bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PENGARUH FAKTOR FUNDAMENTAL TERHADAP RETURN SAHAM
Authors: Pandaya Pandaya , Julianti Pujihastuti Dwi , Suprapta Imam
Published: November 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of fundamental factors as seen from the elements of EPS, PER, PBV, ROE, DER and DPR on Stock Return. The analytical method used is multiple linear regression analysis. This study uses 21 companies listed on the Stock Exchange Index (IDX) that are consistently included in the LQ45 index during the 2015 to 2019 period. The determination of the sample in this study uses a purposive sampling method. Based on the analysis of the research results, EPS has a significant negative effect on stock returns, PER and PBV have a significant positive effect on stock returns, ROE and DER do not have a significant effect on stock returns and DPR has a negative effect on stock returns. The coefficient of determination from the research results of the six variables on Stock Returns is 57.0424% while the remaining 42.9576% is influenced by other factors that are not included in the research model.
Pengaruh Kualifikasi Akademik dan Pengalaman Mengajar terhadap Profesionalisme Guru
Authors: Alamsyah Muhammad , Ahmad Syarwani , Harris Helmi
Published: November 2020

Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui dan mengkaji: 1) pengaruh kualifikasi akademik terhadap profesionalisme guru; 2) pengaruh pengalaman mengajar terhadap profesionalisme guru; dan 3) pengaruh kualifikasi akademik dan pengalaman mengajar terhadap profesionalisme guru. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif. Berdasarkan analisis data dan pengujian hipotesis dapat diambil kesimpulan: 1) kualifikasi akademik berpengaruh terhadap profesionalisme guru; 2) pengalaman mengajar berpengaruh signifikan terhadap profesionalisme guru; 3) kualifikasi akademik dan pengalaman mengajar bersama–sama berpengaruh signifikan terhadap profesionalisme guru.
Initial Coin Offering (ICO) as a Transformation of Financial Institution of Collective Investment
Authors: Babkin Aleksandr , Burkaltseva Diana , Tyulin Andrej , Azimov Pulod , Blazhevich Oleg
Published: November 2020

In conditions of financial institutions' development it is crucial to examine the transformation in the form of a collective investment institution under the influence of digitalization and, in particular, the emergence of cryptocurrencies. The subject of the research refers to the features of ICO functioning as a transformation of a financial institution for collective investment. The goal is to explore the ICO as a new form of collective investment. The results of the research are achieved through a comprehensive comparative analysis of ICO and IPO as a basic tool of financial institutions. The paper highlights the advantages and disadvantages, identifies the factors, analyzes the institutional regulation of ICO and proposes development vectors from three angles: for project creators, investors, regulators. The results can be used in policymaking, the functioning of joint investment platforms, in training specialists in the field of digital economy and financial markets.
Multidimensional Assessment of Economies by the Level of Sovereign Risk Premium
Authors: Drobyshevsky Sergey , Trunin Pavel , Gadiy Lyudmila , Chembulatova Mariya
Published: November 2020

The analysis of the international market for credit default swaps (CDS) shows that the interdependence of sovereign CDS spreads is increasing and the market remains segmented. However, the reduction in the variation of sovereign CDS spreads means increased competition for capital and should be taken into account by monetary authorities of developed countries when they tighten monetary policy. The article shows a significant role of political risks in determining the level of sovereign risk.
The System of Factors Affecting the Capitalization of Public Oil Companies in the Upstream Sector
Authors: Nureev Rustem , Busygin Evgeny
Published: November 2020

The topic of assessing and searching for factors affecting the capitalization of public oil companies is of great interest to researchers. As part of the existing work in this area, the paper considers .the impact of various external and internal factors on the value of oil companies’ stocks, including the impact of changes in oil prices, stock index movements, inflation fluctuations, financial and production indicators. The study includes the construction of models with the calculation of standard errors by the PCSE method based on quarterly data of 11 major public oil companies operating in production segment for the period from Q1 2006 to Q3 2018. For the first time, while constructing a model to identify the factors that affect market capitalization of oil companies, the authors draw on the total oil production by OPEC countries, the total share of capital owned by the largest institutional investors, the indices of geopolitical instability and global uncertainty Among the key findings - quarterly production, rather than the cost of oil, is the most significant factor positively affecting the market capitalization of oil firms.
Tribunales Especiales o Híbridos y Mecanismos Residuales en el Sistema de Justicia Penal Internacional
Authors: Loayza Tamayo Carolina
Published: November 2020

