bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Land-Use/Cover Change and Driving Mechanism on the West Bank of Lake Baikal from 2005 to 2015—A Case Study of Irkutsk City
Authors: Li Zehong , Ren Yang , Li Jingnan , Li Yu , Rykov Pavel , Chen Feng , Zhang Wenbiao
Published: August 2018

Lake Baikal is located on the southern tableland of East Siberian Russia. The west coast of the lake has vast forest resources and excellent ecological conditions, and this area and the Mongolian Plateau constitute an important ecological security barrier in northern China. Land-use/cover change is an important manifestation of regional human activities and ecosystem evolution. This paper uses Irkutsk city, a typical city on the West Bank of Lake Baikal, as a case study area. Based on three phases of Landsat remote-sensing image data, the land-use/cover change pattern and change process are analyzed and the natural factors and socioeconomic factors are combined to reveal driving forces through the partial least squares regression (PLSR) model. The results show the following: (1) From 2005 to 2015, construction land expanded, and forestland was converted into construction land and woodland. In addition, grass land, bare land, and cultivated land were converted into construction land, and the woodland area increased. The annual changes in land use from 2005 to 2010 were dramatic and then slowed down from 2010 to 2015. (2) The main reasons for the change in land-use types were urban expansion and nonagricultural development caused by population migration. The process of urbanization from external populations to urban agglomeration and the process of reverse urbanization from a central urban population to urban suburbs jointly expanded urban construction land area. As a result, forestland, grass land and bare land areas on the outskirts of cities were continuously reduced. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, land privatization led to a decline in the farm economy, the emergence of agricultural land reclamation and urban expansion; in addition, the implementation of the “one-hectare land policy” intensified development in suburban areas, resulting in a reduction of forestland and grass land areas. The process of constructing the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor has intensified human activities in the region, and the prevention of drastic changes in land cover, coordination of human-land relations, and green development are necessary.
Green Payment and Perceived Rural Landscape Quality: A Cost-Benefit Analysis in Central Italy
Authors: Cortignani Raffaele , Gobattoni Federica , Pelorosso Raffaele , Ripa Maria Nicolina
Published: August 2018

The conservation of perceived scenery of traditional extensive and diversified landscapes is a valuable aim for reaching sustainable rural development. Considering the financial budget assigned and the application rules of European Union agricultural policy (Common Agricultural Policy—CAP), the relationship between perceived landscape benefits and CAP first pillar payments is an interesting aspect to analyze. In this study, a cost-benefit analysis has been carried out in a rural area of Central Italy that represents typical Italian conditions of hilly territories. Greening payment, a mechanism aimed to boost public goods, including landscapes and their ecological functionality, was selected as a proxy for policy cost of preserving traditional extensive landscapes. The benefits of greening have been evaluated through the analysis of the people’s willingness to pay for the maintenance of extensive and diversified landscapes. The analysis conducted does not explicitly consider the full range of environmental benefits determined by greening, even if some interviewees may have perceived them in addition to the visual perception of the rural landscape. The present study can contribute to the debate on the agricultural policy post-2020, especially for a future definition of long-lasting and cost-effective sustainable interventions in hilly and extensive rural landscapes.
Community Involvement in the Care of Persons Affected by Podoconiosis—A Lesson for Other Skin NTDs
Authors: Tora Abebayehu , Mengiste Asrat , Davey Gail , Semrau Maya
Published: August 2018

Podoconiosis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) characterized by lower-leg swelling (lymphedema), which is caused by long-term exposure to irritant red-clay soils found within tropical volcanic high-altitude environments with heavy rainfall. The condition places a substantial burden on affected people, their families and communities, including disability, economic consequences, social exclusion, and stigma; mental disorders and distress are also common. This paper focuses on community-based care of podoconiosis, and, in particular, the role that community involvement can have in the reduction of stigma against people affected by podoconiosis. We first draw on research conducted in Ethiopia for this, which has included community-based provision of care and treatment, education, and awareness-raising, and socioeconomic rehabilitation to reduce stigma. Since people affected by podoconiosis and other skin NTDs often suffer the double burden of mental-health illness, which is similarly stigmatized, we then point to examples from the mental-health field in low-resource community settings to suggest avenues for stigma reduction and increased patient engagement that may be relevant across a range of skin NTDs, though further research is needed on this.
Potential Therapeutic Agents for Feline Calicivirus Infection
Authors: Fumian Tulio M. , Tuipulotu Daniel Enosi , Netzler Natalie E. , Lun Jennifer H. , Russo Alice G. , Yan Grace J. H. , White Peter A.
Published: August 2018

