bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Examination Of How Middle School Science Teachers Conduct Collaborative Inquiry And Reflection About Students’ Conceptual Understanding
Authors: Todd-Gibson Christine
Published: April 2017

This qualitative case study examined how middle school science teachers conducted collaborative inquiry and reflection about students’ conceptual understanding, and how individual teachers in the middle school science group acted and made reflections in response to their collaborative inquiry. It also examined external influences that affected the teachers’ ability to engage in collaborative inquiry. Observational, written, and interview data were collected from observations of teachers’ face-to-face meetings and reflections, individual interviews, a focus group interview, and online reflections. The results of this study revealed that collaborative inquiry is a form of professional development that includes answering curricular questions through observation, communication, action, and reflection. This approach was developed and implemented by middle school science teachers. The premise of an inquiry is based on a need with students. Middle school science teachers came to consensus about actions to affect students’ conceptual understanding, took action as stated, and shared their reflections of the actions taken with consideration to current and upcoming school activities. Activities involved teachers brainstorming and sharing with one another, talking about how the variables were merged into their curriculum, and how they impacted students’ conceptual understanding. Teachers valued talking with one another about science content and pedagogy, but did find the inquiry portion of the approach to require more development. The greatest challenge to conducting collaborative inquiry and reflection was embedding teacher inquiry within a prescribed inquiry that was already being conducted by the Sundown School District. Collaborative inquiry should be structured so that it meets the needs of teachers in order to attend to the needs of students. A conducive atmosphere for collaborative inquiry and reflection is one in which administrators make the process mandatory and facilitate the process by removing an existing inquiry.
Alliance Management as Source of a Successful Strategy
Authors: Russo Margherita
Published: April 2017

In todays global environment, strategic alliances represent an important source of growth and competitive advantage; they allow firms to access new and critical resources and capabilities, to improve competitive position and rapidly to enter a new market In spite of the strategic importance of the alliances, they still exhibit a high failure rate; previous researches show that the half of the alliance formed end up as failure. The low success rate testifies firms difficulties in managing their alliance relationships and in ensuring enough success from them. In global markets, firms exhibit heterogeneity in terms of the overall alliance success; some firms achieve success from their alliance and others fail. Although most companies have realized the importance of strategic alliances, only few of them have developed the needed capabilities to manage them with success. In recent years, empirical studies found that firms with greater alliance success are those ones with superior management capabilities, termed in literature as alliance capabilities. This study is based on the assumption that the heterogeneity in alliance success rate is due to heterogeneity in firms level of management capabilities. Eli Lilly & Companys success in strategic alliances represents a clear example of company that understood the importance of developing an institutionalized approach of alliance management that improves the likelihood of alliance success.
Investigating the Influence ofWeb 2.0 Tools on the Group Cohesion of Pre-service Teachers
Authors: Fomsi F. Esther , Eke Kingdom Chukwudi
Published: April 2017

The study investigated the Influence of Web 2.0 Tools on the Group Cohesion of Pre-service teachers in cooperative learning classroom. It adopted the two-group post-test only quasi experimental design. Task and social cohesion were the two dimensions of Group Cohesion that were studied. The sample was seventy (70) fourth year students from the Department of Educational Management, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The sample size was seventy (70) fourth year students from one teaching option (Economics) in the Department of Educational Management who offered the course Computer in Education during the 2013/2014 session. It was an intact class. The technique used for selecting this sample was purposive sampling. The instrument for data collection was Group Cohesion Questionnaire designed by Carless and De Paola (2000). The internal consistency of the Group Cohesion Questionnaire was determined by the authors. Using a sample of students outside the study sample, the researcher used the split-half method to determine the reliability of the instrument. Cronbachs coefficient alpha was reported at .680. Research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while hypotheses were analysed using Z-test. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the task and social cohesion of students who used web 2.0 technologies and those who did not. Though, the major findings showed that web 2.0 technologies did not significantly affect students task and social cohesion, incidental findings showed that students communication and information literacy skills were improved as they worked online. Thus, the researchers recommended that Web 2.0 technologies should be adopted in higher institutions.
Violence Syndicale Estudiantine Dans Les Universités Publiques De Côte d’Ivoire : Perceptions Et Enjeux
Authors: Ibrahima Diarassouba
Published: April 2017

