bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FINANCIAL LAW: POLICY FRAMEWORKS FOR REGULATING FINTECH INNOVATIONS: ENSURING CONSUMER PROTECTION WHILE FOSTERING INNOVATION
Authors: Etinosa Igbinenikaro  , Adefolake Olachi Adewusi  
Published: April 2024

The proliferation of fintech innovations has necessitated the development of comprehensive regulatory frameworks to uphold consumer protection standards while fostering an environment conducive to technological advancement. This paper delves into the intricate policy landscapes governing fintech innovations, with a primary focus on striking a delicate equilibrium between safeguarding consumer interests and nurturing innovation. By conducting an in-depth analysis of global regulatory approaches, including variations across jurisdictions and the pivotal roles of governmental bodies, this study explores pivotal measures aimed at fortifying consumer protection. These measures encompass a spectrum of strategies, ranging from stringent disclosure requirements and robust privacy safeguards to the implementation of anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) protocols. Furthermore, the study examines mechanisms for resolving consumer complaints and ensuring accountability within the fintech sector. Moreover, the paper investigates various avenues for fostering innovation within the regulatory framework, such as the establishment of regulatory sandboxes and the promotion of collaborative endeavors between regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders. Through the examination of pertinent case studies, this study highlights both successful regulatory interventions and challenges encountered in regulating fintech innovations. These insights culminate in a series of actionable recommendations tailored for policymakers, aimed at navigating the evolving landscape of fintech regulation. Additionally, the paper offers projections on future trends in fintech regulation, thereby equipping policymakers with the necessary foresight to adapt to the dynamic nature of the fintech ecosystem.
Keywords: Financial Law, Policy, Frameworks, Fintech Innovations, Consumer Protection, Fostering Innovation.
NAVIGATING LEGAL AND POLICY CHALLENGES IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION: CASE STUDIES FROM THE UNITED STATES AND NIGERIA
Authors: Munachi Chikodili Ugwu  , Adefolake Olachi Adewusi  
Published: April 2024

The energy transition is a critical global imperative, necessitating a shift towards sustainable energy sources to mitigate climate change and ensure energy security. However, navigating the legal and policy landscape presents significant challenges. This paper examines the legal and policy frameworks in the United States and Nigeria, two countries with distinct energy landscapes, to identify common challenges and best practices. In the United States, a complex interplay of federal and state regulations impacts the transition to renewable energy. Case studies highlight the role of federal policies, state-level initiatives, and legal battles over energy infrastructure projects in shaping the transition.
Similarly, in Nigeria, regulatory hurdles and socio-economic factors impede progress towards sustainable energy. Government initiatives to promote renewable energy face challenges, including energy access disparities and financing constraints. A comparative analysis reveals both similarities and differences between the two countries' approaches to the energy transition. Lessons learned underscore the importance of regulatory clarity, stakeholder engagement, and policy coherence in facilitating the transition. Drawing on these insights, this paper offers recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to overcome legal and policy challenges in the energy transition. By adopting best practices and learning from case studies, both the United States and Nigeria can accelerate progress towards a sustainable energy future.
Keywords: Legal, Policy, Challenges, Energy Transition, Case Studies, United States, Nigeria.
IMPACT OF SURGERY ON QUALITY OF LIFE (QoL) IN PATIENTS WITH STRUCTURAL HEART DISEASE
Authors: Sheikh Kiran , SHEIKH ABDUL MALIK , Touqeer Akbar  , Hina Sattar  , Asma Kanwal  
Published: April 2024

