bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential for Vegetable Production Towards Food Security in Arabian Peninsula: A Case Study of Oman
Authors: Al Salmi Mouza R. , Nadaf Saleem K. , Mbaga Msafiri D. , Janke Rhonda R. , Al-Busaidi Walid M.S.
Published: May 2020

Introduction:

In Oman, the weather is not conducive to year-round cultivation of vegetables. However, these are dual-purpose commodities because they can be grown to achieve food security goals as well as serve as cash crops that generate employment and income. Increasing vegetable production in Oman has the potential to contribute to the government’s economic diversification efforts. Technical efficiency analysis for selected crops indicated the ability to improve crops’ production with the present state of technology in-line with regional food security objectives.

Materials and Methods:

Relevant documents about cultivating vegetables in terms of area, production, price structure, and other factors were extensively researched, analyzed, and presented in tables and figures to show their present and future trends. Researchers surveyed about 118 randomly selected farms across Oman. They also evaluated Technical Efficiency (TE) using a Trans-Logarithmic function (TL) and Cobb Douglas (CD) function with SHAZAM comprehensive economics and statistics package to achieve meaningful results.

Results:

The results include retrospective analysis of area and production of different vegetables cultivated in Oman and their import and export, their price, and its potential increase in vegetable production in Oman for economic diversification in domestic consumption and export markets. They also identified trends in organic vegetable cultivation, and sales showed the potential to increase production levels and assist government efforts to increase agriculture’s contribution to the gross domestic product of Oman. Technical efficiency for tomato in selected samples indicated the ability to improve production beyond 20% with the present state of technology.

Conclusion:

Analysis of data on ordinary vegetable cultivation established that the outlook for global vegetable supply and demand is attractive. The global demand for vegetables, is increasing and will continue to do so. Moreover, growth is especially strong in demand for organic vegetables in wealthier countries such as Switzerland, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates. Technical efficiency analysis indicated a potential increase in the production of vegetables with the present state of technology.
Sportcivil társaságok – megközelítések és tények
Authors: Szabados György , Helmeczi András , Bácsné Bába Éva , Fenyves Veronika , Bács Zoltán , Dajnoki Krisztina
Published: May 2020

Magyarországon az 1989-es rendszerváltást követően kezdődött meg a civil szektor erősödése, több törvényi átmenetet követően mindenekelőtt a jelenleg is hatályos 2011. éviCLXXV.  törvény (rövid nevén civil törvény, Civiltv. vagy Ectv.) szabályozza a szektor működését, kiegészülve további törvényi háttérrel. Az új szabályozás lényeges eleme egy, az addigiaktól alapvetően eltérő szervezeti forma, az ún. civil társaság megjelenése, mely szokatlan szervezeti forma nemzetközi szinten is. A KSH 2019. év végén megjelent, a hazai nonprofitok statisztikai áttekintését lehetővé tévő adatbázis gyakorlatilag semmiféle információt nem tartalmaz az új szervezeti forma működési sajátosságaira, adataira vonatkozóan, sőt, igazából alig lehet valamit tudni róluk, mely okkal kelti fel a kutató érdeklődését a téma és a szervezeti forma iránt. A lehetséges szekunder adatokon túl egy, a közelmúltban befejezett sportcivil szervezeti kutatás primer adatbázisa ugyanakkor tartalmaz, ha alacsony elemszámban is, olyan alapvető adatokat, mely kiinduló pontot jelenthet a sporttal összefüggésbe hozható civil társaságok egyes sajátosságainak feltárására.
Fenntarthatósági célok - avagy tudjuk-e csökkenteni az alultápláltság mértékét?
Authors: Fróna Dániel
Published: May 2020

A világ egyes részein az éhezés még mindig mindennapos jelenség. A millenniumi fejlesztési célok (MDGs) egyik sarkalatos pontja az éhség felszámolására. Ezek a célok tartalmazzák a haladás ütemtervét és az éhség leküzdésére irányuló konkrét lépések dokumentálását. Manapság az éhezés egy másik típusa, amely előtérbe került, a rejtett éhség. A szélsőséges szegénység és az éhség felszámolása még továbbra is csak illúzió. Az extrém szegénységben élők és az alultápláltságban szenvedők száma az utóbbi években enyhén csökkent. Az éhség mérése nagyon komplex dolog. A globális éhínség index (Global Hunger Index) egy olyan eszköz, amelynek célja az éhínség globális, regionális és nemzeti szintű átfogó mérése és nyomon követése. Az észrevehető javulások ellenére a kérdés továbbra is az, hogy 2030-ig a világ eléri-e a fenntartható fejlődési céljait (SDG), köztük az éhezés megszüntetését? Az erőfeszítések ellenére még a gazdaságilag fejlett országokban is felüti a fejét az éhezés vagy az élelmezésbizonytalanság.
A társadalmi vállalkozások Balanced Scorecard rendszerének kialakítása a szociális szövetkezetek példáján – külső szervezetek igényeinek való megfelelés
Authors: Szemán Judit , Musinszki Zoltán , Bozsik Sándor
Published: May 2020

