bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agrometeorologia digital: as bases biofísicas para a revolução digital no campo
Authors: Pilau Felipe Gustavo , Marin Fabio Ricardo
Published: May 2020

Uma população mundial estimada em 10 bilhões em 2100 e a incerteza sobre o clima futuro acentuam os debates sobre fome, abastecimento de água e energia. Especialmente no tocante à segurança alimentar, o Brasil é colocado em destaque. Por isso, pesquisas direcionadas ao pleno entendimento das relações solo-planta-atmosfera tornam- se cada vez mais fundamentais. Neste trabalho, expomos uma revisão bibliográfica a respeito das bases biofísicas fundamentais à concepção da Agrometeorologia Digital. Sistemas de suporte à tomada de decisão, baseados em modelos, podem introduzir o fator clima no gerenciamento da produção agropecuária, agregando uma gama de serviços agrometeorológicos que auxiliam nas decisões de gerenciamento, tornando-as mais eficazes a curto e longo prazo.Palavras-chave: Biofísica. Ecofisiologia. Agrometeorologia Operacional. Modelagem. Tecnologia da Informação.
Efficacy of commercial bacteriophage products against ESKAPE pathogens
Authors: Kuptsov NS , Kornienko MA , Gorodnichev RB , Danilov DI , Malakhova MV , Parfenova TV , Makarenko GI , Shitikov EA , Ilina EN
Published: May 2020

The ever-rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria necessitates the search for a therapeutic alternative to antibiotics. Using therapeutic products based on virulent bacteriophages might provide such an alternative. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of commercial phage products and natural bacteriophage monoisolates recovered from environmental sources against clinical strains of Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We compiled a collection of 147 strains that were subsequently genotypes using the MLST method. The efficacy of bacteriophages was evaluated in spot tests. The highest efficacy was demonstrated by "Staphylococcal bacteriophage" (86%, effective against S. aureus), "Purified polyvalent pyobacteriophage" (87.8%, effective against K. pneumoniae), and a group of phage products against P. aeruginosa, including "Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage" (87.5%), "Complex pyobacteriophage" (79.5–90%) and "Purified polyvalent pyobacteriophage" (90–92.5%). The efficacy of "Intesti bacteriophage", which targets E. faecium, was 4.2%. The efficacy of commercial phage products against S. aureus and K. pneumoniae was higher than the efficacy of individual phage monoisolates (60% for the S. aureus phage vB_SauP-436-3w and 5.9% for the K. pneumoniae phage vB_Kp_M_ Seu621). Thus, all tested commercial phage products were highly effective against P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae and S. aureus. There are no commercial phage products on the market against other ESKAPE pathogens, including Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterobacter cloacae. Besides, there are no effective phage products against E. faecium. This dictates the need for new effective bacteriophages against these species.
Biofeedback – A Promising Non Pharmacological Tool of Stress – Related Disorders
Authors: Slavikova M. , Sekaninova N. , Bona Olexova L. , Visnovcova Z. , Tonhajzerova I.
Published: May 2020

Biofeedback is a therapeutic method of obtaining better awareness of physiological functions based on principles of operant conditioning and learning in general. While patient observes changes in physiological parameters in real-time (e.g. blood pressure, heart rate variability, temperature, electrodermal activity, etc.), he/she learns how to manipulate them at will. By means of this technique, individuals can improve their mental, emotional, and physical health. Clinical biofeedback training becomes popular for treating a variety of medical conditions, manage ment of disease symptoms, and improvement of overall health through training of stress management. There is no center or group to systematically deal with biofeedback methods in Slovakia, except the Slovak Institute of CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) that teaches biofeedback as a therapeutic method. However, biofeedback and its opportunities have a relatively long history of exploration and practice, which is the best precondition for positive changes in this area. The review article aims to provide an insight to biofeedback training as a non-pharmacological therapeutic tool in stress management and stress-related diseases and disorders. The article also describes biofeedback modalities and efficacy on various medical conditions.
Assessment of the Safety Climate at University Hospitals in the Slovak Republic from the Nurses’ Perspective
Authors: Kalankova D , Bartonickova D , Ziakova K , Gurkova E , Kurucova R
Published: May 2020

Introduction:Safety climate consists of individual dimensions that might be assessed using specific instruments, e.g., the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS). Establishing the safety climate in healthcare facilities leads to improvements in patient safety.

Aim:To assess the safety climate at university hospitals in the Slovak Republic from the nurses’ perspective and to determine the relationship between organisational variables and the particular components of the safety climate.

Methods:The study has a cross-sectional design. Data were collected using the HSOPS between December 2017 and July 2018. Two university hospitals participated in the study and overall 280 respondents were included. Respondents were recruited through the purposive sampling method. Data were analysed by descriptive and inductive statistics in the statistical programme SPSS 25.0.

Results:Results indicate that in the university hospitals there is a low-level of safety climate. The significant relationship was proved between organisational variables such as the experience in the current position, leaving intention, overtime, perception of staff adequacy, unit type, nurse-patient ratio, and the particular components of the safety climate.