La lucha contra la impunidad de las graves violaciones a los derechos humanos y el establecimiento de un tribunal penal internacional permanente han sido una constante a partir de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. A fines del siglo XX e inicios del Siglo XXI, nuevas jurisdicciones penales internacionales fueron establecidas además de una corte penal internacional permanente: los tribunales Especiales para no dejar impunes graves violaciones a los derechos humanos ocurridas durante la guerra fría y los Mecanismos Residuales, como parte de una estrategia para finalizar toda actividad jurisdiccional penal internacional temporal establecida post Guerra Fría. Ambas jurisdicciones, si bien temporales, reconocen la importancia de la justicia nacional y se dirigen a fortalecer el sistema de justicia penal internacional permanente.
Further Results on a Function Relevant for Conformal Blocks
Authors:   McGill University, Canada, Comeau Vincent , Fortin Jean-François ,   Université Laval, Canada, Skiba Witold ,   Yale University, USA
Published: November 2020

We present further mathematical results on a function appearing in the conformal blocks of four-point correlation functions with arbitrary primary operators. The H-function was introduced in a previous article and it has several interesting properties. We prove explicitly the recurrence relation as well as the D6-invariance presented previously. We also demonstrate the proper action of the differential operator used to construct the H-function.
A College of Nursing's Upward Spiral During a Global Pandemic
Authors: Mariani Bette , Havens Donna S. , Metz Sarah
Published: November 2020

Background:

In March 2020, COVID-19 forced institutions of higher education, faculty, staff, and students to transition to emergency remote learning. This unprecedented time provided the opportunity to reenvision the delivery of nursing education and operation of the college of nursing, using the principles of the four Cs of interorganizational partnering as a guide supported by positive organizational scholarship.

Method:

The Villanova University Fitzpatrick College of Nursing designed and implemented strategies to provide seamless learning opportunities for students in undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, while providing necessary support and future planning for the upcoming academic year.

Results:

Online and virtual learning platforms integrated into curricula assisted students to meet course objectives and program outcomes. Strategies for effective communication, collegiality, and collaboration within and among the college, university, and nursing community served as mechanism for innovation.

Conclusion:

Communication, cooperation, coordination, and collaboration, along with positive organizational strategizing and support contributed to a successful transition during the COVID-19 pandemic; many of the approaches implemented during the emergency transition will continue into the future.

[
J Nurs Educ.
2020;59(12):675–682.]
An Innovative Virtual Poster Session for Doctor of Nursing Practice Student Project Presentations
Authors: Diegel-Vacek Lauren , Carlucci Melisa
Published: November 2020

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic closed university campuses across the country. Nurse educators were challenged to develop innovative solutions for students to complete course requirements. The on-campus poster session used by a college of nursing as a scholarly forum for dissemination of all Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student final projects was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Method:

Nurse educators developed and implemented an interactive, synchronous virtual session using the Zoom Video Communications platform.

Results:

Twelve virtual sessions were held, and 73 students presented DNP project posters. More than 150 students and faculty attended the virtual poster sessions. Students and faculty had positive feedback regarding the virtual format. Student presentations were academically rigorous, and audiences engaged in robust discussion with DNP students.

Conclusion:

The virtual platform was successfully used for an interactive presentation by DNP student and nursing faculty participants. This format may be especially valuable for use of scholarship dissemination by distance learning programs.

[
J Nurs Educ
. 2020;59(12):697–700.]
Virtual World as a Complement to Hybrid and Mobile Learning
Authors: Díaz Jairo Eduardo Márquez
Published: November 2020

Virtual worlds in higher education have opened new possibilities for innovation in the teaching-learning process. In this sense, the description of the integration of this emerging technology with hybrid and mobile learning models is presented, which seeks to streamline and make flexible the access to information to the student and teacher inside and outside the classroom, intending that pedagogical didactics were more inclusive and participatory. With this in mind, a virtual world was developed as a digital tool for teaching support to students and teachers of the Faculty of Systems Engineering of the University of Cundinamarca, with a view to establishing its viability to be implemented and to demonstrate its potential as an academic resource that motivates students in their training and the teacher to develop new digital skills and competences.
Teacher Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Using Handheld Devices in Saudi EFL Classroom Practices
Authors: Al-Mubireek Sami
Published: November 2020

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of using handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets for language teaching purposes (Mobile-Assisted Language Learning, or MALL). A questionnaire with a comment section was distributed in order to investigate EFL teachers’ perceptions on including or excluding smartphones and tablets in the EFL learning process. Data were collected through a 5-Likert scale questionnaire in a leading Saudi university. The findings revealed that the majority of teachers claimed to hardly ever use Android System Phones or iPhones (iOS System), Android tablets or iPads (iOS System) in classroom teaching. Importantly, the study found out that there is a statistically significant difference between male and female teachers in terms of which smart device operating system was reported being used. Within the few participants who employed technology, it was found that teachers with less teaching experience were more open to using technological devices in classroom. In addition, the findings showed that a significant number of teachers admitted to rarely using handheld devices in teaching reading, writing, listening, grammar or playing language-learning games. However, the majority of teachers said they sometimes used applications to assign online exercises, share information about the course, provide visual aids, develop the learners’ speaking skills or as a translation tool. Moreover, teachers claimed to employ these devices frequently to teach vocabulary through visual aids when teaching. Teachers also rely heavily on these devices to communicate with students via social networks, and to access textbooks. Overall, teachers did not effectively integrate MALL into completing classroom language-learning activities or practicing language functions or skills.
Adoption of MOOCs by Emerging Countries Seeking Solutions to University Overcrowding: Literature Review and Feedback from the First Scientific MOOC Held by Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdullah University – Fez, Morocco
Authors: Naji Khadija , Ibriz Abdelali , Mourdi Youssef
Published: November 2020

