bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COMMUNICATING LITHUANIA’S DESTINATION BRANDING
Authors: Sederevičiūtė-Pačiauskienė Živilė , Katinaitė Karolina
Published: June 2020

Increasingly, academics and practitioners are turning their attention towards destination branding as a serious topic of research and enquiry. In an attempt to differentiate themselves from competitors, tourism authorities across Europe are developing unique and highly targeted advertising campaigns. However, research being conducted indicates that whatever the destination country, tourists make their decisions for very similar reasons. This research analyses how Lithuania brand communicates its campaign message to tourists, and the experience of those tourists who have visited the country, as well as gauge their response, i.e. expectations, opinions and recommendations about the campaign. Specifically, the research analysed the destination branding campaign “Lithuania. Real is Beautiful” and its corollary, i.e. nature (“See nature”), culture (“Explore culture”), food (“Taste food”), people (“Meet people”) and activity (“Stay active”), and how (and in what ways) the campaign reflects the criteria that tourists used to make Lithuania their holiday destination, as well as the opinions they formed about our country. The response from tourists clearly shows that Lithuania’s current advertising campaign is failing to make the connection with, and leverage off, the country’s highly symbolic national flag. The red, green and yellow of the flag demonstrate a visual uniqueness and act as signifiers for the country as a whole, and this is what tourists would like to see.
Radial-velocity Variation of a Tertiary Star Orbiting a Binary Black Hole in Coplanar and Noncoplanar Triples: Short- and Long-term Anomalous Behavior
Authors: Hayashi 林 Toshinori 利憲 , Suto 須藤 Yasushi 靖
Published: June 2020

A number of ongoing surveys are likely to discover star–black hole binaries in our Galaxy in the near future. A fraction of them may be triple systems comprising an inner binary, instead of a single black hole, which might be progenitors of binary black holes (BBHs) routinely discovered now from the gravitational wave. We extend our previous proposal to locate inner BBHs from the short-term radial-velocity (RV) variation of a tertiary star in coplanar triples, and we consider noncoplanar triples and their long-term RV variations as well. Specifically, we assume coplanar and noncoplanar triples with an inner BBH of total mass 20 M
⊙, whose outer and inner orbital periods are 80 days and 10 days, respectively. We perform a series of N-body simulations and compare the results with analytic approximate solutions based on quadrupole perturbation theory. For coplanar triples, the pericenter shift of the outer star can be used to detect the hidden inner BBH. For noncoplanar triples, the total RV semiamplitude of the outer star is modulated periodically on the order of 100 km s−1, due to its precession over roughly the Kozai–Lidov oscillation timescale. Such long-term modulations would be detectable within a decade, independent of the short-term RV variations on the order of 100 m s−1 at roughly twice the orbital frequency of the inner binary. Thus the RV monitoring of future star–black hole binary candidates offers a promising method for searching for their inner hidden BBHs in optical bands.
Comparative Analysis of Root Dentin Loss when Using Modern Mechanical Cleaning Instruments in Immature Permanent Teeth
Authors: Hristov Krasimir , Gateva Natalia , Ishkitiev Nikolay , Doitchinova Liliya
Published: June 2020

Introduction: The full decontamination and disinfection of the root canal system is essential for the success of regenerative endodontic procedures. The current literature does not have information regarding mechanical cleaning of immature teeth with contemporary endodontic instuments.

Aim: To compare the thickness and volume of the dentin removed from the roots of immature teeth after endodontic preparation using XP-endo Finisher, GentleFile Brush and a standard H-file scraping technique through micro-computed tomography.

Methods: The study included 51 immature permanent molars. Endodontic access was prepared and without performing preliminary extirpation of the pulp, the teeth were divided into three groups. The first group of teeth were instrumented for two minutes with XP-endo Finisher, the second - two minutes with Gentlefile Brush, in the third group the root canals walls were scraped with a No. 40 H-file. The thickness and the volume of the removed dentin was assessed using micro-CT imaging before and after the use of the instruments.

Results: There is no statistically significant difference in the mean values of thickness of dentin removed between the teeth, prepared with XP-endo finisher and Gentlefile Brush. When comparing the mean values of volume of dentin removed between the separate groups, a statistically significant difference was discovered for every compared pair with the highest volume of removed dentin in the group prepared with a hand instrument.

Conclusion: The endodontic systems tested when used in immature permanent teeth remove significantly less quantity of hard dental structures compared to a hand file for scraping the root canal.
In Vitro Comparison of Several Methods for Initial Proximal Caries Detection
Authors: Todorova Veselina , Filipov Ivan , Petrova Reneta
Published: June 2020

Introduction: Initial proximal caries is both diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The disadvantages of the conventional methods for caries detection and the development of technologies led to the creation of contemporary optical devices for early caries detection.

Aim: In vitro comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of several methods for early proximal caries detection – visual-tactile, bitewing radiography and laser fluorescence device (DIAGNOdent pen).

Materials and methods: Fifty-eight proximal surfaces of extracted human permanent premolars and molars were examined by two examiners using visual inspection, bitewing radiography, DIAGNOdent with proximal contact, and DIAGNOdent directly in the lesion. Results were compared with the histological gold standard. Statistical analysis with ROC curve, sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of each detection method was performed. Analysis was conducted in 3 diagnostic thresholds – initial, developed and advanced demineralization.

