bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Islands and the rise of correlational epistemology in the Anthropocene: Rethinking the trope of the ‘canary in the coalmine’
Authors: Chandler David , Pugh Jonathan
Published: July 2020

Once on the periphery of international debate, today small islands are seen by many as key to unlocking new ways of thinking about climate change and developing new practices of adaptation in the epoch of the Anthropocene. These approaches differ starkly from modernist, linear, causal frameworks that construct islands as vulnerable objects that require ‘saving’ or ‘protecting’. Instead, islands become instruments of productive knowledge, laboratories for investigation and learning, fundamental to an alternative, correlational, epistemology. In analysing these approaches, we take the prolific trope of islands as the ‘canaries in the coalmine’ in order to draw out the ontological implications of instrumentalising islands as ‘correlational machines’ in the Anthropocene. We raise fundamental problems with this literal instrumentalisation of islands and islanders, drawing out how these logics reduce island life to merely sensing and attuning to the co-relational entanglements of the Anthropocene, rather than offering higher normative aspirations for political change.
Stomach wall changes after gastroplication in patients with morbid obesity
Authors: Galimov OV , Khanov VO , Ziangirov RA , Galimova ES , Minigalin DM , Galimov DO
Published: July 2020

Morbid obesity is a distinct disorder which leads to metabolic disorders and to the development of many severe chronic diseases, therefore, the effective treatment of the disorder is an urgent problem of modern medicine. Currently, morbid obesity and the corresponding disorders are a growing problem associated with a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. The study was aimed to assess the morphological and functional changes in the stomach wall after gastroplication performed by the new method worked out in the Clinic of the Department of Surgical Diseases and New Technologies of the Bashkir State Medical University. Gastroplication was performed in 15 male rabbits of the Gray Giant breed aged 12–16 months weighting 3050–5380 g. The animals were withdrawn from the experiment 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, followed by histological examination of the stomach wall plicated section. Changes in the mucous membrane and the muscle layer of the stomach wall after gastroplication were adaptive and associated with no severe morphological impairment. That made it possible to use the method in clinical practice in 15 patients with morbid obesity, 9 women and 6 men aged 42 ± 2.1. In most patients (13 people, 86.7%), a steady decrease in the body weight was achieved during the first 2–12 months. Long-term treatment results had been tracked during two years. It has been confirmed, that the new laparoscopic gastroplication technique does not lead to pathological changes in the stomach wall plicated section, therefore, the simple and cost-effective method may be used in clinical practice for treatment of patients with morbid obesity.
Радиоактивное загрязнение грунта на участке строительства Юго-Восточной хорды: оценка и прогноз состояния радиационной безопасности населения.
Authors: Арон Дмитрий , Ильичев Егор , Меркушов Владимир , Линге Игорь , Мелихова Елена , Панченко Сергей , Шведов Антон , Шикин Александр
Published: July 2020

В конце 2019 года, реагируя на общественную обеспокоенность по поводу возможного ухудшения радиационной ситуации при строительстве автотрассы рядом с границами Москвовского завода полиметаллов, ИБРАЭ РАН выполнил экспертный анализ сложившейся ситуации. Уже первые результаты не давали оснований для серьезного беспокойства. Экспертный анализ про-шлой деятельности МЗП и опубликованных данных измерений, проводившихся другими специалистами в 2019 году, показывал, что ситуация не является острой. Для проверки было проведено ограниченное количество измерений, взяты пробы грунта, выполнены необходимые расчеты. Дозы облучения населения оценивались для разных вариантов развития событий: сохранение участка в интактном состоянии в случае отмены строительства, проведение строительных работ без изъятия и строительство с удалением загрязненных материалов. Показано, что ни один из рассмотренных сценариев не несет каких-либо угроз проживающим поблизости людям. Во всех случаях прогнозируемые среднегодовые дозы облучения жителей на 3 ÷ 5 математических по-рядков меньше основного предела дозы для населения (1 мЗв/год), установленного НРБ-99/2009. Даже при мало реалистичном сценарии ветрового разноса всего загрязненного грунта ожидаемые дозы для критической группы населения будут сопоставимы с повседневным облучением москвичей от техногенно измененного фона (0,005 мЗв/год) и в 600 раз меньше дозы от природного фона в Москве (2,99 мЗв/год). Если строительные работы будут проводиться в течение месяца, облучение работников также будет находиться в области пренебрежимо малых доз. Работы по очистке и реабилитации УРЗ не приведут к снижению уровня радиационной безопасности жителей Москворечья. В то же время они позволят очистить город от мусора, в данном случае радиоактивного. Степень очистки может быть разной. Это зависит от нескольких факторов, в том числе от бу-дущего целевого использования территории и финансово-экономических возможностей инвестора. Устойчивое общественное беспокойство также должно быть принято во внимание. Однако желание снизить пренебрежимо малые радиационные риски до абсолютного нуля не должно вытеснить из обще-ственного сознания и бюджета другие, зачастую более существенные риски нерадиационной природы.
Rural and Urban Disparities of Scheduled Caste Population: A Study with Special Reference to Viluppuram District, Tamil Nadu
Authors: Dr. A. RANJITHKUMAR
Published: July 2020

