bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Importance of Soft Skills for Academic Performance and Career Development—From the Perspective of University Students
Authors: Ngo Thi Thuy An
Published: April 2024

In the present era, the importance of soft skills as a crucial element for personal and professional success is widely acknowledged. When hiring new employees, these soft skills are highly valued by employers. However, many students are unaware of the crucial role those soft skills play in their education and career success, hindering their progress in developing these skills. This study aims to assess students’ perceptions of the importance of soft skills for academic performance and career development. A questionnaire-based online survey was conducted, involving 968 undergraduate students from eight universities in Vietnam, to gather data. The findings showed that most respondents recognized the significance of soft skills in fostering positive relationships, career advancement, and securing desirable employment. However, students did not believe that these skills had a substantial impact on their academic performance. Communication, teamwork, collaboration, and time management skills were identified as the most critical soft skills for enhancing academic performance, while teamwork, collaboration, leadership, and problem-solving skills were considered pivotal for career development. Moreover, a significant portion of students perceived their soft skills level to be below the desired threshold, showing more confidence in skills they considered to be more important. Similarly, students tended to prioritize the development of soft skills that they perceived as essential to their personal goals.
Creating Sustainable Competencies in Engineering Through Biomimetics Courses
Authors: Vázquez-Villegas Patricia , Molina-Solis Elsy Geny , Mejía-Manzano Luis Alberto , Romo-Molina Javier , Membrillo-Hernández Jorge
Published: April 2024

The United Nations 2030 plan establishes the incorporation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a multidisciplinary focus for training new specialized human resources. In engineering, the SDGs have been integrated into the curriculum as optional subjects. In this report, we present an investigation into implementing the SDGs in a Biomimicry and Sustainability course offered during the spring and fall semesters of 2022, with 194 students divided into six groups. Using challenge-based learning, students proposed utilizing wind or solar resources to generate electricity in a selected region. They were asked to conduct extensive research and precise engineering calculations to ensure the viability of their alternative energy sources. Additionally, each group had to select three or more SDGs that best aligned with their proposal, justifying their choices. The evaluation of the reports was based on rubrics and checklists that assessed the integrity of their argumentation and the adequacy of the report components. Most students chose SDGs 7, 11, and 13. In an anonymous survey, students expressed that incorporating the SDGs into the assignment significantly enhanced the importance of their learning experience. We recommend that other educators follow suit and incorporate the SDGs into their students’ projects or proposals, irrespective of whether their institution has a sustainability plan, aiming to transform sustainability into a competency rather than a fixed concept.
Construire le territoire à la fin du Ve millénaire. De grands travaux au service d’une plus grande emprise territoriale au Néolithique moyen bas-normand
Authors: Ghesquière Emmanuel , Marcigny Cyril
Published: April 2024

À la fin du Ve millénaire, la fin de la néolithisation aboutit à de profonds changements de comportement des sociétés néolithiques vis-à-vis de leur environnement et de leur territoire. Ces changements, dont l'une des interprétations tient à la plus grande complexification sociale, se traduisent dans l’espace par la mise en chantier de « grands travaux », probables signature identitaire et territoriale. Parmi ceux-ci, les plus connus en Normandie sont les sites fortifiés en éperon, les enceintes de plaine et, bien entendu, le mégalithisme.
L’enceinte chasséenne de Château-Percin. Un témoignage exceptionnel d’architecture monumentale néolithique en Haute-Garonne
Authors: Gandelin Muriel , Pons Fabrice , Chazelles Claire-Anne de
Published: April 2024

Le site du Néolithique moyen de Château-Percin (Seilh, Haute-Garonne) a révélé, lors des fouilles menées en 2008 par l’Inrap, les vestiges d’une enceinte palissadée qui clôt un espace de 3 hectares situé sur le bord d’une terrasse qui domine la Garonne. Le caractère exceptionnel de cette découverte réside dans la présence d’une construction massive originellement élaborée en bois et en terre crue, détruite par un violent incendie et effondrée dans l’un des fossés. La mise au jour de ce rempart au caractère comminatoire patent renouvelle la perception et l’interprétation des grands sites ceinturés chasséens.
L’ensemble public monumental de Jaude. Un vaste projet d’aménagement à Augustonemetum au IIe siècle
Authors: Alfonso Guy , Arnaud Philippe , Barrier Christian Le
Published: April 2024

Les fouilles archéologiques préventives réalisées en 1995, puis en 2009-2010, dans le cadre de l’aménagement de la ZAC de Jaude, au cœur de Clermont-Ferrand, ont permis d’ouvrir une fenêtre de deux hectares dans un secteur méconnu d’Augustonemetum. Elles ont mis au jour une partie d’un quartier monumental public organisé autour d’une vaste place bordée de portiques, créée vers le milieu du IIe siècle de notre ère. Les modalités de l’aménagement (drainage, terrassements, chantier de construction) et les grandes lignes de ce projet d’urbanisme, peut-être resté inachevé, sont ici exposées. Son insertion dans la trame urbaine de la ville antique et son articulation avec le monument dit « Mur des Sarazins » (probable temple de dimensions imposantes), situé à proximité, sont ensuite étudiées.
Le projet dans le chantier roman de Paray-le-Monial. Le concept d’architecture clunisienne
Authors: Rollier Gilles
Published: April 2024

