bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Method for Evaluating and Principles for Developing a Map of the Productive Potential of Agricultural Land
Authors: Podciborski Tomasz
Published: September 2017

Crop production is a highly complex process. It requires comprehensive knowledge about natural phenomena and agronomic treatments that provide plans with optimal conditions for growth and development. Crop yield is influenced by a variety of environmental factors, including availability of water, temperature and light. The main anthropogenic element in crop production is the shape of the plot which is determined by the land division plan. Farmers also have to undertake the relevant measures to ensure the appropriate soil pH, soil structure, nutrient content and microbial activity. The main objective of this study was to develop a method and principles for evaluating the productive potential of agricultural land, and to compile a map presenting the productive potential of agricultural land. The main aim was achieved through detailed goals. Model evaluation indicators and criteria, the sources of information used in the evaluation process as well as the stages of and principles for developing a map of the productive potential of agricultural land were described. The results of an evaluation performed on a selected research site were presented in graphical form in the Conclusions section.
A High Resolution Survey of the Galactic Plane at 408 MHz
Authors: Tung A. K. , Kothes R. , Landecker T. L. , Geisbüsch J. , Rizzo D. Del , Taylor A. R. , Brunt C. M. , Gray A. D. , Dougherty S. M.
Published: September 2017

The interstellar medium is a complex “ecosystem” with gas constituents in the atomic, molecular and ionized states, dust, magnetic fields, and relativistic particles. The Canadian Galactic Plane Survey has imaged these constituents at multiple radio and infrared frequencies with angular resolution of the order of arcminutes. This paper presents radio continuum data at 408 MHz over the area of

,

, with an extension to

in the range of

, with angular resolution

cosecδ. Observations were made with the Synthesis Telescope at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory as part of the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey. The calibration of the survey using existing radio source catalogs is described. The accuracy of 408 MHz flux densities from the data is 6%. Information on large structures has been incorporated into the data using the single-antenna survey of Haslam et al. The paper presents the data, describes how it can be accessed electronically, and gives examples of applications of the data to ISM research.
Weighing Uranus’ Moon Cressida with the η Ring
Authors: Chancia Robert O. , Hedman Matthew M. , French Richard G.
Published: September 2017

The η ring is one of the narrow rings of Uranus, consisting of a dense core that is 1–2 km wide and a diffuse outer sheet spanning about 40 km. Its dense core lies just exterior to the 3:2 Inner Lindblad Resonance of the small moon Cressida. We fit the η ring radius residuals and longitudes from a complete set of both ground-based and Voyager stellar and radio occultations of the Uranian rings spanning 1977–2002. We find variations in the radial position of the η ring that are likely generated by this resonance, and take the form of a 3-lobed structure rotating at an angular rate equal to the mean motion of the moon Cressida. The amplitude of these radial oscillations is 0.667 ± 0.113 km, which is consistent with the expected shape due to the perturbations from Cressida. The magnitude of these variations provides the first measurement of the mass and density of the moon Cressida (

kg and

g cm−3) or, indeed, any of Uranus’ small inner moons. A better grasp of inner Uranian satellite masses will provide another clue to the composition, dynamical stability, and history of Uranus’ tightly packed system of small moons.
The Interior Angular Momentum of Core Hydrogen Burning Stars from Gravity-mode Oscillations
Authors: Aerts C. , Reeth T. Van , Tkachenko A.
Published: September 2017

A major uncertainty in the theory of stellar evolution is the angular momentum distribution inside stars and its change during stellar life. We compose a sample of 67 stars in the core hydrogen burning phase with a

value from high-resolution spectroscopy, as well as an asteroseismic estimate of the near-core rotation rate derived from gravity-mode oscillations detected in space photometry. This assembly includes 8 B-type stars and 59 AF-type stars, covering a mass range from 1.4 to 5 M
⊙, i.e., it concerns intermediate-mass stars born with a well-developed convective core. The sample covers projected surface rotation velocities

km s−1 and core rotation rates up to 26 μHz, which corresponds to 50% of the critical rotation frequency. We find deviations from rigid rotation to be moderate in the single stars of this sample. We place the near-core rotation rates in an evolutionary context and find that the core rotation must drop drastically before or during the short phase between the end of the core hydrogen burning and the onset of core helium burning. We compute the spin parameter, which is the ratio of twice the rotation rate to the mode frequency (also known as the inverse Rossby number), for 1682 gravity modes and find the majority (95%) to occur in the sub-inertial regime. The 10 stars with Rossby modes have spin parameters between 14 and 30, while the gravito-inertial modes cover the range from 1 to 15.
The Value of the Frontalis Suspension Procedure as a Repeat Intervention in Congenital Blepharoptosis
Authors: Ural Özlem , Mocan Mehmet C. , Erdener Ugur
Published: September 2017

Purpose:

To evaluate the therapeutic benefits of frontalis suspension as a repeat intervention in congenital blepharoptosis.

Methods:

Pediatric patients diagnosed as having congenital ptosis who had at least 2 years of postoperative follow-up were included in this retrospective study. A successful outcome was defined as a postoperative margin-reflex distance of 3 mm or greater. The chi-square, Student's
t
, and Mann–Whitney
U
tests were used in comparisons.

