bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are basic robotic surgical skills transferable from the simulator to the operating room? A randomized, prospective, educational study
Authors: Almarzouq Ahmad , Hu Jason , Noureldin Yaser A. , Yin Anne , Anidjar Maurice , Bladou Franck , Tanguay Simon , Kassouf Wassim , Aprikian Armen G. , Andonian Sero
Published: June 2020

Introduction: We aimed to assess the transferability of basic robotic skills from the simulator to the operating room while performing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) prostatectomy).

Methods: Fourteen urology residents were randomized to two groups: group A was required to practice three sessions (nine tasks each) on the simulator, whereas group B was required to practice (same nine tasks) until they reached competency. Both groups were recorded while practicing on the da Vinci Surgical Skills Simulator (da Vinci Simulator). Both groups were then recorded while performing bladder mobilization during RARP. Senior residents from both groups were also recorded while performing urethro-vesical anastomosis during RARP. Recordings were assessed blindly using the validated GEARS tool by C-SATS. Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rho) was used to assess correlation between GEARS scores from practice sessions on the da Vinci Simulator and the GEARS scores from bladder mobilization and urethro-vesical anastomosis during RARP.

Results: There was no difference in total GEARS scores between the two groups in the operating room. Total GEARS scores for “ring and rail 2” and “suture sponge” tasks correlated with the total GEARS scores during urethro-vesical anastomosis (rho=0.86, p=0.007; rho=0.90, p=0.002, respectively). GEARS’ efficiency component during “energy and dissection” task on the da Vinci Simulator correlated with GEARS’ efficiency component during bladder mobilization (rho=0.62, p=0.03). GEARS’ force sensitivity component during “ring and rail 2” and “dots and needles” tasks on the da Vinci Simulator correlated with GEARS’ force sensitivity component during bladder mobilization (rho=0.58, p=0.047; rho =0.65, p=0.02, respectively).

Conclusions: Objective assessments of urology residents on the da Vinci Surgical Skills Simulator tasks ring and rail 2 and suture sponge correlated with their objective assessments of bladder mobilization and urethro-vesical anastomosis. Therefore, basic robotic skills could be transferred from the simulator to the operating room.
Coronavirus and the Ideological, Moral and Metaphysical Challenges to Capitalism, Individual Freedom and Money
Authors: Abbasi Munir A. , Amran Azlan , Noorani Ibrahim , Shakir Khurram , Sahar Noor e , Rehman Nazia Abul
Published: June 2020

Coronavirus Pandemic has taken the world by storm. Just as it has posited a severe threat to human lives, so has it leveled grave concerns to the mode of life cultured by the world's industrialized societies. Through argumentative analysis, the present study attempts to substantiate that at-least three imminent philosophical crises have arisen in the wake of COVID-19 i.e., ideological, moral, and metaphysical. On the one side, Capitalism and the Free Market have essentially been left defenseless, and individual freedom has substantially been threatened. On the other side, family and social capital have been inflexed with a breath of fresh air.
Is the CJEU Discriminating in Age Discrimination Cases?
Authors: ter Haar Beryl
Published: June 2020

Is the CJEU discriminating in age discrimination cases?

Claims have been made that the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) is more lenient in accepting age discriminating measures affecting older people than in those affecting younger people. This claim is scrutinised in this article, first, by making a quantitative analysis of the outcomes of the CJEU’s case law on age discrimination cases, followed by a qualitative analysis of the line of reasoning of the CJEU in these cases and concluding with an evaluation of the Court’s reasoning against three theoretical approaches that set the context for the assessment of the justifications of age discrimination: complete life view, fair innings argument and typical anti-discrimination approach. The analysis shows that the CJEU relies more on the complete life view approach to assess measures discriminating old people and the fair innings argument approach to assess measures discriminating young people. This results in old people often having to accept disadvantageous measures and young workers often being treated more favourably.
Con sangre en las manos. La construcción de la novela negra española y mexicana a partir de dos antihéroes sangrientos: Pepe Carvalho y Filiberto García
Authors: Lara Jafet Israel
Published: June 2020

El propósito de este estudio es analizar la configuración de Pepe Carvalho a través del thriller-ensayo Yo maté a Kennedy y del resto de obras protagonizadas por él, y compararla con la de Filiberto García, el primer gran investigador noir mexicano. En dicha comparación se observa que la novela negra española y la mexicana  comparten códigos de programas narrativos transgresores de lo policíaco clásico. Por un lado, observamos las acciones de un agente de campo de la CIA inmiscuido en el asesinato del presidente Kennedy y, por el otro, las de un sicario al servicio de la policía política mexicana.
Kritische Medienkompetenz. Zur ethischen Überforderung einer allein pädagogischen Medienbildung
Authors: Rath Matthias
Published: June 2020

