bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance and Science Mapping Analysis on Service Quality in the Healthcare Sector
Authors: Mishra Jyotisankar , Dwibedi Pruthiranjan
Published: January 2023

The authors conducted a bibliometric study of the aforesaid area of interest since healthcare service quality is becoming more important in the literature. Its goal is to look at the trends and patterns that have been observed in the literature on healthcare service quality. R Software is used for analysis. Performance analysis and science mapping programs of the software have been used for the study. Using the Scopus database, the publication pattern from 1996 to 2022 was examined. Two thousand one hundred seventeen articles in the subject area were found, retrieved, and used in the study. The most successful and well-known authors were recognised. Analysis of co-authorship and co-occurrence was done. The leading nations publishing of papers relating to healthcare service quality according to the results of co-authorship and co-occurrence have been analysed. The bibilometric study was carried out to find trends in the healthcare sector's service quality. The study's findings revealed a publication tendency that was perhaps growing and would continue to grow.
Understanding Investor Satisfaction of Financial Products Under the SLP Approach
Authors: Panda Shradhanjali , Dey Sanjeeb Kumar
Published: January 2023

Financial product marketing requires the use of well-researched techniques to achieve investor satisfaction. The intention of this study is to examine elements that affect investor satisfaction while keeping the aforementioned debate as its central concept. Investor is the term used for customer of financial products. The factors that contribute most to it have been discovered to be safety, profitability, and liquidity. It was discovered after looking at a variety of schools of thought and literatures that there has been little research on investor satisfaction, and the work aims to examine the impact of financial products' liquidity, profitability, and safety (specifically, the SLP approach) on investors' satisfaction. Data is analysed using Tukey's test, principal component analysis, correlation, regression, and ANOVA. This study contributes that investor satisfaction is a valuable intangible asset that is primarily produced by the financial instrument's safety, security, and liquidity features using the SLP technique.
What Lessons Can Be Learned for the Agroecological Transition From the Use of Social Media in Preventive Medicine?
Authors: Soulignac Vincent , Pinet François , Bodelet Mathilde , Gross Hélène
Published: January 2023

In agriculture, web-based social media are increasingly used to share knowledge concerning best practices. One goal of agroecology is to reduce the use of synthetic chemical inputs. Agroecology represents a contrast with intensive agriculture in that it better manages interactions with life forms. It is crucial to help people share their knowledge to accomplish the agroecological transition. This paper proposes an analogy between the use of social media to facilitate (1) caring for plants in the context of agroecology and (2) preventing human diseases in the context of medicine. The authors created a bibliography of scientific publications related to social media use in preventative medicine to identify best practices for social media use (and the associated drawbacks) that can be applied to develop social media dedicated to agroecology.
Marketing Information and Marketing Intelligence
Authors: Mandal Pratap Chandra
Published: January 2023

Companies cannot make decisions without proper information about their customers. The study discusses the various ways that companies collect customer information, store the information, and analyze the information. The study focuses on the role of customer relationship management (CRM) in making proper usage of the information and the intelligence gathered from the information in building better relationships with customers. The study emphasizes that building fruitful relationships with customers will help companies grow their businesses in the long run. Although CRM implementation helps companies in developing customer relationships, CRM has its own drawbacks. Companies should realize that CRM is a tool that is used to develop customer relationships. However, implementation of CRM will not solve all issues related to customers. Companies need to be aware about all these aspects while implementing CRM. Once implemented properly, CRM helps companies in growing their businesses and achieve business excellence in the long run.
Language Teaching, Language Learning, and Virtual Exchange in an Age of Complexity
Authors: Dooly Melinda
Published: January 2023

As the introduction to this special issue on virtual exchange (VE), this paper presents a glimpse back at the development of VE through the lens of the central definitions that have been historically associated with VE and how these have had an impact on the evolution of VE practice and research. Next, the role of intercultural competence (IC) is discussed. IC is a prominent aspect of VE in foreign language education and also emerges as a primary topic in the articles in this special issue. Given that VE is most commonly identified within formal education contexts, the article then foregrounds recent debate on whether VE is an educational approach or method and how this may impact teacher education. Finally, looking forward, the text outlines the importance of VE for upcoming generations and how VE might keep pace with anticipated technological advances.
Key Node Identification Based on Vulnerability Life Cycle and the Importance of Network Topology
Authors: Zhu Yuwen , Yu Lei
Published: January 2023

The key network node identification technology plays an important role in comprehending unknown terrains and rapid action planning in network attack and defense confrontation. The conventional key node identification algorithm only takes one type of relationship into consideration; therefore, it is incapable of representing the characteristics of multiple relationships between nodes. Additionally, it typically disregards the periodic change law of network node vulnerability over time. In order to solve the above problems, this paper proposes a network key node identification method based on the vulnerability life cycle and the significance of the network topology. Based on the CVSS score, this paper proposes the calculation method of the vulnerability life cycle risk value, and identifies the key nodes of the network based on the importance of the network topology. Finally, it demonstrates the effectiveness of the method in the selection of key nodes through network instance analysis.
Decision-Making Support of Sustainable and Efficiency of Railway Project
Authors: Tayeh Feras , Ghanem Osman
Published: January 2023