Results:

Eighty-four eyes of 77 patients with a follow-up period of 8.4 ± 0.7 years were included. The initial surgery was levator resection in 29 (34.5%) eyes and frontalis suspension in 55 (65.5%) eyes. Frontalis suspension was performed for all repeat interventions (n = 20). Surgical success was achieved in 61.9% of patients with single surgery (75.9% for levator resection vs 54.5% for frontalis suspension;
P
= .06) and in 77.4% of patients following repeated surgeries (93.1% vs 69.1% for patients who initially underwent levator resection vs frontalis suspension, respectively;
P
= .012). A higher success rate was associated with better preoperative levator function (
P
= .01) and a higher margin-reflex distance (
P
= .004), and was inversely proportional to ptosis severity (
P
= .04).

Conclusions:

Frontalis suspension as a repeat intervention for congenital blepharoptosis is associated with a further increase in long-term anatomic success rates and should be considered when initial procedures fail or remain inadequate.

[
J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus
. 2017;54(5):320–323.]
L’inscription paradoxale du dispositif Diwan en Bretagne
Authors: Balcou-Debussche Maryvette , Tupin Frédéric
Published: September 2017

Cette contribution interroge l’inscription sociale du dispositif bilingue Diwan en Bretagne, près de 40 ans après les débuts d’un projet qui soutient le choix de l’immersion totale en langue bretonne, dans un contexte régional où le nombre de locuteurs « naturels » ne cesse de baisser. Envisagée dans ses dimensions « hors-sol », l’intervention éducative est questionnée ici à travers ses dimensions didactiques, psychopédagogiques, organisationnelles, institutionnelles et sociales. Les analyses prennent appui sur 48 entretiens semi-directifs menés auprès des équipes de direction, des enseignants, des élèves et des parents d’élèves, ainsi que sur des observations in situ réalisées dans 10 établissements. Les résultats permettent de mettre en exergue les points d’appui sur lesquels le dispositif s’est construit, mais ils soulignent aussi les lieux de tensions et de controverses, tant du côté des actions et des acteurs eux-mêmes que du côté des orientations privilégiées par ces derniers.
Le don/contre-don à l’épreuve d’un dispositif tutoral : des conséquences dans le domaine de la pédagogie universitaire ?
Authors: Baudrit Alain
Published: September 2017

Un dispositif tutoral mis en place à la Faculté de Médecine de l’Université de Bordeaux 2 donne à voir des pratiques assez proches du don/contre-don, système d’échanges observé par l’anthropologue Marcel Mauss dans de nombreuses sociétés archaïques. En effet, des étudiants ont tendance à rendre ce qu’ils ont reçu. Aidés en première année d’études médicales par d’autres plus avancés dans le cursus, ils sont ensuite volontaires pour venir à leur tour en aide à des pairs débutants. Ceci de façon renouvelée à chaque rentrée universitaire. Des apparences peut-être trompeuses vu le contexte compétitif propre aux études médicales et compte tenu du fait que sociétés archaïques et sociétés modernes ne peuvent être confondues. Telle est la question soulevée dans cet article à l’appui de travaux portant sur les états psychologiques, les processus identitaires et l’image qu’ont d’elles-mêmes des personnes amenées à recevoir des autres aide et soutien ou, au contraire, à apporter aux autres aide et soutien. Une question également de nature à interroger les pédagogies universitaires dont une des principales missions consiste à lutter contre l’échec dans les premiers cycles de l’enseignement supérieur.
Coopération chercheurs-praticiens pour analyser l’activité et concevoir des ressources de formation
Authors: Leblanc Serge
Published: September 2017

Cet article propose de questionner le type de coopération engagée entre les chercheurs et les praticiens lorsqu’il s’agit d’étudier l’activité humaine et ses transformations. Pour présenter notre manière de concevoir et mettre en œuvre des recherches qui constituent une alternative aux « recherches académiques » et/ou aux « recherches-actions », nous développerons : a) l’intérêt d’un programme de recherche technologique en relation organique avec un ou plusieurs programmes de recherche empirique, b) une vision de la coopération chercheurs-praticiens pensée comme une voie de développement et de compréhension de l’activité humaine, c) l’articulation entre l’analyse de l’activité et le processus de conception. Nous proposerons des illustrations concrètes sur ces trois axes à partir d’études qui s’inscrivent dans le programme de recherche empirique et technologique du cours d’action et qui ont été menées dans les domaines de la formation des meneurs d’attelage et des enseignants.
La collaboration entre chercheuse et praticiens dans un groupe de codéveloppement professionnel
Authors: Caron Josianne , Portelance Liliane
Published: September 2017