Kritische Medienkompetenz wird alltagssprachlich leicht mit Medienskepsis verwechselt. Vielmehr aber geht es um die grundsätzliche Werturteilskompetenz, Medienangebote im Hinblick auf ethische Prinzipien abzuwägen. Dies muss erlernt werden. Der Beitrag geht, nicht zuletzt vor dem Hintergrund der Corona-Krise, von der Frage aus, welche Bildungsinstitution geeignet wäre, eine solch offene, normativ orientierte Medienbildung zu leisten. Nach Durchsicht einschlägiger Forschungsergebnisse kommt er zu dem Ergebnis, dass weder Eltern noch Erzieher_innen, sondern nur die Zwangsinstitution Schule dies leisten könnte. Dazu bedarf es aber der Überwindung der vorherrschenden Medienmoralisierung durch Lehrkräfte in Deutschland und einer einschlägigen medienethischen Ausbildung der angehenden Lehrer_innen.
Studieren Sie (keine) Ethik? Kommunikations- und Medienethik an deutschsprachigen Hochschulen
Authors: Krainer Larissa , Karmasin Matthias , Behrens Susanne
Published: June 2020

Eine Analyse von insgesamt 163 medien- und kommunikationswissenschaftlichen Studiengängen in Österreich, Deutschland und der Schweiz zeigt, dass in weniger als der Hälfte medien- und kommunikationsethische Inhalte auf der Ebene von Curricula verankert und in noch weniger Fällen als Pflichtfächer vorgesehen sind. Innerhalb der bestehenden Angebote zeigt sich eine inhaltliche Vielfalt, die allerdings eine Einheit in terminologischer, empirischer wie theoretischer Ausrichtung vermissen lässt. Der Artikel könnte als Ausgangspunkt für eine fachinterne Debatte und Reflexion dienen, in der nicht zuletzt auch der Bedarf an normativen Inhalten zu besprechen wäre.
Unpacking Local Self-Government: The Uncertain Power of Cities in the Indian Constitution
Authors: Idiculla Mathew
Published: June 2020

While cities are increasingly becoming powerful economic and political units, legal scholars have paid inadequate attention to the role of local governments in the constitutional division of powers. This paper examines the legal authority of city governments in India’s constitutional architecture and analyses the nature and extent of powers exercised by them. While globally city governments seldom derive their powers directly from the Constitution, in India the passage of the 74th Amendment has ensured that they have a definite space in its Constitution. Despite constitutional entrenchment, urban local governments in India find themselves powerless to administer some of the core municipal functions including urban planning. This paper seeks to analyse the reasons behind this contradiction. It argues that city governments continue to be weak because of the inherent limitations of the scope of the 74th Amendment as well as the way in which it is translated and implemented by the states. It examines the constitutional authority of urban local governments by analysing the key provisions of the 74th Amendment and its judicial interpretations. To understand how the constitutional reform has translated on the ground, this paper closely examines the role and functioning of the city government of Bangalore.
Die Reichweite des abgekürzten Sanktionsverfahrens nach Art. 260 Abs. 3 AEUV– Anmerkung zum Urteil des EuGH v. 8.7.2019, Rs. C-543/17 (Kommission/Belgien)
Authors: Gundel Jörg
Published: June 2020

Der Anwendungsbereich des abgekürzten Sanktionsverfahrens nach Art. 260 Abs. 3 AEUV ist auch eröffnet, wenn eine Mitteilung der Umsetzungsmaßnahmen zu einer Richtlinie zwar erfolgt ist, sich aber schon aus dieser Mitteilung - ohne inhaltliche Prüfung der Maßnahmen - ergibt, daß die Umsetzung unzureichend erfolgte (Leitsatz des Verf.). Ein Jahrzehnt nach Inkrafttreten des Vertrags von Lissabon hat der EuGH im Verfahren Kommission/Belgien erstmals die Gelegenheit erhalten, die Reichweite der mit diesem Vertrag in Art. 260 Abs. 3 AEUV eingefügten Sonderregelung zur beschleunigten Sanktionierung der Nichtumsetzung von EU-Richtlinien zu bestimmen. Aus seiner Entscheidung folgt eine klare Abgrenzung zwischen der von Art. 260 Abs. 3 AEUV erfassten Unterlassung der Mitteilung von Umsetzungsmaßnahmen zu Richtlinien und der eigentlichen Richtlinienumsetzung, während die Frage zuvor in der Literatur und den Schlussanträgen mehrerer Generalanwälte kontrovers diskutiert worden war. Richtschnur der nun getroffenen Abgrenzung ist erkennbar, dass Fragen der inhaltlich zutreffenden Umsetzung weiter dem zweistufigen Verfahren nach Art. 258 und 260 Abs. 2 AEUV vorbehalten bleiben sollen.
Quality of Working Conditions, Sector of Employment and Age at RetirementDate submitted: April 9, 2018Revised version accepted after double blind review: March 31, 2019.
Authors: Wiß Tobias , Schmidthuber Lisa , Bordone Valeria
Published: June 2020

