bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Language Policy and Planning (LPP) for English in Malaysian Education System in the 21st Century
Authors: Li Yong , Mei Kong Poh , Xin Lim Zhi
Published: November 2020

Language policy and planning (LPP) is defined as large-scale national planning, usually undertaken by governments, meant to influence, if not change, ways of speaking or literacy practices within a society (Baldauf, 2006 [5]). As a multilingual society, Malaysia is determined to preserve its linguistic diversity through its LPP. So far, Malaysia is still struggling to draw up a policy that encompasses the demands of all its linguistic groups across the country, which is shown by its constant policy revisions. Therefore, this paper aims to trace the development of LPP for English in Malaysian education, and it examines the reasons as well as the impacts of language planning and language policy to the competency and proficiency of English among Malaysians. The study is conducted based on secondary research, whereby materials such as journals, books and dissertations are used as references. Apart from gaining an insight of the implemented language policies in Malaysia, the findings reveal the social reality of contrasting LPP initiatives in Malaysia, in which English proficiency levels among students are experiencing a sharp decline, contrary to the amassing significance of the English language in the global arena. Indeed, the effects of LPP, such as the strengthening of nationalist ethos as well as the increasing burden of teaching staff, should be taken into consideration while drafting up and revising LPP to ensure the sustainability of a just and fair society.
Composition Studies and Literary Criticism: A Hermeneutic Transaction
Authors: El Omari Laila M.
Published: November 2020

This paper presents a hermeneutic reading (from a Gadamerian perspective) of the complex relationships that tied the two fields of Composition Studies and Literary Criticism within the English department and across the academia. These two academic disciplines have remained in a dynamic, interactive, reciprocal relation throughout the decades. The paper surveys the published scholarship in the field of Composition Studies and presents a reading of the different themes, philosophies, and approaches that have kept the two fields in an interactive, dialogic process of formation. Terms and concepts from philosophical hermeneutics are introduced and employed to explain this relation.
Halliday’s Functional Grammar: Philosophical Foundation and Epistemology
Authors: Trinh Ngyen Thi Tu , Hoa Phan Van , Phuc Tran Huu
Published: November 2020

It is difficult to track the philosophy foundation and epistemology of systemic functional grammar (SFG) formulated by Halliday in the 1980s as this kind of grammar views language as a systemic resource for meaning. Besides, it has had global impacts on linguistics and flourished in contemporary linguistic theory. Anyone who is familiar with Halliday’s work realizes that his SFG is an approach designed to analyze English texts. Halliday (1994: xv) explicitly states that “to construct a grammar for purposes of text analysis: one that would make it possible to say sensible and useful things about any text, spoken or written, in modern English.” The aim of this study is not about the applicability of SFG to text analysis as many researchers and scholars do. Our efforts are made to clarify the philosophical foundation of Halliday’s SFG. The paper presents on triangle: (i) language, mind and world; (ii) and empiricism in Halliday’s SFG.
Impact of Dyslexia on Reading Comprehension Achievement of Students in Lagos State
Authors: Adekola Oluwakemi , Oluseun F Lawal , Olarewaju Ibrahim
Published: November 2020

The study investigated the impact of dyslexia on the performance of students in English comprehension in Lagos State Secondary Schools. This study adopted an ex-post facto design approach. The target groups for the study were Lagos State Senior Secondary School students in Nigeria. The samples were drawn from four (4) geo-political areas in Lagos State of Nigeria (Ikorodu, Badagry, Lagos Island and Epe). Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select five co-educational Public Secondary Schools from each of the four geo–political zones. Where fifty (50) Students were selected from each of the schools making a total number of two hundred and fifty (250) students from each of the zone totaling to one thousand (1000) respondents from the four (4) geo-political areas in Lagos State of Nigeria. Two instruments, Reading Deficiency questionnaire which is a researcher based questionnaire and an achievement test in English Comprehension were used to collect data from the respondents. The instrument has two sections; Section A of the instrument focuses on demographic information of the Students while Section B of the instrument contains items eliciting information from the students on reading deficiency. The achievement test was based on reading comprehension. The validity and reliability of the instrument were determined by trial testing the instrument on the similar set of the sample in some other schools that were not part of sample population and the Kurder-Richardson 21 formula was used to obtain the inter-item reliability coefficient of 0.85 and 0.80 respectively. The data were subjected to Descriptive statistics, Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and t-test. Data were tested for significance at the 0.05 level.  Based on the findings, it was detected that there is a significant relationship between reading deficiency and students’ performance. Part of the recommendations made was that teachers should help students develop strategies for building a good reading habit and proper understanding of language system.
Edgar Allan Poe's, "The Fall of the House of Usher": a Symbol of the Crumbling Borders of American and Psychic Consciousness and the Birth of Gothic Transcendence
Authors: Buckley Gloria Roxanne
Published: November 2020