Les stagiaires en enseignement peinent à mettre en relation les connaissances issues de la recherche (CIR) et celles de la pratique (Altet, 2010). Or, à l’instar des connaissances issues de l’expérience, les CIR sont des ressources ayant un potentiel d’utilisation (Perrenoud, 2001). Les stagiaires ont besoin d’une formation qui les aide à les exploiter afin d’atténuer le choc de la confrontation avec la réalité de l’enseignement et ils réclament du soutien de leurs enseignants associés (Desbiens, Borges et Spallanzani, 2012). Ces derniers disposent de peu d’occasions pour se regrouper et échanger et ils ont peu de repères scientifiques pour guider leurs actions auprès du stagiaire (L’Hostie, Monney et Nadeau-Tremblay, 2013). Ils ont donc des besoins en ce sens (Caron et Portelance, 2017). Ces besoins ont été pris en compte à l’origine d’une recherche collaborative réalisée au sein d’un groupe de codéveloppement professionnel (Payette et Champagne, 2010). Dans ce texte, nous mettons l’accent sur l’identification collective de pratiques et d’intentions d’utilisation de CIR par une enseignante associée dans son encadrement réflexif d’une stagiaire.
The impact of collaborative strategies on disaster risk reduction in Zimbabwe dairy supply chains in 2016
Authors: Chari Felix , Ngcamu Bethuel S.
Published: September 2017

Disasters are on the increase globally with accompanying devastating effects on dairy supply chains. The devastating effects, caused by disasters on economies in various countries such as United States of America, Japan, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique and Zimbabwe call for urgent sustainable mitigating measures in disaster risk reduction. These countries have experienced notable natural and man-made disasters in the past. The disasters negatively impacted the economies of both developed and developing countries, causing misery to people as hunger and poverty drastically increased. Zimbabwe’s dairy industry was not spared from these devastating effects as it was vulnerable to disasters such as droughts and cyclones. Disasters adversely affected supply chains in the country as evidenced by the closure of some dairy firms between the years 2000 and 2014. This article is set against the backdrop of declining output across all agricultural sectors in Zimbabwe, evident particularly in the dairy farming sector which has witnessed inadequate supply of raw milk and dairy products by local producers. The article assesses the impact of dairy organisations’ partnerships with government departments and non-governmental organisations in reducing disaster risks on the dairy supply chain cost efficiency. It also aims to show how partnerships can reduce disaster risks and weighs the benefits of reduced supply chain costs in improving the affordability of milk and milk products to the general public. The study employs a mixed-methods approach comprising structured questionnaires, administered to a sample of 92 respondents out of a randomly sampled population of 122 participants from dairy farming clusters across the country, with an 85% response rate. Key informants in the form of 18 dairy officers were purposively sampled for interviews throughout the dairy farming regions. The research findings will help government in the formulation of public policies for the dairy sector network in reducing disaster risks.
Schwartz Functions on Real Algebraic Varieties
Authors: Elazar Boaz , Shaviv Ary
Published: September 2017

We define Schwartz functions, tempered functions, and tempered distributions on (possibly singular) real algebraic varieties. We prove that all classical properties of these spaces, defined previously on affine spaces and on Nash manifolds, also hold in the case of affine real algebraic varieties, and give partial results for the non-affine case.
Intraoperative Echocardiographic Detection of Septal Aneurysm and Additional Ventricular Septal Defect in a Child with Tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Das Sambhunath
Published: September 2017

A 2-year-old child was diagnosed with subaortic ventricular septal defect (VSD) with severe infundibular and valvular pulmonary stenosis (PS) by transthoracic echocardiography. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) detected aneurysmal interventricular and interatrial septum (IAS), subaortic VSD, and right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) with an additional midmuscular VSD. The aneurysmal interventricular septum (IVS) was repaired. An accessory tricuspid papillary muscle was attached to RVOT, which was augmented with a transannular pericardial patch to have minimal postoperative gradient without sacrificing the accessory papillary muscle (APM). This rare case poses a challenge to the anesthetist and surgeon in the form of diagnostic differences, severe right ventricle (RV) dysfunction with aneurysmal IVS, and difficulty in reconstruction of RVOT. Intraoperative TEE played a greater role to diagnose the IVS aneurysm, additional VSD and guide for appropriate surgery.

How to cite this article

Das S, Kumar A. Intraoperative Echocardiographic Detection of Septal Aneurysm and Additional Ventricular Septal Defect in a Child with Tetralogy of Fallot. J Perioper Echocardiogr 2017;5(1):21-24.
Left Atrial Myxoma with an Unusual Origin near Right Pulmonary Vein
Authors: Bhardwaj Vandana , Makhija Neeti , Bhoje Amolkumar , Chitara Kamal K
Published: September 2017

Atrial myxoma is the most frequent intracardiac tumor, accounting for nearly 50% of benign cardiac tumours in adults. We present here a rare case report of a solitary left atrial myxoma attached to the left atrial wall near the origin of the right pulmonary vein. The stalk of tumor was not attached to the interatrial septum, which is the most common site of attachment. Instead, it was attached on the wall of left atrium adjacent to the interatrial septum. Surgical exploration confirmed its attachment in the left atrium near the origin of right upper pulmonary vein.