L’ancienne prieurale romane de Paray-le-Monial a fait l’objet, entre 1998 et 2005, de fouilles préventives et de campagnes de relevés d’élévations. Les résultats ont permis de mettre en évidence la difficulté des constructeurs à achever rapidement le bâtiment. Chantier commencé dans les premières décennies du XIIe siècle il ne s’achèvera, que dans les premières décennies du XIIIe siècle. Malgré plusieurs campagnes de constructions successives, les constructeurs de Paray-le-Monial restent extrêmement fidèles à l’esthétique et à l’architectonique romanes mises en place dans les débuts du chantier. Cela suppose, malgré de nombreuses vicissitudes, le respect d’un programme et une certaine conceptualisation du projet architectural.
The Impact of Audit Quality on Earnings Management: Evidence from Listed Companies in Sri Lanka
Authors: Madhushani H. G. I. , Sujeewa G. M. M.
Published: April 2024

Earnings Management (EM) is related to the manipulation of reported income through accounting practices and decisions. With the occurrence of numerous financial collapses and failures, the reliability of the audit function has been challenged, as auditors play a critical role in expressing an opinion on the financial statements. This study investigates the impact of Audit Quality on EM in Sri Lankan listed companies. This study employs Modified Jones model to examine earnings management practices through Discretionary Accruals (DA). The selected proxies of audit quality which are Length of Audit Tenure, Audit Firm Size and Auditor Independence are the independent variables. The data is collected from annual reports for the financial periods 2015 - 2020 and audit reports for the financial period 2012 - 2020 of listed companies on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). This study employed descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multivariate analysis to analyze the data. Based on the quantitative analysis, the results demonstrated that the association between audit firm size and earnings management in Sri Lankan listed companies is negative and significant. It was found that the level of EM between companies using Big 4 auditors and those using non-Big 4 auditors is much lower. This study revealed that auditor independence and EM have a significant negative association. It was suggested that independent auditors have a greater ability to regulate and identify EM activities through company management. Further, this study exposed that there is an insignificant association between the length of audit tenure and earnings management. These findings are useful to shareholders in appointing or reappointing auditors. Furthermore, this study enables stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, to examine the presence of EM practices in listed companies of CSE.
The Impact of Corporate Governance on Financial Distress: Evidence from Listed Financial Institutions in Sri Lanka
Authors: Perera T. M. A. Y. M. , Munasinghe M. A. T. K
Published: April 2024

This study focuses on the role of corporate governance in predicting financial distress of companies in the finance sector in Sri Lanka. Over the past two decades, several finance sector companies collapsed in Sri Lanka affecting numerous victims with no proper compensation payments. The study aims to unveil the impact of corporate governance on financial distress of companies in the financial sector. A number of key variables included to measure the corporate governance such as board size, board gender diversification, frequency of board meetings, audit quality, board member remuneration, CEO duality, education level of the board members, and board independence. As control variables firm size, profitability, and financial leverage are considered. Financial distress is operationalized through the measures of institutions negative profit, cash flow, or worth for three consecutive years. Data from 54 listed financial institutions in Sri Lanka were collected from 2017 to 2022. Descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, corporate governance comparison model, and regression analysis were employed for data analysis. The findings indicate that board size, board gender diversification, frequency of board meetings, higher audit quality, education level of the board, board independence, and return on equity have a significant negative impact on financial distress. These findings can help identify at-risk financial institutions, support decision-making for investors and stakeholders, guide the implementation of corporate governance policies, and inform policymakers in developing new governance policies.
Effects of Non-Performing Loans & COVID-19 Pandemic on the Performance of Commercial Banks in Sri Lanka
Authors: Silva M. T. M. , Perera W. T. N. M. , Madhushani H. G. I.
Published: April 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global economy, and the non-performing loans (NPLs) have become a pressing issue for commercial banks in Sri Lanka. It is doubtful how the NPLs and COVID-19 Pandemic have affected the performance of commercial banks in Sri Lanka. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate effects of non-performing loans & COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of Sri Lankan commercial banks for the period of 2011 - 2021. The panel data regression analysis was used to investigate the effects of non-performing loans & COVID-19 pandemic on the financial performance of Commercial Banks. The results of the analysis revealed that non-performing loans and the pandemic period have a negative impact on the profitability of commercial banks in Sri Lanka. Thus, this study is useful for bank management officials to protect banks from crises and create ideas to enhance the performance of banks.
First detection of the woolly alder sawfly, Eriocampa ovata (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), in Manitoba, Canada, on novel host Alnus hirsuta ‘Harbin’ (Betulaceae)
Authors: Martin Alexander James Fricke
Published: April 2024

