bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deciding what to replicate: A decision model for replication study selection under resource and knowledge constraints.
Authors: Isager Peder Mortvedt , van Aert Robbie Cornelis Maria , Bahník Štěpán , Brandt Mark John , DeSoto Kurt Andrew , Giner-Sorolla Roger , Krueger Joachim , Perugini Marco , Ropovik Ivan , van 't Veer Anna Elisabeth , Vranka Marek Albert , Lakens Daniel
Published: September 2020

Robust scientific knowledge is contingent upon replication of original findings. However, replicating researchers are constrained by resources, and will almost always have to choose one replication effort to focus on from a set of potential candidates. To select a candidate efficiently in these cases, we need methods for deciding which out of all candidates considered would be the most useful to replicate, given some overall goal researchers wish to achieve. In this article we assume that the overall goal researchers wish to achieve is to maximize the utility gained by conducting the replication study. We then propose a general rule for study selection in replication research based on the *replication value* of the set of claims considered for replication. The *replication value* of a claim is defined as the maximum expected utility we could gain by conducting a replication of the claim, and is a function of (1) the value of being certain about the claim, and (2) uncertainty about the claim based on current evidence. We formalize this definition in terms of a causal decision model, utilizing concepts from decision theory and causal graph modeling. We discuss the validity of using *replication value* as a measure of expected utility gain, and we suggest approaches for deriving quantitative estimates of *replication value*. Our goal in this article is not to define concrete guidelines for study selection, but to provide the necessary theoretical foundations on which such concrete guidelines could be built.
Do aggression and impulsivity dominate dark triad across genders?
Authors: Singh Anupriya , Naeem Aisha , Chandiramani Komal
Published: September 2020

The study investigated gender differences in Overall Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy), Aggression, Impulsivity, and impact of Dark triad on Aggression and Impulsivity. Data was collected from 214 young adults. Analyses was done using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation). T-test was employed to analyze gender differences. Pearson Correlation Method and Multiple regression were used to assess the relation and prediction amongst the variables, respectively. T-test suggested significant gender differences in Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, and Overall Dark Triad, with females scoring high than males. No gender difference was observed in Aggression and Impulsivity. Correlation and regression analyses revealed several significant relationships between the above constructs. The research was concluded by briefly foregrounding some of the study’s implications and future directions.
The Effect of Product Diversification on the Purchase Decision of Telkomsel Loop Simcards (Case Study of Bandung State Polytechnic Students)
Authors: Noviany Henny
Published: September 2020

This study aims to determine and analyze the Effect of Product Diversification on the Purchase Decision of Telkomsel Loop Simcards (Case Study in Bandung State Polytechnic Students). The research method used in this research is a descriptive analysis and verification method with a population of 100 students by using accidental sampling technique by providing a link to fill out the questionnaire via Google Drive. The data analysis technique used is the Correlation Analysis Technique to determine the degree of closeness of the relationship between variables. The results showed that the direct effect of Product Diversification was 3.97. The indirect effect of the Purchasing Decision is 4.13. The test results are known to the constant value (a) of 2.537 and partially Product Diversification variable influences the Purchasing Decision variable. It was concluded that the effect of Product Diversification on Purchasing Decisions showed a positive regression coefficient of 0.468.
Redesigning protective gear for health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: leveling up the “aerosol box”
Authors: Mijares Rodrigo , Moreno Roberto , Pedraza Erika , Morales Fernando , Boccardo Renzo , García María Antonieta
Published: September 2020

Background and Objective: Venezuela presents a health, socio-economic crisis (minimum wage of 2.32 US dollars monthly), and a political one. Apart from having very poor quality public services and coverage, such as water, public transport, electricity, and the Internet. In this context, COVID-19 appears. This pathology quickly became a pandemic since its transmission occurs mainly through contact with the secretions of infected patients or with contaminated surfaces. Health workers face a higher risk of infection than the rest of the population. For this reason, the objective of the work was to reduce this threat while working with patients with COVID-19, redesigning the original "spray box". To carry out this work, the university, private health providers and private companies had to be united.
Material and Methods: The following phases were carried out: a) A sketch is created; b) A 3D CD model is created; c) The prototype is manufactured; d) The prototype is improved; and e) The effectiveness and safety tests are carried out.
Results: As a result, the medical team obtained a tool to limit the spread of COVID 19 and thereby improve the health of the health workers involved. This instrument is called "Cube de Vie" (CubeDV).
Conclusions: to carry out a job in Venezuela is very complicated under the circumstances it presents, however, the joint work of three organizations such as the university, private health providers and private companies can generate solutions to the serious situation that the pandemic presents. .
Emerging Horizons of Clinical Engineering in Disaster Preparedness and Management
Authors: Hosea Fred
Published: September 2020