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a major cause of upper respiratory tract disease in cats, with widespread distribution in the feline population. Recently, virulent systemic diseases caused by FCV infection has been associated with mortality rates up to 50%. Currently, there are no direct-acting antivirals approved for the treatment of FCV infection. Here, we tested 15 compounds from different antiviral classes against FCV using in vitro protein and cell culture assays. After the expression of FCV protease-polymerase protein, we established two in vitro assays to assess the inhibitory activity of compounds directly against the FCV protease or polymerase. Using this recombinant enzyme, we identified quercetagetin and PPNDS as inhibitors of FCV polymerase activity (IC50 values of 2.8 μM and 2.7 μM, respectively). We also demonstrate the inhibition of FCV protease activity by GC376 (IC50 of 18 µM). Using cell culture assays, PPNDS, quercetagetin and GC376 did not display antivirals effects, however, we identified nitazoxanide and 2′-C-methylcytidine (2CMC) as potent inhibitors of FCV replication, with EC50 values in the low micromolar range (0.6 μM and 2.5 μM, respectively). In conclusion, we established two in vitro assays that will accelerate the research for FCV antivirals and can be used for the high-throughput screening of direct-acting antivirals.
Colonized Sabethes cyaneus, a Sylvatic New World Mosquito Species, Shows a Low Vector Competence for Zika Virus Relative to Aedes aegypti
Authors: Karna Ajit K. , Azar Sasha R. , Plante Jessica A. , Yun Rumei , Vasilakis Nikos , Weaver Scott C. , Hansen Immo A. , Hanley Kathryn A.
Published: August 2018

The introduction of Zika virus (ZIKV) to the Americas raised concern that the virus would spill back from human transmission, perpetuated by Aedes aegypti, into a sylvatic cycle maintained in wildlife and forest-living mosquitoes. In the Americas, Sabethes species are vectors of sylvatic yellow fever virus (YFV) and are therefore candidate vectors of a sylvatic ZIKV cycle. To test the potential of Sabethes cyaneus to transmit ZIKV, Sa. cyaneus and Ae. aegypti were fed on A129 mice one or two days post-infection (dpi) with a ZIKV isolate from Mexico. Sa. cyaneus were sampled at 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days post-feeding (dpf) and Ae. aegypti were sampled at 14 and 21 dpf. ZIKV was quantified in mosquito bodies, legs, and saliva to measure infection, dissemination, and potential transmission, respectively. Of 69 Sa. cyaneus that fed, ZIKV was detected in only one, in all body compartments, at 21 dpf. In contrast, at 14 dpf 100% of 20 Ae. aegypti that fed on mice at 2 dpi were infected and 70% had virus in saliva. These data demonstrate that Sa. cyaneus is a competent vector for ZIKV, albeit much less competent than Ae. aegypti.
Spatiotemporal Variability in Extreme Precipitation in China from Observations and Projections
Authors: Peng Yifeng , Zhao Xiang , Wu Donghai , Tang Bijian , Xu Peipei , Du Xiaozheng , Wang Haoyu
Published: August 2018

Extreme precipitation events, which have intensified with global warming over the past several decades, will become more intense in the future according to model projections. Although many studies have been performed, the occurrence patterns for extreme precipitation events in past and future periods in China remain unresolved. Additionally, few studies have explained how extreme precipitation events developed over the past 58 years and how they will evolve in the next 90 years as global warming becomes much more serious. In this paper, we evaluated the spatiotemporal characteristics of extreme precipitation events using indices for the frequency, quantity, intensity, and proportion of extreme precipitation, which were proposed by the World Meteorological Organization. We simultaneously analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of extreme precipitation in China from 2011 to 2100 using data obtained from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) models. Despite the fixed threshold, 95th percentile precipitation values were also used as the extreme precipitation threshold to reduce the influence of various rainfall events caused by different geographic locations; then, eight extreme precipitation indices (EPIs) were calculated to evaluate extreme precipitation in China. We found that the spatial characteristics of the eight EPIs exhibited downward trends from south to north. In the periods 1960–2017 and 2011–2100, trends in the EPIs were positive, but there were differences between different regions. In the past 58 years, the extreme precipitation increased in the northwest, southeast, and the Tibet Plateau of China, while decreased in northern China. Almost all the trends of EPIs are positive in the next two periods (2011–2055 and 2056–2100) except for some EPIs, such as intensity of extreme precipitation, which decrease in southeastern China in the second period (2056–2100). This study suggests that the frequency of extreme precipitation events in China will progressively increase, which implies that a substantial burden will be placed on social economies and terrestrial ecological processes.
Hypervalent iodine compounds for anti-Markovnikov-type iodo-oxyimidation of vinylarenes
Authors: Krylov Igor B , Paveliev Stanislav A , Syroeshkin Mikhail A , Korlyukov Alexander A , Dorovatovskii Pavel V , Zubavichus Yan V , Nikishin Gennady I , Terent’ev Alexander O
Published: August 2018