Eriocampa ovata (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), commonly known as woolly alder sawfly, is an introduced species to North America. Its larvae have six or more prolegs, a brown spot on the head’s vertex, and are woolly in appearance due to a wax secretion from epidermal glands. The author was contacted about six recently planted alder trees in Winnipeg and Victoria Beach, Manitoba, Canada. The trees were determined to be Alnus hirsuta ‘Harbin’ (Betulaceae) (Prairie HorizonTM Manchurian alder), a tree species that has recently gained popularity in Manitoban urban forestry. The defoliation was determined to be caused by larvae of E. ovata. This is the first published record of E. ovata in Manitoba and the first published record of E. ovata on A. hirsuta. This detection should inform pest inventories for E. ovata in Manitoba and provide the basis for a critical examination of biosecurity measures for A. hirsuta.
A 6-year Retrospective Study on the Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Postrenal Transplant Patients in the Emergency Department
Authors: Alshamsi Rashid Tariq Rashid , Hazra Darpanarayan , Al-Alawi Awatif Khamis Alsarrai
Published: April 2024

Background:

Kidney transplantation is widely recognized as the primary treatment for those with end-stage renal disease. Our goal was to provide an overview of the clinical characteristics of postrenal transplant patients (commercial vs. noncommercial) seeking care in the emergency department (ED).

Methodology:

The study was conducted at a leading Omani ED from 2015 to 2021; this study included all postrenal transplant patients. Various variables were categorized, coded, and analyzed.

Results:

A total of 55 postrenal transplant patients were included in our study. Of these, 60.0% were male (n = 33). Among the participants, 14.5% (n = 8) had undergone noncommercial renal transplants, whereas the remaining 85.5% (n = 47) had undergone commercial renal transplants. Among noncommercial postrenal transplant patients, the most common reasons for ED visits were fever (5), gastrointestinal symptoms (4), and cardiac symptoms (3). They also presented with pain at the surgical site (2) and urological symptoms such as dysuria and hematuria (2). In contrast, the most frequent clinical presentations among commercial postrenal transplant patients were cardiac symptoms (13) and pain at the surgical site (13), followed by fever (12). Noncommercial renal transplant patients had a high discharge rate of 62.5% (5) and a low admission rate of 37.5% (3). On the other hand, commercial renal transplant patients necessitated a high admission rate of 59.6% (28) and a low discharge rate of 40.4% (19).

Conclusion:

The majority of patients had received commercial kidney transplants, and the most common complaints upon their presentation to the ED were cardiac symptoms and pain at the surgical site. Patients undergoing commercial transplants had higher rates of admission.
Micronodular thymoma with lymphoid stroma: As benign as it sounds
Authors: Chaudhary Kanica , Gala Roshani , Mehta Jay
Published: April 2024

Micronodular thymoma (MNT) is a rare subtype of thymoma (reported incidence is approximately 1–5%). We report a case received as a core biopsy from the “right lung mass” of a 31-year-old female. CT scan showed an 8.1 cm large well-defined mass lesion in the right middle lobe, causing indentation and mild compression of the right atrium. Microscopically, the biopsy showed a thymic neoplasm comprised of multiple discrete and coalescing nodules of bland epithelioid tumor cells separated by an epithelial cell-free lymphocyte-rich stroma. On immunohistochemistry, cytokeratin highlighted the thymic epithelial cells. The lymphoid cells showed a naive T-cell phenotype (TdT+ CD 3+). It is worthwhile recognizing this rare variant of thymoma as almost all the patients present with localized low stage disease with rare/no reports of recurrences or distant metastases.
An in vitro evaluation of Icon resin infiltrant penetration into demineralized enamel lesions using an indirect staining technique with confocal laser scanning microscope analysis in dual fluorescence mode
Authors: Srikumar G. P. V. , Ghosh Megha , Kumar A. Arvind , Bardia Siddharth , Wasule Akansha , Beautlin J. S.
Published: April 2024

Context:

White spot lesion is the first clinical sign of a caries lesion and represents mineral loss from the enamel subsurface.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the penetration depth (PD) of Icon resin infiltrant into artificially demineralized enamel lesions using confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) analysis in dual fluorescence mode.

Settings and Designs:

The design of the study was an in vitro study.

Materials and Methods:

22 extracted human permanent maxillary central incisor teeth were collected, and enamel sections were obtained from the coronal middle third. All enamel specimens were exposed to demineralization and remineralization solutions for 14 days. On positive confirmation of enamel demineralization by scanning electron microscope analysis, 20 specimens were then subjected to Icon resin infiltration following manufacturer instructions. Specimens were processed with indirect staining technique using rhodamine B and sodium fluorescein dyes and examined under CLSM at ×10 magnification in dual fluorescence mode using ImageJ software to evaluate PD of resin infiltrant into demineralized enamel lesions.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Obtained data were analyzed using an independent t-test. P ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

The maximum depth of demineralized enamel lesion was 590 μm, and the mean depth was 290.78 ± 14.80 μm. The maximum depth of resin infiltrant penetration was 580 μm, and the mean depth was 279.08 ± 13.88 μm; P = 0.006. The percentage penetration of resin infiltrant was 95.99%.

