Practical Aspects Research Articles

Role of Ethics in Nature-Human Relationship: a Pragmatic Inquiry

Primitive people, in their initial struggle for existence, must have found Nature to be a formidable force to reckon with. Our ancestors eked out their means of survival from the abundant bounties of the ancient world with the meager tools at their disposal and sometimes tried to placate Nature by worshipping her. The earth was a rich mother and the needs of the early people were few. With time the ever increasing demands of humankind were matched by their growing power to wreak destruction and havoc. They destroyed forests and dug into the earth with unrestricted abandon in the quest of greater wealth and enjoyment, slaughtered every type of life for food and even for the mere pleasure of killing. Human beings remain the only predator that kills the young adults of a species, damaging the reproductive capital of the latter. Philosophers have argued against the wanton destruction of the earth’s resources. That these warnings have been largely ignored is apparent in the danger signs that have started to raise a question mark on the future of life on this planet. Therefore, these ethical theories are needed to be analyzing in a pragmatic point of view of their applications. The tendency of the theories is to concentrate on the former and take the latter for granted. This creates a gap between knowledge and application of environmental ethics. There must be some aspects other than worldviews that affects human behavior. We proceed with a pragmatic theory of ethics which takes into account the practical aspects and strengthen it further with a psychological probe into the aspects responsible for creating the gap.

A Systematic Review of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Agriculture for Evidence-Based Decision Making and Sustainability

The aim of this study was to consolidate current information on the utilization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) in the agricultural sector, with a focus on their role in promoting evidence-based policies and practices to enhance agricultural sustainability. Additionally, this review sought to identify the challenges hindering the widespread adoption of GIS and RS applications, particularly in low- and middle-income nations. This study employed the methodology of systematic literature review. The findings indicate that the utilization of GIS technology in the agricultural sector has experienced a notable increase over the past few years. The primary areas of use for GIS that have been identified encompass crop yield estimation, assessment of soil fertility, monitoring of cropping patterns, evaluation of drought conditions, detection and management of pests and crop diseases, implementation of precision agriculture techniques, and management of fertilizer and weed control. GIS technology possesses the capacity to augment the sustainability of agriculture by incorporating the spatial aspect of agricultural practices into agricultural policies. Furthermore, the potential of GIS in facilitating evidence-based decision making is expanding. Given the escalating peril of climate change on agriculture and food security, there exists a heightened imperative to include GIS into policy formulation and decision-making processes to enhance the sustainability of agricultural practices. The findings of this study might be beneficial in informing the development of policies that effectively integrate sustainable and climate-smart practices in agriculture.

A Community Based Study on Various Aspects of Breast-Feeding Practices from Central India

Background: For optimum growth and development of newborns breastfeeding is of utmost importance.Identification of breastfeeding practise gaps need to be identified and filled. This study was undertaken to explorethe breastfeeding practices, influence of literacy and prevailing cultural factors on different aspects of breastfeeding.Materials and Methods: Complete line listing of 576 breastfeeding women in the study area was done. Thenthe study subjects were interviewed by making house to house visits. Data was gathered on the participant’sdemographics, breastfeeding knowledge, and practices. Privacy was maintained while conducting the interview.Anonymity and confidentiality were ensured to the study participants.Results: Data of 550 study participants was analyzed and presented here. 377 (68.5%) could not practice timelyinitiation of breast feeding. Most common reason (264, 70%) for the same was insufficient knowledge about it.Exclusive breast feeding was practiced by merely 44 (8%) subjects. Not good for health of newborn (108, 36.7%),not easily digested by the newborn (thick) (85, 28.9%) and myths prevalent in society (64, 21.8%) were three mostcommon reasons for discarding colostrum by mothers. Lower socio-economic status, muslim religion and jointfamily were found to be associated with practice of exclusive breastfeeding.Conclusion: The issue of lower prevalence of early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding continuesto persist in the study area. Still, colostrum is being discarded. Tailored and region specific health promotionactivities must be intensified in this regard by grass root level health care workers.

Surgical Written Consent in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: A Plastic Center Audit of Surgical Consent Standards.