Beginning right from the title , “The Fall of the House of Usher”, containing the word house which has been metaphorically used to depict the crumbling down of the house due to incestuous genetic patterns, the whole story is interwoven into the theme of transcendence.  Again the word fall itself signifies rebirth. The paper attempts to delve into the concept of gothic transcendence as explored in the story by Poe.
The Tide of the Mind
Authors: Buckley Gloria Roxanne
Published: November 2020

The Tide of the Mind
On Colonialism, Psychiatric Disorders and the Guyanese Academic: An Interpretation of Jan Lowe Shinebourne’s “Jacob” from The Godmother and Other Stories
Authors: Persaud Cheddie Abigail
Published: November 2020

In this paper, I provide an interpretation of Jan Lowe Shinebourne’s short story “Jacob” by situating it amidst two other similar literary cases and contextualizing it with Frantz Fanon’s ideas about colonialism and psychiatric disorders. I analyse Jacob as a Guyanese academic whose loss of his usual ‘consciousness’, when he comes face-to-face with an academic edifice in England, can be accounted for by the anxieties he developed through having a “colonised personality”. To support this idea, I provide a catalogue of Jacob’s memories and reflections and examine how the workings of these suggest that the most plausible reason for his mental breakdown is the interplay of his academic endeavours and variables of his colonial background.
Arab in Diaspora and Exile: Reading Edward Said and Mahmoud Darwish Today
Authors: Akter Sultana Nazia
Published: November 2020

This research tries to investigate the intricate politics of diaspora, exile and recent refugee issue all over the world by looking at Edward Said and Mahmoud Darwish’s memoir. Representation of exile by writing memoir, therefore, is significant as it narrates the experience of displacement and homelessness which resonates others. This article examines how Edward Said and Mahmoud Darwish aesthetically respond to exile and displacement both within the borders of their own nation space and outside. I argue that the idea of home and homelessness, place or out of place “in setting without real connection” dominates the mind of every exile; every refugee and exile can be both physical and psychological. In today’s context, both Edward Said and Mahmoud Darwish’s works express the solidarity and legitimation towards the struggle of distinct temporalities. Every de-territorialized community seeks for an identity and their lost homeland is always t heart. This study shows how Edward Said and Mahmoud Darwish’s identity are blurred where they have been living in Exile and Diaspora. That is why; both of them develop a contrapuntal consciousness in understanding their split identity which represents millions of others. From that point of view, Mahmoud Darwish’s memoir Memory for forgetfulness, August, Beirut, 1982, and Edward Said’s Out of Place: A Memoir can be representation of all recent refugee and exile issue.
Exploring Linguistics in Literature: An Analysis of Linguistics through Words
Authors: Guarneri Cristina
Published: November 2020

Exploring the linguistic styles of language through words, the selection of language used by an author is pivotal to choosing their works. Linguistics are used as a tool to explore emotion through each author’s works, where a semantic domain is often shared in all language. Words such as feel, want, and love are consistent words that provide power to the meaning of the words. Words within these works expressed emotion through language, which created a culture that embraced the emotional experience of the reader through a breakdown of words, such as the use of context to create a fevered effect to language. Context as a linguistic structure, holds particular meaning to tone of voice, body language, and the words being used for branding, storytelling, and to promote power through words. The study of Old, Middle, and Early Modern English has influenced the creation of literature through dialect and through history the English has transformed over the years, we should consider ourselves to be philologists that study the classics and its uses.
Thematic Analysis of Leadership Values in Apologies
Authors: Varma Susanna Bithiah , Paramasivam Shamala
Published: November 2020

The aim of the study was to elicit leadership values embedded in Obama’s apology speeches to have an insight of his leadership in the face of crisis. During his presidency, Obama had issued a number of successful remedial apologies as an action performed by the offender to calm the angered party, seek forgiveness and achieve reconciliation. The study found that Obama portrayed an array of values such as responsibility, accountability, determination and dedication to duty, trustworthiness and truthfulness, apologetic, regretful, appreciative of sacrifice, visionary, and to comfort and sympathise. This paper gives an insight of how the methodology for the study of leadership values in Obama’s apologies was carried out. The methodology relies on positive discourse analysis and grounded theory for performing a thematic analysis through linguistic coding.
A Case Study of Critical Thinking Cultivation Based on Social Cognitive Theory
Authors: Zhe Guo
Published: November 2020