The adoption of various forms of distance education, particularly MOOCs (an acronym for Massive Open Online Courses), by universities worldwide has continuously gained momentum over the past decade. This is due not only to the importance of maintaining a parallel educational model alongside face-to-face courses in order to complete students’ training, but also in response to the limits of academic infrastructure faced with an increasingly large mass of learners, typically in emerging countries. Universities view MOOCs as a remedy to this dilemma—one which promises reasonable development costs—especially taking into account the ubiquity of the internet and digital communication tools. In a country such as Morocco, whose university capacity has been stretched to 186%, the quest to dematerialize lectures can support universities in producing well-rounded professional profiles as well as improving institutional and academic services overall. In this paper, we present the feedback from Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University concerning its first scientific MOOC, launched within the framework of the MarocUniversitéNumérique (Morocco Digital University) or MUN project in collaboration with the France UniversitéNumérique (France Digital University) or FUN platform. The objectives of this paper are threefold: to assess the possibility of adopting further MOOCs in a Moroccan setting, to seek insight on the profiles of learners who have completed MOOCs and to draw lessons in order to improve future experiences.
Reconfigurable Web-Interface Remote Lab for Instrumentation and Electronic Learning
Authors: Sierra-Fernandez Jose María , Florencias-Oliveros Olivia , Espinosa-Gavira Manuel Jesús , Palomares-Salas José Carlos , Agüera-Pérez Agustín , González-de-la-Rosa Juan José
Published: November 2020

Lab sessions in engineering education are designed to reinforce theoretical concepts. However, usually there are not enough time to reinforce all of them. Remote and virtual lab give students more time for reinforce those concepts. In particular, with remote labs, this can be done interacting with real lab equipment and specific configurations. This work proposes a flexible configuration for Remote Lab Sessions, based on some of 2019 most popular programming languages (Python and JavaScript). This configuration needed minimal network privileges, it is easily to scale and reconfigure. Its structure is based on a unique Reception-Server (which hosts User database, and Time Shift Manager, it is accessible from The Internet, and connect Users with Instruments-Servers) and some Instrument-Servers (which manage hardware connection and host experiences). Users always connect to Reception-Server, and book a shift for an experience. During the time range associate to that shift, User is internally forwarded to Instrument-Server associated with selected experience, so User is still connected to Reception-Serer. In this way, Reception-Server acts as a firewall, protecting Instrument-Servers, which never are open to The Internet. A triple evaluation system is implemented, User session logging and auto-evaluation (objectives accomplished) a knowledge test and an interaction survey. An experience is implemented, controlling a DC source using Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments.
Video Conferencing Solution for Synchronous Follow-Up of Cloud-Based IT Practical Work
Authors: Yade Lamine , Gueye Amadou Dahirou , Gueye Bounama , Lishou Claude
Published: November 2020

In a difficult economic context in the world in general and in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa in particular where we seek to make maximum return on investments; this paper draws on part of cloud computing technologies to offer traditional universities the possibility of carrying out practical work via the cloud without using either physical IT equipment or physical practical rooms; and on the other hand, on videoconferencing technologies to ensure synchronous monitoring of this practical work. Thus, a cloud-based laboratory model for STEM disciplines is proposed in [1]. In the implementation of the model, we proposed the solution based on practical work in the field of IT. This paper document is an extension of [1] and offers a videoconferencing solution for monitoring practical work applied on the cloud for collaborative work between the teacher and the learners. In this new model, practical work is done using virtual machines from the cloud, but real-time monitoring is provided by a videoconferencing system, the following functionalities of which have been added: screen sharing, file sharing and virtual classroom recording.
Oral Malignancy Detection Using Color Features from Digital True Color Images
Authors: B R Nanditha , A Geetha Kiran , H S Chandrashekar , M.S Dinesh , S Murali
Published: November 2020