The iodo-oxyimidation of styrenes with the N-hydroxyimide/I2/hypervalent iodine oxidant system was proposed. Among the examined hypervalent iodine oxidants (PIDA, PIFA, IBX, DMP) PhI(OAc)2 proved to be the most effective; yields of iodo-oxyimides are 34–91%. A plausible reaction pathway includes the addition of an imide-N-oxyl radical to the double C=C bond and trapping of the resultant benzylic radical by iodine. It was shown that the iodine atom in the prepared iodo-oxyimides can be substituted by various nucleophiles.
SPEED OF MEAN REVERSION: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF KSE, LSE AND ISE INDICES
Authors: Palwasha Rana Imroze , Ahmad Nawaz , Ahmed Rizwan Raheem , Vveinhardt Jolita , Štreimikienė Dalia
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this study is to determine the presence of mean reversion in the stock markets indices of Pakistan, moreover, to measure, and compare the speed of mean reversion of the stock markets indices across Pakistan. In order to carry out the research study, the daily data of three stock indices of Pakistan such as: KSE-100, LSE-25 and ISE-10 are collected from 2003 to 2014. After the application of tests such as ARCH and GARCH, it was found that returns series of KSE-100, LSE-25 and ISE-10 indices exhibit mean reversion, indicating that the returns revert back to their historical value after reaching an extreme value. Further, the mean reversion rate shows that KSE-100 index has the slowest mean reversion, however, the ISE-10 index has the fastest mean reversion among the three indices. Therefore, the results of the study concluded that KSE-100 index, due to the slowest mean reversion rate has higher volatility over a longer period of time. On the contrary, since, ISE-10 index has exhibited the fastest mean reversion with the lowest volatility as compared to others. But due to fast mean reversion rate, it will help investors to gain profits over a shorter period of time. Thus, it can be recommended that the investor willing to bear the risk of time and looking for long-term investment should invest in KSE-100 index. However, investors looking for higher profits in a shorter period can invest in the ISE-10 index but with higher risk-returns trade-off.
MEZZANINE FINANCING INSTRUMENTS IN COMPARISON TO THE CLASSIC FINANCING SOURCES
Authors: Tetrevova Libena , Svedik Jan
Published: August 2018

The paper deals with innovated financing in the form of mezzanine financing instruments (sources). The authors aimed to identify, characterize, and assess mezzanine financing instruments in comparison to the classic corporate financing sources. Mezzanine financing represents an innovated form of financing interconnecting the features of equity and debt. The paper specifies the sources and characterizes and assesses pros and cons of each of them. Subsequently, it presents an overall evaluation of mezzanine financing instruments in comparison to the selected equity and debt financing sources. This evaluation was performed on the basis of 14 set criteria using a binary scale.
WHAT DRIVES MERGERS &amp; ACQUISITIONS WAVES OF LISTED COMPANIES OF THE CHINEXT MARKET? IPO OVER-FINANCING OR STOCK OVERVALUATION
Authors: Xu Xin , Liang Yong-jin , Song Shun-lin
Published: August 2018

A wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) has been consistently rising among the China’s ChiNext companies over the past years, which has drawn great attention across academia and industry. Based on the neoclassical theory and the behavioral theory, this paper explores the driving factors of M&amp;A among Chinese ChiNext companies. Two hypotheses were put forward: one based on IPO over-financing and the other based on the market value overvaluation. IPO over-financing is specific to the Chinese capital market while market value overestimation is driven by the continuous upsurge in the ChiNext Market. Our study found that both factors account for enterprises’ mergers and acquisitions. They have far-reaching influences on such fields as acquisition probability, the size of the transaction, transaction frequency, M&amp;A payment method and market reaction. Due to IPO over-financing, enterprises tend to carry out M&amp;A via cash payment or cash and stock mixed payment method. Heavier IPO over-financing will increase the chance of M&amp;A and leads to larger transaction size and higher transaction frequency. Market value overvaluation will lead to more uses of stock or cash and stock mixed payment on M&amp;A transactions. When the company’s stock is overvalued, the company will use the overvalued equity to acquire other companies. Greater overvaluation of the market value also increases the chance of M&amp;A and leads to a larger transaction size and higher frequency of M&amp;A. In China, IPO over-financing rather than market value over-valuation, is the major driving factor for China’s corporate mergers and acquisitions. Further study found that the market reaction to different payment methods in mergers and acquisitions varies: it has the minimum reaction on cash payment, a larger reaction on stock payment and the greatest reaction on mixed payment. Also, the mixed payment method has the largest cumulative abnormal returns. This is different from the empirical findings in the United States and Europe. This paper provides a theoretical basis and empirical evidence for an in-depth understanding of the wave of mergers and acquisitions of Chinese ChiNext companies, and provides a basis for decision-making and policy recommendations for the government regulators and investors.
In Disguise or Out of Reach: First Clues about In Situ and Accreted Stars in the Stellar Halo of the Milky Way from Gaia DR2
Authors: Haywood M. , Di Matteo P. , Lehnert M. D. , Snaith O. , Khoperskov S. , Gómez A.
Published: August 2018

