bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Similarity Benefits Visual Statistical Learning
Authors: Levy Alyssa P. , Vickery Timothy J.
Published: February 2023

Visual statistical learning (VSL) is an example of incidental learning that reflects learning of temporal or spatial stimulus co-occurrence. Real-world stimuli over which VSL may take place typically have rich interrelationships, such as similarity or categorization. In the present work, we asked whether similarity of constituent items affects VSL. Participants were shown creature stimuli composed of distinct features (e.g., head orientation), with each feature having two possible feature options (e.g., head facing up or head facing to the right). The specific discrete features allowed for systematic manipulation of similarity between paired items in terms of the number of shared and distinct features. Participants viewed stimuli one at a time, in a stream composed of temporally paired items that were either similar (shared majority features) or dissimilar (shared few features). In a test phase, participants performed a forced-choice recognition task, choosing between a target pair previously presented, or a matched-similarity foil pair composed of previously presented items that had been recomposed. Across three experiments, similar pairs were recognized at a higher rate than dissimilar pairs. These results provide evidence of the impact of inter-item similarity on VSL, which may play a strong role in determining the outcomes of everyday VSL.
Developing Behavioural Activation for people with acquired brain injury: A qualitative interpretive description study of barriers and facilitators to activity engagement
Authors: Kusec Andrea , Methley Abigail , Murphy Fionnuala Catherine , Peers Polly V. , Carmona Estela , Manly Tom
Published: February 2023

Background: Acquired brain injuries (ABI) from stroke, head injury, or resected brain tumours are associated with poor emotional wellbeing and heightened risk of mood disorder. Common sequalae of ABI, such as poor attention and memory, can create barriers to the efficacy of cognitively demanding mood interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Behavioural Activation (BA), where individuals plan and engage in reinforcing activities, is a promising alternative due to lower cognitive demands. However, BA was initially developed in clinical populations without ABI where the primary barriers to activity engagement were low mood and anxious avoidance. Additionally, BA can incorporate a range of techniques (e.g., mood monitoring, activity scheduling, targeting avoidance, contingency management) and psychoeducational topics (e.g., mindfulness, managing uncertainty; social/communication skills). Exploring barriers and facilitators to adopting specific BA components in ABI is an important aim.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with purposively selected ABI survivors (N = 16) with both low and high depressive symptoms, and family members (N = 7). Questions focused on routine and enjoyable activities, and feedback on 10 different BA techniques and associated psychoeducational topics. Transcripts were analysed using an interpretive description framework. Analysis was informed by field notes, reflexivity diaries, and peer debriefing.Results: The final constructed framework, Creating Sustainable Engagement, comprises a two-tier hierarchy. Higher-level themes concerned core perspectives of BA, regardless of BA component discussed. This included identifying optimal time windows for different BA components (Right Tool at the Right Time), that BA components should, at least initially, not be burdensome or fatiguing (Perceived Effort), that emotional readiness to confront activity-mood relationships should be addressed (Emotional Impact), and that planned BA activities are consistent with individual values (Relation to Values). Lower-level themes concerned specific BA components: Of these, activity scheduling, procedures targeting avoidance, managing uncertainty and social/communication skills were generally well-received, while mood monitoring, contingency management, and mindfulness had mixed feedback.Conclusions: BA is a widely scalable intervention that can be adapted for ABI. This study provides a novel framework on implementing a range of BA components in ABI and adds to the limited evidence on which components may be particularly suitable.
Review of “Jan Tinbergen (1903-1994) and the Rise of Economic Expertise” by Erwin Dekker
Authors: Carret Vincent
Published: February 2023

Review of “Jan Tinbergen (1903-1994) and the Rise of Economic Expertise” by Erwin Dekker.
Reducing In-Room Heater Electricity Consumption at a Residential University College through IoT-Nudging
Authors: Dolnicar Sara , Portmann Marius , Gray Angus , Zhu Oscar Yuheng , MacInnes Sarah , Grün Bettina
Published: February 2023

The aim of the present paper is to highlights a novel collective problem-solving mechanism that has the potential to turbo-charge efforts to make people behave in more environmentally sustainable ways, and to illustrate the effectiveness of such an approach in a field study.
Review of “Pride, Manners and Morals. Bernard Mandeville’s Anatomy of Honour” by Andrea Branchi
Authors: Muceni Elena
Published: February 2023

Review of Andrea Branchi, Pride, Manners and Morals: Bernard Mandeville’s anatomy of honour (Leiden, Boston: Brill, 2022), pp. VIII + 199.
Review of “Léon Walras, économiste et socialiste libéral” by Jean-Pierre Potier
Authors: Numa Guy
Published: February 2023

Review of Jean-Pierre Potier, Léon Walras, économiste et socialiste libéral (Paris: Classiques Garnier, 2019), pp. xx + 564, 58€ (paperback). ISBN: 9782406095934.
Societies of strangers do not speak grammatically simpler languages (original submission)
Authors: Shcherbakova Olena , Michaelis Susanne Maria , Haynie Hannah J. , Passmore Sam , Gast Volker , Gray Russell D. , Greenhill Simon J. , Blasi Damián Ezequiel , Skirgård Hedvig
Published: February 2023