The scheduled caste population is being deprived segment of the population. It is necessary to see its progress in terms of demographic and socio-economic conditions to improve it with the help of existing and innovative programs available with the government and the voluntary organizations so that social and economic equality efforts could be made possible. The percentage of scheduled caste population and the other demographic characteristics such as sex ratio, literacy rate, and work participation rate of Tamil Nadu seem to be desirably high as compared to the national averages of the same. It is found that among 32 districts of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvalluvar district tops with 34 % of scheduled caste population, Tirunelveli tops in sex ratio in total and rural areas, Kanniyakumari tops in literacy rate in total, rural, urban among both males and females, Tiruppur tops in work participation rate both rural and urban areas and more or less among both males and females. Karur district has more male-female differences and Coimbatore district has more urban-rural differences in literacy rate. Chennai district accounts for more male-female differences and Kanniyakumari accounts for the more urban-rural difference in the work participation rate. It may be suggested that the District, which has more proportion of scheduled caste population with low sex ratio both in total and child populations and high gender and residential differences in literacy rate and works participation rate may be more concentrated with suitable awareness and reformative social welfare measures.
La crisis migratoria, la extensión del miedo a través de las TIC e implicación de la Universidad
Authors: Gómez Barajas Elba Rosa
Published: July 2020

La presente investigación parte de la crisis que el movimiento migratorio está produciendo en la actualidad, y como la sensación de miedo, de libertad y seguridad, fomentado por los medios de comunicación masivos y especialmente por las redes sociales, puede incidir en aumentar la, ya difícil, tarea de integración de los inmigrantes en el país de recepción. La migración va ser una problemática a escala global, que va a ir en aumento y generando una mayor tensión, por la migración debida al cambio climático y la posible disminución de empleo (a nivel mundial) por el aumento de la robotización del trabajo

El objetivo de la investigación es reflexionar (a partir de las aportaciones de organismos internacionales y de autores relevantes) y promover la inclusión de la problemática de la inmigración, en la Universidad, como fenómeno social relevante en la sociedad actual globalizada.

A partir de estas reflexiones y análisis crítico sobre la migración, se exponen algunas de las acciones que se están promoviendo para la integración de los inmigrantes, en la Universidad de Guadalajara (México), y otras propuestas que facilitarían una mejor integración social de los migrantes.
Estudio sobre las variables relacionadas con la deserción escolar en centros de formación de personas adultas
Authors: Mateos Toro Luis Miguel
Published: July 2020

El abandono escolar en España tiene una elevada tasa de deserción y ostenta una elevada tasa de paro juvenil (OECD, 2018). La presente investigación trató de conocer en qué medida influyó el centro educativo, los recursos en el aula, los profesores y la situación personal y familiar en su deserción escolar en estudiantes matriculados en centros para adultos. Metodología. La muestra recogida durante el curso 2018/2019 formada por 46 personas, 16 hombres (34%) y 31 mujeres (66%) con la distribución de la muestra por edades entre los 18 y los 70 años (M=37; SD=24,13). Se empleó un cuestionario estandarizado Diseño y Validación de un cuestionario sobre fracaso escolar en alumnado de educación secundaria de un centro de formación de personas adultas creado por los autores Sancho y Grau (2012). Para obtener los resultados se ha utilizado un análisis no paramétrico de una muestra, por otro lado se ha realizado una regresión lineal y estudios descriptivos en concreto tanto de frecuencias como descriptivos. También se han comparado las medias mediante ANOVA de un factor. Resultados. Los resultados revelaron que las variables recursos económicos para materiales (0,341), recursos en el aula (0,727), recursos económicos familiar para la compra de materiales (0,723), desarrollo de la actividad por parte del profesor (0,909), relación que existe entre el centro y las familias (0,449) e instalaciones adecuadas para el alumnado (0,919), podrían influir en el abandono escolar de formación para adultos. Discusión. Se comentan las implicaciones de estos hallazgos para la investigación y la práctica psicoeducativa.
Evaluación para la mejora en escuelas de Chile: sus efectos desde la óptica de los directores
Authors: Díaz Galeas Luz María , Rodríguez Gómez David
Published: July 2020

La evaluación de los centros educativos ha sido una estrategia implementada como herramienta para la mejora. Sin embargo, escasos estudios han abordado los procesos y eventuales logros experimentados por las escuelas en la trayectoria posterior. El presente artículo ofrece un análisis preliminar del efecto de las Visitas de Evaluación y Orientación de Desempeño realizadas en Chile por la Agencia de Calidad de la Educación, como dispositivo movilizador para el progreso de sus instituciones educativas.

La investigación, que se realizó mediante un diseño de método mixto convergente, consideró en su fase cuantitativa una encuesta aplicada a 85 líderes escolares de establecimientos evaluados el año 2014, en la etapa de marcha blanca del Sistema de Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la Educación Escolar en Chile, cuyo primer plan ha finalizado el 2019.