GLOBAL DISASTER UNPREPAREDNESS - The global COVID-19 crisis of 2020 has thrown a disturbing spotlight on the many ways in which healthcare systems, governments, medical industries, markets, and healthcare professions have been dangerously fragmented, unprepared, under-resourced, tragically slow and uncoordinated in responding to the most disruptive medical disaster of our times.  Despite numerous threat-analysis studies, detailed pandemic scenarios and simulations by state and Federal agencies, despite billions of dollars spent on post-9/11 international disaster preparedness, and repeated top-levels warnings, the world’s governments, markets and healthcare systems have failed to prepare and prevent a health disaster from exploding into a multi-dimensional catastrophe. 
The fragmentation of plans and competencies across sectors, complicated by political decision-making, clearly demand mission-critical re-organization among the institutional players, with more coordinated, integrated, and systems-oriented professional approaches worldwide, and active cultivation of public health intelligence.  For the reasons that follow, Clinical and Biomedical Engineers are among the best-suited health professionals to assume an expanded and comprehensive leadership role in this urgently needed transformation.
DENDROCRONOLOGÍA DE Jacaranda copaia QUE CONTIENE REGISTRO ENSO EN MADRE DE DIOS, PERÚ
Authors: Portal Cahuana Leif Armando , Cardozo Soarez Jorge , Santos Huacac Lucio Oswaldo , Saavedra Alvarado Gorky , Huamán Guevara Bertín Alexis
Published: September 2020

El objetivo de esta investigación fue construir la cronología de los anillos de crecimiento de la especie Jacaranda copaia (Achihua), analizar con los eventos más severos del fenómeno El Niño. Para ello se colectaron 10 árboles de J. copaia, de un bosque relicto de la región de Madre de Dios en el Perú. Se obtuvieron cuatro muestras por árbol, mediante la sonda de Pressler. El proceso, medición y análisis de los anillos de crecimiento fueron realizados mediante técnicas estándar de dendrocronología. Se construyó la cronología master de J. copaia, se determinó el incremento medio anual de la especie y la cronología fue relacionada con los eventos severos del fenómeno de El Niño. Los resultados muestran que J. copaia, presentan anillos de crecimiento distinto y anuales, delimitados por zonas fibrosas, la intercorrelación del ancho de los anillos de crecimiento entre árboles fue de 0.36. La edad máxima fue de 34 años. La relación entre la cronología y los eventos más severos del fenómeno El Niño fue de 0.18 y tuvo una relación clara en el año 1998. Los resultados revelan el potencial dendrocronológico de la especie J. copaia, e los bosques tropicales de Madre de Dios y para futuros estudios dendroclimáticos.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Spinal Canal in Quantitative Assessment of Patients with Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis
Authors: Norimoto Masaki , Eguchi Yawara , Kanamoto Hirohito , Oikawa Yasuhiro , Matsumoto Koji , Masuda Yoshitada , Furuya Takeo , Orita Sumihisa , Inage Kazuhide , Maki Satoshi , Shiga Yasuhiro , Kinoshita Hideyuki , Abe Koki , Inoue Masahiro , Umimura Tomotaka , Sato Takashi , Sato Masashi , Suzuki Masahiro , Enomoto Keigo , Ohtori Seiji
Published: September 2020

Study Design

Retrospective observational study.

Purpose

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) has traditionally been evaluated morphologically, there is a paucity of literature on quantitative assessment of LSS. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether intraspinal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters such as apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) are useful for assessing LSS.

Overview of Literature

Quantitative assessment of LSS is challenging.

Methods

Study participants comprised five healthy volunteers (mean age, 27.2 years) and 27 patients with LSS (mean age, 58.4 years) who were individually assessed using 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Intraspinal ADC and FA values of 10 intervertebral discs from healthy volunteers and 52 intervertebral discs from LSS patients were measured. Also, intraspinal canal area, Schizas classification (A: normal, B: mild stenosis, C: severe stenosis) and correlations with symptoms were investigated. Clinical symptoms were checked for the presence of low back pain (LBP), intermittent claudication (IMC), and bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD).

Results

Compared to healthy individuals, LSS patients had significantly lower ADC (p<0.05) and significantly higher FA values (p<0.01). In Schizas classification, stenosis worsened from A to C. ADC values decreased significantly while FA values increased significantly in that order (p<0.05). A positive correlation was found between intraspinal canal area and ADC values (r=0.63, p<0.01) and a negative correlation between intraspinal canal area and FA values (p=−0.61, p<0.01). No correlations were noted between LBP and ADC or FA values. On the other hand, ADC values were significantly lower (p<0.05) and FA values were significantly higher (p<0.05) in patients with IMC or BBD.

Conclusions

Intraspinal DTI parameters such as ADC and FA values were associated with the Schizas classification, intraspinal canal area, and clinical symptoms, suggesting that ADC and FA may be useful for quantitative assessment of LSS.
In the Extraordinary Times of Coronavirus Disease 2019: Clinical Strategies for Performing Spinal Surgery
Authors: Barry Tan Wei Loong , Jeanette Tan Sze Lyn Jasmin , Ashokka Balakrishnan , Lopez Keith Gerard , Thambiah Joseph , Kumar Naresh
Published: September 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused pronounced strain on global healthcare systems, forcing the streamlining of clinical activities and conservation of health resources. There is a pressing need for institutions to present discipline-specific strategies for the management of COVID-19 patients. We present the comprehensive considerations at the National University Hospital, Singapore from the surgeon’s and anesthetist’s perspectives in the performance of spinal surgery in COVID-19 patients. These are based on national guidelines and overarching principles of protection for the healthcare workers (HCWs) and efficiency in surgical planning. The workflow begins with the emergency department screening that has been adapted to the local epidemiology of COVID-19 in order to identify suspected/confirmed cases. If patient history cannot be obtained, demographic, clinical, and imaging data are used. Designated orthopedic “contaminated teams” are available 24/7 with an activation time of <30 minutes for review. In cases where sub-specialty spine surgeons were required, these professionals were inducted into the “contaminated team” and quarantined until cleared to return to work. Indications for emergency spine surgery were determined pre-emptively. Preoperative surgical considerations included the minimization of manpower, limited dissection, reduced operative time, and judicious use of equipment, leading to reduced aerosolization. Anesthesia considerations include preoperative screening for COVID-19–related concerns that influence surgery, operating room process planning and induction, intraoperative, reversal, recovery, and resuscitation considerations. Focused multi-disciplinary preoperative briefing facilitates familiarization. Surgical, anesthetic, and postoperative workflows were designed to reduce the risk of transmission and protect HCWs while effectively performing spinal surgery. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated paradigm shifts in healthcare planning, hospital workflows, and operative protocols. The viral burden does not discriminate between surgeons and physicians, and it is crucial that we, as medical professionals, adapt practices to be malleable and fluid to address the ever-changing developments.
Pengaruh Faktor Internal dan, Eksternal terhadap Risiko Kredit pada Bank Perkreditan Rakyat (BPR) di Indonesia
Authors: Sudana I Made , Asiyah Andi Siti
Published: September 2020