One of the most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide is oral cancer which has a high rate of mortality. Diagnosis and treatment of oral premalignant lesions at an early stage reduces the death rate. The objective of this work is to detect malignancies by analyzing color features of digital true color oral images. A dataset of around 433 oral lesion images has been created that includes benign, premalignant and malignant lesions. The proposed method was experimented on this dataset. Different classifiers have been trained using various color features. The neural network classifier detects abnormalities with an accuracy of 94.82%. Results indicate that the color features have better potential in identifying benign and malignant oral lesions.
Formação de professores de línguas adicionais e letramento em avaliação: breve panorama e desafios para os cursos de licenciatura em LEM no Brasil
Authors: Quevedo-Camargo Gladys
Published: November 2020

O Letramento em Avaliação (Stiggins, 1991; Inbar-Lourie, 2008; Fulcher, 2012; Coombe, 2018) dos professores de línguas adicionais em formação inicial e continuada é complexo e possui necessidades únicas (Levi e Inbar-Lourie, 2019). Em 2017, realizei um levantamento eletrônico para verificar a presença do tema Avaliação em Línguas Estrangeiras Modernas nos títulos das disciplinas, nos projetos pedagógicos, nos currículos e nas ementas dos cursos de Letras-Licenciaturas em LEM e dos programas de pós-graduação afins de 50 universidades federais brasileiras. Identifiquei 141 cursos (100%), 17 (12,0%) ofertando disciplinas de Avaliação em LEM e 33 (23,4%) apresentando o tema Avaliação nas ementas de outras disciplinas, com casos em que havia as duas possibilidades. Desses 141 cursos, 4 (2,8%) não disponibilizavam informações online e 39 (27,6%) não disponibilizavam suas ementas. Nos programas de pós-graduação, identificamos 32 (100%) relacionados a LEM, com 4 (12,5%) ofertando disciplinas sobre Avaliação em LEM e 5 (15,6%) mencionando Avaliação em outras ementas. Nenhum caso apresentou as duas possibilidades concomitantemente; 11 (34,3%) não disponibilizaram suas ementas e 2 (6,2%) não disponibilizaram nenhuma informação em seus sítios eletrônicos. Embora esses dados representem parcialmente a realidade brasileira, eles indicam que os cursos de graduação em Letras-Licenciaturas em LEM e os de pós-graduação afins não têm dedicado muito espaço para o Letramento em Avaliação específico que atenda às necessidades da área de línguas.Palavras-chave: Letramento em avaliação de línguas adicionais; Formação de professores de línguas adicionais; Licenciatura em ensino de línguas adicionais.
O ensino de ciências e matemática no Ensino Fundamental a partir de uma Sequência Didática Interdisciplinar
Authors: Santos Carla Madalena , Colombo Junior Pedro Donizete
Published: November 2020

Este artigo apresenta resultados de uma investigação sobre interdisciplinaridade em sala de aula do Ensino Fundamental II, sob o viés da percepção dos professores participantes. Participaram da pesquisa, uma professora de Ciências e um professor de Matemática do 9° ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola pública de Araxá, Minas Gerais. Em conjunto com os professores, foi realizada a construção e a aplicação de uma Sequência Didática Interdisciplinar (SDI), além de duas entrevistas semiestruturadas com os mesmos, antes e após a aplicação da SDI. Acrescenta-se aos aspectos metodológicos, a análise do Projeto Político-Pedagógico da escola e dos planejamentos anuais dos professores. Para a análise do material empírico construído na pesquisa, adotamos os constructos teóricos da Análise de Conteúdo, segundo Laurence Bardin. Os resultados apontam que a abordagem interdisciplinar de conteúdos de Ciências e de Matemática permitiu uma inovação emancipatória na prática docente, sendo que o trabalho com a SDI propiciou aos professores reflexões sobre suas práxis.
Designing Resilient Creative Communities Through Biomimetic Service Design
Authors: Bofylatos Spyros
Published: November 2020

Creative communities are grassroots, bottom-up initiatives of people who through their diffuse design capacity propose new, desirable service futures that address the problems of everyday life. These creative communities exist within a transition from modernity towards sustainment, their adversarial character embodies alternative values such as conviviality, solidarity, openness and shift the focus from growth to flourishing. The sociotechnical system that is a creative community creating social innovation faces constant threats due to the collapse of traditional support structures and their disruptive, adversarial character and so, identifying strategies to increase its resilience is necessary. We turn to nature for inspiration and mentoring. Biomimisis is a framework that designs solutions inspired by biological systems. We argue that permaculture, provides an interesting direction for the development and research in the context of social innovation.
Artificial Intelligence and Its Applications in Agriculture With the Future of Smart Agriculture Techniques
Authors: Bhardwaj Harshit , Tomar Pradeep , Sakalle Aditi , Sharma Uttam
Published: November 2020