How to cultivate critical thinking (CT) is considered as one of the most important goals of Chinese higher education over the years. However, many Chinese scholars have shown their concern on "CT Deficiency" after assessing CT skills of English majors in many universities. Thus, the affecting factors of CT development has been investigated from the perspective of the social cognitive theory by a detailed analysis of an English major with comparatively strong CT ability, attempting to find approaches to CT cultivation. After the qualitative analysis of reflection diaries and several interviews, the findings indicate that CT is shaped by the interaction of the environmental, individual and behavioural factors. Leaners can employ the strategies as interpretation, planning and implementation, self-regulation and adjustment, and reflection to facilitate the interaction
A Closer Look at Yoga Nidra: Sleep Lab Protocol
Authors: Sharpe Erica , Lacombe Alison , Butler Matthew P. , Hanes Douglas , Bradley Ryan
Published: November 2020

Extended sleep onset latency (SOL), or “sleep onset insomnia,” can decrease total sleep time, increasing risk for many health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Sleep disorders persist in the United States despite current behavioral/pharmaceutical remedies, with 10% to 15% of the population suffering from insomnia. Mind-body therapies offer additional solutions, as meditation has been correlated with decreased SOL. More research on use of mind-body practices for insomnia is needed. This study investigates the guided meditation practice of Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep) as a promising intervention for sleep disorders because of its purported ability to induce mental, physical, and emotional relaxation. In this pilot study, we address the feasibility of Yoga Nidra for insomnia, appropriateness of our selected measurement systems, and effect of Yoga Nidra on brainwaves, sleep onset, and the autonomic nervous system. Our study sample includes 22 adults, ages 18–45, with insomnia. The design includes two clinic visits (V1, lying quietly for 90 min; V2, randomization to 90-min lying quietly vs. 30-min Yoga Nidra plus 60-min lying quietly), taking place 1 to 14 days apart. Outcomes measured during/after Yoga Nidra (vs. control) include sleep onset, electroencephalography (EEG) power, heart rate variability (HRV), and respiratory rate. Self-reported mood and anxiety will be measured before/after each visit. Resulting physiological, psychological, and feasibility data will be used to inform future clinical studies of Yoga Nidra for sleep and relaxation.
Correlation between Military Character Strengths and Leaders of Character in Software Development Process among Computer Science Students
Authors:   the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Defence Science and Technology, National Defence University of Malaysia, Ramli Suzaimah , Wook Muslihah , Ghazali Aminulhaq , Ahmad Roziyah , Zainudin Norulzahrah Mohd , Razali Noor Afiza Mat
Published: November 2020

The National Defence University of Malaysia (NDUM) is the sole provider of tertiary education for future military personnel. As a boutique university, NDUM emphasises on developing military character strengths among its students in all aspects of co-curricular and academic curriculum. This paper will present the relationship between Military Character Strengths (MCS) and the software development process (SDP), as part of the Final Year Project (FYP) for Computer Science students at the Faculty of Defence Science and Technology. This study has analysed the formation of an outstanding and successful NDUM student, which can be influenced by the MCS. NDUM has outlined the characteristics of its ideal graduates, known as the 'Leaders of Character' (LoC). The results showed that MCS are important attributes of LoC implementation. The results further showed that there was a correlation between MCS and LoC in software development process for Computer Science students in NDUM.
Infographic Instructional Media as a Solution and Innovation in Physics Learning for Senior High School Students in Indonesia
Authors:   the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology, Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, Malaysia, Apriyanti Netty , Razak Rafiza Abdul , Rahim Suzieleez Syrene Abdul , Shaharom Mohd Shahril Nizam , Baharuldin Zuraidah
Published: November 2020

This research is aimed to find out the usability of infographic as an instructional media in Physics learning among high school students. This research is the third phase (evaluation phase) of the Design and Development Research Approach introduced by Richey and Klein. Chai & Chen Evaluation Model was used in order to evaluate the usability of infographic. There are six students were selected for the research using purposive sampling. The data are obtained by in-depth interview method in the form of semi-structured interviews and analyzed by Miles and Huberman Qualitative Data Analysis Model. This research used open code to simplify the process of data analysis. The findings show that the use of infographic is very helpful and useful for students to understand the Physics concept of rectilinear motions kinematics. Finally, from the perspective of students as infographic instructional media users, it can be concluded that the infographic is an effective solution to Physics learning due to it is more flexible, stimulates learning, and students can develop their own concepts that solve Physics learning problems. In addition, the infographic is an innovation in practicing Physics, as it is a new media in education especially in Physics learning.
Google Earth Pro as a Learning Media for Mitigation and Adaptation of Landslide Disaster
Authors:   Geography Department Universitas Negeri Smearang, Indonesia, Suharini Erni , Ariyadi Muhammad Hasim , Kurniawan Edi
Published: November 2020