Many recent proposals claim that languages adapt to their environments. The Linguistic Niche hypothesis claims that languages with numerous native speakers and substantial proportions of non-native speakers (societies of strangers) will tend to lose grammatical distinctions. In contrast, languages in small, isolated communities should maintain or expand their range of grammatical markers. Here, we test such claims using a new global dataset of grammatical structures - Grambank. We model the impact of the number of native speakers, the proportion of non-native speakers, the number of linguistic neighbors, and the status of a language on grammatical complexity while controlling for spatial and phylogenetic autocorrelation. We deconstruct "grammatical complexity" into two separate dimensions: (i) how much morphology a language has ("fusion"), and (ii) the amount of information obligatorily encoded in the grammar ("informativity"). We find several instances of weak positive associations but no inverse correlations between grammatical complexity and sociodemographic factors. Our findings cast doubt on the widespread assumption that grammatical complexity is shaped by the sociolinguistic environment.
Review of “Thomas Aquinas and the Civil Economy Tradition: The Mediterranean Spirit of Capitalism” by Paolo Santori
Authors: Erasmo Valentina
Published: February 2023

Review of PAOLO SANTORI, Thomas Aquinas and the Civil Economy Tradition: The Mediterranean Spirit of Capitalism, Routledge, London, 2021.
Review of “The Struggle for a Better World” by Peter J. Boettke
Authors: Novak Mikayla
Published: February 2023

Review of Peter J. Boettke, The Struggle for a Better World (Arlington: Mercatus Center at George Mason University, 2021), pp. 340, $34.95 (hardcover). ISBN: 9781942951865.
Teratoma gigante de ovario. Presentación de caso clínico
Authors: Calderón León María Fernanda , Eliana Piedad Robles Granda Eliana Piedad Robles Granda , Maldonado Recalde Maritza , Pincay Holguín Narciso Gotairo , Sánchez Haz Néstor Neil , Rivera Miño Leonela Wendy , Sornoza Zavala Raúl Bernardo
Published: February 2023

El teratoma gigante de ovario, es una neoplasia que puede ser benigna o maligna de acuerdo a su tipo histológico. Estos tumores se van a clasificar en maduros o benigno e inmaduros o malignos, y de esto, va a depender su tratamiento y también su pronóstico. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar un caso clínico de teratoma gigante de ovario, su diagnóstico y tratamiento. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio cualitativo, descriptivo; presentación de  caso clínico de un teratoma gigante de ovario. Se describen aspectos relevantes de esta neoplasia y la importancia del diagnóstico oportuno. Se obtuvo  autorización del departamento de docencia e investigación del Hospital Alfredo G Paulson, permitiendo la revisión de historia clínica e imágenes, para la publicación del presente caso. Resultados: se presentó el caso de una paciente femenina de 31 años de edad, que presenta gran masa palpable a nivel abdominal, acompañado de dolor en fosa iliaca izquierda, que se irradia a miembro inferior del mismo lado. Se brinda tratamiento quirúrgico realizándose histerectomía abdominal total, salpingooforectomía izquierda, resección en cuña de ovario derecho, omentectomia y adhesiolisis; se obtiene un tumor anexial izquierdo de 26 x 20 x 15 cm, cuyo diagnóstico histopatológico reporto: teratoma inmaduro grado 2 en ovario izquierdo. Conclusiones: el teratoma de ovario debe ser diagnosticado precozmente, pese a sus signos y síntomas inespecíficos; si se trata de un teratoma maduro en jóvenes o adolescentes se recomienda tratamiento quirúrgico conservador con cistectomía y seguimiento periódico anual no obstante, si se trata de un teratoma inmaduro de acuerdo a su estadio, se procederá a acompañar el tratamiento quirúrgico de salpingo ooforectomía total con quimioterapia adyuvante. Por lo general el pronóstico del teratoma es bueno, ya que el 80 % de los casos son de origen benigno, sin embargo, existe un pequeño porcentaje de riesgo de trasformación a malignos, por lo que es una patología de sumo cuidado, control e interés.
Traqueomalacia en la unidad de cuidados críticos. Reporte de 2 casos
Authors: Hidalgo Acosta Javier Aquiles , Mawyin Muñoz Carlos Enrique , Gonzabay De La A Andrés Jonathan , Alcívar Bravo Joffre Francisco , Loayza Intriago Jorge Andrés , Montenegro Jara José Luis , Bejarano Macias Jorge Eduardo , Vélez Díaz Lorena Antonella , España Pluas Dennisse Carolina , Montiel Molina Andrea Ximena , Nagua Blanca Diego Raphael
Published: February 2023

