bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
تقويم كفاءة الاداء التمريضي على وفق معايير منظمة الصحة العالمية (W.H.O) بحث تطبيقي في مستشفيات دائرة مدينة الطب
Authors: عبد ناظم جواد , اعيادة عامر جبار
Published: December 2018

المستخلص

    يهدف هذا البحث الى تشخيص و تقويم كفاءة الاداء التمريضي على وفق معايير منظمة الصحة العالمية (W.H.O). من خلال تطبيق معايير منظمة الصحة العالمية على الملاك التمريضي في دائرة مدينة الطب , وفي ضوئه تم تصميم قائمة تقييم عالمية , و تم اختيار عينة من الملاكات التمريضية في المنظمة المبحوثة التي تم تقييمهم بحسب معايير منظمة الصحة العالمية للأداء التمريضي والمكونة من (10) معايير مقسمة على (45) سؤال . والى جانب قائمة التقييم استعان الباحث ببعض ادوات جمع المعلومات من خلال المشاهدات الفعلية و المقابلات الشخصية , و قد تم استعمال العديد من الوسائل الاحصائية لمعالجة المعلومات المطلوبة مثل الوسط الحسابية , الانحراف المعياري , النسب المئوية , الوسط الفرضي , وتم استخدام معامل ارتباط بيرسون , ومعادلة سبيرمان براون التصحيحية و معامل الفا للاتساق الخارجي .  وبناءً على قياس متغيرات البحث وتشخيصها , واختبار علاقات الارتباط والتأثير والفروق فيما بينها, توصل البحث إلى مجموعة من الاستنتاجات كان أهمها عدم و جود معايير اداء التمريضي في المنظمة المبحوثة , وعدم وجود خبرة ادارية في اغلب الملاكات التمريضية من خلال صنع القرار و القدرة على بناء الفريق و حل المشكلات و ترجمة رؤية المنظمة .
دور السلوك الإبداعي للإفراد في تحقيق ريادة المنظمات الحديثة دراسة استطلاعية في الشركة العامة للصناعات الصوفية في بغداد
Authors: محمد علي عالية جواد
Published: December 2018

المستخلص

واجهت المنظمات في السنوات الأخيرة تحديات كبيرة خاصة مع انتشار العولمة الاقتصادية ما جعلها مُطالبة بتقديم الجديد والأفضل وذلك عن طريق الخبرة والإبداع والابتكار لتحقيق الجودة والنوعية  العالية في المنتجات بكافة أنواعها, وﻤــن اﺠــل ﺘﺤﻘﻴق أﻫداف الدراﺴﺔ واﻹجابة ﻋن تساؤﻻﺘﻬﺎ اﺨﺘﺒرت الدراﺴﺔ ﻓﻲ ((ﻗطﺎع الصناعات الصوفية)) ﻓـﻲ  بغداد. طﺒﻘت الدراﺴﺔ على عينة ﻤﻜوﻨﺔ ﻤن (30)  شخص في المستويات الإدارية العليا والمتوسطة  والدنيا ﻓــﻲ الشــركة (مديري ألأقسام، وﻤـــديري الشـــﻌب، وﻤـــديري الوﺤـــدات، وﻤـــدراء المكاﺘـــب).  وﻷﺠــل ﻤﻌﺎلجــﺔ البيانات والمعلوﻤــﺎت اﺴــﺘﻌﻤﻠت العدﻴــد ﻤــن اﻷساليب الإحصائية واﺴﺘﺨرﺠت النتاﺌﺞ ﺒﺎﺴﺘﺨدام البرﻨﺎﻤﺞ الحاﺴوﺒﻲ (SPSS ) حيث ﺘوﺼـﻠت الدراﺴـﺔ الى ﻤﺠﻤوﻋـﺔ ﻤـن اﻻستنتاجات تتعلق بالمتغيرات الرﺌﻴﺴــﺔ (السلوك  الإبداعي  وريادية المنظمات ) ﻓــﻲ الشــركة المبحــوثة مع وﺠــود ﻋﻼﻗــﺎت ارﺘﺒــﺎط  معنوية ﻓﻴﻤﺎ ﺒﻴﻨﻬﺎ , كذلك وﺠود أﺜر ﻤﻌﻨوي لمتغير السلوك الإبداعي  في تحقيق ريادية  الشركة، وﻫذﻩ النتــﺎﺌﺞ ﺠــﺎءت مخالفة للفرﻀــﻴﺎت الموضوعة للدراسة ,  وﻗـدﻤت الدراﺴـﺔ ﻤﺠﻤوﻋﺔ ﻤﻘﺘرﺤﺎت أﻫﻤﻬﺎ استمرار  الإدارات بالاهتمام بالمبدعين وتبني أفكارهم ومقترحاتهم وتطوير قدراتهم ﻓﻲ الشركة  لتحقيق الريادة والتميز بين الشركات المحلية والعالمية المنافسة ﻤﻊ ﻤﻘﺘرﺤﺎت أﺨرى ﺘﻌد مهمة بالنسبة لإدارات الشركات التي تهدف لتحقيق الريادة في مجال عملها .
مقارنة بين الخوارزمية الجينية Fast – MCD – Nested Extension والشبكة العصبية الارجاعية (الارتدادية ) Back Propagation
Authors: منفي صباح , عبد الحميد فاطمة
Published: December 2018

المستخلص :

تناول البحث استخدام الطرق اللامعلمية الحصينة في تقدير موقع الوسيط وذلك بالاعتماد على اصغر محدد لمصفوفة التباين والتباين المشترك  لنموذج انحدار متعدد المتغيرات ، ونظرا لوجود القيم الشاذة وزيادة حجم العينة ووجود اكثر من بعد لنموذج انحدار متعدد المتغيرات لذا يكون من الصعوبة ايجاد موقع الوسيط .   فقد تم استخدام  الخوارزمية الجينية Fast – MCD- Nested Extension  ومقارنتها مع الشبكة العصبية الارجاعية  (الارتدادية ) Back Propagation  متعددة الطبقات من حيث دقة النتائج والسرعة في ايجاد موقع الوسيط ، اما افضل عينة يتم تحديدها من خلال الاعتماد على اقل مسافة ( مهلنوبس  Mahalanobis  Distance ) وقد اظهرت الدراسة كفاءة الشبكات العصبية في التقدير التي تمثلت باقل مسافة واصغر محدد لمصفوفة التباين والتباين المشترك ومقارنة التباين مع تباين العينة التي تم تحديدها باستخدام الخوارزمية الجينية Fast – MCD- Nested Extension .

