bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linking Entrepreneurial Skills and Opportunity Recognition with Improved Food Distribution in the Context of the CPEC: A Case of Pakistan
Authors: Sher Ali , Mazhar Saman , Abbas Azhar , Iqbal Muhammad Amjed , Li Xiangmei
Published: March 2019

Far-reaching changes in the domestic and global markets are crafting big avenues for farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs. This study examines the agriculture entrepreneurship and farmers’ performance in the context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). A survey was conducted to collect primary data from three agricultural zones adjacent to the under-construction CPEC in Pakistan. According to the results, market orientation, entrepreneurial orientation, innovation orientation, and opportunity recognition positively influence agriculture entrepreneurship thereby facilitating timely distribution of food commodities in ensuring food security. Our findings also indicate that uptake of entrepreneurship complements farmers’ marketing, operational and economic performance. These findings do imply that improving farmers’ entrepreneurial skills is the essential element for their improved performance in terms of locating potential markets and timely delivery of primary commodities, such as food items. It suggests that farmers might seek enormous economic opportunities arising from improved infrastructure, output linkages, connectivity and access to global markets through the CPEC. Based on the findings, the study provides implications for policymakers to channelize the potential endeavors for facilitating the farmers’ access to new markets and getting the foremost advantage of Belt and Road Initiative. The study also extends the existing literature on agriculture entrepreneurship-opportunity recognition and access to new markets in a befitting manner.
Factors Influence China’s Off-Site Construction Technology Innovation Diffusion
Authors: Dou Yudan , Xue Xiaolong , Zhao Zebin , Luo Xiaowei
Published: March 2019

Technology innovation is a key to Off-Site Construction (OSC), but it can achieve economic and social benefits through diffusion. Previous research mainly focused on the optimization or on-site applications of OSC technology innovation; little on its diffusion-related analysis. Diffusion performance generally leads to a faster and deeper diffusion of OSC technology innovation. To study what influence the diffusion performance of OSC technology innovation, the authors first determined the research border and proposed four hypotheses, and then conducted a questionnaire in various China’s construction companies. After investigating 119 construction companies for three months, 151 valid responses were collected and analyzed using Hierarchical Regression and bootstrap-based mediation test approaches. The results found that both market and government had significant impacts on the diffusion performance with comparable influence degree (0.282** and 0.255**), the government played a dual-mediating effect with network power simultaneously (effect value is 0.215) and the technical versatility had a significant indirect influence (>0.204**) but weak direct impact (0.094) on the diffusion performance of OSC technology innovation. The conclusions explored the influence mechanism of different factors on the diffusion of OSC technology innovation and provided practical suggestions for both construction companies and government authorities to promote the development of OSC.
Interconnections Accelerate Collapse in a Socio-Ecological Metapopulation
Authors: Dockstader Zachary , Bauch Chris T. , Anand Madhur
Published: March 2019

Over-exploitation of natural resources can have profound effects on both ecosystems and their resident human populations. Simple theoretical models of the dynamics of a population of human harvesters and the abundance of a natural resource being harvested have been studied previously, but relatively few models consider the effect of metapopulation structure (i.e., a population distributed across discrete patches). Here we analyze a socio-ecological metapopulation model based on an existing single-population model used to study persistence and collapse in human populations. Resources grow logistically on each patch. Each population harvests resources on its own patch to support population growth, but can also harvest resources from other patches when their own patch resources become scarce. We show that when populations are allowed to harvest resources from other patches, the peak population size is higher, but subsequent population collapse is significantly accelerated and across a broader parameter regime. As the number of patches in the metapopulation increases, collapse is more sudden, more severe, and occurs sooner. These effects persist under scenarios of asymmetry and inequality between patches. Our model makes simplifying assumptions in order to facilitate insight and understanding of model dynamics. However, the robustness of the model prediction suggests that more sophisticated models should be developed to ascertain the impact of metapopulation structure on socio-ecological sustainability.
Analysis and Comparison of Economic and Financial Risk Sources in SMEs of the Visegrad Group and Serbia
Authors: Oláh Judit , Kovács Sándor , Virglerova Zuzana , Lakner Zoltán , Kovacova Maria , Popp József
Published: March 2019

Risk management is one of the most important internal process, not only in large companies but also in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To identify the source of risk can be crucial in all companies. The primary objective of this study is to analyze and compare the economic and financial risk sources in SMEs of the V4 (Visegrad Group: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) and Serbia, in the context of the business environment of the countries analyzed. To achieve this goal, a questionnaire-based survey was carried out involving 2110 SMEs from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Serbia. The questionnaire included questions about the importance of risks and the concept of risk management in the company. To test the formulated hypotheses, the following statistical tools were used: contingency tables, a Z-value, and a general non-hierarchical log-linear model with three categorical variables and a continuous covariate. Finally, the differences among V4 countries and Serbia were identified. Serbia is more vulnerable to the financial risk sources studied than the V4 countries. The result of the research shows that insufficient profit is more hazardous compared to the other risk sources and all countries are more vulnerable in in this issue. The article concludes with a discussion and a comparison with previous international researches.
Event and Sustainable Culture-Led Regeneration: Lessons from the 2008 European Capital of Culture, Liverpool
Authors: Liu Yi-De
Published: March 2019