A szociális szövetkezetek gazdálkodási problémáinak feltárása érdekében kérdőíves kutatást végeztünk. A kutatásunk megállapította, hogy a rendelkezésre álló munkaerő minősége és a megfelelő célpiacok megtalálása jelenti a szociális szövetkezetek fő gondját. A kérdőíves felmérés alapján elkészítettük a szociális szövetkezetek Balanced Scorecard rendszerének (továbbiakban BSC) egy lehetséges modelljét. Modellünk a Bull által kidolgozott modell egy adaptációja (Bull, 2006). Jelen cikkünkben a BSC külső szervezetek igényeinek való megfelelés modulját dolgoztuk ki. Meghatároztuk a követelmények körét, a követelmények teljesítését nyomon kísérő mutatószámokat, továbbá javaslatot teszünk a mutatószámok mérésének gyakoriságára is.
A fogyatékos és a megváltozott munkaképességű személyek munkavégző képességének megítélése
Authors: Balázs-Földi Emese
Published: May 2020

A fogyatékos és megváltozott munkaképességű személyek foglalkoztatottsága mind hazánkban, mind az Európai Unióban jelentős mértékben elmarad a nem fogyatékossággal élő emberekétől. Az alacsony foglalkoztatási ráta hátterében kutatási eredmények szerint részben az érintett munkavállalói csoporttal kapcsolatos diszkriminatív attitűdök állnak. A munkaerő-piaci beilleszkedésben a munkáltatói attitűdökön kívül jelentős szerepet játszik a szervezetben dolgozó munkavállalók szemlélete, mivel ők azok, akik, mint munkatársak nap, mint nap együtt dolgoznak a fogyatékos és megváltozott munkaképességű munkavállalókkal.

Jelen tanulmány során bemutatott vizsgálati eredmények arra a kutatási kérdésre fókuszálnak, hogy a kérdőíves felmérésbe bevont 747 fő a munkavégző képesség alapján tesz-e különbséget a fogyatékos, illetve a megváltozott munkaképességű munkavállaló között? Ha igen, akkor milyen különbségek figyelhetők meg, illetve milyen tényezők gyakorolnak pozitív hatást szemléletükre? Hogyan jellemezhetők azok a munkavállalók, akik magasabb szintű befogadó attitűdöket mutatnak?
Az egészségfejlesztés emberi tőkére gyakorolt munkaerő-piaci hatásai
Authors: Gottfried Péter
Published: May 2020

Napjainkban egyre nagyobb mértékben van jelen a munkahelyi egészségfejlesztés, hazánkban és nemzetközi viszonylatban is. A kutatásomban szakirodalmi elemzés segítéségével arra kerestem a választ, hogy a munkahelyi egészségfejlesztő programok, azon belül pedig a fizikai aktivitás hogyan befolyásolja a munkavállalók keresőképességét, valamint a termelékenységet. A termelékenység esetében jelentős faktor az emberi tőke. Az emberi tőkét úgy definiálhatjuk, hogy az ember belső, személyétől elkülöníthetetlen adottságai, jellemvonásainak összessége, amelyre beruházás útján részesül és eredményeként növeli az egyén termelékenységét. A beruházás lehet egészségügyi célú költések (egészségfejlesztő programok), a kötelező oktatáson kívüli tanórák költségei és a legideálisabb munkahelyi állás megtalálásának időköltségeit is ide sorolhatjuk.

A vizsgálatom során szekunder adatgyűjtést hajtottam végre. Kutatásomban elsősorban az egészségfejlesztés és a fizikai aktivitással foglalkozó szakirodalmi forrásokat tekintettem át. A szakirodalmi források áttekintése után, a kutatás eredményeként összeségben elmondható, hogy az egészségfejlesztés és azon belül a fizikai aktivitásba történő beruházás előmozdítja az egészség javulását, valamint az életkereset és a munkatermelékenység növelését is.
Sportokkal foglalkozó civil szervezetek jellegzetességei, különös tekintettel a foglalkoztatásra
Authors: Dajnoki Krisztina , Fenyves Veronika , Bácsné Bába Éva , Kőmíves Péter Miklós , Szabados György Norbert
Published: May 2020

A cikk célja a Magyarországon és Romániában működő civil szervezetek sajátosságainak összehasonlítása, különös tekintettel a sportokkal foglalkozó civil szervezetek foglalkoztatásban betöltött szerepére. Vizsgálatunkban megállapítottuk, hogy a két ország civil szervezeti szektora számos hasonlóságot mutat, ezek között pedig azt is meg kell említeni, hogy hasonlóan jelentős a lemaradása a nyugat-európai civil szférától. A civil szervezetek foglalkoztatási jellegzetességére jellemző, hogy körükben kifejezetten nagy az önkéntes munkavállalók szerepének jelentősége, azonban a fizetett munkavállalók jelenléte is megfigyelhető.
Fogyatékos tanulók szabadidős preferencia- rendszerének elemzése egy kutatás tükrében
Authors: Laoues-Czimbalmos Nóra , Bácsné Bába Éva , Mező Katalin , Kőnigh-Görögh Dóra , Müller Anetta Éva
Published: May 2020

A fogyatékos személyek és a megváltozott munkaképességűek számának növekedésével, valamint a fogyatékossággal élő személyek célcsoportját érintő kutatások az elmúlt évtizedekben vettek lendületet. A kutatások igen sokrétűek, melyek vizsgálják a fogyatékos személyek munkaerőpiaci helyzetét, szabadidő-fogyasztási szokásaikat vagy a sportolásukat támogató és gátló faktorait.