اما الجانب التطبيقي فقد تم استخدام   9انواع من المؤشرات الكيمياوية والفيزياوية المسببة لتلوث مياه الشرب ، فقد شمل البحث محافظات العراق كافة عدا اقليم كردستان ولعشرة اشهر لسنة 2013 ولحجم عينة 898 .
استعمال نماذج بوكس وجنكنز للتنبؤ باعداد المرضى المصابين بمرض التهاب الكبد الفايروسي في العراق
Authors: المشهداني ايمان محمد , كاظم جاسم محمد
Published: December 2018

يعد أسلوب تحليل السلاسل الزمنية من الطرائق الإحصائية المهمة المتبعة في هذا المجال ، فدراسة ظاهرة معينة على فترة زمنية معينة وتحليلها يمكننا التعرف على نمطها والعوامل المؤثرة فيها واستعمالها للتنبؤ بالقيم المستقبلية للظاهرة والذي يساعد في وضع إسلوباً للتنبؤ في وضع الخطط السليمة للتنمية الاقتصادية.

يهدف البحث الى اختيار أفضل إنموذج للتنبؤ بعدد الإصابات بالتهاب الكبد الفايروسي بإستعمال نماذج بوكس – جينكنز غير الموسمية في التنبؤ المستقبلي .

تم جمع البيانات من وزارة الصحة / قسم الاحصاء الصحي والحياتي للمدة (من كانون الثاني 2009 ولغاية كانون الاول 2013) وتم استعمال البرنامج الاحصائي MINITAB16 لتحليل السلسلة الزمنية ومن خلال معايير المفاضلة (معيار معلومات بيز BIC ، معيار اكيكي AIC ) تبين ان افضل إنموذج لعدد المصابين بالتهاب الكبد الفايروسي في العراق هو الإنموذج ARIMA(1,1,0) .
دور المدخل السلوكي في تحسين عملية الإبلاغ المالي
Authors: سلمان عامر محمد , سلمان وفاء حسين
Published: December 2018

المستخلص

تسعى هذه الدراسة الى تسليط الضوء على المدخل السلوكي في نظرية المحاسبة كمدخل حديث ومؤثر في صياغة تلك النظرية ومدى انعكاسه على سلوك كل من منتج ومستخدم المعلومة (المحاسب ومستخدم المعلومة المالية).

وتناولت الدراسة دور المدخل السلوكي في ترسيخ المفاهيم المحاسبية من خلال تحقيق الانسجام بينهما بحيث يتمكن المحاسب من التأثير في سلوك المستخدم وبما ينسجم مع المفاهيم والمبادئ المحاسبية سعيا منه في توفير خصائص نوعية للمعلومات المحاسبية التي ينتجها بحيث تكون متناغمة مع سلوكه وسلوك المستخدم لتلك المعلومات وانعكاس ذلك على عملية اتخاذ القرارات من قبل الاخير.

وتوصلت الدراسة الى مجموعة من الاستنتاجات اهمها أن المدخل السلوكي اصبح من الضرورة بمكان البحث فيه لتحقيق قيم تصب بالنتيجة على متخذ القرار المستند على المعلومة المحاسبية ، كما ان سلوك المحاسب له دور في التحكم بتوفير الخصائص النوعية للمعلومات مما ينعكس ذلك على متخذ القرار.
Budget Programs and Performance away to enhance the control in government economic units
Authors: عبد الله سلمان حسين , خضير جوان جاسم
Published: December 2018

The control function of important functions in the system of government for several reasons , perhaps the most important of the magnitude of spending and spending in one of the tools adopted in the implementation of the control function.                               

        Perhaps the most prominent stages of the development budget in terms of setup and use in the budget programs and performance , as specialized literature  show its importance in strengthening financial and operationl control over the government transactions though its dependence on the formation of the programs you want governmant units the promote implementation and asset of performance standards that can be adopted on the subject of evaluating the performance of personnel and units in general package.                                                               

 This study has reached a set of conclusions we will mention the most important:

That the style of the budget programs and performance is based reclassification of public expenditure so that matdzh units of government show business and matqon activities and though the indentification of costs and there by to reduce cost , as well as help to complete the process of effective control and pay attention to what has been accomplished .                                               

   The study has find the following  :     

 1-  Application programs need to adopt the budget programe and performance by the ministry of public and accounting service in the preparation of the state budget because they are based on scientific foundation and the process of the preparation of estimates which achieve the objectives of future programs and impose controls on government spending.                                          

2- To achieve the first and the most important functions of the budget position which is planning and control must be converted from traditional programs to balance the budget and programe and performance where traditional budget.
أثر أستقلالية المدقق على ممارسة التحفظ المحاسبي بحث تطبيقي في شركات القطاع المالي المدرجة في سوق العراق للاوراق المالية
Authors: خضير بشرى فاضل , حلو جعفر عبد الحسين
Published: December 2018

المستخلص:

