bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global Stability of a Markovian Jumping Chaotic Financial System with Partially Unknown Transition Rates under Impulsive Control Involved in the Positive Interest Rate
Authors: Rao Ruofeng
Published: June 2019

The intrinsic instability of the financial system itself results in chaos and unpredictable economic behavior. To gain the globally asymptotic stability of the equilibrium point with a positive interest rate of the chaotic financial system, pulse control is sometimes very necessary and is employed in this paper to derive the globally exponential stability of financial system. It should be pointed out that the delayed feedback model brings an essential difficulty so that the regional control method has to be adopted. In this paper, the author firstly employs impulsive control, regional control, the Lyapunov function technique, and variational methods to derive the stochastically globally asymptotic stability criterion of the economic balance point with a positive interest rate for a delayed feedback financial system with Markovian jumping and partially unknown transition rates. Besides, the mathematical induction method and the proof by contradiction are applied synthetically to deduce the globally exponential stability of the equilibrium point with a positive interest rate for the impulsive financial system without time-delays. Moreover, numerical examples illustrate that under suitable data conditions on the two main criteria mentioned above, the interest rates are positive decimals when the financial system reaches stability, which means better economic significance.
The Effect of Laser Peening without Coating on the Fatigue of a 6082-T6 Aluminum Alloy with a Curved Notch
Authors: Troiani Enrico , Zavatta Nicola
Published: June 2019

Laser shock peening has established itself as an effective surface treatment to enhance the fatigue properties of metallic materials. Although a number of works have dealt with the formation of residual stresses, and their consequent effects on the fatigue behavior, the influence of material geometry on the peening process has not been widely addressed. In this paper, Laser Peening without Coating (LPwC) is applied at the surface of a notch in specimens made of a 6082-T6 aluminum alloy. The treated specimens are tested by three-point bending fatigue tests, and their fatigue life is compared to that of untreated samples with an identical geometry. The fatigue life of the treated specimens is found to be 1.7 to 3.3 times longer. Brinell hardness measurements evidence an increase in the surface hardness of about 50%, following the treatment. The material response to peening is modelled by a finite element model, and the compressive residual stresses are computed accordingly. Stresses as high as −210 MPa are present at the notch. The ratio between the notch curvature and the laser spot radius is proposed as a parameter to evaluate the influence of the notch.
Multifaceted Applications of Microbial Pigments: Current Knowledge, Challenges and Future Directions for Public Health Implications
Authors: Ramesh Chatragadda , Vinithkumar Nambali , Kirubagaran Ramalingam , Venil Chidambaram , Dufossé Laurent
Published: June 2019

Microbial oddities such as versatile pigments are gaining more attention in current research due to their widely perceived applications as natural food colorants, textiles, antimicrobial activities, and cytotoxic activities. This indicates that the future generation will depend on microbial pigments over synthetic colorants for sustainable livelihood. Although several reviews have detailed the comprehensive applications of microbial pigments extensively, knowledge on several aspects of pigmented microbes is apparently missing and not properly reviewed anywhere. Thus, this review has been made to provide overall knowledge on biodiversity, distribution, pathogenicity, and ecological and industrial applications of microbial pigments as well as their challenges and future directions for food, industrial, and biomedical applications. Meticulously, this compendious review treatise on the pigments from bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and microalgae includes reports from the 1970s to 2018. A total of 261 pigment compounds produced by about 500 different microbial species are included, and their bioactive nature is described.
Mesoporous Silica-Based Materials for Electronics-Oriented Applications
Authors: Laskowski Łukasz , Laskowska Magdalena , Vila Neus , Schabikowski Mateusz , Walcarius Alain
Published: June 2019

Electronics, and nanoelectronics in particular, represent one of the most promising branches of technology. The search for novel and more efficient materials seems to be natural here. Thus far, silicon-based devices have been monopolizing this domain. Indeed, it is justified since it allows for significant miniaturization of electronic elements by their densification in integrated circuits. Nevertheless, silicon has some restrictions. Since this material is applied in the bulk form, the miniaturization limit seems to be already reached. Moreover, smaller silicon-based elements (mainly processors) need much more energy and generate significantly more heat than their larger counterparts. In our opinion, the future belongs to nanostructured materials where a proper structure is obtained by means of bottom-up nanotechnology. A great example of a material utilizing nanostructuring is mesoporous silica, which, due to its outstanding properties, can find numerous applications in electronic devices. This focused review is devoted to the application of porous silica-based materials in electronics. We guide the reader through the development and most crucial findings of porous silica from its first synthesis in 1992 to the present. The article describes constant struggle of researchers to find better solutions to supercapacitors, lower the k value or redox-active hybrids while maintaining robust mechanical properties. Finally, the last section refers to ultra-modern applications of silica such as molecular artificial neural networks or super-dense magnetic memory storage.
Highly Stretchable and Self-Healing Strain Sensors Based on Nanocellulose-Supported Graphene Dispersed in Electro-Conductive Hydrogels
Authors: Zheng Chunxiao , Yue Yiying , Gan Lu , Xu Xinwu , Mei Changtong , Han Jingquan
Published: June 2019