Background Informed consent is a fundamental aspect of modern medical practice that requires effective communication and an ample understanding of medical ethics, patient autonomy, and the legal obligations of healthcare professionals. Maintaining high-quality surgical informed consent is a crucial step in the healthcare process. Thus, we aimed to obtain surgical written consent on abdominoplasty, suction-assisted abdominal dermo lipectomy, and lower body lifting from our hospital database over three months (January to March, 2023) to assess our level across the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) system. Results A total of 45 surgical written consents were obtained and 37 consents remained after exclusion. Bleeding, infection, and hematoma were mentioned in more than 80% of our consents. However, important complications such as ileus and umbilical malposition were never mentioned. Overall, the completion rate of written complications ranged from 14% to 56% in comparison to data from the ASPS. Conclusions Our results show a measurable inconsistency in surgical written consents at our center. Thus, establishing a comprehensive and accurate surgical written consent will aid in protecting our center against deficient surgical written consent accusations, improve the experience of patients, and enhance the quality of service provided by our center.

Critical Factors in Sample Collection and Preparation for Clinical Metabolomics of Underexplored Biological Specimens.

This review article compiles critical pre-analytical factors for sample collection and extraction of eight uncommon or underexplored biological specimens (human breast milk, ocular fluids, sebum, seminal plasma, sweat, hair, saliva, and cerebrospinal fluid) under the perspective of clinical metabolomics. These samples are interesting for metabolomics studies as they reflect the status of living organisms and can be applied for diagnostic purposes and biomarker discovery. Pre-collection and collection procedures are critical, requiring protocols to be standardized to avoid contamination and bias. Such procedures must consider cleaning the collection area, sample stimulation, diet, and food and drug intake, among other factors that impact the lack of homogeneity of the sample group. Precipitation of proteins and removal of salts and cell debris are the most used sample preparation procedures. This review intends to provide a global view of the practical aspects that most impact results, serving as a starting point for the designing of metabolomic experiments.

Cocoa, Palm Tree, and Cassava Plantations among Smallholder Farmers: Toward Policy and Technological Efficiencies for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development in Southern Nigeria

This study is basically and centrally focused on the review of the extant literature in exploring the challenge of the under-utilization of natural fertile land for the cultivation and farming of different crops such as cocoa, palm tree, and cassava, which remain an important sector of the economy for sustainable socio-economic development in the southern part of Nigeria. The review of the cursory literature is necessary to bridge the gap in the existing body of knowledge, especially by addressing the less attention paid to exploring the non-oil sector of the economy such as cocoa, palm tree, and cassava as well as connecting policy and agro-technology to maximize agricultural productivity for the purpose of sustainable socio-economic development. The primary objective of this study is to explore cocoa, palm tree, and cassava plantations among smallholder farmers in order to enhance sustainable socio-economic development in the country. The methodology used in this study is a systematic literature review (SLR) cum content analysis (CA) of secondary sources or relevant literature whereby six themes were generated and analyzed. A consistent approach was used in order to establish exhaustive searching strategies and single-line search strategies such as using field codes and parentheses as part of a systematic literature review. The results indicated that smallholder farmers have been actively partaking in cocoa plantation, and the government has been supportive of them in this regard in order to achieve sustainable socio-economic development. In addition, agricultural transformation contributes to economic diversification through innovative policy and capacity building among cocoa, palm tree, and cassava farmers in the country, which culminates in improving the overall welfare of the smallholder farmers in attaining sustainable socio-economic development. In conclusion, it is noteworthy to say that giving support, especially cocoa, palm tree, and cassava seedlings, to smallholder farmers can be instrumental in bridging the vacuum created by poverty and unemployment which could be regarded as mechanisms for attaining sustainable development. The importance of the study was manifested in the practical aspect of giving concrete support to the smallholder farmers, and the innovativeness of the study is reflected in the advocacy for the efficiencies and effectiveness of agricultural policy and technology integration into the sector. It is therefore suggested that interventions of individual philanthropists, government, and international communities will boost the morale and resilience of the farmers toward enhancing cocoa, palm tree, and cassava production in order to enhance sustainable socio-economic development among smallholder farmers in particular and to maximize national economy growth in general.