Results: Sensitivity of visual inspection was 16%–33%, specificity 93.3%–100%, sensitivity of bitewing radiography 54%–67%, speci­ficity 93%–94%, sensitivity of DIAGNOdent with proximal surfaces in contact 88%–91%, specificity 79%–89%, sensitivity of DIAG­NOdent directly 89%–92.5%, specificity 81.29%–93%. The highest diagnostic accuracy, increasing with the rise of the level of demin­eralization, was shown by DIAGNOdent directly, followed by DIAGNOdent with proximal contact, bitewing radiography, and visual inspection with the lowest accuracy.

Conclusion: The use of contemporary diagnostic devices significantly increases the possibility for early detection of proximal lesions. DIAGNOdent can be used as an adjunct to and increasing the diagnostic accuracy of the conventional caries detection methods.
Surrogate Markers of Intestinal Inflammation in Paediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Shentova Rayna , Baycheva Mila , Kofinova Denitza , Hadjiiski Petio , Yaneva Penka
Published: June 2020

Background: Endoscopic evaluation is the gold standard for monitoring the disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but the procedure is invasive and not appropriate for frequent use, especially in the paediatric population. The aim of the present study was to assess the correlation between the levels of several inflammatory biomarkers and the degree of intestinal inflammation in paediatric patients with IBD.

Materials and methods: A single center study including 31 children with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 22 children with Crohn’s disease (CD) with different disease duration and activity. All participants provided blood samples to measure the levels of white blood cell count, platelets, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, albumin and fibrinogen, and faecal samples for measurement of faecal calprotectin and faecal alpha-1 antitrypsin. All participants underwent endoscopic evaluation. Endoscopic disease activity was assessed according to the Mayo Endoscopic Subscore and Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn‘s Disease in UC and CD patients, respectively.

Results: 135 visits were included: 73 for UC patients and 62 for CD patients. In UC patients the strongest correlation was between the Mayo Endoscopic Subscore and the faecal calprotectin (r=0.867, p<0.001) followed by the albumin (r=0.523, p<0.001) and the C-reactive protein (r=0.487, p<0.001). In CD the strongest correlation was between the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s disease and the faecal calprotectin (r=0.872, p<0.001) followed by the C-reactive protein (0.708, p<0.001) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (0.605, p<0.001).

Conclusions: The faecal calprotectin is a valuable surrogate marker of intestinal inflammation that is useful for monitoring of a disease activity in paediatric patients with IBD.
The Effect of Indocyanine Green Antimicrobial Photothermal/Photodynamic Therapy on the Expression of BCL-2 and BAX Messenger RNA Levels in Human Gingival Fibroblast Cells
Authors: Pourhajibagher Maryam , Gharesi Samira , Chiniforush Nasim , Bahador Abbas
Published: June 2020

Background: Antimicrobial photothermal/photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT) with indocyanine green (ICG) is an adjuvant therapeutic approach in the treatment of periodontitis. To explore whether PTT/PDT with ICG causes cell death by apoptosis in human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells, BAX and BCL-2 genes expression as key events for apoptosis were evaluated in this study.

Materials and methods: HGF cells were treated with: 1) different concentrations (500–2000 µg/mL) of ICG alone, 2) Diode laser irradiation alone with a fluency of 39.06 J/cm2; 3) PTT/PDT combined different concentrations (500–2000 µg/mL) of ICG with an 808 nm diode laser with a fluency of 39.06 J/cm2, and 4) controls (untreated cells). After that, BAX and BCL-2 messenger RNA levels were evaluated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR.

Results: PTT/PDT with 500 µg/mL of ICG caused significant increases in the expression of the BAX gene, with an 8.5-fold increase, which was approximately 7- and 8.5-fold higher than PTT/PDT with ICG for 1500 and 2000 µg/mL of ICG, respectively, indicating induction of apoptosis in HGF cells. ICG (in different test concentrations), diode laser, and PTT/PDT with ICG (1500 and 2000 µg/mL of ICG) treatment displayed insignificant increases in expression levels of BAX (all p>0.05). Our experiments showed an insignificant increase (1.1–1.6-fold) in the expression of BCL-2 after ICG, diode laser, and PTT/PDT with ICG treatment (all p>0.05).

Conclusions: This study suggests that various concentration of ICG can be the diverse expression of BAX responses to PTT/PDT on HGF cells.
Earthworms (Annelida: Clitellata: Megadrili) of Solan, a constituent of Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot, India
Authors: Ahmed Shakoor , Julka Jatinder Mohan , Kumar Hirdesh
Published: June 2020

The present work is an update on the earthworm fauna of Solan District, Himachal Pradesh State, a constituent of Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. It is based on the field collection and published litera- ture data. Hereby, it is provided an updated list of 32 species belonging to 18 genera and seven families, namely Moniligastridae, Lumbricidae, Ocnerodrilidae, Acanthodrilidae, Benhamiidae, Octochaetidae and Megascolecidae. These mainly include exotic and native peregrine species, including exotic per- egrine Amynthas hupeiensis (Michaelsen, 1895), which was recently recorded for the first time from India. A systematic account of earthworm species with their distribution and a dichotomous key is provided for their identification.
Influence of social rank on certain stress response variables and behavioral characteristics of adult rams
Authors: ERGÜL EKİZ Elif , YALÇINTAN Hülya , YILMAZ Alper , AKYAZI İbrahim , ERASLAN Evren , EKİZ Bülent
Published: June 2020