Conclusion:

Icon resin infiltrant was highly effective in its depth of penetration into demineralized enamel lesions. The use of indirect staining and CLSM analysis in dual fluorescence mode is more reliable and accurate technique to evaluate the PD of resin infiltrant.
Clinical performance and wear resistance of milled resin composite material versus direct nanohybrid bulk-fill resin composite in the restoration of endodontically treated posterior teeth over 1 year: Randomized clinical trial
Authors: Elhaddad Esraa Esmeail H. , Mohsen Mohamed M. A. , Mohamed Dina Ezz Eldin
Published: April 2024

Context:

The restorative complexities associated with endodontically treated teeth surpass those encountered with vital ones. The field of adhesive dentistry experienced a significant advancement that led to a shift in treatment approach toward bonded restorations.

Aim:

The aim of the study was to assess the clinical performance of using indirect Milled composite or direct bulk-fill resin composite restorations for endo-treated teeth, as well as to measure the amount of wear on the occlusal tables of both restorations using a digital scanner.

Subjects and Methods:

Participants were divided into two groups, where R1 represents the endodontically treated teeth restored with Milled composite, R2 represents the endodontically treated teeth restored with direct bulk-fill composite where 13 patients in each group were treated with a total number of 26 restorations in all patients. Where each restoration was assessed immediately at baseline (T0), 6 months (T6), and 12 months (T12) using the modified United States Public Health Service criteria. Moreover, wear was measured immediately at (T0) and (T12) intraorally and extraorally using intraoral scanners and three-dimensional surface-based superimposition software.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Chi-squared test, Mann–Whitney U-test, Friedman’s test, Nemenyi post hoc test, Shapiro–Wilk test, paired t-tests, intraclass correlation coefficient.

Results:

At all intervals, the majority of the cases in both groups had an alpha score. Some cases exhibited bravo scores in both groups at T6 and T12 regarding the color match, marginal adaptation, marginal discoloration, and marginal integrity without statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). Direct nanohybrid bulk-fill resin composite showed a greater amount of wear without a statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). Extraoral measurement was significantly higher than intraoral measurement (P < 0.001). There was no significant reliability/agreement between both methods.

Conclusions:

Both milled composite and direct bulk-fill resin composite restorations in endodontically treated teeth demonstrated appropriate clinical performance and minimal wear over an 1-year follow-up period.
Treatment outcome of coronal pulpotomy and indirect pulp capping in mature permanent molars with symptoms of moderate pulpitis: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Gabriel E. Melvin , Priyadharshini S. Swathi , Sherwood I. Anand , Deepika Geeth , Ragavendran Chinnasamy , Murugadoss Vaanjay
Published: April 2024

Aim:

This clinical trial aimed to compare the clinical success of coronal pulpotomy and indirect pulp capping (IPC) in managing symptomatic deep proximal caries in molars with moderate pulpitis over a 12-month period.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 108 vital mature permanent molars with moderate pulpitis were randomly allocated to the IPC (n = 54) or coronal pulpotomy group (n = 54). Dycal and Biodentine were used as pulp-capping materials, followed by composite restoration. The absence of periapical infection and asymptomatic teeth that positively responded to the cold pulp sensitivity test (only in IPC) was considered posttreatment success at 12 months. Data from the study were analyzed using the Chi-square test and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis.

Results:

There was a statistically significant difference between preoperative symptoms and the cold pulp sensibility test response (P = 0.000), indicating an association between symptoms and pulp sensibility. The average remaining dentine thickness (RDT) value was 0.48 ± 0.5 mm, with no statistically significant difference found between the location of caries and RDT (P = 0.084, P > 0.05). Compared to the IPC group, the pulpotomy group had a greater number of patients at 12 months after treatment that required no intervention. The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed that the mean survival duration for pulpotomy was 48 weeks, and for IPC, it was 42.3 ± 2.35 weeks.

Conclusion:

Coronal pulpotomy with Biodentine proved more effective in reducing symptoms, achieving radiographic success, and ensuring tooth survival compared to IPC with calcium hydroxide.
Effect of preheating on the viscosity of composite resins
Authors: Poubel Déborah Lousan do Nascimento , da Silva Raquel Cardoso , Ribeiro Ana Paula Dias , Garcia Fernanda Cristina Pimentel
Published: April 2024

Aim:

To determine the effects of time and temperature on the viscosity of preheated composite resins.

Materials and Methods:

Eleven composite resins were heated to 60°C, and temperature analyses were performed at intervals of 1 min until they had cooled to 25°C. The permanent oscillatory shear test was performed at 25°C, 35°C, 50°C, and 60°C for three composite resins under a shear rate of 1s−1. One- and two-way analysis of variance were used for the analysis (α = 0.05).

Results:

There was no significant interaction between the composite resin and time (P = 0.9304), and only the main effect time was significantly different (P < 0.0001). A difference was observed between T0 and T6 (P < 0.001), but not after T7. The increase in temperature resulted in a viscosity reduction (P < 0.05). At 25°C, Beautifil II presented higher viscosity. Palfique LX5 showed a significant viscosity reduction with increasing temperature compared with the others (P < 0.05). For Beautifil II and Z100, there was no difference at temperatures of 50°C and 60°C, while for Palfique LX5, no statistical difference was observed at 35°C, 50°C, and 60°C.