Prolonging employment and postponing retirement are seen as promising solutions to make labour markets and pension systems sustainable in ageing Europe with low employment rates of older people and widespread early retirement. The aim of the paper is to identify to what extent quality of working conditions and sector of employment affect the actual age at retirement. Based on SHARELIFE data on 13 European countries, we investigate the association between age at retirement on the one hand and 12 quality of working conditions attributes and six economic sectors on the other using linear regression models. Our results show that freedom to decide how to do the work is significantly associated with a higher age at retirement and adequate salary with a lower age at retirement among both men and women, while working in a comfortable environment, without emotional demands, and where employees experienced fair treatment is positively related to age at retirement only for men. Furthermore, our analysis provides evidence that quality of working conditions attributes are more important for age at retirement in the service, manufacturing and industry sectors than in the finance, trade, and primary sectors. A stronger focus on improving quality of working conditions is likely to promote a higher age at retirement among both men and women.
Cork and Cork Stoppers: Quality and Performance
Authors: Oliveira Vanda , Pereira Helena
Published: June 2020

Cork is a world-renowned material used for sealing wine bottles. Cork is a cellular material with chemical inertia and a set of physical and mechanical properties that provide an outstanding performance for in-bottle wine aging, by combining minute oxygen transfer with sealing, durability, and chemical stability, for example, inertness toward the liquid content and along storage, preventing sensory deterioration. Cork is a natural material, one of the most important nontimber forest products, that is associated with sustainability and ecosystem preservation. The cork industry has steadily improved production processes and adopted innovative technologies, quality control measures, and certification, regarding prevention of potential wine taints and off-flavors. This chapter makes a review of cork stoppers, their properties, and quality and role for wine bottle aging, tackling their importance for wine aroma and off-flavors while presenting the latest advances in cork research.
Supply Chain Responsibility and Sustainability
Authors: Atkins Ryan , Caldwell Cam ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: June 2020

Decisions made by supply chain managers have a far-reaching impact on the economic, environmental, and social performance of entire supply chains, even though many activities in the supply chain occur beyond the direct control of those managers. Some firms establish a line of moral disengagement, beyond which they distance themselves from the impact of the activities of the supply chain. This research addresses the question of why some managers choose to take responsibility for the sustainability of their supply chain, while others do not. We argue that the ethical predisposition and moral complexity of the individual employee moderates the interpretation of the drivers of sustainability, increasing or decreasing their ability to build a business case for supply chain responsibility. We also argue that ethical predisposition moderates the likelihood of a business case being enacted. We then discuss theoretical and managerial implications resulting from this finding.
The first blind spirostreptid millipede, found in a cave in Morocco; with notes on the genus Odontostreptus Attems, 1914 (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae)
Authors: Enghoff Henrik , Reboleira Ana Sofia
Published: June 2020

The first eyeless species of the suborder Spirostreptidea, Odontostreptus fadriquei sp. nov., is described from a cave in Morocco. The new species, which exhibits some troglomorphic traits, is compared with the highly variable O. maroccanus (Attems, 1914) of which new material is presented.
Performance of missing data approaches under nonignorable missing data conditions
Authors: Pohl Steffi , Becker Benjamin
Published: June 2020

Approaches for dealing with item omission include incorrect scoring, ignoring missing values, and approaches for nonignorable missing values and have only been evaluated for certain forms of nonignorability. In this paper we investigate the performance of these approaches for various conditions of nonignorability, that is, when the missing response depends on i) the item response, ii) a latent missing propensity, or iii) both. No approach results in unbiased parameter estimates of the Rasch model under all missing data mechanisms. Incorrect scoring only results in unbiased estimates under very specific data constellations of missing mechanisms i) and iii). The approach for nonignorable missing values only results in unbiased estimates under condition ii). Ignoring results in slightly more biased estimates than the approach for nonignorable missing values, while the latter also indicates the presence of nonignorablity under all simulated conditions. We illustrate the results in an empirical example on PISA data.
The inaccuracy of sample-based confidence intervals to estimate a priori ones
Authors: Trafimow David , Uhalt Joshua
Published: June 2020

Confidence intervals (CIs) constitute the most popular alternative to widely criticized null hypothesis significance tests. CIs provide more information than significance tests and lend themselves well to visual displays. Although CIs are no better than significance tests when used solely as significance tests, researchers need not limit themselves to this use of CIs. Rather, CIs can be used to estimate the precision of the data, and it is the precision argument that may set CIs in a superior position to significance tests. We tested two versions of the precision argument by performing computer simulations to test how well sample-based CIs estimate a priori CIs. One version pertains to precision of width whereas the other version pertains to precision of location. Using both versions, sample-based CIs poorly estimate a priori CIs at typical sample sizes and perform better as sample sizes increase.
Specifying the random effect structure in linear mixed effect models for analyzing psycholinguistic data
Authors: Park Jungkyu , Cardwell Ramsey , Yu Hsiu-Ting
Published: June 2020

Linear Mixed Effect Models (LMEM) have become a popular method for analyzing nested experimental data, which are often encountered in psycholinguistics and other fields. This approach allows experimental results to be generalized to the greater population of both subjects and experimental stimuli. In an influential paper Bar and his colleagues (2013; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2012.11.001) recommend specifying the maximal random effect structure allowed by the experimental design, which includes random intercepts and random slopes for all within-subjects and within-items experimental factors, as well as correlations between the random effects components. The goal of this paper is to formally investigate whether their recommendations can be generalized to wider variety of experimental conditions. The simulation results revealed that complex models (i.e., with more parameters) lead to a dramatic increase in the non-convergence rate. Furthermore, AIC and BIC were found to select the true model in the majority of cases, although selection accuracy varied by LMEM random effect structure.
Pratiques scolaires de l’écrit et temporalités dans le travail par modules1
Authors: Mercier Jean-Pierre
Published: June 2020