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a strategic economic project aiming at increasing regional connectivity for economic development. The economic corridor will connect Pakistan's Gwadar port with Kashgar in Western China between 2014 and 2030 by developing a transport infrastructure network consisting of road and rail. It is not only expected to be beneficial for Pakistan and China but is also expected to have positive spillover effects on other countries by enhancing geographical connectivity.
Classification of English Educational Resources Information Based on Mobile Learning Using Cognitive Web Service
Authors: Liu Lilin
Published: January 2023

English proficiency is increasingly vital in the modern globalized and competitive world, especially for jobs that need cross-cultural communication. Using online educational tools wisely leads to improved English proficiency. Digital learning tools are constantly being improved owing to the emergence of new technologies. An essential problem in academic circles is categorizing and assisting in investigating different forms of digital learning resources. This research proposes an efficient intelligent system for the classification of English educational resources information based on mobile learning (CEERI-ML). The suggested design classifies English educational resources into different categories, applying a Classification based on Marzano and Kendall Taxonomy (CMKT). The system further implements a Classification based on Gagne Learning Categorization Theory (CGLCT) to classify the different levels of complexity in learning.
Design of Intelligent Parking System Based on Internet of Things and Cloud Platform
Authors: Yang Jie , He Jinbao , Wang Xiongwei
Published: January 2023

The growing number of vehicles in a densely populated smart city results in a significant lack of parking space. During the implementation of systems for visibility of parking space vacancies for drivers, the bulk of the systems are focused on expensive dedicated sensor devices, requiring high installation costs. The emergence of a relatively inexpensive internet of things (IoT) system allows embedded cameras to track parking spaces' utilisation. However, parking space positions' manual specification before drivers can use such devices after implementation is important even for camera-captured images. Hence in this paper, IoT assisted intelligent parking system (IoT-AIPS) with cloud platform has been proposed to reduce vehicle parking waiting time and enhance accurate vehicle position prediction. The proposed method utilizes the machine learning method to classify topologies in the parking space based on stationary location.
Digital Gifts at the Workplace
Authors: Chang Chiachi , Fang Eddy , Suseno Yuliani , Hudik Marek
Published: January 2023

This study builds on the emergence of new gifting practices using e-hongbaos which are monetary gifts transferred between individuals made possible by digital communication platforms. This is an exploratory study on the impact of these innovations on intra-organizational relationships. Three types of intra-organizational relationships are considered: the employee's relationship with the organization, with the team, and with the manager. The findings of the study indicate positive impacts of e-hongbao at all organizational levels. The authors also identify the varying effects of e-hongbao on intra-organizational relationship outcomes depending on the occasion of gifting, as well as the mode, direction, and measure. Specifically, ‘group' e-hongbao, a gamified group-gift enabled by the digitalization of gifting, has the strongest influence on intra-organizational relationships. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for theory and practice in the workplace and also offer future research directions.
Indoor Air Quality's Tie to Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and Better Business Outcomes
Authors: Archer Kimberlee , Bohlmann John
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic put indoor air quality and ventilation in the spotlight. Health system leaders are often responsible for identifying and leading the implementation of building facility upgrades such as indoor air quality, HVAC, and ventilation improvements based on the current occupancy level for each zone to mitigate the spread of airborne infection including SARS-CoV2, particulate matter, smoke, allergens, and more inside their facilities. Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health highlights the critical role of healthy buildings. Simultaneously, the healthcare industry is facing a harsher and uncertain economic environment post COVID-19 with cost-cutting taking the top spot on the list business priorities. Managing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions is also a priority along with meeting environmental, social, governance (ESG) goals. Of the three types of emissions, Scope 2 emissions are the easiest to reduce and help organizations reduce their reliance on purchased utilities.
A simple and cost-effective diagnostic of Macrophomina phaseolina on watermelon by direct PCR
Authors: Silva Suzana Marjorie Freire e , Aquino Gilsivan Sales Medeiros de , Costa Talison Eugenio da , Brito Anna Luisa de Carvalho , Negreiros Andréia Mitsa Paiva , Sales Júnior Rui , Nagata Tatsuya , Holanda Ioná Araujo Santos
Published: January 2023

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid is the causal agent of charcoal rot and vine decline in cucurbits such as watermelon. Molecular methods have been used for rapid identification. However, a large number of steps used reduces its applicability. This study aimed to detect M. phaseolina in watermelon from producing areas in Northeastern Brazil by direct PCR. Plant tissue samples were collected from seven producing areas and the DNA was extracted using the CTAB method. Amplifications were performed by direct PCR using the MpKFI/MpKRI primers, then the PCR products were subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and sequenced. Amplicons of 350 bp were observed in stem tissue samples from three areas. The identity of the samples was confirmed by sequencing. This study represents the first molecular diagnosis of M. phaseolina associated with watermelon in Northeastern Brazil. The methodology presented here can be applied for a reliable and simple diagnosis of the pathogen in other crops.
Methods for estimation of genetic parameters in soybeans: an alternative to adjust residual variability
Authors: Carvalho Ivan Ricardo , Silva Jose Antônio Gonzalez da , Moura Natã Balssan , Ferreira Luiz Leonardo , Lautenchleger Francine , Souza Velci Queiróz de
Published: January 2023