Los primeros reportes revelan efectos positivos en la planificación de la gestión pedagógica e institucional, así como en la motivación y compromiso de la comunidad educativa; sin embargo, otorgan una menor incidencia en la mejora de logros educativos, de aprendizaje y eficiencia interna alcanzados a posterior. Asimismo, los directores consultados coinciden en demandas de mayor celeridad en la retroalimentación, efectividad en el acompañamiento y periodicidad en el seguimiento a los procesos e indicaciones relevados en la visita. Desde su mirada, la evaluación tiene un efecto movilizador, pero su objetivo de contribución a la mejora es limitado, debido a carencias en la focalización del apoyo y la orientación.
La Macdonalización del Sistema Universitario
Authors: Del Castillo Olivares Barberán José María , Torrado Martí-Palomino Esther , Escuela Cruz Chaxiraxi
Published: July 2020

Enrique Díez comienza, en su libro Neoliberalismo Educativo (2018), narrando una mañana a primera hora en la universidad y como se ha iniciado una invasión de mupis publicitarios, casi todos relacionados con las empresas y los bancos. No se trata solo de una invasión de espacios públicos, sino de espacios del conocimiento y del trabajo, de una pedagogía neoliberal gestionando las instituciones del conocimiento al estilo de las franquicias de McDonald´s. Por eso, en este estudio hemos querido ahondar en las consecuencias de este modelo para el profesorado contratado laboral especialmente en los centros de educación superior y más específicamente en la Universidad de la Laguna en las Islas Canarias. Situaremos a esta universidad desde sus descriptores de producción y los relacionaremos con los de sobre carga de trabajo y condiciones laborales de precariedad del PDI laboral. El objetivo es  tipificar o identificar esos indicadores de vulnerabilidad y precariedad, concentrados en  figuras contractuales determinadas. Veremos cómo en la actualidad están empezando a desarrollarse experiencias de resistencia y lucha ante un modelo que promueve el logro individual, la elitización de las plantillas y las desiguales condiciones de trabajo. Ésta situación está empezando a movilizarse a pesar de las muchas barreras, derivadas de las fuerzas micropolíticas hegemónicas ostentadas por algunos grupos de funcionarios. Intentaremos explicitar algunas de las claves para una posible regeneración de las culturas de lucha por el derecho laboral.
Escuela inclusiva: el viaje entre ayer y hoy. Una mirada interior personal para transformar la escuela.
Authors: Bautista Ochoa Varinia , Farzaneh Peña Diana , González Lozano Lucía , Herrera Polo Gabriel , Marín Muñoz Inmaculada , Martín Moreno Inés , Martín Trujillo Sandra , Sánchez Burgos María , Téllez Muñoz Antonio
Published: July 2020

El presente artículo muestra un antes y un después en el grupo de estudiantes que formamos parte del Módulo de Escuela Inclusiva: Teoría y Práctica. Cada una de nosotras y cada uno de nosotros, iniciamos esta nueva etapa de aprendizaje con una mochila llena de conocimientos y experiencias personales sobre el significado de escuela inclusiva/pública, fruto de nuestra realidad en el ámbito personal, académico y laboral. Sin embargo, gracias a nuestro conversar y a nuestro análisis teórico, pusimos en común una serie de ideas, pensamientos y opiniones que constituyeron un punto de inflexión en nuestra formación docente.

A lo largo de este escrito, se reflejan dos tipos de escuelas: la que todas y todos hemos vivido como alumnado y como profesorado, y la que queremos; una escuela que se basa en el modelo educativo tradicional y de integración, y otra guiada por una serie de principios que, desde nuestro punto de vista, son los que mejor abogan por la educación pública e inclusiva por la que luchamos. Lo cierto es que nuestro pasado ha estado influenciado por un paradigma que considera al alumnado como problemas, pero en nuestro futuro intentaremos dirigir la mirada hacia los contextos y los sistemas, que son la principal vía que nos lleva a la exclusión en todos los ámbitos: educativo, social y profesional.
Anti-inflammatory therapies for pericardial diseases in the COVID-19 pandemic: safety and potentiality
Authors: Imazio Massimo , Brucato Antonio , Lazaros George , Andreis Alessandro , Scarsi Mirko , Klein Allan , De Ferrari Gaetano Maria , Adler Yehuda
Published: July 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging our cardiovascular care of patients with heart diseases. In the setting of pericardial diseases, there are two possible different scenarios to consider: the patient being treated for pericarditis who subsequently becomes infected with SARS-CoV-2, and the patient with COVID-19 who develops pericarditis or pericardial effusion. In both conditions, clinicians may be doubtful regarding the safety of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, colchicine, and biological agents, such as anti-IL1 agents (e.g. anakinra), that are the mainstay of therapy for pericarditis.

