bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomonitoring of Deoxynivalenol and Deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside in Human Volunteers: Renal Excretion Profiles
Authors: Mengelers Marcel , Zeilmaker Marco , Vidal Arnau , De Boevre Marthe , De Saeger Sarah , Hoogenveen Rudolf
Published: August 2019

Biomarkers for the determination of the dietary exposure to deoxynivalenol (DON) have been proposed in the past but so far no quantification of their use in humans has been carried out. Following a human intervention study with two mycotoxins, namely DON and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (DON3G), the renal excretion of these compounds, including their phase II metabolites, was analysed. The purpose was to develop biokinetic models that can be used to determine: (1) the preferred (set of) urinary biomarker(s), (2) the preferred urinary collection period, and (3) a method to estimate the dietary exposure to these mycotoxins. Twenty adult volunteers were restricted in consuming cereals and cereal-based foods for 4 days. At day 3, a single dose of 1 µg/kg body weight of DON or DON3G was orally administered to 16 volunteers; 4 volunteers served as control. All individual urine discharges were collected during 24 h after administration. The metabolism and renal excretion could be described by a biokinetic model using three physiological compartments (gastrointestinal tract, liver, and kidneys). Kinetic analysis revealed a complete recovery of the renal excretion of total DON (mainly DON and its glucuronides) within 24 h after administration of DON or DON3G. The so-called ‘reverse dosimetry’ factor was used to determine the preferred (set of) biomarker(s) and to estimate the dietary intake of the parent compounds in the future. The fact that DON3G was absorbed and mainly excreted as DON and its glucuronides confirms that DON3G (as well as other modified forms) should be taken into account in the exposure and risk assessment of this group of mycotoxins.
Host Cellular Receptors for the Peste des Petits Ruminant Virus
Authors: Prajapati Meera , Alfred Niyokwishimira , Dou Yongxi , Yin Xiangping , Prajapati Raju , Li Yanmin , Zhang Zhidong
Published: August 2019

Peste des Petits Ruminant (PPR) is an important transboundary, OIE-listed contagious viral disease of primarily sheep and goats caused by the PPR virus (PPRV), which belongs to the genus Morbillivirus of the family Paramyxoviridae. The mortality rate is 90–100%, and the morbidity rate may reach up to 100%. PPR is considered economically important as it decreases the production and productivity of livestock. In many endemic poor countries, it has remained an obstacle to the development of sustainable agriculture. Hence, proper control measures have become a necessity to prevent its rapid spread across the world. For this, detailed information on the pathogenesis of the virus and the virus host interaction through cellular receptors needs to be understood clearly. Presently, two cellular receptors; signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) and Nectin-4 are known for PPRV. However, extensive information on virus interactions with these receptors and their impact on host immune response is still required. Hence, a thorough understanding of PPRV receptors and the mechanism involved in the induction of immunosuppression is crucial for controlling PPR. In this review, we discuss PPRV cellular receptors, viral host interaction with cellular receptors, and immunosuppression induced by the virus with reference to other Morbilliviruses.
Dynamics of Infiltration Rate and Field-Saturated Soil Hydraulic Conductivity in a Wastewater-Irrigated Cropland
Authors: Zhang Si-Yi , Hopkins Isaac , Guo Li , Lin Henry
Published: August 2019

The maintenance of a soil’s infiltration rate (IR) and field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) is crucial for the long-term sustainable functioning of wastewater-irrigated lands. However, an effective procedure for reliably measuring in situ soil Kfs remains elusive. To address this issue, this study investigated the dualhead infiltrometer (DHI), a novel instrument for automatically determining IR and Kfs, and compared it with a traditional double-ring infiltrometer (DRI) under various field conditions. In the initial phase, we optimized the procedure and settings for the DHIs in a cropland that was spray-irrigated with secondary-treated wastewater for decades in central Pennsylvania. Results showed that our optimized procedure, which used a single, long pressure cycle, yielded more robust measurements of IR than the originally recommended sequence of two short pressure cycles. The values of Kfs measured by the DHIs with optimized settings were similar to those measured by DRIs under many (but not all) field conditions, due to their differences in infiltration surface areas, operational procedures, length of infiltration time, and soil spatiotemporal variability. Viscosity-corrected Kfs on the irrigated cropland was 123.8 ± 94.0 mm∙h−1, higher than that on the adjacent non-irrigated cropland (103.2 ± 94.6 mm∙h−1), but the difference was not statistically significant, owing to the high degree of soil spatiotemporal variability and our limited number of measurements. Nevertheless, the higher Kfs values measured on irrigated cropland reflect observed changes in soil structure (e.g., soil pore characteristics) that resulted from decades of irrigation. Seasonal variations in Kfs values existed between winter and summer conditions, but IRs during all seasons remained much higher than the current spray-irrigation rate (4.25 mm∙h−1), suggesting that the soil is still capable of handling the routine irrigation, even during winter. However, the coefficients of variation exceeded 67.0% across the field sites investigated, and the time periods covered by our measurements were limited. As this specific site is permitted to discharge treated wastewater year-round, caution must still be exercised to ensure that soil Kfs remains high enough to prevent runoff generation, especially during winter frozen conditions.
Attitudes, Perceptions, and Geospatial Analysis of Water Quality and Individual Health Status in a High-Fracking Region
Authors: Stigler Granados Paula , Hildenbrand Zacariah L. , Mata Claudia , Habib Sabrina , Martin Misty , Carlton Doug , Santos Inês C. , Schug Kevin A. , Fulton Lawrence
Published: August 2019