Conclusion:Our findings may help hospital management to raise the awareness of the safety climate and to gain a sophisticated overview of the particular components of the safety climate. Adding new organisational variables may help to assess the safety climate from multiple perspectives and, thus, identify areas contributing to patient safety.
Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies for The Adsorptive Removal of Lead (II) Ions from Aqueous Solution Using Activated Plantain Peel Biochar
Authors: Nworie FS , Oroke EC , Ikelle II , Nworu JS
Published: May 2020

Studies on the adsorption of Pb(II) on plantain peels biochar (PPB) was conducted. The carbonized and activated, biochar was characterized using Braunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and x-ray diffraction crystallography (XRD). BET analysis of the PPB indicated that the pore size (cc/g) and pore surface area (m2/g) was 8.79 and 16.69 respectively. Result of the XRD evaluated through Debye-Scherrer equation, showed a nanostructure with crystallite size of 14.56 nm. Effects of initial metal ion concentration, pH, and contact time were studied in a batch reaction process. Results showed that the adsorption of lead from aqueous solution increased with an increase in pH and initial concentration. Equilibrium modeling studies suggested that the data fitted mainly to the Langmuir isotherm. Adsorption kinetic data tested using various kinetic models fitted the Weber and Morris intraparticle diffusion model implicating pore diffusion as the main rate limiting step. The sorption studies indicated the potential of plantain peel biochar as an effective, efficient and low cost adsorbent for remediating lead (II) ions contaminated environment.
Anthelmintic activity of praziquantel and Spilanthes acmella extract on an intestinal cestode parasite
Authors: Lalthanpuii Pawi Bawitlung , Zokimi Zar , Lalchhandama Kholhring
Published: May 2020

Spilanthes acmella Murr., popularised as toothache plant, is a well-known culinary and medicinal plant for different purposes, but its use as an anthelmintic is apparently exclusive to the Mizo people of India and Myanmar. A chloroform extract of Spilanthes acmella Murr. was analysed in a single quadrupole GC-MS system, from which it was found that the major compound was an alkylamide, N-isobutyl-(2E,4Z,8Z,10E)-dodecatetraenamide. A comparative study was performed on the anthelmintic activity of the plant extract and praziquantel (PZQ) against an intestinal cestode, Raillietina echinobothrida. In terms of efficacy, PZQ was more potent, but the plant extract was also effective at all concentrations tested. PZQ caused severe shrinkage and folds of the tegument, constriction of the suckers, dislocation of spines and erosion of microtriches. The plant extract caused shrinkage and folds on the main body but not on the scolex. Damage on the suckers is more pronounced than in PZQ-treated cestodes. The spines were completely removed. The current findings indicate that S. acmella is a good source of compounds with anthelmintic activity.
Antitumor effect of a pyrazolone-based-complex [Cu(PMPP-SAL)(EtOH)] against murine melanoma B16 cell in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Abula Ayipairi , Zhao Jing , Xu Guancheng , Li Yijie , Sun Surong
Published: May 2020

Pyrazolone-based derivative metal complexes were reported to have cytotoxicity in some tumor cells. In this study, the antitumor effect of [Cu(PMPP-SAL)(EtOH)] (PMPP-SAL = N-(1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-propenylidene-5-pyrazolone)- salicylidene hydrazide anion) in murine melanoma B16 cells in vitro and in vivo was investigated. The results showed that [Cu(PMPP-SAL)(EtOH)] inhibited the survival of B16 cells in vitro, and the IC
50 value was superior to cisplatin (DDP) (p < 0.001). B16 cell apoptosis was significantly higher in comparison to the control group (DMSO) (p < 0.01), and cell cycle arrest occurred at the G0/G1 phase. When challenged C57 BL/6J mice were treated with [Cu(PMPPSAL)(EtOH)], a smaller volume of B16 solid tumors were reported than the control group (p < 0.01), with lower positive expression indices of CD 34, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) (p < 0.01). Moreover, the tumor growth was suppressed in mice due to the induction of apoptosis, as detected by the TUNEL assay (p < 0.001). In summary, [Cu(PMPP-SAL)(EtOH)] effectively inhibited the growth of B16 cells in vitro and in vivo due to the induction of apoptosis and the inhibition of intra-tumoral angiogenesis, demonstrating its therapeutic potential in melanoma treatment.
The Effect of Movement Intervention on Musculoskeletal System in Undergraduates
Authors: Lenková Rút , Boržíková Iveta , Mikuľáková Wioletta , Vašková Monika , Vasilišinová Veronika
Published: May 2020