Introducción: Traqueomalacia en cuidados críticos, es una entidad poco frecuente en la población adulta, por lo que, presentamos dos casos clínicos relevantes, donde se evidenció una llamativa deformidad de la tráquea.  En el primer caso, concomitantemente con otras enfermedades tales como, patologías tiroideas (bocio) y en el segundo caso a consecuencia de quemaduras severas, producto de la explosión de una bombona de gas de uso doméstico. Objetivo: describir dos casos clínicos de pacientes con traqueomalacia en unidad de cuidados críticos y reconocer los principales métodos diagnósticos y terapéuticos.
Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, presentación de 2 casos clínicos, con diagnóstico de traqueomalacia en la unidad de cuidados críticos; se solicitó el consentimiento informado institucional para revisión de historias clínicas de los pacientes estudiados y publicación de las imágenes respectivas.  Discusión:  Los principales signos y síntomas en ambos casos clínicos fueron:  disnea, hipoxemia y fracaso de la extubación. En el primer caso clínico, el diagnóstico de traqueomalacia, resultó como hallazgo durante una intervención quirúrgica por exeresis de tumor de tiroides, en el segundo caso el diagnóstico se realizó mediante   fibrobroncoscopía y se observó una pérdida anatómica de la forma normal, cilíndrica de la tráquea. Respecto al tratamiento cabe recalcar que en la actualidad la cirugía de tráquea y el desarrollo de prótesis traqueales endoluminales representan una gran alternativa terapéutica. Conclusiones:  la traqueomalacia puede provocar cambios graves en la oxigenación por lo que es importante reconocer, diagnosticar y tratar oportunamente esta patología, por representar una gran comorbilidad en el paciente crítico, que incrementa la necesidad de reintubación y aumenta el fracaso en la desconexión de la ventilación mecánica.
Queratolisis Punctata: ¿Patología o condición física?, prevención cuaternaria.
Authors: Chamba Andrea , Rosero Ligia , Solis Cristina
Published: February 2023

Contexto     

La queratólisis punctata es una infección bacteriana, superficial de la epidermis, que afecta sobre todo a los pies y se ve condicionado por distintos factores.

Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia de Queratolisis Punctata en la población pediátrica rural y los factores que predisponen a esta patología, para así prevenir su propagación y estigmatización social.

Diseño: Estudio observacional, descriptivo transversal.

Lugar y sujetos: Un total de 20 niños entre 6 a 12 años, de la comunidad Indígena “Espiga de Oro” en la Escuela Orlando Perón, Cayambe – Ecuador (a 3600 msnm).

Mediciones principales: Historia clínica, entrevista, observación visual, dermatoscopía y registro fotográfico.

Resultados: La hiperpigmentación y queratosis demostrada por dermatoscopia se encontró en el 100% de los niños. Mientras que la triada clínica representada por humedad leve en un 55%, bromhidrosis leve en 70 % y erosión moderada en el 50%, fueron las manifestaciones más evidentes.

Conclusión:Su diagnóstico es fundamentalmente clínico y puede confundirse con patologías fúngicas que retardan su tratamiento. Existen condicionantes ambientales y ocupacionales que predisponen a estas lesiones superficiales en los pies, su identificación oportuna evita su expansión y segregación.
Tuberculosis Extrapulmonar En Mama, A Propósito De Un Caso
Authors: Silva Paola , Robalino Nicole , Sanguil Vanesa
Published: February 2023

Introducción: La tuberculosis es una enfermedad infectocontagiosa producida por el Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, y se ha convertido en un problema de Salud Pública a nivel mundial, afectando a adultos jóvenes y poblaciones de riesgo como personas de bajos recursos socioeconómicos e infectados con inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), diabetes entre otras. La tuberculosis de mama es una patología poco frecuente y de difícil diagnóstico ya que suele confundirse con abscesos, cáncer mamario u otra enfermedad granulomatosa.
Objetivo. Describir un caso clínico de una paciente femenina con Tuberculosis Extrapulmonar de Mama.
Material y Método. Estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo, presentación de caso clínico de un de un paciente femenina con Tuberculosis Extrapulmonar en Mama atendida en el Centro de Salud de Cevallos.
Resultados. Se describe el caso de una paciente con Tuberculosis Extrapulmonar en Mama atendida en el Centro de Salud de Cevallos.
Discusión. La Tuberculosis Mamaria es un patología muy infrecuente, a simple vista los diagnósticos probables son carcinoma o abscesos, pero puede tratarse de tuberculosis mamaria, al tomar en cuenta esta patología y solicitar estudios histopatológicos que serán los que ayuden a confirmar el diagnóstico podremos iniciar rápidamente el tratamiento a las pacientes.
Conclusión. Se concluye que al estar en frente de una paciente femenina con lesiones nodulares ulceradas y exudativas se plantee dentro del diagnóstico diferencial a la tuberculosis mamaria, especialmente si la paciente está en edad reproductiva y no ha mejorado tras el uso de antibióticos.
Traqueostomía percutánea por dilatación. Artículo de revisión.
Authors: Hidalgo Acosta Javier Aquiles , Aldean Aguirre Gloria Lizeth , Romero Vásquez Jorge Washington , Bustos Armas María Fernanda , JBejarano Macias Jorge Eduardo , Ñauñay Otáñez María Alexandra , Yagual Mazzini Helen Stefanie
Published: February 2023