The expansion of unconventional oil and gas development (UD) across the US continues to be at the center of debates regarding safety to health and the environment. This descriptive study evaluated the water quality of private water wells in the Eagle Ford Shale as well as community members’ perceptions of their water. Community members (n = 75) were surveyed about their health status and perceptions of drinking water quality. Water samples from respondent volunteers (n = 19) were collected from private wells and tested for a variety of water quality parameters. Of the private wells sampled, eight had exceedances of maximum contaminant limits (MCLs) for drinking water standards. Geospatial descriptive analysis illustrates the distributions of the well exceedance as well as the well owners’ overall health status. Point-biserial correlational analysis of the haversine distance between respondents and well exceedances revealed four statistically significant relationships {Well 11, Well 12, Well 13, Well 14} with correlations of {0.47, 53, 0.50, 0.48} and p-values of {0.04, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04}, respectively. These correlations suggest that as distance from these northwestern wells increase, there is a higher likelihood of exceedances. Those relying on municipal water or purchased water assessed that it was less safe to drink than those relying on private wells for drinking (p < 0.001, Odds Ratio, OR = 44.32, 95% CI = {5.8, 2003.5}) and cooking (p < 0.003, OR = 13.20, 95% CI = {1.8, 589.9}. Tests of proportional differences between self-reported conditions and provider-reported conditions revealed statistical significance in most cases, perhaps indicating that residents believed they have illnesses for which they are not yet diagnosed (including cancer). In many cases, there are statistically significant differences between self-reported, provider undiagnosed conditions and self-reported, provider diagnosed conditions.
Effects of Grass and Forests and the Infiltration Amount on Preferential Flow in Karst Regions of China
Authors: Kan Xiaoqing , Cheng Jinhua , Hu Xiaojing , Zhu Fangfang , Li Mu
Published: August 2019

Preferential flow is an important water infiltration phenomenon in karst regions. The response of preferential flow to vegetation restoration requires urgent investigation due to the special soil structure of karst regions. In order to study the effect of vegetation restoration on water movement in karst regions, four kinds of ponded water infiltration experiments were carried out in Pinus Yunnanensis plantation forestland, secondary forestland, and natural grassland. A brilliant blue dyeing experiment was conducted to visualize the distribution of water infiltration in soil (a total of 150 stained images from vertical soil slices). Results showed that the average depth of matrix flow in natural grassland was approximately six times those in plantation and secondary forestlands. An increase in matrix flow will have a negative effect on the development of preferential flow. Water transported in preferential flow paths affects the distribution of nutrients and organic matter in the soil. However, preferential flow in grassland can promote the accumulation of available nutrients, and preferential flow in plantations can inhibit the loss of organic matter. Preferential flow in grasslands and forest plantations is less than that in native forests soils. Preferential flow increases the percolation of water in soils. The effect is that preferential flow can obstructs water uptake by the roots under low rainfall conditions, and decreases surface runoff before soil saturation under high rainfall conditions. In the process of nutrient element migration, preferential flow has a good contribution, which is conducive to the migration and accumulation of elements required for surface vegetation growth. The contribution of preferential flow needs to be considered in studies on vegetation restoration planning and land degradation.
Simulating the Overtopping Failure of Homogeneous Embankment by a Double-Point Two-Phase MPM
Authors: Yang Yong-Sen , Yang Ting-Ting , Qiu Liu-Chao , Han Yu
Published: August 2019

Embankments are usually constructed along rivers as a defense structure against flooding. Overtopping failure can cause devastating and fatal consequences to life and property of surrounding areas. This motivates researchers to study the formation, propagation, and destructive consequences of such hazards in risk analysis of hydraulic engineering. This paper reports a numerical simulation of failure processes in homogeneous embankments due to flow overtopping. The employed numerical approach is based on a double-point two-phase material point method (MPM) considering water–soil interaction and seepage effects. The simulated results are compared to available laboratory experiments in the literature. It was shown that the proposed method can predict the overtopping failure process of embankments with good accuracy. Furthermore, the effects of the cohesion, internal fiction angle, initial porosity, and maximum porosity of soil on the embankment failure are investigated.
Effect of Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio on Water Quality and Community Structure Evolution in Suspended Growth Bioreactors through Biofloc Technology
Authors: Gou Jingwei , Hong Chol Ung , Deng Min , Chen Jieyu , Hou Jie , Li Dapeng , He Xugang
Published: August 2019