A kérdőíves kutatásunkban a 8-18 éves fogyatékos gyerekek szabadidős és sportfogyasztási szokásait ismertetjük és elemezzük (N=639). Az adatokat spss szoftverrel dolgoztuk fel, ahol alapstatisztikát és összefüggésvizsgálatot végeztünk. Az eredmények azt igazolják, hogy a fogyatékos gyerekek szabadidőeltöltésében is a passzív tevékenységek dominálnak (TV, zenehallgatás). A sportfogyasztás (aktív és passzív) a fiú válaszadók között jelent meg dominánsabban, a lányok preferenciarendszerében kevésbé jelent meg. A sportolás motivációjában az egészségmegőrzés állapotjavítás melleltt a szórakozás, társaság is megjelent.
Influence of MTP on Surface Roughness and Geometric Accuracy of Machined Surface at WEDM
Authors: Straka Luboslav , Dittrich Gabriel
Published: May 2020

Electrical discharge machining technology is one of the most precise machining methods. Therefore, even the smallest deviation of micro and macro geometry generally has a significant impact on the overall quality of products produced by this progressive technology. The quality of the machined surface after Wire Electrical Discharge Machining (WEDM) is influenced by a large number of factors, most of which are influenced by the Main Technological Parameters (MTP). The aim of the paper was to describe the results of experimental research aimed at assessing the impact of MTP for WEDM on the quality of machined surface in terms of geometric accuracy and roughness parameters Ra and Rz. The samples were made of high alloyed ledeburitic chromium-molybdenum-vanadium steel designated EN X155CrVMo12-1 on a Sodick AQ535 electroerosion machine. The tool used was a standard compact brass wire  0.25 mm with the designation Elecut Brass CuZn37.
Effect of the Changes in Bulk Density and Granulometric Properties on the Strength Properties of the Moulding Sand Mixtures
Authors: Hudák Henrietta , Varga László
Published: May 2020

Foundry technology uses a lot of several natural materials. Sands use for preparing mixtures whereby making moulds or cores. Sand is defined as a granular, refractory major portion of mixture (90 – 98% in dependence on used binder). Sand properties depend on it has chemical and mineralogical composition; mainly particle size distribution and shape of grains and its size and sand surface texture. A comparative measurement of two quartz sand with different surface quality was carried out. Greensand mixtures were prepared to measure their permeability, compressive strength and wet tensile strength. The strength of sand mixtures has two main components. One of them is the cohesion of the binder; the other one is the adhesion between the binder and the foundry sand. The aim of this research is to determine the ratio of cohesion and adhesion within the strength values.
Experimental Study on the Effect of the Geometry of Punching Tool on Clinch Joints
Authors: Jónás Szabolcs , Kovács Péter Zoltán
Published: May 2020

In this study the effect of the punching tool’s geometry on aluminum alloy clinch joints is analyzed by experiments. Based on FE simulations the tip radius and the cone angle of the punching tool is changed, and their effect was analyzed by microscopic investigations and single lap tensile-shear tests.
Survey of the Application Fields and Modeling Methods of Automotive Vehicle Dynamics Models
Authors: Szántó András , Hajdu Sándor , Deák Krisztián
Published: May 2020

In this paper, a review is presented on automotive vehicle dynamics modeling. Applied vehicle dynamics models from various application fields are analyzed and classified in the first section. Vehicle dynamics models may be simplified because of different reasons: several control/estimation/analysis methods are suitable only for simplified models (e.g. using control-oriented models), or because of the computational cost. Detailed/truth models of vehicle dynamics represent another field of vehicle dynamics modeling, these models play an important role in the virtual prototyping of vehicles. In the second section, the main modeling considerations of vehicle dynamics are presented in longitudinal, lateral and vertical directions. Various physical effects must be considered in the case of vehicle dynamics modeling, a lot of these effects are significant only in a specific direction of the vehicle body, which is the main potential of model simplification. The section presents vehicle modeling considerations in all of the three translational directions of the vehicle body.
Vehicle Dynamic Simulation Possibilities Using AVL Cruise M
Authors: Nemes Dániel , Pálfi Tibor , Hajdu Sándor
Published: May 2020

In most cases, when creating vehicle dynamics simulations, we need software that can speed up model creation and simulation. There are many programs on the market for this purpose, but they have different knowledge and user interfaces. We present in this article briefly introduces the use of one of the market's leading vehicle simulation software, the AVL Cruise M.
Geometriai transzformációk szerepe a függvényfogalom alakításának folyamatában
Authors: Szanyi Gyöngyi , Vámosiné Varga Adrienn
Published: May 2020

A függvénytani ismeretek és a különböző geometriai transzformációk fontos szerepet töltenek be a műszaki tudományok területén. Minthogy a geometriai transzformációk is függvények, ún. geometriai függvények, ezért jelen tanulmányban egy lehetséges módját mutatjuk be annak, hogy a GeoGebra matematikai szoftverrel elkészített animációi a különböző geometriai transzformációknak hogyan alkalmazhatók a függvényfogalom alakítási folyamatában az általános, illetve középiskolás korosztályokban egyaránt.
Pin on disc vizsgálatok zártcellás alumíniumhabokon
Authors: Gábora András , Kalácska Gábor , Keresztes Róbert , Beke Sándor , Géresi Zoltán Gergő
Published: May 2020

A fémhabok cellás szerkezetük és kiváló mechanikai és fizikai tulajdonságaik révén előtérben vannak a jármű és egyéb iparágak anyagfejlesztéseiben. Ugyan a különböző típusú fémhabok közkedveltek, a bonyolult szerkezetük miatt továbbra is kutatások tárgyai. Jelen kutatás célja különböző gyártástechnológiával készült és különböző cellaméretű zártcellás fémhabok tribológiai vizsgálata. A cikkben bemutatásra kerülnek a vizsgálat tárgyai, azaz a direkt habosítással és gázinjektálással készült zártcellás alumíniumhabok és azok mátrixanyagai. Részletezésre kerül továbbá a kísérletekhez használt Pin on Disc vizsgálóberendezés, valamint a kísérletek legfontosabb paraméterei.
Biodiversidad de algas epizoicas en el Pacífico tropical mexicano
Authors: Quiroz González Nataly , Aguilar Estrada Luis Gabriel , Ruiz Boijseauneau Ivette , Rodríguez Vargas Deni Claudia
Published: May 2020