Intrinsic self-healing and highly stretchable electro-conductive hydrogels demonstrate wide-ranging utilization in intelligent electronic skin. Herein, we propose a new class of strain sensors prepared by cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and graphene (GN) co-incorporated poly (vinyl alcohol)-borax (GN-CNF@PVA) hydrogel. The borax can reversibly and dynamically associate with poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and GN-CNF nanocomplexes as a cross-linking agent, providing a tough and flexible network with the hydrogels. CNFs act as a bio-template and dispersant to support GN to create homogeneous GN-CNF aqueous dispersion, endowing the GN-CNF@PVA gels with promoted mechanical flexibility, strength and good conductivity. The resulting composite gels have high stretchability (break-up elongation up to 1000%), excellent viscoelasticity (storage modulus up to 3.7 kPa), rapid self-healing ability (20 s) and high healing efficiency (97.7 ± 1.2%). Due to effective electric pathways provided by GN-CNF nanocomplexes, the strain sensors integrated by GN-CNF@PVA hydrogel with good responsiveness, stability and repeatability can efficiently identify and monitor the various human motions with the gauge factor (GF) of about 3.8, showing promising applications in the field of wearable sensing devices.
Surface Immobilization of Nano-Silver on Polymeric Medical Devices to Prevent Bacterial Biofilm Formation
Authors: Riau Andri K. , Aung Thet T. , Setiawan Melina , Yang Liang , H. F. Yam Gary , W. Beuerman Roger , S. Venkatraman Subbu , S. Mehta Jodhbir
Published: June 2019

Bacterial biofilm on medical devices is difficult to eradicate. Many have capitalized the anti-infective capability of silver ions (Ag+) by incorporating nano-silver (nAg) in a biodegradable coating, which is then laid on polymeric medical devices. However, such coating can be subjected to premature dissolution, particularly in harsh diseased tissue microenvironment, leading to rapid nAg clearance. It stands to reason that impregnating nAg directly onto the device, at the surface, is a more ideal solution. We tested this concept for a corneal prosthesis by immobilizing nAg and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) on poly(methyl methacrylate), and tested its biocompatibility with human stromal cells and antimicrobial performance against biofilm-forming pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Three different dual-functionalized substrates—high Ag (referred to as 75:25 HAp:Ag); intermediate Ag (95:5 HAp:Ag); and low Ag (99:1 HAp:Ag) were studied. The 75:25 HAp:Ag was effective in inhibiting biofilm formation, but was cytotoxic. The 95:5 HAp:Ag showed the best selectivity among the three substrates; it prevented biofilm formation of both pathogens and had excellent biocompatibility. The coating was also effective in eliminating non-adherent bacteria in the culture media. However, a 28-day incubation in artificial tear fluid revealed a ~40% reduction in Ag+ release, compared to freshly-coated substrates. The reduction affected the inhibition of S. aureus growth, but not the P. aeruginosa. Our findings suggest that Ag+ released from surface-immobilized nAg diminishes over time and becomes less effective in suppressing biofilm formation of Gram-positive bacteria, such as S. aureus. This advocates the coating, more as a protection against perioperative and early postoperative infections, and less as a long-term preventive solution.
Studies on Colchicine Induced Chromosome Doubling for Enhancement of Quality Traits in Ornamental Plants
Authors: Manzoor Ayesha , Ahmad Touqeer , Bashir Muhammad , Hafiz Ishfaq , Silvestri Cristian
Published: June 2019

Polyploidy has the utmost importance in horticulture for the development of new ornamental varieties with desirable morphological traits referring to plant size and vigor, leaf thickness, larger flowers with thicker petals, intense color of leaves and flowers, long lasting flowers, compactness, dwarfness and restored fertility. Polyploidy may occur naturally due to the formation of unreduced gametes or can be artificially induced by doubling the number of chromosomes in somatic cells. Usually, natural polyploid plants are unavailable, so polyploidy is induced synthetically with the help of mitotic inhibitors. Colchicine is a widely used mitotic inhibitor for the induction of polyploidy in plants during their cell division by inhibiting the chromosome segregation. Different plant organs like seeds, apical meristems, flower buds, and roots can be used to induce polyploidy through many application methods such as dipping/soaking, dropping or cotton wool. Flow cytometry and chromosome counting, with an observation of morphological and physiological traits are routine procedures for the determination of ploidy level in plants.
Ozone Tolerance Found in Aegilops tauschii and Primary Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat
Authors: Brewster Clare , Hayes Felicity , Fenner Nathalie
Published: June 2019

Modern wheat cultivars are increasingly sensitive to ground level ozone, with 7–10% mean yield reductions in the northern hemisphere. In this study, three of the genome donors of bread wheat, Triticum urartu (AA), T. dicoccoides (AABB), and Aegilops tauschii (DD) along with a modern wheat cultivar (T. aestivum ‘Skyfall’), a 1970s cultivar (T. aestivum ‘Maris Dove’), and a line of primary Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat were grown in 6 L pots of sandy loam soil in solardomes (Bangor, North Wales) and exposed to low (30 ppb), medium (55 ppb), and high (110 ppb) levels of ozone over 3 months. Measurements were made at harvest of shoot biomass and grain yield. Ae. tauschii appeared ozone tolerant with no significant effects of ozone on shoot biomass, seed head biomass, or 1000 grain + husk weight even under high ozone levels. In comparison, T. urartu had a significant reduction in 1000 grain + husk weight, especially under high ozone (−26%). The older cultivar, ‘Maris Dove’, had a significant reduction in seed head biomass (−9%) and 1000 grain weight (−11%) but was less sensitive than the more recent cultivar ‘Skyfall’, which had a highly significant reduction in its seed head biomass (−21%) and 1000 grain weight (−27%) under high ozone. Notably, the line of primary Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat was ozone tolerant, with no effect on total seed head biomass (−1%) and only a 5% reduction in 1000 grain weight under high ozone levels. The potential use of synthetic wheat in breeding ozone tolerant wheat is discussed.
Kinetics of Arsenic Removal in Waste Acid by the Combination of CuSO4 and Zero-Valent Iron
Authors: Xi Yunhao , Luo Yongguang , Zou Jingtian , Li Jing , Liao Tianqi , Zhang Libo , Wang Chen , Li Xiteng , Lin Guo
Published: June 2019