The importance of the problem of disasters in Indonesia encourages the integration of disaster mitigation into learning in schools. One of the manifestations is the inclusion of disaster mitigation as part of geography subjects. However, the implementation of disaster mitigation learning still experiences several obstacles related to the use of instructional media that are less interactive. This study intended to determine the learning outcomes using the media-assisted inquiry model Google Earth Pro on the material of landslide disaster mitigation and adaptation. This research was conducted at the high school level in Magelang District by taking a sample of the MA (Islamic Senior High School) in Magelang Regency. The variables of this study are the Google Earth Pro and Powerpoint media as independent variables and student learning outcomes as the dependent variable. Data collection techniques used in this study were tests and questionnaires. Researcher used the t-test as a data analysis technique. Student learning outcomes of the experimental class increased by 0.34% while the learning outcomes of the control class experienced an increase of 0.2% and categorized into low criteria. Based on the Independent sample test in the equal variances, assumed section, it could be seen that the Sig. (2-tailed) is .001. This shows that there is a difference between the learning outcomes of two different types of media. The Google Earth Pro-based media has a higher influence on student learning outcomes.
Synthesis of Vocational Education College Transformation Process toward High-Performance Digital Organization
Authors:   Division of Information and Communication Technology for Education, Faculty of Technical Education, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok 10800 Thailand, Rujira Thanasarn , Nilsook Prachyanun , Wannapiroon Panita
Published: November 2020

In the 21st century world, dynamic challenges bring about changes in the global economic and social context. Due to the digital revolution, the fourth industrial revolution and the demand for skilled workforce in the 21st century, Vocational Education College are required to prepare and formulate guidelines for transformation toward high performance digital organization in order to work in the same way with efficiency. The purpose of this research was follows: to synthesis of digital transformation framework, to study the component of transformation Vocational Education Colleges, to synthesis of digital organization, to synthesis of high performance organization for Vocational Education Colleges, and to synthesis of the process to transformation from the Vocational Education Colleges to the high-performance digital organization which have been studied from theories, documents and researches related to digital transformation, high performance organization, digital organization and operating process within Vocational Education College. The results of the research showed that Vocational Education College transformation process toward high performance digital organization consist of five pillars which are Policy is the digital transformation process for college management operations, Process is the digital transformation process for work process and learning management, People is a digital transformation process for personnel within the college, Stakeholder is a digital transformation process for create collaborating with establishment, and communities, and Infrastructure is a digital transformation process for educational institutions' infrastructure which will help to transform Vocational Education College toward the High Performance Digital Organization effectively.
Deprescription: a global need to rationalize drug prescribing
Authors: Vishal Subhash , Das Biswadeep , Handu Shailendra
Published: November 2020

Appropriate prescribing and deprescription of unwanted medicines are a global concern. Polypharmacy is common in old age due to multiple comorbidities. This poses many risks that can be prevented by deprescription as a measure of planned reduction in number of medicines no longer needed. For articles to be included in this narrative review, a non-systematic search of deprescription and related term was conducted at PubMed and Google Scholar database. Articles detailing deprescription in general were included whereas those about deprescription in a particular disease or of particular drug groups were excluded. The review discusses about related terms, process of deprescription, when it is to be planned, which patients need deprescription, tools available for appropriate prescription, importance of patient oriented deprescription, actual steps involved in deprescription, present scenario, future scope of trials and formulation of guidelines for deprescription, and finally current state of deprescription in India and actions needed.
Understanding the predisposing risk factors of young suicide
Authors: Wardhan Rashmi , Mudgal Padmshree
Published: November 2020

Suicide is an unfortunate multifactorial problem impacting families and communities. Many young lives are lost every year due to suicide. There is an urgent need to understand the multifactorial risk factor mechanisms providing vulnerability to suicidal behavior for early detection of impending incidents, monitoring, and prevention. This review aims to give an insight into the various biochemical and genetic markers along with the associated socio-economic factors and mental disorders which contribute to increased suicide risk. The role of different neurotransmitter-associated pathways such as serotonin, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), and norepinephrine pathway, and pathways involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, lipid metabolism, and neuroinflammation in suicide ideation and risk have been explored. Understanding of these predisposing factors and associated pathways could help identify the risk and lead to the development of drugs/ treatment to prevent suicides.
A study on infant and young child feeding practices among mothers attending the immunisation clinic of a tertiary care hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal
Authors: Chakraborty Nabanita , Joardar Gautam Kumar
Published: November 2020

Background: Age appropriate feeding practices is an essential determinant of physical growth as well as mental health of under-five children. WHO and UNICEF have formulated the infant and young child feeding practices guidelines to enhance appropriate feeding practices in infants and young children.Methods: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in the immunization clinic of KPC medical college and hospital from October to December 2018 among children in 0-23 months age group. The mothers were interviewed regarding their sociodemographic details as well as the IYCF practices as per WHO.Results: It was found that appropriate practices in terms of prelacteal feeding, colostrum feeding; early initiation of breast feeding and exclusive breast feeding was present in 78.4%, 80%, 77.5% and 50% children respectively. Timely initiation of complementary feeding was found in 81%, breast feeding was continued upto 1 year in 68.8% and consumption of iron rich or iron fortified food was found in 54.5% children. Appropriate practices in terms of minimum meal frequency, minimum dietary diversity and minimum appropriate diet were found in 49.7%, 27% and 32.3% children respectively. Sex wise distributions have found significant association with minimum dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet. Age wise distribution revealed significant association with minimum dietary frequency, minimum dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet (p<0.005).Conclusions: Thus infant and young child feeding practices were not satisfactory. Mothers should be made aware about the appropriate feeding practices and health education should be given regarding correct child feeding practices.
Influence of Meso-Structure Parameters on Wave Propagation in Soil-Rock Mixture
Authors: Zhang Fei , Wang Kui , Dang Yaru , Wu Guoyin
Published: November 2020