Agriculture is the oldest and most dynamic occupation throughout the world. Since the population of world is always increasing and land is becoming rare, there evolves an urgent need for the entire society to think inventive and to find new affective solutions to farm, using less land to produce extra crops and growing the productivity and yield of those farmed acres. Agriculture is now turning to artificial intelligence (AI) technology worldwide to help yield healthier crops, track soil, manage pests, growing conditions, coordinate farmers' data, help with the workload, and advance a wide range of agricultural tasks across the entire food supply chain.
Smart Agriculture With Autonomous Unmanned Ground and Air Vehicles
Authors: Guzey Alparslan , Akinci Mehmet Mutlu , Guzey Haci Mehmet
Published: November 2020

This study researches smart agriculture and its components, robotic systems and machine learning algorithms, development of agricultural robots, and their effects on the industry. In application, it is aimed to collect the harvest of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles and UGVs in communication with each other by means of time minimization of the target. It wanted to be tested with different approaches for an optimal number of stops by using particle swarm optimization. Deterministic, binary mixed (0-1) integer modeling was used to determine the optimal picking time of the apples allocated to the stalls with the k-means method. With this modeling, it has been determined which unmanned aerial vehicle will be collected and how it is calculated whether the air vehicle has collected the apple or not using 0-1 binary modeling. The route of the unmanned UGV was made by using the nearest neighbor, nearest insertion, and 2-opt methods. This study has been extended and reviewed by the summary paper at International OECD Studies Conference March 2020, Ankara, Turkey.
Closed Refrigerated Display Cabinets
Authors: Laguerre Onrawee , Chaomuang Nattawut
Published: November 2020

The use of closed refrigerated display cabinets in supermarkets is in progression because of the potential energy saving compared to the open ones with an air infiltration at the front. However, the influence of the presence of doors on product temperatures (determining factor of product quality) is much less studied. For better understanding the interest of the use of closed display cabinets, this chapter presents the state of the art of field studies, the airflow and temperature profile in the closed display cabinet, the influence of the presence of doors/the frequency of door openings and the room temperature. Finally, a literature review of studies on food quality in the closed display cabinet is presented.
A Circular Economy Perspective for Dairy Supply Chains
Authors: Paraskevopoulou Christina , Vlachos Dimitrios
Published: November 2020

The environmental issues and the projected world population increase have brought into light many different terms and concepts. For over 20 years, sustainability attracts the main focus of most researchers; however, recently the concept of circular economy (CE) is considered to be its successor. CE is based on a closed loop supply chain, where waste is minimized and reintroduced into the supply chain, thus requiring a systemic change. In the agri-food sector, the CE principles have many possible applications. This chapter provides a CE perspective for the dairy supply chain by identifying and analyzing the associated technologies and strategies through a literature review taxonomy based on the related stage of the supply chain.
Utilization and Management of Food Waste
Authors: Naikare Shriram M.
Published: November 2020

The food industry generates a huge amount of waste annually around the globe from a variety of sources. Approximately one third of all food produced today goes to landfill as waste. The food waste is not only a humanitarian problem, but also a serious economic and environmental pollution problem. The global volume of food wastage has been reported to around 1.3bn tones worth to about $165 bn. In India, about 40% of the food produced is wasted, which is estimated to about Rs. 50,000 crores worth every year. The important types of food wastes generated are agricultural residue, processed food, fruit and vegetable processing, marine food, dairy processing, meat and poultry, hotel and restaurant, etc. The food industrial waste can be converted into byproducts mainly based on the processing of fruits and vegetables and allied food manufacturing, supply and distribution, livestock feed, using it as source of bioactive compounds, useful bioenergy production, artificial fertilizer and decomposed manure, a variety of chemicals, antioxidant, nutraceuticals, etc.
Recent Advances in Waste Cooking Oil Management and Applications for Sustainable Environment
Authors: Tye Ching Thian
Published: November 2020

This chapter discusses the management of waste cooking oil (WCO) in a sustainable manner in order to protect the environmental pollution. Increasing consumption of edible oils worldwide leads to generation of substantial amount of waste cooking oil (WCO). While WCO is not considered toxic, large amount of WCO can contribute to environment pollution if not being handled properly. The huge generation of WCO in the world creates problem of collection, treatment and disposal. Due to its chemical features, the recycling of WCO not only provides a renewable feedstock for producing biofuels and bio-based products, but also alleviates environmental pollution arising from its improper handling. This chapter also provides an overview of some recent approaches in WCO recycling and applications.
Local Production-Based Dietary Supplement Distribution in Emerging Countries
Authors: Gonzalez-Feliu Jesus , Osorio-Ramírez Carlos , Palacios-Arguello Laura , Talamantes Carlos Alberto
Published: November 2020