In this study, we investigated the kinetics of arsenic removal from waste acid by the combination of zero-valent iron (ZVI) and CuSO4. ZVI samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy before and after arsenic removal; the results showed that after the arsenic removal reaction, As2O3 and magnetite phases were detected on the surface of these samples. Kinetic studies were carried out under different reaction temperatures, with different CuSO4 concentrations, and with different iron to arsenic molar ratios (Fe/As). The kinetic data of the arsenic removal were fitted to different kinetic models. The fitting results showed that the arsenic removal process could be described by the shrinking core model, controlled by residual layer diffusion. The apparent activation energy of the reaction was 9.0628 kJ/mol, the reaction order with the CuSO4 concentrations was −0.12681, and the reaction order with the molar ratio of iron to arsenic (Fe/As) was 3.152.
FIX IT BLACK JESUS: The Iconography of Christ in Good Times
Authors: Means Coleman Robin R. , Lawrence Novotny
Published: June 2019

Good Times is primarily remembered for the situation comedy that it became, rather than how the series began. As a part of what Means Coleman classifies as “The Lear Era: Social Relevancy and Ridiculed Black Subjectivity,” the series was the first sitcom in TV history to feature a loving, working-class, Black nuclear family—the Evanses—with a focus on recounting their racial and socioeconomic challenges and gains. While the representational treatment of the Evanses as a whole and full family by network television (CBS) was groundbreaking, Good Times, perhaps, still reinforced implicit schemas regarding Blackness as the Evanses were poor and lived in Chicago’s rough-and-tumble Cabrini Green Housing Projects. Further, as the series progressed, narrative attention focused on the character J.J., a ‘Jim Crow’ stereotype (i.e., eye-bulging, wide-smiling, hustler) whose emergence as the centerpiece of the series eventually prompted co-star, John Amos, to leave the once stereotype-busting show out of protest. Although Good Times ultimately fell into the stereotype trap, the first two seasons of the series worked effectively in representing Blackness as complex and worthy. This article focuses on “Thank You Black Jesus”, a season-one episode that centers on J.J.’s painting of Black Jesus, an artistic interpretation that is in line with the Bible’s description of Jesus. “Thank You Black Jesus” begs several important questions surrounding religious and secular symbols, the interpellation and hailing of Blackness, and faith or suspending one’s disbelief. In this article, we conduct a critical, cultural analysis to explore the meanings that are associated with symbols, Blackness, and faith. We also consider the staying power of the “Black Jesus” episode in contemporary popular culture, as witnessed in the form of memes, intertextual references to the episode in other media texts, and as elucidated by continued debates surrounding the race of Jesus and the ways to pursue an iconography of inclusiveness.
On the Study of Influences of Different Factors on the Rapid Tropospheric Tomography
Authors: Liu Wenxuan , Lou Yidong , Zhang Weixing , Huang Jinfang , Zhou Yaozong , Zhang Haoshan
Published: June 2019

A rapid tropospheric tomography system was developed by using algebraic reconstruction technique. Influences of different factors on the tomographic results, including the ground meteorological data, the multi-Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations, the ground station distribution and the tomographic horizontal resolution, were systematically investigated. In order to exclude the impacts from discrepancies of water vapor information between input observations and references on the tomographic results, the latest reanalysis products, ERA5, which were taken as references for result evaluations, were used to simulate slant wet delay (SWD) observations at GNSS stations. Besides, the slant delays derived from GNSS processing were also used to evaluate the reliability of simulated observations. Tomography results show that the input both SWD and ground meteorological data could improve the tomographic results where SWD mainly improve the results at middle layers (500 to 5000 m, namely 2 to 16 layer) and ground meteorological data could improve the humidity fields at bottom layers further (0 to 500 m, namely 0 to 2 layer). Compared to the usage of Global Positioning System (GPS) only SWD, the inclusion of multi-GNSS SWD does not significantly improve the tomographic results at all layers due to the almost unchanged dispersion of puncture points of GNSS signals. However, increases in the ground GNSS stations can benefit the tomography, with improvements of more than 10% at bottom and middle layers. Higher tomographic horizontal resolution can further slightly improve the tomographic results (about 3-6% from 0.5 to 0.25 degrees), which, however, will also increase the computational burden at the same time.
Measurement Accuracy Enhancement via Radio Frequency Filtering in Distributed Brillouin Sensing
Authors: Feng Cheng , Preussler Stefan , Emad Kadum Jaffar , Schneider Thomas
Published: June 2019