Cet article est issu d’une étude de cas ethnographique conduite auprès d’un groupe de jeunes mères de retour aux études en formation générale des adultes dans le cadre de la mesure Ma place au soleil. L’objectif de la présente étude était d’analyser les pratiques scolaires de l’écrit et les temporalités qui les accompagnent dans le travail par modules des cours de français, d’anglais et de mathématique que suivent ces femmes. L’enseignement modulaire individualisé est une formule reconnue comme centrale de ces cours en formation générale des adultes. Les résultats montrent la centralité de l’évaluation dans ces pratiques de l’écrit et leur maintien dans des temporalités du présent de la formation. L’entrainement à l’examen influence le maintien des pratiques de l’écrit dans le temps présent sans laisser voir la pertinence de nombreux buts autres que ceux liés à l’évaluation sanctionnée par l’État. Ces résultats, à défaut d’être généralisables, sont transférables aux contextes apparentés à celui enquêté.
Marché scolaire et reproduction des inégalités sociales au Québec
Authors: Kamanzi Pierre Canisius
Published: June 2020

L’objectif de cet article est d’analyser l’effet de la stratification du marché scolaire sur la persistance de la reproduction sociale des inégalités dans l’enseignement postsecondaire au Québec. Les résultats obtenus à partir d’un échantillon (N = 2 677) d’une cohorte d’élèves nés en 1984 et observés jusqu’à l’âge de 22 ans mettent en évidence deux constats principaux. En aval, les élèves fréquentant un établissement privé ou public avec programmes enrichis (en mathématiques, en langue et en science) accèdent aux études collégiales et universitaires dans une proportion nettement plus élevée que leurs pairs ayant seulement suivi des programmes réguliers dans un établissement public. Les analyses montrent que l’influence de l’établissement fréquenté s’opère elle-même par l’intermédiaire des inégalités de performances et d’aspirations scolaires et professionnelles caractérisant les élèves. En amont, des analyses supplémentaires révèlent que la probabilité de fréquenter un établissement privé ou public avec programmes enrichis est fortement corrélée avec l’origine sociale de l’élève.
Comment les étudiants donnent-ils du sens aux exemples ? Exploration des impacts des exemples utilisés dans le discours pédagogique universitaire
Authors: Fossion Gilles , Faulx Daniel
Published: June 2020

Cette étude s’intéresse à la façon dont les étudiants donnent du sens aux exemples qui leur sont proposés au travers des discours pédagogiques. Les objectifs de cette recherche sont (1) d’identifier des propriétés d’exemple (2) d’observer leurs impacts chez les étudiants et (3) d’établir des liens entre ces propriétés et ces impacts. À partir de 15 entretiens individuels d’étudiants universitaires, nous avons dégagé douze propriétés spécifiques de l’exemple et six gammes d’impacts. De plus, de nombreux liens ont pu être tissés entre ces propriétés et ces effets. Pour conclure, cette étude insiste sur l’intérêt de prendre en compte l’impact du langage dans les présentations pédagogiques et de poursuivre les recherches sur cette pratique langagière particulière afin d’améliorer les pratiques enseignantes.
L’insertion professionnelle d’enseignants novices : identification des facteurs dans leurs récits autobiographiques
Authors: Voz Gregory
Published: June 2020

Cette étude longitudinale porte sur 22 anciens étudiants en recherche d’emploi ou fraîchement entrés dans le métier d’enseignant. Sur la base de leurs écrits autobiographiques, elle permet d’identifier neuf variables influençant leur parcours d’insertion. Leurs poids diffèrent, de même que la polarité de leurs influences. Par exemple, si les démarches pour trouver un emploi stable sont souvent relevées comme un frein dans le parcours, les facilités relationnelles sont un atout pour entrer dans le métier. En outre, cette recherche suggère, pour comprendre ces parcours d’insertion, d’aussi inclure des variables situées au-delà du travail en classe.
Image database of Japanese food samples with nutrition information
Authors: Sato Wataru , Minemoto Kazusa , Sawada Reiko , Miyazaki Yoshiko , Fushiki Tohru
Published: June 2020

Background

Visual processing of food plays an important role in controlling eating behaviors. Several studies have developed image databases of food to investigate visual food processing. However, few databases include non-Western foods and objective nutrition information on the foods.

Methods

We developed an image database of Japanese food samples that has detailed nutrition information, including calorie, carbohydrate, fat and protein contents. To validate the database, we presented the images, together with Western food images selected from an existing database and had Japanese participants rate their affective (valence, arousal, liking and wanting) and cognitive (naturalness, recognizability and familiarity) appraisals and estimates of nutrition.

Results

The results showed that all affective and cognitive appraisals (except arousal) of the Japanese food images were higher than those of Western food. Correlational analyses found positive associations between the objective nutrition information and subjective estimates of the nutrition information, and between the objective calorie/fat content and affective appraisals.