Culture-led regeneration has been widely accepted by European cities as an important component of urban renewal and sustainable development. However, the instrumental role of culture in urban regeneration has revealed several controversies. The study aims at contributing to the debate on urban cultural policy and management by answering two research questions: What are the key success factors for sustainable culture-led regeneration? How can cities strike a balance between the dilemmas of culture-led regeneration? Based on a case study of Liverpool as the 2008 European Capital of Culture, this research draws on long-term and multi-faceted data. The study period is from 2007 to 2018, with a view to tracking the long-term impact of event. Liverpool’s strategies for sustainable culture-led regeneration are investigated from three aspects: cultural funding dilemma, economic dilemma and spatial dilemma. The findings reveal that incorporating events in a city’s long-term regeneration trajectory, continued support and enhancement of local cultural processes and structures, and highlighting community involvement and development are major factors to ensure the cultural sustainability of event.
Implementing Competence Orientation: Towards Constructively Aligned Education for Sustainable Development in University-Level Teaching-And-Learning
Authors: Wilhelm Sandra , Förster Ruth , Zimmermann Anne B.
Published: March 2019

The call for integration of competences in tertiary education for sustainable development (ESD) has been heard. Helpful competence models for ESD are available but little exists about how to put them into practice. As illustrated in this article in an initial review of competence models for change agency, this is not easy because competences are fundamentally context-bound and generalized models make little sense. Faculty staff who wish to foster competences for SD therefore need help with contextualising and operationalising competences. They often lack the pedagogic-didactic understanding needed to implement competence orientation in their teaching, in an institutional context where knowledge transmission is traditionally rated higher than competence development. Using a reflective practitioner approach, this paper addresses the need for methodological guidance by introducing a heuristic procedure and a didactic planning tool from adult education that enable lecturers to establish coherent ESD teaching-and-learning environments and curricula: the tree of science model and constructive alignment. Two case studies show how these instruments can be used to increase coherence when operationalising competences for SD. The article concludes by outlining three factors that foster integration of competence orientation in ESD: pedagogic-didactic tools, professional development for ESD, and institutional change.
Application-Level Packet Loss Rate Measurement Based on Improved L-Rex Model
Authors: Lan Haoliang , Ding Wei , Deng Lu
Published: March 2019

The current network information asymmetry is infringing the interests of end users in non-neutral network environment. To empower users, application-level performance measurements are usually used to rebalance the information asymmetry currently disfavoring users. Application-level packet loss rate, as an important key performance indicator (KPI), receives extensive attention in academia. However, every coin has its two sides. Although the application-level packet loss estimation is simple and nonintrusive, since the information available from the application layer is relatively scarce compared to the lower layers, the estimation accuracy has no guarantee. In view of this, taking the L-Rex model as the cut-in spot, this paper focuses on leveraging the self-clocking mechanism of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) to improve the accuracy of application-level loss estimation. Meanwhile, owing to the dynamically estimated parameters and the weakened packet reordering impact, the robustness of estimation is also expected to be improved accordingly. Finally, a series of comparative experiments at the practically relevant parameter space show that the enhanced approach and strategy detailed in this paper are effective.
Clinical and Epidemiological Patterns of Scrub Typhus, an Emerging Disease in Bhutan
Authors: Dorji Kezang , Phuentshok Yoenten , Zangpo Tandin , Dorjee Sithar , Dorjee Chencho , Jolly Peter , Morris Roger , Marquetoux Nelly , McKenzie Joanna
Published: March 2019

Scrub typhus (ST) is a vector-borne rickettsial infection causing acute febrile illness. The re-emergence of ST in the Asia-Pacific region represents a serious public health threat. ST was first detected in Bhutan in 2008. However, the disease is likely to be under-diagnosed and under-reported, and the true impact is difficult to estimate. At the end of 2014, the SD Bioline Tsutsugamushi TestTM rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits became available in all hospitals to assist clinicians in diagnosing ST. We conducted a retrospective descriptive study, reviewing records from all hospitals of Bhutan to identify all RDT-positive clinical cases of ST in Bhutan in 2015. The aim was to evaluate the burden of ST in Bhutan, describe the demographic, spatial and temporal patterns of disease, and identify the typical clinical presentations. The annual incidence of RDT-positive cases of ST reporting to Bhutanese hospitals in 2015 was estimated to be 62 per 100,000 population at risk. The incidence of disease was highest in the southern districts with a subtropical climate and a high level of agricultural production. The highest proportion of cases (87%) was rural residents, with farmers being the main occupational category. The disease was strongly seasonal, with 97% of cases occurring between June and November, coinciding with the monsoon and agricultural production seasons. Common ST symptoms were not specific, and an eschar was noted by clinicians in only 7.4% of cases, which is likely to contribute to an under-diagnosis of ST. ST represents an important and neglected burden, especially in rural communities in Bhutan. The outcomes of this study will inform public health measures such as timely-awareness programmes for clinicians and the public in high-risk areas, to improve the diagnosis, treatment and clinical outcomes of this disease.
Modeling, Monitoring, and Validating Green Roof and Green Facade Solutions with Semantic City Models Using Low Cost Sensors and Open Software Infrastructures
Authors: Vo Trang Thuy , Nichersu Alexandru , Wendel Jochen
Published: March 2019