For NSAIDs, there is no clear scientific evidence linking ibuprofen and other NSAIDs to worsening of COVID-19; however, it seems prudent to continue them, if necessary to control pericarditis, and on the other hand, to prefer paracetamol for fever and systemic symptoms related to COVID-19. Treatments with corticosteroids, colchicine, and anakinra appear well tolerated in the context of COVID-19 infection and are currently actively evaluated as potential therapeutic options for COVID infection at different stages of the disease. On this basis, currently most treatments for pericarditis do not appear contraindicated also in the presence of possible COVID-19 infection and should not be discontinued, and some (corticosteroids, colchicine, and anakinra) can be considered to treat both conditions.
Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns for aerobic bacteria isolated from reptilian samples submitted to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory: 129 cases (2005–2016)
Authors: Tang Pak Kan , Divers Stephen J. , Sanchez Susan
Published: July 2020

OBJECTIVE

To identify antimicrobial susceptibility patterns for aerobic bacteria isolated from reptilian samples and, from those patterns, identify antimicrobials that could be considered for empirical treatment of reptiles with suspected bacterial infections.

SAMPLES

129 bacterial isolates from 61 of 127 samples from 96 reptiles.

PROCEDURES

Medical records of reptiles (chelonian, crocodilian, lizard, and snake) presented to the zoological medical service of a veterinary teaching hospital between January 2005 and December 2016 were reviewed for submissions of patient samples for aerobic bacterial culture and susceptibility testing. Sample type, presence or absence of bacterial growth, and antimicrobial susceptibilities of isolated bacteria were recorded. The isolation frequency and the antimicrobial susceptibilities of bacterial genera and species were tabulated.

RESULTS

Pseudomonas spp and Enterococcus spp were the most frequently isolated gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, respectively. Isolates of gram-negative bacteria frequently had susceptibility to amikacin (86%), gentamicin (95%), tobramycin (92%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (83%), and gram-positive bacteria frequently had susceptibility to ampicillin (83%), chloramphenicol (92%), doxycycline (100%), and gentamicin (100%). Isolates of gram-positive bacteria were consistently resistant to ceftazidime.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Aerobic bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility results for reptilian samples in this population indicated that aminoglycosides and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or ampicillin and doxycycline could be considered as options for the empirical treatment of reptiles with infections caused by gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria, respectively.
Block-ED: The Proposed Blockchain Solution for Effectively Utilising Educational Resources
Authors: Irshad Shareen , Brohi Muhammad Nawaz , Soomro Tariq Rahim
Published: July 2020

In this day and age, access to the Internet has become very easy, thereby providing access to different educational resources posted on the cloud even easier. Open access to resources, such as research journals, publications, articles in periodicals etc. is restricted to retain their authenticity and integrity, as well as to track and record their usage in the form of citations. This gives the author of the resource his fair share of credibility in the community, but this may not be the case with open educational resources such as lecture notes, presentations, test papers, reports etc. that are produced and used internally within an organisation or multiple organisations. This calls for the need to build a system that stores a permanent and immutable repository of these resources in addition to keeping a track record of who utilises them. Keeping in view the above-mentioned problem in mind, the present research attempts to explore how a Blockchain based system called Block-ED can be used to help the educational community manage their resources in a way to avoid any unauthorised manipulations or alterations to the documents, as well as recognise how this system can provide an innovative method of giving credibility to the creator of the resource whenever it is utilised.
Evaluation of Fingerprint Selection Algorithms for Local Text Reuse Detection
Authors: Jēkabsons Gints
Published: July 2020

Detection of local text reuse is central to a variety of applications, including plagiarism detection, origin detection, and information flow analysis. This paper evaluates and compares effectiveness of fingerprint selection algorithms for the source retrieval stage of local text reuse detection. In total, six algorithms are compared – Every p-th, 0 mod p, Winnowing, Hailstorm, Frequency-biased Winnowing (FBW), as well as the proposed modified version of FBW (MFBW).

Most of the previously published studies in local text reuse detection are based on datasets having either artificially generated, long-sized, or unobfuscated text reuse. In this study, to evaluate performance of the algorithms, a new dataset has been built containing real text reuse cases from Bachelor and Master Theses (written in English in the field of computer science) where about half of the cases involve less than 1 % of document text while about two-thirds of the cases involve paraphrasing.

In the performed experiments, the overall best detection quality is reached by Winnowing, 0 mod p, and MFBW. The proposed MFBW algorithm is a considerable improvement over FBW and becomes one of the best performing algorithms.