Selection practices are maximized when plant breeders have the availability of consolidated parameters, which will guide direct and indirect selection methods. This study aimed to apply a biometric alternative to minimize residual variance and maximize selection parameters by parent-progeny regression, interim controls, and mixed linear models intrinsic to breeding. The obtained data were subjected to the assumptions of the statistical model, which identified the normality and homogeneity of the residual variances and model additivity. Subsequently, two analysis scenarios were created. The first preserved all information obtained in the experiment, both from segregating families and pure-line cultivars, and was called original scenario. The other scenario preserved progeny data, but the residual variability of controls was restricted using as criterion observations contained between the interval of the first sample standard deviation. Thereby, an acceptable residue limit could be obtained. Both scenarios were submitted to three consolidated frequentist methods (genitor-progeny regression; sum of squares of augmented block design with interim controls; and mixed linear models, wherein random genetic effects are taken as weighted genetic parameters by the genealogical matrix). Restricting residual variation in parents or controls can maximize genetic parameters and genetic gains in soybean breeding. Significant heritability estimate gains were obtained in the augmented blocks with interim control approach. Mixed linear models with random genetic effects can be considered a great tool to obtain genetic parameters in experiments with a high magnitude of common and regular treatments.
Seasonal variations in soil chemical and microbial indicators under conventional and organic vineyards
Authors: Amaral Higo Forlan , Schwan-Estrada Kátia Regina Freitas , Sena José Ozinaldo Alves de , Colozzi-Filho Arnaldo , Andrade Diva Souza
Published: January 2023

Studies regarding soil quality and health often need to be up-to-date, as they feed new models for quantifying agricultural impacts on the environment. This study was established to understand how types of vineyard cultivation (organic and conventional) affect soil chemical and microbial attribute dynamics throughout different seasons. Vineyard management had a strong effect on chemical soil attributes. Organic carbon and phosphorus were 2.8 and 2.0 times greater, respectively, in organic vineyards than in conventional vineyards. Metabolic quotient (qCO2) values were lowest in summer and autumn, with an average of 2.31-2.49 µg C-CO2 h-1 g-1 soil, under organic management, indicating greater microbial growing efficacy. Regardless of season and sampling position, organic soil had a higher C microbial biomass than conventional vineyards, with values ranging from 179.79 to 284.71 µg g-1 soil, which were similar to those of the adjacent forest soil. Overall, there were increases in both the microbial and the chemical attributes of soil under organic vineyards compared relative to conventional management, which might have been due to the continuous input of organic matter, crop rotation, and alternative plant protection and fertilizer compounds used in organic farming.
Phenotypic diversity of starch pasting properties in cassava for food industry
Authors: Santos Cristiano Silva , Sousa Massaine Bandeira e , Brito Ana Carla , Oliveira Luciana Alves de , Carvalho Carlos Wanderlei Piler , Oliveira Eder Jorge de
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenotypic variation and diversity of cassava for breeding purposes based on the pasting properties of starch, for food applications. The viscosities of the starches, extracted from 1031 accessions, were obtained using a Rapid Visco Analyzer. The best linear unbiased predictors were calculated for five critical points of the viscograms, which were then used to cluster the accessions based on the discriminant analysis of principal components. The wide phenotypic variation identified from the viscograms reveals the high potential for selection gains, especially for pasting temperature and setback. Certain strong correlations indicate that selection based on a specific viscogram trait can be used for indirect selection (e.g., the correlation between peak viscosity and breakdown [0.85]). The lowest Bayesian information criterion identified five different groups. Groups 3 and 4 exhibited high pasting temperatures, while Groups 3 and 5 exhibited low setbacks. Group 3 also exhibited low viscosity and breakdown. However, we focused on selecting cassava accessions with a high pasting temperature and low setback, as these are the most important traits for industrial applications. The predicted genetic gains from the selection of the top 15 cassava accessions for increasing pasting temperature and decreasing setback were 4.40% and 53.17%, respectively. The increased pasting temperature (~72.89°C) and high amplitude of setback (~600 cP) due to selection can guide the utilization of the cassava germplasm for breeding and provide a basis for further studies to develop varieties with added value, especially in the food industry.
Selection of biofortified mini lettuce progenies resistant to Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum
Authors: Jacinto Ana Carolina Pires , Castoldi Renata , Silva Isadora Gonçalves da , Mota Diesiele Caroline Silveira , Moreira Leticia Gonçalves , Tebaldi Nilvanira Donizete , Charlo Hamilton César de Oliveira , Maciel Gabriel Mascarenhas
Published: January 2023