How to cite this article

Bhardwaj V, Makhija N, Bhoje A, Chitara KK. Left Atrial Myxoma with an Unusual Origin near Right Pulmonary Vein. J Perioper Echocardiogr 2017;5(1):31-33.
Dental Informatics: A Click to the Future
Authors: Sushanth V Hirekalmath , Imranulla Mohamed
Published: September 2017

Biomedical informatics is one of the upgrading maturing disciplines. One of its subdisciplines, dental informatics, is beginning to emerge as its own entity. While there are numerous trained dental informaticians, dental faculty, and administrators, in general, they are not very familiar with dental informatics as an area of scientific inquiry. Scientific investigations in informatics center primarily around model formulation, system development, system implementation, and the study of effects. Informatics draws few of its scientific methods mainly from information science, computer science, cognitive science, and telecommunications. Dental informatics provides many types of research questions and methods from its parent discipline, biomedical informatics. However, there are indications that certain research questions in dental informatics require concrete solutions that have not yet been developed in other informatics fields. This article provides an overview of the unique features of biomedical and information sciences.

How to cite this article

Madhu PP, Kumar PGN, Prashant GM, Sushanth VH, Imranulla M, Nair AR. Dental Informatics: A Click to the Future. J Oral Health Comm Dent 2017;11(2):38-43.
DSP Prototype of a Chaos-Based Multi-User Communication System: Design and Performance Analysis
Authors: Simic Ljiljana , Berber Stevan
Published: September 2017

This paper presents the implementation of a multi-user chaos-based communication system in DSP (digital signal processor) technology. The system is based on the chaotic phase shift keying (CPSK) digital modulation scheme, where chaotic signals are used as the spreading sequences of a CDMA (code division multiple access) system. Using chaotic signals offers the advantages of increased security and higher system capacity compared with conventional sequences. The aim of this hardware implementation was to enable a comparison against analytical performance results for CPSK. The transceiver prototype was implemented on a 32-bit floating-point TigerSHARC DSP. Its bit error rate (BER) characteristics were measured in the presence of additive white Gaussian noise. The prototype achieves excellent BER performance, matching that of theoretical CPSK. The effects of the limited number precision of the hardware platform are thus negligible. However, due to the limited concurrency of DSP, the multi-user system only supports low data rates. Despite this, the prototype demonstrates that the CPSK scheme is a promising and viable CDMA option for the future.
Preface
Authors: Board Editorial
Published: September 2017

The three papers in this issue of the African Journal of Information and Communication Technology also cover three current hot areas of ICT, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), ultra wideband systems and human computer interface. In the Issue we also present a list of reviewers who completed reviews of papers for the Journal for the last one year. The high standard of this journal is based on their expertise for which the editorial board is grateful. The Issue also presents three papers of major significance to current research in broadband communications and human-computer interface.
A Transport Protocol for Future Wireless Internets
Authors: Chandra Deddy , Harris Richard J
Published: September 2017

The traditional assumptions made by TCP

about the operation of wired networks are often found to be invalid for wireless networks. Standard TCP semantics such as end-to-end flow control, congestion control mechanisms and error recovery provide reliability in wired networks. However, wireless communication systems have different characteristics when compared to wired networks that include higher bit error rates, higher latency, limited bandwidth, multipath fading of the signals and handoff. In this paper, we propose an enhancement to TCP that we shall call ETCP, which improves upon conventional TCP when it is applied to the wireless environment. Our simulation results show significant improvements to TCP performance with respect to packet loss detection.
A proposed method for determination of weighted despreading sequences for a DS/CDMA system
Authors: Jabrane Younes , Iqdour Radouane , Ait Es Said Brahim , Naja Najib
Published: September 2017

The steeping chip weighting waveforms are used in multiple access interference cancellation by emphasizing the received spreading signal, therefore, that allows to solve the problem of orthogonality for the chip waveforms. Our paper presents a useful method based on fuzzy systems to determine the despreading sequences weighted by the steeping chip weighting waveforms for Direct Sequence Code Division Multiple Access DS/CDMA. The validity of our proposed method has been tested by numerical examples for an Additive White Gaussian Noise channels and shows that the parameter values of the chip weighting waveforms are good and the Bit Error Rate performance of the system does not undergone any degradation.
A Hybrid Random Early Detection Algorithm for Improving End-to-End Congestion Control in TCP/IP Networks
Authors: Haider Aun , Harris Richard
Published: September 2017

The successful operation of the present Internet depends mainly upon TCP/IP which employs end-to-end congestion

control mechanisms built in the end hosts. In order to further enhance this paradigm of end-to-end control the

Random Early Detection algorithm (RED) has been proposed, which starts to mark or drop packets at the onset of congestion.

The paper addresses issues related to the choice of queue length

indication parameters for packet marking/dropping decisions

in RED-type algorithms under varying traffic conditions. Two

modifications to RED are proposed: (i) use of both instantaneous queue size and its Exponential Weighted Moving Average

(EWMA) for packet marking/dropping and (ii) reducing the effect of the EWMA queue size value when the queue size is less than

$min_{th}$ for a certain number of consecutive packet arrivals.