Introducción: La traqueostomía percutánea por dilatación (TPD), es un procedimiento de actualidad en la unidad de cuidados críticos (UCI), que se realiza en pacientes intubados y conectados a ventilación mecánica, fue descrita por primera vez en 1985 por Ciaglia et al, como una técnica, que al momento ha evolucionado con la incorporación de la fibrobroncoscopía y la ecografía de la vía aérea durante el procedimiento, así como también por  el desarrollo de una gran variedad de dispositivos disponibles para su realización. Es un método mínimamente invasivo, que sirve para establecer una vía aérea artificial, mediante la colocación de un traqueostomo. Objetivo general: Evaluar la utilidad de la traqueostomía percutánea en cuidados críticos. Objetivos específicos. Describir la técnica de la traqueostomía percutánea en cuidados críticos. Determinar las principales indicaciones y contraindicaciones de la traqueostomía percutánea en cuidados críticos. Materiales y métodos :  Se realizo revisión de artículos científicos actuales obtenidos de  bases de datos de alto prestigio y reconocimiento internacional tales como Pubmed, revistas de cuidados críticos: critical care, JAMA, British journal of anaesthesia, Chest, revisión de datos provenientes de estudios observacionales, ensayos controlados aleatorizados, meta-análisis, revisión sistemática de la literatura, guías, estudios descriptivos, retrospectivos y opiniones de autores sobre el tema: traqueostomía percutánea por dilatación, con  selección de 33 artículos, en su gran mayoría de los últimos 5 años.  Resultados : La principal indicación de traqueostomía percutánea que se realiza en unidad de cuidados intensivos, es para los pacientes con intubación y ventilación mecánica prolongada, para evitar la formación de:  traqueomalacia, estenosis traqueal, infecciones asociadas al tubo, neumonía asociada a ventilador mecánico, entre otros trastornos Conclusiones : Se concluye que la TPD es una técnica no emergente, de mucha utilidad en el paciente crítico en ventilación mecánica, que tiene una intubación prolongada y que requiere la realización de este procedimiento, para evitar complicaciones y que ha demostrado disminuir el tiempo de ventilación mecánica y  el tiempo de estancia en el área de cuidados intensivos, brindando  beneficio al paciente intubado para ser desconectado del soporte ventilatorio de forma temprana.
An analysis of Clinical, Ultrasonological and Cytopathological findings of thyroid swellings at a teaching hospital in eastern Nepal
Authors: Thakur S.K. , Thakur R. , Nepal N. , Khanal T. , Adhikari A. , Yadav R.K. , Ghimire N.
Published: February 2023

Background: Thyroid swelling can be benign or malignant. It is evaluated by clinical examination, Ultrasonography (USG) and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC). This study was conducted with the aim of comparing discrepancy of diagnosis by USG, considering FNAC as gold standard.

Methods: A prospective observational study of thyroid swellings with convenient sampling was carried out over a year (20 October 2020 to 19 October 2021) at Outpatient department of Nobel Medical College, Biratnagar, eastern region of Nepal. Clinical, ultrasonological and cytological parameters were recorded. Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated.

Results: Out of 120 study population, with a mean age of 45.37 years, there was female preponderance, 110(91.66%). The commonest age group was 30-40 years, 28(23.33%). On Ultrasonography, non neoplastic lesions diagnosed were in 104 (86.7%) cases, as compared to FNAC, 113(94.2%). While, malignancy was diagnosed in 16 (13.7%) cases, by USG, only 7(5.8%) cases were malignant on FNAC. The Sensitivity of USG for malignancy detection was 100%, Specificity was 92 %, Positive predictive value (PPV) was 43.75 % and Negative Predictive value (NPV) was 100% as compared to FNAC. Accuracy was 92.5%.

Conclusions: Ultrasonography has an excellent diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy compared to that of FNAC.
Growth hormone therapy in a girl with Turner syndrome – An experience from Bangladesh
Authors: Nahar J. , Zabeen B. , Islam N. , Azad K.
Published: February 2023

Turner syndrome (TS) is the most common sex chromosome abnormality in females. Short stature and hypogonadism are principal signs of TS. Turner syndrome is well-established. There have been studies that have evaluated the benefits of growth hormone in TS with significant benefit in adult height. A 9-year 11 months-old girl who presented to the Paediatric Endocrinologist, with complaint of not growing according to her age. Her growth was noticed to be slow from early age but her parents initially thought it was normal. They however became worried when she was not growing yet to start pubertal development. Her parents eventually took her to this referral hospital for further evaluation and management.
Firm Specific Determinants of Stock Market Price of Nepalese Enterprises
Authors: Shrestha Purna Man
Published: February 2023

This paper aims to identify the firm-specific determinants of stock market price of Nepalese enterprises. For this purpose, this paper has used the unbalanced panel data of 47 firms listed in NEPSE for the period of 1994 to 2019. Breusch and Pagan Lagrangian multiplier test and Hausman test is used to select appropriate regression model. Both tests concluded that Fixed Effect model is appropriate for the given set of data. The result reveals that firm-specific factors play significant role to determine market price per share of Nepalese enterprises. Further, the result concludes that there is a significant positive influence of firm size [Ln (ME)], dividend per share (DPS) and earnings per share (EPS), and negative influence of return on equity (ROE), and dividend yield (DY) on market price per share of Nepalese enterprises. Similarly, an insignificant positive influence of book value per share (BVPS) and an insignificant negative of influence return on assets (ROA) on market price of share are observed.
Banking Habit Determinants of Back Ward Residents of Urban Area
Authors: Gaire Amrit Kumar Sharma
Published: February 2023