Brazilian consumers are increasingly seeking unique vegetable products, such as mini lettuces. However, their production is hampered by a wide variety of pathogens, including Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, which causes soft rot in lettuce. In this study, we aimed to select biofortified mini lettuce genotypes with good agronomic traits and resistance to P. carotovorum. A randomized block design consisting of 12 treatments, conducted in a field and greenhouse (Federal University of Uberlândia [UFU]), was used to select biofortified mini lettuce with good agronomic traits: SPAD index, stem and plant diameter, stem length, plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight, and bolt resistance. A completely randomized design consisting of 13 treatments was used for resistance or susceptibility testing. The bacterial suspension was inoculated and the following were assessed: disease severity, 16 days after inoculation; area under the disease progress curve, calculated separately at 4, 8, 12, and 16 days after inoculation as well as the sum of data calculated on all the assessment days; and the disease resistance class. The genotypes UFU 215#1 and UFU 215#2 had significantly high carotenoid concentrations. The genotypes UFU 66#4, UFU 215#1, and UFU 215#7 showed high bolt resistance. All genotypes were classified as resistant or moderately resistant to the P. carotovorum isolate, UFU A7.
Graphite action on the longitudinal distribution of soybean seeds in mechanical and pneumatic feeders
Authors: Savi Daniel , Jasper Samir Paulo , Zimmermann Gabriel  Ganancini , Kmiecik Leonardo Leonidas , Strapasson Neto Lauro , Sobenko Luiz Ricardo , Ferraz Rafael da Silva , Campos Gabriele Santiago de
Published: January 2023

The use of powdered graphite as a solid lubricant to reduce friction among soybean seeds during mechanical sowing aims to facilitate the seed flow into the seed reservoir, while reducing mechanical damage to the seed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of graphite on the longitudinal deposition of soybean seeds using mechanical and pneumatic feeders at different distribution velocities. The experiment was performed on a static simulation-test bench, with a completely randomized design with two varying factors: graphite dose (0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 g kg-1 seed) and distribution velocity (5, 7, 9, and 11 km h-1 for the pneumatic feeder; and 3, 5, 7, and 9 km h-1 for the mechanical feeder). To assess the homogeneity of seed distribution, the frequency of parameters such as double, flawed, and acceptable spacings, coefficient of variation, and precision index were evaluated from five repetitions of 250 spacing each. For the pneumatic feeder, the optimal values to maximize precision of seed deposition were 4.6 g kg-1 and 6.7 km h-1 of graphite dose and distribution velocity, respectively. In turn, the optimal values to minimize undesirable spacing while maximizing accuracy with the mechanical feeder were 4.9±0.6 g kg-1 and 4.9±0.3 km h-1. Overall, regardless of feeding mechanism, the use of graphite promoted greater efficiency in the distribution of seeds owing to the higher level of fluidity inside the reservoir; however, high doses can cause the opposite effect. In addition, an excessive increase in speed influenced seed distribution negatively.
O trabalho do coordenador pedagógico do ensino fundamental I a partir da perspectiva crítica de educação
Authors: Fernandes Naiara de Souza , Faria Lenilda Rêgo Albuquerque de
Published: January 2023

Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar o trabalho do coordenador pedagógico a partir da perspectiva crítica de educação, identificando as possíveis contribuições para o desenvolvimento de práticas pedagógicas que tenham por base as finalidades educativas clássicas da escola. Trata-se, portanto, de uma pesquisa qualitativa, desenvolvida a partir da perspectiva do materialismo histórico-dialético. Os instrumentos utilizados para realização da coleta de dados são entrevistas e observação. Os sujeitos da pesquisa são seis coordenadores pedagógicos do Ensino Fundamental I da rede municipal de ensino de Cruzeiro do Sul – Acre. Desse modo, para compreender melhor a temática foi fundamental buscar embasamento teórico na literatura de: Libâneo, Oliveira e Toschi (2003); Marx (2004); e Saviani (2005), dentre outros autores, que contribuíram para o desenvolvimento desse diálogo. As análises realizadas indicaram que o trabalho do coordenador pedagógico tem como desafio principal orientar e direcionar o professor para o desempenho de práticas pedagógicas que tenham por base as finalidades educativas clássicas da escola, garantindo assim o desenvolvimento integral dos seus alunos, por meio do pensamento crítico e reflexivo, que lhes possibilite contribuir com a transformação de sua realidade e romper com a desigualdade social a qual muitos estão submetidos.
A constituição do ser professora: novos desafios diante de um cenário de pandemia
Authors: Souza Ana Paula Gestoso de , Reali Aline Maria de Medeiros Rodrigues
Published: January 2023