The newly developed Hybrid RED algorithm can effectively improve the performance of TCP/IP based networks while working in a control loop formed by either dropping or marking of packets during congestion epochs. New guidelines are developed for better marking/dropping of packets to achieve a faster response of RED-type algorithms. The hybrid RED algorithm has been tested using ns-2 simulations, which show better utilization of network bandwidth and a lower packet loss rate.
On the Performance Analysis of Wireless Receiver in Cascaded Fading Channel
Authors: Malhotra Jyoteesh , Sharma Ajay K. , Kaler R. S.
Published: September 2017

In this paper, we provide a unified analysis for wireless system over cascaded fading channels modeled either by cascaded Nakagami-m or Weibull fading models. These cascade fading models are developed by the product of independent Nakagami-m or Weibull random variables, which are not necessary identically distributed. The performance measures such as amount of fading, average bit error rate, and signal outage are computed in this analysis. We first use the Padé approximation (PA) technique to find simple to evaluate rational expressions for the moment generating function (MGF) of output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), unlike previously derived intricate expressions in terms of MeijerG function for cascaded Nakagami-m fading channel. Rational expressions for the MGF of the cascaded Weibull random variable are also computed to provide new set of performance results. Using these rational expressions, we analyze the performance of wireless receivers under a range of representative channel fading conditions using

both cascaded fading models. To verify the correctness of the proposed rational expression formulation numerical and computer simulations has been done, which shows perfect match.
An Efficient Parallel IP Lookup Technique for IPv6 Routers Using Multiple Hashing with Ternary marker storage
Authors: POKKULURI KIRAN SREE
Published: September 2017

Internet address lookup is a challenging problem because of the increasing routing table sizes, increased traffic, higher speed links, and the migration to 128 bit IPv6 addresses. Routing lookup involves computation of best matching prefix for which existing solutions scale poorly when traffic in the router increases or when employed for IPV6 address lookup. Our paper describes a novel approach which employs multiple hashing on reduced number of hash tables on which ternary search on levels is applied in parallel. This scheme handles large number of prefixes generated by controlled prefix expansion by reducing collision and distributing load fairly in the hash buckets thus providing faster worst case and average case lookups. The approach we describe is fast, simple, scalable, parallelizable, and flexible.
Substrate moisture and temperature in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh germination
Authors: Souza Edlânia Maria de , Alves Edna Ursulino , Silva Maria Lúcia Maurício da , Araújo Luciana Rodrigues de , Santos Neta Maria Das Mercês Serafim dos
Published: September 2017

Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh, a member of the Fabaceae, is commonly known as feijão-guandu. It was introduced into Brazil because it readily adapts to local climate conditions and tolerates a wide range of water and mineral nutrient levels. The objective of this study was to determine the substrate temperatures and water volumes that are conducive to feijão-guandu seed germination and seedling vigor. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Seed Analysis of the Centre of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, Areia, PB, Brazil. Seed germination was tested using paper towel rolls moistened with volumes of water equivalent to 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4 times the dry mass of the substrate. Variable temperatures in the range of 20 °C to 30 °C and constant temperatures of 25 °C, 30 °C, and 35 °C were used. The experimental design was completely randomized. The variables analyzed were water content, percent germination, first germination count, germination rate index, and seedling root and shoot lengths and dry weights. Increasing the volume of water used to moisten the substrate hindered feijão-guandu germination at all temperatures. It was determined that moistening the substrate with water volumes equivalent to 2.8 and 3.5 times the substrate dry weight at 30 °C and 35 °C, respectively, were the ideal conditions for evaluating feijão-guandu seed germination and seedling vigor.
Influence of vernalization and bulb size on the production of lily cut flowers and lily bulbs
Authors: Almeida Diogo Brito de , Barbosa José Geraldo , Grossi José Antônio Saraiva , Finger Fernando Luiz , Heidemann Joice Crescencio
Published: September 2017

Exposure of bulbs to cold, a physiological phenomenon called vernalization, and bulb size are important factors in the production of lily bulbs and flowers. This study aimed to verify the influence of vernalization of bulbs on flowering cut lily plants, as well as the impact of size and shape of harvest on the production and quality of flowers and bulbs. In turn, the way the stems of the plants used for cut-flower production are cropped is of higher importance for the production of new flower bulbs. In this sense, the experiment was conducted in Viçosa, MG, in a greenhouse in a randomized block design, in split splot scheme with three replications, in which the vernalization periods (25, 35 and 45 days at 4 ± 1 C) constituted the plots; bulb sizes (diameters of 3.2-3.8 cm; 2.5-3.2 cm 1.9- and 2.5 cm), subplots and ways to harvest (full harvest of the stem at the required length for the commercial harvest of the flower, commercial stem harvest at the commercial length, maintaining 10cm of stem in the soil; removal of the floral buds as soon as their appearance is observed and harvest at the end of the season), the sub subplots. The bulbs were planted in beds, with 15 x 20 cm spacing. It was evaluated the number of plants that flowered and the number of flowers, the length and the diameter of the floral buds, fresh and dry weights, diameter and plant height as well as number, perimeter and amount of fresh and dry bulbs. There was a decrease in the plant height with the increase of the vernalization period and a reduction of the diameter of the planted bulbs, as well as of the number and the fresh and dry weights of the produced buds. The production of flowers and buds in number, size and weight was directly proportional to the size of the planted bulbs, while the form of harvest with removal of flower buds increased the number, the perimeter and the fresh and dry weights of the buds. Bulbs with diameter between 3.2 - 3.8 cm, stored for 25 days in cold chamber enable greater production of flowers and the highest stem height, factors that favor the increase in market value.
Earthworms and root-knot nematodes: effect on soil biological activity and tomato growth
Authors: Demetrio Wilian Carlo , Dionísio Jair Alves , Maceda Arlei
Published: September 2017