Background: Structural heart disease is one of the most commonly occurring congenital disorders with about 0.8% - 1.2% of live births worldwide Despite the tremendous progress in field of cardiology, majority of this growing population with CHD even after the surgery continue to face life-long challenges and are at risk for having a poor (QoL).
Objectives: To evaluate the impact of surgery on QoL in patients with structural heart disease.
Materials: This Quasi experimental study was conducted in Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology Rawalpindi. From July 2019 to June 2020. We included 76 children and adolescents of both genders with one of their parents after consent. Demographic and clinical data was recorded on the preset Performa. The QoL was accessed by using Urdu version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) before and one month after surgery. Data was analyzed on SPSS 20 and p value of<0.05 was taken as significant.
Results: The mean age of participant (n=76) children and adolescents is 14.5 (14.5 ± 3.3) years. Out of total, 52.6% were females while 47.4% were males. Most of the patients had VSD, 26(34 .2%) followed by TOF 12(15 .7%) and ASD 9(11 .2%). Valvular heart disease (Mitral, Aortic) was found in 8 (10. 5%) and 5(6 .5%) cases respectively the individual parameters of WHO QoL scale were compared in pre- and post-surgical period. Further the parameters of WHO QOL scale were divided into sub categories of physical health, psychological wellbeing, social interaction and environmental health for analysis. Results revealed that physical health, psychological wellbeing, social interaction and environmental health all considerably improved in the post intervention period (p value 0.008, <0.001, <0.001 and 0.001 respectively). The overall QoL of patients also improved significantly (p value 0 .001).
Conclusion: There was significant improvement in physical health, psychological wellbeing, social interaction and environmental health in the post intervention period. Overall QoL in the postoperative period was also improved.
Persistent climate model biases in the Atlantic Ocean's freshwater transport
Authors: van Westen René M. , Dijkstra Henk A. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is considered to be one of the most dangerous climate tipping elements. The salt–advection feedback plays an important role in AMOC tipping behaviour, and its strength is strongly connected to the freshwater transport carried by the AMOC at 34° S, below indicated by FovS. Available observations have indicated that FovS has a negative sign for the present-day AMOC. However, most climate models of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP, phase 3 and phase 5) have an incorrect FovS sign. Here, we analyse a high-resolution and a low-resolution version of the Community Earth System Model (CESM) to identify the origin of these FovS biases. Both CESM versions are initialised from an observed ocean state, and FovS biases quickly develop under fixed pre-industrial forcing conditions. The most important model bias is a too fresh Atlantic Surface Water, which arises from deficiencies in the surface freshwater flux over the Indian Ocean. The second largest bias is a too saline North Atlantic Deep Water and arises through deficiencies in the freshwater flux over the Atlantic Subpolar Gyre region. Climate change scenarios branched from the pre-industrial simulations have an incorrect FovS upon initialisation. Most CMIP phase 6 models have similar biases to those in the CESM. Due to the biases, the value of FovS is not in agreement with available observations, and the strength of the salt advection feedback is underestimated. Values of FovS are projected to decrease under climate change, and their response is also dependent on the various model biases. To better project future AMOC behaviour, an urgent effort is needed to reduce biases in the atmospheric components of current climate models.
On the Limitations of Michel Foucault’s Genealogy of Neoliberalism
Authors: Christiaens Tim 
Published: April 2024

Michel Foucault's genealogy of neoliberalism in Naissance de la biopolitique is surprisingly lacking in critical acumen vis-à-vis neoliberal rationality. Several interpretations explain Foucault's appreciative tone by hypothesising about Foucault's supposed conversion to neoliberalism. In this article, I argue that the problem lies not in Foucault's personal politics but in a disappointing application of the genealogical method. Compared to previous works, Foucault's lectures on neoliberalism focus exclusively on neoliberalism's self-presentation by the likes of Hayek, Becker, and Friedman. It does not explore the subjective effects of neoliberalism on the governed, which would have been impossible for Foucault in 1979. I argue that, by taking into consideration the negative effects of actually-existing neoliberalism, one reveals an immanent critique of neoliberalism at the heart of genealogy. Neoliberalism promises a post-disciplinary order conducive to subjective freedom, but actually requires subjects to adapt to the discipline of free market competition.
Capacity Estimation for Four-Lane Inter-Urban Roads in Telangana through Speed Data Analysis
Authors: Naveen Kumar Gaurav Verma, Saurabh Jaglan, 
Published: April 2024