Within this context, the objective of this paper is to understand the factors that influence the banking habit of the backward residents of urban area, in the light of tapping the financially excluded population in the main stream of banking transaction. The survey instrument was used to collect the information from 150 residents of the urban people from the back ward area, who have at least one bank account or are involved in any banking transactions in any financial institution. Regression analysis's findings indicate that the convenience of banking services, financial transaction security, and motivating factors are the three main elements that influence the banking habit.
Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development: Evidence from Business Students
Authors: Kathayat Bhupal Bikram
Published: February 2023

Due to globalization, business education has evolved into a corresponding educational system to produce macrobiotic entrepreneurs with a high degree of independence. Besides that, some people object to business education, which surprisingly increases unemployment. Therefore, the present study was carried out to examine the impact of skill acquisition on entrepreneurship development. The quantitative research method, survey questionnaire, and convenient sampling technique were used in this study. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among management students in the Birendranagar Municipality, Surkhet. By applying the formula prescribed by Almeda et al. (2010), 407 students were taken as the sample size. In the case of the questionnaire, two types of questions were formulated to collect demographic and variable-related responses from respondents. In this study, the researcher found that conceptual skills and technical skills have a positive and significant (CS: P-value 0.000 < 0.05; TS: P-value 0.000 < 0.05) impact on entrepreneurial development. Thus, the designed alternative hypotheses H1 and H3 were accepted. Similarly, the study found that human skills have no significant impact on entrepreneurship development (HS: P-value 0.144 > 0.05), which means that the designed alternative hypothesis H2 was rejected in this study. In addition, the present study offers valuable insights to consider on conceptual and technical skills development instruments to the students rather than human skills that foster entrepreneurial capabilities. More specifically, students, faculty members, researchers, and government agencies will benefit from the results of this study.
Approaching Apprenticeship in Nepal: Lessons from Dual-VET of Germany
Authors: Paudel Prakash Kumar , Eberhardt Christiane
Published: February 2023

Apprenticeship training is geared towards meeting the demands of labor market which also ensures self-esteem, employability and vocational career development for the individuals. Against this background, apprenticeship is seen as a successful model for grooming the labor force and reducing youth unemployment. In this paper, we map the current state-of-the-art of apprenticeship in Nepal against the dual system of VET in Germany. The central question in our reflection is how common ownership can be established through responsibility sharing in countries, where other governance principles apply and the governance models also differ from the German model. Hence, in the first step, we focus on the origins of vocational training in both countries. We show that the development of apprenticeship has been driven by social, political and industrial needs, thereby getting deeply rooted in society. We show that despite many challenges, dual training in Germany is an important educational pathway for young people to access the labor market and a backbone of the economy. This is different in Nepal, where despite the governance structures that have been created in the meantime, apprenticeship training is struggling for recognition among the leaders, and actors in the economy. We end up adopting the "six central pillars for successful quality apprenticeships" (i.e. meaningful social dialogue, robust regulatory framework, clear roles and responsibilities, equitable funding, strong labor market and inclusiveness) developed by the ILO (2017). We reflect on them with reference to the Nepali case and in the shadow of the German experiences. In our conclusion, we propose to add "consideration of the country context" as the seventh important pillar for qualitative apprenticeship to ensure sustainable development – free of external funding and support.
Researching Informal Skills Learners: Considering Work Interruption and Vulnerabilities
Authors: Baral Durga Prasad
Published: February 2023

Informal skills learners are the workers who learn occupational skills during their work in an informal setting. Little research has been done on their learning environment and processes in a context similar to Nepal and many other developing countries. Such research deficit is more pronounced in informal skills learning research. In this paper, I address this gap. Based on two concepts - work interruptions and vulnerability of novice informal skills learners - I discuss methodological and ethical dilemmas while researching these people. Drawing from my PhD research carried out in four occupational sectors - pottery, metalcrafts, fast food and two-wheeler mechanics in Nepal (in Kathmandu valley), I first analyse the general features of informal skills learners’ vulnerability which might further increase while spending time with the researchers. The ethical dilemmas researchers might face while researching vulnerable skills learners are about minimizing work interruption and avoiding harm to them. At the end, I propose specific ways of dealing with informal skills learners while conducting fieldwork. The study expects to increase the researchers’ awareness while dealing with vulnerable workers and learners, and provides a track for further research in the area.
Globalization, Global Political Economy and Technical and Vocational Education and Training: A Nexus
Authors: Acharya Sabitri Devi
Published: February 2023

The paper explores the understanding of globalization, global political economy, and their relation with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) by utilizing the critical discourse analysis method as suggested by Fairclough. Several themes, such as globalization, global political economy, political ideology, national and international labor market, TVET policy, and curriculum for skill development are identified and tried to make connections among them. The findings indicate that globalization and global political economy influence the national economic policy and demand for and supply of labor-related policy. Nepal is a major labor-sending country for foreign employment. Supply of labor is directly related to TVET. TVET has been contributing to the preparation of basic- and mid-level human capital. It indicates the production of semi-skilled human resources for the low-paid international labor market.  There are many other issues, including occupation risk, exploitation, working condition, and social and cultural relations in the context of the international labor market. Current TVET policy and curriculum are not sufficient to address these problems.
Work-based Learning through School Production Unit in Polytechnic Institutes
Authors: Thapa Harish Singh
Published: February 2023