     يهدف البحث الى التحقق من استقلالية مدققي الحسابات العاملين في شركات ومكاتب التدقيق العراقية ، وقياس مستوى التحفظ المحاسبي في القوائم المالية للمصارف وشركات التامين المدرجة في سوق العراق للاوراق المالية، فضلا عن بيان اثر استقلالية المدقق على التحفظ المحاسبي في القوائم المالية للمصارف وشركات التامين المدرجة في سوق العراق للأوراق المالية، اذ تم قياس استقلالية المدقق باستخدام استمارة استقصاء تم توزيعها على عينة من المدققين العاملين في مكاتب التدقيق العراقية وتم قياس مستوى التحفظ المحاسبي للشركات عينة البحث باستخدام نموذج Basu)  ) وتم بيان اثر المتغيرات من خلال استخدام النماذج الاحصائية بطريقة المربعات الصغرى ونموذج الانحدار الخطي وكذلك نموذج الاختبار ذو الحدين ((Binomial وبعد اختبار الفرضيات توصل البحث الى مجموعة من الاستنتاجات، تمثلت بوجود مستوى مقبول لبعض عوامل استقلالية المدقق في مكاتب وشركات التدقيق العراقية،  ومستوى مقبول للتحفظ المحاسبي في السياسات المحاسبية في شركات القطاع المالي المدرجة في سوق العراق للاوراق المالية ، فضلا عن وجود علاقة ذات دلالة معنوية بين بعض عوامل استقلالية المدقق والتحفظ المحاسبي. وقدم البحث عدد من التوصيات، تمثلت بضرورة فتح شركات تدقيق كبيرة وذلك من خلال دمج مجموعة من مكاتب التدقيق، وكلما كبر حجم شركة التدقيق زاد تمتعها بالاستقلالية فضلاً على أن لحجم مكتب التدقيق تأثير في مستوى التحفظ المحاسبي، إذ أن شركات ومكاتب التدقيق الكبيرة قادرة على إلزام الشركات بمستوى مقبول من التحفظ المحاسبي عند إعداد القوائم المالية ، والتأكيد على الهيئات التشريعية والتنظيمية لمهنة التدقيق في العراق ومنها مجلس مهنة مراقبة الحسابات على شركات ومكاتب التدقيق بوجود مستوى مقبول من التحفظ المحاسبي في التقارير المالية التي يقومون بتدقيقها.
دور الإنتاجية في الأداء المالي المصرفي دراسة تطبيقية في عينة من المصارف العراقية
Authors: سعيد عبد السلام لفته , عباس علي عبد العزيز
Published: December 2018

المستخلص :

 يهدف البحث إلى دراسة المفاهيم الأساسية للإنتاجية المصرفية ومناقشة المناهج المختلفة لدراستها بما ينتهي إلى تحديد أهم المعايير الممكن تطبيقها لقياسها ضمن البيئة المصرفية العراقية وكذلك البحث في أسباب انخفاض وارتفاع الإنتاجية المصرفية العراقية وتحديد المعالجات الممكنة لتحجيم تلك الأسباب بما يؤمن ارتفاعها . وانسجاماً مع مشكلة البحث التي تنص على ما مستوى الإنتاجية؟ وما أسباب انخفاضها وارتفاعها في المصارف الخاصة عينة البحث كل على حدة؟ و ما أداء المصارف الخاصة العراقية وما علاقة وتأثير تغير الإنتاجية في أداء المصارف الخاصة في العراق . وجرت صياغة فرضيات البحث  لدراسة وتحليل العلاقة بين إنتاجية القطاع المصرفي والأداء المالي للمصارف عينة البحث .  كما أن عينة البحث تحدده بستة عشر مصرفاً من مصارف القطاع الخاص وهي (مصرف بغداد ومصرف التجاري العراقي و مصرف الاستثمار العراقي ومصرف الشرق الأوسط العراقي للاستثمار ومصرف المتحد للاستثمار و مصرف الأهلي العراقي ومصرف الائتمان العراقي ومصرف دار السلام للاستثمار ومصرف الاقتصاد للاستثمار والتمويل  ومصرف بابل ومصرف سومر التجاري ومصرف الخليج التجاري ومصرف الموصل للتنمية والاستثمار ومصرف الشمال للتمويل والاستثمار ومصرف المنصور للاستثمار ومصرف الاتحاد العراقي )  . وقد جرى استعمال مؤشر مالمكويست Malmquist لاستخراج قيم تغير الإنتاجية المصرفية للمدة من (2010-2013) ، فضلا عن استعمال مجموعة من المؤشرات المالية المتمثلة بنسب  {الربحية والسيولة وكفاية رأس المال } لدراسة الأداء المصرفي .  ومن ابرز الاستنتاجات التي توصل إليها البحث هي أن معظم المصارف بحاجه لتحسين مستوى الأداء الإنتاجي من خلال استغلال الموارد والإمكانيات المتاحة و كذلك عبر الافادة من نسب التخفيض في المدخلات الفائضة ونسب التحسين في المخرجات الراكدة .
تخطيط الأحتياجات من المواد للمحرك الكهربائي في البيئة الضبابية للشركة العامة للصناعات الكهربائية
Authors: خلف وقاص سعد , احمد محمد عبد
Published: December 2018

المستخلص

إستهدف البحث دراسة الفجوة المتوقعة بين واقع عملية التخطيط والسيطرة على الانتاج في الشركة العامة للصناعات الكهربائية والمتطلبات اللازمة لتنفيذ نظام تخطيط الاحتياجات من المواد في البيئة الضبابية ووضع الحلول الكفيلة بردم تلك الفجوة بما يسهم في تقديم آليات محددة تخضع لقواعد المنطق الضبابي التي من شأنها معالجة ضبابية الطلب أولاً بأول وتحديد مدد الأنتظار الضبابية تبعاً لتوقعات الطلب والأستثمار المناسب في الخزين بما يضمن تقليص كلف الخزن الى أدنى حد ممكن .

وقد تطلب إقتراح الحلول الكفيلة بتذليل مشكلة البحث صياغة عدد من التساؤلات المعبرة عن المشكلة بأبعادها المتعددة التي ترتبط في جوهرها بإمكانية توظيف نظرية المجاميع الضبابية في إزالة مستويات عدم التأكد العالي في كل من الطلب ومدد الأنتظار وكلف الخزن من المحرك الكهربائي لمبردات الهواء (المتكون من ستين جزءاً) خلال المدة الزمنية المحصورة بين (2/1/2014) و (15/1/2015) وزيادة فاعلية نظام تخطيط الأحتياجات من المواد بما يقود الى تحقيق الأهداف المرافقة لتطبيقه بكفاءة أعلى .