Earthworms are a representative soil invertebrate, and their living habits are known to influence a large diversity of organisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of Amynthas spp. to change the biological attributes of soil, and its potential to reduce infection by root-knot nematodes on tomato crop. The study was conducted in the greenhouse of the Diagnostic Center Marcos Enrietti, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil. The treatments earthworms at the following densities: control (absence of earthworms), two, four, six, and eight, which were inoculated into different pots, with five replicates per group. In each pot, a single tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum) was used, and a suspension of Meloidogyne javanica containing 3000 eggs and/or juveniles was added 14 days after seeding. During the experiment, edaphic respiration was evaluated at 96-h intervals. After 91 days, soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial soil respiration (MSR), the metabolic quotient (qCO2), dry mass of roots (DMR), dry mass of plants (DMP), and the number of root galls were determined per plant. We observed that inoculation with higher earthworm densities increased the MBC. Furthermore, the lowest earthworm density (two animals) resulted in a MBC that was 75% higher than that of the control treatment (earthworms absent). There was a positive correlation between MBC and DMP, and a negative correlation between MBC and qCO2. The DMR was not influenced by inoculation with earthworms. A linear increase in DMP was observed with earthworms; however, gall formations on the tomato root were not suppressed.
Protein-energy supplementation for lambs: feed intake, ingestive behavior, rumen parameters and nutrient digestibility
Authors: Silva Pâmila Carolini Gonçalves da , Ítavo Camila Celeste Brandão Ferreira , Ítavo Luís Carlos Vinhas , Morais Maria Da Graça , Silva Jonilson Araújo da , Heimbach Natália Da Silva , Melo Gleice Kelli Ayardes de , Costa Marlova Cristina Mioto da
Published: September 2017

The study evaluated the effects of dietary protein-energy supplementation on feed intake, ingestive behavior, rumen parameters and nutrient digestibility in lambs. Four castrated lambs with 31.9 kg mean body weight and fistulated rumen were tested. distributed into latin square design (4x4), four treatments were tested over four periods of time: no supplementation (control) or with supplementation at 8, 16 and 24 g kg-1 body weight. The supplement (soybean meal, soybean hulls, ground corn and minerals) was provided with roughage (Tifton Bermudagrass, Cynodon spp., hay), which was offered ad libitum once a day, at 8h00. In treatments receiving 0 (control), 8, 16 and 24 g kg-1 supplementation, dry matter intake was 685.26, 742.86, 842.51 and 1013.33 g day-1, crude protein intake was 80.18, 95.98, 118.64, 150.14 g day-1 and metabolizable energy intake 1.55, 1.91, 2.31 and 2.98 g day-1, respectively. Treatments receiving the highest supplementation levels spent less time with rumination and feeding and rested for longer (P < 0.05). Protein-energy supplementation level did not affect rumen parameters. Average rumen pH was 6.3 and rumen ammonia nitrogen 165 mg dL-1; both were affected by sampling time. Supplementation levels until 24 g kg-1 BW improves feed intake and nutrient digestibility linearly and changes ingestive behavior, lowering rumination time without affecting rumen parameters.
Evaluation of dairy sheep lambs supplemented with crude glycerin conveyed in water during pregnancy and lactation
Authors: Sá Hemilly Cristina Menezes , Borges Iran , Macedo Junior Gilberto De Lima , Santos Felipe Santiago , Cavalcanti Luigi Francis Lima , Alvarenga Flávio Augusto Pereira , Martins Tássia Ludmila Teles , Campolina Joana Palhares
Published: September 2017