Antecedentes y Objetivos: El conocimiento ficológico para la región del Pacífico mexicano es amplio, la mayoría de los estudios han estado orientados a conocer la flora adherida a sustratos rocosos. Sin embargo, es reducido el número de trabajos acerca de macroalgas que crecen sobre organismos vivos, como las algas epizoicas. El presente trabajo tiene como finalidad contribuir al conocimiento de la flora algal epizoica en el Pacífico tropical mexicano. Métodos: Se llevaron a cabo cuatro muestreos del molusco Chiton articulatus en dos localidades de Guerrero, México, durante 2014, para conocer las algas que crecen sobre él. Además, se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de estudios en el Pacífico tropical mexicano para obtener los registros de las algas que crecen sobre animales. Finalmente, se determinaron las algas en los moluscos mediante observaciones de talos completos y cortes. Resultados clave: En total se reportaron 124 especies, 81 géneros, 51 familias y 27 órdenes, distribuidos en cuatro divisiones de algas. Los órdenes con mayor riqueza específica fueron Ceramiales (23) y Corallinales (20) y las familias con mayor número de especies fueron Rhodomelaceae (13), Cladophoraceae (11) y Lithophyllaceae (10). Los géneros más diversos fueron Amphiroa y Cladophora (7). Se presentan, para Guerrero, 12 nuevos registros de especies, de los cuales tres son además nuevos registros para el Pacífico tropical mexicano y tres para el Pacífico de México. El estado con mayor número de especies registradas fue Guerrero (58). El sustrato más común fueron los moluscos. El grupo morfofuncional algal predominante fue los filamentos.Conclusiones: Los resultados de este trabajo demuestran que la biodiversidad de algas presente en los sustratos animales es alta, y contribuye notablemente a la riqueza específica registrada para Guerrero y para el Pacífico de México. Se hace patente la importancia de desarrollar más estudios que se enfoquen al conocimiento de la epibiosis algal.
IMPACTOS DA LEGITIMAÇÃO FUNDIÁRIA NO MEIO AMBIENTE URBANO
Authors: POZZETTI Valmir César , LOUREIRO Rebecca Lucas Camilo Susano
Published: May 2020

RESUMO Objetivo: Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo identificar quais os possíveis reflexos da legitimação fundiária dos núcleos urbanos informais consolidados ao meio ambiente. Metodologia: A metodologia utilizada, quanto aos meios, é o método dedutivo, por meio de análise doutrinária, bibliográfica e normativa. Quanto aos fins, a metodologia é qualitativa. Resultados: A conclusão a que chegou é de que a legitimação fundiária é um instrumento frágil, que não solucionará o problema da moradia digna no Brasil e trará consequências graves ao meio ambiente das cidades. Contribuições: A exclusão do estudo ambiental e dos projetos de urbanização em todos os casos que não envolvam áreas de proteção ambiental ocasionará um crescimento desordenado e de impossível correção, e para que haja uma real observância dos preceitos constitucionais é necessário que o Estado cumpra o seu dever de organização das cidades e pare de procurar mecanismos para aplacar as obrigações não cumpridas. Palavras-chave: Legitimação fundiária; meio ambiente urbano; ordenamento territorial; regularização urbana. ABSTRACT Objective: This research aims to identify which are the possible reflexes of land tenure legitimacy of informal urban centers consolidated to the environment.Methodology: The methodology used is deductive, through doctrinal, bibliographic and normative analysis. As for the purposes, the methodology is qualitative. Results: The conclusion reached is that land tenure is a fragile instrument, which will not solve the problem of decent housing in Brazil and will have serious consequences for the environment of cities.Contributions: The exclusion of the environmental study and urbanization projects in all cases that do not involve areas of environmental protection will cause a disorderly growth and of impossible correction, and in order to exist a real observance of the constitutional law, it is necessary that the State complies with its duty of organizing cities and stop looking for mechanisms to appease unfulfilled obligations.Keywords: Land tenure legitimization; urban environment; land legal system; urban regularization.
Characterization and Correction of Bias Due to Nonparticipation and the Degree of Loyalty in Large-Scale Finnish Loyalty Card Data on Grocery Purchases: Cohort Study
Authors: Vuorinen Anna-Leena , Erkkola Maijaliisa , Fogelholm Mikael , Kinnunen Satu , Saarijärvi Hannu , Uusitalo Liisa , Näppilä Turkka , Nevalainen Jaakko
Published: May 2020

Background

To date, the evaluation of diet has mostly been based on questionnaires and diaries that have their limitations in terms of being time and resource intensive, and a tendency toward social desirability. Loyalty card data obtained in retailing provides timely and objective information on diet-related behaviors. In Finland, the market is highly concentrated, which provides a unique opportunity to investigate diet through grocery purchases.

Objective

The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to investigate and quantify the selection bias in large-scale (n=47,066) loyalty card (LoCard) data and correct the bias by developing weighting schemes and (2) to investigate how the degree of loyalty relates to food purchases.