Conclusions

These data suggest that by using our image database, researchers can investigate the visual processing of Japanese food and the relationships between objective nutrition information and the psychological/neural processing of food.
Antinutrients and Bioavailability of Nutrients in Maize, Cassava and Soybeans Composite Flour
Authors: Igbua F. Z. , Adejo S. O. , Igoli N. P. , Daagema A. A.
Published: June 2020

Composite flour production and utilization in Nigeria and globally is on the increase. This is to take advantage of its nutritional and health benefits at the same time increase the food value of certain cereals and tubers. This study was designed to evaluate the antinutrients and bioavailability of nutrients in maize, cassava and soybeans composite flour. Maize, cassava and soybean flours were composite at 70:25:5, 70:20:10, 70:15:15 and 70:10:20 blends while whole maize (100:0:0) and maize/cassava (70:30:0) blends served as controls. The result showed that substitution of cassava flour with dehulled soybeans elevated the mineral contents of maize, cassava and soybeans composite flour. It, however, decreased the anti-nutritional contents of the flour. Phytate, tannins, oxalates and cyanide contents of the composite flour were within the recommended safe ranges. The molar ratios of the phytate/Ca, phytate/Fe, phytate/Zn and Oxalate/Ca were far below their critical values. This implies that the bioavailability of these critical mineral elements of this composite flour is high. It was, therefore, recommended that the use of soybeans in composite flour production should be encouraged to boost the nutritional and health quality of our local flours.
Strengthening Healthcare Service Delivery through Communities of Practice among Orthopedic Nurses in Federal Hospitals in Kano State, Nigeria
Authors: Ahmad S. U. , Abbas K. D.
Published: June 2020

Background: This study investigates use of community of practice as a strategy for strengthening healthcare service delivery among orthopedic nurses working at some selected federal hospitals.

Aims: The specific objectives of the study targeted to investigate the level of awareness of Orthopedic Nurses about community of practice for knowledge sharing in Federal hospitals in Kano metropolis; and to determine the type of knowledge shared through Community of Practice by Orthopedic Nurses in the hospitals; as well as to find out how Community of Practice could improve healthcare delivery through knowledge sharing among Orthopedic Nurses in the Hospitals.

Place of Study: The study was conducted at National Orthopedic Hospital, Dala-Kano, Nigeria and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria from July 2018 to January, 2019.

Methodology: The study adopted quantitative research approach with a self-developed questionnaire that was validated using both content and face validity. A sample size of 134 from a population of 217 was drawn with response rate of 99.3%. The study hypotheses were tested using Chi Square and ANOVA tests using SPSS version 20.0.

Results: The study found that the level of awareness about community of practice was high. The findings show that tacit and explicit types of Knowledge were generated and shared through community of practice. 

Conclusion: The study concludes that there is significant relationship between awareness and use of community of practice for knowledge sharing among orthopedic nurses in the hospitals under study. Similarly, the study concludes that the relationship between community of practice and knowledge sharing is reflected in job performance.
Transmission, Stability, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Management of COVID 19
Authors: Dias P. G. I. , Rathnayaka R. M. U. S. K.
Published: June 2020

COVID 19 can be considered as the most devastating pandemics that happened in the 21st century. Many researches on its virology, epidemiology, transmission, diagnosis, and treatments are ongoing. Studies on the causative virus of COVID 19 has been successfully carried out. Its genome has been sequenced, analyzed and compared with other corona viruses in those studies. Some studies on disease transmission also been carried out and as an outcome of those studies, information about the stability of the virus in different conditions and sources of disease transmission are available. Symptoms of the disease also been successfully identified and diagnosis methods to identify infected patients are also been developed. Preventive measures for the disease also been published and implemented in many countries. However, at the time of writing, there is no permanent cure for this viral infection and it would take time to develop a vaccine and/or other medicine for this disease.
Development of Solar Powered Micro-irrigation Applicator for Dryland Agriculture
Authors: Mehta M. L. , Lohan Ira , Jain Mukesh
Published: June 2020

In India, 58% of net sown area is under dryland agriculture, where rain is the only source of irrigation water.  Sowing is usually done in dryland whenever the ground is wet due to rainfall. But, if there is no rainfall within 30-40 days after sowing, the crop will be under severe dry spell condition and many a times the crop fails due to which the farmer incurs heavy losses. To solve this problem, a solar operated micro-irrigation applicator was developed and tested at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar, Haryana, India. The machine consists of body structure with inbuilt 500 litres capacity water storage tank, solar panels, battery, solar charger, mono-block pump set with DC motor, transportation wheel and  drip irrigation system.  Water has to be taken from the pond where rain water has been stored during rainy season.   The machine works on solar power and can be installed anywhere in remote area.  In the last week of January, 2019, at CCSHAU, Hisar, the average solar insolation was 948 W/m2 and the average voltage developed by the solar panels was 12.86 V.  The average discharge rate of dripper and sprinkler were 79.9 and 640.2 ml/minute, respectively. The performance of the machine was evaluated in bottle gourd and it was found to be satisfactory to save the crop under dry spell conditions.
The Impact of Local Materials on the Improvement of the Thermal Comfort in Building
Authors: Fati Amadou Oumarou , Latif Bonkaney Abdou , Souleymane Ouedraogo , Thierry S. M. Ky. , Lewamy Mamadou , Joseph Bathiebo Dieudonné
Published: June 2020