Analisa-se a constituição do ser professor no contexto de pandemia da Covid-19, buscando: i. caracterizar os elementos presentes no processo de ressignificação da identidade profissional docente no contexto de pandemia; ii. identificar os desafios vividos na atuação profissional como docente no ensino remoto. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo-analítico, de caráter exploratório, relacionado a uma pesquisa-intervenção mais ampla, que tem como marcador temporal o ano de 2020. Este artigo enfoca a vivência de oito professoras experientes no ensino remoto que atuavam como mentoras na referida pesquisa-intervenção. Analisaram-se narrativas escritas registradas em diário reflexivos, relatórios de atividades e comunicação pelo WhatsApp. Como fonte complementar, foram considerados depoimentos das professoras experientes registrados em reuniões síncronas online. A partir disso, foi possível identificar/compreender: i. tons de angústia e desamparo diante dos efeitos profissionais ocasionados pela pandemia, ii. sentido de esvaziamento da própria identidade profissional e iii. desafios na projeção da docência no ensino remoto. Observou-se que, diante do novo cenário ocasionado pela pandemia, as professoras/mentoras passaram por processos similares aos das iniciantes que acompanhavam na mentoria, vivenciando tensões como: receio e incertezas diante do futuro (incluindo o retorno das atividades escolares presenciais), ansiedade, angústia, sentimento de incapacidade, dúvidas na reorganização das atividades escolares (de forma remota), dificuldades no diálogo com os familiares, preocupação com as crianças e seus familiares, ausência de informações e diálogo nas escolas e redes de ensino, revolta diante das ações governamentais, entre outras. Contudo, também foi observado que novos significados foram atribuídos ao processo de se constituir um professor. Verificou-se o desequilíbrio da constituição da identidade profissional como um dos primeiros efeitos da pandemia. Entretanto, tal desequilíbrio deu lugar ao empoderamento da própria identidade docente, ocasionando também ampliação do repertório de conhecimentos profissionais.
Manifesto dos Pioneiros da Educação Nova (1932): consolidação de interesses
Authors: Gomes Marco Antônio de Oliveira , Rodrigues Adriana Aparecida , Pita Crislaine Aparecida
Published: January 2023

Em defesa de uma construção e organização educacional a nível nacional, com a ‘pauta’ escola pública, acessível e unitária, lançou-se em 1932 a apresentação do Manifesto dos Pioneiros da Educação Nova, que por sua vez, foi amplamente divulgado pela impressa brasileira no período. Esse documento se encontra marcado pelos acontecimentos em curso na sociedade, como a Revolução de 1930 e o ingresso do projeto industrial presente na Era Vargas, entre outros, tendo presente o viés civilizatório, político e econômico de manutenção do poder. Nesse cenário, o estudo tem como finalidade analisar as propostas dos renovadores presente no Manifesto. Para tanto, o mesmo se encontra subdividido em três momentos, a saber: primeiramente descreve o cenário histórico de produção e reprodução do analfabetismo na República Velha (1889-1930); em seguida, apresenta a centralidade atribuída à educação no processo de modernização da sociedade; e por último, identifica no Manifesto a ordem burguesa propagada no sistema educacional.
Presence of autoantibodies and epidemiological characteristics of systemic sclerosis patients in western Paraná
Authors: Balbinot Alana Rubia , Hoinatz Vanuza , Siqueira Leticia de Abreu Wiedmer de , Adame Ana Paula , Menolli Poliana Vieira da Silva , Menolli Rafael Andrade
Published: January 2023

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease of the connective tissue with unknown etiology, characterized by abnormal collagen deposition in the skin. The changes in patients result in the obliteration of microvessels and fibrosis, leading to damage to the skin, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, lungs, heart, and oral cavity. Brazil has insufficient data about the epidemiological and laboratory aspects of SSc. This study aimed to identify and characterize the patients in treatment for SSc in Cascavel/PR, a city in the south of Brazil. Data were collected from March 2019 to September 2020 from all health services of Cascavel that provide care in rheumatology: a university-affiliated hospital, two public outpatient clinics, and six private clinics. Data about age, sex, residence, time to diagnosis, the form of the disease, and the results of tests for antinuclear (ANA) and anti-extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) antibodies were obtained. The study identified 57 patients; 82.5% were female with a mean age of 50.4 years, and the predominant disease form was diffuse (52.6%). The ANA test was positive in 87.7% of the patients, of which 49.2% showed high titers and a predominance of the centromeric pattern. Anti-Scl-70, anti-centromere (ACA), and anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies were positive in 28.1%, 25%, and 5% of the patients. The characteristics of the patients diagnosed with SSc in Cascavel/PR are similar to those reported in the literature. This study contributed to the scarce Brazilian data about the disease.
Nomograms for maximum pressure angles in radial cams with follower eccentricity for cycloidal and harmonic motion curves
Authors: Avelar Artur Henrique de Freitas , Soares Luisa Fernandes
Published: January 2023

For an adequate design of radial cams with translating roller followers, it is necessary to maintain the constraint that maximum pressure angle cannot exceed the empirically accepted value of 30°. The direct calculation of this parameter is difficult and it is usually sought to reduce it by trial and error. Nomograms that exist so far only calculated this angle for cams with no eccentricity between follower and cam. This research presents two nomograms with this additional parameter, which allows for greater design freedom using all available variables. The charts are for cycloidal and harmonic motion curves, and can be used for their full and half curves. The study discusses the advantages of using nomograms and the methods to obtain low values of maximum pressure angle by satisfactorily combining available parameters. Although nomograms are no longer a widely used tool in the industry, they still have didactic functions in textbooks and could be useful for preliminary analysis in engineering projects.
Briquettes produced from the mixture of agro-industrial residues composed of eucalyptus sawdust with turnip or corn cob cake
Authors: Drago Amanda de Araújo , Oliveira Adriana Ferla de , Muniz Graciela Ines Bolzón , Teleken Joel Gustavo , Santos Alexandre Leseur dos , Madalena Lilian Cristina de Souza , Petricosck Silvia Maccari , Santos Aline Bavaresco dos
Published: January 2023

