Present Status Research Articles

Adapting and pilot testing a tool to assess the accessibility of primary health facilities for people with disabilities in Luuka District, Uganda.

People with disabilities frequently experience barriers in seeking healthcare that lead to poorer health outcomes compared to people without disabilities. To overcome this, it is important to assess the accessibility of primary health facilities - broadly defined to include a disability-inclusive service provision - so as to document present status and identify areas for improvement. We aimed to identify, adapt and pilot test an appropriate tool to assess the accessibility of primary health facilities in Luuka District, Uganda. We conducted a rapid literature review to identify appropriate tools, selecting the Disability Awareness Checklist (DAC) on account of its relative brevity and development as a sensitization and action tool. We undertook three rounds of adaptation, working together with youth researchers (aged 18-35) with disabilities who then underwent 2 days of training as DAC facilitators. The adapted tool comprised 71 indicators across four domains and 12 sub-domains. We also developed a structured feedback form for facilitators to complete with healthcare workers. We calculated median accessibility scores overall, per domain and per sub-domain, and categorised feedback form suggestions by type and presumed investment level. We pilot-tested the adapted tool in 5 primary health facilities in one sub-district of Luuka, nested within a pilot healthcare worker training on disability. The median overall facility accessibility score was 17.8% (range 12.3-28.8). Facility scores were highest in the universal design and accessibility domain (25.8%, 22.6-41.9), followed by reasonable accommodation (20.0%, 6.7-33.3). Median scores for capacity of facility staff (6.67%, 6.7-20.0), and linkages to other services were lower (0.0%, 0-25.0). Within the feedback forms, there were a median of 21 suggestions (range 14-26) per facility. Most commonly, these were categorised as minor structural changes (20% of suggestions), with a third categorised as no (2%) or low (33%) cost, and the majority (40%) medium cost. Overall accessibility scores were low, with many opportunities for low-cost improvement at the facility level. We did not identify any issues with the implementation of the tool, suggesting few further adaptations are required for its future use in this setting.

Predicting Entrepreneurial Success in the Digital Economy Using Machine Learning Techniques

The features of intelligent entrepreneurship as it becomes a social phenomenon in national economies and the effects of this phenomenon on the economy are explored in this paper. There is evidence that the environment of modern entrepreneurship is associated with intellectual, informative, and creative pursuits. Redefining "intelligent entrepreneurship" and "talent management" is a necessary step in improving both terms. Value of human capital, or the chance for an individual to make use of their inherent intelligence, is at the heart of intelligent business. According to studies, the best course of action for national economies is to adopt open innovation models. In order to create and efficiently apply intelligent potential—which assures the expansion of the national economy—it is necessary to enhance the efficacy of scientific, educational, and innovative systems. The groundwork for entrepreneurial intelligence has been laid in view of the present status of the digital revolution in the economy.

Improving the Quality of Vietnamese Academic Journals on Social Sciences and Humanities: A Commentary on Current Status and Pathways to Internationalization

This study examines the present status and srategies to improve the quality of Vietnamese academic publications in the fields of social sciences and humanities. The study utilizes a descriptive qualitative design, sourcing data from a recent journal list of Vietnam State Professorships and the ISI/Scopus database while contrasting it with recent developments in regional academic journals across Southeast AsiaThis raises concerns regarding the scholarly publication, including traditional publishing methods, the quality of peer review, and issues relating publication formatting. I propose some solutions to address these problems, facilitating their entry into the international arena for social sciences and humanities. The proposed solutions encompass editorial management, targeting niche publications, publishing exclusively in English, adopting digitalization, and improving editorial awareness.

Development and initial validation of the Cognitive Change Scale (CCS).