The usage of greenery systems as nature-based solutions to assist in urban cooling in summer time as well as urban warming in wintertime is considered a scientific validated approach in urban planning. The objective of this research is the investigation and quantification of the role of green roofs and green facade solutions concerning thermal behavior in buildings energy savings by using standardized semantic city models that allow the quantification of such measures on district and city scales. The implemented model uses standardized geospatial data based on the CityGML format, a semantic city model standard, for analysis and data storage. For storage of the thermal properties of the buildings, the behavior of its occupants as well as the sensor measurements the Energy ADE of the CityGML standard was used. A green roof/façades model was implemented to simulate the heat transfer in a building based on the heat balance principle of foliage, soil, and structural layers. This model allows analyzing the thermal influence of plant and substrate layers on the heat gains from incoming solar radiation into buildings and the heat losses. This implementation was validated for cooling solutions using monitoring data from real-time experiments during summer measurements at three locations in Germany. Results from this experiment correspond well with the findings of other relevant studies. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to test the impacts of climate, substrate and plants on the greenery layer performance.
CARDIORESPIRATORY SYSTEM UNDER BICYCLE ERGOMETER TEST IN SKIERS WITH DIFFERENT TRAINING STATUS (KOMI REPUBLIC)
Authors: Solonin Yu.G. , Loginova T.P. , Garnov I.O. , Markov A.L. , Chernykh A.A. , Boyko E.R.
Published: March 2019

The aim of the study is to examine the impact of training status on ski racers (Komi Republic) at rest and under bicycle ergometry evaluating their cardiorespiratory system parameters. Materials and Methods. The authors examined male ski racers with different training status: 22 first-rank sportsmen, 22 candidates for Master of Sports and 22 Masters of Sports. Athletes underwent bicycle ergometry loads up to refusal. Oxycon Pro system (Germany) was used. Then authors studied the complex of cardiorespiratory parameters, calculating maximum oxygen consumption and unit physiological cost. Results. At rest and under standard physical load (200 W) Masters of Sports demonstrate significantly increased training status among ski racers in such cardiorespiratory system parameters as heart rate, rate pressure product and oxygen pulse. Under standard physical load (200 W) statistically significant differences between first-rank sportsmen and candidates for Master of Sports are detected by heart rate, rate pressure product, respiration rate, respiratory minute volume and oxygen utilization coefficient. Such deviations indicate differences in training status. Under maximum load, the highest training status is found in Masters of Sports: bicycle ergometry load power and duration; unit pulse, pressor and cardiac cost, bulk and unit values of maximum oxygen consumption. Heart rate values, unit pulse and heart-vent cost indicate a high training status in candidates for Master of Sports under load up to refusal, if compared with first-rank sportsmen. Athletes’ organism under load up to refusal works more efficiently than under moderate load (200 W). The training status in ski racers (Komi Republic) is manifested in the saving cardiorespiratory system functions, both at rest and under standard bicycle ergometry, as well as in parameters of unit physiological cost under loads up to refusal and increased values of maximum oxygen consumption. Keywords: ski racers, Komi Republic, training status, bicycle ergometry loads, cardiorespiratory system, maximum oxygen consumption.
Journal «Voprosy Statistiki»: Continuity of Tradition and Current Context
Authors: Eremkina Oxana V.
Published: March 2019

This article addresses the evolution of editorial policy and content creation process for the journal «Voprosy statistiki» - the leading periodical statistical publication in Russia. The paper covers questions of continuity of tradition and the need to revise editorial policy of scientific periodical publications. The author describes journal issues as for their compliance with Russian and international scientometric databases. The article considers key objectives included in the development program for the journal, in particular, the quality of materials on statistics, the international visibility of the journal and providing stable distribution channels. The paper also focuses on the role of statistical community in maintaining high scientific quality of publications and proactive position of the journal on covering and studying questions of statistical science and practice, on informing on the progress of plans and tasks for the further development of the official national statistics.
Les ultraphosphates de terres rares et d'yttrium du type TP5O14
Authors: Bagieu-Beucher Muriel , Tranqui Duc
Published: March 2019

Chemical preparation and crystal data for TP₅O₁₄ ultraphosphates are given for T = La, Pr, Nd, Gd, Sm, Eu, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb and Y. These compounds crystallise with three different structure types.
Étude expérimentale de la formation des solutions métallifères sous hautes pressions et températures élevées
Authors: Feodotiev K. M.
Published: March 2019

Action de solutions de chlorure de sodium à des températures voisines de 700° C sous des pressions pouvant atteindre 1 350 bars sur un verre alumino-silicique contenant du molybdène. Le verre cristallise en albite tandis que le molybdène passe en solution.
Zum Status von Wortbildungsregularitaten
Authors: Motsch Wolfgang
Published: March 2019