Dominance rank within a group can affect the stress level of an animal. However, there is no consensus on whether the dominant or subordinate animals are physiologically more stressed. It was aimed herein to determine the effect of social rank on the stress level and expression of some behaviors of adult Hemsin, Chios, and Karakul rams. According to their dominance index (DI) values, the rams were classified as low-ranked (DI < 0.33; n = 13), medium-ranked (DI: 0.33–0.66; n = 13), and high-ranked (DI > 0.66; n = 13) individuals. The low-ranked rams had lower body weight, body length, chest depth, chest circumference, cannon bone circumference, and tail width than the medium- and high-ranked rams. The high-ranked rams tended to exhibit more rumination than the low- and medium-ranked rams (P = 0.066). The rank group had no influence on the frequency of vocalization, butting other animals, and itching behaviors. The low-ranked rams had lower hematocrit, hemoglobin, and red blood cell counts than the medium- and high-ranked rams. The rank group had no influence on the white blood cell count, neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio, and cortisol level. In conclusion, under the conditions of the current study, the welfare of the low-ranked rams was not adversely affected.
Hiroshima : chronique d’une catastrophe annoncée
Authors: Papon Pierre
Published: June 2020

Cet été 2020 sera celui d’un triste anniversaire : les 75 ans des bombardements d’Hiroshima et Nagasaki, au Japon. Pierre Papon, qui publiera mi-septembre prochain un ouvrage de réflexion sur le rôle de la science dans les démocraties 1 , revient sur cet événement qui a vu la main humaine lancer la première bombe atomique faisant 155 000 à 250 000 morts (selon les estimations), principalement des civils. Après un rappel d’écrits prémonitoires de H.G. Wells sur la découverte et l’emploi d’une bombe atomique, et du projet Manhattan qui conduisit à la mise au point de l’arme nucléaire, il souligne les réactions que suscita, au sein de la communauté scientifique mais également chez un penseur comme Albert Camus, l’emploi de cette arme au Japon. Pierre Papon revient aussi sur les décisions prises, au fil du temps, par les États pour limiter la prolifération des armes nucléaires, mais en la matière, bien des questions demeurent quant à la motivation et aux mesures engagées par le club des puissances nucléaires pour y parvenir durablement. S.D.
L’« effet Bruxelles », une stratégie d’influence ?
Authors: Drevet Jean-François
Published: June 2020

Alors que beaucoup considèrent la mondialisation économique comme un terrain de jeu sans règles, on constate à l’inverse une inflation de normes de toutes sortes (techniques, commerciales, environnementales…) qui, au fil du temps, deviennent déterminantes. Gagner la bataille des normes est ainsi devenu primordial pour les États leaders de l’économie mondiale, afin de faciliter l’accès au marché à leurs entreprises. Les États-Unis ont longtemps dominé cette bataille, imposant leurs standards au reste du monde ; la Chine travaille activement pour occuper le terrain. Mais l’Union européenne n’est pas en reste car, grâce à son grand marché fort convoité, elle est capable d’imposer ses propres règles, affirme ici Jean-François Drevet. Grâce à ce marché unique très régulé, sans coercition ni négociation particulière, l’Union européenne conduit les entreprises à suivre ses règles, dans leur propre intérêt économique. Cette chronique montre comment se déploie cette influence normative — l’« effet Bruxelles » —, qui constitue un atout incontestable pour les États membres, et pose la question de son exploitation possible à des fins plus politiques (droits de l’homme, démocratie…). S.D.
Le « populaire » comme relation de pouvoir
Authors: Noiriel Gérard
Published: June 2020

L’article commence par évoquer les différentes manières d’écrire des histoires de France dans le champ académique français depuis le début du xx e siècle, afin de positionner la démarche socio-historique que j’ai adoptée dans ma propre contribution à ce vaste sujet. L’article poursuit en clarifiant les trois mots en apparence très simples du titre (histoire, populaire, France) car chacun d’eux peut être utilisé dans des sens très différents. Cette mise au point débouche sur une définition de l’« histoire populaire » qui ne se confond pas avec une « histoire des classes populaires ». Il ne s’agit pas de fournir une nouvelle contribution à l’« histoire par en bas » dont le modèle inégalité demeure aujourd’hui l’histoire populaire des États-Unis d’Howard Zinn. J’envisage le « populaire » comme une relation de pouvoir qui exige d’éclairer constamment les rapports qu’entretiennent les dominants et les dominés, dans une perspective qui s’inspire de la dialectique des luttes de classes développée par Karl Marx, mais enrichie par les apports des sciences sociales depuis plus d’un siècle (notamment ceux des sociologues comme Émile Durkheim, Norbert Elias ou Pierre Bourdieu).
Decision-Making Skills and Critical Thinking Ability Among Associate Degree, Diploma, Baccalaureate, and Master's-Prepared Nurses
Authors: Pardue Stephanie Farley
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT

A key component of nursing practice is the nurse's ability to process information and to make decisions. One goal of most educational programs for nurses is to enhance students' cognitive abilities and clinical decision-making skills. This study investigated the differences in critical thinking ability and decision-making skills among 121 associate degree, diploma, baccalaureate, and masterfcprepared nurses. Results indicated that nurses with master's and baccalaureate degrees had the highest scores in critical thinking ability. Subjects' decision-making skills were measured related to: 1) frequency in making decisions, 2) difficulty in making decisions, and 3) factors which influence decision making. No significant differences were found among the four groups related to the three dimensions of decision-making skills. Experience and knowledge were the most influential factors in decision making. Study findings have implications for investigating differences among nursing students related to cognitive abilities.
La accesibilidad a la actividad comercial minorista en áreas rurales y despobladas: diagnóstico y desafíos para la planificación
Authors: Arranz-López Aldo , Soria-Lara Julio A. , Badía-Lázaro Ricardo
Published: June 2020

Tradicionalmente se ha prestado poca atención a conocer los efectos sociales de la accesibilidad a los principales destinos (ej. servicios y equipamientos básicos) en los espacios rurales, aislados y despoblados. Este artículo pretende abordar este desafío, estudiando la accesibilidad de distintos grupos de población al comercio minorista en áreas rurales despobladas. La co­marca del Maestrazgo (Teruel, España), con una pérdida de población del 84% entre 1900 y 2017, ha sido usada como caso de estudio. En primer lugar, se examinó la predisposición de la población para acceder al comercio diario y no diario a través de di­ferentes modos de transporte (coche, autobús, a pie). En segundo lugar, se utilizaron técnicas de agrupamiento para identificar distintos grupos socioeconómicos de población, y se analizaron estadísticamente sus funciones de caída de la demanda con el tiempo. Finalmente, se calculó y cartografió la accesibilidad multimodal al comercio minorista para los distintos grupos de población identificados previamente. Los resultados muestran niveles de accesibilidad bajos para el comercio diario y no diario, acentuando una alta dependencia del automóvil privado. Esto afecta particularmente a la población de edad más avanzada, con dificultades notables para tener disponibilidad de coche. El artículo concluye con algunas reflexiones sobre las implicaciones de los resultados obtenidos para la planificación territorial de áreas rurales y despobladas.
La creciente dependencia de mano de obra migrante para tareas agrícolas en el centro global. Una perspectiva comparada
Authors: Molinero-Gerbeau Yoan
Published: June 2020

Numerosos estudios, sobre todo en las últimas décadas, han señalado el progresivo aumento del número de migrantes realizando trabajo agrícola en los Estados del centro global. Desde el paradigma de la ecología-mundo, se teorizó sobre el hecho de que este fenómeno mundial constituía una estrategia sistémica para mantener estables y bajos los precios de la comida, siendo la producción de ésta, un pilar que sustenta las fases de acumulación del capitalismo. Con el objetivo de contribuir a reforzar dicha teoría, este artículo pretende, a través de un estudio de casos comparados, dimensionar este fenómeno. Así, se dará cuenta a través de las estadísticas oficiales disponibles, de la magnitud del irreversible y estructural proceso de “migrantización” del trabajo agrícola ocurrido en las áreas centrales mundiales entre mediados del siglo pasado y principios de este.
Los retos de la ciudad compacta desde la perspectiva de los cascos históricos con fuerte actividad turística. El caso de Toledo
Authors: Solís Eloy , Escudero Luis Alfonso , Ruiz-Apilánez Borja
Published: June 2020

Los cascos históricos representan la forma tradicional sobre la que se ha construido el paradigma de la ciudad com­pacta, densa y diversa, y, de forma más amplia, el modelo de ciudad sostenible. No obstante, se plantea en qué medida los pro­blemas y retos a los que se enfrentan estos espacios garantizan un desarrollo urbano sostenible. Al mismo tiempo, ¿cuáles son los retos y cómo avanzar hacia el desarrollo sostenible en formas urbanas compactas como son los cascos históricos con fuerte acti­vidad turística? Responder a estas preguntas es el objetivo primordial de la investigación. Para ello, empleamos una metodología hipotético-deductiva y recurrimos a la revisión literaria y a la utilización de datos de diferentes fuentes, incluyendo el trabajo de campo y la observación directa. En los resultados, se realiza la revisión de los marcos y planteamientos principales en los que se ha movido la intervención en cascos históricos en España y se señalan las dinámicas más importantes en curso, contrastándolas con el estudio de caso de Toledo. Se destacan dos conclusiones: uno, el desajuste entre el carácter sostenible del modelo espacial y la emergencia de un modelo insostenible en el plano funcional y socioeconómico, y dos, la necesidad de revertir dicho desfase mediante una mayor coordinación entre administraciones y políticas sectoriales y una mejor regulación y control. Esta práctica contribuye a la comprensión de los cascos históricos en el presente.
(Re) pensando los lugares-patrimonio a partir de un caso en la llanura pampeana argentina
Authors: Pinassi Andrés
Published: June 2020