In this article, we demonstrate the noise reduction and signal to noise ratio (SNR) enhancement in Brillouin optical time-domain analyzers (BOTDA). The results show that, although the main noise contribution comes from the Brillouin interaction itself, a simple low pass filtering on the detected radio frequency (RF) signal reduces remarkably the noise level of the BOTDA traces. The corresponding SNR enhancement depends on the employed cut-off frequency of the low pass filter. Due to the enhancement of the SNR, a mitigation of the standard deviation error of the Brillouin frequency shift (BFS) has been demonstrated. However, RF filters with low cut-off frequency could lead to distortions on the trace signals and therefore detection errors on a non-uniform BFS. The trade-off between the noise reduction and the signal distortion as well as an optimal cut-off frequency are discussed in detail.
Review-Microwave Radar Sensing Systems for Search and Rescue Purposes
Authors: Thi Phuoc Van Nguyen , Tang Liqiong , Demir Veysel , Hasan Syed Faraz , Duc Minh Nguyen , Mukhopadhyay Subhas
Published: June 2019

This paper presents a survey of recent developments using Doppler radar sensor in searching and locating an alive person under debris or behind a wall. Locating a human and detecting the vital signs such as breathing rate and heartbeat using a microwave sensor is a non-invasive technique. Recently, many hardware structures, signal processing approaches, and integrated systems have been introduced by researchers in this field. The purpose is to enhance the accuracy of vital signs’ detection and location detection and reduce energy consumption. This work concentrates on the representative research on sensing systems that can find alive people under rubble when an earthquake or other disasters occur. In this paper, various operating principles and system architectures for finding survivors using the microwave radar sensors are reviewed. A comparison between these systems is also discussed.
ATC Separation Assurance for RPASs and Conventional Aircraft in En-Route Airspace
Authors: Pérez-Castán Javier Alberto , Rodríguez-Sanz Álvaro , Gómez Comendador Victor Fernando , Arnaldo Valdés Rosa María
Published: June 2019

Remotely-piloted aircraft systems (RPASs) present interesting and complex challenges for air traffic management. One of the most critical aspects of the integration of RPASs in non-segregated airspace is safety assessments. This paper lays out a methodology for estimating the minimum protection distance (MPD) that is required to avoid potential conflicts between RPASs and conventional aircraft. The MPD determines the final moment that air traffic control may instruct a RPAS to start climbing with a fixed rate of climb (ROC) to avoid separation minima infringement. The methodology sets out a conflict-resolution algorithm to estimate the MPD. It also models the impact of communication, navigation, and surveillance requirements on the MPD. The main difference between RPASs and conventional aircraft is that the former needs additional communication between the RPAS and pilot in the form of a required Comand and Control link performance (RLP). Finally, the authors carried out Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the value of the MPD only for the head-on encounter, which is the worst scenario. The results showed that the main factors affecting the MPD were RLP and ROC. By increasing RLP and decreasing ROC it was possible to reduce the MPD from 28 to 17 nautical miles; however, the variation in the MPD was not linear.
Stakeholders’ Views on Responsible Assessments of Assistive Technologies through an Ethical HTA Matrix
Authors: Thorstensen Erik
Published: June 2019

Assessments of novel assistive technologies for use in home-based services has been documented to be performed in a variety of ways and often with a rather narrow focus on safety and effect or effectiveness. In order better to understand the place for wider forms of assessments of assistive technologies, the current study presents a combination of the Ethical Matrix and the Socratic approach for assessment of health technologies—the Ethical HTA Matrix. This matrix was filled with content based on a case of a GPS localization system, which was validated by stakeholders. In a next step, central decision-makers in assistive technologies and stakeholders were interviewed concerning their views on this methodology. Mainly, the matrix was seen as very comprehensive, but too detailed with an abundance of information. Nevertheless, some informants suggested concrete uses of the matrix in their organizations. Some understood the matrix more as an epistemic tool aiming at providing an overview of the state of knowledge, while others identified a normative potential in the matrix that could be implemented in health innovation processes for the home-based services, in particular when discussing novel solutions and working methods with health professionals and care workers.
Adopters versus Non-Adopters of the Green Key Ecolabel in the Dutch Accommodation Sector
Authors: Buunk Eelco , van der Werf Edwin
Published: June 2019

Accommodation providers such as hotels, campsites, and holiday villages can use ecolabels to show their green credentials to potential customers. Whereas there is extensive literature on ecolabel adoption in the Hotel and Bed and Breakfast (B & B) sector, no such research exists for other accommodation sectors. In this paper, we present the results of statistical analyses of survey data from firms in the Dutch accommodation sector (including hotels, campsites, and group accommodations) with and without the Green Key ecolabel, which is a third-party certified international label for the tourist and leisure sector. We obtain insights into the motivations for adopting (or not), analyze the characteristics of firms with and without the label, and get an indication of the perceived impact of ecolabel adoption on costs and profits. We find that previously found results for hotels and B & Bs do not always apply to other subsectors of the accommodation sector. We also find that obtaining the label required a limited investment for almost half of the sample, and resulted in cost reductions for more than half of the responding firms.
Immunological Assays used to Support Efficacy of Zika Virus Vaccines
Authors: Eckels Kenneth H. , De La Barrera Rafael A. , Putnak Joseph Robert
Published: June 2019

In February of 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus (ZIKV) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This prompted a rapid response from both the private and public sector resulting in the generation of several promising vaccine candidates. In this review, we discuss published scientific efforts associated with these novel vaccines, emphasizing the immunological assays used to evaluate their immunogenicity and efficacy, and support future licensure.
Tracing the Lineage of Two Traits Associated with the Coat Protein of the Tombusviridae: Silencing Suppression and HR Elicitation in Nicotiana Species
Authors: Adhab Mustafa , Angel Carlos , Rodriguez Andres , Fereidouni Mohammad , Király Lóránt , Scheets Kay , Schoelz James E.
Published: June 2019