We investigate the nature of the double color–magnitude sequence observed in the Gaia DR2 HR diagram of stars with high transverse velocities. The stars in the reddest-color sequence are likely dominated by the dynamically hot tail of the thick disk population. Information from Nissen & Schuster and from the APOGEE survey suggests that stars in the blue-color sequence have elemental abundance patterns that can be explained by this population having a relatively low star formation efficiency during its formation. In dynamical and orbital spaces, such as the “Toomre diagram,” the two sequences show a significant overlap, but with a tendency for stars on the blue-color sequence to dominate regions with no or retrograde rotation and high total orbital energy. In the plane defined by the maximal vertical excursion of the orbits versus their apocenters, stars of both sequences redistribute into discrete wedges. We conclude that stars that are typically assigned to the halo in the solar vicinity are actually both accreted stars lying along the blue sequence in the HR diagram, and the low rotational velocity tail of the old Galactic disk, possibly dynamically heated by past accretion events. Our results imply that a halo population formed in situ and responsible for the early chemical enrichment prior to the formation of the thick disk has yet to be robustly identified, and that what has been defined as the stars of the in situ stellar halo of the Galaxy may in fact be fossil records of its last significant merger.
Fluctuation Dynamo in a Collisionless, Weakly Magnetized Plasma
Authors: St-Onge Denis A. , Kunz Matthew W.
Published: August 2018

Results from a numerical study of fluctuation dynamo in a collisionless, weakly magnetized plasma are presented. The key difference between this dynamo and its magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) counterpart is the adiabatic production of magnetic-field-aligned pressure anisotropy by the amplification of a weak seed field. This, in turn, drives kinetic instabilities on the ion-Larmor scale—namely, firehose and mirror—which sever the adiabatic link between the thermal and magnetic pressures, thereby allowing the dynamo to proceed. After an initial phase of rapid growth driven by these instabilities, the magnetic energy grows exponentially and exhibits a

spectrum that peaks near the resistive scale, similar to the large-magnetic-Prandtl-number (

) MHD dynamo. The magnetic field self-organizes into a folded-sheet topology, with direction reversals at the resistive scale and field lines curved at the parallel scale of the flow. The effective

is determined by whether the ion-Larmor scale is above or below the field-reversing scale: in the former case, particles undergo Bohm-like diffusion; in the latter case, particles scatter primarily off of firehose fluctuations residing at the ends of the magnetic folds, and the viscosity becomes anisotropic. The magnetic field ultimately saturates at dynamical strengths, with its spectral peak migrating toward larger scales. This feature, along with an anti-correlation of magnetic-field strength and field-line curvature and a gradual thinning of magnetic sheets into ribbons, resembles the saturated state of the large-

dynamo, the primary differences manifesting in firehose/mirror-unstable regions. These results have implications for magnetic-field growth in the weakly collisional intracluster medium of galaxy clusters.
New Systematics & Taxonomic Collections coordinatoring group for New Zealand
Authors: Waugh Susan
Published: August 2018

New Zealand’s National Systematics and Taxonomic Collections Working Group (WG) represents the agencies who hold taxonomic biological collections of organisms across New Zealand, at least 22 agencies and Mãtauranga Maori representatives. The group was instituted in 2017 with 8 representatives from across these institutions to :

Enhance collaboration

Improve shared resourcing

Develop plans for training and infrastructure.

Share data more effectively

Communicate the value the work of the sector The WG is interested in gathering feedback and views from NZ based delegates and colleagues in similar institutions working internationally.

Enhance collaboration

Improve shared resourcing

Develop plans for training and infrastructure.

Share data more effectively

Communicate the value the work of the sector The WG is interested in gathering feedback and views from NZ based delegates and colleagues in similar institutions working internationally.
Active Iris in Retinopathy of Prematurity and Regression Following Intravitreal Ranibizumab Injection
Authors: Lu Fang
Published: August 2018

Classic active iris vasculature in retinopathy of prematurity is shown, as well as regression within 24 hours of off-label ranibizumab injection (0.25 mg) in both eyes.

[

Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:643–644.

]
A Qualitative Approach to Understanding Active Shooters
Authors: Daly Sarah E.
Published: August 2018

This chapter examines biographical information about the shooters in the context of Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. By using a qualitative approach to search for patterns and themes, this study offers a comprehensive evaluation of the presence or absence of many important factors that are found in the reporting of active and mass shooters. Rather than focusing on one major contributing factor, this chapter describes a number of factors, offers descriptive, specific accounts about individual shooters, and organizes a wealth of information from over 1200 news articles, books, and journals into a concise study for future research and evaluation.
Looking Upstream
Authors: Capellan Joel
Published: August 2018

In the last 40 years, social scientists have provided important insights into the different characteristics of mass public shootings. Despite these efforts, we still lack a fundamental understanding of the processes that shape its incidence and spatial distribution. In this chapter, the author argues that the failure to tap into these dynamics is rooted in our inability to escape a risk-factors paradigm in which this phenomenon has been examined. The goal of this study is to step away from this paradigm and recast these shootings as a social phenomenon, shaped by social forces. This investigation is couched on two major sociological/criminological theoretical perspectives: social integration and social disorganization. A continuous-time event history model (or hazard/survival model) is used to test the influence of social integration and social disorganization forces on the prevalence of mass public shootings in the contiguous United States for the 1970-2014 period. The results paint a mixed but rather interesting picture.
Crisis Communication and Management
Authors: Golt Suzanne Graham
Published: August 2018