Tanto los lugares como el patrimonio son construcciones sociales inducidas por diferentes actores. Sundblad, en la llanura pampeana argentina, no queda exento de estos mecanismos. Actualmente, se destacan procesos que valorizan historias e identidades, sobre la base de ciertos lugares. En este contexto, los interrogantes de la investigación se presentan en dos esferas: una conceptual, lo que conduce a preguntarnos ¿Qué implican los conceptos de lugar y patrimonio? ¿Podemos hablar de lugares-patrimonio?; y otra empírica, interrogándonos ¿Cuáles son los lugares-patrimonio definidos por los propios residentes de la loca­lidad? ¿Qué usos sociales se pueden identificar? ¿Cuál es su situación actual? ¿Qué tensiones se reflejan en torno a ellos? El objetivo de la investigación es (re) pensar los lugares-patrimonio a partir del caso de Sundblad, desde la mirada de los actuales y ex residentes del pueblo rural. Este trabajo se presenta con un enfoque de investigación mixto, en el que se aplican cuestionarios y entrevistas, se da una observación participante y se analiza bibliografía específica.
Como resultado, se obtiene una clasificación de los lugares-patrimonio según la visión de los habitantes y con base en los usos sociales. Entre las principales conclusiones, se traza un horizonte no muy alentador en torno a estos procesos, que reflejan las características propias de la crisis del campo y las pequeñas localidades. La metodología propuesta pretende configurar un esque­ma que pueda aplicarse a otras latitudes con características similares, teniendo como fin indagar acerca de aquellos lugares que devienen en patrimonio según la perspectiva de la comunidad.
Impacto de las medusas en el litoral andaluz. Implicaciones para el turismo de Sol y Playa
Authors: Rubio Gómez Antonio , Gutiérrez-Hernández Oliver
Published: June 2020

El turismo de Sol y Playa es una de las actividades económicas más importantes en Andalucía. Sin embargo, las playas turísticas pueden ser entornos peligrosos para los bañistas debido a la presencia de bancos de medusas y otros organismos gela­tinosos, como Physalia physalis. Dada la naturaleza del problema, realizamos un estudio integrado sobre el impacto de las medu­sas y otros organismos gelatinosos en la costa andaluza: en primer lugar, estudiamos la percepción de los usuarios de playas y la prensa local sobre la presencia de medusas; y, en segundo lugar, analizamos la distribución espacial y temporal de los avistamien­tos de medusas y otros organismos gelatinosos mediante el uso de Sistemas de Información Geográfica. Los resultados muestran que tanto los usuarios de la playa como la prensa local perciben las floraciones de medusas como un problema de creciente im­portancia. Encontramos que los avistamientos de medusas se concentraron en la temporada de verano y fueron más abundantes en el mar Mediterráneo, entre las provincias de Málaga y Granada. Pelagia noctiluca fue la medusa más avistada y se concentró en los meses de verano. Le sigue Physalia physalis, un hidrozoo marino más abundante en primavera y en el Océano Atlántico, aunque también aparece en el Mar Mediterráneo, como consecuencia de la fuerza de las borrascas atlánticas. Concluimos que la investigación sobre las floraciones de medusas y otros organismos gelatinosos potencialmente peligrosos para los usuarios de playas es crucial para el manejo integrado de la zona costera en áreas turísticas.
Interpretation of petrographic anisotropy in ornamental granites based on P wave velocity measurements
Authors: Calleja L. , Ruiz de Argandoña V. G. , Sánchez-Delgado N. , Setién A.
Published: June 2020

The existence of a possible anisotropy, determined by the orientation of any mineral or by micro­crack network in granite rock, isn´t easily detected by the naked eye. Five granitic rocks from Galicia (Spain), namely Albero, Gris Alba, Gris Mondariz, Rosa Porriño and Traspielas, were characterized petrographically by means of textural and mineralogical studies, using optical polarizing microscopy, and fractographic studies were carried out under scanning electron microscopy. Longitudinal wave propagation velocity was measured in three orthogonal directions on cubic samples, oriented according to rift surface (known in quarry works like the preferential partition surface visible in the blocks). Vp was measured on dry and water saturated samples. All the dry samples showed an anisotropic behaviour of Vp. Models of microcrack network distribution and possible mineral grain orientation were developed based on the obtained data.
Modified Proportional Fair Scheduling Algorithm for Heterogeneous LTE-A Networks
Authors: Elshennawy Nada M.
Published: June 2020

Growing of time-sensitive applications such as streaming multimedia, voice over IP and online gaming required strongly support from mobile communication technology. So, the persistent need for wireless broadband technologies such as LTE-A is essential. LTE-A can achieve QoS in an efficient manner by using a reliable packet scheduling algorithm. It also supports good cell coverage by using heterogeneous capability. In this paper, modifications of proportional fair (PF) algorithm are proposed with different methods to compute the average throughput, which is the main and important parameter in the PF cost function. These methods are geometric mean, root mean square and arithmetic mean. Vienna simulator is used to study the performance of the proposed algorithms. A comparison between PF modifications and the most famous algorithms (the original PF and Best CQI algorithms) with various UE velocities is introduced. Average UE throughput, spectral efficiency, energy per bit, cell throughput and fairness are used as performance indicators. The results expose that QPF has best improved values for spectral efficiency, energy per bit and fairness by 8.4%, 14%, and 9.3%, respectively than original PF. However, Best CQI has a better value of average UE and cell throughput than all algorithms of 2% and 1.8% in low and medium UE velocity, respectively, but the best value of all types of throughput at high speed is gained by QPF. QPF and GMPF has the same performance in fairness with all UEs speeds.
Optimization of Velocity Mode in Buslaev Two-Contour Networks via Competition Resolution Rules
Authors: Yashina Marina V. , Tatashev Alexander G. , Fomina Maria Yu.
Published: June 2020