The aim of the research was to diagnose manifestations of functional and structural disorders and consider the effect of intervention on the musculoskeletal system of students of teacher’s program of physical education. A total of 40 students of Faculty of Sports Prešov University in Prešov participated in the research. As part of the experiment we designed a targeted movement program as an intervention and applied it to an experimental group of students. After 5 months of the intervention, the measurements were repeated. In experimental group we noticed that 30 % of men and 20 % of women improved from III. to II. qualitative degree of shortened muscles. The statistically significant difference (p <.05) was confirmed in group of men. From the perspective of intersexual differences, we observed a statistically significant difference among the shortened muscles in the experimental group (p ≤.05). Changes in structural disorders of the spine after the intervention were statistically insignificant. In regards to good spinal health and muscle balance, we assume that targeted movement program can have preventive effect against functional and structural disorders.
Intensity of Soccer Players’ Training Load in Small-Sided Games with Different Number of Players
Authors: Nagy Nikolas , Holienka Miroslav , Babic Matej , Michálek Jakub , Kunzmann Egon
Published: May 2020

The main aim of this research was to compare differences in heart rate values (HR) of soccer players during small-sided games (SSGs) with different number of players. We assumed that the number of “neutral” player or players in small-sided games will significantly affect the intensity of SSGs and in this case the heart rate values of participating players. The experimental group consisted of older junior players from the FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda soccer club (n = 9). The heart rate values were evaluated on the basis of collected data, which we obtained using Polar sport testers and special software Polar Team2. In order to find out the statistical significance of the difference in heart rate was used the One-Way ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc test. The level of statistical significance we set at 5 %. We found out that with increasing number of “neutral” players’ the intensity of small-sided games gradually decreased. During SSG1 (3 vs. 3), we recorded the highest achieved average heart rate values of the monitored players, in average 171.33 ± 9.39 beats.min-1. This form of the SSGs was the most intense, but not statistically significant. Our recommendation is to employ SSGs in the systematic training process with different number of players, because we can adequately prepare the players for the match load itself. Attention need to be paid for the playing position requirements.
Livestock Manure Composting in Cold Regions: Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Abdellah Yousif Abdelrahman Yousif , Li Chunyan
Published: May 2020

This review investigates the significant challenges of the process of livestock manure composting in cold regions and assesses the critical features related to the quality of the final compost product. Recently, the composting process has grasped more attention because of environmental pollution concerns and seeks for environmentally-sound approaches for managing livestock manure. Despite recent progress in crucial areas like the microbiology of compost, further improvement is needed in composting process monitoring. Therefore, specific obstacles related to livestock manure composting in cold regions, such as the generation and preservation of temperature, and the solution of obstacles such as inoculation of coldadapted microorganisms, and the role of biochar in prolonging the thermophilic stage of composting were reviewed. Also, the challenges were adequately addressed, and promising strategies to improve composting of livestock manure under harsh conditions were proposed. Still, there is a need for more investigation to get a better understanding of the role of microbial inoculants and biochar amendment regarding the start-up of the composting process in cold regions.
Patient Positioning in Neurosurgery, Principles and Complications
Authors: Balasa Adrian , Hurghis Corina Ionela , Tamas Flaviu , Chinezu Rares
Published: May 2020

Patient positioning is a crucial step in neurosurgical interventions This is the responsibility of both the neurosurgeon and the anesthesiologist. Patient safety, surgeon’s comfort, choosing an optimal trajectory to the lesion, reducing brain tension by facilitating venous drainage, using gravitation to maintain the lesion exposed and dynamic retraction represent general rules for correct positioning. All bony prominences must be protected by silicone padding. The head can be positioned using a horseshoe headrest or three pin skull clamp, following the general principles: avoiding elevating the head above heart more than 30 degrees, avoiding turning the head to one side more than 30 degrees and maintaining 2 to 3 finger breaths between chin and sternum. Serious complications can occur if the patient is not properly positioned so this is why great care must be paid during this step of the surgical act.
Some Results on Generalized Sasakian Space Forms
Authors: Venkatesha Shanmukha B.
Published: May 2020

In the present frame work, we studied the semi generalized recurrent, semi generalizedϕ-recurrent, extended generalizedϕ-recurrent and concircularly locallyϕ-symmetric on generalized Sasakian space forms.
Convergence in Measure and in Category
Authors: Wilczyński Władysław
Published: May 2020

W. Orlicz in 1951 has observed that if {fn
(·, y)}
n

∈

N
converges in measure to f(·, y) for each y ∈ [0, 1], then {fn
}
n

∈

N
converges in measure to f on [0, 1] × [0, 1]. The situation is different for the convergence in category even if we assume the convergence in category of sequences {fn
(·, y)}
n

∈

N
for each y ∈ [0, 1] and {fn
(x, ·)}n

∈

N
for each x ∈ [0, 1].
Polymer Composites Used in Rapid Prototyping Technology
Authors: Bulanda Katarzyna , Oleksy Mariusz , Oliwa Rafał , Budzik Grzegorz , Markowski Tadeusz
Published: May 2020