This chapter provides suggestions as to what could be included in a crisis communication and management plan. It is strongly encouraged that a professional review the plan and customize it for the specific needs of a school district or business. This chapter will briefly focus on three main topics of crisis communication and management: 1) pre-crisis/preparedness, planning ahead in the event of a crisis with the main goal of preventing loss of life, injury, or damage to property; 2) active crisis/response, what to expect and what will take place after authorities are on the scene; and 3) post-crisis/recovery, debriefing after the crisis to document what occurred and discuss what could have been done differently.
Fuzzy Sumudu Transform Approach to Solving Fuzzy Differential Equations With Z-Numbers
Authors: Jafari Raheleh , Razvarz Sina , Gegov Alexander , Paul Satyam , Keshtkar Sajjad
Published: August 2018

Uncertain nonlinear systems can be modeled with fuzzy differential equations (FDEs) and the solutions of these equations are applied to analyze many engineering problems. However, it is very difficult to obtain solutions of FDEs. In this book chapter, the solutions of FDEs are approximated by utilizing the fuzzy Sumudu transform (FST) method. Here, the uncertainties are in the sense of fuzzy numbers and Z-numbers. Important theorems are laid down to illustrate the properties of FST. This new technique is compared with Average Euler method and Max-Min Euler method. The theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the FST method is effective in estimating the solutions of FDEs.
Multi-Objective Optimization of ECG Process Applying Soft Computing Techniques
Authors: Pain Pritam , Bose Goutam Kumar
Published: August 2018

The present research work focuses on the selection of significant machining parameters depending on the nature-inspired algorithm while machining alumina-aluminum interpenetrating phase composites during electrochemical grinding. Control parameters like electrolyte concentration (C), voltage (V), depth of cut (D) and electrolyte flow rate (F) have been considered for experimentation. The response data are initially trained and tested by using Artificial Neural Network. The contradictory responses like higher material removal rate (MRR), lower surface roughness (Ra), lower overcut (OC) and lower cutting force (Fc) are ensured individually by employing Firefly Algorithm. A multi-response optimization for all the responses is done initially by using the Genetic algorithm. Finally, in order to obtain a single set of parametric combination for all the output simultaneously fuzzy based Grey Relational Analysis technique is adopted. These natures driven soft computing techniques corroborates well during the parametric optimization of the electrochemical grinding process.
Comparative Evaluation of Crisp and Fuzzy Schemes to Solve Chemical Kinetic Models
Authors: Dhaundiyal Alok , Singh Suraj B. , Hanon Muammel M.
Published: August 2018

This study investigates the application of the crisp and the fuzzy schemes to evaluate the kinetic parameters of thermal decomposition of biomass. A distributed reactivity model is considered for the demonstration of mathematical methods for pyrolysis of biomass. The numerical solution is assessed on the assumption that it follows Laplace's method for asymptotic evaluation of integral. A parabolic regime of temperature is subjected to examination by the thermal analysis. The relevant parameters and variables related to biomass and distribution function are assessed on the basis of crisp and fuzzy perspectives. A distributed reactivity method relies on the modelling of pyrolysis reactions where an overlapping of parallel reactions leads to reactivity distribution, which can be symbolised by any distribution functions. Therefore, the normal distribution pattern is assumed to be involved in the given problem of pyrolysis. The temperature regime is supposed to follow the equation of parabola, T=at^2+c.
Reliability Analysis for Environment Systems Using Dual Hesitant Fuzzy Set
Authors: Kumar Akshay , Ram Mangey
Published: August 2018

In this chapter, we deal with dual hesitant fuzzy set theory and compute the fuzzy reliability with lifetime components of different electronic systems, such as series and parallel systems from a Markov chain technique. In dual hesitant fuzzy sets, we have membership and non-membership degree function whereas hesitant fuzzy sets only have membership function. In this chapter we also discuss the Weibull distribution and reliability function of the proposed systems. A numerical example is also given in the end of proposed algorithm.
Fuzzy-Probability
Authors: Dutta Palash
Published: August 2018