Application of biofloc technology could effectively treat wastewater. However, the effect of influent carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio) on water quality and microbial community structure evolution in suspended growth bioreactors (SGBRs) through biofloc technology is still unclear. Here, we show that the total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and nitrite nitrogen in the effluent of the C/N 10 treatment was significantly higher than that in the C/N 15, C/N 20 and C/N 25 treatments (p < 0.05). Higher TAN removal efficiency was obtained in treatments of C/N 15, C/N 20 and C/N 25, and there was no accumulation of nitrite nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen. Increasing the C/N ratio strengthened the elimination ability of total phosphorus and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The concentrations of TAN and COD first dropped to the lowest level and then increased slightly within one cycle in all treatments. The accumulation of biomass in the reactors increased with the increasing C/N ratio, indicating that a higher C/N ratio was conducive to microbial proliferation. The 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the microbial community diversity in SGBRs was significantly higher than that in the natural wastewater (P0). The predominant phylum were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia, but Saccharibacteria occupied a dominant position in the late period of the experiment. Pathogens, such as Aeromonas, Acidovorax, Flavobacterium, and Malikia were significantly decreased after high C/N ratio simulative wastewater treating natural wastewater in the reactors. In summary, the water quality and biomass concentrations in SGBRs can be improved under the conditions of influent C/N ratio, equal to or greater than 15.
Identifying Key Hydrological Processes in Highly Urbanized Watersheds for Flood Forecasting with a Distributed Hydrological Model
Authors: Wang Huanyu , Chen Yangbo
Published: August 2019

The world has experienced large-scale urbanization in the past century, and this trend is ongoing. Urbanization not only causes land use/cover (LUC) changes but also changes the flood responses of watersheds. Lumped conceptual hydrological models cannot be effectively used for flood forecasting in watersheds that lack long time series of hydrological data to calibrate model parameters. Thus, physically based distributed hydrological models are used instead in these areas, but considerable uncertainty is associated with model parameter derivation. To reduce model parameter uncertainty in physically based distributed hydrological models for flood forecasting in highly urbanized watersheds, a procedure is proposed to control parameter uncertainty. The core concept of this procedure is to identify the key hydrological and flood processes in the highly urbanized watersheds and the sensitive model parameters related to these processes. Then, the sensitive model parameters are adjusted based on local runoff coefficients to reduce the parameter uncertainty. This procedure includes these steps: collecting the latest LUC information or estimating this information using satellite remote sensing images, analyzing LUC spatial patterns and identifying dominant LUC types and their spatial structures, choosing and establishing a distributed hydrological model as the forecasting tool, and determining the initial model parameters and identifying the key hydrological processes and sensitive model parameters based on a parameter sensitivity analysis. A highly urbanized watershed called Shahe Creek in the Pearl River Delta area was selected as a case study. This study finds that the runoff production processes associated with both the ferric luvisol and acric ferralsol soil types and the runoff routing process on urban land are key hydrological processes. Additionally, the soil water content under saturated conditions, the soil water content under field conditions and the roughness of urban land are sensitive parameters.
ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI KINERJA ORGANISASI (Studi Pada Kantor Inspektorat Kabupaten Indragiri Hulu Provinsi Riau)
Authors: Fikri Khusnul
Published: August 2019

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahi dan menganalisis faktor-faktor apa saja yang mempengaruhi kinerja organisasi pada Kantor Inspektorat Kabupaten Indragiri Hulu Provinsi Riau. Populasi penelitian ini adalah pegawai menggunakan metode sensus sebanyak 32 responden. Teknik analisis data yang dipakai adalah analisis regresi linear berganda. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa: (1) Motivasi berpengaruh terhadap kinerja organisasi (2) Kepemimpinan berpengaruh terhadap kinerja organisasi. (3) Kedisiplinan berpengaruh terhadap kinerja organisasi. (4) Lingkungan kerja tidak berpengaruh terhadap kinerja organisasi. (5) Secara simultan variabel Motivasi, Kepemimpinan, Kedisiplinan, dan Lingkungan Kerja secara berpengaruh terhadap Kinerja Organisasi. (6) Diperoleh R2 (R Square) sebesar 0,919, selanjutnya nilai 0,919 dikali 100%, maka diperoleh kontribusi pengaruh Motivasi (X1), Kepemimpinan (X2), Kedisiplinan (X3), dan Lingkungan Kerja (X4) terhadap Kinerja Organisasi (Y) pada Kantor Inspektorat Kabupaten Indragiri Hulu sebesar 91,9% sedangkan sisanya 8,1% dipengaruhi oleh faktor lainnya yang tidak diteliti dalam penelitian ini.
KELUARGA KRISTIANI SEBAGAI GARAM DAN TERANG DUNIA: SEBUAH KAJIAN MORAL
Authors: Gaudiawan Antonius Virdei Eresto
Published: August 2019