During the decades 1990-2010 that followed the introduction of the multiparty system in 1990, the educational environment in particular the academic institutions in Côte d’Ivoire were greatly affected by the recurrence of student union violence. With the "new departure" which marks a new dynamics of the universities by a break with the practices which have begun their normal functioning based on the effect of giving them their luster from before, we have noted the survival of this violence. The aim of this study is to discover, on the one hand, the perception that student unionists have about violence and, on the other hand, to analyze the stakes involved in the systematic use of violence by these unionized students during the two decades of 1990- 2010 to understand the survival of this phenomenon in the context of "new departure". To achieve this, we have chosen the six (06) unions that have marked the history of student violence the more during the period 1990-2010. With the aid of semi-directive interviews, we have collected the data which reveal the perception that violence for the trade unions is a legitimate and legal act according to their own statute and internal regulations. It shows that there is a congenital link between trade unionism and politics. Therefore, trade unionism cannot be exercised without politics. Under the stakes, it appears that violence is an indicator of trade union dynamism for political positioning; that it confers power by the domination of public spaces such as universities.
Application of Internet for Service Delivery in Selected Special Libraries in Kaduna Metropolis
Authors: Uloaku Ikegwuiro, Patience
Published: April 2017

The study investigated the Application of Internet for service delivery in some selected special libraries in Kaduna state. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the kind of Internet services used in the special libraries; to ascertain the library services where internet is applied; to find out the extent of internet application in library services; to ascertain the level of satisfaction of the staff with the application of the Internet and to determine the factors that hinder the effective application of Internet in the libraries. Survey method of research was adopted. The population of the study was made up of 38 library staff from the four (4) selected special libraries. Descriptive statistical tools such as simple percentages and tables were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that the application of Internet to library services is not significantly high. The study also found out that the librarians derive satisfaction in the application of Internet in their library services because it helps for effective services delivery, though some factors were discovered to be a hindrance for effective application of the Internet in the special libraries which include: low bandwidth; poor funding; erratic power supply, technology obsolescence and high cost of connectivity and maintenance. The study recommends that Internet services should be adequately used by the special libraries in Kaduna metropolis in carrying out the housekeeping operations and services of the library; libraries administrations in Kaduna metropolis should make sure that there is steady power supply in the libraries for effective use of the Internet services for service delivery; The special libraries should make sure that Internet facilities are serviced regularly; and training of staff on for effective use of the Internet. The study concludes that special libraries in Kaduna metropolis are still on the verge of meeting up with the global perspective of ICT compliance. This notwithstanding, the Internet services are available in such a way that libraries can apply them to library service to enhance the quality of their service delivery.
Comparative Analysis of Retail Banking Promotional Measures- A study of customer perception towards promotional strategies adopted by Indian Commercial Banks
Authors: Sharma Rajesh Shankar , Bhalla N S
Published: April 2017

In today’s competitive financial world, each financial institution is trying hard to get the maximum share in terms of profit, sales and customers. A customer may be salaried or self employed. Irrespective of the profession, he/she requires banking services like a requirement of loan, services of foreign exchange, safe deposit of money etc. In order to meet and exceed customer’s expectations, Indian banks offer customized banking products. Bank main objective is to get new customer and to retain the existing one. In order to attract new customers, banks are adopting various promotional measures like sales promotion, advertising, personal selling and publicity. Which promotional measure is the most striking one and is liked by customers, poses a big question mark? In order to study the most preferred promotional measure, a survey is being conducted to know the customer preference. 50 customers, each from Axis Bank and IndusInd Bank, are selected for study. The outcome was astonishing as the customers of Axis Bank gives preference to public relation and customers of IndusInd bank gives preference to effective advertising.
Examining Correlates between School Teacher’s Self-Efficacy and Their Job Involvement
Authors: Srivastava Shalini , Tiwari Gaurav , Srivastava Anugamini Priya
Published: April 2017

The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and job involvement. Data for the study was collected from secondary school teachers of Uttarakhand region, India. Validity, internal consistency and reliability of the measures were evaluated. Correlation analysis, mean and standard deviation analysis was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis. Findings indicate that the measures of self-efficacy and job involvement are capable of generalization in secondary school context. Further teacher self-efficacy was positively and significantly correlated to teacher sense of job involvement. This study is important as it contributes towards the self-cognitive theory provided by Bandura.
Redefinición y positivación de la figura de Helena en la trilogía troyana de Eurípides
Authors: Morenilla Talens Carmen
Published: April 2017

Tradicionalmente se ha considerado que el cambio en la configuración del personaje de Helena en Eurípides no se produce hasta su tragedia Helena. Esta es, sin duda, la obra central en la que la redefinición y positivación de Helena alcanzará un desarrollo teatral pleno. Creemos, con todo, que una lectura más atenta de los motivos utilizados en tragedias anteriores nos da la clave para la interpretación correcta de las innovaciones que el autor va introduciendo en la caracterización trágica de esta figura mítica. Ese proceso puede fijarse en un periodo convulso en la vida ateniense, el que va de la Paz de Nicias a la marcha definitiva de Eurípides de Atenas.
Geodiversidade e patrimônio geológico
Authors: Pereira Ricardo Galeno Fraga de Araujo , Rios Débora Correia , Garcia Pedro Maciel de Paula
Published: April 2017