Work-based learning (WBL) is a planned activity that integrates learning and work together to develop knowledge and skills for future employment. The study focuses on exploring WBL in the school production unit, which is a part of the school laboratory that works for the production of goods, items, or provision of services. This paper synthesizes, compares and contrasts the approaches of the WBL in production unit with the help of the literature through a systemic literature review. The production unit in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutes has been found as a contributive factor to experiential learning, active learning employability and entrepreneurship skills, work-based sustainability for students, and increased cooperation/collaboration learning ability of students. These are major applications of the implementation of WBL through school production units in TVET schools. The paper concludes that TVET education institutions anticipate the production-based modality to ensure the sustainability of WBL.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Federal Nepal: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Bhandari Usha
Published: February 2023

The technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Nepal is one of the much discussed agenda for its contribution to socio-economic development of the country. Historically, Nepal’s TVET system is striving for being innovative and compatible with the global trends. With the Nepal’s Constitution 2015, it has received a considerable attention, as the Constitution (in article 51, h, 1) highlights the notion of TVET along with the allocation of TVET responsibilities to all three tiers of government.  However, due to differing understanding among the policy makers, including existing several issues and concerns, the development of TVET sector in Nepal has been slow off the mark. Yet, Nepal has many opportunities for reforming the TVET sector in the coming days. There is an urgent need of paradigm shift in action, thoughts and visions in line with the Constitution to harness the benefit of TVET sector - to achieve the goal of socio-economic prosperity of the country.
Phasing out of Technical School Leaving Certificate Programs in Health: A Scenario Analysis
Authors: Basnet Rojina , Karki Pyakurel Chetan
Published: February 2023

The education and training to the mid-level health workers has been provided in Nepal through the institutions run under the CTEVT. Currently, CTEVT is running various Diploma programs in health sectors like General Medicine, Nursing, Medical Lab Technology, Ophthalmic Science and Dental Science. However, TSLC (Pre-diploma) programs like Assistant Nurse Midwife (ANM), Community Medical Assistant (CMA), Lab Assistant, Assistant Ayurveda Health Worker, Dental Hygienist have been phased out since 2076 after the enforcement of the National Medical Education Act, 2018. Nepal has a shortage of health workers with only seven health workers per 10,000 populations. As a result of the phase out of health-related TSLC programs under CTEVT, there will be scarcity of the mid-level paramedical health workers who have direct relation with the community people and the basic level health services.
This review article has tried to highlight the importance of mid-level health workers and effect of phasing out of TSLC programs by CTEVT in the health sector of Nepal. As per the Mathema Report, the major reasons for phasing out of the programs are lack of proper monitoring and regulatory mechanism of institutions running TSLC programs, as most of the colleges practiced to enroll students without quality and lack of proper supervision to the passed-out students. However, due to the removal of the programs, there might be less access to the skilled training, especially of the poor, women, and disadvantaged groups which has created inequitable development of skills in the health workforce. In response to the issues and challenges in incorporating TVET in the development of health workforce, TVET programs, mostly TSLC, should get top priority and the medical education system should be flexible and should reconsider the provision of the National Medical Education Act, 2018 on rethinking for the re-launching the TSLC programs in health so that there will be availability of skilled and technically competent mid-level human resource for health.
Academic Performance of Fee Paying and Scholarship Students at CTEVT Affiliated Nursing Colleges in Nepal
Authors: Adhikari Khagendra Prasad
Published: February 2023

The Government of Nepal offers different scholarship schemes to promote nursing education through its agencies, including the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT). Despite practice of scholarship in nursing education for many years, there are inadequate studies conducted to explore and inform about the effectiveness of scholarship in nursing education in association with the students learning performance. This study examines the status of academic performance of the scholarship and fee paying nursing students and also explores their perspectives on professional values they imbibe for nursing profession. The study reveals that the scholarship students perform better in learning than the fee-paying students. Their educational performances are measured in terms of the frequency of library visit, frequency of reading course-related articles, duration of time spent by students on self-study (independent variables) and the marks they obtained (dependent variable) in the first and the second year of nursing courses. The scholarship students have exceeded the fee-paying students in all of these educational performance indicators.
Risk Diversification in Central and Eastern European Capital Markets: Evidence from Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
Authors: Dias Rui , Horta Nicole , Revez Catarina , Alexandre Paulo , Heliodoro Paula
Published: February 2023