Conclusions:

Ten minutes of preheating were sufficient to reach a temperature of 60°C, reducing viscosity by at least 84%. However, 5 min after removal, the composite resin cooled to room temperature.

Clinical Significance:

Preheating composite resin has potential benefits. To determine how this approach will work in clinical practice, it is important to define the effects of time and temperature in the protocol of this technique and understand its limitations.
Feasibility of Cardiac Catheterization in an Upcoming Hospital without Onsite Surgical Support
Authors: Barik Ramachandra , Rout Smarak Ranjan , Swain Prafulla Kumar
Published: April 2024

The study aimed to investigate the feasibility of catheter-based cardiac intervention in an upcoming cardiology center without onsite surgical support. This prospective, cross-sectional study was done from July 2016 to September 2018 in intervention in an upcoming cardiology center without the onsite surgical support. The institutional ethical committee had approved the study. A total of 2000 patients were studied. The age of the study population was above 10 years. The male population constituted 70.1%. A total of 1862 (91.1%) had coronary artery disease. The procedural detail included percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: 269; percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: 22, percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty: 5; valvuloplasty: 5; pericardiocentesis: 102 and permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI): 39. The access sites were femoral-3 (0.15%), radial-1972 (98.6%), ulnar-1, d-TRA-12, brachial- 4, and switch from radial to other sites was 8 (0.4%). Same-day discharge was possible in 1302 (65.1%). The complications observed were minor bleeding – 23 (1.15%), inhospital death-0, pericardial tamponade-1, and contrast-induced nephropathy-5 (0.25%).
The Role of Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology in Guiding Clinicians for Lymphadenopathy
Authors: Kumar Saurabh , Choudhury Sampa , Chadha Vineeta , Dubey Suparna , Zumu Mhasisielie
Published: April 2024

Background:

Lymphadenopathy is a very common, routinely observed clinical finding which may be caused by a variety of pathological conditions, either a primary lymph node pathology or an underlying systemic disease. Fine-needle aspiration is a simple cost-effective diagnostic tool to screen these lesions, to enhance our knowledge, to understand lymph node pathology, as well as to assist clinicians for an effective management.

Aim:

The aim of our study was to evaluate the patterns of pathological lesions on lymph node cytology and also to assess any particular trend of diseases in comparison with demographic variables, lymph node size, and consistency in this geographic area.

Materials and Methods:

In this retrospective study, we studied the reports of 131 lymph node cytology samples collected over a duration of 1 year. All parameters were entered in the Excel sheet and were analyzed for descriptive statistics.

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 32 years. Reactive lymphadenitis was the most common (42%) pathology, followed by tubercular lymphadenitis, metastatic lymph nodes, and lymphomas. Infectious or inflammatory lesions were noted in younger age groups, whereas malignancies were prominent in elderly patients.

Conclusion:

This study threw light on diseases, whether infectious, inflammatory, or lymphoproliferative in etiology, which presented with lymphadenopathy in this coastal area and also unveiled the patterns of metastatic lymph nodes, their primary site, and predilection for a particular nodal site.
Application of CRISPR/Cas12a for SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Detection
Authors: You Xin , He Rongrong , Li Suhui , Zhang Yibo
Published: April 2024

SARS-CoV-2 spans 3 years, and although the virus has been adjusted from "Category B, Tube A" to "Category B, Tube B" it is still present in the environment, causing widespread epidemic infections and great impact on human health and the environment. Currently, there are various nucleic acid detection methods for this virus, and CRISPR methods are widely used to construct biosensors for accurate and rapid specific detection of nucleic acid sequences due to their powerful gene-editing capabilities. In this article, we introduce the application of different forms of sensors such as fluorescent paper strips built with CRISPR/Cas12a for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection.
Distribution of Parasitic Infections among Pupils in Kwara State, Nigeria
Authors: Aliyu Raufu Alabi , Omosigho Pius Omoruyi , Olaniyan Mathew Folaranmi
Published: April 2024

Background:

Parasitic infections pose a significant health burden among school-age children in Nigeria.

Aim and Objective:

This study aimed to investigate the distribution of parasitic infections among pupils in Kwara State, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 638 pupils from various primary schools in Kwara Central, Kwara South, and Kwara North senatorial districts were included in the study. Stool, blood, and urine samples were collected from each participant, and appropriate preservation methods were employed. Parasite identification was carried out using microscopy, staining techniques, and concentration methods described in previous studies.