O presente trabalho apresenta a abordagem e os conceitos relativos às temáticas da geodivesidade e patrimônio geológico, adotados no Curso de Capacitação em Geociências para Professores do Ensino Fundamental e Médio da rede pública do Estado da Bahia, que abordou cinco linhas temáticas. O curso foi realizado por meio de convênio firmado entre a Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia - SBG, o 47º Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia – 47º CBG e a Secretaria de Educação e Cultura do Estado da Bahia, por meio do Instituto Anísio Teixeira IAT, tendo atingido diretamente cerca de 350 professores. Dentre os resultados obtidos, o curso contribuiu para a aproximação entre a academia e a comunidade, popularização das Geociências, o fomento da prática de identificação dos locais de interesse geológico no território nacional e conservação do patrimônio geológico brasileiro.
Numerical Linear Algebra
Authors: Layton William , Sussman Myron
Published: April 2017

This textbook was designed for senior undergraduates in mathematics, engineering and the sciences with diverse backgrounds and goals. It presents modern tools from numerical linear algebra with supporting theory along with examples and exercises, both theoretical and computational with MATLAB. The major topics of numerical linear algebra covered are direct methods for solving linear systems, iterative methods for large and sparse systems (including the conjugate gradient method) and eigenvalue problems. Basic linear algebra (of the type taken in the engineering curriculum) is assumed. Further matrix theory is developed in a self-contained way when needed to expalin why methods work and how they might fail.

This book is intended for a one term course for undergraduate students in applied and computational mathematics, the sciences, engineering, computer science, financial mathematics and actuarial science. It is also a good choice for a beginning graduate level course for students who will use the numerical methods to solve problems in their own areas.
A Theoretical Study and Numerical Simulation of a Quasi-Distributed Sensor Based on the Low-Finesse Fabry-Perot Interferometer: Frequency-Division Multiplexing
Authors: Guillen Bonilla José Trinidad , Guillén-Bonilla Alex , Veronica M. Rodríguez-Betancourtt , Guillen Bonilla Héctor , Casillas Zamora Antonio
Published: April 2017

The application of the sensors optical fiber in the areas of scientific instrumentation and industrial instrumentation is very attractive due to its numerous advantages. In the industry of civil engineering for example, quasi-distributed sensors made with optical fiber are used for reliable strain and temperature measurements. Here, a quasi-distributed sensor in the frequency domain is discussed. The sensor consists of a series of low-finesse Fabry-Perot interferometers where each Fabry-Perot interferometer acts as a local sensor. Fabry-Perot interferometers are formed by pairs of identical low reflective Bragg gratings imprinted in a single mode fiber. All interferometer sensors have different cavity length, provoking the frequency-domain multiplexing. The optical signal represents the superposition of all interference patterns which can be decomposed using the Fourier transform. The frequency spectrum is analyzed and sensor´s properties were defined. Following, a quasi-distributed sensor was numerically simulated. Our sensor simulation considers sensor properties, signal processing, noise system and instrumentation. The numerical results show the behavior of resolution vs. signal-to-noise ratio. From our results, the Fabry-Perot sensor has high resolution and low resolutions. Both resolutions are conceivable because the FDPA algorithm elaborates two evaluations of Bragg wavelength shift
Factors of Change: The influence of policy environment factors on climate change mitigation strategies in the transport sector
Authors: Lah Oliver
Published: April 2017

There is a large potential for cost-effective solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to improve the sustainability of the transport sector that is yet unexploited, in particular in the urban context. Considering the cost-effectiveness and the potential for co-benefits, it is hard to understand why energy gains and mitigation action in the transport sector is still lagging behind the potential. Particularly interesting is the fact that there is substantial difference among countries with relatively similar economic performances, such as the OECD countries in the development of their transport CO2 emission over the past thirty years despite the fact that these countries had relatively similar access to efficient technologies and vehicles. This study aims to apply some well established political science theories on the particular example of climate change mitigation in the transport sector in order to identify some of the factors that could help explain the variations in success of policies and strategies in this sector. The analysis suggests that institutional arrangements that contribute to consensus building in the political process provide a high level of political and policy stability which is vital to long-term changes in energy end-use sectors that rely on long-term investments. However, there is no direct correlation between institutional structures, e.g. corporatism and success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector. Environmental objectives need to be built into the consensus-based policy structure before actual policy progress can be observed. This usually takes longer in consensus democracies than in politically more agile majoritarian policy environments, but the policy stability that builds on corporatist institutional structures is likely to experience changes over a longer-term, in this case to a shift towards low-carbon transport that endures.
Impact of the Fused Deposition (FDM) Printing Process on Polylactic Acid (PLA) Chemistry and Structure
Authors: Cuiffo Michael , Snyder Jeffrey , Elliott Alicia , Romero Nicholas , Kannan Sandhiya , Halada Gary
Published: April 2017

