Impact of the Surface Properties of Medical Implants on Host Response

The aim of this literature review is to analyze various implant properties and their association with host response and biocompatibility. Based on the electronic search of journals, books published in pubmed, google scholar and Elsevier, necessary data was collected and analyzed. The various properties of biomaterial and their modifications to make them acceptable by the body has been discussed. Various materials with different surface characteristics, design and modification techniques are analyzed. The overall study revealed, implant material need to have different properties based on the site of implant and intended use. Mostly metals with smooth surface showed good biocompatibility in dental and bone implants while ceramics and polymers which are highly porous had better results in vascular and implant site with more soft tissues.

School Library Management: A Literature Review

This article aims to find out how school libraries is managed based on the literature review from previous research from several countries around the world. This article uses search and review methods, where the review process began with a search engine, Google scholar and IEEE, to search the articles with keywords. The authors found the scope of the reviewed articles was still very limited so it needs to be followed up related to school turnover management research. Result of the review show that libraries can run optimally if they apply good management. The research about this topic is limited and this article is a literature review; so further research needs to be done related to school library management in general and to include other data collection methods including interview and questionnaire. The theoretical benefit of this article is to add knowledge about educational library management and the practical benefit is as an information for further research.

Dynamics of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate vs. C – reactive protein: Peas in a Pod or Chalk and Cheese?

Acute phase reactants have a supplementary role in the management of hospitalized patients with fever. While not perfect tools, they have some role in formulating a diagnostic and therapeutic plan and may improve antimicrobial stewardship. The Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), while not specific enough to establish a diagnosis, can be helpful in guiding the intensity and duration of anti-infective therapy. However, they have different dynamics during inflammations and infections.

Evaluation of the Use of Artificial Neural Networks to Predict the Photovoltaic Power Generation Factors by Using Feed Forward Back Propagation (FFBP) Technique

The solar power generation (renewable energy) is the cleanest form of energy generation method and the solar power plant has a very long life and also is maintenance-free, but due to the high unpredictability of the generated solar power due to dynamically changing environmental factors it cannot be used as the reliable source of power. This prevents the maximum utilization of solar energy. In this project we are designing the artificial neural network model to predict the power generated depending on the various environmental factors like visibility, cloud cover (sky cover), etc. the intensity of the incident of the solar radiation decreases and thus the plant is not able to work at its rated capacity. We use Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with Feed Forward Back Propagation (FFBP) technique and predicted the percentage of the maximum plant capacity which will be generated by considering the environmental factors like temperature, pressure, distance to solar noon, day light, sky cover, visibility, humidity, wind speed, wind direction and compared our results with available data and find quite encouraging results.

The Effect of Retaliation, Legal Protection, and Financial Incentive on Whistle-Blowing Intention with Organizational Commitment as Moderating Variable

The study aims to empirically examine the variables relationship and the effect of retaliation, legal protection, financial incentives, on whistle-blowing intention with organizational commitment as moderating variable. Questionnaires were distributed to collect data from the employees of banks classified in Book IV, namely PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk., PT Bank Mandiri Tbk., PT Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk., PT Bank Central Asia Tbk., PT Bank CIMB Niaga Tbk., and PT Bank Panin Tbk. They occupied various position levels and the number of respondents reached 190 persons. Subsequently. The questionnaires were then analyzed using SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) and processed using the software SmartPLS Version 3.2.9. Based on the analysis results, it shows that retaliation variable has a negative effect on whistle-blowing intention, while legal protection, financial incentives, and organizational commitment have a positive effect on whistle-blowing intention. Organizational commitment can have a positive effect on legal protection and financial incentives on whistle-blowing intentions, while organizational commitment is unable to show a negative effect on whistle-blowing intention.

Commercial and Green Corrosion Inhibitors for Reinforced Concrete Structures: A Review

Civil construction projects have always met with corrosion issues affecting reinforcements, both in circumstances where the relevant standards were not observed during concrete design and preparation and in structures close to bridges, coasts, ports, quays and so on, where exposure to an aggressive environment can lead to damage such as rust spots, cracking and delamination of the concrete cover, which constitutes a hazard for the end-user. Inhibitors are frequently simple to apply and extensively utilised to reduce the corrosion rate of many steel structures in the aggressive environments without causing any significant disruption to the process. The article reviews information related to the mechanism of corrosion prevention methods to increase the service life of structures in coastal areas. This is included commercial inhibitors (inorganic and organic), sealers and barriers, eco-friendly inhibitor, and green inhibitor combined with nanoparticles. An analysis of the published literature demonstrates a general agreement that one of the most significant problems affecting reinforced concrete structures is corrosion of the steel reinforcements.

Democracy in Lebanon – Challenges and Prospects

Democracy refers to the rule of the people. It is a system of representational government wherein people have the right to determine their social, economic and political course. Over the past centuries and decades, as the world has been embracing democracy, as a political ideal, some parts of the globe lag behind. Middle East, with its unique history and geographic importance being one among them; remains the center of discussion. Within the Middle East itself, Lebanon enjoys a very special position; not only for geo-political and economic reasons, but more so for its peculiar demographics. Divided among 18 recognized confessions, Lebanon offers a rich blend of fracture and unity. It is this mix of a small yet diverse society, limping its way towards an inclusive and successful polity that has been put to light in this paper. With its internal nuances and external flavors; Lebanon offers a test for the metal of democracy. The challenges it has and is still facing, and the prospects it enjoys for the future have been delved in this essay.

Recent Trends in Sustainable Textiles and Apparel Production

Human life is sustainable with food, cloth, and shelter as a basic need. The global textile industry is bound to be huge, as it fulfills the second basic requirement of human. In recent years ecological issues have become more important in the textile and apparel industry, an industry known as a polluting industry despite having a natural and environmentally friendly base. Every textile item releases toxic substances that are harmful to the environment. The traditional textile industry consumes large amounts of natural resources and pollutes the environment by involving a huge amount of toxic chemical substances during the production and wet treatment processes. Sustainability has become an essential attribute of today’s textile industry. The process of transforming the textile industry into a more sustainable one is very sensitive, needs a lot of knowledge, skills, and commitment. This paper reviews the importance, recent trends, and role of governing bodies in sustainable textile production.

China’s Growing Influence in the Pacific Islands and Its Implications on Climate Change

The geostrategic value of the Pacific region has started to gain momentum for the first time since the end of World War II. The region is consisting of Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and Australasia. The center of global geostrategic fulcrum has moved to the Asia-Pacific with China’s growing strategic and economic interest in the region. Pacific Island nations that consider themselves on the front lines of climate change had hoped the U.S. and other regional powers like Australia would stay committed to the global deal to cut emissions and help populations confront the rising seas around them. But they didn’t and as a result the island nations turned towards China, as Beijing has vowed to stay in the Paris Climate Agreement. The paper has dealt with the change in power play in the region on the perspective of climate change and has focused on the future of the regional equation with China.