Using Nutraceuticals to Help Manage Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.

Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is a significant public health challenge that has an adverse impact on functional independence, quality of life, and life expectancy. Management of people's chronic conditions is a key aspect of contemporary medical practice. Our study was an open label, single arm, prospective pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of treating people with TSCI. The study intervention was treatment with oral selenium and vitamin E. Participants were 18 years or older and experienced a TSCI at least one year prior to enrollment. Daily doses of 50 mcg of selenium and 400 IU of vitamin E were administered. Participants had radiologic (MRI tractography) and clinical (ASIA) assessments prior to initiating treatment, and these assessments were repeated after one year of treatment. Four subjects completed the full twelve-month study. Adherence, based on pill counts, was approximately 75% in all subjects. There were no adverse events related to study medications. During the treatment period, subjects reported improvement in certain symptoms. There was no significant difference in ASIA scores before and after the intervention. Combination treatment with vitamin E and selenium has been demonstrated as safe for TSCI patients. It is possible to use DTI values to locate the epicenter of a lesion as well as gauge the extent of injury. MRI tractography may serve as a meaningful surrogate endpoint. The results of this study suggest that it is feasible to conduct a larger long-term clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of combination treatment of TSCI.

Ethnic Value in Toraja’s Social Ritual: Cultural Education Perspective

This article focuses on the examination of traditional burial rituals within the Toraja tribe. It compares the execution of funeral rites in the past, which were deemed customary, with those conducted in the late 1990s. By conducting a comparative analysis of the two ceremonies, it is anticipated that we may ascertain whether there has been any alteration in the execution of the ritual. According to Durkheim, the notion of the holy appears to be a genuine aspect of religious beliefs and practices in religious events. Religious individuals, when closely observed, distinguish between two distinct realms: the sacred realm and the profane realm. Sacred entities are consistently seen as superior, possessing great power, prohibited from engaging in regular interactions, and deserving of utmost reverence. Conversely, profane entities are mundane, unremarkable, and pertain to practical routines of everyday existence.

Framework for assessing bridges construction impact on work zone traffic using BrIM

This research presents a framework for visualizing bridge construction impact on work zone traffic using Bridge Information Modelling (BrIM) and Google Maps API. The framework consists of four modules. The first module contains the construction data of the bridge by reporting the construction's daily progress. The second module is designated to model traffic data of the work zone using Google Maps API, traffic Survey counting, and Google Earth Images. The third module performs a traffic simulation for the work zone, and calculating the user cost of different stages. The fourth module visualizes the bridge's construction using Bridge Information Modelling (BrIM) and virtual reality in the Twinmotion engine to demonstrate the construction stages and the corresponding traffic states. An actual case study of El-Nahas Bridge in Cairo city-Egypt is presented to demonstrate the main features of the developed framework and its practical aspects. The case study results reveal that the impact of the construction stages varies on work zone traffic throughout the project period. The impact greatly influences the traffic status at the beginning of the project associated with high user costs. Then, the impact declines in later stages depending on the type of construction activities in each stage.

The Sins of the Fathers: Targeted Sanctions against Family Members of Primary Targets

Targeted sanctions, such as asset freezes and travel bans, are an increasingly popular response to a wide array of wrongdoing. This article considers an especially problematic aspect of contemporary sanctions law and practice that has received little attention so far, namely the imposition of sanctions on the family members of the primary target. In charting out a coherent and principled approach to such sanctions, the article makes three distinct contributions. First, it offers a comprehensive survey of law, policy and practice related to family‐member sanctions across the US, UK, EU and Australia. Secondly, it identifies the limits that international human rights law places on such sanctions, which effectively preclude automatic family‐member sanctions. Thirdly and finally, it proposes a ‘profit‐based’ sanctions model as an alternative to ‘activity‐based’ and ‘status‐based’ sanctions, as well as outlining its implications for the design of family‐member sanctions.

