bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microseismic image-domain velocity inversion: Marcellus Shale case study
Authors: Witten Ben , Shragge Jeffrey
Published: July 2017

Seismic monitoring at injection wells relies on generating accurate location estimates of detected (micro-) seismicity. Event location estimates assist in optimizing well and stage spacings, assessing potential hazards, and establishing causation of larger events. The largest impediment to generating accurate location estimates is an accurate velocity model. For surface-based monitoring, the model should capture 3D velocity variation, yet rarely is the laterally heterogeneous nature of the velocity field captured. Another complication for surface monitoring is that the data often suffer from low signal-to-noise levels, making velocity updating with established techniques difficult due to uncertainties in the arrival picks. We use surface-monitored field data to demonstrate that a new method requiring no arrival picking can improve microseismic locations by jointly locating events and updating 3D P- and S-wave velocity models through image-domain adjoint-state tomography. This approach creates a complementary set of images for each chosen event through wave-equation propagation and correlating combinations of P- and S-wavefield energy. The method updates the velocity models to optimize the focal consistency of the images through adjoint-state inversion. We have determined the functionality of the method using a surface array of 192 3C geophones over a hydraulic stimulation in the Marcellus Shale. Applying the proposed joint location and velocity-inversion approach significantly improves the estimated locations. To assess the event location accuracy, we have developed a new measure of inconsistency derived from the complementary images. By this measure, the location inconsistency decreases by 75%. The method has implications for improving the reliability of microseismic interpretation with low signal-to-noise data, which may increase hydrocarbon extraction efficiency and improve risk assessment from injection-related seismicity.
Results of early warning indicators for HIV/AIDS in 42 outpatient clinics in 25 northern provinces of Vietnam
Authors: Le Huong Thi , Doan Linh Thuy Thi , Pham Dung Kim , Phuc Do Huyen , Nguyen Huong Lan Thi
Published: July 2017

Background: The emergence of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) is an unavoidable consequence of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and HIVDR early warning indicators (EWIs) could specifically assess factors at individual clinics associated with HIVDR. Thus, the present study aimed to collect data on EWIs for HIV/AIDS at 42 outpatient clinics (OPCs) in 25 northern provinces and cities of Vietnam in 2012.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Data was collected from 42 OPCs in 25 northern provinces between October and December 2012. The information was collected retrospectively from outpatient records from 2008 to 2011.

Results: In total, 99.8% ART patients were prescribed the correct regimen when starting ART treatment. All facilities met the target of under 20% patients lost to follow-up at 12 months. A total of 31/42 facilities reached the goal for on-time appointment keeping and 37/42 facilities achieved the target of first-line retention after 12-month ARV treatment. 

Conclusions: EWIs should be performed routinely in HIV/AIDS facilities. The data collected will contribute to monitoring, supervision, periodic assessment, and future plans for HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs in the area.
Technology of combined strengthening by wave deformation and case-hardening of structural low-alloy steels
Authors: Киричек Андрей , Kirichek Andrey , Соловьев Дмитрий , Soloviyov Dmitry , Силантьев Сергей , Silantiev Sergey
Published: July 2017

The promising direction of strengthening development is a combined strengthening with surface plastic deformation with the further chemical-thermal treatment, in particular, with case-hardening. The technological possibilities of combined strengthening by a deformation wave with the further case-hardening of structural mild low-alloy steels by the example of steel 10ChSND are considered. It is defined that the results, obtained as a result of combined strengthening, are comparable with the results of strengthening of case-hardened alloy steels used for manufacturing heavy loaded parts of machines.
Innovation technologies of parts vibro-wave machining of engineering and helicopter production
Authors: Бабичев Анатолий , Babichev Anatoly , Мотренко Петр , Motrenko Petr
Published: July 2017

The results of theoretical and experimental investigations with the purpose of the analysis of peculiarities in the interaction of deformation waves with samples of different materials subjected to different circuits of vibro-wave loading are shown
Mechanics of technological inheritance as scientific basis of designing complex-profile tools for hardening treatment by surface plastic deformation
Authors: Блюменштейн Валерий , Blyumenstein Valeriy
Published: July 2017