Methods

Members of a loyalty card program from a large retailer in Finland were contacted via email and invited to take part in the study, which involved consenting to the release of their grocery purchase data for research purposes. Participants’ sociodemographic background was obtained through a web-based questionnaire and was compared to that of the general Finnish adult population obtained via Statistics Finland. To match the distributions of sociodemographic variables, poststratification weights were constructed by using the raking method. The degree of loyalty was self-estimated on a 5-point rating scale.

Results

On comparing our study sample with the general Finnish adult population, in our sample, there were more women (65.25%, 30,696/47,045 vs 51.12%, 2,273,139/4,446,869), individuals with higher education (56.91%, 20,684/36,348 vs 32.21%, 1,432,276/4,446,869), and employed individuals (60.53%, 22,086/36,487 vs 52.35%, 2,327,730/4,446,869). Additionally, in our sample, there was underrepresentation of individuals aged under 30 years (14.44%, 6,791/47,045 vs 18.04%, 802,295/4,446,869) and over 70 years (7.94%, 3,735/47,045 vs 18.20%, 809,317/4,446,869), as well as retired individuals (23.51%, 8,578/36,487 vs 31.82%, 1,414,785/4,446,869). Food purchases differed by the degree of loyalty, with higher shares of vegetable, red meat & processed meat, and fat spread purchases in the higher loyalty groups.

Conclusions

Individuals who consented to the use of their loyalty card data for research purposes tended to diverge from the general Finnish adult population. However, the high volume of data enabled the inclusion of sociodemographically diverse subgroups and successful correction of the differences found in the distributions of sociodemographic variables. In addition, it seems that food purchases differ according to the degree of loyalty, which should be taken into account when researching loyalty card data. Despite the limitations, loyalty card data provide a cost-effective approach to reach large groups of people, including hard-to-reach population subgroups.
Acceptability and Usability of the Mobile Digital Health App NoObesity for Families and Health Care Professionals: Protocol for a Feasibility Study
Authors: Meinert Edward , Rahman Em , Potter Alison , Lawrence Wendy , Van Velthoven Michelle
Published: May 2020

Background

Almost a quarter or more than a fifth of children in the United Kingdom are overweight or obese by the time they start school. The UK Department of Health and Social Care’s national policy for combating childhood obesity has critical outcomes centered on sugar and caloric consumption reduction. Health Education England has developed two digital apps for families with children up to 15 years and for their associated health care professionals to provide a digital learning resource and tool aimed at encouraging healthy lifestyles to prevent obesity.

Objective

This feasibility study assesses the usability and acceptability of Health Education England’s NoObesity app for undertaking activities to improve families’ diet and physical activity. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the app’s influence on self-efficacy and goal setting and to determine what can be learnt to improve its design for future studies, if there is evidence of adoption and sustainability.

Methods

The study population will include 20 to 40 families and their linked health care professionals. Considering issues related to digital access associated with socioeconomic status and the impact on information technology use, study recruitment will be regionally focused in a low socioeconomic status area. The study will last for 9 months (3-month intervention period and 6-month follow-up). The evaluations of feasibility, acceptability, and usability will be conducted using the following scales and theoretical frameworks: (1) system usability scale; (2) Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance framework; (3) Bandura model of health promotion; and (4) Nonadoption, Abandonment, and Challenges to the Scale-up, Spread, and Suitability framework. App use will be captured and quantitatively analyzed for net use patterns (eg, number of screens viewed, number of logins, cumulative minutes using the app, number of plans made, and number of times goals met) and to triangulate qualitative feedback from study participants.

Results

This study was funded in March 2019 by Health Education England and received University of Oxford Medical Sciences Interdivisional Research Ethics Committee approval on January 31, 2020 (R62092/RE001). At manuscript submission, study recruitment is pending, and expected results will be published in 2021.

Conclusions

This study will provide evidence on the NoObesity app’s influence on self-efficacy and goal-setting and determine what can be learnt to improve its design for future studies, if there is evidence of adoption and sustainability.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/18068
Evaluation of Textbook “The Language of Evaluation: Appraisal in English” from the Perspectives of Thai EFL Students: Implications of Systemic Functional Linguistics and Appraisal Theory
Authors: Srinon Udomkrit
Published: May 2020

The purposes of this case study were to explore Thai EFL students’ levels of satisfactions regarding the implication of the book “The Language of Evaluation: Appraisal in English”, and to explore their comments and recommendations on the use of the course book in the Subject of Selected Topics in English based on appraisal theory developed by Martin and White (2005). The study employed the appraisal theory to teach three undergraduate students who enrolled in the Course of Selected Topics in English Curriculum at the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Kasetsart University, Thailand, in the 2019 academic year. A questionnaire was used to collect data of students’ level of satisfaction towards the course. Analysis of the study shows that for all sections of evaluation: the book, the lecturer and student’s learning and evaluation, the students evaluated the lecturer at the “good” level (mean=4.27) followed by the book (mean=3.394) and student’s learning and reflection (mean=3.53). In this regard, they evaluated the book from an overall perspective at the “good” level (mean=3.94). In more detail, the chapter they rated as the first rank is Chapter 1 Introduction which has the highest mean of 4.13 followed by Chapter 2 Attitude: Ways of feeling (mean=4.07), Chapter 3 Engagement and graduation: Alignment, solidarity and the construed reader (mean=3.93), Chapter 4 Evaluative key: Taking a stance (mean=3.93) and Chapter 5 Enacting Appraisal: Text Analysis (mean=3.60) respectively. For the section of student’s learning and reflection, they evaluated their learning at the “good” level (mean=3.53) which is the least mean of all sections. The students advised that some chapters of the book were difficult for them to understand since they were not familiar with terms used. The analysis also shows that the students mainly suggest that the book should be integrated into the course continuously every semester which would be beneficial for students in understanding how to evaluate language use in different contexts. However, more easy examples should be included in the book.
U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS IN THE SHADOW OF THE 1999 KOSOVO WAR
Authors: Lisanin Mladen
Published: May 2020