Following the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine in 2014, Russia an­nexed Crimea, while separatist forces supported by the Russian government seized part of the Donbas region in south-eastern Ukraine. Since the begin­ning of 2021, a build-up of Russian military presence has occurred along the Russia-Ukraine border. The United States and other countries have ac­cused Russia of planning an invasion of Ukraine. On February 24th, Putin announced a “special military operation,” supposedly to “demilitarize” and “denazify” Ukraine. In light of these events, the global economy and con­sequently the financial markets had significant structural breaks; based on these facts, this paper aims to analyze the synchronizations between the capital markets of Austria (Austrian Traded), Budapest (BUX), Bulgaria (SE SOFIX), Croatia (CROBEX), Russia (MOEX), Czech Republic (Prague SE PX), Ro­mania (BET), Slovakia (SAX 16), and Slovenia (SBI TOP), in the period from January 2nd, 2017 to May 6th, 2022. To perform this analysis and to get more robust results we divided the sample into two sub-periods: The first from January 2nd, 2017, to December 31st, 2019, with the second sub-peri­od called capital markets stress comprising the time lapse from January 1st, 2020, to May 6th, 2022. In order to answer the research question, we aim to find out, whether the Russian invasion of Ukraine accentuated interdepend­encies in Central/Eastern European financial markets. The time series do not show normal distributions, with the Russian market showing the high­est risk; we find that the markets broke down significantly, mostly in March 2022 arising from instability in the global economy. The results obtained suggest very significant levels of integration during the stress period in the capital markets analyzed, and we see that during the quiet period the Slo­vakian market tends to be highly integrated (8 out of 8 possible), while the Slovenian market shows no integration with its regional peers, which shows that we are dealing with a segmented market. These findings suggest that markets tend toward integration in periods of extreme volatility, calling into question the implementation of efficient portfolio diversification strategies.
Modern data analysis technologies used for geomechanical monitoring. Review
Authors:   Karaganda Technical University, Besimbayeva O.G. , Khmyrova E.N. ,   Karaganda Technical University, Tutanova M.S. ,   Karaganda Technical University, Flindt N. ,   Heidelberg University of Education, Sharafutdinov R.R. ,   Karaganda Technical University
Published: February 2023

The paper considers the possibilities of modern technologies and software that make it possible to create continuity of geomechanical monitoring of man-made objects from shooting in automatic mode, robotic surveillance systems, transmitting information over the Internet to cloud storage, to performing stability calculations, determining the parameters of displacement and deformation of slopes of ledges and sides of quarries. The development of modern technologies for collecting and processing information allows the use of artificial neural networks that are adapted for modeling geodetic deformations. Technogenic objects, which are very complex systems, have a huge number of external factors affecting the stability of the mountain range, so it becomes incredibly difficult to take into account and determine the amount of displacement and deformation. Due to the complexity and variety of influencing factors, it becomes necessary to use a new system for assessing the state of objects, called "neural networks". The training of such a system is based on the already available research results collected during the direct operation of industrial enterprises. Neural networks can become an alternative to various methods of describing deformation processes, especially in the continuous monitoring of man-made objects, where there is no a priori knowledge of the underlying deformation processes. For effective monitoring and forecasting of deformation processes at a mining enterprise, a multiparametric monitoring method is needed, which includes a comprehensive system based on GPS measurements, supplemented with data from sensors for changes in water level and changes in stresses and deformations of the array. The results of automated survey and data recording sent to the cloud storage are distributed using "Big Data" technology and analyzed by geoinformation systems. In turn, the adaptation of neural networks to model deformations allows specialists to obtain a good alternative to the description of structural deformations of the mountain range.
An advanced method for the development of highly reliable asphalt concrete mixture
Authors:   L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kosparmakova S.A. , Shashpan Zh.A. ,   L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Guler M. ,   Middle East Technical University
Published: February 2023

This paper introduces the new technology of road construction pavement Superpave. From the beginning of the technology, the method of calculation of road pavement temperature has been taken as an example on the Shymkent city road in Kazakhstan. The material calculation for high quality was conducted with the new climate data of the exact city. A new methodological approach will determine the most accurate selection of bitumen binder grades using a specifically developed PG Grade calculation based on the meteorological data for the period from 2000 to 2020 (20 years) for the specific city. This will be intended to establish requirements for bitumen binders testing by the traditional method for both original and modified bitumen, such as penetration, softening point, and flash and fire point tests, taking into account the climatic characteristics of the republic. Today, have to be accounted that the most common bitumen binder is a 70-100 penetration rating, which means that quite incorrect to use at the highest temperature in Shymkent at +41.3°C and with the lowest temperature at -17.8°C. The results will help to decide on the use of polymer modification of binders, taking into account the design temperatures and operating conditions of asphalt concrete surfaces.
The use of chlorine-containing agents in the processing of spent blocks of uranium deposits
Authors:   Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Duisebayeva T. , Arbuz A. ,   Nazarbayev University
Published: February 2023