Results:

The results revealed an overall prevalence of 19.4% among the pupils, with 80.6% found to be uninfected. The most common parasitic infections were Ascaris lumbricoides (55.6%), Schistosoma mansoni (11.2%), Plasmodium (10.5%), Entamoeba histolytica (8.9%), Hookworm (8.1%), Fasciola gigantica (4.0%), and Schistosoma haematobium (1.6%). Further analysis focused on the age distribution of parasitic infections. Among pupils aged 1–5 years, Plasmodium infection had a prevalence of 23.1%. In the 6–10 years age group, A. lumbricoides (59.4%), S. mansoni (74%), E. histolytica (45.5%), Hookworm (30.0%), F. gigantica (20%), and Plasmodium (61.5%) were prevalent. Among pupils aged 11–15 years, A. lumbricoides (40.6%), S. mansoni (28.6%), E. histolytica (54.5%), Hookworm (70.0%), F. gigantica (60.0%), Plasmodium (15.4%), and S. haematobium (1.6%) were observed. Pupils aged 16–20 years showed a lower prevalence of parasitic infections, with F. gigantica (20%) being the only detected parasite.

Conclusion:

The findings highlight the varying distribution of parasitic infections among different age groups, emphasizing the need for age-specific interventions. The high prevalence of certain parasites, such as A. lumbricoides, S. mansoni, and Plasmodium, indicates the importance of implementing targeted deworming programs, improved sanitation, hygiene practices, and malaria prevention strategies. These measures can effectively reduce the burden of parasitic infections and promote the health and well-being of pupils in Kwara State, Nigeria.
Surgical Treatment of Tinnitus
Authors: Swain Santosh Kumar , Dubey Debasmita
Published: April 2024

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an external sound and often results in a disorder of the somatosensory system or the auditory system. Tinnitus is a common clinical symptom that can be debilitating. The risk factors for tinnitus include hearing loss, ototoxicity, head trauma, and depression. Tinnitus is only a symptom that might be the result of different underlying pathologies. The exact treatment of tinnitus has often several options because of its etiological heterogeneity. Although much progress has been made, tinnitus is still considered a scientific and clinical enigma. The search for effective tinnitus treatment faces considerable challenges. Despite numerous trials, no drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of tinnitus. There are different types of treatment for tinnitus that have been tested in properly controlled trials. These treatment options include pharmacological, acoustic-physical, psychological, and surgical. In clinical practice, no pharmacological agent has been shown to have a lasting effect on the presence or severity of tinnitus. Surgery has a small but definite role in the treatment of tinnitus. Surgical intervention is often helpful in relieving most of the objective tinnitus. This review article discusses the epidemiology, indications, and different surgical approaches for tinnitus.
Blaschkolinear angioma serpiginosum: a rare vascular anomaly
Authors: Sil Abheek , Das Anupam
Published: April 2024

Angioma serpiginosum (AS) is a rare, benign, nevoid vascular anomaly that usually starts in childhood or early adolescence with a predilection for extremities and spares mucosal areas. The blaschkolinear variant of this condition has rarely been described in the literature. We report a case of AS in a unique blaschkolinear configuration and discuss the dermoscopic differentials for dermatoses with similar presentation.
Quantum smooth uncertainty principles for von Neumann bi-algebras
Authors: Huang Linzhe , Liu Zhengwei , Wu Jinsong
Published: April 2024

In this article, we prove various smooth uncertainty principles on von Neumann bi-algebras, which unify a number of uncertainty principles on quantum symmetries, such as subfactors, fusion bialgebras, etc., studied in quantum Fourier analysis. We also obtain Wigderson–Wigderson type uncertainty principles for von Neumann bi-algebras. Moreover, we give a complete answer to a conjecture proposed by A. Wigderson and Y. Wigderson.
Correlation between Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and Muscle Mass in Older Adults: Impact of Comorbidities
Authors: Fernández-Millones M. Lucía , Curi-Vilchez Gianelli S. , Parodi Jose F. , Runzer-Colmenares Fernando M.
Published: April 2024

Background: There is evidence that sarcopenia and functionality are closely related. However, the association between geriatric syndromes, such as dependence, on instrumental activities and sarcopenia could be affected by the presence of certain comorbidities, such as overweight, obesity, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the association between instrumental activities of daily living and muscle mass in the elderly and evaluate the impact of certain comorbidities on this association.Methods: This was a retrospective analytical observational study, including 1,897 patients. Muscle mass was measured with calf circumference, and instrumental activities were measured with the Lawton index.Results: Among different parameters studies, a statistical correlation was found in a stratified regression analysis between the Lawton index score and muscle mass in patients who were overweight (p=0.001, β coefficient=0.08), obese (p=0.001, β coefficient=0.05), had diabetes (p=0.012, β coefficient=0.03), and had COPD (p=0.001, β coefficient=0.03).Conclusion: The correlation between muscle mass and instrumental activities of daily living should be evaluated individually according to the needs of each participant and according to their comorbidities, promoting patient-centered geriatric medicine.
Multilingual practices of Algerian EFL learners in digital environments: A functional approach
Authors: Ammour Kamila ,   Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou
Published: April 2024