Human health risk assessment is an important and a popular aid in the decision-making process. The basic objective of risk assessment is to assess the severity and likelihood of impairment to human health from exposure to a substance or activity that under plausible circumstances can cause harm to human health. One of the most important aspects of risk assessment is to accumulate knowledge on the features of each and every available data, information and model parameters involved in risk assessment. It is observed that most frequently model parameters, data, and information are tainted with aleatory and epistemic uncertainty. In such situations, fuzzy set theory or probability theory or Dempster-Shafer theory (DSS) can be explored to represent uncertainty. If all the three types of uncertainty coexist how far computation of the risk is concern, two ways to deal with the situation either transform all the uncertainties to one type of format or need for joint propagation of uncertainties. Therefore, this article presents an effort to combine Probability distributions, fuzzy numbers (FNs) and DSS. Highlights of this study are: 1) The approaches presented here deal with the amalgamation of probability distributions where representations of parameters are of bell shaped fuzzy numbers (BFNs)/FNs; fuzzy numbers (FNs) of various types and shapes plus DSS with fuzzy focal elements of different types within the same framework; 2) Non-cancer human health risk assessment is carried out in this setting and 3) Risk values are obtained in the form of FNs at different fractiles. The techniques provided in this study are proficient to exploit in any mathematical models which represent real world problems, wherein model parameters are tainted with uncertainty where representations of uncertain model parameters are probability distributions with bell BFNs/FNs parameters; DSS with fuzzy focal elements of different types plus FNs with different shapes and types.
Fuzzy Optimization and Decision Making
Authors: Bisht Dinesh C. S. , Srivastava Pankaj Kumar
Published: August 2018

Selection of the best out of several strategies is always a difficult task. Fuzzy criteria allow a better approach to deal with such situations. Fuzzy optimization is one of the best tools in decision making. This chapter covers the concept of fuzziness, fuzzy sets, fuzzy membership and the features of membership functions. Also is described is the classification of fuzzy optimization. Then, decision making and various models for decision making under fuzzy environments are discussed. Standard examples of fuzzy optimization-based decision-making are included to describe the recent trends. This chapter may help researchers to explore different aspects of fuzzy optimization in decision-making.
Fuzzy Logic for Machining Applications
Authors: Zindani Divya , Roy Apurba Kumar , Kumar Kaushik , Davim J. Paulo
Published: August 2018

There have been umpteen research reports on the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) strategies for modelling various machining processes. One of the well-known AI strategies is that of fuzzy logic (FL) techniques that has been used for prediction of machining performance variables for both the categories of machining processes and controls the machining process. Given the increasing trend of FL in machining, the chapter reviews the application of fuzzy logic in modelling and controlling the machining processes. The work begins with introduction section and then proceeds to discuss the importance role played by FL strategies in the traditional and modern manufacturing processes. The work summarizes some of the major applications of FL-based systems in various machining processes. Limitations, advantages, and the improvements to minimize the limitations are then discussed. The authors of the chapter hope that the review will aid all those researching in the domain of manufacturing sciences and their optimization techniques.
Design, Comparison, and Evaluation of Controllers for Direct Current Servomotors
Authors: Urrea Claudio , Valenzuela Luis
Published: August 2018

The results and comparison of controller performance based on fuzzy logic and neural networks with the purpose of improving the performance of PID controllers currently used in servomotors is presented. The performance comparisons will be made with no load and with load (consisting of a robotic type rotational link). The results show that as the number of links in a robot increases, the precision of the movements desired from it decreases, affecting the tasks that require a high degree of precision, so the design of controllers like those presented in this chapter is required. This work is the basis for implementing improvements in the performance of DC servomotor control systems in general.
Neuroscience of Connection
Authors: Dietlin Olga R. , Maslowe Kathryn , Hahn Linda
Published: August 2018

Students of all ages develop best in the context of caring relationships, and this chapter discusses why it is true from the neurobiological perspective. The chapter covers the historical highlights of collaborative work in neuroscience and education; the neurobiology of human development in the context of nurturing or problematic relationships from infancy through early adulthood; latest research that shows how supportive and secure relationships stimulate brain development and promote emotional regulation that enhances learning; neurobiology of childhood trauma, and pedagogical and counseling implications; and wider applications of the presented findings in fostering student support in schools and on college campuses.
It All Begins With Relationships
Authors: Hale Jane V. , Robey Patricia A.
Published: August 2018

Understanding choice theory provides a foundation for developing relationships and is the central component of the Glasser quality school model. Choice theory is William Glasser's explanation of human behavior and motivation. It is based on the premise that we all have five basic needs: love and belonging, power and achievement, the freedom to be independent and make choices, the joy in having fun, and basic needs of survival and safety. In a quality school, the goal of administrators, teachers, counselors, staff, and support personnel is to create an environment in which everyone in the system, especially the students, gets his or her needs met in responsible, respectful ways. In this chapter, the Glasser quality school criteria is explained in addition to the behavioral habits that help build relationships and the behavioral habits that break down relationships. Stories that highlight the experiences of administrators, teachers, and counselors who put Glasser's concepts into action are included to illuminate the essence of the Glasser quality school model.
Multicultural Critical Consciousness
Authors: Moore Maia Niguel , Smith Michele D.
Published: August 2018