The software developed for this study is freely available at the author’s website http://www.cs.rtu.lv/jekabsons/.
Predicting Stock Market Price Movement Using Sentiment Analysis: Evidence From Ghana
Authors: Nti Isaac Kofi , Adekoya Adebayo Felix , Weyori Benjamin Asubam
Published: July 2020

Predicting the stock market remains a challenging task due to the numerous influencing factors such as investor sentiment, firm performance, economic factors and social media sentiments. However, the profitability and economic advantage associated with accurate prediction of stock price draw the interest of academicians, economic, and financial analyst into researching in this field. Despite the improvement in stock prediction accuracy, the literature argues that prediction accuracy can be further improved beyond its current measure by looking for newer information sources particularly on the Internet. Using web news, financial tweets posted on Twitter, Google trends and forum discussions, the current study examines the association between public sentiments and the predictability of future stock price movement using Artificial Neural Network (ANN). We experimented the proposed predictive framework with stock data obtained from the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) between January 2010 and September 2019, and predicted the future stock value for a time window of 1 day, 7 days, 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days. We observed an accuracy of (49.4–52.95 %) based on Google trends, (55.5–60.05 %) based on Twitter, (41.52–41.77 %) based on forum post, (50.43–55.81 %) based on web news and (70.66–77.12 %) based on a combined dataset. Thus, we recorded an increase in prediction accuracy as several stock-related data sources were combined as input to our prediction model. We also established a high level of direct association between stock market behaviour and social networking sites. Therefore, based on the study outcome, we advised that stock market investors could utilise the information from web financial news, tweet, forum discussion, and Google trends to effectively perceive the future stock price movement and design effective portfolio/investment plans.
Anemic Domain Model vs Rich Domain Model to Improve the Two-Hemisphere Model-Driven Approach
Authors: Nikiforova Oksana , Gusarovs Konstantins
Published: July 2020

Evolution of software development process and increasing complexity of software systems calls for developers to pay great attention to the evolution of CASE tools for software development. This, in turn, causes explosion for appearance of a new wave (or new generation) of such CASE tools. The authors of the paper have been working on the development of the so-called two-hemisphere model-driven approach and its supporting BrainTool for the past 10 years. This paper is a step forward in the research on the ability to use the two-hemisphere model driven approach for system modelling at the problem domain level and to generate UML diagrams and software code from the two-hemisphere model. The paper discusses the usage of anemic domain model instead of rich domain model and offers the main principle of transformation of the two-hemisphere model into the first one.
Regenerated Cellulose/Graphene Composite Fibers with Electroconductive Properties
Authors: Piotr Kulpinski , Jeszka Jeremiasz K. , Artur Malolepszy , Leszek Stobinski
Published: July 2020

Conductive cellulose fibers may find application in producing antistatic materials and fibrous electronic elements for smart textiles (textronics). In this paper, we present a method of fabrication of cellulose fibers modified with the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and graphene oxide (GO). The fibers were obtained by using N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) as a direct solvent, adding dispersion of GO during the cellulose dissolution process. In the next step, the GO enclosed in the fibers was reduced for ca. half an hour at 90°C with the excess of water solution of hydrazine to obtain fibers containing rGO. The viscosity of the spinning solution increased when GO was added; however, the difference is important at low shearing rates but decreases at high shearing rates, similar to that used in the process of fiber spinning. Cellulose fibers containing 3, 4, 6, and 10% w/w of rGO were obtained. Fiber morphology was studied using electron microscopy. The results of the electrical properties’ measurements showed that the conductivity of modified fibers strongly depends on the concentration of rGO. At 10% rGO conductivity was 9 x 10−3 S/cm. The mechanical properties of the obtained fibers were slightly changed by the presence of GO and rGO. Tenacity and elongation at break decreased with the increase in the content of GO and rGO in the fibers but remain at an acceptable level from the textiles processing point of view.
Fear and Loathing in Legal Academia: Legal Academics’ Perceptions of Their Field and Their Curious Imaginaries of How ‘Outsiders’ Perceive It
Authors: Priaulx Nicolette , Weinel Martin , Leonard-Clarke Willow , Hayes Thomas
Published: July 2020

This article concerns the question of how legal academics imagine ‘outsiders’ perceive legal academia. Centralising our empirical work undertaken at a UK research intensive University which explored the attitudes, beliefs and knowledges of non-legal academics about the field of legal academia, we focus on the findings flowing from benchmarking surveys with legal academics which invited self-evaluations of the field of legal academia as well as imagining how non-legal academics (’outsiders’) might evaluate the field of legal academia. Of particular interest, we note the presence of a curious divergence between self-perceptions of legal academia and their ‘imaginaries’ as to how ’outsiders’ will perceive the field. Supported by a review of the legal scholarly literature, our study reveals a persistently bleak ‘folklore’ surrounding the question of how ‘outsiders’ will regard legal academia – though critically, one which on the basis of our empirical work, finds little root in reality. Providing the first study of its kind, and offering a range of novel analytical techniques, we highlight the significant purchase of empirical meta-disciplinary work of this nature for better understanding legal academia and its relationship with other fields. While undertaken as a scoping study, we identify potential opportunities for raising the profile of legal academia in wider spheres, as well as enhancing opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration. As we argue by reference to our findings, part of that work may simply involve legal academics projecting their more positive self-perceptions of their field and the value of their work to the outside world.
Application of statistical methods in Internet financial information analysis
Authors: Dolinšek Tatjana
Published: July 2020