The production and distribution of Bienestarina to the vulnerable population of Colombia is one of the strategies of the Colombian Institute of Familiar Wellness (ICBF) to fight malnutrition, especially among children. This case is a good example of establishing food security and social improvement logistics that merits particular attention. The chapter presents an analysis of the Bienestarina supply chain based on the four elements: steering, organization, development, and financial issues. First, an overview of social improvement logistics and the Bienestarina context is provided. Second, theoretical frameworks related to the case are presented. Third, the case is described on the basis of the proposed analysis framework. Finally, generalization issues and conclusions allow the authors proposing the first characterization of social improvement logistics.
Lifelong Consumption of Plant-Based GM Foods
Authors: Ogwu Matthew Chidozie
Published: November 2020

Genetically modified (GM) crops are cultivated in over 30 countries with their products and by-products imported by over 60 countries. This chapter seeks to highlight general concerns and potential lifelong effects of consuming GM plant-based food. The consumption of GM plant-based food is as risky as consuming conventional plant-based food. However, the alien genes in these products may be unstable leading to antinutritional and unintended short-term consequences. Due to the paucity of research, no long-term effects have been attributed to the lifelong consumption of these products. Nonetheless, possible lifelong health and socioeconomic effects may result from outcrossing of genes, increasing antibiotic resistance, development of new diseases, as well as potential effects on the environment and biodiversity. Biotechnology companies need to invest more in interdisciplinary research addressing the potential lifelong effects of these products. Although GM foods are safe for consumption, clarification of current risks and lifelong effects are required.
The Nutritional and Health Potential of Blackjack (Bidens pilosa l.)
Authors: Mboya Rose Mujila
Published: November 2020

Blackjack (bidens pilosa l.) grows naturally as a perennial herb across the world, especially in tropical regions, and it is used in many parts of the world for treating illnesses such as diarrhea, indigestion, wounds, and respiratory infections. Blackjack's agricultural and pharmaceutical benefits have been well studied by scientists, following which several suggestions for using it as a source of supplements and alternative antibiotics have been made. Moreover, blackjack is edible but very much underutilized for food purposes. In this article, the author reviews the advantages and disadvantages of blackjack and argues for the deliberation of promoting its use for food.
Soybeans Consumption and Production in China
Authors: Guo Xiumei , Shao Xiaoling , Trishna Shagufta M. , Marinova Dora , Hossain Amzad
Published: November 2020

China is the world's top consumer and largest importer of soybeans used as human food and livestock feed. Since the 1980s, China's meat consumption has been growing despite this being an inefficient way of feeding the world's largest population. It diverts resources which can be used directly for human consumption. If the Chinese people were to maintain or expand their high consumption of soybean-based foods instead of switching to a meat-rich diet, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced, and natural resource use improved. This chapter examines the trends in soy consumption and production in China and explores people's dietary preferences for soybeans, including concerns about the import of genetically modified soybeans. Without diverting soybeans to animal feed, the demand for them will decrease and will make China more self-sufficient. This study also provides educational guidance about the health benefits of plant-based foods and environmental damage associated with high consumption of animal-based products.
Equity and Engagement Through Digital Storytelling and Game-Based Learning
Authors: Haas Leslie , Tussey Jill
Published: November 2020

This chapter is founded on the idea that literacy is the cornerstone of teaching and learning across disciplines and is the scaffold for quality communication across modes. Therefore, it contends that the ever-widening education and opportunity gaps seen throughout United States school systems have the potential to be bridged through engaging communicative literacy experiences. Information and resources provided are supported through a theoretical framework based on engagement theory, equitable access as a construct, and multiple literacies theory. As educational equity gaps continue to develop and widen for students based on race, income, language, and technology, it is imperative that innovative practices be researched, reviewed, and put into practice. By utilizing digital storytelling and game-based learning, this chapter attempts to provide the reader with a deeper understanding of issues related to classroom practice, educational equity, learning engagement, and literacy opportunities.
Information and Document Flows in Organizational Environments
Authors: Nascimento Natalia Marinho do , Moro Cabero María Manuela , Valentim Marta Lígia Pomim
Published: November 2020

Information and document flows are essential to support all functions and activities in an organization. Information and knowledge flows in an organization are monitored; however, they are not always well managed, and members of the organization rarely perceive how and how much they contribute to their administrative processes. The purpose of this chapter is to analyze how information and document flow can be managed within an organization in a way that optimizes the access and retrieval efficiency. It is qualitative and descriptive research. The authors conclude that (a) recognition and mapping of information and document flows are fundamental for their efficient management and (b) the use of ISO records management standards such as ISO/TR 26122:2008 is the basis for formal or structured information flows. An archivist is the professional best suited to manage that flow of information, including creation, adaptation, and implementation of improvements.
Bewitched?
Authors: Behr Agnes
Published: November 2020