The macro mechanical properties of soil-rock mixture are closely related to the meso-structure features of block stones, namely, content, size, and shape. To promote the engineering application of soil-rock mixture, it is important to explore the meso-structure of the mixture, and evaluate its constitutive properties. The previous studies have shown that the wave propagation in the mixture is highly sensitive to the rock content and compaction. To clarify the meso-structure features of soil-rock mixture, this paper establishes a discrete element model of the mixture based on Particle Flow Code (PFC), investigates the wave propagation features in the model with different meso-structure parameters, and analyzes how the meso-structure parameters affect the wave propagation. The results show that: With the growing rock content, the first wave amplitude increased, while the take-off time shortened; With the growing feature size of block stone, the first wave amplitude gradually decreased, while the take-off time gradually lengthened; The soil-rock mixture containing spherical block stones had the highest first wave amplitude and shortest take-off time, while the mixture containing rectangular block stones had the lowest first wave amplitude and longest take-off time. With the growing rock content, the maximum amplitude, dominant frequency, and spectral area all exhibited an increasing trend; With the growing feature size of block stone, the maximum amplitude, dominant frequency, and spectral area all exhibited a decreasing trend.
Spatial filtration of the field at the interpretation of magnetotelluric data
Authors:   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Plotkin Valery V.
Published: November 2020

Using numerical experiments, possibilities of application an analytical model to approximate spatial–temporal field variations on the Earth’s surface at interpretation of magnetotelluric sounding (MTS) data are considered.
Upper earth crust’s seismic structure on conjuction zone of Eurasian and Okhotomorskaya plates (according to head waves data)
Authors:   Altay–Sayan branch of Federal Research Center “United Geophysical Survey” RAS, Russia, Polyansky Pavel O. , Emanov Alexander F. ,   Altay–Sayan branch of Federal Research Center “United Geophysical Survey” RAS, Russia, Salnikov Alexandr S. ,   Siberian Research Institute of Geology, Geophysics and Mineral Resources, Russia
Published: November 2020

Digital processing of CDP–data, which are registered on North–East part of profile 3–DV, is done. Time sections which are result from method of head waves dynamic conversion were achieved for tectonic blocks are located at conjuction zone of Eurasian and Okhotomorskaya plates. Coefficients of refraction on the upper Earth’s crust were calculated based on frequencies difference between initial seismic traces and traces–results of processing. Seismic model of 0–2 km depth interval was constructed.
Diffraction images and their attributes based on asymmetric summation: real data application
Authors:   Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, Russia, Protasov Maxim I. , Tcheverda Vladimir A. ,   Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, Russia, Shilikov Valery V. ,   LTD «KrasnoyarskNipiNeft», Russia
Published: November 2020

The paper deals with a 3D diffraction imaging with the subsequent diffraction attribute calculation. The imaging is based on an asymmetric summation of seismic data and provides three diffraction attributes: structural diffraction attribute, point diffraction attribute, an azimuth of structural diffraction. These attributes provide differentiating fractured and cavernous objects and to determine the fractures orientations. Approbation of the approach was provided on several real data sets.
Application of electrical tomography to detecting of spreading substance from a dump in aquifers sand in laboratory condition
Authors:   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Russia, Fadeeva Irina I. , Yurkevich Nataliya V. ,   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Russia; Novosibirsk State Technical University, Russia, Fage Alexey N. ,   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Russia
Published: November 2020

The paper presents measurements of resistivity changes in homogeneous medium (water–saturated sand) with spherical inhomogeneity made from the substance of sulfide waste from gold mining (Talmovka dump, Kemerovo region) performed in a laboratory. Repeated resistivity measurements over single profile in time domain show the process of pore solution spreading (diffusion) from the waste material to the water–saturated sand and its further neutralization. The time–varying resistivity data is processed in Res2Dinvx64 program with a time–lapse survey option.
Methods of detectiоn a voids under concrete slabs of water faces of the dam of Novosibirsk hydrostation by the standing wave method
Authors:   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Russia, Fedin Konstantin V. , Kolesnikov Yury I. ,   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Russia, Ngomayezwe Luckymore ,   Novosibirsk State University, Russia
Published: November 2020