Polylactic Acid (PLA) is an organic polymer commonly used in fused deposition (FDM) printing and biomedical scaffolding that is biocompatible and immunologically inert. However, variations in source material quality and chemistry make it necessary to characterize the filament and determine potential changes in chemistry occurring as a result of the FDM process. We used several spectroscopic techniques, including laser confocal microscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and photoacousitc FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) in order to characterize both the bulk and surface chemistry of the source material and printed samples. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize morphology, crystallinity, and the glass transition temperature following printing. Analysis revealed calcium carbonate-based additives which were reacted with organic ligands and potentially trace metal impurities, both before and following printing. These additives became concentrated in voids in the printed structure. This finding is important for biomedical applications as carbonate will impact subsequent cell growth on printed tissue scaffolds. Results of chemical analysis also provided evidence of the hygroscopic nature of the source material and oxidation of the printed surface, and SEM imaging revealed micro and sub-micron scale roughness that will also impact potential applications.
Reconstruction of Earth Extreme Topography from UAV Structure from Motion Photogrammetry
Authors: Agüera-Vega Francisco , Carvajal-Ramírez Fernando , Martínez-Carricondo Patricio Jesús , Sánchez-Hermosilla López Julián
Published: April 2017

UAV photogrammetry development during the last decade has allowed to catch information at a very high spatial and temporal resolution from terrains with very difficult or impossible human access. This paper deals with the application of these techniques to study and produce information of very extreme topography which is useful to plan works on this terrain or monitoring it over the time to study its evolution. The methodology stars with the execution of UAV flights on the cut slope studied, one with the cam vertically oriented and other at 45º respect that orientation. Ground control points (GCPs) and check points (CPs) were measured for georeference and accuracy measurement purposes. Orthophoto was obtained projecting on a fitted plane to a studied surface. Moreover, since a digital surface model (DSM) is not able to represent faithfully that extreme morphology, information to project works or monitoring it has been derived from the point cloud generated during the photogrammetric process. An informatics program was developed to generate contour lines and cross sections derived from the point cloud, which was able to represent all terrain geometric characteristics, like several Z coordinates for a given planimetric (X, Y) point. Results yield a root mean square error (RMSE) in X, Y and Z directions of 0.053 m, 0.070 m and 0.061 m respectively. Furthermore, comparison between contour lines and cross sections generated from point cloud with the developed program on one hand and those generated from DSM on other hand, shown that the former are capable of representing terrain geometric characteristics that the latter cannot. The methodology proposed in this work has been shown as an adequate alternative to generate manageable information, as orthophoto, contour lines and cross sections, useful for the elaboration, for example, of projects for repairing or maintenance works of cut slopes with extreme topography.
One Step at a Time: Stage‐Wise Analysis of a Series of Experiments
Authors: Damesa Tigist Mideksa , Möhring Jens , Worku Mosisa , Piepho Hans‐Peter
Published: April 2017

Core Ideas

Single‐stage and two‐stage analysis of multienvironment trials yield very similar results.

Single‐stage and two‐stage analysis are identical when the same set of variance values is used.

Modeling genotypes as random helps to exploit correlations between agro‐ecological zones.

In stage‐wise analysis, genotypes need to be taken as fixed through all stages except the last.

Fully efficient two‐stage analysis is similar in spirit to meta‐analysis.

Multienvironment trials can be analyzed using single‐stage or stage‐wise analysis. Single‐stage analysis is fully efficient, meaning that the estimators can be expected to be as close as possible to the corresponding true genotypic values, and so is often deemed preferable to two‐stage analysis. However, two‐stage analysis is often favored in practice over single‐stage analysis in the case of large datasets because of the larger computational burden of the latter and because the former allows separate analyses of individual trials in the first stage, accounting for any specifics of each trial. In this study we demonstrate the similarities of results of single‐stage and two‐stage analysis when information on mean estimates and the associated variance–covariance matrix is forwarded from the first stage to the second stage using four examples with maize (Zea mays L.) trial data from Ethiopia. A new fully efficient and an approximate two‐stage method with diagonal weighting matrix are used for weighting in the second stage. We extend the method to three‐stage analysis for multienvironment trials when sites are stratified by agro‐ecological zones and demonstrate how to obtain best linear unbiased predictions of genotype effects per zone using the information from neighboring zones. Two macros that compute weights for use in the fully efficient and diagonal weighting approaches are provided.
Temperature Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities and Potential Implications for the Biodegradation of Turfgrass Pesticides
Authors: Reedich Lisa M. , Millican Michael D. , Koch Paul L.
Published: April 2017

Maintaining healthy turfgrass often results in the use of pesticides to manage weed, insect, and disease pests. To identify and understand potential nontarget impacts of pesticide usage while still maintaining attractive and functional turfgrass sites, it is important to improve our understanding of how pesticides degrade in various environments throughout the growing season. Temperature heavily influences microbial community composition and activity, and the microbial community often heavily influences pesticide degradation in soil ecosystems. Pesticide transformation products generated through the action of soil microbial degradation networks can vary in their toxicity, with the potential result that a pesticide applied in the spring at 10°C could produce different transformation products with different toxicological impacts than the sample pesticide applied to the same site at 22°C. The objective of this review is to examine past research surrounding soil microbial activity related to pesticide degradation and provide a foundation for how the soil microbiome interacts with pesticides and how seasonal temperature variations may influence those interactions.