Family is an ecclesia domestica. Every family have a duty to be the salt and the light of the world. This is the most suitable way for every christian more over christian family to receive the kingdom of God that has come to this world. This is a way of discipleship. In the global age, christian families confront many difficulties to be the salt and the light of the world such as the dy namics of success, ethic, hyperconnection, and economic. That's why every christian families should increase their consciousness about world and theirselves, be a struggler of christian values, using gadget as media to preach the go~pel, and living an intimate relation in their ownfamily.
Implementation of Back Propagation Neural Network with PCA for Face Recognition
Authors: Ahmed Md. Manik , Abadin A F M Zainul , Hossain Md. Anwar , Hossain Md. Imran
Published: August 2019

Face recognition is truly one of the demanding fields of biometric image processing system. Within this paper, we have implemented Back Propagation Neural Network for face recognition using MATLAB, where feature extraction and face identification system completely depend on Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Face images are multidimensional and variable data. Hence we cannot directly apply Back Propagation Neural Network to classify face without extracting the core area of face. So, the dimensionality of face image is reduced by the Principal Component Analysis algorithm then we have to explore unique feature for all stored database images called eigenfaces of eigenvectors. These unique features or eigenvectors are given as parallel input to the Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) for recognition of given test images. Here test image is taken from the integrated webcam which is applied to the BPNN trained network. The maximum output of the tested network gives the index of recognized face image. BPNN employing PCA is more robust and reliable than PCA based face recognition system.
SERUM LEVELS OF SOLUBLE RECEPTOR ACTIVATOR OF NUCLEAR FACTOR- KAPPA-B Ligand (S-RANKL) IN PATIENTS WITH DIFUSSE IDIOPATHIC SKELETAL HYPEROSTOSIS AND ANKILOSING SPONDILITIS
Authors: Geneva-Popova Mariela , Popova Stanislava
Published: August 2019

Background: S-RANKL (Receptor activator of nuclear factor Кappa-B ligand) is a member of the TNF/TNF receptor superfamily. RANKL has been identified to control bone regeneration and remodeling. S-RANKL is secreted by osteoblasts and binds to the RANK receptor on osteoclast precursor and mature osteoclast cells. Variation in concentration levels of S-RANKL throughout several organs reconfirms the importance of RANKL in bone growth. S-RANKL is ability to stimulate osteoclast formation and activity.Methods: S-RANKL is estimated on 55 patients with Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH), 25 patients with Ankylosing Spondilitis (AS), 50 patients with spondylosis and 15 particularly healthy people aged 55-65. All patients were treated and monitored in University Clinic of Rheumatology, UMHAT “Sveti Georgi”, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The measuring of the S-RANKL is done by ЕLISA-method with reader (Sitio-Microplate reader, Seac, Itаlу), ƛ 450 nm, with a kits of eBioscience, Austria. The statistic processing is done with SPSS 23 programme (p<0.01).Results:The average measurements of s-RANKL of patients with DISH were 197,00±35,90 pg/ml, in patients with AS 190,86±18,54 pg/ml. S-RANKL in patients with spondilosis were 20,60±66,16 pg/ml, and in old control group were 23,33±15,07 pg/ml. The average measurements of s-RANKL in patients with DISH and AS were significant higher in comparison with the results of patients with spondylosis and healthy people, regardless of their age (p<0.05).Conclusion: S-RANKL is significantly increased in patients with DISH and spondylosis in comparison with the results of patients with AS and healthy old people. Hypothetically, this might be a result as a sequence of events, based on stimulation of inflammatory proteins, on-going osteoporosis and compresion fractures in patients with DISH and spondylitis. The endurance of the vertebrae is decreased and the body increases the production of proteins from the osteoblasts to form compensatory more bone substance. The overproduction of S-RANKL is implicated in new bones formation in patients with DISH. Blocked up at S-RANK might have an important role in the suppression of pathological processes in this diseases. The results indicate a possible common pathogenic connection between inflammatory joint disease (AS) and degenerative joint disease(DISH).
MAGNESIUM AS NECESSARY MINERAL IN THE RIGHT DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN ORGANISM
Authors: Jovanovski Filip , Bezhovska Viktorija
Published: August 2019