Urban and interstate speed restrictions are mainly enacted to improve road safety, efficiency, and the reduction of travel time and accidents. When evaluating the capacity and free-flow conditions of interurban roads, the 85th percentile of free-flow speed is a regularly used metric. With the use of volume and speed data, this study endeavours to estimate the capacity of four-lane inter-urban highways in Telangana. Moreover, it investigates, taking into account vehicle kinds and speed restrictions, the connection between density, capacity, flow, and speed. Two lengths of inter-urban highways close to Hyderabad were measured for free-flow speeds; these segments included both straight and curving parts of the route. The results show that in Hyderabad, automobiles, lorries, and buses make up the majority of traffic, with two-wheelers coming in second.
Volume and speed capacity analysis becomes essential for understanding the density and flow of different vehicles on specific stretches of the road. Estimating capacity is a fundamental aspect of designing, operating, and planning the “layout of a road network system. The estimation of road capacity, as outlined in the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) of 2010, relies significantly on the free-flow speed. This speed, indicative of a situation where vehicle movement remains unaffected by the presence of other vehicles in the stretch, holds a pivotal role in capacity assessment. However, the quantification of the influence of free-flow speed on four-lane inter-urban roads is not explicitly addressed in existing methodologies. The heterogeneous nature of traffic on Indian highways, coupled with poor lane discipline, poses challenges for applying simulation techniques. On other hand, values of the Passenger car unit (PCU)” which change homogeneous traffic streams to heterogeneous traffic into a more standardized form. However, PCU values are dynamic and vary under different traffic conditions, necessitating complicated and expensive data collection procedures.
A model is suggested in this study which aims to provide a quick estimation of capacity, removing complexities associated with traditional methodologies, while ensuring accuracy is maintained. This model aims to address the challenges posed by heterogeneous traffic on Indian highways and streamline the estimation process, making it more accessible for field engineers. The model efficiently estimates the capacity of inter-urban roads in Telangana by utilizing speed data and exploring the relationships between flow, speed, density, and capacity.
The effect of problem-solving strategy on learning some basic handball skills
Authors: Asmaa Aziz Falih  
Published: April 2024

هدف البحث الحالي إلى معرفة تأثير إستراتيجية حل المشكلات في تعلم بعض المهارات الأساسية بكرة اليد لطلاب الصف الثاني متوسط مدرسة حسان بن ثابت للبنين وتكمن مشكلة البحث في إن كرة اليد من الألعاب الجماعية التي تمتاز بمهاراتها المتعددة ووجدت الباحثة إن هناك تفاوت في مستوى تعلم بعض المهارات الأساسية بكرة اليد، فضلا عن إن المهارات تقدم بالأسلوب التقليدي المتبع من قبل المدرس من دون مراعاة الفروق الفردية بين المتعلمين . تحيقا لهدف البحث استخدمت الباحثة المنهج التجريبي لملائمته مشكلة البحث وطرق البحث على عينة مكونة من (40)طالب موزعين على مجموعتين المجموعة التجريبية بلغت (20)طالب وتعملت بإستراتيجية حل المشكلات أما المجموعة الضابطة تكونت من(20)طالب تعملت بالطريقة التقليدية وأخضعت المجموعتين لاختبارات مهارية تم تطبيقها بعد التأكد من الأسس العلمية لتطبيقها من صدق وثبات وموضوعية وتم تطبيق إستراتيجية حل المشكلات وأثبتت النتائج تفوق المجموعة التجريبية التي تعلمت باستخدام إستراتيجية حل المشكلات في تعلم بعض المهارات الأساسية بكرة اليد على المجموعة الضابطة التي تعلمت بالطريقة التقليدية وفي ضوء النتائج التي توصلت لها الباحثة أوصت بمجموعة من التوصيات من أهمها ضرورة استخدام المنهج التعليمي باستخدام إستراتيجية حل المشكلات في تعلم بعض المهارات الأساسية في العاب رياضية أخرى.
The effect of a cognitive training strategy supported by complex exercises on learning some football skills for second-year intermediate students
Authors: Saadullah Saeed Majeed  , Ismail Abid Zaid Ashour  , Ameena Kareem Hussein  
Published: April 2024