ولأجل الأجابة عن تساؤلات البحث وإجراء الجانب العملي منه، أستعمل اسلوب السلاسل الزمنية الضبابي في تقدير مستويات الطلب ومعدلات التغير فيه, وكما استعمل اسلوب الاستدلال الضبابي (قواعد الشرط والنتيجة) بمتغيراتها اللغوية وآراء الخبراء العاملين لدى الشركة المدروسة في ذلك وتحويلها الى مصفوفات إحتمالية تعكس تباين مدد الأنتظار والذي سببه التذبذب الحاصل في مستويات الطلب ومؤشر الطلب, علاوة على ذلك استعمال قواعد الشرط والنتيجة ذاتها لتقدير كلف الخزن الضبابية.

وبعد اجراء التحليلات الرياضية والاحصائية المطلوبة للبيانات بأستعمال عدد من البرامج الأحصائية الجاهزة                  (, SPSS, Matlab Win Qsb) بالاضافة إعداد برنامج مصمم لخوارزمية خاصة بمعالجة الطلب الضبابي ضمن برنامج (Matlab) والتي قادت الى النتائج النهائية للبحث، تبينت إهمية تطبيق نظرية المجاميع الضبابية وكفاءتها في الحد من الآثار الناجمة عن التقلبات البيئية التي تواجهها الشركة المدروسة وسيطرتها على مستويات الطلب ومدد الأنتظار وكلف الخزن ومن ثم إستعمال الأساليب الحديثة في السيطرة على الخزين عبر نظام تخطيط الاحتياجات من المواد في البيئة الضبابية وبما يوفر حلولاً مقترحة لمشكلة البحث وإجابات محددة عن تساؤلاته رافقتها مجموعة توصيات تضمنت في حقيقتها ضرورة إزالة الغموض وعدم التأكد المرافقين لبيئة الأنتاج العراقية من خلال توظيف تطبيقات نظرية المجاميع الضبابية في ذلك وضمان كفاءة وفاعلية تطبيق نظام تخطيط الأحتياجات من المواد في حدود البيئة الضبابية .
How Do You Think It Feels? On Being the Epitome of Pseudoscience
Authors: Malmström Martin
Published: December 2018

Not Available.
Editorial
Authors: Forsell Johan , Rahm Lina , Tenglet Elisabeth , Wessbo Simon
Published: December 2018

This special issue of Confero presents six essays with different aims and scope, which relate to the criticism or “bashing” of educational research. Starting with Martin Malmström’s essay How do you think it feels? On Being the Epitome of Pseudoscience that clearly connects to the bashing theme, the other essays elucidate and question related aspects of the universities, of pedagogy, teacher education and educational research. Together the essays form a dialogue on the underpinning perspectives on science and learning, not only in the field on education but academia at large. To clarify, the intention of this issue is not to constrain the critics, but an ambition to deepen the conversation and open up for different perspectives and voices.
Redox Regulation of Monodehydroascorbate Reductase by Thioredoxin y in Plastids Revealed in the Context of Water Stress
Authors: Vanacker Hélène , Guichard Marjorie , Bohrer Anne-Sophie , Issakidis-Bourguet Emmanuelle
Published: December 2018

Thioredoxins (TRXs) are key players within the complex response network of plants to environmental constraints. Here, the physiological implication of the plastidial y-type TRXs in Arabidopsis drought tolerance was examined. We previously showed that TRXs y1 and y2 have antioxidant functions, and here, the corresponding single and double mutant plants were studied in the context of water deprivation. TRX y mutant plants showed reduced stress tolerance in comparison with wild-type (WT) plants that correlated with an increase in their global protein oxidation levels. Furthermore, at the level of the main antioxidant metabolites, while glutathione pool size and redox state were similarly affected by drought stress in WT and trxy1y2 plants, ascorbate (AsA) became more quickly and strongly oxidized in mutant leaves. Monodehydroascorbate (MDA) is the primary product of AsA oxidation and NAD(P)H-MDA reductase (MDHAR) ensures its reduction. We found that the extractable leaf NADPH-dependent MDHAR activity was strongly activated by TRX y2. Moreover, activity of recombinant plastid Arabidopsis MDHAR isoform (MDHAR6) was specifically increased by reduced TRX y, and not by other plastidial TRXs. Overall, these results reveal a new function for y-type TRXs and highlight their role as major antioxidants in plastids and their importance in plant stress tolerance.
Skyscrapers in the Twenty-First Century City: A Global Snapshot
Authors: Al-Kodmany Kheir
Published: December 2018

The first two decades of the twenty-first century represent a major milestone in skyscraper developments. By analyzing extensive data, the research presented here contrasts building activities of skyscrapers before and after the turn of the 21st century. It examines tall buildings in the world’s major continents (Asia, Europe, North America, Oceana, Middle East, South America, Central America, and Africa) and their respective cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Bangkok, London, Moscow, New York, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco, Melbourne, Sydney, Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, Tel Aviv, São Paulo, Panama City, Mexico City, and Nairobi. By using nearly 40 tables and 80 maps, the paper highlights the rapid activities of building significant skyscrapers at greater heights, elucidates the changes in functions and services, and delineates shifts in spatial patterns and visual impact.
XANES Iron Geochemistry in the Mineral Dust of the Talos Dome Ice Core (Antarctica) and the Southern Hemisphere Potential Source Areas
Authors: Maggi Valter , Baccolo Giovanni , Cibin Giannantonio , Delmonte Barbara , Hampai Dariush , Marcelli Augusto
Published: December 2018

X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurements at the Fe K-edge were performed on aeolian dust in the TALos Dome Ice CorE drilling project (TALDICE) ice core drilled in the peripheral East Antarctic plateau, as well as on Southern Hemisphere potential source area samples. While South American sources show, as expected, a progressive increase in Fe oxidation with decreasing latitude, Antarctic sources show Fe oxidation levels higher than expected in such a cold polar environment, probably because of their very high exposure ages. Results from the TALDICE dust samples are compatible with a South American influence at the site during MIS2 (marine isotopic stage 2, the last and coldest phase of the last glacial period), in particular from Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. However, a contribution from Australia and/or local Antarctic sources cannot be ruled out. Finally, important changes also occurred during the deglaciation and in the Holocene, when the influence of Antarctic local sources seems to have become progressively more important in recent times. This research is the first successful attempt to extract temporal climatic information from X-ray absorption spectroscopic data of the insoluble mineral dust particles contained in an ice core and shows the high potential of this technique.
Security and Cryptographic Challenges for Authentication Based on Biometrics Data
Authors: Nita Stefania Loredana , Mihailescu Marius Iulian , Pau Valentin Corneliu
Published: December 2018