In this paper we have characterized the lineage of two traits associated with the coat proteins (CPs) of the tombusvirids: Silencing suppression and HR elicitation in Nicotiana species. We considered that the tombusvirid CPs might collectively be considered an effector, with the CP of each CP-encoding species comprising a structural variant within the family. Thus, a phylogenetic analysis of the CP could provide insight into the evolution of a pathogen effector. The phylogeny of the CP of tombusvirids indicated that CP representatives of the family could be divided into four clades. In two separate clades the CP triggered a hypersensitive response (HR) in Nicotiana species of section Alatae but did not have silencing suppressor activity. In a third clade the CP had a silencing suppressor activity but did not have the capacity to trigger HR in Nicotiana species. In the fourth clade, the CP did not carry either function. Our analysis illustrates how structural changes that likely occurred in the CP effector of progenitors of the current genera led to either silencing suppressor activity, HR elicitation in select Nicotiana species, or neither trait.
Efficacy of a Commercial PCV2a Vaccine with a Two-Dose Regimen Against PCV2d
Authors: Kolyvushko Oleksandr , Rakibuzzaman AGM , Pillatzki Angela , Webb Brett , Ramamoorthy Sheela
Published: June 2019

Porcine circovirus type 2, the causative agent of porcine circovirus associated diseases (PCVAD), consists of three major genotypes PCV2a, 2b and 2d. Current commercial vaccines contain the first-identified PCV2a’s capsid protein or whole virions. Outbreaks of PCVAD, caused by the recently identified PCV2d in vaccinated herds have raised concerns regarding the efficacy of current PCV2a vaccines against PCV2d. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a two-dose regimen for the recently reformulated Fostera PCV MetaStim vaccine, to determine if reformulation with the squalene oil adjuvant and two-dose regimen improves the threshold of protection enough to eliminate viremia in a vaccination and challenge model. Two groups of seven pigs each were vaccinated with the commercial vaccine or PBS, and challenged with the PCV2d virus. Strong pre-challenge virus neutralizing responses were detected against all three genotypes. Post-challenge viremia was not completely eliminated as expected but a 2 log10 mean reduction in viral load was achieved in vaccinated pigs. Vaccinated pigs had a mean score of 0 for pathological evaluation, while unvaccinated pigs had a score of 6.6. In conclusion, the reformulated Fostera PCV MetaStim PCV2a-based vaccine provided significant heterologous protection and was effective against PCV2d.
The Changing Landscape: High-Level Influences on Eye Movement Guidance in Scenes
Authors: Williams Carrick C. , Castelhano Monica S.
Published: June 2019

The use of eye movements to explore scene processing has exploded over the last decade. Eye movements provide distinct advantages when examining scene processing because they are both fast and spatially measurable. By using eye movements, researchers have investigated many questions about scene processing. Our review will focus on research performed in the last decade examining: (1) attention and eye movements; (2) where you look; (3) influence of task; (4) memory and scene representations; and (5) dynamic scenes and eye movements. Although typically addressed as separate issues, we argue that these distinctions are now holding back research progress. Instead, it is time to examine the intersections of these seemingly separate influences and examine the intersectionality of how these influences interact to more completely understand what eye movements can tell us about scene processing.
Factors Influencing Pseudo-Accommodation—The Difference between Subjectively Reported Range of Clear Focus and Objectively Measured Accommodation Range
Authors: Dhallu Sandeep K. , Sheppard Amy L. , Drew Tom , Mihashi Toshifumi , Zapata-Díaz Juan F. , Radhakrishnan Hema , Iskander D. Robert , Wolffsohn James S.
Published: June 2019

The key determinants of the range of clear focus in pre-presbyopes and their relative contributions to the difference between subjective range of focus and objective accommodation assessments have not been previously quantified. Fifty participants (aged 33.0 ± 6.4 years) underwent simultaneous monocular subjective (visual acuity measured with an electronic test-chart) and objective (dynamic accommodation measured with an Aston open-field aberrometer) defocus curve testing for lenses between +2.00 to −10.00 DS in +0.50 DS steps in a randomized order. Pupil diameter and ocular aberrations (converted to visual metrics normalized for pupil size) at each level of blur were measured. The difference between objective range over which the power of the crystalline lens changes and the subjective range of clear focus was quantified and the results modelled using pupil size, refractive error, tolerance to blur, and ocular aberrations. The subjective range of clear focus was principally accounted for by age (46.4%) and pupil size (19.3%). The objectively assessed accommodative range was also principally accounted for by age (27.6%) and pupil size (15.4%). Over one-quarter (26.0%) of the difference between objective accommodation and subjective range of clear focus was accounted for by age (14.0%) and spherical aberration at maximum accommodation (12.0%). There was no significant change in the objective accommodative response (F = 1.426, p = 0.229) or pupil size (F = 0.799, p = 0.554) of participants for levels of defocus above their amplitude of accommodation. Pre-presbyopes benefit from an increased subjective range of clear vision beyond their objective accommodation due in part to neural factors, resulting in a measured depth-of-focus of, on average, 1.0 D.
Is Urban Economic Output Decoupling from Water Use in Developing Countries?—Empirical Analysis of Beijing and Shanghai, China
Authors: Wang Xiaowei , Li Rongrong
Published: June 2019