On the basis of technological inheritance mechanics there are developed new designs of deforming tools having a complex operation profile. The simulation with a finite element method (FEM) of the surface plastic deformation (SPD) process by a multi-radius roller is carried out and a possibility to accumulate large values of deformations without metal destruction of a surface layer is shown.
Automated technological system to ensure contact stiffness of machine parts
Authors: Суслов Анатолий , Suslov Anatoliy , Петрешин Дмитрий , Petreshin Dmitriy , Федонин Олег , Fedonin Oleg , Хандожко Виктор , Khandozhko Viktor
Published: July 2017

A single-stage technological support of operation properties of machine parts and their joints is based on the integration and on the automated solution of problems of a designer and technologist for the definition of optimum conditions for machining parts at the stage of design-technological pre-production. A joint use of a self-learning technological system and an automated system of scientific investigations of contact stiffness will allow ensuring a required value of the operation property of machine parts and their units with the specified accuracy.
A baseline mixed-methods study on postpartum care among health professionals in Tanzania
Authors: Pallangyo Eunice , Mbekenga Columba , Olsson Pia , Källestål Carina
Published: July 2017

Background:

Globally, postpartum care (PPC) is a neglected part of maternal and neonatal health, despite 50% of maternal deaths occuring in the first weeks after childbirth.

Aim:

The study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices among providers of PPC in government institutions in two low-resource suburbs of Dar es Salaam: Ilala and Temeke.

Methods:

Health professionals (n=149) at all levels of care completed a knowledge and attitudes questionnaire. A checklist was used to observe 25 health professionals at reproductive and child health units, and 38 mothers were interviewed on exit. χ2- and logistic regression tests were used to analyse the outcomes. Field notes were analysed qualitatively.

Findings:

Overall, 64% of health professionals had high knowledge and most had positive attitudes towards PPC. Level of education was found to be positively associated with positive attitudes towards PPC (OR=2.5 CI 95% 1.03–6.13). PPC consultations with mothers and newborns during the first week after childbirth were found to be few or nonexistent. Mothers who came with newborns for BCG immunisation were mostly satisfied with the services.

Conclusion:

Quality improvement is required at the structure and process levels of the health system in order to provide holistic PPC consultations.
International research roundup
Authors: Newman Lauren
Published: July 2017

In this section, a range of brief synopses of recently published articles from around the world that may be of interest to midwives is presented. The aim of this roundup is to provide an overview, rather than a detailed summary, of the research papers selected. Should you wish to look at any of the papers in more detail, a full reference is provided.
The influence of implementing nurse-led enteral nutrition guidelines on care delivery in the critically ill: a cohort study
Authors: Kalaldeh Mahmoud Al
Published: July 2017

Aim:

To identify how implementation of nurse-led enteral nutrition (EN) guidelines influenced nurses' care delivery in an intensive care unit.

Methods:

This multi-centre prospective observational study introduced an educational programme for 127 nurses on evidence-based ASPEN guidelines for enteral nutrition. Pre- and post-intervention observation assessed adherence to the guidelines through reporting of care delivered.

Results:

A total of 192 patients from 80 controls and 112 interventions were observed; gastric residual volume was evaluated in 67.9% of intervention patients compared with 26.3% of controls (p=0.001). The intervention group was more likely to maintain head-of-bed elevation, check tube placement and use continuous feeding and chlorhexidine mouthwash. Intervention patients received nutrition earlier than controls, and they had fewer feeding interruptions (median of 12.66 vs 32.18 hours, p<0.001) and higher caloric attainment (68.8% vs 50%, p=0.015).

Conclusions:

The guidelines improved nursing adherence to nutritional assessment measures.
Employment Generation under Globalization in India: Adverse Implications of Capitalism
Authors: Jasbir Singh
Published: July 2017

Globalization-led economic reforms of 1991 have added new dimensions to strategy of economic planning, and it has been presumed that gains of growth will equally reach to the labour. But globalization has negatively affected Indian labour market. The large-scale technological developments have reduced the demand for labour. India is termed as youngest country in the world as its population in the 15 to 34 age group was 430 million in 2011 which is expected to rise to 464 million in 2021. Though it is a positive signal, this increased workforce brings along with them the possibility of increase in unemployment rate, unless this workforce is diverted towards new employment opportunities. Capitalism-led competition has resulted into capital deepening technique of production. This has pulled the wages down and increases the casualization of workforce.
Political Economy of Taxation in Sri Lanka
Authors: W. D. Lakshman
Published: July 2017