Core Ideas

Microbial organisms drive pesticide breakdown in the soil.

Temperature heavily influences soil microbial structure and function.

Altered microbial activity can result in altered pesticide transformation products.

Soil temperature variations can result in altered toxicological pesticide effects.
Morphology and Genesis of Humus Profiles under Chaparral Shrubs in Southern California
Authors: Haydu-Houdeshell Carrie-Ann , Graham Robert C. , Peterson Adam C. , Hendrix Paul F. , Quideau Sylvie A.
Published: April 2017

Core Ideas

Litter layers of chaparral soils differ dramatically under different plant species.

The rate of litterfall, balanced by the rate of decomposition, influences the type of litter layers that develop.

Macrofauna, such as earthworms, are inhibited by dry conditions and have minimal effects on litter layer characteristics.

Chaparral is the predominant wildland ecosystem adjoining many urban areas of California. The litter layers under this dense shrub cover are important because they modify soil climate, support soil fauna, provide nutrients, and protect against soil erosion. The objectives of this study were: (i) to understand how the morphology of chaparral litter layers changes with depth under different shrub species, and (ii) to determine the influence of shrub species and associated macrofauna on the genesis of humus profiles. Research was conducted within mature chaparral stands (38 yr after fire) on the San Dimas Experimental Forest under four common chaparral species: chamise (Adenostoma fasiculatumH. & A.), hoaryleaf ceanothus (Ceanothus crassifoliusTorr.), bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glaucaLindl.), and scrub oak (Quercus dumosaNutt.). Increased litter decomposition with depth was expressed as decreasing C/N ratios, proliferation of fungal hyphae, and degradation of characteristic leaf features. Mineral matter content also increased with depth in the humus profiles, resulting from mixing by soil fauna. Earthworm densities were low throughout the chaparral, caused by seasonal moisture limitations, and were insufficient to consume manzanita leaf litter effectively, leading to thicker humus profiles and the development of Mor‐type humus. Moder‐type humus forms, with thinner litter layers, were found under scrub oak and ceanothus. Chamise litter was classified as a Rhizomull because of minimal litter accumulation, resulting from low and roughly equivalent litterfall and decomposition rates. Unique characteristics of the chaparral species led to different humus profiles and humus forms but macrofauna were not an overriding genetic influence.
Gadgets in the Gymnasium: Physical Educators’ Use of Digital Technologies | Les gadgets au gymnase : l’utilisation des technologies numériques par les enseignants en éducation physique
Authors: Robinson Daniel , Randall Lynn
Published: April 2017

This article highlights results from a recent study that investigated Atlantic Canadian physical educators’ adoption and implementation of various digital technologies. Employing a mixed-methods research design (survey participants, n = 206; focus group participants, n = 12), the research intended to provide a clear overview of physical educators’ implementation of digital technologies—as well as an account of the factors that may enable or limit their use. Results suggest that some digital technologies are used more (e.g., audio players, computers) than others (e.g., Dartfish, iTouch). Moreover, a number of external barriers (limitations in time, expertise, resources) and internal barriers (teacher beliefs, established pedagogy) were identified. In light of these results, a number of observations and comments are offered. Results from this research might be of particular interest to those engaged with physical education and technology implementation.Cet article souligne les résultats d’une étude récente qui s’est penchée sur l’adoption et la mise en application de diverses technologies numériques par les moniteurs d’éducation physique du Canada atlantique. À l’aide d’un modèle de recherche faisant appel à des méthodes mixtes (participants au sondage, n = 206; participants au groupe de discussion, n = 12), l’étude entendait fournir un survol limpide de la mise en œuvre des technologies numériques par les enseignants en éducation physique, ainsi qu’un compte-rendu des facteurs qui peuvent permettre ou limiter cet usage. Les résultats suggèrent que certaines technologies numériques sont plus utilisées (p. ex. lecteurs audio et ordinateurs) que d’autres (p. ex. Dartfish, iTouch). De plus, un certain nombre d’obstacles externes (des limites relatives au temps, à l’expertise, aux ressources) et internes (croyances des enseignants, pédagogie établie) ont été repérés. À la lumière de ces résultats, nous offrons certaines observations et des commentaires. Les résultats de ces recherches peuvent être intéressants pour les personnes qui s’occupent de l’éducation physique et de la mise en application des technologies.
Book Review of Ten Strategies for Building Community with Technology
Authors: Janes Diane
Published: April 2017