Two hypotheses are discussed in this paper. One stating two functions of word formations, syntactic recategorisation and naming of concepts to enrich the vocabulary. Recategorisation is accomplished mainly by word formation patterns being directly related to semantically equivalent syntactic constructions. In this case a description of complex words by transformations is appropriate. In the special case of quasi suffixes like -fähig, -wert, -voll, -frei, -gerecht the genesis of the respective patterns tells its own tale. (cf. Die Pflanze ist f ä h i g , zu überwintern, die Pflanze ist überwinterungs f ä h i g ; 'the plant is able to pass the winter'.) The transformational description, however, is faced with problems arising with lexicalized word formations of the respective typs.

The naming function serves to enrich the vocabulary. It is accomplished by word formation patterns related with syntactic constructions as well as by patterns which cannot be paraphrased by syntactic expressions in a systematic way.

With respect to the latter restrictions are typical.

The semantic specification of the base of a derivative as well as the semantic description of the affix cannot be given by homogeneous classes, but only by similarity relations. In these cases a lexicalistic description is appropriate.

The second hypothesis claims that strict (scharf) and fuzzy (unscharf) rules can be distinguished within the domain of word formation. Rules are strict rules, if the structural description of the constructions to which the rule applies and of the rule effect can be accomplished by strict grammatical classes. Fuzzy rules can only be formulated by similarities and better-than-relations. Transformations as well as redundancy rules operating in the lexicon can be strict or fuzzy. A decision in favour of the transformationalist or of the lexicalist position does not depend directly on the distinction between strict and fuzzy rules. However it seems appropriate, for empirical reasons, to describe fuzzy word formation rules as lexical rules. A proposal for the description of fuzzy word formation rules is characterized including the following main ideas : The description must specify the exterior borderline of possible new words conforming to a pattern. Beyond this borderline new words are highly unlikely. Within the set marked off subsets can be distinguished by means of conditions of acceptability stating under which conditions a new word is more acceptable than other words of the whole set. The scale of acceptability can be interpreted in terms of probability of new words. Thus productivity of a fuzzy word formation rule is related to acceptability in a systematic way. Finally, the distinction between 'rule' and 'analogy' in psychology is compared with the distinction between strict and fuzzy word formation rules.
Wittgenstein : un refus de la métalangue
Authors: Vodoz Isabelle
Published: March 2019

En suivant de près le développement du raisonnement dans le Tractatus d'une part, en opérant, d'autre part, un certain nombre de prélèvements dans les Investigations, l'article examine quelle a été la position de Wittgenstein par rapport au problème de la métalangue à ces deux époques de sa vie et en conclut que, malgré des divergences au niveau de la méthode, il a persisté dans son refus de la métalangue.
La nature de la forme sémantique d'une langue naturelle
Authors: Bierwisch Manfred
Published: March 2019

Knowledge of a language L provides a representational system that relates auditory patterns to conceptual structures of some sort in terms of which experience is organized. This relation requires linguistically determined structures to interact with conceptual structures in highly specific ways. The present paper argues that this interaction is to be explained by positing a level of Semantic Form SF that constitutes the interface between conceptual and linguistic knowledge. The status of SF will be discussed and some of its properties will be illustrated by means of problems arising from the interpretation of dimensional adjectives.
Traitement en temps réel et modèle interactif de la compréhension orale A propos de travaux expérimentaux de Marslen-Wilson et Tyler
Authors: Coste Daniel
Published: March 2019

With regard to the perception-comprehension of oral utterances, the psycholinguistic model of on-line interactive processing developed by Marslen-Wilson and Tyler (1980) is characterised. One underlines the main differences with the alternative, so called serial models, especially as concerns the claim for an autonomous stage of processing and level of representation for syntax.
Propositions nouvelles pour le traitement des ellipses
Authors: Poitou Jacques
Published: March 2019

Après une synthèse des différentes difficultés que soulève la perspective traditionnelle, réductionniste, du traitement de l'ellipse sur les plans sémantique, syntaxique, discursif et psycholinguistique, on examine plus précisément les propositions avancées par W. Kindt pour représenter certains types d'ellipses dans le cadre de structures connectées.
GPSG : un formalisme pour une syntaxe sans transformation ni coindexation
Authors: Thümmel Wolf
Published: March 2019

The main aspects of Generalized Phrase Structure Grammar developped by Gazdar and others in the last few years is presented here as an elaboration and combination of (i) ideas underlying the contruction of categorial grammars and (ii) the system of signatures and types found within the theory of the Articulator proposed by Blanche-Noëlle Grunig. In the present paper, there are some minor discrepancies from GPSG-literature : (i) the property of being a head is taken to be a feature, (ii) the mechanism of metarules is not treated, (iii) there are no universal assumptions concerning linear precedence (i.e., the so called ECPO-property is neglected).
L'émergence du concept dans la "Psychologie des Peuples" de Wilhelm Wundt
Authors: Desmottes Nicole
Published: March 2019