Using the example of the Novosibirsk hydrostation, the capabilities of the standing wave method to identify defects in the fastenings of water faces of dams of hydraulic structures are demonstrated. The accumulation of amplitude spectra of acoustic noise records allows one to determine the frequencies of the few first modes of standing compression waves generated by noise in concrete slabs. A sharp increase in the frequency of the lowest mode of standing waves is an indicator of the appearance of voids under the slabs or decompression of the base soil.
Influence of installation parameters on the indications of the operation station Scala 48 by experimental data
Authors:   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia, Fedorova Tatyana A. , Edelev Alexey V. ,   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia, Karin Yuri G. ,   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
Published: November 2020

The paper presents the results of an experiment to study the effect of grounding resistance on the apparent resistance of the medium. The question is solved, what minimum step between the electrodes can be used to study the medium. It was shown that it is possible to conduct electrotomographic measurements in the ratio of the grounding depth to the step between the electrodes as 1: 3. In this case, the error for such measurements is calculated, which is 5%.
Possibilities of electromagnetic methods in the investigations of talik under lake (numerical modeling)
Authors:   Arctic Research Center of the Yamal–Nenets Autonomous District, Russia, Shein Alexandr N. ,   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Russia,   Transbaikal State University, Russia, Olenchenko Vladimir V. ,   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Russia, Kamnev Yaroslav K. ,   Arctic Research Center of the Yamal–Nenets Autonomous District, Russia
Published: November 2020

The paper presents the results of numerical modeling of electroresistivity tomography (ERT) and transient electromagnetic (TEM) signals for the model of a freezing talik under khasyrei near the "Parisento" field station (Gydan peninsula). The inversion of ERT data results in artifacts that interpreted as an increase of the talik with depth. It is shown that TEM method is useable to determine the bottom of the talik and the base of the permafrost at a depth of 300 m with an accuracy of 10 m.
Transport security of the oil and gas complex of the regions of East Siberia
Authors:   Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Russia, Zemnukhova Ekaterina A. , Mishenin Mikhail V. ,   Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Russia
Published: November 2020

The article considers a comprehensive analysis of the oil and gas complex of the regions of Eastern Siberia and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The features of the structure of the raw material base were revealed – a low degree of exploration and the rate of reproduction of stocks, imbalance in categories of stocks. The state of oil production in the region with differentiation by field is presented, the current state and prospects of expansion of the ESPO pipeline are analyzed.
Major directions and tasks of oil and gas searches in Western Siberia for next decades
Authors:   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Russia, Kazanenkov Valeriy A. , Nemov Vasiliy Yu. ,   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Russia
Published: November 2020

The perspective directions for the development of oil production in the West Siberian oil and gas province are substantiated: new for economic development and still poorly studied by deep drilling in the central and northern parts of the Gydansky Peninsula, Yenisei–Khatanga regional trough, and the waters of the southern part Kara Sea with the Ob and Taz bays. A retrospective analysis was performed and the geological data on the open fields of the territory under consideration were summarized.
Comparative analysis of the efficiency of oil–producing companies in Russia and the world
Authors:   Novosibirsk State University, Russia, Link Arina E. , Mishenin Mikhail V. ,   Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Russia
Published: November 2020

The study compares domestic and foreign companies in the oil and gas sector for the first time and identifies the distinctive features of each group. The results of calculations showed that the profit of any large oil and gas company is affected by revenue, cost of production and the amount of tax deductions. Moreover, the refinancing rate of the country where the company is registered is important for the activities of oil and gas companies.
Research of relationship between economic growth and ecological factors
Authors:   Novosibirsk State University, Russia, Ozhogova Lyubov M. , Nemov Vasily Yu. ,   IPGG SB RAS, Russia
Published: November 2020

This work is devoted to the study of the way how renewable energy effects economic growth and identify same patterns of environmental convergence between developed and developing countries. Therefore, there were analyzed models describing the dependence between total income, the consumption of solar and wind energy on panel data of Asia–Pacific countries, Western and Eastern Europe. The study has found evidence of renewables` positive impact on economic growth.
Clustering of oil refining plants in Russia
Authors:   Novosibirsk State University, Russia, Tagaeva Alina A. , Dziuba Yuri A. ,   IPGG SB RAS, Russia
Published: November 2020

Today in Russian Federation there are more than 30 oil–refining plants that refine crude oil and make final consumption products. Because of a necessity of quick modernization of oil–refining plants taxes reforming decisions were made in 2014. In 2015 statistics showed a positive effect occurred by these measures and Russian oil refining industry became more competitive despite the low oil price fact. Nevertheless there are still problems as low processing depth, incomplete loading of facilities and really low indicators of particular plants. So the applied method of clustering oil refining plants was made to make recommendations for every group in order to make whole industry more effective.
Riparian conservation management needs habitat quality mapping
Authors: Nel Lyndre
Published: November 2020