This chapter explores the modern organization of Africa as a continent. It uses Yves Mudimbe's representation of colonial organizations. The chapter argues that a collision of modern material individualism with the African perspective of 'the wealth in people,' appears as 'witchcraft' where an African picks up weapons to kill another in the name of autochthon versus a stranger. The answer to the impasse between Western capitalism and African integration is in delving in both in a manner that critiques and affirms to provoke further thoughts towards a lasting solution.
Xenophobia Is a Foreign Manifestation
Authors: Musitha Mavhungu Elias
Published: November 2020

This chapter has argued that South Africa is not xenophobic contrary to media and some scholars' opinions. It has been shown that xenophobia is not only about hatred to foreign nationals but that foreign nationals collude with national ones in forming rival groups to compete for economic gains. This dispels the theory that the country is xenophobic since hatred and fear are not easy to measure. It also offered that contrary to the theory that migration gives rise to xenophobia with movements of the people crossing borders, the real cause of migration in this case is underdevelopment that followed the occupation of the continent by the European countries. The borders they imposed were designed to divide and rule the continent, and Africa must resolve the border issue, the land issue; teach the history of the continent; and hold festivals with SADC countries to show the unity of the continent. The African Union should have a permanent agenda issue on the unity of the continent.
Ethnicity, Tribalism, and Xenophobia in a South African Rural-Based University
Authors: Mafukata Mavhungu Abel
Published: November 2020

The South African government has lobbied institutions of higher learning to recruit academics from across Africa to address the challenge of shortage of skills. Some universities have indeed exploited this opportunity. However, it has emerged that these nationals get to face unbearable anti-social behavior from the locals. Among others, these expatriates contend incidences of tribal-ethnic tensions and xenophobia. Multiple theories were adopted to assist the analysis. The results revealed that there was evidence of tribalism, ethnicity, and incited xenophobia at this university. Furthermore, the study found that the acts of tribalism and ethnicity cut across the university community. The study revealed that deaneries and departments reflected ethnic-tribal orientations depending on the tribes of the respective incumbents in those sections. The university should recognise that it has become a space of cultural diversity where people should be recognized outside the ethnic and tribal framework of locality.
Attributes Ensuring Positive Consumer Evaluation in Brand Extension of Pakistan
Authors: Shabbir Malik Shahzad
Published: November 2020

Brand extension is an important cost-effective marketing method to offer new products. However, ordinary Least Square regression with control variables has been applied for estimation of variable coefficients. In the study, consumer evaluation of brand extension in Pakistan is dependent on quality of the original brand, substitutability of the extension with the original brand in certain usage situation and helpfulness of people, facilities and skills used in developing, refining and making the original brand for constructing its extension. Furthermore, other independent variables including complementarity, difficulty and moderating the role of quality of the original brand with fit attributes has been found irrelevant for determining consumer evaluation of brand extension in Pakistan. The author has found an expected significant outcome on the ideal point effect of substitutability at 15%.
Lung Tumor Segmentation Using Marker-Controlled Watershed and Support Vector Machine
Authors: Vijh Surbhi , Sarma Rituparna , Kumar Sumit
Published: November 2020

The medical imaging technique showed remarkable improvement in interventional treatment of computer-aided medical diagnosis system. Image processing techniques are broadly applied in detection and exploring the abnormalities issues in tumor detection. The early stage of lung tumor detection is extremely important in medical research field. The proposed work uses image processing segmentation technique for detection of lung tumor and the support vector classifier learning technique for predicting stage of tumor. After performing preprocessing and segmentation the features are extracted from region of lung nodule. The classification is performed on dataset acquired from national cancer institute for the evaluation of lung cancer diagnosis. The multi-class machine learning classification technique SVM (support vector machine) identifies the tumor stage of lung dataset. The proposed methodology provides classification of tumor stages and improves the decision-making process. The performance is evaluated by measuring the parameters namely accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity.
A Bio-Inspired Defensive Rumor Confinement Strategy in Online Social Networks
Authors: Srinivasan Santhoshkumar , Dhinesh Babu L. D.
Published: November 2020

Online social networks (OSNs) are used to connect people and propagate information around the globe. Along with information propagation, rumors also penetrate across the OSNs in a massive order. Controlling the rumor propagation is utmost important to reduce the damage it causes to society. Educating the individual participants of OSNs is one of the effective ways to control the rumor faster. To educate people in OSNs, this paper proposes a defensive rumor control approach that spreads anti-rumors by the inspiration from the immunization strategies of social insects. In this approach, a new information propagation model is defined to study the defensive nature of true information against rumors. Then, an anti-rumor propagation method with a set of influential spreaders is employed to defend against the rumor. The proposed approach is compared with the existing rumor containment approaches and the results indicate that the proposed approach works well in controlling the rumors.
Free Vibration Analysis of Functionally Graded FG Nano-Plates with Porosities
Authors: Slimane Merdaci , Hadj Mostefa Adda , Boutaleb Sabrina , Hellal Hadjira
Published: November 2020