The paper examines the changing relations between the U.S. and Russia since the end of the twentieth century, shaped by the experience of NATO’s war with Federal Republic of Yugoslavia over Kosovo. The first decade after the termination of the Cold War brought about the American ‘unipolar moment’, and with it the attempt of Russian political elites to approach the unipole and find a sustainable modus vivendi with it: the relationship between Yeltsin and Clinton administrations is a vivid example of such endeavors. At the same time, policies such as NATO expansion induced suspicion on the Russian side with regard to the possibilities of achieving an understanding and allowing Russia to become a legitimate part of European security architecture. When, in March of 1999, NATO began with the attacks against FRY (a country perceived as traditionally friendly towards Russia) without the consent of the United Nations Security Council, a long shadow was cast over the prospects of a Russian – American rapprochement. All subsequent episodes of cooperation and competition between Russia and the U.S. have been observed through the lens shaped by the Kosovo war. Drawing from contemporary Russian and western academic literature and memoir materials (Primakov, Guskova, Narochnitska, Baranovsky, Tsygankov, Sushenkov; Wohlforth, Walt, Clarke, Hill, Galen Carpenter et al.) and building upon the traditional realist concepts of great power competition and balancing, the author assesses the development of U.S.-Russian security relations in the context the Kosovo war experience. It is argued that, in addition to being an attack against a country perceived as a traditional Russian friend or protégé, NATO bombing of FRY in 1999 posed a major concern to Russia because it was a signal that the alliance was ready to change its strategic posture and engage in out-of-area operations.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S APPROACH TO ENERGY SECURITY IN POLAND AND THE BALTIC STATES
Authors: Stevanovic Olga
Published: May 2020

The subject of this paper encompasses US policy towards Poland and the Baltic States regarding energy security during Donald Trump’s presidency. It is discernible that vast domestic energy resources have created an opportunity for the US to project more power to these countries, and the surrounding region. We argue that Trump and his administration’s perceptions have served as an intervening variable in that opportunity assessment, in accordance with the neoclassical realist theory. The main research question addressed in this paper is whether US has used that opportunity to contribute to energy security in countries it has traditionally deemed as allies. Two aspects of US approach to energy security of the designated countries are taken into consideration: liquified natural gas exports and support for the Three Seas Initiative. The way Trump presented his policy and its results in his public statements has also been considered in this paper. The article will proceed as follows. The first subsection of the paper represents a summary of energy security challenges in Poland and the Baltic States. The second subsection is dedicated to the opportunity for the US to project energy power and to Trump’s perceptions relevant for the opportunity assessment. The third subsection deals with American LNG exports to these countries as a possible way for contributing to energy security in Poland and the Baltic States. The last part of the paper addresses the Three Seas Initiative and US approach to this platform.
OVERSEEING SURVEILLANCE POWERS – THE CASES OF POLAND AND SLOVAKIA
Authors: Kolaszyński Mateusz
Published: May 2020

The article aims to present the most important issues related to oversight over surveillance powers in Poland and Slovakia. The word „surveillance powers” used in the study refers particularly to covert techniques and practices of gathering personal data which occurs without the monitored subjects’ knowledge or approval. Such surveillance powers are typically carried out by police services and intelligence agencies, and are more politically sensitive, as well as closely related to core issues of power and security. Oversight over these services and their surveillance powers is the standard in democratic states. Before 1989-1990, there was a similar model of security services in both analyzed countries. During Communism, there was no civil and democratic oversight over police services and intelligence agencies. Under the communist system control over security services was exercised by an inner circle representing the highest levels of the Communist party. Finally, since the early 1990s Poland and Slovakia had to build new systems of control and oversight over surveillance powers. Nowadays, both countries are members of the European Union and the Council of Europe. The basic issue of the paper is to describe how the systems of control and oversight look in Poland and Slovakia in the post-Snowden era.
BULGARIA’S SECURITY AFTER 30 YEARS
Authors: Domaradzki Spasimir
Published: May 2020

This paper provides an overview of the Bulgarian security concerns over the last thirty years. Without claiming to be complete and all-embracing, the paper grasps the notion of security from both internal and external perspectives. While deliberating on the main security challenges in the context of the formal membership in the political and economic institutions of the Western world, the paper argues that the most tangible security threats for Bulgaria are internal and are related to the problems of organized crime and state capture.
Cutting the Ties? Generational Limitations in Canada’s and Germany’s Citizenship Laws
Authors: Weinmann Martin
Published: May 2020

This paper compares Canada’s and Germany’s citizenship laws with regard to regulations that delimit the acquisition of citizenship abroad. It finds that the respective regulations are designed similarly, but differ in some details. The Canadian regulation, for instance, prevents citizenship from being passed on to the second generation born abroad, whereas the German rule offers an opportunity to retain citizenship without seriously giving proof of a link to the country. From a normative point of view, there are good reasons to delimit the acquisition of citizenship abroad, but also for an opportunity to retain citizenship if people have a genuine link to the state and its political system. The regulations of each country show deficits in this respect. Thus, this paper suggests introducing requirements for an entitlement to regain citizenship for second or subsequent generations born abroad which could be designed similarly to the requirements for immigrants who want to naturalize.