Cognitive impairment is common in neurologic diseases. Precise measurement of cognitive change over time is necessary for isolating disease-related patterns from normal age-related decline. Existing measures of subjective cognition, however, focus on present status. There is, to our knowledge, no currently available self-report measure of cognitive change. We therefore developed the Cognitive Change Scale (CCS), which assesses perceived cognitive change in neurologic populations. A systematic mixed-methods process was followed for the scale design and validation. Associations of CCS responses to demographics, mood, and fatigue were examined in 131 persons with multiple sclerosis. A total of 46 participants also completed a cognitive test battery. Correlations of test scores with CCS responses were calculated. The 17-item CCS showed good reliability and validity. Results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a four-factor structure, with items reflecting change in (1) general cognition, (2) language and executive function, (3) external feedback, and (4) use of coping strategies. Positive relationships of CCS scores with fatigue, depression, and anxiety were observed. Correlations of CCS scores with cognitive test performance did not reach significance. The CCS may be a useful cognitive outcome tool for treatment trials in neurologic populations.

Automatic cleaning suggestion adapting to real-time soiling status of solar farms

Solar farms are subject to various environmental factors that can affect their performance and output. One of the major factors is soiling. Consequently, it is essential to monitor and mitigate the effects of soiling on solar panels to ensure optimal performance and maximum profitability of a solar farm. In this paper, we present a novel cleaning intervention strategy that adapts to the present solar panel performance status to detect cleaning requirements for maximizing profit. This algorithm works with onsite insolation and panel data to give live feedback on cleaning requirements. Moreover, unlike other models in the literature, this method does not require historical or a priori insolation, weather, or soiling data. We have comprehensively tested the algorithm through experiment and simulation under various conditions (i.e., seasonal rain, few annual rainfall or sandstorms, unpredictable dust accumulation). The results show that the adaptive cleaning algorithm, even with no historical insolation or soiling information, outperforms optimal periodic cleaning strategies in terms of net revenue. The adaptive cleaning suggestion system shows significant advantages especially in locations with high variability in weather and soiling conditions. The algorithm is also suitable for practical deployment in solar farms near industrial or construction zones where sudden dust accumulation can occur. Our adaptive model will maximize profit in such unpredictable soiling scenarios, while in comparison, it is not even possible to utilize historical information-based cleaning cycle model in such cases.

Inter-Generational Occupational and Socio-Economic Pattern of Bhutias in Sikkim: Case Study of Lachung, Tashiding and Tathangchen

The paper discusses the inter-generational occupational and socio-economic pattern of Bhutias in Sikkim. Case studies of certain Bhutia families were conducted as an oral source for understanding their present status, changing lifestyle and their self perception about the present status. Bhutia families from three Bhutia dominated villages Lachung, Tashiding and Tathangchen in Sikkim were interviewed. The findings reveal that transformations and diversification in the occupational pattern among the Bhutia families in Sikkim has taken place. Agriculture as their traditional occupation has declined as they are pursuing other alternative occupations. The case study shows that the number of Bhutia agricultural households, both as agriculturist and agricultural labour has declined, but they continue as owners of large land plots. The study sheds light on the occupational shift from traditional occupations to business and trade, tourism, and salaried jobs over the years and generations.

비대면 상담서비스 운영 변화와 과제: 국내 사이트를 중심으로

Objectives This study aims to identify operational changes and challenges in the development of non-face- to-face counseling by comparing the past and present usage of contactless counseling in the context of the rapid increase in the use of contactless counseling due to the spread of COVID-19 and the development of information technology. Methods For comparison with the past, we used the survey methodology from a previous study (Kim, Kye-hyun, & Lim, Eun-mi, 2000) and analyzed 113 counseling sites, including five items (‘service target’, ‘service operator’, ‘counseling method’, ‘counseling content’, and ‘usage fee’) and two additional items (‘counselor’s expertise’ and ‘guidance on using non-face-to-face counseling’) as survey indicators. Results First, we found that counseling methods, which were limited in the early days of non-face-to-face coun-seling, are now being diversified through the development of technology and the expansion of media use. Second, we observed a new way of connecting counselors by establishing platforms for non-face-to-face counseling at large portal sites and private counseling organizations, not limited to the free services provided by public in-stitutions in the past. Third, although guidance for non-face-to-face counseling is currently provided, there is a lack of information on the expertise and confidentiality of counselors. Conclusions This study aims to identify the current status of non-face-to-face counseling in Korea by comparing the past and present operation status of non-face-to-face counseling in Korea, and to identify development tasks. It is expected to provide various implications on the need to strengthen the awareness, professionalism, and eth-ical considerations of non-face-to-face counseling.