Practical aspects of testing superconducting electromagnets by the capacitor discharge method taking into account the non-linearity of circuit parameters

Practical aspects of testing superconducting electromagnets by the capacitor discharge method taking into account the non-linearity of circuit parameters

Acupuncture and dry needling for physical therapy of scar: a systematic review

BackgroundThere is a continuing interest in finding effective methods for scar treatment. Dry needling is gaining popularity in physiotherapy and is defined by Western medicine as a type of acupuncture. The terms acupuncture and dry needling have been used interchangeably so we have focused on the efficacy of dry needling or acupuncture in scar treatment.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to determine the usefulness of dry needling or local acupuncture for scar treatment. In our search process, we used the terms ‘acupuncture,’ ‘needling,’ or ‘dry needling’ to identify all relevant scientific papers. We have focused on the practical aspects of local management of different scar types with dry needling or acupuncture.Search strategyThe search strategy included different combinations of the following keywords: ‘scar’, ‘keloid’, ‘dry needling’, ‘needling’, ‘acupuncture’, ‘treatment’, ‘physical therapy’. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE (PubMed, EBSCOHost and Ovid), EMBASE (Elsevier), and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant publications from inception through October 2023.Inclusion criteriaThe studies that investigated the effectiveness of dry needling or acupuncture for scar treatment were included.Data extraction and analysisThe main extraction data items were: the needling technique; needle: diameter, length; needling locations; manual needling manipulation; number of sessions; settings; outcomes and results.ResultsAs a result of a comprehensive search, 11 manuscripts were included in the systematic review, of which eight were case reports, two were randomized trials and one study concerned case series. Two case reports scored 2–4 out of 8 points on the JBI checklist, five studies scored 5–7, and one study scored 8 points. The methodological quality of the two clinical trials was rated as good or fair on the PEDro scale. The case series study scored 7 of 10 points on the JBI checklist. A meta-analysis was not possible as only two randomized trials, eight case reports, and one case series were eligible for review; also, scar assessment scales and pain severity scales were highly heterogeneous.ConclusionsThe studies differed regarding the delivery of dry needling or local acupuncture for scar treatment. Differences included treatment frequency, duration, number of treatments, selection of needle insertion sites, number of needles used, angle of needle placement, and use of manual needling manipulation.Systematic review registrationINPLASY no. 202310058.

Knowledge of Mothers on Multisensory Intervention for Preterm Babies: A Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study from Mangaluru, India

Introduction: Multisensory intervention for preterm babies is developmentally appropriate and has the capacity to integrate information from different senses-Auditory, Tactile, Visual, and Vestibular (ATVV). Involving mothers in the intervention may help mimic the preterm babies’ intrauterine environment. Mothers need to be systematically and effectively guided through the ATVV intervention. Before implementing the practice, it is important to ensure that mothers are sensitised with the necessary knowledge about multisensory intervention. Hence, assessing mothers’ knowledge of multisensory intervention is a significant step preceding any intervention. Aim: To assess the knowledge of multisensory intervention among mothers of preterm babies with the intention of preparing an educational package on multisensory intervention. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers of preterm babies admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a selected hospital in Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. A total of 97 mothers were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data on mothers’ knowledge were gathered using a proforma on baseline characteristics and a structured knowledge questionnaire on multisensory intervention for preterm babies. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The overall knowledge scores of mothers on multisensory intervention showed a mean±SD of 7.42±2.06 with a mean percentage of 24.74%. Most mothers, 91 (93.8%), had inadequate knowledge, and 6 (6.2%) had moderate knowledge. The area-wise knowledge score of mothers revealed that in the concept of multisensory intervention, the mean±SD was 1.93±0.89 with a mean percentage of 38.56%. In the components of multisensory intervention, the mean±SD was 2.20±1.18 with a mean percentage of 24.40%. In understanding preterm babies’ behaviour, the mean±SD was 2.67±1.15 with a mean percentage of 29.67%. In aspects of practice in multisensory intervention, the mean±SD was 0.63±0.69 with a mean percentage of 8.98%. This indicates that most mothers had inadequate knowledge in the areas of multisensory intervention. A significant association between knowledge scores and the sex of the preterm babies was found (p-value=0.03). Conclusion: Most mothers had inadequate knowledge on multisensory intervention. Consequently, an educational package was developed, which included a video on multisensory intervention for preterm neonates and a handout to help mothers acquire knowledge and guide their practice.