This article is about determinants of tax revenues and about constraints affecting taxation policy and its reform. Its analysis is in the context of a neoliberal policy framework practised in a small developing country, Sri Lanka. As in other countries in similar conditions, neoliberalism has created a fiscal crisis in Sri Lanka too. There has been almost continuous increase in public debt, associated with declining overall levels of taxation. The examination of related issues systematically highlights the crucial relevance of a series of socio-political as well as economic factors in respect of Sri Lanka's government revenue problem. The main theme emerging from a political economy perspective on taxation, including as an essential ingredient an historical view, is that while technical and administrative aspects of tax reform are crucial, the sustainability of reforms requires an understanding of how reforms become legitimate and accepted by the people. The focus on institutional designs and other technical tax issues would be incomplete if the essential political nature of taxation is ignored.
Electroless deposition of Ni-P on a silicon surface
Authors: El Grini Hassan , Rahou Khadija , Cherkaoui Mohammed , Chazalviel Jean-Noël , Ozanam François , Aureau Damien
Published: July 2017

The present article concerns the metallization of silicon substrates by deposition of the nickelphosphorus alloy produced by an autocatalytic chemical process. The deposition electrolyte is composed of a metal salt, a reducing agent (sodium hypophosphite), a complexing agent (sodium citrate) and a buffer (ammonium acetate). The deposition could only be carried out after activation of the silicon by fixing catalytic species on its surface. The immersion of the silicon samples in palladium chloride made it possible to produce relatively thick and regular Ni-P coatings. The immersion time was optimized. The activation of Si was characterized by XPS and the Ni-P coating by XPS and SEM. The electrochemical study did not show any real mechanism changes compared to the Ni-P deposition on a conductive surface.
The effects of digital games on hedonic, eudaimonic and telic entertainment experiences
Authors: Kümpel Anna Sophie , Unkel Julian
Published: July 2017

This study extends current research on media entertainment by examining the effects of (perceived) game characteristics on hedonic, eudaimonic and telic entertainment experiences. Furthermore, differentiating between meaningful and non-meaningful games, we investigated whether these game types lead to the experience of different gaming-related emotions and what determines their discontinuation. Building on an online survey with 325 German gamers, we found a game’s narrative, its mechanics, the satisfaction of basic needs and perceived cognitive and affective challenge to be associated with the three entertainment experiences in distinct ways. In addition, the results suggest that meaningful and non-meaningful games induce specific emotions and are discontinued due to different considerations. The study furthers our theoretical understanding of (interactive) media entertainment and shows how the interplay of factors internal and external to a game shapes the overall game entertainment experience.
The golden (hands) rule: Exploring user experiences with gamepad and natural-user interfaces in popular video games
Authors: Bowman Nicholas David , Pietschmann Daniel , Liebold Benny
Published: July 2017

This research report sought to understand how gamers experienced recent gaming sessions using traditional game controllers (gamepads) or natural user interfaces (NUIs, such as the Nintendo Wiimote). A secondary qualitative analysis of N=238 open-ended comments to a larger game controller experience survey were analysed for emergent themes, with χ2 tests used to compare the frequency of their mention between the two controller types. While the same eleven discussion themes emerged when players described either gamepad or NUI experiences, participants discussing gamepads were more likely to comment on the controller’s precision, comfort, success using the controller, and their past experience with the controller. Likewise, participants discussing NUIs were more likely to comment on the controller’s lack of precision, feeling unnatural, having less success during the game session, and seeing the controller as more novel. No differences in controller simplicity or the overall enjoyment were found. Additionally, game genre differences were found suggesting shooting games (first- and third-person shooters) to be more frequently played with gamepads and sports games to be more frequently played with NUIs, and gamepad session were as much as 50 per cent longer on average. This research supports and extends prior findings which suggest that NUIs might not be as natural and intuitive as they are designed to be.
Anarchy in Japan’s film industry: How punk rescued Japanese cinema
Authors: Player Mark
Published: July 2017