This study aims to know the effect of internal factor (capitalization, profitability, inefficiency, size) and external factor (economic growth, inflation) on credit risk of micro bank in Indonesia. This research uses purposive sampling method. Dependent variable in this research is credit risk. The independent variables in this study are capitalization measured by capital adequacy ratio, profitability measured by return on asset, inefficiency measured by BOPO ratio, size, economic growth, and inflation. The results show that credit risk is significantly influenced by capitalization, profitability, inefficiency, size, economic growth, and inflation. Inefficiency and inflation variables have a positive effect on credit risk, while variable capitalization, profitability, size, and economic growth negatively affects credit risk.

 

Keywords: capitalization, profitability, inefficiency, size, economic growth, inflation, credit risk, rural bank.
I'dad Al-Mawad Al-Mula’imah Li Ta'lim Al-Lughah Al-Arabiyah
Authors: Nurlaila Nurlaila
Published: September 2020

An essential factor in the Arabic teaching process is learning materials. The teacher prepares the learning materials before entering the teaching process. Developing learning materials is considered one of the most challenging matters for the teacher because it is based on a set of basics and principles. So the learning materials should provide different types of information for learners, should be attractive to them that suit their preferences, should take into account their needs and the needs of society and should be related to their life. Therefore, the materials for Arabic teaching differ from stage to stage, from level to level, and from specialization to specialization according to the nature of learners and their characteristics. The teacher must prepare appropriate materials for learners to help them improve their motivation to learn Arabic.
A Scientific Study of Religion as a Catalyst to Bring Positive Change in Human Behavior
Authors: Shibli Naveed , Ahmad Mudassir , ul Haq Anwar , Hameedullah Hafiz , Anjum Noshaba , Randhawa Alia , Irfan Muhammad , Nasir Muhammad Adeeb
Published: September 2020

It is a fact well-established that religion has influenced humankind throughout the course of history irrespective of the strength of its influence and its permanence that reflects its relatedness with human existence. It was assumed that the lesser befitting implementation of ‘modernity’ in the ancient tradition of religion is one of the causes of low religious productivity and less positivity in the present day life. Perhaps this is the case with all the Abrahamic religions. An amalgamation of tradition and moderation in a chain of a school system was assessed. The psychological and scientific follow up of the outcome supported the fact that religion has the ability to bring in positive and desirable ‘behavioral change’ in a given direction and to contribute towards ‘peace’ which is an internationally known positivity.
Recompondo a função social do contrato: é possível um sistema em que a menor minoria possua uma tutela efetiva?
Authors: Rosenvald Nelson , Dias Wagner Inácio Freitas
Published: September 2020

A função social é um dos mais instigantes princípios que se fazem presentes sobre as relações contratuais. A partir dela, os limites contratuais ganham contornos fluidos, de forma a se moldarem às necessidades e expectativas sociais. Com a nova regulação das relações privadas, advinda da Lei da Liberdade Econômica (Lei 13.874/19), os caracteres econômicos da função social, já percebidos na Constituição Federal de 1988 ganharam especial relevo. O presente trabalho busca demonstrar como o individual e o social são chamados a caminhar juntos no novo universo das relações privadas.
Perennially Perishable? Development Trends in the Set of De Facto States
Authors: Podhrázský Štěpán , Daněk Petr
Published: September 2020

De facto states have moved from a periphery to the center of academicattention during the last two decades. The objective of the paper is anidentification of characteristic development trends within a set of thesenon-state territorial political units, and it investigates the relation betweenthe degree of their internal sovereignty and their level of partialinternational recognition. The quantitative method for assessment of thedegree of internal sovereignty is based on a set of seven indicators and anaggregate “indicator of internal sovereignty”. The set of de facto states iscomposed of 26 entities whose development is analyzed from 2001 to 2018.The results confirmed a relationship between the development of worldpolitics and the development trends within the set of de facto states, asignificant influence of partial international recognition on the level ofinternal sovereignty, and a close relation between security and politicalindicators of sovereignty.
Uvnitř diplomacie: Jak na genderovou nerovnost v zahraniční službě
Authors: Mildorf Jarka Devine
Published: September 2020