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of crude glycerin (CG) suplementation in sheep diets during pregnancy and transition period. Twenty-four Lacaune x East Friesian genotypes sheep were randomly assigned to four treatments. Diet was composed of roughage: tifton hay, and standard concentrate for the categories, being these similar among the treatments, whereas the CG differed for the supplements in (zero, 1,5, 3,0 and 4,5% of dry matter) being It added to the animals’ drinking water. The sheep received supplementation during all pregnancy and lactation. Dry matter intake during gestation was reduced with the higher supplementation of CG in the animals’ drinking water, presenting a linear decreasing response and remaining until delivery. Throughout lactation, the variable presented a linear behavior with the supplementation of CG on the eighteenth day of this phase, after a quadratic behavior was observed until the end of the evaluated period. The beta-hydroxybutyrate and non-esterified fatty acids levels were not influenced by CG supplementation throughout the gestation period. CG suplementation conveyed in water did not affect negatively milk production and composition.
Postural Analysis of a Developing Country’s Municipal Solid Waste Handlers and a Reference Group of Hospital General Hands using the RULA Method
Authors: Ncube France , Jacobeth Ncube Esper , Voyi Kuku
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND: Municipal solid waste handlers perform various work activities which may contribute to the onset of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs). This study conducted a postural analysis of these workers and a reference group of hospital general hands in order to identify unsafe working postures requiring correction. METHODS: The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) methodology was used for postural analysis to 30 municipal solid waste handlers (MSWHs) and a reference group of 30 hospital general hands (HGHs) involved in similar work activities. Field observations and photography were used to collect data. Collected data was analysed using STATA version 13.RESULTS: The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the two groups. Results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) for lifting, carrying and emptying activities. For both groups, the mean postural scores for pushing, pulling and standing activities were mainly in the low risk category and not statistically significant (p > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Results of the present study show unsafe RULA postural scores to MSWHs with regard to lifting, carrying and emptying of refuse bins. Such scores are suggestive of an elevated risk to developing WRMDs in these workers compared to the reference group.
NBOMe Compounds: Systematic Review and Data Crunching of the Surface Web
Authors: Al-Imam Ahmed , AbdulMajeed Ban A.
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND: NBOMe compounds, some of which commercially known as “N-Bomb” or “Smiles” signifying their potency, represent a uniquely potent group of phenethylamine derivatives. These have been recently used in the past decade for their powerful hallucinogenic properties to induce a “psychedelic trip”.METHODS: This study is an analytics of the surface web incorporating data from; the published literature, grey literature, drug fora, and trends’ databases. The study aims to review the pharmacodynamic effects of three most popular N-Bombs (25b, 25c, and 25i), analyse reported cases of intoxications and fatalities, and correlate these incidents with data retrieved from Google Trends.RESULTS: The potency and popularity of NBOMe compounds are tallied worldwide, 25b-NBOMe (least potent and least popular), 25i-NBOMe (most potent and most popular), while the 25c-NBOMe is in the middle. The popularity of each has been on the rise since 2011-2012, these compounds are most popular in the United States and the United Kingdom, while data from the developing world and the densely-populated India and China are either lacking or inadequate. The reported cases of intoxications and deaths were statistically proven to be correlated with the trends’ dataCONCLUSION: Inferential statistical information has associated cases of NBOMe(s)’ morbidities-mortalities with the public interest of surface web users in these hallucinogens. This study can serve a blueprint for an early warning system to be activated based on changes in trends’ data.
(Dis)Inclination of Iraqi Medical Students Towards Creative Thinking: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Al-Hadithi Nawfal , Al-Imam Ahmed
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND: There have been several attempts in the past centuries to quantify the human intelligence, many of these attempts were successful. On the other hand, there have been parallel trials to identify and quantify an individual’s creativity. To date, there is no universal definition of creativity nor a quantifying system to measure it with a reliable accuracy.MATERIALS & METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental study in an Iraqi population of undergraduate medical students aged 18-20 years; the male-to-female ratio is 3 to 10. The total number of participants was 195 (n=195) who were allocated into three groups; A, B, and C (nA=67, nB=61, nC=67). Each group was interviewed separately, and the participants were given a choice to either correspond to a quiz on an already taught medical subject or write down ideas (one or more) with creative-innovative potentials. There was no restriction on time, language, or the theme of the topics to be written.RESULTS: There was a significant difference in between the three groups’ tendency to take the quiz (p-value=0.040). However, inter-group and intra-group analyses failed to detect any significant difference in students’ tendencies towards either a creative or a classical form of thinking. Besides, gender was not found to be of a determinant effect on an individual’s tendency towards creativity (p=0.633) or traditional thinking based on an already taught medical knowledge (0.905).CONCLUSION: There were no statistically significant differences in the tendencies of students towards either an original (creative) or a standard pattern of thinking. However, inter-group analyses indicated some substantial differences in students’ affinity towards exploring an already taught medical knowledge.
The Most Popular Chemical Categories of NPS in Four Leading Countries of the Developed World: An Integrative Analysis of Trends Databases, Surface Web, and the Deep Web
Authors: Al-Imam Ahmed , AbdulMajeed Ban A.