Minerals are inorganic elements that are part of the tissue of the plants and animals themselves, they are found in the composition of food products and participate in the building of tissues and organs in the human organism. Mineral matters are basic building materials and they make up 4-5% of the the mass of the human body. Minerals can be found in almost every cell, tissue, and organs. They are important ingredients of essential molecules (thyroxine, hemoglobin, vitamin B12, etc.). Minerals are important cofactors in numerous enzymatic reactions that form the solid part of the bones. In addition, mineral substances maintain the pH, osmotic pressure, help in the transmission of nerve impulses, muscle contraction, processes of energy generation in the body and participate in almost all other metabolic processes. Magnesium is a very important mineral for the health of the whole body because it participates in more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. About 50% of the total magnesium level is found in bones, and the rest is in cells, tissues, and organs. Only 1% of magnesium is found in the blood.
DETERMINATION OF ARSENIC, CADMIUM, LEAD, COOPER AND ZINC IN DRINKING WATER FROM R. MACEDONIA
Authors: Lisichkov Kiril , Atkovska Katerina , Trajchevski Neven , Popovski Orce , Todorovska Nadica
Published: August 2019

The presence of some chemical compounds at higher levels than maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) in the drinking water, suggests of water resources pollution. In this paper the following elements were analyzed: total arsenic, cadmium, lead, cooper and zinc. Twelve samples of water from the water supply system from the city of Skopje were examined during one year from three different springs. Also, ten samples of bottled water from three producers from the Macedonian market were tested.The determined average mass concentrations of total As, Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) in the analyzed water samples from the water supply system are 1.35 μg/l, 0.06 μg/l, 0.6 μg/l, 0.9 μg/l and 1,12 μg/l, respectively, and for the tested bottled water, the mean values ranges from 0.56 - 0.83 μg total As / l, 0.053 - 0.056 μg Cd(II)/l, 0.51 - 0.54 μg Pb(II)/l , 0.6 - 0.87 μg Cu(II)/l and 0.68 - 0.8 μg Zn(II)/l water.The following instrumental analytical methods and techniques were used for the analysis of the tested samples of drinking water: flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), atomic absorption spectroscopy with hydride cеll, electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy.The obtained results are shown in tables and graphic form. According to the obtained results a comparative analysis was carried out indicate that it is a water of good quality that can be used in different branches of the process industry.The obtained results in this paper do not exceed the values of the MPC of the Republic of Macedonia prescribed by the legal regulations for the drinking water, which confirm the health safety of the drinking water from the water supply system in the city of Skopje and the packed waters from the Macedonian market in relation to the tested elements.
PREDICTION THE AVERAGE ANNUAL CONCENTRATION OF PHOSPHATE IN RIVERS USING ANN AND MLR MODELS
Authors: Stamenković Lidija
Published: August 2019

Clean and quality water is one of the main aims in achieving the seventeen adopted Sustainable Development Goals. That means taking legislative measures at national and international level for the preservation of water quality, prevention of pollution and continuous monitoring. According to global and regional cooperation which is stated by numerous legal regulations, all member countries have obligation to monitoring water quality and submit annual report. For that reason it is very important to obtain accurate and precise data of all monitored water pollutants. In developing countries, because of poor and underdeveloped environmental infrastructure, obtained data for pollutants could have a certain percentage of uncertainty. In order to avoid that problem it is very important the existence of a larger number of models to estimate concentration of water pollutants, including concentration of phosphate. Due to the increasing influence of anthropogenic sources on the content of phosphorus, first in the soil and then in water sources, and negative effects caused by the eutrophication process, it is crucial to monitor the state of water in terms of the presence of phosphate. In the present study, in order to obtain one optimal model to predict the average annual concentration of phosphate in rivers was used two different approaches. In the first approach, was used artificial neural network (ANN), two different ANN architecture: Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and Radial Basis Function (RBF). In the second approach were used two type of Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) technique, simultaneous and stepwise MLR. Available data used in this study were obtained from Eurostat-the statistical office of the European Union, for 19 European countries for the period from 2004 to 2012. For all created models was used the same dataset. As input variables were used sustainable development indicators, in total 10. All selected inputs were chosen on the basis of their influence on phosphate concentration in rivers and also reviewing of adequate literature. As model performance indicators in this study was used Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and coefficient of determination (R2). Results of all created models first at all showed that comparing two ANN models, better performances on training and test dataset shows MLP model. On test dataset, MLP model gives satisfactory prediction with value of coefficient of determination 0,657. On the other side, developed MLR models show significantly poorer results. Taking into account performances of created models, it is clearly that MLP model shows the best predictive results. On the basis of results of MLP model, could be recognized that it can be an alternative model for prediction annual concentration of phosphate in rivers, and significant tool in water pollutant monitoring.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL AS A BASIS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PLANT CORPS IN THE REGION OF VRANJE
Authors: Arsic Milica
Published: August 2019

In consideration of big importance of growing and producing plants for the region of Vranje, this work represents the fundamental parameters for raising plants process. The stress is placed on the soil pH, humus quantity and macroelements contents in the soil of 5 villages in Vranje’s surroundings. The soil was analysed three times in the period of every four years, in the Agricultural Advisory Expert Service Ltd in Vranje. We conclude, according to those analyses, that the soil of our region is very suitable for raising plants.
BACTERIA OF THE GENUS SALMONELLA SPP. IN THE MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS
Authors: Stojiljkovic Jasmina
Published: August 2019