Students across America are observing as racial and cultural tensions rise to what some argue are reminiscent of the Jim Crow south. This chapter will explore how caring can be demonstrated to address cultural conflict in the classroom by training multiculturally conscious student affairs staff and educators to teach and model multicultural critical consciousness to their students. Furthermore, the authors will provide practical strategies for educators to use by drawing from and extending upon current culturally responsive pedagogy practiced in PreK-20 education and explore the ways in which multicultural critical consciousness can be used as a tool to promote a recursive process of self-reflection, cultural awareness, advocacy, and learning among students from all grade levels.
From Caring to Cared For
Authors: Chapman Lindsey A. , Morris Chelsea T.
Published: August 2018

Special educators dedicate their careers to caring for one of the most vulnerable and historically marginalized populations of students despite often working in environments that do little to reciprocate this care. Amidst an ever-changing education landscape, special education teachers are becoming increasingly stressed, experiencing burnout at alarming rates, and far too frequently leaving the field altogether. In this chapter, caring school leadership is examined in the context of special education. The authors seek to bridge a theoretical stance with practical application to the field. Three necessary conditions for caring are discussed and specific “transactions of care” are recommended. The chapter concludes by upholding the idea that ensuring special educators feel cared for by school leaders has the potential to mitigate issues of poor working conditions, teacher retention, and consequently, promote positive outcomes for students with disabilities.
Addressing the Impact of Trauma in High Poverty Elementary Schools
Authors: Brown La Vera , Dari Tahani , Spencer Natalie
Published: August 2018

A positioned-subject qualitative approach was used to uncover multiple perspectives held by elementary school counselors as to how they interpret their work with children affected by trauma in high-poverty schools. As such, school counselors' knowledge of the impact of ecological factors that led to childhood trauma was examined. Findings indicated that complex and systemic trauma were common themes that informed the schools counselors' ability to advocate effectively for mental health programs for children in high poverty schools. This qualitative study also introduces an ecological and social justice (ESJ) school-counseling model for school counseling in high poverty elementary schools that demonstrates how social justice-oriented school counselors seek to meet the needs of their students with mental illness who come from high poverty backgrounds.
Caring as an Authoritative Act
Authors: Audley Shannon , Ginsburg Julia L.
Published: August 2018

This chapter serves to discuss common perspectives of respect in the classroom and highlight ways to re-conceptualize authority in student-teacher relationships so that respect can be grounded in both authority and caring. The authors believe that through the framework of critical race theory, teachers can learn how to express caring respect in ways that will be validating to their students. Furthermore, because of this reframing of authority, teachers will be able to accept non-authority-based respect. Finally, this chapter encourages teachers to experience and understand respect in the ways that validate their students as people and honor their own abilities as teachers. Rather than using ideas of respect to exhibit and reinforce institutional authority, teachers can instead promote caring respect in their classrooms by highlighting students' voices and reflecting on their own roles as both an educator and a person.
Achievement, Racial Identity, and Connectedness
Authors: Boston Colette M.
Published: August 2018

Literature suggests African American students' racial identity impacts their feelings of belongingness to the school community as well as academic achievement. Researchers, however, have argued that racial identity impairs or promotes student achievement. This study examined the effects of the individual components of racial identity (centrality, regard, and ideology) and sense of belonging on the academic achievement of 105 African American high school students. Quantitative analysis revealed centrality as the sole predictor of sense of belonging for males and a positive relationship between sense of belonging and centrality and private regard in females. These findings support the significance of positive student-teacher relationships as well as the importance of schools cultivating a culture of acceptance of all students.
Raising Conscious Kids
Authors: Bullock Ronda Taylor
Published: August 2018

Early experiences in life exposed the author to the harsh realities of racism. These experiences fueled her desire to create a non-profit organization, we are, to challenge and disrupt not only interpersonal racism, but also systemic. Together with a group of parents, educators, doctoral students, and community activists, the author co-created a curriculum for an anti-racism summer camp for children. This camp embodies what Nel Noddings characterizes as caring for the whole child. In this chapter, the author reveals how her experiences with race led to the creation of we are summer camps. She makes connections to Noddings and beliefs about care, provides an overview of the camps, and makes recommendations for parents and educators who are charged with raising conscious kids.
Tools for E-Assessment Techniques in Education
Authors: Gupta Anamika , Gupta Kajal , Joshi Anurag , Sharma Devansh
Published: August 2018

The chapter explains the basic definition and objective of e-assessment. Advantages and disadvantages of the e-assessment process are briefed. There are various techniques used for accessing online in an e-learning environment. Some of the techniques are explained with examples. To perform e-assessment using these techniques, there are tools available. Some of the tools are developed by individual organizations for their own purpose while others are public platforms which can be used by anyone. Most of the learning management systems (LMS) use e-assessment tools. This chapter focuses primarily on the e-assessment tools of various types used in education domain. Various techniques of e-assessment used by these tools are explained like MCQs, essay type questions, e-portfolios, discussion forums, blogs, wikis, etc. Tools specific to programming languages are explained in detail. Further, tools related to problems of mathematics are explained. There are various tools for peer-assessment. A detailed study of those tools is presented.
Integrating Assessment, Feedback, and Learning Analytics in Educational Games
Authors: Chaudy Yaëlle , Connolly Thomas M.
Published: August 2018