In today’s modern globalised world, we are faced with numerous data which form the basis for many crucial decisions. The ability to perform the analysis and interpret data correctly is, therefore, of essential importance in practically every field. The field of financial Information is one of such fields, especially the segment of information that is used by companies in corporate communication. This article is focused solely on the information that refers to the Internet financial reporting, which is important particularly for the external stakeholders. The research was made on the basis of the Internet Financial Reporting (IFR) Index for 27 Slovenian companies listed on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange. The article demonstrates the methodological approach to the creation of the IFR Index, which served as the new variable in the following steps of this research, for which various statistical analyses were performed (univariate, bivariate, and multivariate). Based on the descriptive statistics, the main characteristics of the IFR Index are identified, and, by using the t-test for two independent samples, it was found out that there is a difference among the companies listed in the two different listings. Moreover, through the use of the correlation analysis, the correlation between the IFRC and the IFR-P variables was verified, and, in the end, through the use of the multiple regression analysis, it was discovered that the size of the company is the factor which influences the level of the IFR Index. The purpose of this article is to show the awareness of the alternative research methods, and to facilitate the selection of the most appropriate method for addressing particular research questions in the Internet Financial Reporting.
Impacts of Tourism and Residents’ Perceptions: A Study in the Regional Tourism Area of Lisbon
Authors: Costa Teresa , Umbelino Jorge , de Lurdes Calisto Maria , Nunes Sandra , Afonso Victor Alves
Published: July 2020

Tourism shows a significant transformation. Therefore, knowing the perception of residents regarding its impacts can conduce to more adequate public policies, strategies, decisions and actions, more adapted to residents’ expectations, involving these stakeholders and deepening their engagement in tourism development. This study is a work in progress1. Its main objective is to identify the perceptions of residents of the Lisbon region regarding the impacts of tourism. A quantitative methodology was used to analyse respondents’ perceptions based on descriptive statistical techniques and non-parametric tests. The results of this research indicate that residents have a positive attitude concerning economic, as well as cultural, social and environmental impacts. The study also reveals differences in attitude depending on age, gender and professional activity.
Meta Analyses and Controversy About Financialization, Growth and Stability: A look from post-transition countries of last decade
Authors: Ristic Kristijan
Published: July 2020

In the recent theory of economic growth, there are multiple explanations for the “downward trend of economic growth”, which is already happening during the past decade in developed and emerging markets. Almost all economists have avoided researching the “hypothesis of a world without growth”, dealing with Krugman’s rhetoric of “secular stagnation is probable” or thinking about Koehn’s rhetoric get rid of dependence on growth”. The cult of growth is embedded in the economic, political and social heads so deeply that for each of them growth is an imperative of life and death. By reviewing certain literature and papers, we can draw a conclusion about trends in the world economy, the dominant macroeconomic mainstream and reconsider and we can a critically resist the role of “rule taker” in the economic policy of post-transition countries in the past ten years. This paper does not investigate or establish a research gap, and does not offer a solutions to current problems that may arise from comparative analyzes, but give a qualitative assessment of the neoliberal tone of global economic policy, note the controversies of economic growth and financial stability and reinterprets earlier doctrinal conflicts in the global economy, which can give perspective possible solutions or policies for post-transition countries today. The key goal of this paper is to give rise to future research.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Towards Rural Development Evidence from a Peripheral Area in Portugal
Authors: Pato Lúcia
Published: July 2020

Based on an exploratory research, this study highlights the role of pure rural entrepreneurship towards rural development of an inland and mountainous area of Portugal—Montemuro. Thanks to the Institute of Cultural Affairs and the energy of the rural communities, some people of the rural area have been stimulated thirty years ago to develop endogenous, entrepreneurial and innovative initiatives in the countryside. The benefits of all these rural entrepreneurial and endogenous initiatives are visible nowadays. Some villages of the rural area have more people, socio-economic dynamics were revitalized, and some job opportunities were created. Therefore, in a context of depopulation and crisis of peripheral and interior areas, our study demonstrates that rural entrepreneurship and innovation based on endogenous resources are key for the welfare of the rural society.
Ecosystem for Successful Agriculture. Collaborative Approach as a Driver for Agricultural Development
Authors: Adamashvili Nino , Fiore Mariantonietta , Contò Francesco , La Sala Piermichele
Published: July 2020

The development of agribusiness sector is given gradually increasing importance. This works aims at identifying the elements that create the successful ecosystem for agricultural development, their benefits and application in agri-food systems; additionally, to bring on a light of the role of agricultural policies in these processes. For this purpose, the authors have carried out an analysis of the concern related literature and present a preliminary theoretical framework/model as a tool for supporting local development and incorporate a successful effective ecosystem. The key implications of this paper include an increased attention to agricultural research, to the role of the collaboration between relevant stakeholders, as well as of the agriculture, which uses information technologies for the better utilization of natural resources, and what is the most important is, the role of agricultural policies.
Outranking Methods: Promethee I and Promethee II
Authors: Goswami Shankha Shubhra
Published: July 2020