Book Review of Ten Strategies for Building Community with Technology
Geostatistics-based spatial variation characteristics of groundwater levels in a wastewater irrigation area, northern China
Authors: Yin Shiyang , Gu Xiaomin , Xiao Yong , Wu Wenyong , Pan Xingyao , Shao Jingli , Zhang Qiulan
Published: April 2017

Although wastewater reuse in agriculture can ease water scarcity, this practice also alters the variation of groundwater recharge and groundwater levels. This study employed a geostatistical method to systematically investigate the spatio-temporal variations and storage fluctuations of groundwater in a wastewater irrigation area in a southeastern suburb of Beijing. Specifically, we generated an optimal geostatistical model for measuring groundwater levels. Furthermore, we proposed that universal kriging is a suitable method for examining groundwater spatial variations, whereas a raster-based model can provide high accuracy for studying groundwater fluctuations; the nugget effect value of groundwater levels increases with increasing exploitation intensity. Our results indicated that groundwater levels increased overall in the early stages of wastewater irrigation development, followed by local increases in some pockets in the middle stages of development, large-scale increases in the late stages and an increasing variation of magnitude over time. The results also showed that groundwater level declined less on farmlands than that in urban areas, suggesting that wastewater irrigation facilitates groundwater conservation by reducing groundwater exploitation and enhancing groundwater recharge. Our results are conducive to developing an effective groundwater management plan and for improving the accuracy of groundwater resource assessments.
Źródła o Toli i Jairze w deuteronomistycznej strukturze Księgi Sędziów
Authors: Dziadosz Dariusz
Published: April 2017

Abstrakt
Roberto MANCINI, Il senso della misericordia, Edizioni Romena, Pratovecchio 2016
Authors: Suwiński Stanisław
Published: April 2017

recenzja
Selective Tests of Grouting Material for Fractured Coal and Rock Masses in a Water-borne H2S Environment
Authors: Su Peili , Wei Zhengfan
Published: April 2017

Coal mining is vulnerable to multiple kinds of threat from water incursion. Many coal seams contain dissolved H2S, which may be released during mining, seriously endangering the health of workers. Orthogonal testing was used to analyze the physical and mechanical properties of composite slurries in different proportions. The results showed slurry with a water-solid ratio of 0.8:1 to have the optimal combination of properties. A uniform experimental method was used to investigate the impact of the water-cement ratio, concentration of sodium silicate, and volume of cement-sodium silicate (CS) on the setting time and consolidating strength of CS slurry. This paper provides the appropriate application scope of two grouting materials (optimized composite slurry and CS slurry), based on experimental data and the results of a large number of in situ trials. Finally, the optimized composite slurry and cement-sodium silicate slurry were used to carry out grouting of the center auxiliary transport roadway of the 3−1 coal seam at the Ningtiaota Coal Mine, operated by the Shaanxi Coal Industry Group. It was shown that the type and formula of the slurry could be changed in a timely manner, based on the water outlet and concentration of H2S at the site, achieving successful grouting reinforcement and seepage-proofing.
POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF DUKU (LANSIUM DOMESTICUM CORR) AND LANGSAT (LANSIUM DOMESTICUM JACK) EXTRACTS ON THE GROWTH OF BIFIDOBACTERIA SPP.
Authors: H. Norhayati A. , Khalili R. Mohd Adzim , M. Z. Zetty Hulwany , M.a. Intan Suhana Munira , B. Atif Amin , V. Muralidhara D. , L. Ahmad Zubaidi
Published: April 2017

Objective: Lansium domesticum Corr. is a fruit tree species belongs to the family Meliaceae. There are numerous forms of the species and grouped into two main types: Duku and Langsat. The objective of this study is to screen the ability of adding extracts of freeze-dried duku and langsat to stimulate the growth and stability of selected Bifidobacteria spp in skimmed milk.Methods: Samples were prepared by adding either 5% or 12% of oligosaccharides from duku, langsat, inulin, galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) to 5% and 12% (w/v) reconstituted nonfat dry milk (NDM), respectively. The specific growth rates (µ) for each sample were calculated. All experiments were replicated ten times.Results: The mean doubling time (Td) for Bifidobacterium longum, was lowest in the presence of freeze-dried duku and langsat compared to GOS, FOS and inulin. Retention of the viability of five Bifidobacterium species was greatest in the presence of freeze-dried duku and langsat followed by GOS, FOS and inulin. The highest percentage of acetic and lactic acids were produced by B. longum, B. infantis and B. adolescentis with freeze-dried duku and langsat. The pattern of results was similar to the commercial product, oligosaccharides (inulin, GOS and FOS). Conclusion: Therefore, this study provides promising results on promoting growth and probiotic activity of natural oligosaccharides compound from freeze-dried duku and langsat.
LIPID MICROEMULSION-BASED HYDROGELS FOR EFFECTIVE TOPICAL DELIVERY OF PHENYTOIN
Authors: Lee Siang Yin , Teo Chia Chin , Tan Wei Jen , Lim Hui Yan , Lim Hwei Hwei , Teo Siew Yong
Published: April 2017