The inclusion of LGBTQIA+ university students on campus: some practical aspects

This paper addresses some conceptual and practical aspects related to campus inclusion of university students who publicly disclose their gender identity and/or sexual orientation. Across the world, harassment, discrimination and exclusion of LGBTQIA+ students is a sensitive issue. Such undesirable attitudes are based on prejudice and stigma that are rooted in cultural beliefs about traditional gender roles, masculinity and femininity, as well as heterosexism. Harassment and discrimination of students based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression negatively affect their physical and mental health, as well as their efforts to adapt to the demands of academic life. By invoking the universal rights of the human individual, various international organizations (e.g., the United Nations or European Commission) have requested members to adopt an integrated set of measures to sanction and prevent psychological harassment, discrimination and university exclusion of LGBTQIA+ students. There is a need to increase public awareness of the rights of this vulnerable group of students. They can be provided with psychological, social, legal and academic support in various forms. Some measures focused on the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ students on the university campus are presented.

Integration of Science and Religion Based on Religious Moderation at Salman Assalam Science Boarding School Cirebon

The Islamic Boarding School is a special educational institution that focuses on religious learning. At first, the Islamic Boarding School used the Turats book as a reference in teaching morality to the studens. However, at the Salman Assalam Islamic Boarding School, there are visible developments in religious and scientific education, especially in the field of science and technology. This study aims to examine the integration of science and religion based on religious moderation at the Salman Assalam Islamic Boarding School in Cirebon. The methodology used is a qualitative method through library research, which includes field studies with observations, documentation, and interviews. The results showed that the Salman Assalam Cirebon Science Islamic Boarding School applied an integrated science and religion approach based on religious moderation with various strategies. The learning process in this Islamic Boarding School combines scientific knowledge with religious values in order to create a holistic understanding of the world and life. The implementation of religious moderation values instilled is the formation of morals. The values of religious moderation are actualized in cognitive, affective, and practical aspects.

Intercultural Communication in China and Russia. Analysis of Historical Development and Interaction in International Education

Intercultural communication is an important component of modern higher education. This article examines the historical background, development status and existing problems of intercultural communication in Chinese education from a historical perspective. The results show that theoretical research on intercultural communication in China is mainly concentrated in the field of language learning, especially English. The analysis of issues of historical development of intercultural communication opens up opportunities for effective interaction in the field of education and ensures the successful integration of higher education systems into global mixed educational environment. Familiarity with issues of intercultural communication helps stimulate and develop the effectiveness of teaching a foreign language and cultural dialogue, and also helps Russian teachers and Chinese students to study more deeply the issues of intercultural communication in the field of education, and it also improves the quality of international education in theoretical and practical aspects.

Smart specialization of regions as a basis for sustainable development of the Russian Federation

The article is devoted to the implementation of the concept of "smart specialization" of regions for the purposes of sustainable development of the Russian Federation. The purpose of the study is to justify making adjustments to the issues of strategic planning and territorial management at the federal level for the effective implementation of the principles of smart specialization in the regions. The current macroeconomic conditions prevailing in Russia have led to the formation of a strategic course of socio-economic development of the state in the public administration system, which is based on diversified specialization and sustainable development of the subjects of the Russian Federation. This article offers recommendations on the formation of the concept of smart specialization of the subjects of the Russian Federation at the strategic level. The subject of the research is the concept of smart specialization for sustainable development and the possibility of its reflection in the strategic documents of the Russian Federation. The relevance of the research topic is beyond doubt, since the issues of sustainable development of the subjects of the Russian Federation are still topical. The present study is based on the dialectical method of cognition, which includes such methods as comparative, institutional analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction. This methodology provided an opportunity to study this problem through the prism of theoretical and practical aspects. It was concluded that "smart specialization" will make it possible to most effectively identify and implement the vector of regional development, select specific measures that are most effective for each of the subjects of the Russian Federation. One of the important tasks when using this approach is to minimize competition between regions, implement the transition from competition for investment and business to joint development of value chains by regions and strengthen interactions between enterprises. The necessity of developing and implementing institutional and methodological foundations for detailing and updating the most economically promising specializations of the regions was justified. The results of this study, the conclusions drawn and the formulated proposals can be used to improve the strategic foundations of territorial management with a view to their sustainable development. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the proposal to make changes to the fundamentals of strategic planning for the territorial development of the regions of the Russian Federation, which will contribute to the implementation of the principles of smart specialization in practice.