Water issue is one of the challenges of urban sustainability in developing countries. To address the conflict between urban water use and economic development, it is required to better understand the decoupling states between them and the driving forces behind these decoupling states. The transformed Tapio decoupling model is applied in this paper to study the decoupling relationship between urban industrial water consumption and economic growth in Beijing and Shanghai, two megacities in China, in 2003–2016. The factors driving decoupling are divided into industrial structure effect, industrial water utilization intensity effect, economic development level effect, and population size effect through Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method. The results show that: (1) the decoupling states of total water consumption and economic growth in Beijing and Shanghai are mainly strong decoupling and weak decoupling. In comparison, Shanghai’s decoupling effect is better than Beijing; (2) regarding decoupling elasticity, Beijing is higher than that of Shanghai in tertiary industry and lower in primary industry and secondary industry. As a result, Beijing’s decoupling level is worse than Shanghai in tertiary industry, while better in primary industry and secondary industry; (3) The common factors that drive the two megacities’ decoupling are industrial structure effect and industrial water utilization intensity effect. The effects of economic development level and population size mainly present weak decoupling in two megacities, but the decoupling state is optimized year by year. Finally, based on the results, some suggestions for achieving the sustainable development of urban water use are proposed.
Mapeamento geotécnico regional na escala 1:100.000 - considerações metodológicas
Authors: PEJON Osni José , Valentin ZUQUETTE Lázaro
Published: June 2019

Apresentam-se neste trabalho algumas considerações metodológicas quanto à definição e forma de obtenção dos atributos em mapeamentos geotécnicos regionais, principalmente na escala I: 100.000. Observa-se que, para mapeamentos nesta escala, os atributos fundamentais devem ser obtidos por matrizes que permitam analisar o inter-relacionamento entre os atributos. Com esta análise, verificou-se que os atributos naturais relacionados ao campo de conhecimento da Geologia são os que apresentam relação com a maior parte dos demais atributos mapeados. São ainda analisadas neste artigo as formas de apresentação gráfica dos resultados, concluindo-se que as cartas de zoneamento geotécnico geral e específico são mecanismos muito eficientes para representar as informações e interpretações obtidas no mapeamento geotécnico.
Tentativa de utilização de variáveis morfométricas deperfis de vertentes para o zoneamento preliminar do meio físico
Authors: De Lollo José Augusto , Gandolfi Nilson
Published: June 2019

Os levantamentos de condições geotécnicas preliminares de grandes áreas, das quais se dispõede poucas informações de prospecção geotécnica de subsolo, podem apresentar certas dificuldades na delimitação de unidades de materiais rochosos e, principalmente, materiais inconsolidados. O presente trabalho apresenta uma tentativa de utilização de descrição de forma das vertentes como critério preliminar de distinção entre materiais presentes na área estudada.
Determination of Anxiety Levels of Students Learning Turkish as a Foreign Language at B1 Level: A Case Study of Ishik Male High School
Authors:   International Burch University,, Miyanyedi Ertan
Published: June 2019

It is known that foreign language learning anxiety has a negative effect on second language learning. The aim of this study was to determine the foreign language anxiety levels of learners of Turkish as a foreign language. The Turkish language levels of the students, who constitute the sampling of the research, were B1. In this study, Foreign Language Learning Anxiety Scale, developed by Horwitz, Horwitz and Cope (1986), was used as the data collection tool. The reliability of the data was calculated as 0.75 according to Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient and reliability coefficient calculated byEquivalent Half Method (Split Half) was 0.81. As a result of the analysis, concerns such as negative appraisal anxiety (43%),test anxiety (39%), anxiety of Turkish language as foreign language (36%) and communication anxiety (32%) were determined in students.
Examination of the main parameters of roe deer feed compound on two territories
Authors: Barta Tamás , Majzinger István
Published: June 2019

It is widespread that roe deer are very choosy. He needs this sorting because the micro organizms, which help the digestion of high fibre plants, are missing in his stomack, that is why they are mostly called „concentrate selectors” Hoffmann, 1985, 1988, 1989).These animals should mostly eat easily digestable plants with high nutrition level (pulses, buds, sprouts and flowers), and they are able to do this sorting because of their small mouth size. In winter there is a lack of these plants, so the high selectivity occurs only when the feed is in abundance.Examining the amount and quality of vegetation available on the habitat of roe deer we can identify the species which can satisfy their feed demand. It is known, that roe deer as other large ruminants, from the plant abundance prefer certain plants and plant parts while there are others which are avoided. The identification of the eaten species and the rate of their occurance in the feed is the first step to become acquainted with the interaction between animal and the surroundings.
Changes in fatty acid composition of pork rich in conjugated linoleic acid frying in different kind of fats
Authors: Borosné Győri Anikó , Hermán Istvánné , Gundel János , Csapó János
Published: June 2019