 

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v11i1.254
Transparency in Commodity-Rich Countries: Is State Ownership to Blame?
Authors: Valenza Domenico
Published: May 2020

Since the late 1990s, transparency has emerged as a major governance pillar helping resource-rich countries improve their performance and escape the resource curse. Within this debate, a few scholars have pointed to the correlation between ownership structure and transparency, and have argued that under state ownership, transparency should not be expected, as government officials refrain from strengthening institutions to retain their discretionary power.

 

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v12i2.1182
Assessing the influence of France and Germany on EU foreign and security policy
Authors: Terpan Fabien
Published: May 2020

This article assesses the influence of the Franco-German partnership on the development of an EU foreign and security policy since the 1990s, in order to see whether political cohesion between the two member states is a necessary and sufficient condition for the EU to emerge as an actor in the international arena. Based on a methodology using secondary literature in a systematic way, the argument unfolds in three parts: first, the article looks at the political cohesion between the two member states in terms of both the building and the content of the EU’s foreign and security policy. Then, it seeks to establish a correlation between Franco-German cohesion and the existence of an EU position, or lack thereof. Finally, the last section explains why the Franco-German cohesion is a necessary but insufficient condition for the EU to gain actorness, by looking at other variables pertaining to: domestic politics, European politics and the international environment. Four models of interaction between the Franco-German cohesion and these other variables are developed: effective consensus; ineffective consensus; diffuse consensus; blocking dissensus.
L’apport du règlement 1/2003 : décentralisation et homogénéisation du droit européen de la concurrence
Authors: Diawara Karaounga
Published: May 2020

pas disponible

 

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v1i1.160
Introduction: Common Markets and Common Currency: EU Integration and Its Outcomes
Authors: Paudyn Bartholomew , Hüebner Kurt
Published: May 2020

not available

 

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v2i1.162
Le désalignement des politiques d’immigration et d’intégration au sein de l’UE : Hardlaw versus Softlaw?
Authors: Fourot Aude-Claire
Published: May 2020

pas disponible

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v2i3.176
Democratic and Market Governance in Romania: Between Domestic Politics and EU Accession
Authors: Young Patricia T.
Published: May 2020

Institutional reforms to regulate the market environment and the proper functioning of democracy have been mandated by the European Union to accession countries. In spite of the uniform creation of such regulatory frameworks, governance problems persist, especially in the newest members of the EU. I analyze the institution al reform record in both market and political governance, as well as the effectiveness of these institutions, in the case of Romania, one of the laggards of reform. I argue that the EU did significantly support reform efforts, but insufficient domestic commitment to reform has resulted in ineffective institutions.

 

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v4i1.194
Le Code de la Nationalite Belge: A Citizenship Law in the Making
Authors: Madularea Adina
Published: May 2020

In April 2010, the most recent process was initiated regarding the revision of law on the acquisition of Belgian nationality. A strong debate on the subject had been going on during 2010 - 2011. This research paper focuses on the positions held by different political parties and representatives with regard to the main issues included in numerous amendments brought to the existing Belgian Nationality Code. Looking at the way in which different aspects have been formulated and debated will provide insights about the stakes of different political actors involved and the process of political negotiation on a very sensitive territory, namely that of citizenship granting in a country with a federal government and a significant cleavage between its main ethnic groups.

 

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v7i1.213
Have You Seen This? Why Political Pundits Share Scholarly Research on Social Media
Authors: Moscrop David , Wong Lorraine , Alperin Juan Pablo
Published: May 2020

Background  A healthy public sphere requires a flow of reliable, trustworthy, and accurate information. Scholarly research is one such source but, to be most effective, it must reach the public. One possible dissemination route for that material is political pundits.
Analysis  We extracted the tweets of thirty-two Canadian pundits with links to scholarly research and studied the main motivations for sharing a link to a scholarly article.
Conclusion and implications  We found that most pundits we studied tweeted at least one link to a scholarly article and that the motivations for sharing varied. However, our sample shared links to scholarly journal articles infrequently.
Résumé
Contexte  Pour bien fonctionner, une sphère publique requiert un flux d’informations qui soient fiables, dignes de confiance et précises. La recherche savante est une source de telles informations, mais pour être efficace elle doit rejoindre le public. Une façon de disséminer la recherche consiste à recourir à des commentateurs politiques.
Analyse  Nous avons passé en revue les gazouillis de 32 commentateurs canadiens ayant des liens avec la recherche savante et nous avons étudié leurs motivations principales pour partager un lien vers un article savant.
Conclusion et implications  Nous avons découvert que la plupart des commentateurs de notre échantillon ont inclus au moins un lien vers un article savant dans leurs gazouillis et que leurs motivations pour le faire étaient diverses. Cependant, ces commentateurs ne partageaient pas souvent des liens vers des articles paraissant dansdes revues savantes.
The relationship of employees' strengths use and innovation: Work engagement as a mediator
Authors: Ge Yuanqin , Sun Xiaomeng
Published: May 2020

We investigated the relationship between employees' strengths use and innovation through the mediator of their work engagement. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data from 158 employees at 3 companies in China. Structural equation modeling results show that work engagement
partially mediated the relationship between employee strengths use and innovation. In addition, employee strengths use increased their innovation and made them more engaged in their work, and employees' work engagement, in turn, promoted their innovative behavior. These findings suggest that
strengths use alone does not enhance employee innovation: Work engagement is also important. Directions for future research are discussed.
GENETIC ANALYSIS OF HIV-1 IN THE ALTAI KRAY: THE FURTHER SPREAD OF THE CRF63_02A1 VARIANT IN WESTERN SIBERIA
Authors: Kazennova E. V. , Antonova A. A. , Ozhmegova E. N. , Demyanenko E. R. , Minakova M. V. , Belousova O. V. , Gromov K. B. , Bobkova M. R.
Published: May 2020

ITheaimof this study was to characterize HIV-1 genetic strains currently circulating in Altay Kray (Western Siberia) and to analyze the HIV resistance on this territory.