Authentication systems based on biometrics characteristics and data represents one of the most important trend in the evolution of the society, e.g., Smart City, Internet-of-Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, Big Data. In the near future, biometrics systems will be everywhere in the society, such as government, education, smart cities, banks etc. Due to its uniqueness, characteristic, biometrics systems will become more and more vulnerable, privacy being one of the most important challenges. The classic cryptographic primitives are not sufficient to assure a strong level of secureness for privacy. The current paper has several objectives. The main objective consists in creating a framework based on cryptographic modules which can be applied in systems with biometric authentication methods. The technologies used in creating the framework are: C#, Java, C++, Python, and Haskell. The wide range of technologies for developing the algorithms give the readers the possibility and not only, to choose the proper modules for their own research or business direction. The cryptographic modules contain algorithms based on machine learning and modern cryptographic algorithms: AES (Advanced Encryption System), SHA-256, RC4, RC5, RC6, MARS, BLOWFISH, TWOFISH, THREEFISH, RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), Elliptic Curve, and Diffie Hellman. As methods for implementing with success the cryptographic modules, we will propose a methodology which can be used as a how-to guide. The article will focus only on the first category, machine learning, and data clustering, algorithms with applicability in the cloud computing environment. For tests we have used a virtual machine (Virtual Box) with Apache Hadoop and a Biometric Analysis Tool. The weakness of the algorithms and methods implemented within the framework will be evaluated and presented in order for the reader to acknowledge the latest status of the security analysis and the vulnerabilities founded in the mentioned algorithms. Another important result of the authors consists in creating a scheme for biometric enrollment (in Results). The purpose of the scheme is to give a big overview on how to use it, step by step, in real life, and how to use the algorithms. In the end, as a conclusion, the current work paper gives a comprehensive background on the most important and challenging aspects on how to design and implement an authentication system based on biometrics characteristics.
Discrete Transforms and Orthogonal Polynomials of (Anti)symmetric Multivariate Sine Functions
Authors: Brus Adam , Hrivnák Jiří , Motlochová Lenka
Published: December 2018

Sixteen types of the discrete multivariate transforms, induced by the multivariate antisymmetric and symmetric sine functions, are explicitly developed. Provided by the discrete transforms, inherent interpolation methods are formulated. The four generated classes of the corresponding orthogonal polynomials generalize the formation of the Chebyshev polynomials of the second and fourth kinds. Continuous orthogonality relations of the polynomials together with the inherent weight functions are deduced. Sixteen cubature rules, including the four Gaussian, are produced by the related discrete transforms. For the three-dimensional case, interpolation tests, unitary transform matrices and recursive algorithms for calculation of the polynomials are presented.
A Review on Recent Development of Cooling Technologies for Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV) Systems
Authors: Xiao Manxuan , Tang Llewellyn , Zhang Xingxing , Lun Isaac Yu Fat , Yuan Yanping
Published: December 2018

Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV) technology, as an energy saving method which can directly generate electricity from the Sun, has attracted an ever-increasing attention with the deepening worldwide energy crisis. However, operating temperature is one of the main concerns that affect the CPV system. Excess cell temperature causes electrical conversion efficiency loss and cell lifespan decrease. Thus, reasonable cooling methods should decrease the operating temperature and balance the flare inhomogeneity. They also need to display high reliability, low power consumption, and convenient installation. This paper presented the architectural, commercial, and industrial usage of CPV system, reviewed the recent research developments of different cooling techniques of CPV systems during last few years, including the spectral beam splitting technology, cogeneration power technology, commonly used and promising cooling techniques, active and passive cooling methods. It also analysed the design considerations of the cooling methods in CPV systems, introduced the classification and basic working principles and provided a thorough compilation of different cooling techniques with their advantages, current research limitations, challenges, and possible further research directions. The aim of this work is to find the research gap and recommend feasible research direction of cooling technologies for CPV systems.
A Neural Network-Based Four Phases Interleaved Boost Converter for Fuel Cell System Applications
Authors: Barhoumi El Manaa , Ben Belgacem Ikram , Khiareddine Abla , Zghaibeh Manaf , Tlili Iskander
Published: December 2018

This paper presents a simple strategy for controlling an interleaved boost converter that is used to reduce the current fluctuations in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, with high impact on the fuel cell lifetime. To keep the output voltage at the desired reference value under the strong fluctuations of the fuel flow rate, fuel supply pressure, and temperature, a neural network controller is developed and implemented using Matlab-Simulink (R2012b, MathWorks limited, London, UK). The advantage of this controller resides in its simplicity, where limited number of tests are carried out using Matlab-Simulink to construct it. To investigate the robustness of the proposed converter and the neural network controller, strong variations of the fuel flow rate, fuel supply pressure, temperature and air supply pressure are applied to both the fuel cell and the neural network controller of the converter. The simulation results show the effectiveness and the robustness of the both the proposed controller and converter to control the load voltage and minimize the current and voltage ripples. As a result of that, fuel cell current oscillations are considerably reduced on the one hand, while on the other hand, the load voltage is stabilized during transient variations of the fuel cell inputs.
Exploring General Practitioners’ Views and Experiences of Providing Care to People with Borderline Personality Disorder in Primary Care: A Qualitative Study in Australia
Authors: Wlodarczyk Julian , Lawn Sharon , Powell Kathryn , Crawford Gregory B. , McMahon Janne , Burke Judy , Woodforde Lyn , Kent Martha , Howell Cate , Litt John
Published: December 2018