The recent academic discourse has been prominently centred on the scrutiny of the intricate relationship between language and emerging technologies. In this regard, the present study sets out to explore the multilingual practices of Algerian EFL learners in digital environments, taking students at Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou as a case in point. The study targets three main objectives. First, it attempts to scrutinise the participants’ use of different languages to fulfil different communicative functions. Second, it seeks to bring to light their motives for making choices among their linguistic repertoire. Third, it delves into the utilization of English as a foreign language within virtual environments. This case study draws on a theoretical framework of the sociology of language choice from a functional specialisation perspective (Jacobson, 1960; Halliday et al., 1964; Appel & Muysken, 2005). To this end, the mixed-methods research is adopted. A questionnaire was designed to collect data, which were analysed using descriptive statistical techniques and interpretive analysis. Findings highlight participants’ subconscious language choice across different situations, indicating the transfer of their face-to-face communication skills to virtual contexts. Additionally, the findings suggest that social media platforms have a beneficial effect on the adoption of English within digital learning settings.
Analysing the allographic notes in the Turkish translation of an ecological work: Silent Spring
Authors: Hastürkoğlu Gökçen
Published: April 2024

Paratextual elements play a crucial role in original and translated works, serving as a bridge between the creators and the recipients of the works. Analysing these elements can provide a deeper understanding of the motives of the authors, publishers, and translators. This study aims to investigate the allographic notes, specifically the translator’s notes, in the Turkish translation of Silent Spring, a work that raises awareness about environmental impacts of DDT on ecology. The study also seeks to reveal, in such an ecological context, the translator’s approach and motives in using footnotes categorized as factual and interpretive notes and their functions. The qualitative analysis indicates that the factual notes outnumber the interpretive notes and the main function of the translator’s notes is to provide definitional and explanatory information about the ecology-related terminology which is in line with the genre of the text and the characteristics of the target readers.
Eat in managing symptoms of anxiety and depression
Authors: NOSOVA Tatiana
Published: April 2024

Terapia asistată de cai, cunoscută și sub denumirea de hipoterapie, este o formă de terapie care utilizează caii pentru a ajuta indivizii să gestioneze simptomele de anxietate și depresie. Această formă de terapie poate fi un instrument puternic pentru cei care se confruntă cu probleme de sănătate mentală, deoarece oferă o oportunitate unică pentru indivizi de a se conecta cu animalele și natura într-un mediu de susținere și nediscriminatoriu. În timpul ședințelor de terapie asistată de cai, indivizii lucrează cu terapeuți și cai instruiți pentru a participa in diferite activități concepute pentru a promova reglarea emoțională și atenția plină de prezență. Aceste activități pot include îngrijirea și perierea cailor, conducerea lor prin trasee cu obstacole sau petrecerea timpului în prezența lor. Cercetările au arătat că terapia asistată de cai poate fi un tratament eficient pentru anxietate și depresie. Prezența cailor poate avea un efect calmant asupra indivizilor, în timp ce activitatea fizică și implicarea în terapie pot ajuta la îmbunătățirea stării de spirit și la reducerea nivelului de stres. În plus, procesul de construire a unei relații cu un cal poate ajuta indivizii să dezvolte un sentiment de încredere și încredere în sine, ceea ce poate fi benefic în gestionarea simptomelor de anxietate și depresie. Terapia asistată de cai este o abordare holistică a tratamentului pentru sănătatea mentală, care poate fi o adăugare valoroasă la metodele tradiționale de terapie. Prin încorporarea animalelor și a naturii în procesul de terapie, indivizii pot obține o mai mare conexiune cu lumea din jurul lor și pot găsi.
Preadolescent self-esteem and its dynamics in adulthood
Authors: OANȚA Valentina , PLEȘCA Maria
Published: April 2024

The personality of each of us is a unique construct due to the combination of our genetic endowment, the environment in which we grow and form, and the education we receive. Thus, personality in psychosociology is a social construction constituted by learning and interaction with other people, the others counting in the way of our becoming both as models and as landmarks, as terms of reference. The formation of self-respect in children is strictly dependent on its unconditional acceptance by the parents. The message of value and uniqueness sent to children by adults prevents the appearance of self-doubt. Unconditional love from parents (not just if the child cleans his room, gets good grades, comes home early etc.) almost always precedes acceptance and self-respect. The conditional love of the parents towards the children is strictly dependent on their performance, and if the performance is not what is expected, the love is not manifested. if the child does not feel that he deserves the love of his own parents, he assumes that he is unworthy of being loved, therefore he has no reason to keep to himself either. Consequently, the child feels useless – a nobody – and forms a low self-image.
Theoretical dimensions of emotional self-regulation of personality
Authors: Miruna-Elena MOANȚĂ
Published: April 2024

The article represents a reference point in the knowledge and deepening of the concept of emotional self- regulation. Emotions are a topic of interest in literature, as they have a self-regulatory function in relation to the environment. There is a conceptual and practical difference between emotions and emotional self-regulation even though they are interrelated. Emotional self-regulation is based on emotions and affective states. In this process of scientific knowledge the aim is to understand emotional self-regulation as a concept by tracing its historical development, distinguishing between emotional self-regulation and emotions, the components of emotional self-regulation and understanding the disjunction between coping methods, emotions and emotional self-regulation by highlighting the main theoretical directions of work recognized in the literature. At the same time, the role of emotional self-regulation in personal development management is unquestionable.
Sight – dominant catalyst of the child’s socialization
Authors: CIOBANU Adriana , IAGUȘEVSCHI Liudmila
Published: April 2024