This study presents the analytical solutions of free vibration analysis of simply supported nanoplate FG porous using nonlocal high order shear deformation plate theory. This theory contains four unknowns without the use of shear correction factors unlike the others. The objective of this article is to develop a model to use the function f (z) on vibration and the natural frequencies of functionally graded nanoplates nonlocal to study the effect of the various parameters. The validity of the theory is shown by comparing the present results with obtained with those reported in the literature. The effects of various parameters are all discussed.
Modern total ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lawton Cort D. , Prescott Adam , Butler Bennet A. , Awender Jakob F. , Selley Ryan S. , Dekker II Robert G. , Balderama Earvin S. , Kadakia Anish R.
Published: November 2020

The controversy in surgical management of end-stage tibiotalar arthritis with Total Ankle Arthroplasty (TAA) versus Ankle Arthrodesis (AA) has grown in parallel with the evolution of both procedures. No randomized controlled trials exist due to the vast differences in surgical goals, patient expectations, and complication profiles between the two procedures. This makes high quality systematic reviews necessary to compare outcomes between these two treatment options. The aim of this study was to provide a systematic review with meta-analysis of publications reporting outcomes, complications, and revision data following third-generation TAA and/or modern AA published in the past decade. Thirtyfive articles met eligibility criteria, which included 4312 TAA and 1091 AA procedures. This review reports data from a mean follow-up of 4.9 years in the TAA cohort and 4.0 years in the AA cohort. There was no significant difference in overall complication rate following TAA compared to AA (23.6% and 25.7% respectively, P-value 0.31). Similarly, there was no significant difference in revision rate following TAA compared to AA (7.2% and 6.3% respectively, P-value 0.65). Successful treatment of end-stage tibiotalar arthritis requires an understanding of a patients’ goals and expectations, coupled with appropriate patient selection for the chosen procedure. The decision to proceed with TAA or AA should be made on a case-by-case basis following an informed discussion with the patient regarding the different goals and complication profiles for each procedure.
The variation of arthroplasty procedures in the OECD Countries: analysis of possible influencing factors by linear regression
Authors: Günsche Jamie Lee , Pilz Veronika , Hanstein Tim , Skripitz Ralf
Published: November 2020

Total hip and knee replacements (THR, TKR) are among the most common surgeries but incidence rates vary between OECD countries. Previous studies suggested economic factors to be most influential but did not take into account health care system related factors. Hence we analysed the possible influence of healthcare system related factors on the operation rate. We used OECD data for 27 countries and calculated Age-Standardized Incidence Rates (ASIR). In order to determine possible explanatory variables on the ASIRs we performed a stepwise blockwise linear regression. The ASIR of hip and knee replacement varies widely. We identified statistically significant determinants which influence the ASIR of THR in a positive manner: incidence and length of stay of coxarthrosis, ASIR of knee replacement, health expenditures, number of nurses and an etatistic social insurance. Diabetes prevalence, gross domestic product and number of doctor consultations, however, have a negative influence on the ASIR. TKR rate is positively influenced by health expenditures and incidence rate of gonarthrosis, negatively by the number of primary practitioners. We observed strong geographic disparities in the frequency of THR and THR that cannot be explained by age structure of the countries. Economic factors seem to play a secondary role while healthcare related factors have a greater influence.
Efficacy of bicarbonate therapy for adults with cardiac arrest
Authors: Wongtanasarasin Wachira , Srisurapanont Karan
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVES:

Because the benefits of bicarbonate therapy remain unclear, it is not routinely recommended for the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) given to individuals with cardiac arrest (CA). This study aims to evaluate the clinical benefits of bicarbonate therapy in adults with CA.

METHODS:

Without any language restriction, we searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL from the inception until April 30, 2020. We performed hand-search to identify the relevant trials included in previous meta-analyses. Included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing bicarbonate and placebo treatment in adults with CA. Two authors independently assessed the trial risk of bias. The primary outcome was the survival to hospital admission. The secondary outcomes included the return of spontaneous circulation, the survival to hospital discharge, and the neurological outcome at discharge. We calculated the odds ratios of those outcomes using the Mantel-Haenszel model and assessed the heterogeneity using the I2statistic.

RESULTS:

Our searches found 649 unduplicated studies. Of these, three RCTs involving 1344 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The trial risk of bias ranged between fair and poor, mainly due to no blindness of outcome assessment and the selective reports of outcomes. Bicarbonate therapy showed no significant improvement in the survival to hospital admission (odds ratio [OR] 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73–1.25). Subgroup analysis in those receiving prolonged CPR showed a similar result (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.10–8.01). No study reported the predefined secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSION:

For both acute and prolonged CPR, bicarbonate therapy might not show benefit to improve the rate of survival to hospital admission in adults with cardiac arrest.