Riparian habitat quality has a significant influence on the water quality of rivers, primary resources for urban and agricultural use. River water quality deteriorates where normal ecological functioning is dis- rupted by harmful impacts from nearby land-use types. Important rivers are typically managed and protected by government-led conservation programs. These programs often lack a key tool for efficient conservation management, habitat quality mapping. The Berg River, an important water source in South Africa, was used as a case-study to assess how habitat quality mapping could broaden the current scope of river conservation programs. The river faces threats from nearby urban settlements, industrial areas, mining, encroachment, and agricultural practices. The aim of this study was to develop habitat quality and habitat degradation maps for a section of the Berg River to assess the value that mapping holds for conservation managers and spatial planners. InVEST modelling software and ArcGIS was used to produce these habitat quality maps based on land-use/land-cover and threat impact data. The resulting maps showed several specific locations of heavily threatened and degraded riparian habitat that had not specifically been included in current government con- servation management or spatial planning. Habitat quality mapping is an important tool that conservation managers and spatial planners can use to successfully address habitat degradation and protection while fac- ing resource limitations, such as lack of funding. Oversight of degraded riparian habitats will lead to further decreases in river water quality, adversely affecting human welfare and local economies.
Is There Any Association Between the MEF2A Gene Changes and Coronary Artery Disease?
Authors: Omidi Soodeh , Ghasemi Serwa , Kalayinia Samira
Published: November 2020

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common multifactorial disease with a high rate of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The MEF2A gene transcription factor belongs to the myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) family and is involved in critical processes such as calcium-dependent signaling pathways and cardiac development. Although the variants of the MEF2A gene were studied in different CAD and myocardial infarction (MI) populations, the reality of this gene association with CAD is still unclear. This study reports the first in silico investigation on MEF2A variants. All reported variants in CAD/MI patients were collected from eleven countries. Their pathogenicity and variant position conservation were surveyed by online prediction tools, including Mutation-Taster, Polyphen-2, PROVEAN, SIFT, CADD, and GERP. In silico analysis did not confirm the pathogenic effect of 21-bp deletion, which was introduced as a monogenic cause of CAD. c.704C>A (p.S235Y), c.812C>G (p.P271R), c.836C>T (p.P279L) and c.848G>A (p.G283D) missenses, c.1315C>T (p.R439X) nonsense, and seven out-of-frame deletions were predicted as disease-causing variants. Although some variants of the MEF2A gene affect protein structure, the MEF2A variation studies in CAD/MI patients and in silico analysis do not approve the association and pathogenicity of MEF2A variants in the familial/sporadic CAD. © 2020 Tehran University
Effect of Isotonic and Hypotonic Fluid Therapy on Serum Sodium: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sedaghattalab Moslem , Khajezadeh Soheila , Paymard Akvan , Mansouri Parisa , Abbasi Lark Rozina , Manzouri Leila
Published: November 2020

There is little consensus about the type of maintenance fluid therapy and it’s the effect on serum sodium in adults. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the effect of maintenance fluid therapy on serum sodium of hospitalized patients in the intensive care unit. This randomized clinical trial was carried out on 64 patients aged 18-90 years hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Imam Sadjad and Shahid Beheshti hospitals, Yasuj, Iran, in 2017. These patients were randomly allocated to take 2500-3000 milliliters of intravenous maintenance isotonic (0.9% saline) or hypotonic (0.45% saline) fluids daily. Blood and urine samples were taken to measure biochemical parameters before and 48 hours after the intervention. Data analyses were done by using SPSS 16 software via descriptive and analytic statistics. Twenty-eight patients in the 0.9% saline group (19 male and 9 female) and 32 patients in 0.45% saline (20 male and 12 female) completed the study. There was no significant difference between two groups in sodium (P=0.94), potassium (P=0.21), sugar (P=0.91), creatinine (P=0.21), Blood Urea Nitrogen (P=0.99), systolic (P=0.81) and diastolic (P=0.73) blood pressure, PH (P=0.27), bicarbonate (P=0.8), and urine specific gravity (P=0.73). Based on the results of this study, it was shown that the administration of maintenance hypotonic fluids has been appropriate for the patients and will not face them with the risk of hyponatremia.
Psychological Characteristics of Mothers of Children With Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Mehmedinović Senad
Published: November 2020