New materials and filaments dedicated to 3D printing were obtained using the fused deposition modeling method, and the properties of the produced materials were investigated. Polylactide was used as a polymer base for the assays because of the desired properties of the polymer, mainly biodegradability, and the matrix was refilled by the addition of metallic nanofillers, such as bronze, copper, brass, and steel. For the composites obtained, mechanical properties were investigated to determine the dependence of the obtained results on the content and type of filler used and on the method of fabrication of the fittings. It was found that the additives present in the polymer matrix increased the fluidity of the material. The best results were obtained for the compositions with bronze and steel in which the mass flow rate was 72.97 and 79.99 g/10 min, respectively. The filled material that had lower hardness was measured by Rockwell and the impact strength was measured by Charpy. In addition, it was found that injection-molded parts obtained much better mechanical properties than those obtained by 3D printing.
The Use of VR to Analyze the Profitability of the Construction of a Robotized Station
Authors: Muszyńska Magdalena , Szybicki Dariusz , Gierlak Piotr , Kurc Krzysztof , Burghardt Andrzej
Published: May 2020

The development of software applications and the use of VR (Virtual Reality) techniques allow to improve the company’s financial result. The construction of models of robotic stations with robots using Virtual Robot technology allows to determine the time of the machining process. It allows its optimization through the selection of accelerations, tools, tooling strategies, and so on. Determining the time of a technological operation translates into savings. This allows you to decide on the purposefulness of the investment. In addition, modern software add-ons, for example, Signal Analyzer in RobotStudio, allow you to monitor the electricity consumption of a robotic station. The article presents a solution showing how, based on the construction of digital models and the use of VR, we can conclude about the profitability of the investment.
Quaternions and Cauchy Classical Theory of Elasticity
Authors: Danielewski Marek , Sapa Lucjan
Published: May 2020

Developed by French mathematician Augustin-Louis Cauchy, the classical theory of elasticity is the starting point to show the value and the physical reality of quaternions. The classical balance equations for the isotropic, elastic crystal, demonstrate the usefulness of quaternions. The family of wave equations and the diffusion equation are a straightforward consequence of the quaternion representation of the Cauchy model of the elastic solid. Using the quaternion algebra, we present the derivation of the quaternion form of the multiple wave equations. The fundamental consequences of all derived equations and relations for physics, chemistry, and future prospects are presented.
Directional fluctuating asymmetry in certain morphological characters as a pollution indicator: Tigris catfish (Silurus triostegus) collected from the Euphrates, Tigris, and Shatt al-Arab Rivers in Iraq
Authors: Jawad Laith A. , Al-Janabi Muhammad I. G. , Rutkayová Jitka
Published: May 2020

The relationship between pollution levels in river sediment and fluctuating asymmetry of resident silurid fish species, Silurus triostegus Heckel, was assessed. Eight bilateral body proportions were analyzed in 1,500 fish from eight river locations. Sediment pollution was measured based on the analysis of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and organochlorine pesticides (DDT, DDD, DDE, chlordane, dieldrin, and lindane). The mean quotient approach (mERMq) was used to characterize sediment toxicity, which ranged from low to moderate levels for heavy metals and from low to severe for organochlorides. Variation was noted in the measurements of fish body morphometrics among the sampling locations, which suggested responses to local environments. Levels of asymmetry were positively correlated with both organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals across locations. These results suggest that fish asymmetry variations could be useful for estimating stress caused by organic toxicity based on the mERMq approach.
Efficiency of Using GNSS-PPP for Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Production
Authors: Abdallah Ashraf , Saifeldin Amgad , Abomariam Abdelhamid , Ali Reda
Published: May 2020

In the developing countries, cost-effective observation techniques are very important for earthwork estimation, map production, geographic information systems, and hydrographic surveying. One of the most cost-effective techniques is Precise Point Positioning (PPP); it is a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) positioning technique to compute precise positions using only a single GNSS receiver. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of using Global Positioning System (GPS) and GPS/ Globalnaya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS) post-processed kinematic PPP solution for digital elevation model (DEM) production, which is used in earthwork estimation. For this purpose, a kinematic trajectory has been observed in New Aswan City in an open sky area using dual-frequency GNSS receivers. The results showed that, in case of using GPS/GLONASS PPP solution to estimate volumes, the error in earthwork volume estimation varies between 0.07% and 0.16% according to gridding level. On the other hand, the error in volume estimation from GPS PPP solution varies between 0.40% and 0.99%.
Interactive effect of genotype and medium on microtuberization of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown in vitro
Authors: Zahia Kadi , Malika Rached Kanouni , Sara Khammar , Abderrezeq Chebout , Hichem Khammar , Ramzi Hadjab , Lilia Redjaïmia , Zahira Bouziane
Published: May 2020

This work investigates the interactive effect of six culture media and three photoperiods (darkness, 16h/8h, 8h/16h) on the microtuberization of four potato varieties (Spunta, Désirée, Kondor and Bartina). The objective is to determine the best tuberization under these growing conditions. The measured parameters which are related to the suitability of the tuberization characteristics are: the morphological aspects (shape, position) and the biometric ones (number and diameter of tubers). The obtained results permit to valorize the meristems that constitute the starting explant, and their good organogenetic skills to provide the first generation of micropropagation with healthy vitroplants in a sufficient quantity. Thus, the grown vitroplants on the medium (MS/2+BAP+COU) presented the best values which are related to the percentage of tuberization, the number of microtubercles / vitroplants and weight of tubers. Moreover, the Bartina genotype showed a remarkable superiority over its media and under a 16h/8h photoperiod except for the diameter of the tubers, where this genotype had the best diameter over the medium (MS/2+KIN) under an 8h photoperiod.
In vitro investigation of the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of hydro-alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Globularia alypum L.
Authors: Kraza Lamia , Mourad Senoussi Mohammed , Halis Youcef
Published: May 2020