The generation of waste and/or by-products in the agro-industrial sector is inevitable and, depending on the situation, it can lead to inadequate disposal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical properties and the energetic viability of agro-industrial residues composed of the mixture of eucalyptus sawdust with turnip or corn cob cake. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design with eight treatments, resulting from the mixture of eucalyptus sawdust with turnip/corn cob cake. Pure residues were characterized by immediate analysis, calorific value and thermogravimetric analysis. For briquettes, immediate analysis; apparent and energetic density; diametrical compression resistance, HCV, LCV and thermogravimetric analysis were carried out. For statistical analyses, the Tukey's test was applied in qualitative analyses and regression was used in quantitative analyses with the Sisvar statistical software. The volatile material content decreases as forage turnip cake is added; the composition of 50% of forage turnip cake and 50% of eucalyptus (TN50) presented 76.38% of it, while composition containing 15% of cake, 79.87%. The ash content increased from 3.25% (TN15) to 6.27% (TN50). Both HCV and LCVdecreased with the addition of turnip cake from 17.73% (TN15) to 16.96% (TN50) for HCV and from 16.38% (TN15) to 15.64% (TN50) for LCV. In thermograms, the temperature at which peaks appear is similar among the different mixtures. In the resistance test, the addition of forage turnip cake significantly influenced the addition of residues, increasing from 0.76 MPa (TN15) to 1.52 MPa (TN50). Considering the analyses carried out, and comparing them with results in literature, it is possible to verify that both, briquettes produced from forage turnip cake and those made from corn cob, have energy potential.
Physical-chemical characteristics and modeling of the dehydration curve for Viola x wittrockiana mass loss
Authors: Fonseca Jessica Paula Aparecida Costa , Leitão Angelita Machado , Liska Gilberto Rodrigues , Bastos Lucas Santos
Published: January 2023

The edible flowers have in their constitution proteins, lipids, starch, vitamins, important minerals for a healthy diet, as well as bioactive compounds recognized for their potential effects on human health. Due to the high perishability of the flowers, their marketing represents a challenge, and drying is a method that contributes to the preservation of the product. Given the above, the present study aims verify which is the curve that best adjusts to the mass loss during the dehydration process through the proposition of Boltzmann nonlinear regression model in face of classical dehydration curve models, as well measure in frozen flowers centesimal composition of Viola × wittrockiana flowers. The flowers were dehydrated at 30°C in an air circulation oven up to constant weight. The centesimal composition of the dehydrated Viola × wittrockiana is 84.69% humidity, 8.76% carbohydrates, 2.51% proteins, 2.41% crude fiber, 1.23% ash, 0.40% lipids and 48.68 Kcal. With respect to phenolic compounds, the frozen and dehydrated flowers showed 423 and 301 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram and, about antioxidant activity, showed 90.67 to 94.93% inhibition of the DPPH radical (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and 44.00 and 49.00 mg of Trolox.100 g-1. The Boltzmann model showed best fit the mass loss of Viola × wittrockiana and through this model the maximum mass loss occurs with 0.16 g, the maximum rate of mass loss of Viola × wittrockiana occurs in 46.7 min, whose mass loss is 0.66 g. The dehydration proved to be an efficient method to preserve the flowers because the bioactive compounds did not present significant losses after the application of this process.
An MINLP model for the minimization of installation and operational costs in water distribution networks
Authors: Cassiolato Gustavo Henrique Batista , Carvalho Esdras Penêdo de , Ravagnani Mauro Antonio da Silva Sá
Published: January 2023

Water Distribution Networks (WDN) are important systems for industrial processes and urban centers. WDN can be formed by reservoirs, pipes, nodes, loops, and pumps and its complete design can be formulated as an optimization problem. The majority of published papers in the open literature use meta-heuristics for problem solution, as well as hydraulic simulators to calculate pressures and velocities. In the present study, a Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programming (MINLP) model was developed to the synthesis of WDN considering the minimization of the WDN total cost, given by the sum of installation and operational costs, which is the novelty in the paper. All the hydraulic calculations were included in the model (mass and energy balances and velocity and pressure upper and lower bounds), avoiding the use of additional software. Reformulation techniques are applied to the model considering the use of logarithms and disjunctive programming. Two case studies extracted from real WDN were used to test the model and global optimization techniques were employed to achieve the results. The results obtained show that the operational costs play an important role in the WDN system design.
The influence of urban and mineral expansion on surface temperature variation
Authors: Santos Arthur Pereira dos , Santil Fernando Luiz de Paula , Carbone Samara , Silva Claudionor Ribeiro da
Published: January 2023