In computer networks based on the principle of packet switching, the important transmitting function is to maintain packet queues and suppress congestion. Therefore, the problems of optimal control of the communication networks are relevant. For example, there are  users, and no more than a demand of one user can be served simultaneously. This paper considers a discrete dynamical system with two contours and two common points of the contours called the nodes. There are n cells and  particles, located in the cells. At any discrete moment the particles of each contour occupy neighboring cells and form a cluster. The nodes divide each contour into two parts of length  and  (non-symmetrical system). The particles move in accordance with rule of the elementary cellular automaton 240 in the Wolfram classification. Delays in the particle movement are due to that more than one particle cannot move through the node simultaneously. A competition (conflict) occurs when two clusters come to the same node simultaneously. We have proved that the spectrum of velocities contains no more than two values for any fixed n , d and l.  We have found an optimal rule which minimizes the average velocity of clusters. One of the competition clusters passes through the node first in accordance with a given competition rule. Two competition resolutions rules are introduced. The rules are called input priority and output priority resolution rules. These rules are Markovian, i.e., they takes into account only the present state of the system.  For each set of parameters n, d and l, one of these two rules is optimal, i.e., this rule maximizes the average velocity of clusters. These rules are compared with the left-priority resolution rule, which was considered earlier.  We have proved that the spectrum of velocities contains no more two values for any fixed n, l, and d. We have proved that the input priority rule is optimal if , and the output priority rule is optimal if   .
CDDM: Concept Drift Detection Model for Data Stream
Authors: Althabiti Mashail Shaeel , Abdullah Manal
Published: June 2020

Data stream is the huge amount of data generated in various fields, including financial processes, social media activities, Internet of Things applications, and many others. Such data cannot be processed through traditional data mining algorithms due to several constraints, including limited memory, data speed, and dynamic environment. Concept Drift is known as the main constraint of data stream mining, mainly in the classification task. It refers to the change in the data stream underlining distribution over time. Thus, it results in accuracy deterioration of classification models and wrong predictions. Spam emails, consumer behavior changes, and adversary activates, are examples of Concept Drift. In this paper, a Concept Drift detection model is introduced, Concept Drift Detection Model (CDDM). It monitors the accuracy of the classification model over a sliding window, assuming the decline in accuracy indicates a drift occurrence. A modification over CDDM is a weighted version of the CDDM as W-CDDM.

Both models have evaluated against two real datasets and four artificial datasets. The experimental results of abrupt drift show that CDDM, W-CDDM outperforms the other models in the dataset of 100K and 1M instances, respectively. Regarding gradual drift, the W-CDDM overtook the rest in terms of accuracy, run time, and detection delays in the dataset of 100 K instances. While in the dataset of 1M instances, CDDM has got the highest accuracy using the NB classifier. Moreover, W-CDDM achieves the highest accuracy on real datasets.
Advances in Deep Learning in Mobile Interactive Algorithms and Learning Technologies
Authors: Shaikh Asadullah
Published: June 2020

 

The Special Issue of the International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (iJIM) is publishing very selective papers presented at the 6th edition of International Conference on Communication, Management, and Information Technology- ICCMIT 2020. The ICCMIT 2020 was scheduled from 1-3 April 2020 in Athens, Greece which was postponed due to the COVID’19 outbreak, and the papers were presented online.  

 For this special issue, the ICCMIT 2020 received several papers from researchers, engineers, and industry professionals, from all around the world to publish their research in the field of science and technologies. But we selected best contributions from Russia, Romania, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan. These contributions are in the field of cellular automata, wireless sensor networks, mechatronic systems, deep learning, heterogeneous LTE-a networks, GPS services, web services, feature selection, data stream, mobile e-learning, traffic routing solution, and encoding systems.
Os aspectos originais da geografia da França
Authors: Pitte Jean-Robert
Published: June 2020

La France est une nation, une construction culturelle et politique qui a agrégé des territoires divers autour du noyau de l’Île-de-France sur une durée d’un millénaire. Elle a toujours été partagée entre forces centrifuges et forces centripètes, entre le souci de respecter la diversité régionale et la centralisation étatique et géographique dont Paris est le puissant symbole. L’ouverture sur trois mers et océans et sa position de finisterre européen, de même que son héritage romain et chrétien, ont fait de la France un pays extraverti, ouvert à de multiples influences extérieures et désireux de rayonner en Europe et dans le monde.
La “pérdida y restauración de España” en la historiografía latina de los siglos VIII y IX
Authors: Martin Georges
Published: June 2020

El tema de “la pérdida y restauración de España” constituye un tópico de la historiografía española del siglo XX al que José Antonio Maravall dio quizá, en 1954, su expresión más acabada y bajo el cual se pretendía interpretar sintéticamente los relatos que la historiografía cristiana de la Edad Media hispánica dedicó a la liquidación del reino godo de Hispania por los ejércitos musulmanes y a los inicios y progresos de una recuperación cristiana. Dicha interpretación hunde efectivamente sus raíces en la Edad Media, pero se adecúa muy imperfectamente a las palabras, conceptos y representaciones que fueron los de la historiografía latina de los siglos VIII y IX. De dicho momento histórico, esta brinda una diversidad de expresiones que requieren, para ser interpretadas con un poco de pertinencia, que se distingan cuidadosamente tiempos, espacios y perspectivas. En realidad, el tema de la “pérdida y restauración de España”, limita su pertinencia a la historiografía asturiana alfonsina de finales del siglo IX. Y aun así: stricto sensu, solo una profecía surgida en abril de 883 y percibida como un disparate en el mismo momento y en el mismo lugar de su proferación, presenta la reconquista y restauración de la Spania goda como una empresa que deba plantearse efectivamente la realeza asturiana. Los demás textos del corpus alfonsino abren más bien la perspectiva de una restauración interna, haciendo del neogoticismo natural de la dinastía regia asturiana, de su vocación a salvar Spania o de la reimplantación de las instituciones toledanas los instrumentos de la consolidación y expansión del reino ovetense así como de la legitimación y exaltación de su dinastía reinante.
La construction du paradigme royal des Bocados de oro à la Segunda Partida d’Alphonse X le Sage
Authors: Fournès Ghislaine
Published: June 2020