Východiskem knihy je feministická kritika současné diplomacie, kterápovažuje genderovou nerovnost za jeden z jejích problémů. Kniha tytootázky podrobuje analýze, která jde za úroveň pouhé kritiky současnéhostavu. V centru pozornosti stojí eliminace genderové nerovnosti v zahraničníslužbě. Publikace se zaměřuje na cesty naplňování ideálu rovnosti mužů ažen v diplomacii. Dále se věnuje právům a potřebám osob doprovázejícíchdiplomatický personál na zahraničních misích, zejména manželekdiplomatů, neboť tato problematika byla zatím v odborné literatuřereflektována jen okrajově. Závěrečná část publikace se zabývá otázkamisystémové úrovně zahraniční služby z hlediska institucionalizace principurovnosti. Poskytuje tak komplexní přehled o možnostech oslabování stáleještě značně maskulinizovaného charakteru současné diplomacie.Kombinuje při tom výsledky akademického výzkumu s řešením praktickýchotázek zahraniční služby – představuje široké spektrum možných iniciativ akonkrétních opatření. Kultivace vnitřní dimenze diplomacie poskytujeobrovský potenciál pro zvyšování její kvality a efektivity.
Inflation of Racism, Devaluation of the Poor and Fetishisation of the Critique
Authors: Horký-Hlucháň Ondřej
Published: September 2020

V prvním letošním čísle Mezinárodních vztahů vyšel článek Tomáše Profantas názvem Rasizmus v rozvoji a rozvojové spolupráci. Publikování textuspustilo živou diskusi, kterou se redakce rozhodla podpořit oslovenímněkterých dalších autorů a autorek a transformovat do podoby diskusníhofóra. Jednotlivé příspěvky, které na rozdíl od Profantova článkuneprocházely plnohodnotným recenzním řízením, se tak vyrovnávají sargumenty a metodologickými postupy původního textu, rozvíjejí jej alokalizují do místních podmínek či poukazují na empirické příklady, jež jejpotvrzují. Celé fórum uzavírá odpověď Tomáše Profanta na jednotlivévznesené připomínky. Byť fórum reaguje na konkrétní článek, doufáme, žeby i tato diskuse mohla přispět k širší reflexi práce s konceptem rasismu ajejí implikace pro politickou praxi. Věříme, že právě v tomto je tato debata vsoučasném akademickém i politickém kontextu velmi aktuální.
Perancangan Mesin Pencacah Plastik Tipe Shredder dan Alat Pemotong Tipe Reel
Authors: Triadi Naufal Yudha , Martana Budhi , Pradana Sigit
Published: September 2020

Plastic is an object that can support human daily activities due to its character that is practical and resistant. However, wasted plastic can pollute the environment since it is difficult to be decomposed. The purpose of this study was to produce plastic chopper machine that is capable of chopping plastic waste with shredder type and reel type cutting tools. The design process is chosen based on a predetermined assessment. The kinds of plastic that are chopped will be PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and HDPE (high density polyethylene) plastic. AISI 304 material knife was chosen to chop up plastic waste. According to the results of design and calculation, the engine size has dimensions of 1105.6x1355.7x600, 3 HP motor drive power, and has a rotation of 1450 rpm which is assisted by pulley transmission elements and v-belt type A. The chopper components used consist of 14 pieces of shredder blade and 9 blade reel cutters with 2 pieces of bedknife. The components of shredder knives, reel knives, and frames are analyzed using Finite Element Analysis to determine the safety of the planned design.
Pembuatan Sabun Padat Transparan Berbasis Bahan Minyak Jarak (Castor Oil) Dengan Penambahan Bahan Aktif Ekstrak Teh Putih (Camellia sinensis)
Authors: Widyasanti Asri , Nugraha Dwiyan , Rohdiana Dadan
Published: September 2020

Ekstrak teh putih mengandung senyawa katekin yang tinggi. Kandungan tersebut dapat menghambat dan membunuh pertumbuhan bakteri Staphylococcus aureus. Penambahan ekstrak teh putih pada sabun padat transparan berbasis minyak jarak dapat menambah aktivitas antibakteri. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui proses pembuatan sabun padat transpran, mengetahui formulasi penambahan ekstrak teh putih, mengetahui sabun terbaik analisis berdasarkan karakteristik fisiko-kimia, aktivitas antibakteri, dan organoleptik, serta kesesuaian sabun dengan SNI 06-3532-1994. Perlakuan konsentrasi ekstrak teh putih adalah 1,5 % (b/v) dengan penambahan sebesar  A = 0% (b/v), B = 0,5% (b/v), C = 1,0% (b/v), dan D = 1,5% (b/v) dari 300 gram basis sabun. Pengujian sampel sabun meliputi sifat fisika-kimia, aktivitas antibakteri, dan organoleptik. Hasil sabun terbaik berdasarkan nilai pembobotan sifat fisika-kimia dan aktivitas antibakteri adalah sampel sabun penambahan ekstrak teh putih 1 % b/v (C) mencapai 3,39. Nilai hasil analisis sampel perlakuan C adalah kadar air dan zat menguap 24,48%, jumlah asam lemak 1,13%, kadar asam lemak bebas 0,21%, kadar fraksi tak tersabunkan 0,94%, nilai pH 10,67, kekerasan 0,0037 mm/gram/detik, stabilitas busa 44,4% dan diameter daya hambat 18,5 mm. Hasil sabun terbaik berdasarkan nilai pembobotan organoleptik adalah sabun kontrol (A) mencapai 2,75. Kata kunci : Sabun Padat Transparan, Minyak Jarak, Ekstrak Teh Putih, Aktivitas Antibakteri, Sifat Fisiko-Kimia
Analisis Menurunnya Minat Petani Menanam Padi Organik dengan Pendekatan Fishbone Diagram Di Kabupaten Ngawi
Authors: Widodo Ari Leksono Marhaen , Harisudin Mohd. , Agustono Agustono
Published: September 2020