This article highlights the application of the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment of Evaluations (PROMETHEE) I and II in selecting the best laptop model among six different available models in the market. Seven important criteria, that is, processor, hard disk capacity, operating system, RAM, screen size, brand, and color, are selected, based on which the selection process have been made. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is adopted for calculating the weightages of the seven criteria and PROMETHEE is applied to select the best alternative. PROMETHEE I provides the partial ranking and preferences of one model over another, whereas PROMETHEE II provides the complete ranking of the alternatives. From this analysis, Model 4 is coming out to be the best laptop model occupying the first position and Model 1 occupies the last position, thus indicating it as the worst model among the group. The objectives of this article are to select the best laptop model among six available alternatives and to understood the steps of both multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodologies, that is, PROMETHEE and AHP, in details.
Performance of Four Different Nanoparticles in Boundary Layer Flow Over a Stretching Sheet in Porous Medium Driven by Buoyancy Force
Authors: Kuttan B. Ammani , Manjunatha S. , Jayanthi S. , Gireesha B.J.
Published: July 2020

This contemporary work explores the theoretical analysis of energy transfer performance of distinct nanoparticles (silver, copper, aluminium oxide and titanium oxide) adjacent to a moving surface under the influence of a porous medium which is driven by the buoyancy force. A mathematical model is presented which is converted to similarity equations by employing similarity transformation. The condensed nonlinear equations were approximated by the iterative method called RKF 45th-order. The flow and energy transference characteristics are explained through graphs and tabulated values. The notable findings are: silver- water is an appropriate nanofluid for enhancing the thermal conductivity of the base fluid. Titanium oxide – water shows a lower fluid flow movement due to porosity.
Optimization of Heat Transfer Properties of Nanofluid Flow Over a Shrinking Surface Through Mathematical Modeling
Authors: Bhandari A. , Pannala R.K. Pavan Kumar
Published: July 2020

In the current study, a three dimensional incompressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) nanofluid flow over a shrinking surface with associated thermal buoyancy, thermal radiation, and heating absorption effects, as well as viscous dissipation have been investigated. The model has been represented in a set of partial differential equations and is transformed using suitable similarity transformations which are then solved by using the finite element method through COMSOL. The results for velocity and temperature profiles are provided for various values of the shrinking parameter, Biot’s number, heat generation/absorption parameter, thermal Grashof number, nanoparticle volume fraction, permeability parameter, magnetic parameter and radiation parameter.
Outcome of Nanofluid Flow Containing Arbitrary Shape Nanoparticles Induced by a Permeable Stretching Sheet
Authors: Sarkar A. , Kundu P.K.
Published: July 2020

In this work we have discussed the impact of thermal radiation on heat transfer to nanofluid flow over an unsteady permeable stretching sheet using various types of arbitrary shape nanoparticles of Copper (Cu), Silver (Ag), Alumina (Al2O3), and Titania Oxide (TiO2) in the base fluid. Suitable transformations have been employed to build ODEs from the partial differential equations. Numerical results are therefore obtained particularly for cylindrical shape and spherical shape nanoparticles. Our analysis substantiates that the velocity and temperature profiles increases with enhanced thermal radiation parameter. Further, Nusselt number is more advanced for the nanofluid that contains cylindrical shape nanoparticles as compared to spherical shape nanoparticles.
MHD Free Convection-Radiation Interaction in a Porous Medium - Part II: Soret/Dufour Effects
Authors: Vasu B. , Gorla Rama Subba Reddy , Murthy P.V.S.N. , Prasad V.R. , Bég O.A. , Siddiqa S.
Published: July 2020

This paper is focused on the study of two dimensional steady magnetohydrodynamics heat and mass transfer by laminar free convection from a radiative horizontal circular cylinder in a non-Darcy porous medium by taking into account of the Soret/Dufour effects. The boundary layer equations, which are parabolic in nature, are normalized into non-similar form and then solved numerically with the well-tested, efficient, implicit, stable Keller–Box finite-difference scheme. Numerical results are obtained for the velocity, temperature and concentration distributions, as well as the local skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number for several values of the parameters, namely the buoyancy ratio parameter, Prandtl number, Forchheimer number, magnetohydrodynamic body force parameter, Soret and Dufour numbers. The dependency of the thermophysical properties has been discussed on the parameters and shown graphically. Increasing the Forchheimer inertial drag parameter reduces velocity but elevates temperature and concentration. Increasing the Soret number and simultaneously reducing the Dufour number greatly boosts the local heat transfer rate at the cylinder surface. A comparative study of the previously published and present results in a limiting sense is made and an excellent agreement is found between the results.
Investigation of Velocity Profile in Time Dependent Boundary Layer Flow of a Modified Power-Law Fluid of Fourth Grade
Authors: Yürüsoy M.
Published: July 2020