Le livre d’Abu-e-Wafa' al-Mubashshir b. Fátik (1019-1097), le Mukhtár al-hilam wa-mahásin al-kali, fut traduit en castillan sur l’ordre d’Alphonse X le Sage, vraisemblablement entre 1260 et 1280. Cet ouvrage, les Bocados de oro, outre qu’il s’inscrit dans la veine sapientielle alors en plein essor, se caractérise par l’insistance à décrire les faits de personnages illustres et à rapporter leurs dits, sentences et apophtegmes. Cet article entend comparer la teneur politique des Bocados de oro à certaines lois de la Segunda Partida, rédigée à la même période, dans les mêmes ateliers, par les mêmes lettrés, toujours sous la direction du Roi Sage. L’analyse comparée des deux textes permet d’apprécier dans quelle mesure le paradigme royal élaboré dans la Segunda Partida s’inspire du modèle prôné par les Bocados de oro.
Le mariage au service de deux rois législateurs : les Siete Partidas (1265) d’Alphonse X et Le Livre au Roi (1200) d’Aimery de Lusignan
Authors: Greilsammer Myriam
Published: June 2020

C’est la forte affinité du rôle attribué au mariage dans le Livre au Roi d’Aimery de Lusignan (vers 1200), traité de droit du Royaume Latin de Jérusalem, et dans les Siete Partidas qui fait l’objet de mon analyse. Malgré les différences à la fois chronologiques, géographiques et la forte disparité de ces deux textes législatifs en ce qui concerne leur caractère (l’un civil et général, l’autre féodal et beaucoup plus limité) et leur contenu textuel, leur envergure et influence respective, je me propose de faire le parallèle entre eux, quant à la centralité du mariage et son instrumentalisation par les rois qui en ont été les initiateurs. On doit attribuer la centralité du sujet du mariage dans les Partidas, et son importance fondamentale dans le Livre au Roi, au fait que les deux monarques qui ont pris l’initiative de la rédaction de ces traités de droit ont compris à quel point le mariage est un instrument capital à leur disposition afin de miner la prééminence des familles et de consolider leur puissance féodale et leur pouvoir monarchique. Aimery de Lusignan et Alphonse X ont chacun à leur tour, et de manière différente, décidé d’instrumentaliser ce pilier de la vie sociale et de s’en servir dans leurs stratégies de limitation des contre-pouvoirs de leurs royaumes. Il s’agit principalement dans le cas du roi du Royaume Latin des grands feudataires, et dans le cas du roi de Castille et de Léon, des familles patriciennes et nobles du royaume. Ils ont ainsi utilisé ce rite de passage capital pour les familles et la société toute entière, comme « cheval de Troie », afin d’affirmer et d’affermir leur prééminence dans leurs royaumes respectifs.
Une affinité sélective ? Les Siete Partidas et la culture juridique au Portugal XIVe-XVe siècles
Authors: Vitória André
Published: June 2020

Cet article explore la question de l’influence des Siete Partidas d’Alfonso X sur l’expérience du droit au Portugal aux XIVe et XVe siècles et de son rapport avec la maîtrise progressive du ius commune romano-canonique, la professionnalisation de la pratique judiciaire et la structuration de la justice royale dans la même période. Les deux premières parties analysent les traces des Partidas dans la législation royale antérieure à la compilation des Ordenações Afonsinas (la première collection officielle des lois du royaume, achevée en 1446) et dans un procès judiciaire tenu en 1396 dans le sud du Portugal, le seul exemple connu de l’utilisation de la compilation castillane dans la pratique judiciaire au Portugal. La troisième partie de l’article fait un examen critique de la vaste empreinte des Partidas sur les Ordenações Afonsinas, en soutenant que ces dernières furent le principal véhicule de la pénétration du discours normatif des Partidas dans l’expérience juridique et dans l’application du droit au Portugal. Une attention particulière est portée aux processus et aux logiques d’incorporation du contenu des Partidas dans les Ordenações Afonsinas : à ce qu’ils révèlent sur les affinités sociopolitiques, juridiques et institutionnelles qui rapprochaient le Portugal des Avis de la Castille des Partidas, mais aussi sur les spécificités et les circonstances historiques qui les séparaient.
De Las Siete Partidas à Girart de Roussillon : l’autopsie d’une tentative de transplantation juridique à travers l’exemple du concept de dépendance naturelle
Authors: Devard Jérôme
Published: June 2020