The aim of this work was to establish the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of hydro-alcoholic and aqueous extracts prepared from the leaves of Globularia alypum L. The quantitative estimation of total polyphenols (by the Folin-Ciocalteu method) and total flavonoids (by the method of aluminium trichloride) showed that the aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts had the highest content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Moreover, the results of antioxidant power assessed by both method DPPH and phosphomolybdenum indicated that leaves extracts of G. alypum expressed a considerable activity. The evaluation of the antimicrobial effects, using the disc diffusion method from antibacterial screening and the direct contact method from the antifungal activity, indicated strong antibacterial and antifungal activity.
Antimicrobial activity of aqueous methanolic extracts of Algerian cultivars of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)
Authors: Farida Kadri , Messaoud Boudjeniba , Bernard Wathelet , Salah Akkal
Published: May 2020

Certain phenolics have been recognized to possessing antibacterial and antifungal activities and high levels of flavonoids and tannins have been reported in several varieties of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Antimicrobial activity and phenolics contents were investigated in five Algerian sorghum seeds. AS20 sorghum extract showed the highest levels of: total phenolics (3214.46±263.64 mg/100 g), flavonoids (32.03±1.64 mg/100 g) and tannins (615.35±6.10 mg/g) contents; however, comparable flavonoids content was recorded in I27 extract. FZ40 and AS12 flavonoids contents were comparable. Screening for antimicrobial activity, carried out by the disc’s diffusion method revealed an antimicrobial potential of sorghum crude extracts against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and candida albicans yeast. Minimal inhibition concentration determined by microdilution method varied between 0.2 and 2 mg/ml. the lowest value was recorded with F11 and FZ40 extract against Streptococcus pneumoniae and F11 against Escherichia coli. Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus ATTCC6538 and MRSA strains showed sensitivity to all extracts. The results show these sorghums as a potential source of natural anti-streptococcal, anti-staphylococcal and anti-candida substances.
Cellular Apoptosis, Mitochondrial Swelling, Permeability and Cytochrome-C Level After (Fe3o4)-Nps Nanoparticles Exposure and Protective Role of Diferuloylmethane in Rats Liver
Authors: Bouteraa Zina , Rouabhi Rachid , Menaceur Fouad , Gasmi Salim
Published: May 2020

During recent years the defensive role of diferuloylmethane against oxidative stress and apoptosis has been experimentally documented. Fe3O4-NPs can cause cellular death by inducing oxidative stress. Present study aimed to investigate whether diferuloylmethane could protect rats mitochondria against Fe3O4-NPs intoxication. Twenty adult male rats were randomly chosen and divided into four groups: control; treated with 10 mg/kg/d of Fe3O4-NPs; treated with diferuloylmethane at the dose 20 ml/kg/d; treated with Fe3O4-NPs (10 mg/kg/d) and diferuloylmethane (20 ml/kg/d) respectively for 28 days. The results showed that Fe3O4-NPs increased the Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lipid peroxidation, mit-GSH (Glutathione), mit-CAT (Catalase), mit-GST (Glutathione S-transferase) and decreased mit-GPx (Glutathione peroxidase), with increased in mitochondrial swelling and permeability followed by the increasing level of plasmatic Cyt-c. The addition of diferuloylmethane (DFM) to these samples reduces or corrects the amount of the most of biomarkers. These findings have demonstrated that DFM can act as an antioxidant and antiapoptotic factor against damages induced by Fe3O4-NPs.
Numerical and Experimental Comparative Analysis of Ballistic Performance of Packages Made of Biaxial and Triaxial Kevlar 29 Fabrics
Authors: Pinkos Justyna , Stempien Zbigniew
Published: May 2020

The objective of this study is a comparative analysis of the ballistic effectiveness of packages made of biaxial and triaxial Kevlar 29 fabrics under the hitting of Parabellum 9×19 bullet. We conduct both numerical simulations using the LS-Dyna program and experimental research in a ballistic research laboratory. Based on the comparative analysis of the results from the numerical and experimental research, demonstrated differences exist in the ballistic effectiveness between the packages made of biaxial fabrics and the packages consisting of triaxial fabrics. For this purpose, the residual velocity of the bullet is analyzed in detail in terms of the maximum deformation cone, the shape of the deformation cone, and the distribution of stress for the textile ballistic packages. It is established that the packages made of triaxial fabric show a considerably smaller deformation cone compared with the packages made of biaxial fabric, a more favorable shape of the deformation cone from the perspective of ballistic trauma and distribution of stress similar to materials with isotropic properties. Poorer properties are recorded for these packages in the case of the minimum number of layers necessary for stopping the bullet, which arises from the open-work structure of the fabric.
The effects of an eight-week multi-model sport activity home programme on function of children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Polat Sema Özandaç , Yücel Ahmet Hilmi , İnce Gonca
Published: May 2020

Study aim: This study was performed to investigate the effects of an eight-week multi-model sport activity home programme on function of children with cerebral palsy.