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne disease worldwide. It also generates negative economic impacts due to surveillance investigation, and illness treatment and prevention. Transmission is by the fecal-oral route whereby the intestinal contents of an infected animal are ingested with food or water. Human carriers are generally less important than animals in transmission of Salmonella strains. A period of temperature abuse which allows the Salmonella spp. to grow in food and/or inadequate or absent final heat treatment are common factors contributing to outbreaks. Salmonella transmission to food processing plants and food production equipment is a serious public health issue. Meat, poultry, egg are primary transmission vehicles; they may be undercooked, allowing the Salmonella strains to survive, or they may cross-contaminate other foods consumed without further cooking. The aim of this paper is to point out the presence of bacteria of the genus Salmonella in chicken, pork and beef.
OBJECT DETECTION USING VIOLA-JONES ALGORITHM
Authors: Stevanović Dušan
Published: August 2019

In this paper it has been described and applied method for detecting face and face parts in images using the Viola-Jones algorithm. The work is based on Computer Vision Systems, artificial intelligence that deals with the recognition of two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects. When Cascade Object Detector script is trained, multimedia content is assigned for recognition. In this work the content will be in the form of an image, where the program will have the task of recognizing the objects in the images, separating the parts of the images in the head area, and on each discovered face, separately mark the area around the eyes, nose and mouth.Algorithm for detection and recognition is based on scanning and analyzing front part of human head. Common usage of face detection and recognition can be find in biometry, photography, on autofocus option which is implemented in professional photo cameras or on smiling detectors (Keller, 2007). Marketing is also popular field where face detection and recognition can be used. For example, web cameras that are implemented in TVs, can detect every face in near area. Calculating different type of algorithms and parameters, based on sex, age, ethnicity, system can play precisely segmented television commercials and campaigns. Example of that kind of systems is OptimEyes. (Strasburger, 2013)In other words, every algorithm that has as its main goal to detect and recognize face from image, should give as a feedback information, is there any face and if answer is positive, where is its location on image. In order to achieve acceptable performances, algorithm should minimize false recognitions. These are the cases when the algorithm ignores and does not recognize the real object from the image, and vice versa, when the wrong object is recognized as real. One of the algorithms that is frequently applied in this area of research is the Viola-Jones algorithm. This algorithm is functional in real time, meaning that besides detection, it is also possible to adjust the ability to monitor faces from video material.In this paper, the problem that will be analyzed is facial image detection. Man can do this task in a very simple way, but to do the same with a computer, it is necessary to have a range of precise and accurate information, formulas, methods and techniques. In order to maximize the precision of recognizing the face of the image using the Viola-Jones algorithm, it is desirable that the objects in the images are completely face-to-face with the image-taking device, which will be shown through experiments.
THE SV RATIO IN THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES
Authors: Krulj Ivana , Bogdanović Gordana
Published: August 2019

Thermodynamic processes take special place not just in the physical approach to understanding nature, but in almost every single natural science, and also humanistic ones. The speed of establishing balanced state in a certain thermodynamic system is proportional to ratio between area and volume of its interior bodies. Scaling laws play an important role in analyzing influence of the ratio between bodies' area and volume in thermodynamic systems. In general, scaling laws explore dependency of a certain physical quantity on dimensions' changes. In this work, Galileo's "Two new sciences" is mentioned, in which the geometrical and material enlargements of a body are compared. His mathematical cradle experiments-initiated formulation of scaling laws (so have Kepler's analysis of planets' kinematics and Newtown's description of gravitational interaction done). In the upcoming text, the simplest scaling law is explained-the law of dependency of S/V ratio on a change of body's dimensions. It also includes description of an influence the ratio has on the speed of establishing thermal equilibrium. Cooling and warming processes are described, as well as matching dependencies of their speed on body's area and volume. Considering that there are warm-blooded organisms in organic world, that is, organisms whose temperature does not depend on the temperature of their environment, the description of the model suitable for exploring that phenomenon is given. To be more precise, as energy is being generated on cell level, or, in every part of the organism, heating of the body via microwave and infrared emission is modelled. Comparisons of these two ways of heating are made, followed by dependency of establishing thermal equilibrium on body's dimensions. At the end, it is pointed out how important exploring of the scaling laws is, since they haven't been given a special place in natural science courses, and, generally speaking, belong to many sciences and science disciplines. It is being predicted that scaling laws are going to be explored more intensively, especially having the miniaturization of many devices and creating robots of sub-cell dimensions in mind.
CRYPTOGRAPHIC ALGORITHM FOR DEFENDING INFORMATICS TEST RESPONSES
Authors: Istikbal Ibryam Ilhan , Mustafa Mustafa Byulent , Rashtid Mustafa Atti
Published: August 2019