The prevalence of people seeking care for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in primary care is four to five times higher than in the general population. Therefore, general practitioners (GPs) are important sources of assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and care for these patients, as well as important providers of early intervention and long-term management for mental health and associated comorbidities. A thematic analysis of two focus groups with 12 GPs in South Australia (in discussion with 10 academic, clinical, and lived experience stakeholders) highlighted many challenges faced by GPs providing care to patients with BPD. Major themes were: (1) Challenges Surrounding Diagnosis of BPD; (2) Comorbidities and Clinical Complexity; (3) Difficulties with Patient Behaviour and the GP–Patient Relationship; and (4) Finding and Navigating Systems for Support. Health service pathways for this high-risk/high-need patient group are dependent on the quality of care that GPs provide, which is dependent on GPs’ capacity to identify and understand BPD. GPs also need to be supported sufficiently in order to develop the skills that are necessary to provide effective care for BPD patients. Systemic barriers and healthcare policy, to the extent that they dictate the organisation of primary care, are prominent structural factors obstructing GPs’ attempts to address multiple comorbidities for patients with BPD. Several strategies are suggested to support GPs supporting patients with BPD.
Research on the Irrational Behavior of Consumers’ Safe Consumption and Its Influencing Factors
Authors: Wang Jianhua , Shen Minmin , Gao Ziqiu
Published: December 2018

Frequent food safety incidents in recent years have greatly reduced consumers’ trust, and consumers’ demand for safe food has been on the rise. However, there is an inconsistency between the consumers’ willingness and actual purchasing behaviors. Some consumers who have a willingness to purchase safe food ultimately do not produce actual purchasing behaviors, resulting in an “irrational behavior” in the safe food consumer market. In order to better study this phenomenon and identify its inherent logic, we chose to use pork (a typical representative of safety-certified agricultural products) as the object, based on a survey on 844 consumers in the Jiangsu Province and Anhui Province analyzed in July 2017 by RPL (Random Parameters Logit) and binary Logit regression methods from two aspects, i.e. consumer preference for different attributes of safety-certified products and factors affecting safe consumption. The research results show that consumers have a significant preference for pork that has additional attributes such as green food certification, organic food certification, origin information and “No Additives and Veterinary Drug Residue Labeling”; labeling such information on the pork can effectively improve consumers’ trust. Consumers’ inconsistency of purchase intention with purchasing behaviors of safety-certified pork is affected by many factors, such as gender, age, annual household income, the degree of trust in agricultural product quality and a safety certification mark, understanding of safety-certified pork, and the degree of concern on pork quality and safety issues. These factors have all contributed, to varying degrees, to the rising of “irrational behavior” of consumers’ safe consumption, lead to an irrational state of consumption that consumers with a safely certified pork purchase will not necessarily buy a safety-certified pork. Based on the results of two empirical analyses, it can be concluded that pricing and age are the two main influencing factors that lead to the “irrational behavior” of consumers’ safe consumption.
Impact of Heart Disease Risk Factors, Respiratory Illness, Mastery, and Quality of Life on the Health Status of Individuals Living Near a Major Railyard in Southern California
Authors: Baek Kelly , Mann Semran K. , Alemi Qais , Kumar Akinchita , Newman Penny , Spencer-Hwang Rhonda , Montgomery Susanne
Published: December 2018

The potential health risks for communities that surround railyards have largely been understudied. Mastery and quality of life (QoL) have been associated with self-reported health status in the general population, but few studies have explored this variable among highly vulnerable low-income groups exposed to harmful air pollutants. This study investigates the relationship between self-reported health status and correlates of Heart Disease Risk Factors (HDRF) and Respiratory Illness (RI) with mastery and QoL acting as potential protective buffers. This cross-sectional study of 684 residents residing near a Southern California railyard attempts to address this limitation. Results from three separate hierarchal linear regressions showed that those who reported being diagnosed with at least one type of HDRF and/or RI reported lower perceived health status. For those that lived further from the railyard, mastery and QoL predicted modest increases in perceived health status. Results suggest that mastery and QoL may be helpful as tools in developing interventions but should not solely be used to assess risk and health outcomes as perceived health status may not measure actual health status.
Analysis of Social Determinants of Health and Disability Scores in Leprosy-Affected Persons in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Heidinger Martin , Simonnet Elisa , Karippadathu Sr. Francina , Puchinger Markus , Pfeifer Johann , Grisold Andrea
Published: December 2018

A consistent relationship has been found between leprosy and inequities in social determinants of health. It, however, remains unclear which aspect of these social determinants contributes most to the risk of infection, and even less clear are the risk factors for the development of leprosy-related disabilities. The objective of this study was to elicit the differential impact of social determinants of health in leprosy-affected persons, and determine whether structural inequities in accessibility to societal resources and lower socioeconomic parameters correlated with higher severity of disabilities. This analysis was based on a sampled population affected by leprosy in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. Persons enrolled in the study were covered by a nongovernmental lifelong care program, had completed a multidrug therapy for leprosy and/or were slit-skin-smear negative, and showed Grade 1 or higher disabilities due to leprosy. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was performed. The Eyes-Hands-Feet (EHF) score was the outcome variable, and gender, age, time after release from treatment, monthly income, and living space were explanatory variables. There were 123 participants, comprised of 41 (33.33%) women and 82 (66.67%) men. All study participants belonged to India’s Backward classes; 81.30% were illiterate and the average monthly income was 1252 Indian rupee (INR) (US$19.08 or €17.16). The average EHF score was 7.016 (95% CI, 6.595 to 7.437). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis built a significant model, where F(2, 120) = 13.960, p ≤ 0.001, effect size (Cohen’s f2) = 0.81, explaining 18.9% of the variance in EHF scores (R2 = 0.189). Significant predictors of a higher EHF score in persons affected by leprosy were found to be higher age (beta = 0.340, 95% CI, 0.039 to 0.111, p < 0.001), as well as less living space (beta = −0.276, 95% CI, −0.041 to −0.011, p = 0.001). Our results suggest that inequalities in social determinants of health correspond to higher disability scores, which indicates that poor living standards are a common phenomenon in those living with leprosy-related disabilities. Further research is needed to dissect the exact development of impairments after release from treatment (RFT) in order to take targeted actions against disability deterioration.
Dysregulation of Lipid Metabolism in Mkp-1 Deficient Mice during Gram-Negative Sepsis
Authors: Li Jinhui , Wang Xiantao , Ackerman William E. , Batty Abel J. , Kirk Sean G. , White William M. , Wang Xianxi , Anastasakis Dimitrios , Samavati Lobelia , Buhimschi Irina , Nelin Leif D. , Hafner Markus , Liu Yusen
Published: December 2018

Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase (Mkp)-1 exerts its anti-inflammatory activities during Gram-negative sepsis by deactivating p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). We have previously shown that Mkp-1+/+ mice, but not Mkp-1−/− mice, exhibit hypertriglyceridemia during severe sepsis. However, the regulation of hepatic lipid stores and the underlying mechanism of lipid dysregulation during sepsis remains an enigma. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying the sepsis-associated metabolic changes and the role of Mkp-1 in the process, we infected Mkp-1+/+ and Mkp-1−/− mice with Escherichia coli i.v., and assessed the effects of Mkp-1 deficiency on tissue lipid contents. We also examined the global gene expression profile in the livers via RNA-seq. We found that in the absence of E. coli infection, Mkp-1 deficiency decreased liver triglyceride levels. Upon E. coli infection, Mkp-1+/+ mice, but not Mkp-1−/− mice, developed hepatocyte ballooning and increased lipid deposition in the livers. E. coli infection caused profound changes in the gene expression profile of a large number of proteins that regulate lipid metabolism in wildtype mice, while these changes were substantially disrupted in Mkp-1−/− mice. Interestingly, in Mkp-1+/+ mice E. coli infection resulted in downregulation of genes that facilitate fatty acid synthesis but upregulation of Cd36 and Dgat2, whose protein products mediate fatty acid uptake and triglyceride synthesis, respectively. Taken together, our studies indicate that sepsis leads to a substantial change in triglyceride metabolic gene expression programs and Mkp-1 plays an important role in this process.
Probing the Role of the Hinge Segment of Cytochrome P450 Oxidoreductase in the Interaction with Cytochrome P450
Authors: Campelo Diana , Esteves Francisco , Brito Palma Bernardo , Costa Gomes Bruno , Rueff José , Lautier Thomas , Urban Philippe , Truan Gilles , Kranendonk Michel
Published: December 2018

NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) is the unique redox partner of microsomal cytochrome P450s (CYPs). CPR exists in a conformational equilibrium between open and closed conformations throughout its electron transfer (ET) function. Previously, we have shown that electrostatic and flexibility properties of the hinge segment of CPR are critical for ET. Three mutants of human CPR were studied (S243P, I245P and R246A) and combined with representative human drug-metabolizing CYPs (isoforms 1A2, 2A6 and 3A4). To probe the effect of these hinge mutations different experimental approaches were employed: CYP bioactivation capacity of pre-carcinogens, enzyme kinetic analysis, and effect of the ionic strength and cytochrome b5 (CYB5) on CYP activity. The hinge mutations influenced the bioactivation of pre-carcinogens, which seemed CYP isoform and substrate dependent. The deviations of Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters uncovered tend to confirm this discrepancy, which was confirmed by CYP and hinge mutant specific salt/activity profiles. CPR/CYB5 competition experiments indicated a less important role of affinity in CPR/CYP interaction. Overall, our data suggest that the highly flexible hinge of CPR is responsible for the existence of a conformational aggregate of different open CPR conformers enabling ET-interaction with structural varied redox partners.
Investigation of the Performance of Hyperspectral Imaging by Principal Component Analysis in the Prediction of Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Authors: Yang Qian , Sun Shen , Jeffcoate William J. , Clark Daniel J. , Musgove Alison , Game Fran L. , Morgan Stephen P.
Published: December 2018

Diabetic foot ulcers are a major complication of diabetes and present a considerable burden for both patients and health care providers. As healing often takes many months, a method of determining which ulcers would be most likely to heal would be of great value in identifying patients who require further intervention at an early stage. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a tool that has the potential to meet this clinical need. Due to the different absorption spectra of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin, in biomedical HSI the majority of research has utilized reflectance spectra to estimate oxygen saturation (SpO2) values from peripheral tissue. In an earlier study, HSI of 43 patients with diabetic foot ulcers at the time of presentation revealed that ulcer healing by 12 weeks could be predicted by the assessment of SpO2 calculated from these images. Principal component analysis (PCA) is an alternative approach to analyzing HSI data. Although frequently applied in other fields, mapping of SpO2 is more common in biomedical HSI. It is therefore valuable to compare the performance of PCA with SpO2 measurement in the prediction of wound healing. Data from the same study group have now been used to examine the relationship between ulcer healing by 12 weeks when the results of the original HSI are analyzed using PCA. At the optimum thresholds, the sensitivity of prediction of healing by 12 weeks using PCA (87.5%) was greater than that of SpO2 (50.0%), with both approaches showing equal specificity (88.2%). The positive predictive value of PCA and oxygen saturation analysis was 0.91 and 0.86, respectively, and a comparison by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.88 for PCA compared with 0.66 using SpO2 analysis. It is concluded that HSI may be a better predictor of healing when analyzed by PCA than by SpO2.
Mind-Personality Relations: Comment on Demetriou et al., 2018
Authors: Ackerman Phillip L.
Published: December 2018

The article by Demetriou et al. [1] represents an impressive documentation of the relations between intellectual ability constructs and personality constructs [...]
Commentary on Demetriou et al. (2018): Methodological and Theoretical Considerations
Authors: Bäckström Martin
Published: December 2018

The article “Mind-Personality Relations from Childhood to Early Adulthood” attempts to investigate the relation between cognitive ability (GMA) and personality, especially how these two concepts are related during childhood, and whether they may exert influence on each other during development. [...]
Environmental Isolates of Multi-Azole-Resistant Aspergillus spp. in Southern Italy
Authors: Trovato Laura , Scalia Guido , Domina Maria , Oliveri Salvatore
Published: December 2018