Material and methods: The study included 44 patients (11 girls, and 33 boys) aged between 4 and 11 years, having spastic diplegic and hemiplegic cerebral palsy, and receiving physical treatment from the rehabilitation centre. The 44 patients were divided into two groups each consisting of 22 children as the experimental group and control group. The mean age, height and weight were 8.27 ± 2.10 years, 123.36 ± 17.33 cm and 25.45 ± 8.87 kg in the experimental group, while the same parameters were 7.27 ± 2.80 years, 109.36 ± 16.99 cm and 20.20 ± 7.16 kg in the control group. Before taking measurements, the consent forms were signed by the families of patients with CP. The physical therapy programme based on the Bobath NDT method which took forty minutes was applied to both groups two days per week. Also, the multi-model sport activity home programme which took 50 minutes was applied regularly during eight weeks and five days a week in the Experimental Group. The Impact on Family Scale, the Gross Motor Function Classification System, the Gross Motor Function Measure, One Minute Walk Test, the time standing on the left and right foot, and Visual Pain Analog Scale were evaluated before and after the eight-week multi-model sport activity home programme.

Results: There were no significant differences in some measurements including the Gross Motor Function Classification System, the Gross Motor Function Measure, One Minute Walk Test, and the time standing on the left and right foot. A significant difference was found only in the Visual Pain Analog Scale (p = 0.003).

Conclusion: The effects of the eight-week multi-model sport activity home programme can contribute to a decrease in pain level of children with cerebral palsy.
Anaerobic endurance of dance sport athletes
Authors: Kuliś Szymon , Sienkiewicz-Dianzenza Edyta , Stupnicki Romuald
Published: May 2020

Study aim: To assess the impact of an ordinary training week cycle lasting 6 months on the anaerobic endurance of dance sport athletes.

Material and methods: Two couples of standard style and six couples of ten dance style, aged 14–26 years, of diverse competitive categories (E, D, B, A, S), were subjected to maximum runs 8 × 50 m spaced by 15-s intermissions, before and after half-year training. Running time of every run and post-run heart rate (HR) were measured. The results were expressed as running velocities (m/s) and R-R intervals for heart rates.

Results: Velocities were significantly higher in the post-test (5.21 ± 0.21 m/s and 5.57 ± 0.34 m/s for women and men, respectively) than in the pre-test (5.13 ± 0.13 m/s and 5.39 ± 0.24 m/s, for women and men, respectively) (F1,14 = 14.70, p = 0.0018, η2 = 0.51) despite the fact that a significant decrease of speed in each successive run was noted (F7,98 = 82.19, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.85) for all of the participants in the pre-test and post-test.

Conclusions: The half-year training cycle of dance sport couples had no significant impact on their anaerobic endurance. It seems that individual training plans should include dancing interval exercises and interval training. The performance index is a useful tool in monitoring the training process and can be used as an accurate method for evaluating the anaerobic predispositions of athletes. It is recommended to develop specific, test-suitable dancing exercises.
A Structuralist Concept of the Rule of Law
Authors: Golanski Alani
Published: May 2020

The prevalent approach to the concept of the rule of law among legal theorists puts attributes first, assigning certain features of laws and sometimes legal systems as rule-of-law virtues. Inquiring at a more basic level, this paper advances a novel, structuralist view of the rule of law. While honoring theoretical constraints that guard against diluting the rule-of-law concept too thinly as a remedy for myriad societal ills, this approach shows that the concept implicates inequalities sustained by a society's social, economic, and political structures. This is accomplished by demonstrating that the rule-of-law project holds a structural position in the collective normative discourse as a vehicle by which people morally evaluate the interplay between the actual capabilities of individuals and groups to participate in law, and the legal system's treatment of those individuals and groups.

Law's procedural outputs may formally provide the public with access to the legal system, but the rule-of-law project goes to the actual capabilities of the people to access the system in reality, to have a fair opportunity to participate in the inputs into the system, and to have that participation impartially adjudicated. Conditions impacting a diversity of stakeholders – and particularly the most disadvantaged within the population – perturb the virtues typically associated with the rule-of-law ideal when those conditions, and the power exercised to maintain them, impair capabilities for fair, dignified, and equal access to legal processes.