ABSTRAKPenelitian ini dilakukan dengan tujuan untuk menganalisis keragaan pendapatan petani padi organik dan petani padi konvensional, mengetahui faktor penyebab apa yang paling utama menyebabkan menurunnya minat petani menanam padi organik, serta mencari tindakan apa yang dapat meningkatkan minat petani menanam padi organik. Metode dasar yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif dengan teknik pengambilan data menggunakan teknik observasi, wawancara, kuesioner, serta dokumen dan pencatatan. Data yang digunakan adalah data primer dan sekunder. Penelitian dilakukan di Kabupaten Ngawi. Metode analisis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis pendapatan usahatani, analisis efisiensi usahatani, serta analisis fishbone diagram. Berdasarkan hasil analisis menunjukan bahwa pendapatan usahatani padi konvensional lebih tinggi apabila dibandingkan dengan usahatani padi organik dengan nilai Rp. 18.131.817,66,-/ha/MT berbanding dengan Rp. 11.330.399,35,-/ha/MT. Analisis Efisiensi menunjukan bahwa kedua jenis usahatani telah efisien namun nilai efisiensi usahatani padi konvensional lebih tinggi apabila dibandingkan dengan usahatani padi organik dengan nilai 3,09/MT berbanding dengan 2,01/MT. Berdasarkan analisis fishbone diagram menunjukan bahwa faktor yang paling berpengaruh adalah dari faktor manusia yaitu dengan permasalahan penerimaan uang yang terlambat.Kata Kunci : Efisiensi Usahatani, Fishbone Diagram, Padi Organik, Pendapatan, Petani.
Shadows and Specters
Authors: Heffner Rachael , Palmer Elizabeth , Palmer Malorie , Wolfe Esther
Published: September 2020

This edition provides a critical examination of M.E. Braddon’s “The Shadow in the Corner.” Specifically, the authors explore the ways in which themes of haunting in the Victorian period and in M.E. Braddon’s work are informed by competing notions of subjectivity and the shadowy presence of female working class figures in both the history and fiction of the time.
Ghostly Hands
Authors: Aprill Morgan , Lutz Lauren
Published: September 2020

This edition critically analyzes “The Romance of Certain Old Clothes” by Henry James. It is put in context with three other Victorian ghost stories that use the similar trope of ghostly hands. The theme of these ghostly hands is used to explore Victorian era issues concerning class, property exchange, and the roles of women.
Resurfacing Specters in the House of Media
Authors: Lynch Jared
Published: September 2020

This article explores an aspect of haunting and terror that surfaced after the Columbine schoolshooting, a specter crafted and refined through the journalistic practice of framing. This ghostinhabits the house of media, where it still continues to surface. American Horror Story: Murder House presents an incarnation of this ghost, opening a new way of thinking about bothjournalistic framing and the specter of mass violence.
Speaking the Lacuna: The Archaeology of Plantation Slavery as Testimony
Authors: Wolfe Esther
Published: September 2020

This paper examines plantation archaeology as a form of material testimony and bearing witness to the historical trauma of slavery. Exploring intersections of literary and spatial analysis, and using a critical framework that combines Agamben, Weizman, and Felman, the author argues that the material testimony of plantation archaeology embodies a “lacuna” of witnessing, and may even replicate historical dynamics of violence.
Kidnapped Amazonians, Severed Breasts, and Witches
Authors: Brooks Laken
Published: September 2020

Freak shows are physical and metaphorical,demonstrating a cultural perception of what and who is privileged. In Renaissance England, Shakespeare and Spenser both write of deviant women and perpetuate the stereotypes of foreign women, creating literary “freak shows” in their works Two Noble Kinsmen and The Bower of Bliss. Whether these characters are Amazonian women disinterested in heterosexual romance or promiscuous witches, they are set as spectacle in the confines of their respective texts.
Princesses or Monsters?
Authors: Seitz Lauren
Published: September 2020

This essay explores a modern-day incarnationof the historical freak show: the child beautypageant reality show Toddlers & Tiaras. The author draws connections between both freak shows and Toddlers’ use of the concepts of normalcy, display, and consent, which ultimately reveals that shows such as these have a detrimental effect on how audiences view young girls, and the contestants themselves may feel negative about their self-worth and femininity after participating in pageants.
Kinderbrutanstalt and Kindchenschema
Authors: Darnell Nikole , Hampshire Kathryn , Orchard Amory
Published: September 2020

Today, Coney Island is known for family fun andentertainment. But few people realize that at onetime it was home to the first infant incubators in thenation. By examining the history of these incubators, putting children on display without their directconsent, and the psychology of cute, the authorsdelve into the darker side of Coney Island’s history.
Aralıklı Açlık Diyetleri ve Düşük Karbonhidratlı Diyetlerin Obezite Tedavisindeki Etkisi
Authors: Aydoğdu Gökçe Sueda , Akbulut Gamze
Published: September 2020