Revolutionizing inventory management: A comprehensive automated data-driven model using power BI incorporating industry 4.0

This is a study on advanced inventory management approaches in the mechanical industry using data-driven models, accompanied by Power BI analytics. Drawing insights from broad collaboration with relevant industrial expertise at different organizational scales, our research work addresses the intricacies and challenges in maintaining optimal inventory levels concerning growing industries and operational risks. In this global mechanical firm, we analyzed historical data using descriptive and predictive analytics to understand the trends of the past and to forecast future inventory needs. Descriptive analytics provided base insights about the present status of inventory, while predictive analytics helped proactive management of stock levels classified into on-hand and critical level categories for greater efficiency in strategies related to planning at the coordination end with its suppliers and mitigating risks. Core to our methodology will be the implementation of an automated data-driven machine-learning approach that brings minimal intervention from humans to solve some of the most critical problems in inventory management. One major contribution this study adds is a major product: a Power BI dashboard that visualizes critical part numbers falling below threshold values and recognizes suppliers with historical shipment shortages. Armed with this intuitive dashboard, supplier-coordinating engineers are better placed to take proactive action on inventory shortages, greatly improving operational efficiency in supply chain resilience.

Insights into past and present status of a Balkan’s lentic fish fauna hotspot

Insights into past and present status of a Balkan’s lentic fish fauna hotspot

Present Status of Dalit Writings in Haryanvi Society: Issues and Scope of Translation

The present paper intends to explore the underlying issues blocking the ways of Regional Dalit texts in India, particularly in Haryanvi society. The non-availability of translations of texts like those got appreciated by the literary critics of the regional as well as national level but found no way to come to the level of other regional works in India like the Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, and other regional languages. The paper will discern the socio-cultural issues in the translation of Dalit texts apart from the practical issues like commercialization, publishing endeavors, and academic indifference towards the translation of the regional texts discussing Dalit perspectives in the current scenario.

A Study On Present Status of E Banking Services in Tamil Nadu

E-banking has rapidly transformed the banking landscape in Tamil Nadu, driven by technological advancements and increasing internet penetration. This paper examines the current status of e-banking services in the state, highlighting key features such as mobile banking, online transactions, and digital wallets. The rise of fintech companies has introduced innovative solutions, enhancing customer experience and accessibility. Despite the growth, challenges remain, including cybersecurity threats and digital literacy gaps among certain demographics. The government's initiatives, such as the Digital India campaign, aim to promote e-banking and financial inclusion. Overall, Tamil Nadu is witnessing a robust adoption of e-banking, making it a crucial player in India's digital financial ecosystem.

Development of Green Energetic Oxidizers for Solid Propellant Applications: Present Status

Development of Green Energetic Oxidizers for Solid Propellant Applications: Present Status

An integrative taxonomic and molecular identification of Calvatia holothurioides (Lycoperdaceae): the present status of genus Calvatia in India

Genus Calvatia belongs to a gasteroid fungi which are commonly known as a puffball mushrooms including around 47 species worldwide. Approximately 25 species of the genus Calvatia have been reported previously in India from various forest regions; however, only 15 species of these are accepted on their current taxonomic status because several of them are synonymized with other genera or species. The present study reports the distribution of Calvatia holothurioides which was collected from Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat state, India. The identification was carried out based on the morphological characteristics as well as molecular phylogenetic analysis using nuclear rDNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and rDNA LSU gene sequences data. Nucleotide sequences of different gene loci (ITS and LSU) were submitted into the BOLD data system for DNA barcoding. Additionally, this study also provides a literature-based checklist for the present status of Calvatia species reported in India so far.

Multimorbidity and Multiple Disabilities: Present Status and the Roles of Rehabilitation.