This paper deals with the investigation of time dependent boundary layer flow of a modified power-law fluid of fourth grade on a stretched surface with an injection or suction boundary condition. The fluid model is a mixture of fourth grade and power-law fluids in which the fluid may display shear thickening, shear thinning or normal stress textures. By using the scaling and translation transformations which is a type of Lie Group transformation, time dependent boundary layer equations are reduced into two alternative ordinary differential equations systems (ODEs) with boundary conditions. During this reduction, special Lie Group transformations are used for translation, scaling and combined transformation. Numerical solutions have been carried out for the ordinary differential equations for various fluids and boundary condition parameters. As a result of numerical analysis, it is observed that the boundary layer thickness decreases as the power-law index value increases. It was also observed that for the fourth-grade fluid parameter, as the parameter increases, the boundary layer thickness decreases while the velocity in the y direction increases.
Providing care to long-term mechanically ventilated patients in Germany – Current situation and needs for action from the perspective of health professionals / Die Versorgung langzeitbeatmeter Patienten in Deutschland – Aktuelle Situation und Handlungsbedarfe aus der Sicht von Gesundheitsberufsangehörigen
Authors: Lehmann Yvonne , Stark Susanne , Ewers Michael
Published: July 2020

Background

The number of patients depending on long-term invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) has been increasing for several years. Anecdotal reports indicate heterogeneous health structures, opaque patient pathways, nontransparent and sometimes questionable practices in individual areas of care, inadequate quality standards and control mechanisms in Germany. However, there is hardly any empirical data on this topic.

Aim

To report findings from a qualitative study conducted as part of a complex research project to assess the appropriateness of care provided to IMV patients in Germany.

Methods

Thirteen semi-structured expert interviews were conducted with 22 health professionals providing care for IMV patients. The data analysis was conducted with MAXQDA according to the framework by Meuser and Nagel.

Results

Interviewees emphasized similar healthcare deficits. They considered health providers to be nontransparent and influenced by secondary interests. Quality of care is reported to be jeopardized by shortage of trained staff. Warranty of self-determination and participatory decision-making is not a matter of fact. Clarifying issues of sustaining life, quality of life and shaping the end of life is often ignored. The professionals are familiar with the patient pathways, allocation processes and responsibilities described in existing guidelines, but criticize the fact that they are not sufficiently binding. Accordingly, patient pathways are frequently individual results of experience-based, informal networking, and often left to chance.

Conclusions

The results point to a considerable need for action to reach an appropriate, integrated, patient-centered level of care for long-term IMV patients and ensure its quality.
Geothermal Energy Utilization for Buildings Services
Authors: Cirstolovean I.L. , Mizgan Paraschiva
Published: July 2020

The Earth’s large amount of thermal energy is virtually an inexhaustible resource often placed too deep in the ground. Making use of this kind of energy is possible in limited areas. In this paper we analysed a GSHP system, in Galati city (Romania), for which we monitored the available thermal energy. For the analysis we used operational reliability theory, the concept of degradation, which in this case means a reduction of the ground’s thermal capacity as a result of continuous exploitation, meaning low temperature of the thermal agent used for transporting the heat from the ground to the primary exchanger of the heat pump. The decrease of thermal energy supply in the ground means that the heat pump wills no longer function properly in order to provide the energy for heating the building. The term time to failure refers to the time when the ground can no longer provide the minimum required energy for the heat pump operation, in terms of energy efficiency. What we want with this approach is to offer a solution in order to control and manage the heat pump operation.
3D Modeling of the Cultural Heritage: Between Opportunity and Necessity
Authors: Herman G.V. , Caciora T. , Ilies Dorina Camelia , Ilies A. , Deac Anca , Sturza Amalia , Sonko S.M. , Suba N.S. , Nistor S.
Published: July 2020

Romania, due to its historical background, has many vestigial belongings to the cultural heritage, out of which the most noticeable (by number, age, architecture, symbolism and representation) are the wooden churches. Under these circumstances the role of the current study is to emphasize certain practical aspects (focused on the need to assess, preserve, restore and valorize) regarding the use of modern technology based on photogrammetry and 3D scanning. The case study was represented by the “Saint Martyrs Constantin Brȃncoveanu and His Sons” wooden church from Oradea Municipality, Bihor County, Romania; the edifice being included on the list of historical monuments ever since 2010. The final goal being to create 3D models for both the exterior and interior of the monument for research, restoration in case of need, sharing for education, entertainment, tourism purposes etc.
Localised capabilities as an intermediating factor in the transition from an old to a new development path: The case of post-socialist industrial towns
Authors: Gwosdz Krzysztof , Domański Bolesław , Bilska-Wodecka Elżbieta
Published: July 2020

There are debates in the research literature about the mechanisms responsible for the formation of local development trajectories. What is emphasised, as particularly scarce, are longitudinal studies which show how historical, social and institutional structures are reproduced and/or transformed into new paths of development in the case of industrial towns. This paper aims to capture the role of various social, cultural and institutional features that constitute localised capabilities, in the process of transition from an old to a new developmental path for older industrial towns. The authors use case studies of three medium-sized industrial centres in Poland: Dzierżoniów, Starachowice and Mielec, to illustrate how localised capabilities are shaped by the interplay of earlier economic activity and the characteristics of local firms, on the one hand, and the evolving social, cultural and institutional attributes of the particular town and its region on the other. As a result, industrial towns may differ significantly in their ability to absorb exogenous impulses, as well as their capacity to transform and recombine them into a new development pathway that is more resilient than the old one.