From the Guest Editors

Journal of Contemporary Rural Social Work Special Issue, Volume 8, Number 1 2016 From the Guest Editors: Dheeshana Jayasundara and Randall C. Nedegaard, University of North Dakot

Developing a Decision Support Testing Algorithm to Detect Severity Level of Dengue

Dengue is a vector borne disease that has become a global threat. In order to reduce the mortality rate early detection of dengue severity level is crucial. This study is an extension of the decision models developed individually for inflammatory mediators and immune parameters. The objective of this study is to improve the individual models by considering their combined effect and to improve the decision making at 96 hours from onset of illness. In order to combine these, three approaches are attempted including, combining together the individual full models on inflammatory mediators and immune parameters, combining the immune parameters based model with decision tree informed cytokines and implementing a decision tree informed model with immune parameters and inflammatory mediators. The decision tree algorithm that is used in model development is Improved ID3 algorithm. The decision tree based model is a two-step decision system with the initial decision being made using the parameters TNF-?, IL-10, dengue NS1 antigen and dengue IgG antibody and, the operator values above 0.4413, are then subjected to the second test including platelet and Platelet Activating Factor. The decision tree based model performed well with an accuracy of 76.19% and 82.3% of DHF patients were correctly classified. Sensitivity analysis indicated the model to be robust

Black Gold and the Dark Underside of its Development on Human Service Delivery

This paper examines perceptions of human service workers regarding their employment experiences and adaptations in oil-impacted rural communities in the Upper Missouri Valley of North Dakota. This study is part of larger pilot project designed to better inform health and human service professionals and elected officials about the nature of human service delivery systems in boomtowns. Qualitative methodologies were employed to analyze information gathered by interviews conducted with 40 human service workers. Both individual interviews and focus groups were conducted. Study findings indicate that the impact of oil on the human service network is complicated. Human service workers in the study were burdened with new and more complex challenges than before the boom, and had fewer resources to address these additional challenges. Their burden was eloquently summarized by one worker who stated, “While somebody else benefits, we carry the burden of oil boom repercussions.” Smaller scale local strategies appear to creatively meet many needs, and show signs of worker resilience in strategy adaptation

A comparison of erect weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing radiography of the cervical spine in non-trauma patients

Introduction: Various positioning techniques are utilized to enhance the visualization of lower cervical vertebrae on lateral radiographs. However, the effectiveness of these techniques still remains unclear. This study was conducted to determine the effect of the weight-bearing (WB) technique in visualizing lower cervical vertebrae and cervicothoracic junction (C7-T1) on standing lateral cervical radiographs of adult non-trauma patients. The study was conducted using both computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR) systems. Methods: Forty-four CR (29 WB and 15 non-WB – NWB) and 61 DR (26 WB and 35 NWB) lateral C-spine radiographs were prospectively evaluated to assess the visible number of cervical vertebral bodies and C7-T1 junction. The instructions given by the radiographer to the patient for the imaging procedure were also assessed on the Likert scale (very good, good, fair, poor, very poor). Results: There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the visualization of the number of vertebral bodies between the two techniques of WB and NWB for CR or DR. Further, no significant relationship (p > 0.05) was observed between the WB technique and the visualization of C7-T1 junction in DR systems. However, a significant difference was identified for CR (p = 0.012). The instruction given to the patient significantly correlated with the visibility of the lower C-spine region within each group of WB and NWB in both imaging systems. Conclusions: The visibility of the number of vertebral bodies in the lower C-spine region in either CR or DR systems did not demonstrate any enhancement with the WB technique. Regardless of the imaging system or techniques used, adequate instructions given to the patient before and during the imaging procedure of C-spine lateral radiography demonstrated a significant improvement in visualizing the lower C-spine region. In this preliminary study, the application of erect WB radiography technique in evaluating the lower cervical region of adult non-trauma patients gives limited advantage

Impact of Rubber Farming on the Socio-Economic Status of Households of Smallholders: A Descriptive Analysis