The world is aging, and an increasing number of countries are becoming aged or super-aged societies. Japan has already become the world's first super-aged society, with an aging rate of 29.1% of the entire population of the country. As of 15 September 2021, there were approximately 36.40 million people aged 65 years and over. The advent of the super-aged society has increased the possibility of multimorbidity and multiple disabilities (MMDs) in the elderly population. According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the percentage of people with multiple disabilities of all people with physical disabilities has fluctuated between 4.0 and 7.0%, but rapidly increased to 8.9% in 2006 and 17.7% in 2016. This review aimed to establish the present status of MMDs and the rehabilitation for MMDs. In rehabilitation settings, patients with MMDs are more common than patients with a single disease or disability; however, evidence on MMD rehabilitation is insufficient. Inexperienced and unconfident medical professionals are overly cautious in providing rehabilitation; therefore, adequate rehabilitation is not provided. Furthermore, to respond to the rehabilitation needs of patients with MMDs, human resources need to be cultivated, and a scientific basis needs to be built. It is expected that MMD guidelines will soon be developed based on various case studies and surveys. In MMD rehabilitation, it is important to provide "wider, earlier, more intimate, and more connected rehabilitation"; for this, the training and cooperation of rehabilitation medical professionals is necessary.

Delay discounting of rewards and losses, alcohol use, and the influence of socioeconomic factors: A cross-sectional online study in frequent drinkers.

Delay discounting describes the devaluation of future outcomes over time and is a popular behavioral construct in addiction research. Prior studies show modest yet consistent associations between problematic alcohol use and delayed reward discounting (DRD). However, the potential confounding influence of socioeconomic status (SES, e.g., income and education) is rarely addressed. In this study, we aimed to investigate the robustness of DRD as a predictor of alcohol use after controlling for socioeconomic and demographic variables. Additionally, we aimed to test the association between delayed loss discounting (DLD) and alcohol use in a sufficiently large sample. We collected data from 341 moderate-to-heavy-drinking participants (27.92 ± 21.12 g alcohol/day, 43.48 ± 11.90 years old, 49.9% female, UK residents) in a cross-sectional online study. DRD and DLD were measured using an intertemporal choice task. Questionnaires encompassed alcohol use (AUDIT, weekly alcohol consumption), education and income, subjective measures of past and present socioeconomic status, and impulsivity. DRD, but not DLD, was significantly associated with AUDIT scores (r = 0.15) and weekly alcohol consumption (r = 0.12). DRD remained a significant yet weak predictor of AUDIT scores when controlling for education and income, but not when controlling for education and age. We replicated a small but robust association between alcohol use and DRD, but not DLD. This association appeared to be confounded by education and age, but not by income. We conclude that socioeconomic and demographic variables should systematically be accounted for in future studies investigating DRD and alcohol use.

Current Status of Knowledge on Tumor Patterns in Sudan's Eastern Darfur State

One of the major causes of death in the globe is cancer. According to estimates, the number of people affected by cancer worldwide will continue to rise, reaching 21.4 million new cases and 13.2 million deaths by 2030.This study was carried out in the Sudanese state of East Darfur and it is a retrospective in nature. Clinical and Public Health Laboratory provided results, were collected, gathered then analyzed. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25 was used evaluate demographic data and tumor cases. show that 87.3% of patients who were affected by were females, while only 12.7% of patients were males show that 15.87% of patients whom affected were 33 years old, followed by 9.52% their age were 34 and 45 years old endometritis accounted for (19.05% ) of the abnormalities that affected the patients, followed by ovaries (14.29%), endometrial polyps (12.70%), Breast masses (7.94%), chronic endometritis, prostatic hyperplasia The data on the present status of the most common benign and malignant tumors in Sudan and the neighboring areas is scarce. There is a complex interaction between the impact of infectious agents, genetics and environmental risk factors on the risk of development of most of these tumors.

A Review of Semantic Segmentation and Instance Segmentation Techniques in Forestry Using LiDAR and Imagery Data

The objective of this review is to conduct a critical analysis of the current literature pertaining to segmentation techniques and provide a methodical summary of their impact on forestry-related activities, emphasizing their applications using LiDAR and imagery data. This review covers the challenges, progress, and application of these strategies in ecological monitoring, forest inventory, and tree species classification. Through the process of synthesizing pivotal discoveries from multiple studies, this comprehensive analysis provides valuable perspectives on the present status of research and highlights prospective areas for further exploration. The primary topics addressed encompass the approach employed for executing the examination, the fundamental discoveries associated with semantic segmentation and instance segmentation in the domain of forestry, and the ramifications of these discoveries for the discipline. This review highlights the effectiveness of semantic and instance segmentation techniques in forestry applications, such as precise tree species identification and individual tree monitoring. However, challenges such as occlusions, overlapping branches, and varying data quality remain. Future research should focus on overcoming these obstacles to enhance the precision and applicability of these segmentation methodologies.