Obezite, prevalansı giderek artan küresel bir sağlık sorunudur. Fazla kilolu ve obez bireyleri tedavi etmek için yeni diyet stratejileri oluşturulmuştur ve bu diyet stratejileri popüler ve yaygın hale gelmiştir. Bu diyetler arasında “aralıklı açlık diyetleri” ve “düşük karbonhidratlı diyetler (DKD)” bulunmaktadır. Birçok aralıklı açlık diyeti varyasyonu açlık döngülerinin uzunluğu ve sıklığı bakımından farklılık gösterir. Alternatif gün açlık diyetleri (dönüşümlü açlık), zaman kısıtlı beslenme, dini oruç olarak sınıflandırılabilir. Düşük karbonhidratlı diyetlerin ortak bir tanımı bulunmamaktadır. Bazı DKD’lerde enerji alımına bağlı, bazılarında ise enerji alımından bağımsız olarak karbonhidrat alım miktarı kısıtlanmaktadır. Alternatif gün açlık diyetlerinin ve zaman sınırlı beslenmenin vücut ağırlığı kaybında olumlu etkileri olduğu öne sürülmektedir, ancak, açlık süresinin uzaması diyete uyumu azaltabilir. Ramazan orucunda ise genellikle bir aylık süreçte kaybedilen vücut ağırlığı geri kazanılmaktadır. Düşük karbonhidratlı diyetlerin vücut ağırlığı kaybı üzerine olumlu etkileri olsa da düşük yağlı diyetlerin etkileri konusunda çelişkili veriler bulunmaktadır. Her iki beslenme modeli de obezitede vücut ağırlık kontrolü için uygulanabilecek yaklaşımlar olabilir; ancak uzun dönemli etkilerinin ortaya konulması için uzun süreli takip çalışmalarına ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır.
Applying the Fraud Triangle Model to the Global Credit Crisis
Authors: Day Ranulph
Published: September 2020

The premise of this paper is that the unwarranted corporate collapses and failures which occurred during the, currently ongoing, ‘credit crisis’ arise from failures in the decision making processes of the organisation. This paper is written primarily from a legal corporate governance perspective and looks at how the law could allow, what in hindsight appears to be, staggering follies. As such this paper is focussed on the microeconomics of the debacle rather than upon the macroeconomic triggers. The rationale for this approach is that the law cannot regulate behaviour on a mass scale, law acts against the individual rather than the group. There are various reasons for this assumption ranging from the necessity of justice and fairness to practical logistics. However it is the working assumption of this paper that for law to be effective it has to act against individuals and so can only pursue a microeconomic approach.
Giacomo Tripodi (ed.), Iliad and Odyssey in the North of Europe – Proceedings of the Workshop “Toija and the roots of European civilisation”, Toija, Finland, August 10th 2007 (Messina: Armando Siciliano Editore, 2009)
Authors: Loptson Peter
Published: September 2020

Classical scholarship has profited, upon occasion, from the contributions of talented or inspired outsiders. Particularly notable in these regards, in the case of Homeric studies, have been the insights, and the detailed work, of Heinrich Schliemann, Milman Parry, and Michael Ventris. One wants never to disavow or disdain what may prove to be brilliant or helpful additions to the inevitably partly speculative domains of investigation into the early literature and the archaeology of the Hellenic peoples. At the same time these same territories have attracted more than their share of wild, sometimes completely crackpot would-be contributions, from people with more time on their hands and enthusiasm for Homeric or legendary topics than skill or sense. How to tell the difference, or to separate wheat from chaff?
Thomas Jefferson, I dilemmi della democrazia americana, translated and edited by Alberto Giordano, with a preface by Dino Cofrancesco (Novi Ligure: Città del Silenzio, 2007)
Authors: Chiassoni Pierluigi
Published: September 2020

The history of the Italian Republic has been a history of a remarkable cultural, social, economic, and legal progress for almost thirty years. Of course, many serious issues were left unattended (organized crime and the limits of political immorality rate among the foremost); but, on the whole, the balance was not so bad (our Constitution and our laws concerning judicature, divorce, abortion, and the national health service, for instance, were taken as examples by other European countries coming out from dictatorships and cultural depression). Terrorism, in the 1970s-1980s, was (taken as) a major drawback; in any case, terrorists on both extremes were finally, and utterly, defeated with the sole arms of the rule of law (no “special renditions”, no torture, no special military tribunals were resorted to as “necessary evils”, like in the dark global times following September 11), supported by a conscious and responsible civil society. The political establishment, however, did not grow up in morality, responsibility, and sense for the common good at the same pace of the most advanced sectors of civil society.
Present Status of Shrimp Farming in Satkhira, a Southwestern District of Bangladesh
Authors: Mamun Md Abdur Rahman Al , Ara Motia Gulshan , Azad Kamrun Naher , Fatema Jannatul , Ahmed Zoarder Faruque , Fatema Mst Kaniz
Published: September 2020