Objective: Microemulsion is a promising drug delivery vehicle for lipophilic drugs but its acceptability for topical application is limited to its very low viscosity. The aim of the present study was to develop and characterize lipid microemulsion hydrogel as a topical drug carrier for phenytoin.Methods: Lipid oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions were formulated from palm kernel oil (PKO), coconut kernel oil (CKO) and soybean oil (SBO), and their blends using phase inversion temperature method. Stable nano-sized microemulsions were identified and formulated into phenytoin loaded hydrogels. The physicochemical properties of the formulations were evaluated in term of emulsion stability index, droplet size, zeta potential, pH, and rheological properties. The efficacy of in vitro drug release of phenytoin was further evaluated using Franz diffusion cells.Results: Stability study revealed that ten lipid emulsions mixing with surfactant Tween 80 at an oil-to-surfactant ratio of 1:9 having 100% emulsion stability indices. Among these, two emulsions (F6 and F21) were identified as the most stable nano-sized microemulsions with clear and transparent appearances; mean droplet size maintained within 100 nm (11–16 nm) as per stability study. Rheological data showed that all phenytoin is loaded hydrogels exhibited non-Newtonian and shear-thinning flow behavior, with high yield stress of a 10.3–18.8 Pa. The in vitro release profiles followed the first-order kinetic model, with R2>0.95, where F21 demonstrated the highest release rate, with 93.12% drug released in 12 h.Conclusion: These findings concluded that CKO/SBO blend microemulsion hydrogel has the highest potential for topical phenytoin delivery.
EFFECT OF ETHANOL-WATER COMPOSITION ON CLINDAMYCIN HYDROCHLORIDE PSEUDOPOLYMORPHISM
Authors: Nugrahani Ilma , Anggraeni Silvana
Published: April 2017

Objective: Formation of clindamycin hydrochloride (clindamycin HCl) in monohydrate-ethanolate from the recrystallization process with ethanol–water (5:2) has been reported a long time ago. However, the effect of ethanol-water compositions into pseudo-polymorphism formation and its stability of was not reported yet. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ethanol-water proportion on the formation of clindamycin HCl-monohydrate and its ethanol solvate.Methods: Clindamycin HCl was recrystallized with the various percentages of ethanol. The fresh and after storage for 24 h at humidity and room temperature (25±2 °C, RH: 70±1%) crystals were characterized by FTIR (Fourier transform infra-red), PXRD (powder x-ray diffractometer), and DTA (differential scanning calorimeter). The study of desolvation/dehydration then was observed with a polarization microscopy-plate heater.Results: The results showed that monohydrate crystal was obtained from recrystallization in a concentration less than 50% ethanol in water. Next, the ethanolate was produced from the solvent of>70% ethanol. Meanwhile, the 50–70 % ethanol produced a hydrate–ethanolate, crystal, which has both hydrate and ethanol in its lattice. This hydrate-ethanolates was unstable, even in ambient temperature.Conclusion: Concentration of ethanol in water as the solvent will determine the clindamycin HCl pseudo polymorphism, which will back to its original crystal form by the time of storage.
AN OVERVIEW OF RECOMBINANT VACCINE TECHNOLOGY, ADJUVANTS AND VACCINE DELIVERY METHODS
Authors: Hudu Shuaibu Abdullahi , Shinkafi Saadatu Haruna , Umar Shuaibu
Published: April 2017

Development of an effective vaccine is of paramount important in disease prevention and control. As such, recombinant technology can serve as a gateway for the development of safe and effective vaccines that can be delivered effectively with an appropriate adjuvant. Therefore, this paper aimed to review the role of recombinant vaccine technology, new adjuvants and the challenge of vaccine delivery. Related peer-reviewed journal article searches were conducted using a subscribed database at the Universiti Putra Malaysia library, involving areas of Health Sciences and Medicine via Medline, SCOPUS and Google Scholar. New generation vaccines include highly purified synthetic or recombinant antigens that stimulate effective cell-mediated immune and mucosal immunity. In order to enhance their efficacy, a number of adjuvants are used. Efforts have also been made to explore the usage of non-invasive routes of administration, devices and equipment for optimized antigen and immune-potentiator delivery of the immune system. Recombinant vaccine technology is rapid, compared to the traditional method of vaccine development and does not require the handling of live viruses. It is, therefore, a promising technology for developing a future vaccine to curb emerging and re-emerging viral infections that may be life-threatening or teratogenic.
SYNTHESIS, ANTIPLASMODIAL AND ADMET STUDIES OF 4-METHYLAMINO-2-PHENYLQUINOLINE ANALOGS
Authors: Mahantheshappa Santhosha S. , Satyanarayan Nayak D. , Mahadevan Kittappa M. , Bommegowda Yogesh D. , Thangaraj Menaka
Published: April 2017