This study addresses the variations in surface temperature - Land Surface Temperature (LST) - in the urban network of the municipality of Paracatu, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, which has humid tropical climate of savannah (type Aw), and in the open pit mining activity located near its urban perimeter, between the years 1990 and 2019. The area was chosen because the municipality is the most important of its microregion, being an attractive pole of work due to the presence of several companies, with emphasis on the mining company Kinross Gold Corporation, which is one of the largest open pit mines and gold producers in Brazil. Images of LANDSAT-5 and 8 satellites were used, which underwent a resampling and standardization of pixels to become the same size. The satellite choice and the period of analysis was based on the beginning of mining activity in the municipality, and a year that was able to represent its current state. Subsequently, the LST calculations made available by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) were applied. When comparing the results of both areas of the first and last year of the series, there was an increase in the variation of the mean, minimum and maximum LST, a fact that is related with the suppression of vegetation for the growth of both areas. Such suppression, together with anthropic occupation, is responsible for one of the neighborhoods (28) that present the highest average variation of LST over the years. On the other hand, the neighborhood that presented the smallest variation on this parameter (47) was recently incorporated as a neighborhood in the city’s Master Plan because it is currently being occupied by the construction of an allotment, evidencing that the temporal variability of LST in the municipality occurs in relation to anthropic presence and its magnitude.
Feasibility of the expectation-maximization algorithm for assessing individuals with different sensory perceptions in discrimination of specialty coffees
Authors: Oliveira Larissa Karolina de , Resende Mariana , Borém Flávio Meira , Cirillo Marcelo Angelo
Published: January 2023

The results of sensory evaluations of coffees are associated with latent factors, such as the particular subjectivity of each individual. Based on the foregoing, assessing the quality of a sensory panel for product discrimination basically depends on the statistical methodology to be used in data analysis. Following this argument, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the EM - Expectation Maximization algorithm in discriminating groups of individuals, characterized by the degree of experience and knowledge in sensory analysis of coffees of different varieties, produced in the Serra da Mantiqueira micro-region, with different processing and altitudes. The main advantage of this algorithm is the fast convergence, when the current solution approaches the optimal solution with high precision. The disadvantage is because it is a deterministic optimization technique, which can only achieve a local optimization depending on the initialization, i.e., initial values input in the iterative procedure.  It can be concluded that estimates of the correlation matrices obtained by the EM algorithm showed that the final grade has a greater influence of sweetness, in addition to discriminating groups of consumers with different sensory perceptions and in situations where the number of individuals in each group is unknown, the EM algorithm was accurate in estimating the proportion of individuals belonging to each group, assuming that the correlations of sensory responses follow a bivariate normal distribution.
Adsorption of food dye using activated carbon from brewers’ spent grains
Authors: Castro Luiz Eduardo Nochi , Mançano Rosana Rabelo , Battocchio Débora Alessandra Jones , Colpini Leda Maria Saragiotto
Published: January 2023

Brewers' spent grains are the main residue generated from the brewery industry; they are produced on a large scale and at a low cost. During the brewing process, approximately 85% of all barley used is transformed into solid residue, which is currently destined for animal feed or just discarded. A possibility to increase the value of this byproduct is the production of carbonaceous materials, such as activated carbon, for the treatment of tartrazine yellow dye solutions. The structures and morphologies of the samples were characterized. Furthermore, the adsorptive capacity and kinetic behavior were studied. Regarding the characterization of the material, the activated carbon presented a porous morphology and high surface area (768.4 m² g-1). Additionally, the kinetic study showed that the equilibrium time of the adsorption process from the tartrazine yellow dye discoloration was 60 min., and the data presented dispersion according to Elovich’s kinetics. It was possible, from the experimental design, to evaluate the adsorptive capacity of the material in which it performed best at pH < 5. Finally, in the equilibrium study carried out by the adsorption isotherms, it was found that the increase in temperature influenced the process, raising the maximum adsorptive capacity in which the data fit into the Langmuir isothermal model
Accelerated swelling of wood for rapid dimensional stability
Authors: Almeida Tiago Hendrigo , Icimoto Felipe Hideyoshi , Almeida Diego Henrique , Aquino Vinicius , Christoforo André Luis , Lahr Francisco Antonio Rocco
Published: January 2023

Dimensional stability of wood can be determined by measuring the total swelling percentage between 0% and FSP moisture content according to the ABNT NBR 7190 (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas [ABNT], 1997). Wood dimensional variation by the moisture content modifications must influence both structural elements and connections into timber structures. The wood swelling procedure according to the Brazilian code for saturation of wood samples can take more than a month, but the use of autoclave devices may accelerate this activity, making easier the dimensional stability determination. This paper aims to investigate the possibility of accelerating the wood swelling activity using an autoclave device, considering the Brazilian code for thirteen Brazilian commercial wood species.  Contrast test for comparison between accelerated process (Stage 4 – 225 min. at 0.49 MPa pressure) and the conventional procedure for wood swelling resulted in p-value equal to 0.0730 and the average difference between groups about 1.1307% (varying between -0.0541 and 2.3156 with 95% confidence level). According to results, 225 min. at 0.49 MPa pressure provides an equivalent wood swelling compared to the conventional procedure, which can make faster the wood dimensional stability evaluation according to the ABNT NBR 7190 (ABNT, 1997).
Phosphorus concentrations in sediments from the equatorial Amazon estuary, Furo of Muriá, Pará State, Brazil
Authors: Sousa Ana Carolina Santa Rosa de , Mendes Rosa Maria da Luz , Mourão Francianne Vieira , Robrini Maamar El , Pereira José Almir Rodrigues , Sousa Pedro Henrique Campos , Santos Maria Lourdes de Souza
Published: January 2023