How Useful is Learning in Mitigating Mismatch Between Digital Twins and Physical Systems?

In the control of complex systems, we observe two diametrical trends: model-based control derived from digital twins, and model-free control through AI. There are also attempts to bridge the gap between the two by incorporating learning-based AI algorithms into digital twins to mitigate mismatches between the digital twin model and the physical system. One of the most straightforward approaches to this is direct input adaptation. In this paper, we ask whether it is useful to employ a generic learning algorithm in such a setting, and our conclusion is “not very”. We denote an algorithm to be more useful than another algorithm based on three aspects: 1) it requires fewer data samples to reach a desired minimal performance, 2) it achieves better performance for a reasonable number of data samples, and 3) it accumulates less regret. In our evaluation, we randomly sample problems from an industrially relevant geometry assurance context and measure the aforementioned performance indicators of 16 different algorithms. Our conclusion is that blackbox optimization algorithms, designed to leverage specific properties of the problem, generally perform better than generic learning algorithms, once again finding that “there is no free lunch”. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Note to Practitioners</i> —Digital twins have the potential to improve productivity and quality in complex systems such as manufacturing systems. Their impact on system performance hinges on the accuracy of their digital models around the system’s operating points. Difficult to measure phenomena, such as wear and tear of equipment, however, may cause a mismatch between the digital twin model and the physical system. In this paper, we formalize this problem and compare 16 potential solution strategies under practical aspects. We argue that readily available off-the-shelf blackbox optimization algorithms may prove more useful for this problem, than more recent learning-based approaches. Specifically, gradient-based algorithms will perform best in systems with high-dimensional, continuous, and non-linear performance functions – even in the presence of white measurement noise.

Development of load-resistance-factor-design-based prestressed concrete tub girders in Colorado

This paper presents a new tub girder series for Colorado, conforming to the articles of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. Although the B618 tub girders developed by the Colorado Department of Transportation in the 1990s have been successfully used for decades, the need for an upgrade is essential to satisfy the requirements of contemporary bridge design and construction. After examining the performance of tub girders selected from six transportation agencies in the United States, an optimization algorithm was employed to generate efficient prototype sections. Then, detailed investigations were conducted to examine various practical aspects concerning the serviceability and ultimate limit states of AASHTO LRFD specifications. Parametric analysis with five bridge superstructures that accommodate up to four traffic lanes demonstrated the applicability of the prototype girders. A simplified version of the prototype sections was also delineated for regional precasters. Furthermore, a comparative study was carried out to evaluate the geometric stability and production costs of the prototype, simplified, and existing B618 girders.

Почерк Достоевского: теоретические и практические аспекты исследования (на материале цифрового архива писателя)

The article analyzes the problems of studying Dostoevsky’s handwriting in theoretical and practical aspects on the material of the writer’s workbooks. The content of terms “handwriting”, “cursive writing”, “calligraphy” and the range of issues related to the study of various types of writing are determined. On this basis, the values and characteristics relevant to the study of handwriting in Dostoevsky’s notebooks are revealed. The paper shows how the data obtained are used in the analysis of handwritten texts on the material of the electronic catalog of graphics “Fyodor Dostoevsky Archive” (http://dostoevsky-archive.ru/). It follows from the analysis that the database on the handwriting and non-verbal graphics of the writer makes it possible to significantly replenish information about the features of graphic typefaces in Dostoevsky’s handwritten texts, as well as to correct erroneous readings of autographs in a reasoned manner. This contributes to a more accurate understanding of the meaning of the author’s notes.