Materialsandmethods.Blood samples were collected, with informed consent, in 2017 from 82 HIV infected persons living in Altai Kray. Sequences ofpolgene fragments coding protease and part of reverse transcriptase were obtained by in house system and Sanger sequencing. Genotyping, phylogenetic and recombinant analyses were carried out by HIVdbProgram: Sequence Analysis, COMET HIV-1, REGA HIV-1 Subtyping Tool (V 3.0), MEGA 5.05, RIP and jpHMM.

Resultsanddiscussion.The results of genotype analysis revealed that the circulating recombinant form CRF63_02A1 dominated in Altay Kray (61%), subtype А was identiﬁed in 33%, the remaining subtypes, such as B, G, URF, accounted for 6%. According to phylogenetic analysis results, CRF63_02A1 sequences formed the common branch with nucleotide sequences of strains found in other regions of Siberia and Far East. All of HIV-1 variants belonging to subtype A clustered together with nucleotide sequences of A6 dominating in Russia. RIP analysis allowed to identify three unique recombinant forms (URFs), formed by CRF63_02A1 and A6. Drug resistance mutations were identiﬁed in 8 of 21 ART patients (8/21, 38%). The prevalence of drug resistance mutations in naïve patients equaled to 5,1%.

 Conclusion.Currently, the process of changing the dominant strain to CRF63_02A1 is ongoing in the Altai Kray, where 13 years ago the main variant was HIV sub-subtype A6 (IDU-A).
EVALUATION OF A NEW DIAGNOSTIC METHOD «ФП ТЕСТ» TO DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF HEPATITIS ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HCV INFECTION
Authors: Tsvetkov V. V. , Tokin I. I. , Kovelenov A. Yu. , Pozdnjakova S. A.
Published: May 2020

Aim. To evaluate the informativeness indicators of the new diagnostic method «ФП Тест» version 1.0 to determine the moderate/severe degree of hepatitis activity in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Materials and methods. The study included 304 patients with chronic HCV infection. 184 patients were randomly selected into the training sample, 120 patients into the test sample. As a standard method for diagnosing hepatitis activity, a puncture biopsy of the liver was performed in all patients with the calculation of the histological activity index according to the Knodell scale. Minimal/mild degree of hepatitis activity (HAI 0–8 score) was detected in 46,38% of patients, moderate/severe hepatitis activity (HAI 9–18 score) in 53,62% of patients.

Results. The accuracy of the method «ФП Тест» version 1.0 for the diagnosis of moderate/severe hepatitis activity was 79,17%, sensitivity — 78,46%, speciﬁcity — 80,00%. The values of the area under the ROC — curve for classifying patients depending on the presence or absence of moderate/severe hepatitis activity were: «ФП Тест» version 1.0 (AUC=0,84, cut-off value=0,52), determination of ALT level (AUC=0,74, cut-off value=61,40 U/L), determination of AST level (AUC=0,76, cut-off value=39,00 U/L).

Conclusion. The new diagnostic method «ФП Тест» is a simple, affordable and informative test to determine the moderate/severe degree of hepatitis activity in patients with chronic HCV infection.
Optimización de uso del suelo acorde con restricciones ambientales y sociales: caso cuenca de Riogrande II
Authors: Osorio Múnera Juan David , Uribe Rivera Natalia , García-Tavera Lina Marcela , Bustamante Ochoa Eduardo Andrés
Published: May 2020

Las actividades productivas que se realizan en la cuenca del embalse de Riogrande II (Antioquia, Co-lombia) generan afectaciones ambientales negativas sobre suelo y agua. La integración de modelos hidrológicos y económicos provee una base científica para un escenario planeado de uso del territorio, que sea racional y adecuado a la actual vocación agropecuaria. Partiendo de los datos generados a partir del modelo SWAT se reformula el modelo Ecosaut para determinar el uso óptimo de suelo acorde con restricciones ambientales y sociales, encontrando que, para asegurar la sostenibilidad de la cuenca, es necesario implementar un sistema de rotación compuesto por pastos y cultivo de papa junto con una reducción de alrededor del 42 % del suelo actualmente dedicado a actividades agrícolas.
¡NUESTRA LUCHA ES POR LA VIDA! APUNTES CRÍTICOS SOBRE LA REORGANIZACIÓN CAPITALISTA DE LA CONDICIÓN DE INTERDEPENDENCIA
Authors: Linsalata Lucia
Published: May 2020

Este artículo se divide en dos partes. En la primera, propongo entender la reproducción de la vida a partir de la noción de interdependencia, para pasar a indagar en las características que tienen las relaciones que como humanos tejemos con los entornos que habitamos. En la segunda, planteo, a partir de una deconstrucción de la noción de naturaleza, una crítica a la dimensión simbólica y afectiva inscrita en la dinámica capitalista de reorganización de la condición de interdependencia. Concluyo el artículo, con una hipótesis dirigida a explorar la potencia transformadora inscrita en las luchas en defensa de la vida que se despliegan hoy en Abya Yala.