The human senses are our way of coming into contact with the environment. The human brain combines the sparks of the neurons responsible for sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch into a comprehensible whole. But we only think about our senses when one of the organs stops working. The most important sensory organ is our eyes. We perceive up to 90% of all impressions through our sight. Our eyes are what protect us from danger. Visual impairments produce an imbalance at the behavioral level, which negatively influences the child’s relationships with the environment. Socialization is not a limited and temporary process, because every child participates in social life and must constantly adapt to the changes that occur in society, always being subject to social demands and challenges. The complexity and importance of the visual analyzer is explained by the fact that in social relations, sight dominates the entire sensory activity of the other analyzers and integrates it into a predominantly visual system. Educational institutions, as agents of socialization, have a very important role in forming the social relations of visually impaired children with their peers and their inclusion in the educational process. Therefore, the educational institution has a fundamental importance in facilitating the socialization of children with visual impairments through the formation of behaviors and attitudes, skills and qualities favorable to this process.
Restorative practices in the activity of children with special educational needs
Authors: KOS Ibolya
Published: April 2024

In 2017 I participated in a training on restorative practices. Until that moment I had not heard anything related to restorative practices, which can also be applied in educational institutions not only in justice. I listened with great enthusiasm to the story of the trainer Negrea Vidia who told u show she became the representative of this practices. The purpose of restorative practices is from informal to formal methods: emotional statement, affective questions, conciliation meeting, proactive circle, restorative conferences. Restorative practices can be applied as methods to combat violence and bullying in schools, bot how do I apply as a speech therapist? Children with special educational needs are emotionally vulnerable and needs more attention. In order to establish the relationship of trust and safety with these children, I applied emotional statements and affective questions method. The safety atmosphere created helped to strengthen the children's self-esteem and help the therapeutic-recuperative process of children whit special educational needs. In the activity with children with special educational needs the relationship with parents is very important and also applied the restorative practices.
Manifestation of emotional-behavioral disorders in secondary school students
Authors: OLĂRESCU Valentina , DIACONU Maria
Published: April 2024

Emotional-behavioral disorder (EBD) refers to a situation in which an individual’s behavioral or emotional response in school is so different from generally accepted norms according to age, ethnicity, or culture that it negatively influences academic progress, social relationships, personal adjustment, school behavior, self-care capacity or vocational skills. Depending on how they are expressed, emotional disorders can be internalized disorders, when they are reflected in subjectivity, and externalized disorders, when they are reflected in behavior. The paper describes the causes of emotional-behavioral disorders, such as a series of biological, social, emotional and cognitive factors, and how they influence the entire activity of the schoolboy, both learning and interpersonal relationships of the preadolescent; how some students display a multitude of undesirable behaviors in relation to the educational objectives and in contradiction with the norms and values of the school. From this perspective, it is very important to evaluate and diagnose the student’s mental health, both for the realization of a specialized intervention plan at the level of the school and the school counselor’s office, as well as for the evolution of the future adult. The content of the article reflects the analytical and synthetic study of the scientific literature dedicated to the emotional-behavioral disorders of preadolescents with the perspective of continuing the research by administering a well-prepared psychological instrument to evaluate, diagnose and develop an integrative and specialized psycho-pedagogical program to alleviate/overcome the emotional-behavioral disorders behavior of preadolescents.
The appearance, development and understanding of emotions at preschool age
Authors: OLĂRESCU Valentina
Published: April 2024

The paper talks about the diversity and complexity of emotions, the development and understanding of emotions by preschool children with typical development according to the researchers; about the problems that arise in establishing contacts and maintaining interaction at a productive level; in the correct interpretation and display of emotions; in the formation of the moral and ethical sphere. The generalization of the psychological literature allowed highlighting the special role of emotion regulation in preschool children. it mentions the role of social skills training through adequate understanding and acceptance of self and others, self-expression and release from negative emotions and experiences through physical activity and emotional involvement in the process. The direct involvement of an adult in the process of communication or joint actions as an intermediary (pedagogue) or partner contributes to the adjustment of the child’s behavior or the corrective-recuperative orientation of the child’s actions in the event of a conflict. It explains the meaning of emotional regulation, the meaning of the concept of regulation and then what pedagogical regulation and its components mean. Self-regulation of behavior is a particular difficulty for 6-7-year-old and primary school students.
Speech therapy assistance in the context of genetic disorders
Authors: PONOMARI Dorina
Published: April 2024

Language presents a complex psychic process and many negative factors can affect it in its evolutionary path. These factors can be external psychosocial but also internal. Genetic disorders can mark to a greater or lesser extent the phenotype of the child with impact on the central nervous system and the speech apparatus. Children with some genetic conditions have difficulties in language development and often need speech therapy assistance, however early speech therapy intervention given at an early age will improve language development.