Shrimp has become one of the most important export products in recent decades due toincreasing international demand. Shrimp farming is performing significant role in thelivelihoods of rural people of southwestern part of Bangladesh which is considered thecore areas for shrimp farming. To continue the trend of exporting shrimp worldwide it isvery much needed to be familiar with the current culture practices with the precautionstaken by the shrimp farmers. A total of 30 shrimp farmers in Shyamnagarupazilla ofSatkhira district were interviewed to understand the present status of shrimp farming alongwith to identify the problems faced by the farmers, and to formulate somerecommendations for better shrimp production development. Study showed thatpolyculture was the only culture technique followed by the shrimp farmers using naturalwater sources like rain and tide. Bagda (Penaeusmondon) was the dominant culturedspecies followed by Harina (Metapenaeusmonoceros) because of their economicsignificance. Although wild post-larvae (PL) are better in quality than hatchery producedPL, farmers collected PL from both sources. Farmers usually used inorganic fertilizers likeUrea and TSP instead of organic one, but they preferred natural feeds for cost efficiencyand management purposes. The study also identified that shrimp diseases (white spot, gillrot and fin rot), lower market price, flood, high mortality and lack of scientific knowledgewere the major constraints in shrimp farming. Government, donor agencies, planners,researchers and NGOs, therefore, should come forward to assist farmers for mitigatingproblems and achieve sustainable shrimp export earnings of Bangladesh.

Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(2): 311-320,  August 2020
Highest and Best Use Analysis in Micro-Market of Dombivli
Authors: Kaul Oshin , Nagi Vishwas , Nagargoje Shekhar
Published: September 2020

Kalyan-Dombivli is a twin city within the Thane district and forms the "Peripheral Central Suburbs" of Mumbai. Dombivli is a town in Kalyan tehsil and falls under the jurisdiction of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). Highest and Best Use Analysis was conducted for the micro-market Dombivli using six step market analysis process. This study focuses on being able to understand the real estate market dynamics in the given context of the chosen micro-market. This allows one to make an informed decision about the most profitable use the site can be put to and its competitive position among the various market participants. The site chosen is hypothetical in nature. The study makes use of primary and secondary data for the various rationales presented in it. It was observed that there is a dearth of affordable properties, Grade A commercial spaces, organized retail spaces (malls) in the city despite an oversupply of residential housing. The inferences and recommendations are based on several scientific methodologies of urban economics and market study. The major conclusion drawn among them all was that, mixed use of the property (Commercial/Residential mix and Commercial/ Retail mix) would bring in the highest returns.
A Review of the Effects of Abacus Training on Cognitive Functions and Neural Systems in Humans
Authors: Wang Chunjie
Published: September 2020

Abacus, which represents numbers via a visuospatial format, is a traditional device to facilitate arithmetic operations. Skilled abacus users, who have acquired the ability of abacus-based mental calculation (AMC), can perform fast and accurate calculations by manipulating an imaginary abacus in mind. Due to this extraordinary calculation ability in AMC users, there is an expanding literature investigating the effects of AMC training on cognition and brain systems. This review study aims to provide an updated overview of important findings in this fast-growing research field. Here, findings from previous behavioral and neuroimaging studies about AMC experts as well as children and adults receiving AMC training are reviewed and discussed. Taken together, our review of the existing literature suggests that AMC training has the potential to enhance various cognitive skills including mathematics, working memory and numerical magnitude processing. Besides, the training can result in functional and anatomical neural changes that are largely located within the frontal-parietal and occipital-temporal brain regions. Some of the neural changes can explain the training-induced cognitive enhancements. Still, caution is needed when extend the conclusions to a more general situation. Implications for future research are provided.
Assessment of Environmental Burdens of Winter Wheat Production in Different Agrotechnical Systems
Authors: Holka Małgorzata , Bieńkowski Jerzy
Published: September 2020

In recent years, an increasing interest has been observed in the reduction in environmental threats posed by the food production chain beginning with agricultural production. The impact of agriculture on the environment varies depending on farming practices. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the environmental effects of the life cycle of winter wheat cultivation in three soil tillage systems: conventional tillage, reduced tillage, and no-tillage. The study was conducted in 2015–2017 on 15 agricultural farms located in the Wielkopolska region, Poland. The “cradle-to-farm gate” life cycle of wheat production was analysed using life cycle assessment methodology. The values of impact category indicators, especially in the case of global warming potential, acidification potential, and eutrophication potential, depended mainly on mineral fertilization. Wheat production generated more adverse emissions with increased nitrogen fertilization both in reduced tillage and no-tillage systems on the studied farms, and consequently resulted in a more negative impact on the environment compared to wheat cultivated in the conventional tillage system. After nitrogen fertilization, use of fossil fuel, and phosphorus and potassium fertilization were the top contributors to environmental impacts of winter wheat production in different tillage systems. The pre-production phase associated with the agricultural means of production was dominant in determining the analysed environmental impacts, except for global warming potential and photochemical ozone creation potential, which depended mainly on the production phase on the farm. The other key environmental impacts that should be considered when it comes to improvements in the life cycle of wheat production were depletion of mineral resources and acidification.
Evaluation of Late-Season Short- and Long-Duration Rice Cultivars for Potential Yield under Mechanical Transplanting Conditions
Authors: Chen Jiana , Zhang Ruichun , Cao Fangbo , Yin Xiaohong , Zou Yingbin , Huang Min , Abou-Elwafa Salah Fatouh
Published: September 2020