In 1990ys antiatherogen, antioxidant and anticarcinogen effect of conjugated linolacids (CLA) was detected. From this reasons, our aims in this study were producing pork rich in CLA and studying the change of fatty acid composition of the produced pork cooked different kind of fats. For frying palm and sunflower oil and swine fat were used. Thigh was cutted for 100 g pieces. Meat pieces were fried at 160 °C for 1 and 8 minutes. Estimation of frying data it was determined that higher (0.13%) CLA content of pork was spoiled (60-70%) except in case of swine fat cooking,because it is extremly sensitive for oxidation and heating. Swine fat has higher (0.09%) CLA content than plant oil, protecting the meat’s original CLA content. Cooking in swine fat did not have significant effect on fatty acid composition of meat. Low level of palmitic acid contect of sunflower oil (6.40%) decreased for half part of palmitic acid content of pork (24.13%) and it produced cooked meat with decreased oil acid content. Contrary of above, linoleic acid content of fried meat was increased in different folds as compared to crude pork. If it was fried in sunflower oil with high level linoleic acid increased (51.52%) the linoleic acid content in fried pork. The linoleic acid content of the high level CLA pork increased four times (48.59%) to the crude meat (16.59% and 12.32%). The high palmitic acid content of palm fat (41.54%) increased by 60% the palmitic acid content in fried pork, low stearic acid (4.44%) and linoleic acid content (10.56%) decreased the stearic and linoleic acid content of crude meat.
FIRM VALUE, CAPITAL STRUCTURE, PROFITABILITY, FIRM CHARACTERISTIC AND DISPOSIBLE INCOME AS MODERATOR: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF RETAIL FIRMS IN INDONESIA
Authors: Komarudin Mamay , Affandi Naufal
Published: June 2019

This study examined the effect of capital structure on firm value; firm characteristic on firm value with disposible income as moderator variable; the effect of profitability on firm value. The study was conducted in Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) with samples of retail  firms listed on the IDX in 2014 to 2016  as many as 21 retail  firms. The analysis methode used Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA), classical assumption test and t test. The results showed that the capital structure didn’t have a significant negative effect on firm value. Profitability had a significant positif effect on firm value. Firm characteristic didn’t have a significant negative effect on firm value with disposible income as a moderator. The conclusion of research indicated that capital structure and profitability had a significant effect  on firm value while firm characteristic with disposible income as moderator didn’t have significant effect on firm value
Efektifitas Pemberian Dispensasi Kawin Pada Anak Di Bawah Umur Menurut Undang-undang No.1 Tahun 1974 (Studi Kasus Di Kab. Polewali Mandar)
Authors: Rahayu Ade
Published: June 2019

Marriage dispensation is the relief of something (age limit) in bonding between a man and a woman as husband and wife with the aim of forming a happy and eternal family based on the One Godhead. The purpose of this study was to determine and analyze the effectiveness of Marriage Dispensation in Underage Children in Polewali Mandar Regency and the factors that influence the judge's decision to grant the request for mating dispensation in minors in Polewali Mandar district. The research method used is empirical legal research. The results showed that underage marriage in Polewali Mandar district had not been implemented effectively because underage marriage was still found without going through mating dispensation and the factors that influenced the judge's decision to grant the request were because the prospective bride had been pregnant out of wedlock. Because the judge is not bound by positive law so the judge is given the opportunity to find the law. The judge prioritizes the concept of maslahah mursalah, where the judge chooses consideration of goodness and rejects damage in society and prevents harm.
Studi Mutu Pelayanan Kesehatan Pasien JKN Rawat Inap Kelas III Di RSUD Polewali Kabupaten Polewali Mandar
Authors: Nurmalasari Nurmalasari , Nursid Faisal
Published: June 2019

Semakin meningkatnya tuntutan masyarakat akan kualitas pelayanan kesehatan maka fungsi pelayanan perlu diitingkatkan untuk memberi kepuasan pasien. Mutu pelayanan kesehatan adalah derajat dipenuhinya kebutuhan masyarakat atau perorangan terhadap asuhan kesehatan yang sesuai dengan standar profesi yang baik dengan pemanfaatan sumber daya secara wajar, efisien, efektif dalam keterbatasan kemampuan pemerintah dan masyarakat, serta diselenggarakan secara aman dan memuaskan pelanggan sesuai dengan norma dan etika yang baik. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui mutu pelayanan kesehatan pasien JKN rawat inap kelas III di RSUD Polewali Kabupaten Polewali Mandar berdasarkan dimensi kehandalan, jaminan, bukti fisik, perhatian dan daya tanggap. Jenis penelitian ini merupakan penelitian deskriptif dengan jumlah sampel 82 responden dengan teknik pengambilan sampel yaitu random sampling. Hasil penelitian menyebutkan bahwa mutu pelayanan kesehatan berdasarkan variabel kehandalan tergolong dalam kategori puas yaitu sebanyak 58 responden (70,73 %), variabel jaminan tergolong dalam kategori puas yaitu sebanyak 75 responden (91,47 %), variabel bukti fisik tergolong dalam kategori puas sebanyak 51 responden (62,2 %), variabel perhatian tergolong dalam kategori puas yaitu sebanyak 59 responden (71,95 %) dan variabel daya tanggap tergolong dalam kategori puas yaitu sebanyak 63 responden (76,83 %).
FAKTOR YANG MEMENGARUHI PEMANFATAN JAMBAN KELUARGA DI DESA KARAMA KECAMATAN TINAMBUNG KABUPATEN POLEWALI MANDAR
Authors: Taslim Taslim , Patmawati Patmawati
Published: June 2019