Le concept de naturalité imprègne Las Siete Partidas. Ce concept apparaît à la fois comme une forme de seigneurie, comme une forme de l’obligation et comme une forme de la solidarité. La seigneurie et l’obligation sont les liens qui sont le plus étudiés par les légistes. Selon les légistes alphonsins, la naturalité constitue avec le vasselage l’un des deux principaux régimes de la seigneurie et elle occupe la première place dans la hiérarchie des différents types de seigneurie. Or, cette primauté théorique ancienne ne s’applique pas facilement comme l’illustre le récit de El Cantar de Mío Cid. À la même époque, la royauté capétienne mettait progressivement en place le système de la monarchie féodale reposant uniquement sur les liens de vassalité, les traités féodaux et les coutumiers, puisque les médiévaux méconnaissaient le principe de seigneurie naturelle. L’absence de toute référence spécifique à la seigneurie naturelle dans ces documents juridiques signifie-t-elle que ce concept était totalement inconnu en France ? Cette idée n’est pas du tout certaine si l’on se réfère à La Chanson de Girart de Roussillon composée dans la seconde moitié du XIIe siècle et où l’imbroglio des données textuelles à propos du statut de la région du Roussillon laisse entrevoir l’hypothèse d’un transplant juridique.
EVALUATE CLINICAL EFFICACY OF BIOCERAMIC TECHNOLOGY ON PSYCHOPATHICALLY RELATED SPASMODIC TORTICOLLIS USING MOTION MEASUREMENTS, COMPUTERIZED ANALYSIS OF FACIAL EMOTIONS AND SPEECH SIGNAL FEATURES
Authors: Leung Ting Kai , Yang Tzu-Sen , Lin Ray F. , Tsai Du Ming , Chou Chin Mei
Published: June 2020

Objective: Spasmodic torticollis is a debilitating neurological movement disorder associated with somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, and anxiety. Usually, clinician had difficulty to precisely and quantitatively describe clinical outcomes using measurements of patients’ facial and neck movements.

Methods: Motion speed changes and direction complexity, computerized facial emotion and assessment, measurement of speech signal features are the quantitative measurements of patients’ head motions, facial expressions, and speech signal features analysis were used to assess clinical effects of bioceramic resonance and photoluminescence of bioceramics (BR&PLB) treatment of psychopathically related spasmodic torticollis.

Results: After BR&PLB treatment, there were significant improvements in involuntary movements of patients with spasmodic torticollis measured by motion speed changes and direction complexity (MSCDC). Furthermore, a computerized facial emotion assessment (CFEA) showed that patients expressed greater positive emotions after treatment. Finally, we also performed quantitative assessments on voice analysis of speech signal features (SSF).

Conclusions: Our study had achieved three major factors: (i) the clinical efficacy of BR&PLB on psychopathically related spasmodic torticollis; (ii) motion manifestations of spasmodic torticollis in “speed” and “direction” of muscular movements as assessed using “motion measurements” of a computer vision system; and (iii) psychological and emotional factors being directly correlated with the severity of spasmodic torticollis which improved after BR&PLB, and could be qualitatively assessed using FaceReader. This study encourages further investigations of the clinical efficacy of Bioceramic technology on psychopathically related repetitive behavior disorders, and demonstrates effectiveness of MSCDC, CFEA and SSF in providing quantitative assessments of emotion.
FACTS Devices Loss Consideration in Placement Approach for Available Transfer Capability Enhancement
Authors: Adewolu Babatunde Olusegun , Saha Akshay Kumar
Published: June 2020

This paper incorporates Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) device loss with the general loss sensitivity equation for the determination of optimum location for its placement in deregulated power networks, with objectives of Available Transfer Capability (ATC) enhancement, bus voltage improvement and loss reduction. A detailed mathematical model in terms of circuit system parameters is presented based on FACTS loss amalgamation approach. Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC) FACTS device is considered for simulation and analysis because of its capability to control active power among other parameters. The TCSC location is established based on analysis of sensitivity factors obtained from partial derivatives of the resultant loss equations (including FACTS) with respect to control parameters. ATC values are obtained using ACPRDF method and with TCSC in place, these values are enhanced for different bilateral and multilateral power transactions. IEEE 5 Bus system is used for the demonstration of the effectiveness of this approach. Placement with this method resulted into ATC enhancement of more than 60% well above the values obtained when TCSC was placed with thermal limit method. In addition, a substantial bus voltage improvement of up to 3% deviation minimization as well as up to 10% active power loss reduction was recorded with this placement.
A Study on the Fatigue Strength of a Low-Speed Diesel Engine Connecting Rod Made of 42CrMoA
Authors: Helal Wasim M.K. , Zhang Wen Ping , Li Xiao Bo , Wang Gui Xin
Published: June 2020

In recent years, diesel engine is developing rapidly in the direction of high power and super long stroke, which requires higher strength of its key moving parts. Connecting rod is one of the key moving parts of diesel engine which is subjected to complex alternating load during the working process. This loading condition has a great influence on its structural strength and reliability. In the proposed study, the strength and fatigue of a low-speed diesel engine con-rod made of 42CrMoA are analyzed. The 3-D model of the con-rod assembly built in the proposed study. The stress distribution and deformation of the con-rod assembly under the maximum explosive pressure are presented and studied. In the present paper, fatigue safety factor of all parts of con-rod assembly under the maximum explosive pressure condition is checked. According to the results carried out from the proposed work, the corresponding alternating stress is 340MPa, while the fatigue limit of 42CrMo material is above 430-540MPa, which means that the con-rod parts work under the alternating stress far below the fatigue limit. The kirasushvili method is adopted in the present paper as the standard of safety factor evaluation of con-rod. According to the allowable safety factor table of kirasushvili method, the minimum safety factor of the big and small ends of the con-rod and rod body can meet the requirements without fatigue damage.