The work is aimed at diversifying existing mines for the extraction and processing of natural uranium through additional processing of spent blocks of uranium deposits with chemical solutions using the method of in-situ well leaching (ISL) in order to extract associated useful components. A feature of this technology is the use of the existing production infrastructure for the extraction of associated useful components in existing uranium mines, without significant capital investments in production infrastructure and mining operations. The technology of underground borehole leaching has been reliably developed in uranium deposits for decades. The fundamental similarity of the technology for the extraction of uranium and a number of associated useful components (APC) - by the ISR method, allows the use of spent ore fields of uranium deposits for the extraction of PPC. The use of ready-made technological infrastructure (wells, pipeline network, pumping equipment, control units, etc.) allows, due to savings on infrastructure costs, to obtain profitability when mining ore-bearing blocks with a content of recoverable components from ≤ 1 g/t, up to 0.1 g/t. Taking into account the indirect savings of significant costs for the reclamation of spent blocks, it will be profitable to mine blocks with a content of recoverable components up to 0.01 g/t. In view of the foregoing, this technology has a good prospect for implementation in production.
Study of silicon production process in ore-smelting furnace and optimization of technological process
Authors:   M. Auezov South Kazakhstan State University, Protopopov A.V. , Protopopov M.A. ,   M. Auezov South Kazakhstan State University, Suleimenov E.A. ,   M. Auezov South Kazakhstan State University, Aimenov Zh.T. ,   M. Auezov South Kazakhstan State University, Altynbekov R.F. ,   M. Auezov South Kazakhstan State University
Published: February 2023

This article presents the results of production experiments to optimize the modes of silicon smelting in an industrial arc furnace. The main factors of the melting process are the size of the fractions of the charge components and the temperature regime of heating. The rate of charge heating in the reaction zone in the temperature range from 950 to 14100C has a special effect on productivity. In this temperature range, the formation of refractory silicon carbide on pieces of quartzite was established, which causes a drop in the magnitude of the electric current in the reaction zone and its freezing. The gornisage, which is formed, displaces the electrodes into the zone of greater charge electrical conductivity - up, which leads to an increase in silicon monoxide emissions through the reduced charge layer. Correction of such a process requires an increase in the temperatures in the reaction zone and the duration of the melt. A method has been developed for calculating the size of quartzite fractions, depending on the power of the furnace and the size of the reaction zone. An example of a simplified calculation is proposed.
Efficacité de la relaxation dans la fibromyalgie : un essai clinique bref aléatoirement contrôlé en simple insu portant sur 80 patients
Authors: Rollin N. , Das Neves J. Fonseca , Richard O. , Delafontaine T. , Rusinek S. , Lebel C. , Diouf M. , Serra É.
Published: February 2023

Contexte : La prise en charge classique de la fibromyalgie est fondée à la fois sur des traitements pharmacologiques et non pharmacologiques. Parmi ces derniers sont compris : la physiothérapie, l’activité physique, la relaxation, les thérapies cognitives et comportementales. L’efficacité de certains de ces traitements manque de preuves. Nous avons donc cherché à évaluer l’efficacité de la relaxation dans la fibromyalgie.

Méthode : En nous fondant sur une précédente recherche, cette présente étude était randomisée et en insu de l’observateur. Le groupe expérimental bénéficiait d’un training autogène (TA) supervisé par un professionnel formé en relaxation. Le groupe témoin recevait la relaxation autonome sans supervision. Il y avait six sessions de relaxation durant 30 minutes chacune, et il était conseillé aux patients de réaliser des exercices de relaxation quotidiennement à domicile. Les critères principaux étaient les changements des scores à l’EVA douleur et à la sous-échelle douleur du QIF entre l’inclusion et la fin de l’étude, les critères secondaires concernaient les scores d’anxiété et de dépression de l’HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale).

Résultats : Quatre-vingts patients atteints de fibromyalgie (71 femmes, 9 hommes) ont été randomisés. Les scores de douleur de l’EVA et du QIF ne différaient pas significativement entre les deux groupes, tout comme les scores d’anxiété et de dépression.

Conclusion : Face au constat que le TA seul n’apportait pas de bénéfices par rapport au témoin (relaxation passive), nous devons nous interroger sur la nécessité d’intégrer de la relaxation à d’autres techniques pour apporter un soulagement aux patients.
Potential Protective Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Supplementation on Cadmium-Induced Toxicity in Albinos Wistar Rat
Authors: Boulanouar M. , Aouacheri O. , Saka S.
Published: February 2023

Polluants like heavy metals are ubiquitous in the environment, and they can enter our bodies and cause many illnesses and metabolic dysfunctions. The objective of our study is to demonstrate the beneficial effect of turmeric (Curcuma longa) (Cur) on the toxicity induced by cadmium chloride (Cd) in Albinos wistar rats. Forty male rats were divided into four groups and treated daily for 30 days. The first group (0-0) served as a control and received a normal diet without Cd and Cur. The second group (0-Cur) received 2% of Cur in their food. The third group (Cd-0) was on a normal diet, but they were given Cd orally at a dose of 5 mg/kg. The fourth group (Cd-Cur) was treated with 5 mg/kg Cd and 2% Cur. Biochemical, hematological, and histological markers as well as oxidative stress parameters were estimated. Cd exposure induced a significant disturbance in all the values of the parameters studied compared to the control group. In addition, Cd toxicity caused liver and kidney tissue degeneration. However, feeding a turmeric-rich diet reduced the intensity of cadmium-induced oxidative stress and restored all studied biological analyzes in comparison with the control group. At the same time, tissue degeneration was remarkably corrected. The results suggest that turmeric supplementation in the diet is beneficial as it has the power to reduce cadmium toxicity.