W. Wundt s'efforce d'expliquer vers 1900 le développement des sociétés humaines grâce à la psychologie des peuples. Nous présentons ici son analyse de l'évolution du sens des mots, dont il déduit les lois

d'apparition des concepts. Son originalité est de donner de ces phénomènes une explication psychologique et de baser sur les processus psychologiques de l'aperception et de l'association sa théorie du concept et du sens.
Qu'apportent les modèles cognitifs à la sémantique du discours ? Sur l'exemple de la lecture d'une dépêche de presse
Authors: Nef Frédéric , François Jacques
Published: March 2019

Ce travail constitue un exercice d'analyse sémantique des relations temporelles entre les événements relatés dans une dépêche de presse à l'aide de modèles cognitifs récemment proposés pour rendre compte de la constitution progressive d'un univers de savoir à la lecture d'un texte de type informatif. Dans la 1° partie on a spécifié la place qui revient dans la constitution de cet univers de savoir au traitement de données vériconditionnelles, stéréotypiques et textuelles. Dans la 2° partie la dépêche est soumise à une analyse sémantique cursive qui vise à référencer progressivement toutes les descriptions d'individu et d'événement et à гесоnnаîtге les relations temporelles entre les événements décrits. L'étude est complétée par un Appendice syntaxique.
Quelques problèmes méthodologiques de l'analyse conversationnelle
Authors: Techtmeier Bärbel
Published: March 2019

Cet article est une discussion de problèmes méthodologiques de l'analyse conversationnelle (ou du discours au sens plus élargi). Quels sont les objectifs fondamentaux d'une analyse linguistique de ces phénomènes ? Deux propositions sont faites : l'analyse des structures conversationnelles sur plusieurs plans et la description systématique des normes ou maximes conversationnelles.
Après Saussure
Authors: Gadet Françoise
Published: March 2019

This paper deals with an evaluation of de Saussure's heritage, in three directions : 1) linguistic schools ; 2) what saussurean concepts became ; 3) the borrowings of terms and problematics by human sciences.

We try to show that pretending structuralism to be de Saussure's heritage is partly a fantasm.
Les doubles miroirs du signe linguistique
Authors: Thümmel Wolf
Published: March 2019

Cet article est une tentative de reconstruction du concept hjelmslévien de solidarité entre la forme du contenu et la forme de l'expression du signe. Il discute ensuite quelques conséquences possibles de l'hypothèse largement répandue qu'il y a des signes à l'intérieur d'un signe complexe comme un "texte" (au sens de Hjelmslev). Ces conséquences possibles sont confrontées à un axiome de la théorie de l'Articulateur de Blanche-Noëlle Crunig.

Mots-clés : Signe linguistique ; Solidarité ; Glossématique hjelmslévienne ; Théorie de l'Articulateur.
Unresolved Binaries and Galactic Clusters’ Mass Estimates
Authors: Borodina Olga I. , Seleznev Anton F. , Carraro Giovanni , Danilov Vladimir M.
Published: March 2019

Binary stars are present in all stellar systems, yet their role is far from being fully understood. We investigate the effect of unresolved binaries in the derivation of open clusters’ mass by star counts. We start from the luminosity functions of five open clusters: IC 2714, NGC 1912, NGC 2099, NGC 6834, and NGC 7142. Luminosity functions are obtained via star counts extracted from the 2MASS database. The fraction of binaries is considered to be independent of stellar magnitude. We take into account different assumptions for the binary mass ratio distribution and assign binary masses using the so-called luminosity-limited pairing method and Monte-Carlo simulations. We show that cluster masses increase when binary stars are appropriately taken into account.
Constraints of General Screened Modified Gravities from Comprehensive Analysis of Binary Pulsars
Authors: Zhang Xing , Zhao Wen , Liu Tan , Lin Kai , Zhang Chao , Zhao Xiang , Zhang Shaojun , Zhu Tao , Wang Anzhong
Published: March 2019

Testing gravity using binary pulsars has become a key contemporary focus. Screened modified gravity is a kind of scalar-tensor theory with a screening mechanism in order to satisfy the tight solar system tests. In this paper, we investigate how the screening mechanism affects the orbital dynamics of binary pulsars, and calculate in detail the five post-Keplerian (PK) parameters in this theory. These parameters differ from those of general relativity (GR), and the differences are quantified by the scalar charges, which lead to the dipole radiation in this theory. We combine the observables of PK parameters for the 10 binary pulsars, respectively, to place the constraints on the scalar charges and possible deviations from GR. The dipole radiation in the neutron star (NS)–white dwarf (WD) binaries leads to more stringent constraints on deviations from GR. The most constraining systems for the scalar charges of NSs and WDs are PSR B1913+16 and PSR J1738+0333, respectively. The results of all tests exclude significant strong-field deviations and show good agreement with GR.
In-vitro activity of tigecycline and comparator agents against common pathogens: Indian experience
Authors: Veeraraghavan Balaji , Poojary Aruna , Shankar Chaitra , Bari Anurag Kumar , Kukreja Seema , Thukkaram Bhuvaneswari , Neethimohan Ramya Gajaraj , Bakhtavachalam Yamuna Devi , Kamat Shweta
Published: March 2019

Introduction: Tigecycline Evaluation and Surveillance Trail (TEST) study is an on-going global surveillance. The study was performed to determine the susceptibility of common pathogens to tigecycline and comparator antibiotics by broth microdilution (BMD) at two tertiary care centres in India from 2015 to 2017.