هدف البحث الى اعداد وحدات تعليمية لاستراتيجية التدريب المعرفي، اعداد تمرينات مركبة خاصة بكرة القدم والتعرف على اثر استخدام استراتيجية التدريب المعرفي وفق التمرينات المركبة في تعلم بعض المهارات بكرة القدم. استخدم الباحثون المنهج التجريبي ذو تصميم تدوير المجاميع المجموعتين التجريبيتين والمجموعة الضابطة لملاءمته طبيعة مشكلة البحث. يهدف البحث الى تحديد مجتمع البحث المتمثل بطلاب مرحلة الصف الثاني متوسط الفتوة للعام الدراسي 2023 \ 2024 في مديرية تربية بغداد الكرخ الثالثة والبالغ عددهم (132 ) طالباً مقسمين على اربع شعب (أ_ب _ج_ د_) ، وقد تم اختيار عينة البحث عشوائيا عن طريق القرعة وتم اختيار شعبتي (أ _ ج) لتمثل المجموعتين التجريبيتين وشعبة(ب) تمثل المجموعة الضابطة وقد تم اختيار (10) طلاب من شعبة (د) ليمثلوا عينة التجربة الاستطلاعية للبحث ليصبح عدد شعبة (أ) (29) طالباً (التدريب المعرفي بالتمرينات المركبة )وعدد طلاب شعبة (ج) (28) (التدريب المعرفي ) طالباً والمجموعة الضابطة (32) طالب وبلغ عدد طلاب التجربة الاستطلاعية (10) طلاب حيث بلغت نسبة العينة بمجموعها من مجتمع الاصل(72%) ، وقد عمد الباحثون الى اجراءات بحثية منها الاختبار القبلي واجراء التجربة البحثية فضلا عن الاختبار البعدي وتم اعتماد الحقيبة الاحصائية في استخراج النتائج الى توصلهم الى اهم الاستنتاجات ومنها ان الاستراتيجية المعرفي المدعم بالتمرينات المركبة اثراً ايجابياً في تعلم بعض مهارات كرة القدم، يوصي الباحثون باستخدام الاستراتيجية التدريب المعرفي المدعم بالتمرينات مركبة من قبل مدرسي التربية الرياضية لتعليم مهارات كرة القدم الاخرى.
Relato de caso: Miastenia Gravis do tipo Anti-musk na gestação
Authors: Azevedo Guilherme Coelho de , Rezende Leonardo Pinheiro , Alvares Natália Dias de Melo , Torres Vitória Reis , Melo Lara Di Almeida , Gomide Vitor Costa , Rizzo Camila Machado , Oliveira Claudia Santos 
Published: April 2024

A Miastenia Gravis é uma desordem autoimune caracterizada clinicamente por fraqueza muscular e fatigabilidade que prejudicam preferencialmente os músculos apendiculares proximais, faciais, bulbares relacionados à oculomotricidade. A fisiopatologia decorre usualmente por meio do bloqueio de transmissão sináptica, devido a presença de autoanticorpos contra o receptor de acetilcolina (AChR) ou relacionados a proteínas transmembrana pós-sinápticas, tais como, Anti-MusK e Anti-LRP. Relato de caso: Paciente do sexo feminino com diagnóstico de Miastenia Gravis do tipo Anti-Musk com apresentação atípica em virtude da evolução do quadro durante o período gestacional, em que os sintomas de fraqueza e fatigabilidade transitória apresentaram de forma recorrente nos anos anteriores à gestação, entretanto, sem diagnóstico clínico. Durante o período gestacional da paciente houve evolução com disartria, prejudicando preferencialmente fonemas nasais e disfagia. Observado os sintomas eméticos, clássicos do período gestacional que se apresentavam com náuseas proeminentes e vômitos ineficazes. O diagnóstico nosológico foi subsidiado por exames complementares e eletroneuromiografia evidenciando eletrodecremento à estimulação repetitiva lenta sugestivo de distúrbio da junção neuromuscular pós-sináptico e dosagem sérica de anticorpos Anti-MusK. Paciente relatada apresentou piora dos sintomas prévios à terapêutica inicial com Piridostigmina e Prednisona, com evolução clínica de fraqueza pronunciada dos músculos extensores cervicais (“dropped head syndrome”) e mastigatórios (“Open Jaw Syndrome”), exibiu boa resposta terapêutica mediante a utilização de imunoglobulina venosa humana. Conclusão: A apresentação intermitente e leve dos sintomas pré-gestacionais, sobreposição das alterações fisiológicas e sintomas comuns relativos à gestação, associados a particularidades terapêuticas inerentes à doença contribuíram para o tempo prolongado até o diagnóstico e tratamento eficaz.
Role of Social Workers in Identifying Challenges and Developing Skills in Children with Learning Disabilities
Authors: Mamta Trichal 
Published: April 2024

Social work values, ethics, and abilities are crucial for ensuring tailored care and support practice and advocacy based on human rights. For Children with learning disabilities, it is beneficial. The paper focuses on social work skills useful in helping kids with learning disabilities. It describes the main disagreements in the area, such as those over policy and practice. Additionally, it is asserted that social workers are well equipped to do research and engage in clinical treatment that advances social justice and full and meaningful involvement in society. The study's objective is to identify social workers varied supporting and rehabilitative roles in easing the difficulties faced by children with disabilities. The review-based study draws its support from secondary sources such journals, books, articles, and other publications. The report emphasizes how social work techniques and practices might help to lessen the difficulties faced by young people with learning problems. A framework is also provided for research, practice, educational concerns, and advocacy strategies to support families of children with learning difficulties. Since social work practice is centred on families, some of the most important competencies for social work with families of children are also included in this article. In order to serve children with learning disabilities, the research found that social workers' most prominent tasks were those of need analyst, mediator, facilitator, motivator, rehabilitator, advocate, and care planner.
Towards Decolonization of Evaluation Practices: A Critical Reflection of Participatory Evaluation Methodologies in Less Developed Countries
Authors: Kengera Zabron 
Published: April 2024

