differences (RD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the relative treatment effects.

RESULTS

In the primary analysis, the erosion improvement and healing rates after a two-week treatment with fexuprazan were 64.5% and 53.2%, respectively, while a two-week treatment with rebamipide resulted in erosion improvement and healing rates of 43.6% (RD: 21.0%; 95%CI: 9.6-32.3; P < 0.01) and 35.6% (RD: 17.6%; 95%CI: 6.1-29.2; P = 0.003), respectively. In the additional analysis, the erosion improvement and healing rates for the two-week fexuprazan treatment (64.2% and 51.2%, respectively) were similar to those obtained during a four-week treatment with rebamipide (60.6%; RD: 3.6%; 95%CI: -9.8, 17.0; P = 0.600 and 53.5%; RD: -2.3%; 95%CI: -16.1, 11.5; P = 0.744, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The two-week fexuprazan treatment was superior to the two-week rebamipide treatment and similar to the four-week rebamipide treatment for patients with gastritis.