Methodology: Total of 989 isolates collected from various clinical specimens between January 2015 and September 2017 from two centres in India were included. BMD was performed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for tigecycline and comparator antibiotics.

Results: Among Gram-negative bacteria, susceptibility to tigecycline was lowest among Klebsiella spp. being 84% while others such as E. coli, Enterobacter spp., Serratia spp. and H. influenzae showed susceptibility of 98%, 95%, 98% and 100% respectively. Overall, 99 isolates among Enterobacteriaceae (E. coli, Klebsiella spp. and Enterobacter spp.) were ESBL producers, susceptible to tigecycline. Among the 101 meropenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae, 85 were susceptible to tigecycline (84%). Among the Gram-positive bacteria, S. aureus and Enterococcus spp. were 99% and 98% susceptible to tigecycline respectively. Among 68 MRSA isolates in the study, 66 (97%) were susceptible to tigecycline. Seven vancomycin resistant E. faecalis were isolated and all were susceptible to tigecycline.

Conclusion: Tigecycline has retained activity over both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms with MIC values comparable to global reports. About 98% of the MDR Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in the study are susceptible to tigecycline. With increased incidence of extensively drug resistant organisms, tigecycline is a potential reserve drug.
Presence of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance among Escherichia coli strains isolated from human pit sludge
Authors: Mahmud Zahid Hayat , Shirazi Farozaan Fatima , Hossainey Muhammad Riadul Haque , Islam Mohammad Imtiazul , Ahmed Mir Alvee , Nafiz Tanvir Noor , Imran Khan Mohammad , Sultana Jinath , Islam Md Shafiqul , Islam Mohammad Aminul , Islam Md Sirajul
Published: March 2019

Introduction: In Bangladesh, human sludge from dry pit latrines is commonly applied directly to agricultural lands as manure. This study was conducted to investigate the presence of antibiotic resistance, virulence factors and plasmid contents of E. coli strains isolated from sludge samples.

Methodology: E. coli were isolated from human feces from closed pit latrines and identified by culture method. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the isolates were determined by Standard Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Pathogenic genes and antibiotic resistance genes of ESBL producing isolates were determined by PCR assay.

Results: Of the 34 samples tested, 76.5% contained E. coli. Of 72 E. coli isolates, 76.4% were resistant to at least one of the 12 antibiotics tested and 47.2% isolates were resistant to three or four classes of antibiotics. Around 18% isolates were extended spectrum β- lactamase producing and of them 6 were positive for blaTEM specific gene, 4 for blaCTX-M gene, 1 for blaOXA gene and 2 for both blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes. Moreover, among 72 isolates, 4.2% carried virulence genes of enterotoxigenic E. coli; two isolates were positive for st and one was positive for both st and lt genes. In addition, 59.7% of the isolates contained plasmids (range 1.4 to 140 MDa) of which 19.5% isolates contained a single plasmid and 40.2% contained multiple plasmids.

Conclusions: The presence of pathogenic, drug resistant E. coli in human sludge necessitates a regular surveillance before using as a biofertilizer.
Pitfalls in diagnosis and management of suspected urinary tract infection in an urban tropical primary care setting
Authors: Jackson Alison A , Lai Pauline Siew Mei , Alias Aqtab Mazhar , Atiya Nadia , Ramdzan Siti Nurkamilla , Abdul Malik Tun Firzara , Mohd Mydin Fadzilah Hanum , Abd Hadi Haireen , Othman Sajaratulnisah
Published: March 2019

Introduction: Diagnosis and management of urinary tract infection (UTI) are complex, and do not always follow guidelines. The aim of this study was to determine adherence to the 2014 Malaysian Ministry of Health guidelines for managing suspected UTI in a Malaysian primary care setting.

Methodology: We retrospectively reviewed computerized medical records of adults with suspected UTI between July-December 2016. Excluded were consultations misclassified by the search engine, duplicated records of the same patient, consultations for follow-up of suspected UTI, patients who were pregnant, catheterised, or who had a renal transplant. Records were reviewed by two primary care physicians and a clinical microbiologist.

Results: From 852 records, 366 consultations were a fresh episode of possible UTI. Most subjects were female (78.2%) with median age of 61.5 years. The major co-morbidities were hypertension (37.1%), prostatic enlargement in males (35.5%) and impaired renal function (31.1%). Symptoms were reported in 349 (95.4%) consultations. Antibiotics were prescribed in 307 (83.9%) consultations, which was appropriate in 227/307 (73.9%), where the subject had at least one symptom, and leucocytes were raised in urine full examination and microscopic examination (UFEME). In 73 (23.8%) consultations antibiotics were prescribed inappropriately, as the subjects were asymptomatic (14,4.6%), urine was clear (17,5.5%), or UFEME did not show raised leucocytes (42,13.7%). In 7 (2.3%) consultations appropriateness of antibiotics could not be determined as UFEME was not available.