The increasing energy demands in the building sector is considered as a main issue and has result both in the energy shortage and also environmental impact such as climate change and global warming. This demand is always increasing due to the high-rise level and also the need of thermal comfort. This paper aims to describe a passive approach to reduce the energy demand for a building through an improvement of the design of the thermal envelope. Within this work, we utilized the thermophysical properties of four building materials: three local materials (compressed earth, lateritic, and raw material) and one modern (Hollow cement) and an energy analysis of the building has been carried out. The numerical optimization of the building design has been performed dynamically by COMSOL Multiphysics software: case study of Ouagadougou and surface is 100m2. Also, the temporal variations in the inside of the room as well as the temperature of the walls and the ceiling with four different materials have been determined. The result shows that, for BLT, the maximum obtained around 22H is 308K, for Adobe it is 309K around 18H30, for BTC it was 309.2K at 20H and finally for cement block it is 310K around 18H. The mean average temperature of the building is low when we use local materials instead of modern one. Then, we conclude that, the use of local materials in the building design is an option for reducing the heat transfer into the room and at the energy consumption.
Utilization of Dairy By-product for the Development of Whey Ice Candy
Authors: Chavan D. S. , Lokhande S. M. , Patange D. D. , Ranveer R. C. , Sahoo A. K.
Published: June 2020

Background: Whey is by product of dairy industry and contained about 6% milk solids. It may coause environmental problem if not utilized properly.

Aims: The present study aim to utilize whey in the preparation ice candy enriched with fruit pulp.

Methodology: Whey candy mix was prepared by combination of fruit pulp, sugar and stabilizer in clarified paneer whey followed by homogenization, heating and cooling. Mix was poured in mold and passed through contionues blast freezer to harden. Hardened candies were wraped in aluminium foil and stored in deep freezer at - 20 ± 2ºC. The sutability of fruits i.e. kiwi, orange and pineapple in whey based ice candy was determined by organoleptic quality. The level of selected fruit and sugar were optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The optimized product was evaluated for sensory and physico-chemical qualities. Also the storage stability, consumer acceptability and economical feasibilities of the product were tested.

Results: Amongst the three different fruits, the whey candy prepared by using pineapple fruit pulp was recived higest sensory score. The RSM results shows that, increase in pineapple pulp and sugar level resulted in higher sensory score for color and appearance, taste and flavor. Optimized level of pineapple pulp and sugar were 14.23% and 21.80%, respectively. This combination obtained 7.7, 7.6 and 7.65 sensory score for color, flavor and overall acceptability respectively whereas, melting rate was 42.19%. The whey candy subjected to study consumer accapetability and It was found that 58% of the consumers rated experimental candy as excellent (score 5) and 20.5% rated on very good. The whey candy was in acceptable up to 60 days at refrigerated storage condition.
Refurbishment of Environmental Damage and Socio-Economic Consciousness Relate to Improvement of Climate Change
Authors: Sarkar Hari Sadhan , Ghosh Oly Sarkar
Published: June 2020

Demand for energy, water, food and shelter for raising the standard of lifestyle of country people is the driving force of democracy in modern days but that cause the environmental damages through Green House Gas, micro-particles emission from combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil as well as fuel gases and incessant emissions of hydrocarbons from automobiles, oil fields, oil refineries besides industrial activities in the globe along with horizontal land encroachment decreasing greeneries in the planet earth with the decrease of oxygen/nitrogen ratio. The emissions are the main causes for increase in environmental pollution and responsible for climate change in contrast to the idea expressed by various researchers about the impact of climate change on environment. Mechanisms on interaction of solar/electro- magnetic radiation with PM1-2.5 and hydrocarbons in air play a role on degradation of stratospheric ozone as well as accumulation of ozone in troposphere which manifests in various episodes and global warming. Increasing population, increasing urbanization with growing carbon footprint, deceasing greeneries in the planet, the carbon-dioxide: oxygen: Nitrogen ratios in the atmosphere suffered for the last 1000 years or more. The initiatives that are needed to promote the environmental capacity through replacement of fossil fuel energy by green energy establishments, socital up-liftment through intercontinental sweet relations instead of power supremacy depriving 80% global population to refurbish the health of environment with improvement of climate. The fruit of green energy to reach all classes of people in this earth is the immediate need of the globe. The flaws of environmental laws are to be tightened and socio-environmental economic culture is to be inculcated among citizens of states for environmental health improvement vis-a-vis control on climate change to save the planet from extinction of dominant human lives.
Climate Change Responses of Cocoa Farmers in Ghana
Authors: Buxton David Nii Baah
Published: June 2020

Background: Undoubtedly, vulnerability and adaptation of the agricultural sector to the adverse impacts of climate change are among the most crucial concerns of many developing countries where agriculture is largely rain-fed. In Ghana, the cocoa sector is the mainstay of the agricultural sector, contributing about 60% of agricultural GDP. The cacao tree is susceptible to the vagaries of climate, a fact which manifests in outbreak of pests and diseases and their pattern, loss of pods and early ripening of young pods, among others. Cocoa farmers have over the years used short-term (coping) strategies and long-term (adaptation) strategies to offset the effects of climate change on their production.