Azole resistance in Aspergillus spp. has been increasingly reported worldwide. Acquired azole resistance is probably linked to environmental exposure to fungicides used in agriculture. We collected a total of 84 soil and leaf samples from eight farms in Southern Italy. Aspergillus isolates were tested for resistance to itraconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole by the EUCAST method. Five out of 84 samples yielded A. fumigatus isolates: four of them were itraconazole-resistant and were identified as A. fumigatus sensu stricto, three of them were posaconazole-resistant, and two were also voriconazole-resistant. All three isolates harbored the TR34/L98H resistance mechanism, which was detected by DNA sequencing of the cyp51A gene. Fifteen out of 84 samples yielded Aspergillus spp. isolates and included 11 itraconazole-resistant isolates: Aspergillus section Nigri (9) and Aspergillus section Flavi (2). Our study reports for the first time the isolation of azole-resistant A. fumigatus harboring TR34/L98H mutation from the environment of Southern Italy. The present work provides a better understanding of the magnitude of the environmental spread of azole resistance in the context of a necessary effective surveillance program to improve the management of Aspergillus-related disease.
Going with the Flo: The Role of Flo11-Dependent and Independent Interactions in Yeast Mat Formation
Authors: Reynolds Todd B.
Published: December 2018

Strains of the bakers’ yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that are able to generate a multicellular structure called a mat on low percentage (0.3%) agar plates are given a selective advantage over strains that cannot exhibit this phenotype. This environment may exhibit some similarities to the rotting fruit on which S. cerevisiae often grows in nature. Mat formation occurs when the cells spread over the plate as they grow, and cells in the center of the biofilm aggregate to form multicellular structures that resemble a floral pattern. This multicellular behavior is dependent on the cell surface flocculin Flo11. This review covers recent information on the structure of Flo11 and how this likely impacts mat formation as well as how variegated expression of Flo11 influences mat formation. Finally, it also discusses several Flo11-independent genetic factors that control mat formation, such as vacuolar protein sorting (VPS) genes, cell wall signaling components, and heat shock proteins.
Environmentally Friendly Valorization of Solieria filiformis (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) from IMTA Using a Biorefinery Concept
Authors: Peñuela Ana , Robledo Daniel , Bourgougnon Nathalie , Bedoux Gilles , Hernández-Núñez Emanuel , Freile-Pelegrín Yolanda
Published: December 2018

Marine macroalgae (seaweed) are an excellent source of novel bioactive metabolites. The biorefinery concept applied to seaweed facilitates the extraction of many chemical constituents from the same biomass ensuring that the resource is used fully, generating few residues through a succession of extraction steps. In the present study, the biomass of the carragenophyte Solieria filiformis (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) cultured in an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system was evaluated to obtain valuable products by a biorefinery approach. Enzymatic-assisted extraction (EAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were the eco-friendly technologies used to ensure an environmentally friendly valorization of the biomass. Three valuable products were successfully recovered: a water-soluble extract rich in proteins and sulfated polysaccharides suitable as a food supplement; a lipid fraction rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with potential to be used in the nutraceutical industry; and a pure ι-carrageenan with a powerful antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus (EC50 = 6.3 µg mL−1) comparable to the commercial antiviral acyclovir (EC50 = 3.2–5.4 µg mL−1).
Mangrove Tirucallane- and Apotirucallane-Type Triterpenoids: Structure Diversity of the C-17 Side-Chain and Natural Agonists of Human Farnesoid/Pregnane–X–Receptor
Authors: Jiang Zhong-Ping , Luan Zhi-Lin , Liu Ruo-Xi , Zhang Qun , Ma Xiao-Chi , Shen Li , Wu Jun
Published: December 2018

Ten new triterpenoid compounds with structure diversity of the C-17 side-chain, including nine tirucallanes, named xylocarpols A–E (1–5) and agallochols A–D (6–9), and an apotirucallane, named 25-dehydroxy protoxylogranatin B (10), were isolated from the mangrove plants Xylocarpus granatum, Xylocarpus moluccensis, and Excoecaria agallocha. The structures of these compounds were established by HR-ESIMS and extensive one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR investigations. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were unequivocally determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, conducted with Cu Kα radiation; whereas those of 4, 6–8 were assigned by a modified Mosher’s method and the comparison of experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Most notably, 5, 6, 7, and 9 displayed potent activation effects on farnesoid–X–receptor (FXR) at the concentration of 10.0 μM; 10 exhibited very significant agonistic effects on pregnane–X–receptor (PXR) at the concentration of 10.0 nM.
Presence of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Fresh Beef Marketed in 13 Regions of ITALY (2017)
Authors: Varcasia Bianca Maria , Tomassetti Francesco , De Santis Laura , Di Giamberardino Fabiola , Lovari Sarah , Bilei Stefano , De Santis Paola
Published: December 2018

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in fresh beef marketed in 2017 in 13 regions of Italy, to evaluate the potential risk to human health. According to the ISO/TS 13136:2012 standard, 239 samples were analysed and nine were STEC positive, from which 20 strains were isolated. The STEC-positive samples were obtained from Calabria (n = 1), Campania (n = 1), Lazio (n = 2), Liguria (n = 1), Lombardia (n = 1) and Veneto (n = 3). All STEC strains were analysed for serogroups O26, O45, O55, O91, O103, O104, O111, O113, O121, O128, O145, O146 and O157, using Real-Time PCR. Three serogroups were identified amongst the 20 strains: O91 (n = 5), O113 (n = 2), and O157 (n = 1); the O-group for each of the 12 remaining STEC strains was not identified. Six stx subtypes were detected: stx1a, stx1c, stx2a, stx2b, stx2c and stx2d. Subtype stx2c was the most common, followed by stx2d and stx2b. Subtype stx2a was identified in only one eae-negative strain and occurred in combination with stx1a, stx1c and stx2b. The presence in meat of STEC strains being potentially harmful to human health shows the importance, during harvest, of implementing additional measures to reduce contamination risk.