Conclusion: Several pitfalls contributed to suboptimal adherence to guidelines for diagnosis and management of suspected UTI. This illustrates the complexity of managing suspected UTI in older subjects with multiple co-morbidities.
Microbiological safety and hygienic quality of camel meat at abattoir and retail houses in Jigjiga city, Ethiopia
Authors: Tegegne Henok Ayalew , Berhanu Amare , Getachew Yitbarek , Serda Biresaw , Nölkes Dagmar , Tilahun Sissay , Sibhat Berhanu
Published: March 2019

Introduction: Camel meat is a relatively new, emerging meat type that may serve as sources of foodborne pathogens to the consumer.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the microbiological safety and quality of camel meat from an abattoir and retail houses in Jigjiga city, Ethiopia. A total of 140 camel carcass and retail meat samples (70 each) were examined for the presence and load of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157: H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter spp., aerobic bacteria, fecal coliforms (FCs), and yeast and molds (Y&Ms). Presumptive isolates were confirmed using biochemical tests.

Results: S. aureus and E. coli O157: H7 populations varied widely between carcasses at the abattoir and retail meat samples. S. aureus and E. coli O157:H7 were detected in 12.1 and 4.3% of the samples, respectively. E. coli O157:H7 counts were significantly higher in retail meat (4.21 ± 0.02) compared to the carcasses (3.99 ± 0.00) at the abattoir (P < 0.05). Out of 140 samples analyzed, 5% were positive for Campylobacter spp. The mean fecal coliforms, and yeast and molds counts were significantly higher in retail meat samples (6.17 ± 0.067 and 4.95 ± 0.067 log10 cfug-1, respectively). L. monocytogenes (11 cfug-1) were detected below the permissible limit (100 cfug-1).

Conclusions: This study indicated that the further the process progress, the greater the risk of contamination to the product. Therefore, good hygienic practices at the abattoir and retail houses and strict slaughtering process should be prompted to enhance the overall safety and quality of camel meat.
The Importance and Extent of Providing Compassionate Nursing Care from The Viewpoint of Patients Hospitalized in Educational Hospitals in Kermanshah - Iran 2017
Authors: Dalvandi Asghar , Vaisi-Raygani Aliakbar , Nourozi Kian , Ebadi Abbas , Rahgozar Mahdi
Published: March 2019

AIM: This study is an attempt to determine the importance and extent of providing compassionate nursing care from the hospitalised patients’ viewpoint in educational hospitals in Kermanshah-Iran 2017
METHODS: The study was carried out as a descriptive, analytical work in the hospitals affiliated to Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences on 300 patients in 2017. The patients were selected through convenient sampling, and Burnell Compassionate Care Scale was filled by the participants. The collected data was analysed in SPSS (v.20) using descriptive and inferential statistics.
RESULTS: The results showed that the mean and standard deviation score of importance and extent of compassionate care were 3.27 ± 0.526 and 2.80 ± 0.647 respectively. There was a significant difference between these two scores (p < 0.001). About all the factors in compassionate nursing care, there was a significant difference between the importance and extent of compassionate nursing care. The mean score of the importance of compassionate nursing care from female patients’ viewpoint was higher than that of men (p = 0.032). The observers with college educations perceived the extent of compassionate nursing care less than the other groups of participants (p = 0.008).
CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant difference between the importance and extent of compassionate nursing care from the patients’ point of view. This highlights negligence by the nurses of this critical aspect of care. It is recommended, therefore, to add compassionate nursing care to nursing programs and commission more research works on other groups of health care personnel.
A generalized switching function-based discontinuous space vector modulation technique for unbalanced two-phase three-leg inverters
Authors: SRIRATTANAWICHAIKUL WATCHARIN
Published: March 2019

This paper presents a discontinuous space vector modulation technique for unbalanced two-phase three-leg inverters. This technique is based on the shift-angle and generalized modulation algorithm obtained for generating the unbalanced two-phase output voltage. Furthermore, the discontinuous switching sequence intends to improve the commutations of power switching devices in each inverter leg that achieves a minimum number of switching state changes in one sampling cycle. Therefore, the switch commutations can be reduced by one-third in one main period. The step- by-step procedure of the modulation algorithm for easy implementation in a digital control platform is discussed. The performance of the developed modulation technique is verified through both simulation and experimental results in a nonunity power factor balanced two-phase load and asymmetrical two-phase induction motor drive.
An improved tree model based on ensemble feature selection for classification
Authors: MOHAN CHANDRALEKHA , NAGARAJAN SHENBAGAVADIVU
Published: March 2019