We characterized the spatial and seasonal distributions of different phosphorus fractions in surface sediments from the Furo of Muriá estuary by chemical fractionation. Five phosphorus species were successfully separated: phosphorus bound to Fe/Al oxyhydroxides (non-apatite inorganic phosphorus (NAIP) ranging from 164.54 to 280.32 μg g-1), phosphorus bound to calcium (apatite phosphorus (AP) ranging from 63.02 to 102.80 μg g-1), inorganic phosphorus (IP, ranging from 227.21 to 378.61 μg g-1), organic phosphorus (OP, ranging from 30.33 to 135.88 μg g-1) and total phosphorus (TP, ranging from 257.54 to 507.73 μg g-1), in which 88% of TP is constituted by IP. Statistical results showed that seasonality was not a major factor influencing phosphorus concentrations. Considering the classification of estuarine sediment conditions, we can conclude that the TP concentrations found in Furo of Muriá do not yet indicate the risk of environmental deterioration.
Una prospettiva psicoanalitica relazionale sul trauma, sulla dissociazione, e sul loro rapporto con la psicopatologia e l’organizzazione borderline
Authors: Albasi Cesare , Boschiroli Alioscia , Paradiso Daniele
Published: January 2023

Il lavoro prende in considerazione due dei concetti più discussi all’interno della prospettiva relazionale in psicoanalisi: la dissociazione e il trauma. Posti all’interno della tradizione e della riflessione relazionale italiana da oltre 25 anni, gli autori propongono un modello di trauma, dissociazione e organizzazione borderline per evidenziare la loro prospettiva clinica su questi fenomeni e sulla funzione fondamentale della mente dissociante in una specifica prospettiva psicopatologica. A partire dall’osservazione clinica dei livelli descrittivi e fenomenologici e da un modello dei processi psichici coinvolti, questo contributo vuole riflettere sull’esperienza traumatica e su come la dissociazione articoli una possibilità di vita psichica e vitalità residua. Considerando il funzionamento dell’individuo e delle sue relazioni, il lavoro focalizzerà anche l’attenzione sull’esito che la dissociazione ha sugli aspetti esistenziali dell’esperienza soggettivamente e/o oggettivamente traumatica. L’idea è quella di fornire al clinico una prospettiva osservativa, concettuale e operativa che permetta di cogliere diagnosticamente i diversi livelli di funzionamento della mente del paziente. Il lavoro in particolare si concentra sul livello di organizzazione borderline e la specifica psicopatologia connessa. La riflessione sull’organizzazione borderline invita a connettere in modo sistemico mente, corpo, relazione e affetti, nella prospettiva dell’attaccamento e della molteplicità dell’esperienza soggettiva cercando di dare massimo risalto alla specificità della persona che si ha di fronte, alle sue risorse soggettive, ai suoi molteplici livelli di funzionamento.
Evaluation of the Negative Effects of Opium Tincture on Memory and Hippocampal Neurons in the Presence of Chicory Extract
Authors: Bakhshayesh Alireza , Eslami Farsani Roghayeh , Seyedebrahimi Reihaneh , Ababzadeh Shima , Heidari Fatemeh , Eslami Farsani Mohsen
Published: January 2023

Background:

Due to the high prevalence of addiction in society and the need to its attention, various methods are used for addiction withdrawal. The side effects of some methods restrict their use and increase the risk of recurrence. One of the Iranian useful methods is consumption of opium tincture (OT) that may cause brain structure and memory defects. Hence, this study aimed the effects of different doses of OT on memory and hippocampal neurons with the use of an antioxidant such as various concentrations chicory.

Materials and Methods:

In the present study, 70 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 10 groups and the effect of various doses of chicory extract and OT were assessed on memory by the passive avoidance test. The neurons and astrocyte cells numbers in dentate gyrus were investigated, using histological examination.

Results:

In passive avoidance test, the total time in dark compartment was significantly more in groups with 100 and 75 μl OT compared with control and normal saline groups (P < 0.001). Traffic number results showed that there was a significant difference between T100 and control groups (P > 0.05). Moreover, initial latency time was significantly shorter in groups with 75 and 100 μl of OT compared with control and normal saline groups (P < 0.05). However, the presence 250 mg/kg of chicory increases granular layer thickness of dentate gyrus and number of neurons.

Conclusion:

The use of 250 mg/kg of chicory extract may be promising strategy for inducing neurogenesis and this dose could prevent neural damage.