Rubber farming in Moneragala District has been introduced to enhance the socio-economic status of households of smallholders. Four focus group discussions and six qualitative case studies were conducted to assess the impact of rubber farming on their household level in 2020. Rubber smallholders were selected for the focus group discussions, using stratified random sampling technique and each discussion was comprised of twelve rubber smallholders. Data was collected using interview criteria which was developed and evaluated prior to its use with the expert team. The rubber smallholders were asked a series of semi-structured questions according to the interview guide by the researcher until theoretical saturation is obtained. Then a set of codes and categories were developed according to the grounded theory approach. Qualitative case studies were carried out with six rubber smallholders who were randomly selected from different land categories. A structured direct interview schedule was used in gathering data from rubber smallholders according to eleven criteria which were developed in collaboration with the expert team. It was highlighted that continuous household income from rubber farming has contributed to meet the expenses of education of children, medicine, food, purchasing agricultural and non-agricultural vehicles and renovation of living house with sustainable household income and regional development in Moneragala. In addition, it has generated new employment opportunities and new source of income for other labourers. Hence, expansion of rubber farming into non-traditional rubber growing areas in the country can be recommended in order to improve the socio-economic status of smallholders.     DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v08i02.0

Surface Geometric and Electronic Structure of BaFe2As2(001)

BaFe2As2 exhibits properties characteristic of the parent compounds of the newly discovered iron (Fe)-based high-TC superconductors. By combining the real space imaging of scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/S) with momentum space quantitative Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) we have identified the surface plane of cleaved BaFe2As2 crystals as the As terminated Fe-As layer - the plane where superconductivity occurs. LEED and STM/S data on the BaFe2As2(001) surface indicate an ordered arsenic (As) - terminated metallic surface without reconstruction or lattice distortion. It is surprising that the STM images the different Fe-As orbitals associated with the orthorhombic structure, not the As atoms in the surface plane.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Under the Cover of Silence: The Burden of Marital Rape among Immigrant, Muslim, South Asian Survivors of Domestic Violence

This chapter looked at the experiences of marital rape among immigrant South Asian Muslims domestic violence survivors who are living in Texas, USA. Based on qualitative interviews with 20 participants, this chapter discusses the hidden nature of marital sexual abuse. Specific themes include: abuse took place in a larger context of domestic violence; duality in sexual behavior allowed for husband and wife; submission through threat and intimidation; it is not rape but, I feel the same as a rape victim; shame of talking about something so private; and divorce and vulnerability from sexual advances by outside men. Implications to advocates and human service workers, especially those living in Western countries and work with Muslim communities are discussed, as well as how to effectively assist these diverse communities in a culturally sensitive manner, being mindful of their religious background

Greenhouse gas mitigation and offset options for beef cattle production under contrasting pasture management systems in Brazil.

This study estimates the GHG balance (emissions and sinks) related to the beef cattle production in three contrasting production scenarios on Brachiaria pasture in Brazil: 1) Degraded pasture (DP), 2) Managed pasture (MP), and 3) Crop?livestock?forest integration system (CLFIS)

IMPACT OF MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES ON STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCES: EVIDENCE FROM SRI LANKA

After eradicating 30 years of war, Sri Lanka has been rising like a phoenix bird rises from the ashes of its predecessor. With the golden opportunity to experience an impressive development within almost all the sectors inside the country, Colombo stock exchange (CSE) was labeled as the world’s best performing stock exchange according to Bloomberg in 2010. Unfortunately, it did not last longer. According to an analysis of Bespoke investment group in 2012, Colombo stock exchange became the second worst performing stock exchange ahead of Dhaka exchange in Bangladesh.The aim of this paper is to measure the impact of macroeconomic variables on the all share price index (ASPI) of CSE in Sri Lanka. Monthly data collected from publication of Central Bank of Sri Lanka from 2006 to 2016 were employed. In the model specification, two dummy variables were included to test the impact from civil war prevailed in the country and global financial crisis on share prices and the parameters were estimated using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method. The results indicate that macroeconomic variables have an overall impact towards ASPI of Sri Lanka. Interest rate, industrial production index and civil war affected negatively on ASPI while US Dollar exchange rate and real GDP growth rate reacted positively on the all share price index. Importantly, global financial crisis positively affected the all share price index in Sri Lanka, which is contradictory to the experiences of developed countries. Study concluded that even though there is an uncertainty prevailing within external world, there is a tendency of attracting foreign investment towards capital market when a country is having a positive condition like Sri Lanka ending thirty years of war. Further, it reveals that inflation rate and money supply growth rate does not have a significant impact on the share price index of Sri Lanka. These findings can be significantly incorporated in government policy making which will be aimed at creating a strong capital market, investment decisions of local and foreign investor, stock market regulating authorities and financial analysts who develop forecasting models with reference to share price indexes.Keywords: Macroeconomic Impact, Colombo Stock Exchange, All share price index, Ordinary Least Square Method, Sri Lank