Researchers train and build specific models to classify the presence and absence of a disease and the accuracy of such classification models is continuously improved. The process of building a model and training depends on the medical data utilized. Various machine learning techniques and tools are used to handle different data with respect to disease types and their clinical conditions. Classification is the most widely used technique to classify disease and the accuracy of the classifier largely depends on the attributes. The choice of the attribute largely affects the diagnosis and performance of the classifier. Due to growing large volumes of medical data across different clinical conditions, the need for choosing relevant attributes and features still lacks method to handle datasets that target specific diseases. This study uses an ensemble-based feature selection using random trees and wrapper method to improve the classification. The proposed ensemble learning classification method derives a subset using the wrapper method, bagging, and random trees. The proposed method removes the irrelevant features and selects the optimal features for classification through probability weighting criteria. The improved algorithm has the ability to distinguish the relevant features from irrelevant features and improve the classification performance. The proposed feature selection method is evaluated using SVM, RF, and NB evaluators and the performances are compared against the FSNBb, FSSVMb, GASVMb, GANBb, and GARFb methods. The proposed method achieves mean classification accuracy of 92% and outperforms the other ensemble methods.
Evolución paleoambiental de una turbera finiholocena en el sector suroccidental del Parque Nacional de Doñana (S.O. España)
Authors: Abad M. , Muñoz A. F. , González-Regalado M. L. , Ruiz F. , Rodríguez-Vidal J. , Cáceres L. M. , Carretero M. I. , Monge G. , Pozo M. , Prudencio M. I. , Dias M. I. , Marques R. , Izquierdo T. , Tosquella J. , Romero V.
Published: March 2019

El análisis multidisciplinar de un perfil descubierto por las tormentas invernales en el litoral del Parque Nacional de Doñana ha permitido reconstruir la evolución de su sector occidental durante el Holoceno superior. Se han definido 3 fases que reflejan el paso desde una marisma de aguas salobres (FA-1) a una laguna de aguas dulces transformada en turbera (FA-2), para finalizar con el depósito de cordones dunares (FA-3).
Data Mining-based Design and Implementation of College Physical Education Performance Management and Analysis System
Authors: Fan Yimeng , Liu Yu , Chen Haosong , Ma Jianlong
Published: March 2019

The purpose of this paper was to effectively apply data mining technology to sci-entifically analyze the students' physical education (PE) performance so as to serve the physical teaching. The methodology adopted in this paper was to apply ASP.NET 3-layer architecture and design and implement college PE performance management and analysis system under the premise of fully analyzing the system requirements based on Visual Studio2008 software development platform and using SQL Server 2005 database platform. Based on data mining technology, students' PE performances were analyzed, and decision tree algorithm was used to make valuable judgments on student performance. The results indicated that applying computer technology to the management and analysis of college PE per-formance can effectively reduce the teaching and managing workload of PE teachers so that the teachers concentrate more on the quality of physical educa-tion.
A Semantic Distances-Based Approach for a Deeply Indexing of Learning Objects
Authors: El Guemmat Kamal , Ouahabi Sara
Published: March 2019

Educational search engines are important for users to find learning objects (LO). However, these engines have not reached maturity in terms of searching, they suffer from several worries like the deep extraction of notions which diminishes their performance. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new approach that allows depth extraction of LO’s notions to increase the relevance level of educational search engines.

The proposed approach focuses on semi-automatic indexing of textual LO and more precisely the deeper relations of sentences that flesh out explanations. It based on linguistic structures and semantic distances between specific and generic notions according to OntOAlgO ontology. The notions obtained will be improved by learning object metadata (LOM) and will be represented semantically in final index.

The tests performed on algorithmic LO, proving the usefulness of our approach to educational search engines. It increases the degree of precision and recall of notions extracted from LO.
The Development of Digital Book of European History to Shape the Students’ Democratic Values
Authors: Nafiáh Ulfatun , Mashuri Mashuri , Wijaya Daya Negri
Published: March 2019

This study aims to develop digital book based on sigil on the material of European history in growing the values of Pancasila democracy. This book is aimed to give an alternative of learning material by using ICT to reach the aims of learning. The book should follow the standardized test to ensure the digital book could be used in teaching and learning process at History Department, State University of Malang. This study tended to used research and development approach. We used eight Sadiman’s model of (1) identification of needs; (2) composing aims; (3) material development; (4) development of evaluation tool; (5) writing a draft; (6) validation; (7) revision; (8) production. Based on data analysis, this study found that the book could be used without any major revision. The percentage of questionnaire result from media expert was 90.48 % and from material expert was at 96.75 %. To short, the digital book has filled the requirement of book standardization. Therefore, the digital book based on sigil could be used as learning source for the module of European History.
The Synthesis of the Student Relationship Management System Using the Internet of Things to Collect the Digital Footprint for Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Songsom Nualsri , Nilsook Prachyanun , Wannapiroon Panita
Published: March 2019

The purpose of this research were to synthesize and to evaluate the element of student relationship management system using the internet of things to collect digital footprint for higher education institutions. The results of the research showed that the student relationship management system using the internet of things had five elements which were 1)identify module, 2)alert module, 3)tracking module, 4)SRM module and 5)analytic module. The evaluation result of the student relationship management system using the internet of things to collect digital footprint for higher education institutions had the overall appropriateness at very much level and the overall appropriateness of usability result at very much level.