The development of large-scale farming has encouraged the adoption of mechanical transplanting techniques for rice production. However, the increased farming operation times that often occur under large-scale farming conditions necessitate shortening the duration of rice growth, especially that of late-season rice; therefore, rice cultivars with short growth durations are popular under such conditions. A field experiment using two short-duration rice cultivars (SRCs), i.e., Jiuliangyou 3 and Shengyou 9520, and two long-duration rice cultivars (LRCs), i.e., Shengyou 957 and Tianyouhuazhan, was conducted in the late season in Yongan and Santang, Hunan Province, China in 2017 and 2018. The grain yield and yield attributes were compared between the SRCs and LRCs, showing that the SRCs, which exhibited an 11–12-day shorter growth period, revealed similar grain yield to the LRCs. The SRCs also exhibited a 10–31% higher spikelet filling rate and a 13% higher harvest index than the LRCs. Moreover, the biomass accumulation, crop growth rate, and apparent radiation use efficiency of the SRCs were significantly higher than those of the LRCs during the postheading phase. Our results indicate that the higher spikelet filling rate, the harvest index, and the apparent radiation use efficiency of the postheading period were the underlying factors for the SRCs’ grain yield.
Comparative Effects of Using New Multi-Strain Synbiotics on Chicken Growth Performance, Hematology, Serum Biochemistry and Immunity
Authors: Żbikowski Artur , Pawłowski Karol , Śliżewska Katarzyna , Dolka Beata , Nerc Joanna , Szeleszczuk Piotr
Published: September 2020

In this study, the influence of new multi-strain synbiotics on chicken growth performance, hematology, serum biochemistry and immunity was explored. Each synbiotic preparation (A, B and C) comprised three, four or five strains of Lactobacillus sp., respectively, as well as S. cerevisiae and inulin. All strains used in the synbiotics originated from wild-type strains from animal farms in Poland. Six groups of chickens, ROSS 308 line, were fed with three different synbiotics at a dose of 0.5 g/1 kg of feed. Body weight, as well as the biochemical and hematological parameters of the animals in each study group, were determined on the 7th, 14th, 28th and 42nd day of life. Body weight on day 42 differed between groups and was the highest in control group. This group also had the highestfeed conversion ratio (FCR) value. All measured biochemical parameters were in the normal ranges for poultry; however, we observed a lower alkaline phosphatase (AP) concentration on day 7 in the groups fed with synbiotics, which correlated with a lower level of triglycerides in those groups. The aspartate transaminase (AST) concentration was significantly lower in all groups on day 42 in comparison with the control. On day 7, the control group showed the highest concentration of Ca, K and P. Other parameters did not differ significantly throughout the experiment. All groups showed a similar tendency of increase in the red blood cells (RBC) count according to the age of the birds. Every white blood cells (WBC) population showed differences in the proportions between T and B lymphocytes. The T cell and monocyte counts increased until day 28 in all groups. The results showed that our newly developed synbiotic formulas do not have any unfavorable influence on chicken health and may modulate immune response and biochemical parameters. However, this hypothesis needs to be evaluated in future experiments.
Activity of Temporin A and Short Lipopeptides Combined with Gentamicin against Biofilm Formed by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Paduszynska Malgorzata Anna , Greber Katarzyna Ewa , Paduszynski Wojciech , Sawicki Wieslaw , Kamysz Wojciech
Published: September 2020

The formation of biofilms on biomaterials causes biofilm-associated infections. Available treatments often fail to fight the microorganisms in the biofilm, creating serious risks for patient well-being and life. Due to their significant antibiofilm activities, antimicrobial peptides are being intensively investigated in this regard. A promising approach is a combination therapy that aims to increase the efficacy and broaden the spectrum of antibiotics. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of temporin A and the short lipopeptides (C10)2-KKKK-NH2 and (C12)2-KKKK-NH2 in combination with gentamicin against biofilm formed by Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). Peptides were synthesized with solid-phase temperature-assisted synthesis methodology. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs), minimum biofilm eradication concentrations (MBECs), and the influence of combinations of compounds with gentamicin on bacterial biofilm were determined for reference strains of SA (ATCC 25923) and PA (ATCC 9027). The peptides exhibited significant potential to enhance the antibacterial activity of gentamicin against SA biofilm, but there was no synergy in activity against planktonic cells. The antibiotic applied alone demonstrated strong activity against planktonic cells and poor effectiveness against SA biofilm. Biofilm formed by PA was much more sensitive to gentamicin, but some positive influences of supplementation with peptides were noticed. The results of the performed experiments suggest that the potential application of peptides as adjuvant agents in the treatment of biofilm-associated infections should be studied further.
Aronia melanocarpa Fruit Bioactive Fraction Attenuates LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells
Authors: Jang Bong-Keun , Lee Jin-Woo , Choi Hyun , Yim Sung-Vin
Published: September 2020

To demonstrate the anti-inflammatory activity of Aronia melanocarpa fruit extract, human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the effects of aronia bioactive fraction (ABF®), anthocyanin enriched extract from the fruit of A. melanocarpa, were evaluated. Following pretreatment with ABF® at 10–25 µg /mL, BEAS-2B cells were exposed to LPS and the expression of inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted [RANTES], IL-1β, cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2], and inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS]) was analyzed. In LPS-stimulated BEAS-2B cells, ABF® pretreatment significantly decreased the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, RANTES, IL-1β, and COX-2 at doses of 10 and 25 µg/mL. ABF® also attenuated the secretion of TNF- α, IL-6, IL-8, and RANTES protein, as demonstrated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analyses revealed the decreased expression of COX-2 and iNOS following ABF® treatment. ROS production was decreased, and the cell cycle was arrested at the G0/G1 and S phases following ABF® pretreatment. Our results suggest that ABF® may have potential as a nutraceutical agent for the suppression of airway inflammation.