Objective: Synthesis, antiplasmodial and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) studies of 4-methylamino-2-phenylquinoline analogs. Methods: The synthesis of 4-methylamino-2-phenylquinoline analogs 7(a-j) by reacting substituted 4-(chloromethyl)-2-phenylquinoline 6(a-c) with secondary amines to explore their antimalarial property against P. falciparum RKL-2 strain and in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) properties using ACD/I-Lab 2.0. The synthesized structures were confirmed by IR, NMR and Mass spectral analysis.Results: The results revealed that at 100 μg/ml, compounds 7a, 7d and 7i were found to be potent with percentage inhibition of 88.0±1.1, 79.1±1.1, 90.2±0.1, respectively. The compounds 7b, 7e, 7f and 7h were moderately active with 59.9±1.2, 48.5±2.0, 35.2±1.1 and 52.0±0.3 and the remaining compounds 7c, 7g and 7j exhibited mild activity 32.2±1.2, 36.8±3.0 and 28.7±2.0. The absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) studies of title compounds were analyzed and found to be obeying the Lipinski rule of five and are non-toxic.Conclusion: The C4 of quinoline ring with morpholine 7a, piperidine 7d and imidazole 7i substitutions were promising enough to be taken as lead molecules in the drug discovery of new antimalarial. The in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) studies of the molecules were found to be obeying the Lipinski rule of five good drug likeliness.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDICATOR BASED TOOL FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF MEDICINES SELECTION PRACTICES IN VARIOUS PUBLIC SECTOR HOSPITALS
Authors: Iqbal Mir Javid , Geer Mohammad Ishaq , Dar Parvez Ahamd
Published: April 2017

Objective: To develop and validate an indicator based assessment tool for carrying out an in-depth assessment of drug selection practices prevalent at various public health facilities.Methods: The study was designed across the different levels of healthcare settings. One super specialty children’s tertiary care hospital (CH), one government medical college hospital (MCH), one district hospital (DH), one sub-district hospital (SDH) and one primary health center (PHC) was selected for the study. A set of 29 qualitative and 7 quantitative indicators was developed and validated to evaluate and assess drug selection practices in these public healthcare facilities.Results: All the surveyed healthcare facilities managed and stored essential medicines except solid oral dosage forms, contraceptives, antiretrovirals and anti-tubercular drugs. The selection process for medicines was not carried out at SDH and PHC level. National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), manufacturer’s information, and expert faculty opinion were used as basic tools for carrying out a selection of drugs. None of the facilities were found to have Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) in place or its own Hospital Formulary (HF). Insufficient and irregular disbursement of funds was found to be the main constraint in selecting drugs for procurement. None of the facilities had any policy and procedural manual or standard operating procedures for governing their drug selection and quantification processes. Quantitative assessments showed that disbursement of the budget was fragmented. On the basis of NLEM children’s hospital was found to have highest medicines percentage availability of eighty percent (80%) with the lowest at SDH and PHC of twenty percent each (20%). Facility wise percentage adherence to various indicators for policies and procedures was found to be 50% in MCH, CH, and DH respectively and 66.6% adherence for NLEM indicator was recorded in MCH, CH and DH respectively.Conclusion: Drug selection process for public health facilities is a highly technical and professional activity that can only be achieved efficiently by having a well-defined document containing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and comprehensive policy framework for drug selection, quantification, procurement, storage, distribution, and use besides having suitably qualified, adequately trained, sufficiently skilled manpower both at managerial and ground level.
EVALUATION OF CAUSATIVE FACTORS IN AMLODIPINE INDUCED PEDAL EDEMA
Authors: Shetty Kiran , K. Ranjan Shetty , Rao Pragna , G. Vivek , S. Naveenchandra G. , Razak Abdul , . Deepak , Kiran Amruth
Published: April 2017

Objective: To study the edema causing factors in hypertensive, amlodipine-induced pedal edema patients.Methods: The present was a prospective, observational study. A total of one hundred and twenty-four essential hypertensive patients, of either gender attending the outpatient department of cardiology and medicine, were recruited for this study. Out of the 124 patients, 62 were of the amlodipine-induced pedal edema [AIPE] group and other 62 patients were amlodipine-treated non-edema [ATNE] group. All the patients were receiving a dosage of amlodipine 5 mg/day. All recruited patients completed the study. The present study conducted at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal.Results: The vanillyl mandelic acid (VMA) (mean±SD) 7.08±2.3 mg/24 h and 4.9±1.7 mg/24 h in AIPE and ATNE groups respectively. Blood pressure (BP) and VMA was higher in AIPE group than the ATNE group (p<0.001). Pulse rate (PR), serum proteins, creatinine, sodium, osmolality, did not show any significant difference between the two study groups.Conclusion: In essential hypertensive patients with AIPE group presented with a higher VMA level than the ATNE group. The elevated catecholamine’s possibly the causative factor for AIPE.