Understanding the rule of law in structuralist terms, as an informal moral operator, (1) makes sense of the schism we normally accept between the concepts of law and the rule of law, (2) reorients the source of rule-of-law thinking from theorists bent on fixing a conceptual definition to communities engaged in first-order interactions with the legal system, (3) helps explain why citizens come not only to expect law to constrain official coercive powers but also to demand that law promote their actual capabilities to participate in the legal system on an egalitarian and dignitarian footing, and hence (4) implicates a critique of conditions of political and material inequalities that cannot but impair the healthy functioning of the rule-of-law project.
RETRACTED: A Smart Social Insurance Big Data Analytics Framework Based on Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Senousy Youssef , Shehab Abdulaziz , Hanna Wael K. , Riad Alaa M. , El-bakry Hazem A. , Elkhamisy Nashaat
Published: May 2020

Social insurance is an individual’s protection against risks such as retirement, death or disability. Big data mining and analytics are a way that could help the insurers and the actuaries to get the optimal decision for the insured individuals. Dependently, this paper proposes a novel analytic framework for Egyptian Social insurance big data. NOSI’s data contains data, which need some pre-processing methods after extraction like replacing missing values, standardization and outlier/extreme data. The paper also presents using some mining methods, such as clustering and classification algorithms on the Egyptian social insurance dataset through an experiment. In clustering, we used K-means clustering and the result showed a silhouette score 0.138 with two clusters in the dataset features. In classification, we used the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier and classification results showed a high accuracy percentage of 94%.
Effective strategies in new curricula development at Higher Education Institutions in South Africa
Authors: Fritz Wilfred , Stringer Toni , Staak Anthony
Published: May 2020

Re-curriculation is currently the most talked about topic in Higher Education in South Africa because of the new Higher Education Qualification Sub-Framework alignment process required by all Higher Education Institutions. However, the lecturer in the classroom, especially new lecturers, are also faced with the task of designing the actual curricula of a subject once the new qualification is to be implemented, in terms of achieving the aims and objectives of the subject area. In other words, ensuring that the outcomes of the subject are achieved by the student. Ideally all lecturers at institutions of higher learning should develop strategies for their “own” curricula. Developing the aforementioned strategies might be challenging to first time lecturers. The methodologies of developing a new qualification and strategies for building curricula is discussed in this paper are different curriculum planning methods and strategies. The aforementioned strategies are focusing on students, mentoring, supportive tools such as software programmes, feedback and assessments. The findings of this paper are proper curricula development to enhance the ability to understand, recall and apply information. The main objective is to use proper curricula development to empower students with a diversity of cultures to understand the material presented by the lecturer. This paper concludes that curricula planning should allow students to be given space to grow and interact and ultimately attain deep life-long learning.
Adaptation of the Engineering Curriculum in the Age of Industry 4.0
Authors: Reddy Serendra
Published: May 2020

With the rapid proliferation of Industry 4.0 across the globe there is an immediate need for institutes of higher learning to adapt their curriculums, especially in the fields of engineering and IT, in order to ensure relevance to both industry and society. Industry 4.0 is synonymous with cyber-physical systems, AI and the internet of things and requires a knowledgeable workforce that are both inter- and multi-disciplinary skilled. This paper proposes a framework for a three- or four-year electronic engineering degree that aligns itself with the needs of Industry 4.0. The framework is comprised of three core pillars and provides a roadmap for the adaptations required in the curriculum, practical work and competency components of the qualification. In addition to knowledge attributes we also discuss the notion of graduate attributes as well the assessment of these outcomes. A three-year bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering that applies this framework is currently being offered at the Durban University of Technology, South Africa.
Entrepreneurial Learning and AI Literacy to Support Digital Entrepreneurship
Authors: Hamburg Ileana , O’brien Emma , Vladut Gabriel
Published: May 2020

The formation of the entrepreneur as a person for digital transformation is important and considered, in a large part, to be due to learning. Entrepreneurship is “a process of new value creation” and digital entrepreneurship is understood as “a subcategory of entrepreneurship in which some or all of what would be physical in a traditional organization has been digitized”. The integration of artificial intelligence - AI into business world can automatize some tasks and make entrepreneurs more “creative” and fulfilled, which would obviously benefit the companies that they work for.” Entrepreneurial learning is a basis for education of entrepreneurs and should supports digital entrepreneurship within the process of designing, lunching and running a new business within digital transformation. It should include AI courses in the learning and teaching process to achieve AI Literacy competence.

The first part of the paper includes results of literature review and of interviews that the author has done with entrepreneurs within some European projects about different forms of entrepreneurship, particularly digital entrepreneurship and the use of AI. A review of literature about entrepreneurial learning and basis components, which characterizes it, is given in the next part including also experience of the author in teaching and training entrepreneurs

The last part of the paper presents some new approaches within education by using entrepreneurial learning including AI Literacy oriented to digital workplaces and digital entrepreneurship. Developments within European projects with the participation of the authors are also given.
Investigation on the Possibility of Designing an Educational Dynamic Light Scattering Device for Sizing Particles Suspended in Air
Authors: Chicea Dan , Leca Cristian
Published: May 2020