With the introduction of Information Technology in educational process we need more often to use electronic evaluation. The examples of test variants in the secondary school are often prepared with the help of word processing editors as WordPad that has good opportunities for elementary text formatting. Another part of the teachers often use Microsoft Word when preparing their tests. It is true that Microsoft Word has much more editing and formatting instruments than WordPad. For access to electronic educational resources suggested by the school teachers two or more computer networks are built (teachers' and learners'). Using these networks and their access rights, each user, learner or teacher, has the opportunity to add files and directories into the school database (DB). Learners can add files with the exercises they have done during their classes. Teachers suggest through the database the electronic lessons they have developed. At the end of each unit each teacher prepares an electronic test. In it there are described the evaluation criteria depending on the number of points the student has gathered through correct responses. In most cases we notice that in the teachers' network files with the responses of the tests are added later on. Not always the means for defence offered by the system administrators at the school can guarantee the safety of our files and more exactly the manipulation of the answers of the electronic forms of check up. Aiming at more effective defence of the text files, this article views an algorithm created by us for cryptographic defence of text files and it's application in secondary school. The effective use of cryptographic information defence minimises the opportunity to decipher the coded information aiming at its misuse by the learners. Providing safe defence against unsanctioned access in computer communication is a complex and extensive task which is solved by means of a set of measures of organisation and programme-technical character. The defence of the process of submitting data requires utmost attention because it concerns the most vulnerable and accessible for violation points in the communication systems.
THE APPLICATION OF BIOINFORMATICS IN THE MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF Bacillus licheniformis
Authors: Tasić Srdjan , Tasić Irena
Published: August 2019

Bioinformatics is the application of information technology in biology and includes the processes of gathering, processing and analysing experimental results. Bioinformatics now entails the creation and advancement of databases, algorithms, computational and statistical techniques, and theory to solve formal and practical problems arising from the management and analysis of biological data. Computers are necessary in microbiology because the manual comparison of multiple sequences has become unpractical. The research subject was the characterisation of the strain ST51 isolated from the thermal water well in Vranjska Banja, south eastern Serbia. Molecular characterisation of these three strains was performed by analysis of the tuf gene, which encodes the elongation factor Tu. The DNA sequences were compared to those deposited in GenBank. data bases using the BLAST program (https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi?PROGRAM=blastn). The biochemical characterisation was performed using the API 50 CHB system (bioMerieux) and APIWEB TM software Ver. 4.1. The molecular characterisation of the strain ST51 proved the highest level of similarity to the strain Bacillus licheniformis marked as ATCC 14580 (99% identical). The biochemical characterization confirmed that the strain ST51 belongs to the species Bacillus licheniformis.Given that all the conducted analyses yielded a substantial number of data, they were processed and compared using biostatistics methods and tools in order to achieve the highest probability of resulted taxonomic classification. Modern research contributes to the analysis of a significant number of variables which is why considerably more statistical analyses are involved in their interpretation and presentation. Our results indicate that different methods are needed for proper determination and characterisation of isolates/strains. Regarding taxonomy, molecular methods are the most precise, while for physiological specificity biochemical methods are more reliable.
IT IN STRATEGIC APPROACH TO TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Trajković Miodrag , Jasmina Jasmina
Published: August 2019

The basic direction of the development of society is the development of technology, information flow, organization way, and management. Therefore, the need to use the latest knowledge in defining, selecting and implementing strategies with adequate information technologies is now an unimaginably successful business. Strategic management is a set of management decisions and actions that determine long-term functioning and business policy. The process of strategic management involves establishing a company's relationship with the environment and positioning in it. The strategic goal has a directing role from the existing to the desired position (optimal). The implementation of the strategy in our companies is based on two groups of factors. The first group consists of the organizational structure and the management system of companies, and the second group consists of the human factor in the broadest sense. We also know that at the present moment the economy is almost impossible to survive if it is based on one particular technology. This means that today an increasing number of industries whose technological base is based on a growing number of interconnected different technologies. What technology has to be implemented in order to achieve competitiveness? A complete response includes identifying critical products, processes, applications, and system technology. The key technology provides a competitive advantage, the factor of today's success, they are in the application phase, competitors with them have not implemented enough yet, and offer a significant opportunity for building differentiating properties and for expanding the application. Leading in technology, provides the company support to the existing competitive position, in relation to supporting upcoming technologies which are important for creating a future competitive position. The aim of the paper is to provide the strategic manager of the company a conceptual framework for formulating and implementing strategic options for the application of information technologies in making key decisions in the approach to technology making
AN APPROACH FOR MAPPING THE SPATIAL IMBALANCES IN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY
Authors: Yanev Rosen , Bezinska Galina
Published: August 2019