Assessment is a crucial aspect of any teaching and learning process. New tools such as educational games offer promising advantages: they can personalize feedback to students and save educators time by automating the assessment process. However, while many teachers agree that educational games increase motivation, learning, and retention, few are ready to fully trust them as an assessment tool. A likely reason behind this lack of trust is that educational games are distributed as black boxes, unmodifiable by educators and not providing enough insight about the gameplay. This chapter presents three systematic literature reviews looking into the integration of assessment, feedback, and learning analytics in educational games. It then proposes a framework and present a fully developed engine. The engine is used by both developers and educators. Designed to separate game and assessment, it allows teachers to modify the assessment after distribution and visualize gameplay data via a learning analytics dashboard.
Original E-Assessment Methods
Authors: Stanescu Liana , Brezovan Marius
Published: August 2018

This chapter presents a couple of original e-assessment methods included in the non-commercial e-learning platform developed by the computers and information technology department. The platform has been in use for over 10 years in both University of Craiova and University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova. Thus, two original e-assessment methods specially created for medical e-learning that use a medical imagistic database acquired in patient diagnosis process are presented. These two methods use content-based image query and content-based region query. Furthermore, the chapter aims to present two methods for question generating: a semi-automated method that uses tags and templates defined by professors, while the second one, automated, is based on domain ontologies developed for course content available in the database of the e-learning platform. The next discussed topic refers to an automatic assessment of narrative answers using the space vector model, a technique coming from information retrieval domain.
A Revolutionized Model for Teaching Practicum and Assessment
Authors: Saad Noor Saazai Mat , Darmi Ramiaida , Ali Suraini Mohd , Zainuddin Nurkhamimi , Mahir Normazla Ahmad , Massari Norhaili , Abdullah Norhana , Puteh-Behak Fariza , Harun Haliza , Zakaria Zarina Ashikin , Idrus Mohd Muzhafar
Published: August 2018

Teaching practicum is an integral feature of any education-based program. Teaching competency, expertise, and quality are developed and refined during the practicum, as a form to assess these teachers to-be. Traditionally, it is conducted with the supervisors visiting the supervisees' schools for observations of the teaching and learning activities in class. Tapping on the advent of technology, researchers from USIM have innovated this practice through an online practicum supervision tool called electronic practicum assessment model (e-PRASMO). After undergoing two rounds of research and improvisation, e-PRASMO embodies the strengths of its innovation and practicality: cost effectiveness, stress-free environment, flexibility, technological enhancement, reflexivity, and accessibility. It also espouses the framework of the 3 P's model by Biggs, showing the amalgamation of both the online and traditional teaching practicum activities. With more uniqueness offered by e-PRASMO, it becomes a revolutionized innovation for practicum method and assessment aligned with the current era.
Principles of Natural Language Processing and Adaptive Courseware in E-Assessments
Authors: Grubišić Ani , Stankov Slavomir , Žitko Branko , Tomaš Suzana , Brajković Emil , Volarić Tomislav , Vasić Daniel , Šarić Ines , Dodaj Arta
Published: August 2018

Over the last few decades, researchers put efforts to improve intelligent tutoring systems' abilities with the aim to get them as close as possible to the ultimate goal of one-to-one tutoring. CoLaB Tutor and AC-ware Tutor are intelligent tutoring systems based on conceptual knowledge learning and are notable due to the fact they are relatively easy to generalize to multiple knowledge domains. CoLaB Tutor's forte lies in teacher-learner communication in controlled natural language, while AC-ware Tutor focuses on the automatic and dynamic generation of adaptive courseware. In order to compare various intelligent tutoring system supported education environments, in this chapter, the authors summarize several empirical evaluations of CoLaB Tutor and AC-ware Tutor. The results of intelligent tutoring systems' effectiveness in these environments offer the possibility to observe the specific intelligent tutoring system across various education levels, as well as to compare the intelligent tutoring systems' supported education environments.
Assessment of Learning Experiences in the Mathematics Subject Based on an E-Assessment System
Authors: Cardoso Espinosa Edgar Oliver
Published: August 2018

The objective of the research was to assess the learning experiences of the online modality of the postgraduate student in senior management in the subject of mathematics from the design and implementation of an e-assessment system. The type of study that was used was a methodology with a quantitative approach with an exploratory scope. To obtain the information, the authors used as a tool a questionnaire based on a Likert scale in which the items were measured through a scale with five options from totally disagree to fully agree. The main results were that between 70% and 85% of the respondents mentioned that before starting their graduate studies they had not had any approach with the Moodle platform; between 90% and 94% were totally in agreement to identify that the learning activities favored the development of the competences such as the quantitative analysis, the approach and resolution of situations, as well as the communication of results; and more than 90% of students thought they fully agreed that their commitment to this subject improved.