If a light beam meets a fluid that contains scattering centers randomly distributed in suspension, light is scattered by each of them. If the light source is coherent, the scattered waves will be also coherent, therefore they will interfere. The fluctuations of the far-field interference signal, once recorded and digitized, become a time series that can be later on analyzed to produce the average size of the suspended particles or the size distribution. The technique wears the name of Dynamic Light Scattering. We present the results of our investigation on the possibility of using an educational model, made of low-cost, conventional electronics, for recording the time signal of light scattered by particles suspended in the air as the carrier fluid. The device can be used in measuring the particle size in exhaust gases of conventional power plants or automobile engines.
Employability of New Immigrants’ Youth Studying in Technical Program in Taiwan
Authors: Chao Chih Yang , Lin Yong Shun , Chang Alvin , Chang Jocelyn
Published: May 2020

The purpose of the study is to understand the employability of new immigrants’ youth studying in technical program in Taiwan. A national survey was conducted to explore the employability of new immigrants’ youth from the perspectives of teachers and students. A total of 1,500 questionnaires were distributed to students and 1,171 questionnaires were retrieved. Valid questionnaires totaled 1,098 and accounted for 73.20%; a total of 750 questionnaires were distributed to teachers and 544 questionnaires were retrieved. Valid questionnaires totaled 524 and accounted for 69.87%. The study found that new immigrants’ youth performed best in emotion control ability, followed by personal management ability; new immigrants’ youth performed worst in basic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, followed by native language proficiency.
Neural Networks in the Educational Sector: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Fiore Ugo
Published: May 2020

Given their increasing diffusion, deep learning networks have long been considered an important subject on which teaching efforts should be concentrated, to support a fast and effective training. In addition to that role, the availability of rich data coming from several sources underlines the potential of neural networks used as an analysis tool to identify critical aspects, plan upgrades and adjustments, and ultimately improve learning experience. Analysis and forecasting methods have been widely used in this context, allowing policy makers, managers and educators to make informed decisions. The capabilities of recurring neural networks—in particular Long Short-Term Memory networks—in the analysis of natural language have led to their use in measuring the similarity of educational materials. Massive Online Open Courses provide a rich variety of data about the learning behaviors of online learners. The analysis of learning paths provides insights related to the optimization of learning processes, as well as the prediction of outcomes and performance. Another active area of research concerns the recommendation of suitable personalized, adaptive, learning paths, based on varying sources, including even the tracing of eye-path movements. In this way, the transition from passive learning to active learning can be achieved. Challenges and opportunities in the application of neural networks in the educational sector are presented.
The Spatial and Temporal Properties of eLearning: an Exploratory Study Regarding the Students’ Perspective
Authors: Caramihai Mihai , Severin Irina
Published: May 2020

The paper aims to analyze and comment the current eLearning environments considering the space and time characteristics in order to better understanding of certain antecedents’ factors for eLearning system acceptance and effective use by students. The current paper illustrated the eLearning platforms – from the differences between online and traditional face to face learning to the spatial thinking and learning process – using as a case study the minds of students from a technical University of Romania.
Simulation-Based Learning, an Essential Tool for Control Process in Food Engineering Education
Authors: Şipoş Anca , Păcală Mariana Liliana
Published: May 2020

Simulation-based learning has become an essential tool for food engineers in education and industry. The students from food engineering higher education usually have difficulties to understand abstract concepts of the process control, to make links among microbiology, biochemistry and automation of the technological process from food industry. The present paper describes a methodology for teaching the process control by developing a control level process using simulation-based learning. The used of this metode highlighted that the students developed competence toward “thinking like a scientist”, developed argumentation and critical decision-making skills and reinforced research-planning and experimental design skills.
A Training Needs Assessment for Teaching and Educating Sustainability
Authors: Draghici Anca , Mircea Gabriela , Ivascu Larisa , Robescu Diana Florina
Published: May 2020

Education for sustainable development (ESD) is a strong debate subject that push education stakeholders of all levels to consider actual challenges of sustainability. The main objective is to re-shape the young generation behavior into an active and participatory one in order to face the actual challenges of climate change, scarce resources use, consumption efficiency, lifecycle thinking, social equity and other topics related to sustainable development dimensions and objectives. In this context, the article aims to present the research for the training needs assessment (survey based on a questionnaire applied internationally in Romania, Hungary, Slovenia and Portugal) that has contributed to the TeachSUS project development and implementation. The research results have been considered as valuable information for the innovative solution of the training programme design, in the context of the TeachSUS project.
New Impulse, New Challenges. Safety Procedures in a Production Enterprise. A Case Study
Authors: Wojtasik Karolina
Published: May 2020

In connection with the entry into force of the Anti-terrorism Act, administrators of many production facilities are required to prepare a number of anti-terrorism procedures called anti-terrorist/AT attachment (Security plan related to facilities and equipment subject to mandatory protection in respect of terrorist threats). The article is a case study of the AT attachment implementation in several production plants belonging to one enterprise. It characterizes the strategy adopted in this company and the solutions developed in 2017-2019 in several production plants. The purpose of the article is to show why the implementation of this procedure is a challenge for the company.