From Root to Seed: Unearthing the Potential of Carrot Processing and Comprehensive Utilization

ABSTRACTCarrots, a globally cultivated root vegetable crop, are renowned for their nutritional and functional properties. However, the deep utilization and development of carrots and their derived products are limited in numerous countries, with a particular deficiency in advanced deep‐processing and transformation technologies. Consequently, the value of carrot products is diminished and resources are wasted. This review explores the nutritional value and characteristics of different carrot varieties, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of carrot product processing. These products include primary processed products such as minimally processed carrots, dried carrots, pickles, preserves, fruit purees, yoghurt, juice, and essential oils, as well as processed by‐products including functional phytochemical extractions such as carotenoids, polyphenols, dietary fibers, active peptides, and glycoproteins. This review also covers other by‐products, including feeds, fast food boxes, and bioethanol production. Furthermore, cutting‐edge technologies related to carrot processing are discussed. The ultimate goal of this review is to provide researchers and practitioners with an in‐depth understanding of the present status of carrot production.

A systematic review of the nexus between climate change and social media: present status, trends, and future challenges

Social media and climate change are some of the most controversial issues of the 21st century. Despite numerous studies, our understanding of current social media trends, popular hot topics, and future challenges related to climate change remains significantly limited. This research presents a systematic review of climate change and social media for the first time. Review the studies published between 2009 and 2022 in places like Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web-of-Science, Scopus, ResearchGate, and others. For this systematic review, we found 1,057 articles. Forty-five articles were the most relevant according to our goals and study design, which followed the PRISMA framework. The results of this review demonstrate that Twitter is the most popular platform. Every year, we identify rising trends in the number of publications. Past studies often focused on just one social media site, like Twitter (n = 26) or Facebook (n = 5). Although most studies focus on the United States, the study area is primarily “all over the world.” This study offers a theoretical framework by examining the relationship between social media platforms and the discourse surrounding climate change. It looked into how social media trends influence public perception, raise awareness, and spur action on climate change. In practical terms, the study focuses on important and trending topics like nonbelievers and climate change. The contribution consists of synthesizing the body of research, providing insights into the state of the digital world, and suggesting future lines of inquiry for the field of social media and climate change studies. We highlighted the studies’ quality assessment result of “moderate quality.” This systematic review provides information about how climate change is now portrayed on social media and lays the groundwork for further study in this area.

Genome-wide diversity, linkage disequilibrium, and admixture in the main Colombian Creole pig breeds

Colombian Creole pigs have adapted to tropical conditions for over 500 years. They have been modified by natural and artificial selection in different regions. At present, the diversity and current introgression status are unknown. The objective was to estimate the genomic diversity, linkage disequilibrium, population structure, and admixture of four Colombian pig breeds and their relationship with other breeds worldwide. Three Colombian pig breeds (SPE-San Pedreño, 11 samples; ZUN-Zungo, 11 samples; CM-Casco de Mula, ten samples) from the conservation nucleus and one biotype not recognized as a breed (CCH-Criollo Chocoano, seven samples) were genotyped using the Illumina GGP-Porcine80K chip. Open-access data from seven international breeds were also included. Colombian Creole pigs showed moderate genetic differentiation (FST 0.14) globally, but several groups of animals separated, suggesting local clustering due to geographical isolation or different founding effects. Colombian Creole pigs showed breed imprinting and specific grouping in all analyses except for CCH, which, like the Ecuadorian Creole, was a cluster of admixtures. The Colombian Creole pigs revealed a significant relationship with the Iberian pig and some other breeds to varying degrees. However, good maintenance of the conservation nucleus was evidenced. Potential adaptive genes, mainly related to immunological functions, were found, according to FST and pcadapt analyses. This study provides a foundation and scientific data for policy decisions on zoogenetic resources.