The aim of the study was to determine the psychological characteristics of mothers of children with cerebral palsy. The study included a sample of 30 respondents. The sample consisted of mothers of children with cerebral palsy, chronologically aged 25 to 60. The research was conducted at the Centre for Children with Multiple Disabilities “Koraci Nade”. For the purpose of checking the set research aim, Symptom ChecklistSCL-90-R, consisting of a list of 90 particles (problems), was applied, and the task was to assess the respondent's anxiety about each of the aforementioned problems over the past week (e.g., headaches, tension or anxiety, excessive worrying). The survey data were processed using the parametric statistics method. Central tendency measures, dispersion measures were calculated, and a tabular presentation of the results was done. Based on the results of the research, it can be concluded that the mothers of children with cerebral palsy have the most pronounced problems in areas of somatization, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, as well as anxiety.
Acinar Cystic Transformation of the Pancreas: A Diagnostic Problem
Authors: Yildirim Mehmet , Argon Asuman , Tan Sedat , Cekic Ahmet
Published: November 2020

Acinar cystic transformation (ACT) or acinar cell cystadenoma is a rare benign tumor of the pancreas. Their clinical presentation is nonspecific, thus hampering their detection and frequently leading to misdiagnosis. In this report, we present a case of ACT of the pancreas in a 54-year-old man that was vague abdominal symptoms. A magnetic resonance imaging was shown a well-defined cystic mass located in the head of the pancreas, measuring 57×47×23 mm. Our patient was treated by pancreaticoduodenectomy. In the macroscopic examination of the mass, a multicystic lesion was found in cream-colored pancreatic tissue. Histological and immunohistochemical studies examination revealed a cystic mass containing multiple cysts at varying sizes, lined by epithelial cells without atypia and positive staining of CK7, CK8/18, and CK19. A high index of clinical suspicion is required to diagnose this tumor. The surgical approach is to ensure accurate diagnosis and to avoid complications
Clinical MRI Research in Human Brain Mapping
Authors: Saligheh Rad Hamidreza , Fathi Kazerooni Anahita , Mobarak Salari Hanieh
Published: November 2020

The core mission of clinical MRI in Human Brain Mapping (HBM) is formed in a cycle of research, education and practice. Learning the effective diagnostic and treatment planning procedures occurs not in the classrooms but through engagement in active research. Clinical MRI research for HBM initiates with strategic and necessary demands of clinicians, e.g. neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc. who need specific clinical MRI acquisition and quantification techniques for better, faster and more accurate diagnostic and followup procedures. Neuro-radiologists are responsible for all aspects of a research MRI examination, including assessment of patient’s clinical symptoms, assigning the imaging protocol, reviewing the acquired images for their quality and interpretations, and finally, preparing the reports. MR physicists with their unique scientific qualifications and perception of clinical requirements play a critical role in optimization of the existing protocols, establishment of research investigations and development of effective techniques (including pulse sequences, analysis and quantification software, etc.) for clinical application of MRI in HBM, when responsibility of a clinical scientist is minimal when the research methodology development starts while the physicist starts with the maximum responsibility to develop the methodology, and vice versa when the methodology development progresses from early to the end stages closer to the clinical practice.
Introducing a Convolutional Neural Network and Visualization of its Filters for Classification of EEG Signal for SSVEP Task
Authors: Nouri Ali , Azizi Kyanoosh
Published: November 2020

Purpose: Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) systems are able to understand and execute commands through processing brain signals. It has numerous applications in the field of biomedical engineering such as rehabilitation, biometric and entertainment. A BCI system consists of four major parts: signal acquisition, signal pre-processing, feature extraction and classification. Steady State Visually Evoked Potentials (SSVEP) is one of the most common paradigms in BCI systems, which is generally a response to visual stimuli with the frequency between 5 to 60 Hz. Materials and Methods: In this study, we suggest a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based model for the classification of EEG signal during SSVEP task. For the evaluation, the model was tested with different channels and electrodes. Results: Results show that channels number 138 and 139 have the great potential to appropriately classify EEG signal. Conclusion: Using the suggested model and the mentioned channels, the accuracy of 73.74% could be achieved in this study.
Brain-Inspired Deep Networks for Facial Expression Recognition
Authors: Zeinali Nafiseh , Faez Karim , Seifzadeh Sahar
Published: November 2020

Purpose: One of the essential problems in deep-learning face recognition research is the use of self-made and less counted data sets, which forces the researcher to work on duplicate and provided data sets. In this research, we try to resolve this problem and get to high accuracy. Materials and Methods: In the current study, the goal is to identify individual facial expressions in the image or sequence of images that include identifying ten facial expressions. Considering the increasing use of deep learning in recent years, in this study, using the convolution networks and, most importantly, using the concept of transfer learning, led us to use pre-trained networks to train our networks. Results: One way to improve accuracy in working with less counted data and deep-learning is to use pre-trained using pre-trained networks. Due to the small number of data sets, we used the techniques for data augmentation and eventually tripled the data size. These techniques include: rotating 10 degrees to the left and right and eventually turning to elastic transmation. We also applied deep Res-Net's network to public data sets existing for face expression by data augmentation. Conclusion: We saw a seven percent increase in accuracy compared to the highest accuracy in previous work on the considering dataset.