Tingginya mengenai kurangnya pemanfaatan jamban keluarga di Desa Karama Kecamatan Tinambung Kabupaten polewali Mandar di sebabkan karena faktor tradisi atau kebiasaan masyarakat Buang Air Besar di pantai, dan faktor pemahaman masih sangat rendah dan lingkungan yang sangat dekat dengan pingir pantai. Sehingga masyarakat yang ada di Desa Karama lebih membiasakan diri Buang Air Besar di pantai dari pada WC.Jenis penelitian ini adalah kaulitatif dengan wawancara mendalam (indepth interview) dengan penentuan sampel dipilih secara purposive sampling untuk menggali informasi lebih mendalam tentang pemamfaan jamban keluarga.Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa Ras (suku mandar) mengenai  jamban keluarga mereka sudah memunyai pengetahuan tetapi masih sangat rendah mengenai pemamfatan jamban keluarga,fungsi jamban dan dampak yang di timbulkan oleh kotoran. Tetapi dengan faktor tradisi atau kebiasaan mereka lebih memilih Buang Air Besar di pantai dari pada WC karena membuat mereka lebih nyaman.
PELAKSANAAN PROGRAM PENANGGULANGAN DIARE DI PUSKESMAS MATAKALI
Authors: Hariani Hariani , Ramlah Ramlah
Published: June 2019

Diare adalah buang air besar dengan konsistensi cair sebanyak 3 kali atau lebih dalam satu hari). Dua kriteria penting harus ada yaitu buang air besar cair dan sering,  jadi misalnya buang air besar sehari tiga kali tapi tidak cair, maka tidak bisa disebut daire. Upaya pencegahan yang dilakukan  oleh pihak Puskesmas Matakali untuk mengatasi peningkatan kasus diare yaitu penyehatan lingkungan dan penyuluhan yang dilakukan  di setiap umur baik balita sampai dengan lansia dengan menggunanakan alat seperti poster, leaflet, lembar balik penyuluhan dan memberikan pelatihan kepada kader posyandu sedangakan penyehatan lingkungan yang dilakukan oleh petugas kesling yaitu memeriksa kantin sehat disekolah, memeriksa air bersih di masyarakat, penyuluhan dengan pengelolaan sampah yang baik dan mengawasi kepemilikan jamban. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pelaksanaan program penanggulangan diare di Puskesmas Matakali dengan menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan  fenomenologi. Informan penelitian berjumlah 4 orang yaitu Kepala Puskesmas, P2p diare, Sanitarian dan masyarakat yang terkena kasus diare. Analisis data yaitu reduksi data, tampilan data dan kesimpulan gambar/verifikasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pelaksanaan program penanggulangan diare dilaksanakan,  hambatan yang didapatkan yaitu adanya rangkap jabatan oleh petugas diare, kurangnya alat penyuluhan, kurangnya partisipasi masyarakat dalam kegiatan pencegahan  diare dan masyarakat yang menganggap penyakit diare tidak terlalu bahaya serta masih percaya dengan kebiasaan-kebiasaan terdahulu. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini adalah peran dari tenaga kesehatan sangat dibutuhkan agar program diare dapat berjalan secara optimal, rendahnya partisipasi masyarakat dalam menjaga kebersihan lingkungan seperti pengolahan sampah dan penggunaan jamban yang masih belum menyeluruh.
E-Yönetişim Bağlamında Belediyelerin Hizmet Sunumu Ve Belediye-Yurttaş Etkileşimine Etki Eden Faktörler: Kocaeli İli Örneği
Authors: SAYIMER İdil , KÜÇÜKSARAÇ Banu
Published: June 2019

Bilgi ve iletişim
teknolojilerinin kamu yönetim biçimlerini yakından etkilemesiyle önem kazanmaya
başlayan e-yönetişim, kamu kurumları ile paydaşlar arasında yeni iletişim
teknolojileri aracılığıyla etkileşime dayanan yurttaş odaklı bir yönetim
anlayışıdır. Kamusal hizmet
sunumunun yerel düzeydeki en önemli temsilcileri olan belediyeler yeni medya
teknolojilerini e-yönetişim kapsamındaki iş süreçlerinde kullanarak daha az
maliyetle daha verimli bir çalışma olanağı elde etmekte, kolay, hızlı ve
sağlıklı hizmet sağlayabilmekte ve yurttaşlardan farklı konularla ilgili geri
bildirim alabilmektedir. Belediyeler ve yurttaşlar için olumlu kazanımlar
sağlayan e-yönetişim uygulamalarının her iki tarafa da fayda sağlayacak biçimde
geliştirilip sürdürülmesine katkı sunmak amacıyla hizmet sunumu ve karşılıklı
etkileşim durumlarına etki eden faktörlerin belirlenmesi gerekmektedir. Bu
çalışma; Kocaeli il ve ilçe belediyelerinin yeni medya ortamlarında sunmuş
oldukları hizmetleri e-yönetişim çerçevesinde belediye ve yurttaş açısından
incelemeye yönelik yapılan TÜBİTAK-117K012  projesine ait araştırmanın kesitsel bir bölümünü
yansıtmaktadır. Araştırmada, Kocaeli il ve ilçe belediyelerinin e-yönetişim
bağlamında hizmet sunumu ve yurttaşla etkileşimlerine etki eden faktörleri saptamak
amacıyla Kocaeli ilinde bulunan 13 belediyede görev yapan 26 katılımcı ile yarı
yapılandırılmış derinlemesine görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma
sonucunda, belediyelerin e-yönetişim bağlamında yeni medya ortamlarında
sağladığı hizmetlerin sunumunu ve belediye-yurttaş etkileşimini etkileyen
faktörler arasında teknik alt yapı, gizlilik ve güvenlik, dijital beceri ve
bütçe eksikliğine bağlı sorunlar olduğu tespit edilmiş, sonuçlar bu eksende tartışılmıştır.