This research is directed (main objective) towards differentiation, tracking and presentation of the functional sustainability trends of regional development in Bulgaria (NUTS BG3). The proposals are based on empirical and statistical information processed in the GIS environment for the period 2008-2016. The used research approaches are general geographic and cartographic: cybernetic approach; systematic and correlation analysis; choropleth mapping and proportional symbols. The subject of this analysis is Goal 1. of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, which states:“End poverty in all its forms everywhere“. The object of this research is Bulgaria (NUTS BG3). The obtained results was presented in three thematic maps, one table and one figure. Our main goals was: Presentation of the results from the considered aspect of the regional policy for sustainable development of the European Union in Bulgaria, based on the absolute values of the considered indicators (Thematic map 1 and 2); Determination of the trend of functional sustainability of regional development in Bulgaria as a means of mapping the impact of centrifugal and centripetal forces, creating and exacerbating the spatial imbalances - center / periphery in Bulgaria. (Thematic map 3) The obtained results show the decrease in the absolute values of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the increase of GDP per capita. The differentiated trend of functional sustainability of regional development in Bulgaria (Thematic Map 3) was transformed and supplemented on the basis of established subjectivity in the interpretation of the impact of the phenomena under consideration (the rate of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion and GDP per capita) . As a result, it was structured a method for mapping the impact of centrifugal and centripetal forces, generating and deepening the spatial imbalances - center / periphery in Bulgaria (in particular).
EXAMINATION OF THE EXISTING SITUATION AND PROPOSAL OF OPTIMAL TRAVEL SOLUTIONS WITH A SIGNALIZATION FOR THREE CIRCULAR CROSSROADS AND TWO "T" CROSSROADS IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY PEC
Authors: Destanović Emira
Published: August 2019

Daily problems affecting citizens, not only in Pec, but also in other cities in the Republic of Kosovo, are closely linked to urban mobility, which have played a very important role in recent years. The citizens are faced with various problems, a large number of vehicles, low road network communication capacity, lack of adequate signalization and many other problems. The long columns of vehicles they encounter daily, especially in peak hours on the road segments, consistently come to an unhappy one and lead to dissatisfaction of the car drivers. To address these problems, they must use a broad network traffic programming that is based on appropriate strategies, infrastructures and policy solutions to be considered as an effective tool for solving problems in urban traffic. Special attention should be paid to checking the intersection (with or without light signaling), because if these intersections are well designed, they can show improvement in traffic. In fact, crossroads of road networks are those in which there are conflicts between different traffic waves, leading to delays and accidents, reducing service levels and traffic safety in these areas. Traffic leaders and experts in Peja have been working on the development of road infrastructure in the municipality for years, but the number of inhabitants has risen and the number of vehicles that adversely affects the functionality of road communications has increased. Identification and description of the problem, the increase in the number of vehicles in the town of Peja affected the reduction of capacity and service levels, reduced vehicle speed, a large number of accidents and a decrease in the level of safety. After analyzing the current situation, the best solution for solving the problem of vehicle movement in the city of Pec will be proposed. In this regard, it is important to analyze the capacity and level of service on the roads to identify the key factors that affect it, and then intervene to improve them. The purpose of the research, the main purpose of the master's thesis is to study and compile the characteristics and level of service of the intersection at the level of illumination and the circular intersection. In this thesis will be treated: 1. Roofs in the level without a signal of illumination, 2. Levels of transitions with illuminated signaling and 3. Circular passages (circular crossroads).
CLASS SIZE AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE IN SECONDARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA
Authors: Tsafe A. K.
Published: August 2019

The paper focuses on the issue of class size as it relates to students’ academic performance in mathematics and science. Class size was viewed in the paper from various perspectives, ranging from student-teacher ratio, students' number per class and instructional materials available to cater to the needs of students in the class. The issue had, over the years been hotly debated and it was found that class size has an effect on the academic achievement of students. Theoretically, the paper argued that there are some difficulties encountered by learners in the process of learning that are environment-based while some are considered to be personal to the learner; each of which has bearing on how the classroom is structured to take care of such difficulties. The paper, in the end, recommended that the existing structures should be expanded so as to allow for decongesting the present ones and teachers should be recruited to complement the expansion.
FUNCTIONS OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS AT ADULT EDUCATION CENTRES IN NIGERIA
Authors: Sa'idu Gali
Published: August 2019

This paper examines the functions of guidance counsellors at adult education centres in Nigeria. Equally, the paper reviews the different definition of adult education, objectives of guidance and counselling units in adult education, the scope of guidance and counselling centre and problems affecting guidance and counselling centre which prompted for the specific functions of counsellors at the adult education centre. Some of the specific functions of counsellors identified are the provision of guidance on how to take decisions on important issues such as a class to enrol into, how to adjust to the class schedule, guide adult learners on how to search and manage jobs. In addition, the paper offers some recommendations among which include organizing orientation for new students, the establishment of functional and fully equipped counselling centres, organizing career day activities arrangement for referral of the clients ’ among others.