Methods: A field survey of 444 cocoa farmers in Ghana was conducted, using a guided interview schedule.

Results: Farmers’ coping strategies included those on crop, soil fertility and soil water management practices. Adaptation strategies included behavioural adjustments (spraying, fertilizer application, weed control, pruning) as well as institutional and technological adjustments (change in variety and increased extension services).

Conclusion: The study showed that farmers who perceived that the climate had changed and had some effect on their production usually employed adaptation measures. Differences in farmers in terms of personal managerial and entrepreneurial capacities and family circumstances influence their responses to climate change. However, one major challenge is to separate the adaptations in response to climate change from adaptations in response to other stimuli, such as market price or government policy changes that farmers face in the real world. Assessing adaptation strategies also provides the information needed by cocoa farmers to increase their capacity to moderate potential damages and to take advantage of opportunities, if any, to survive in a changing climate.
Effect of Planting Methods and Seedling Age on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake in Rice under High Rainfall Areas of Bay Islands
Authors: Bommayasamy N. , Singh L. B. , Rahman F. H.
Published: June 2020

A field experiment was conducted in farmer’s field during Kharif season at Badmaspahar village of South Andaman under National Innovation on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) to find out the influence of planting methods, seedling age on growth, productivity, profitability, nutrient uptake of rice under higher rainfall areas of Bay Islands. Among the method of planting and age of seedlings, square planting with 14 days old seedlings recorded the highest dry matter production of 63.2% higher dry matter production as compared to random planting with 28 days old seedlings. Maximum grain and straw yield of 4855 and 9460 kg/ha respectively was recorded square planting (20 x 20 cm) with 14 days old seedling which was 64.6, 45.6 and 71.7, 59.9% higher grain and straw yield as compared to random planting with 28 days old seedlings and same age of seedlings with line planting respectively. Higher gross return of Rs. 50920/ ha and net return of Rs. 32170/ ha with B: C ratio of 2.72 was recorded in square planting (20 x 20 cm) with 14 days old seedling. The higher N, P and K uptake of rice (78.7, 25.1 and 114.8 kg/ha, respectively) was recorded in square planting (20 x 20 cm) with 14 days old seedlings was comparable with line planting (20 x 15 cm) with 14 days old seedlings. Hence, it can be concluded that square planting (20 x 20 cm) with 14 days old seedlings with stand lodging, produced more economic yield and net return for realizing efficient use of resources and productivity.
Effect of thalamic deep brain stimulation on swallowing in patients with essential tremor
Authors: Lapa Sriramya , Claus Inga , Reitz Sarah C. , Quick‐Weller Johanna , Sauer Sonja , Colbow Sigrid , Nasari Christiane , Dziewas Rainer , Kang Jun‐Suk , Baudrexel Simon , Warnecke Tobias
Published: June 2020

Objective

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) is a mainstay treatment for severe and drug‐refractory essential tremor (ET). Although stimulation‐induced dysarthria has been extensively described, possible impairment of swallowing has not been systematically investigated yet.

Methods

Twelve patients with ET and bilateral VIM‐DBS with self‐reported dysphagia after VIM‐DBS were included. Swallowing function was assessed clinically and using by flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing in the stim‐ON and in the stim‐OFF condition. Presence, severity, and improvement of dysphagia were recorded.

Results

During stim‐ON, the presence of dysphagia could be objectified in all patients, 42% showing mild, 42% moderate, and 16 % severe dysphagia. During stim‐OFF, all patients experienced a statistically significant improvement of swallowing function.

Interpretation

VIM‐DBS may have an impact on swallowing physiology in ET‐patients. Further studies to elucidate the prevalence and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are warranted.
Mortality Among Hospitalized Individuals With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the US Between 2006 and 2016
Authors: Anastasiou Christine , Trupin Laura , Glidden David V. , Li Jing , Gianfrancesco Milena , Shiboski Stephen , Schmajuk Gabriela , Yazdany Jinoos
Published: June 2020

Objective

To evaluate time trends in mortality for hospitalized adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to the general hospitalized population (GHP), and to identify factors associated with increased risk of death among hospitalized SLE patients.

Methods

We used the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample to estimate all‐cause mortality for adults discharged from community hospitals in the US between 2006 and 2016. Poisson regression models were used to estimate the risk of in‐hospital death among all patients, including demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, comorbidity score, hospital region, SLE diagnosis, and race/ethnicity as covariates.

Results

Among 340,467,049 hospitalizations analyzed, 1,903,279 had a discharge diagnosis of SLE. In adjusted analysis, the risk of inpatient death decreased among hospitalizations for patients with SLE from 2.2% to 1.5% (P < 0.001) between 2006 and 2016. All of the decrease in SLE mortality occurred between 2006 and 2008; after 2008, mortality stabilized at a rate statistically similar to the GHP. Hospitalizations for Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients with SLE were more likely to end in death compared to hospitalizations for either White patients with SLE or individuals of the same non‐White race/ethnicity without SLE.