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND: New psychoactive substances are very diverse; hundreds exist today. Several schemes exist to categorise them; NPS can be classified into Cannabinoids and Cannabimimetics (1), Phenethylamines (2), Cathinones (3), Tryptamines (4), Piperazines (5), Pipradrol derivatives (6), and miscellaneous substances (7)MATERIALS & METHODS: Observational analyses via multiple internet snapshots will be carried out on the surface web and the deep web. The analyses will be hierarchical and integrative to infer the most popular categories of NPS based on the attentiveness (interest) of web users.RESULTS: Analysis of Google Trends from 2012 to the end of 2016, shows that interest in cannabinoids was the highest (98%), while all other chemical categories of NPS summed up to a tiny fragment (2%). The trends were highly oscillating over the years and shooting up during holiday seasons. Geo-mapping and localisation of the Middle East were not possible (not allowed) via Google Trends, while trends were attributed to four major leading countries of the developed world; US (35%), UK (17%), Canada (26%), and Australia (22%). Cannabinoids and stimulants were also found to be the most popular on the darknet.CONCLUSION: A novel method is proposed in this study; it has been carried out to provide an updated extrapolation on the most favoured chemical categories of NPS. This method is based on a combinatory examination at multiple levels of the surface web and the deep web. Furthermore, this method when potentially combined with data mining tools should provide unprecedented real-time analyses of high quality.
Retrospective Analyses of High-risk NPS: Integrative Analyses of PubMed, Drug Fora, and the Surface Web
Authors: Al-Imam Ahmed
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND: Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) can be classified based on their safety for use into low-risk and high-risk. High-risk NPS can be either lethal or poisonous. Fatalities can be either pharmacological or behavioural-induced, including suicide and homicide.MATERIALS & METHODS: Observational analysis, including retrospective, were implemented across; Google Trends, PubMed/MedLine database; Drug Fora, and the surface web. The aim was to collect data in relation to incidents of intoxication and fatalities caused by forty-seven (47) of the most popular NPS and to infer the high-risk (hazardous) substances. Geo-mapping was also applicable. Inferential analyses were also carried out to deduct data on the different age grouping of (ab)users.RESULTS: Among the most popular NPS substances, nearly half of them were labelled as high-risk due to their relatively high incidence of intoxications and deaths. The substances included; DMA/DOX, MXE, Mescaline, Methylone, Crack, GHB, Benzodiazepines, NBOMe, 2C-B, DMT, Stimulants RCs, Shrooms, Ketamine, Opioids, Heroin, Meth, Speed, LSD, MDMA, and Cocaine. Many of these substances were either psychedelic or dissociative substance. Geo-mapping of use indicated that the top ten contributing countries were; Australia, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland, Norway, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Estonia. The contribution of the Middle East was insignificant, although data have regularly been noticed originating from Israel, Iran, and Turkey.CONCLUSION: In this study, an unconventional inferential method is suggested for analysis of high-risk NPS; it is based on cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of data. It relies primarily on data from; the surface web, Google Trends, PubMed/Medline database, and drug fora. This method is not only descriptive but also inferential for age and gender among (ab)users of a diverse array of high-risk NPS substances.
Knowledge and (Ab)Use in Connection with Novel Psychoactive Substances: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Psychedelic Users Existing on Online Platforms
Authors: Al-Imam Mohammed-Lutfi , Al-Imam Ahmed
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of use and misuse of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) has been escalating at an exponential rate in the past two decades. Studies on NPS are highly concentrated in relevance to the developed world, while few have been undertaken in the developing countries.MATERIALS & METHODS: This study is observational and cross-sectional in nature; it relies on a web-based survey distributed to a population of (ab)users of psychedelics and NPS; this community was accessible via dedicated online platforms psychedelics users located on the Facebook social communication medium. The aim of the study is to estimate the level of knowledge and the extent of (mis)use in connection with psychoactive substances, including the novel ones (NPS).RESULTS: The number of participants who responded to the survey reached 458 responders. The level of knowledge and (ab)use was relatively high. The majority of participating individuals were Caucasians males from the developed world including the US, the UK, India, and western European countries. The primary religious affiliation was either agnosticism or atheism. Approximately, 26% were diagnosed with the neuropsychiatric condition.CONCLUSION: The NPS phenomenon is still a major concern primarily in the developed world. Additional studies are required in virtual and non-virtual populations. The targeted populations should include; students, medical professionals, academics, patients with psychiatric and neurological abnormalities, convicts and criminals, and even terrorists.
The NPS Phenomenon and the Deep Web: Trends Analyses and Internet Snapshots
Authors: Al-Imam Ahmed , AbdulMajeed Ban A.
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND: In relation to the phenomenon of novel psychoactive substances, activities on the surface web represent only the tip of the iceberg. The majority of the electronic commerce (e-commerce) activities exist on the deep web and the darknet. Observational analytic studies are failing to keep pace with these activities; these studies are either obsolete beyond the point in time of the taken internet snapshot or highly-consuming for resources including time, funding, and manpower.MATERIALS & METHODS: Cross-sectional and retrospective analyses via multiple Internet snapshots were carried out across Google Trends database and the e-markets on the darknet. Google Trends were scanned retrospectively (2012-2016) for keywords specific to the deep web in an aim to estimate and geo-map of the attentiveness (interest) of surface web users in the deep web and its illicit activities.RESULTS: The attentiveness of surface web users in the deep web was noticed to be incremented during 2013 and 2014; the top ten contributing countries were Norway, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, Finland, and Netherlands. Middle Eastern countries contributed minimally including; Syria, Iran, Israel, UAE, Morocco, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Power scoring of e-markets revealed that the top five markets were; AlphaBay, Agora, Nucleus, Abraxas, and Hansa. The most common categories of NPS on these markets were; cannabis and cannabimimetic (1st), stimulants (2nd), empathogens (3rd), and psychedelics (4th).CONCLUSION: The e-commerce activities on the deep web and the darknet e-marketplace represent an integral component of the NPS e-phenomenon. Unfortunately, recent attempts to examine and study those unlawful activities are outdated. Hence, to achieve real-time and reliable data, the inclusion of data mining tools and knowledge discovery in databases are critical to ensuring a future victory.