For many years evaluation practices in less developed countries have been dominated by scientific, top down, quantitative approaches and methodologies. As the result, many evaluation practices in less developed countries have been largely characterized by skewed power relations with poor adoption and utilization of evaluation findings. Several researchers, writers and development professionals agree that participatory evaluation was adopted in Africa and elsewhere in the world as a strategy to address several weaknesses observed in the conventional evaluation practices. Such practices include too much focus on projects and donor funding, lack of inclusion, poor consideration of local variations, lack of transparency, lack of accountability and lack of ‘respect’ to local beneficiaries. Inversely, the adoption of participatory evaluation meant to promote evidence-based evaluation designs, which also pay attention to local variations and contexts and include local evaluators and collective decisions at local level. Therefore, promotion of participatory evaluation means making evaluation practices more culturally sensitive and relevant through the use of credible data. From the emancipatory perspective, participatory evaluation methodologies aim at making evaluation practices more transformational and empowering while improving power relations and collaboration between project stakeholders, capturing and bringing to surface the voices of once marginalized and disadvantaged populations. To a certain extent, the adoption of participatory evaluation methodology has contributed to the improvement of quality and relevance of evaluation and increased utilization of evaluation data and findings in decision making and organizational performance. This paper has generally shown that despite a few recorded successes such as the previous participatory methodologies, there have been internal and external constraints to participatory evaluations. There have been constraints to the participation of the targeted communities in evaluation such as limited lack of community interest, high transaction costs, lack of knowledge and skills and meager budget. At the project level, insufficient budget, limited resources, poor timing of implementation and poor quality of evaluation have constrained management participatory evaluations. This paper takes the position, that regardless of problems hindering the performance of participatory evaluation, its benefits outweigh its limitations in short and the long run. The paper recommends that in order to improve the performance and relevance of participatory evaluation, participatory evaluation needs to be preceded with well thought plans, selecting appropriate designs and methods to fit the local situations.
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES TO Mycobacterium avium IN THE RESEARCH INTO PULMONARY
MYCOBACTERIOSIS
Authors:   Central TB Research Institute,
            Moscow, Russia, Avdienko V.G. , Babayan S.S. ,   Central TB Research
            Institute, Moscow, Russia, Egorova A.D. ,   Central TB Research
            Institute, Moscow, Russia
Published: April 2024

We used hybridoma technology to obtain 15 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to antigens
of whole-cell suspension of M. avium. The isotypes and specificity of mAbs to
mycobacterial and bacterial antigens were characterized. The chemical nature of the
antigens/antigenic determinant recognized by the mAbs under treatment with proteinase K
and metaperiodate Na and using extracted with ethanol and benzene M. avium suspension
was investigated. All mAbs were purified by affinity chromatography and used in
heterologous indirect two-site ELISA to determine diagnostic properties in the study of
IgG antibodies in sera of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, pulmonary
mycobacteriosis or healthy donors. The presented method makes it possible to
individually identify and take into account non-specific “natural” IgG antibodies of
each serum under study (patent for invention No. 2794855). mAbs 1B11 showed diagnostic
specificity in the detection of mycobacteriosis − 62.47% and sensitivity – 74.78%, 3E12
(anti-54kDa) − 88.89% and 52.63%, and 1H7G6 − 66.81% and 83.80%, respectively.
100 YEARS OF TB SERVICE IN ARKHANGELSK REGION
Authors:   Northern State Medical
            University, Arkhangelsk, Russia, Andreeva A.V. , Kobelev I.M. ,   I.P. Pavlov First Saint
            Petersburg State Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia, Sannikov A.L. ,   Northern State Medical
            University, Arkhangelsk, Russia, Samburov G.O. ,   Northern State Medical
            University, Arkhangelsk, Russia
Published: April 2024

The article is devoted to the history of TB service in Arkhangelsk region – a
structure that celebrated its anniversary in 2023. It illuminates key dates and events,
historical figures and organizations that made a great contribution to the establishment
and development of TB service, including the Department of Phthisiopulmonology of the
Northern State Medical University (NSMU), formerly Arkhangelsk State Medical Institute
(ASMI).