Conclusion

In the largest study of in‐hospital SLE mortality published to date, we found significant improvements in mortality for hospitalized patients with SLE in the US from 2006 until 2008, after which mortality stabilized at a level similar to that of the GHP. Our results also demonstrate a persistently high mortality burden among Black and Hispanic patients with SLE in the US and contribute new data revealing high mortality among Asian/Pacific Islander patients with SLE.
Cost‐Effectiveness of Colchicine Prophylaxis for Gout Flares When Commencing Allopurinol
Authors: Robinson Philip C. , Dalbeth Nicola , Donovan Peter
Published: June 2020

Objective

Colchicine prophylaxis to prevent gout flares when commencing urate‐lowering therapy is recommended by international rheumatology society guidelines. Whether this is a cost‐effective intervention is currently unknown. Our objective was to perform a cost‐effectiveness analysis using both a US cost input model and an Australian cost input model.

Methods

This cost‐effectiveness analysis was completed from the point of view of the third‐party payer. We used a 2‐arm decision tree with 1 arm commencing allopurinol with no colchicine prophylaxis and the other with colchicine prophylaxis. Model inputs were drawn from published literature where available. We completed a univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analysis to confirm the robust nature of the modeling. The time frame for the model was 6 months.

Results

The colchicine prophylaxis arm resulted in a cost of $1,276 and 0.49 quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs), while in the placebo arm the cost was $516 and 0.47 QALYs, with an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio of $34,004 per QALY gained. In Australia, where cost of colchicine was much lower, the colchicine arm dominated the placebo ($208 [Australian] in the colchicine arm versus $415 [Australian] in the placebo). Univariate and probability sensitivity analysis demonstrated that results were robust to changes in input parameters. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, the probability of colchicine prophylaxis being the most cost‐effective option was 93% in the US and 100% in the Australian setting.

Conclusion

Colchicine prophylaxis to prevent gout flares while commencing allopurinol in gout is very cost‐effective.
Alternating‐Current MXene Polymer Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Lee Seokyeong , Kim Eui Hyuk , Yu Seunggun , Kim Hyerim , Park Chanho , Park Tae Hyun , Han Hyowon , Lee Seung Won , Baek Soyeon , Jin Wookyoung , Koo Chong Min , Park Cheolmin
Published: June 2020

MXenes (Ti3C2) are 2D transition‐metal carbides and carbonitrides with high conductivity and optical transparency. However, transparent MXene electrodes suitable for polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) have rarely been demonstrated. With the discovery of the excellent electrical stability of MXene under an alternating current (AC), herein, PLEDs that employ MXene electrodes and exhibit high performance under AC operation (AC MXene PLEDs) are presented. The PLED exhibits a turn‐on voltage, current efficiency, and brightness of 2.1 V, 7 cd A−1, and 12 547 cd m−2, respectively, when operated under AC with a frequency of 1 kHz. The results indicate that the undesirable electric breakdown associated with heat arising from the poor interface of the MXene with a hole transport layer in the direct‐current mode is efficiently suppressed by the transient injection of carriers accompanied by the alternating change of the electric polarity under the AC, giving rise to reliable light emission with a high efficiency. The solution‐processable MXene electrode can be readily fabricated on a flexible polymer substrate, allowing for the development of a mechanically flexible AC MXene PLED with a higher performance than flexible PLEDs employing solution‐processed nanomaterial‐based electrodes such as carbon nanotubes, reduced graphene oxide, and Ag nanowires.
Polymer–Covalent Organic Frameworks Composites for Glucose and pH Dual‐Responsive Insulin Delivery in Mice
Authors: Zhang Guiyang , Ji Yan , Li Xinle , Wang Xiaoyun , Song Mengmeng , Gou Huilin , Gao Shan , Jia Xudong
Published: June 2020

Glucose and pH dual‐responsive insulin delivery carriers that have been validated in animal models, remain elusive and much desired. Herein, a new class of covalent organic frameworks (COFs)‐based insulin delivery nanocarriers is developed by encapsulating insulin (Ins) and glucose oxidase (GOx) into COFs (COF‐1 and COF‐5) via both Brønsted and Lewis type (N:→B) complexations. Subsequently, polyethylene glycolated fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC‐PEG) is incorporated into the COFs via the exchange reactions between the disulfide in insulin chains and the thiol in FITC‐PEG to afford a robust nano‐assembly (FITC‐PEG‐COF@Ins‐GOx). In vitro, the nanocarriers rely on the boroxine‐linked COFs’ response to pH and glucose dual‐stimulation and rendered sustainable insulin delivery. In vivo, the polymer–COFs composite displays excellent long‐acting anti‐diabetic effects on type 1 diabetic mice within 72 h without side effects after one injection. More intriguingly, the nanocomposites also show great promise for the efficient delivery of native proteins with high generality. To the authors’ knowledge, this represents the first study pertaining to a facile methodology to prepare COF‐based insulin‐delivery nanocarriers for in vitro and in vivo therapeutic applications.