When punk impressed itself upon Japanese youth culture in the mid-to-late 1970s, it arrived at a time when the nation’s film industry was in crisis. The major studio system that had presided over film production for several decades was in serious decline, curbing opportunities for the next generation of filmmaking talent by ceasing to take on new apprentices. Inspired by the ‘do-it-yourself’ ideology surrounding the emerging punk scene, young, aspiring filmmakers took matters into their own hands by forming small clubs to self-produce zero-budget short and feature-length films on their own terms, relying on friends, classmates, musicians and other hangers-on, and using increasingly accessible Super 8 and 16mm filmmaking equipment. In doing so, punk-inspired jishu seisaku eiga (‘autonomously produced cinema’) became an exciting nonprofessional alternative to the stagnating professional studio system, with many of its amateur participants going on to become influential professional figures within the Japanese film industry of today. This article seeks to provide an exploration of punk’s overlooked emergence in Japan, its impact on (and synthesis with) jishu film production, it being a catalyst for important aesthetic and generic schisms such as ‘cyberpunk’, and how it ultimately mobilized Japanese cinema to rejuvenate itself.
La ética como puerta a la informática en la educación primaria
Authors: Oltra Gutiérrez Juan Vicente , Garrigos Simon Fernando José , Estelles Miquel Sofía
Published: July 2017

En el presente artículo se presenta una propuesta de acercamiento de la ética y la informática a estudiantes de los primeros cursos de primaria, apoyándose una en la otra, siguiendo el cauce del Real Decreto 126/2014, de 28 de febrero, por el que se establece el currículo básico de la Educación Primaria. Dentro del decreto se establecen como dos de las siete competencias del currículo la competencia digital (la tercera) y también las competencias sociales y cívicas (la quinta). Dada la población de nativos digitales que están recibiendo la formación, resultaría una meta un poco más ambiciosa el poder entreverarlas para que se apoyen la una a la otra. Dentro de este ámbito, por ejemplo, nos encontramos con alguna asignatura específica como “Valores sociales y cívicos” con criterios de evaluación tales como “Emplear las nuevas tecnologías desarrollando valores sociales y cívicos en entornos seguros”. Gracias a esta puerta de entrada se pueden introducir pequeñas puertas a la visión de la informática, a través de la ética, que pueden ser transversales a la totalidad de las asignaturas del currículo. La sugerencia del presente artículo pasa por enfrentar a los discentes a una visión de la tecnología desde fuera de la tecnología, desde su prisma ético, una vez esta se apaga, y la pantalla de sus móviles o tabletas quedan convertidos en un mero espejo negro.
Um saber montado: Georges Didi-Huberman a montar imagem e tempo
Authors: Queiroz Campos Daniela
Published: July 2017

O presente artigo aborda a perspectiva da montagem na obra do historiador da arte e filósofo francês Georges Didi-Huberman. Sua sólida e grande obra insiste na imagem como verídico problema e na necessidade do pesquisador em saber olhá-la, para tal acredita que devemos colocá-las em relação. Colocá-las uma ao lado das outras, pois imagens não falam de forma isolada.  Esse conhecimento por montagem insistido por Didi-Huberman têm sólidas bases teóricas. Neste breve artigo buscou-se problematizar a perspectivas teórica da montagem didi-hubermaniana através dos escritos e das teorias acerca da montagem de três grandes intelectuais: Walter Benjamin, Aby Warburg e Serguei Eisenstein. Para tais, a montagem e a desmontagem são de singular relevância na concepção de imagem e tempo.
Documentary Film and Urban Change
Authors: Krstić Igor
Published: July 2017

Book review of Documenting Cityscapes: Urban Change in Contemporary Non-Fiction Film (Iván Villarmea Álvarez, 2015).
PENGELOLAAN KOTA-KOTA KECIL DI JAWA TENGAH: STUDI KASUS PADA EMPAT KOTA KECIL DI WILAYAH JOGLOSEMAR
Authors: Setyono Jawoto Sih , Yunus Hadi Sabari , Giyarsih Sri Rum
Published: July 2017

Small cities and towns in Indonesia have experienced a significant development during the period of 2000-2010. However, the development of small cities and towns has not been in line with the way the urban areas are governed and managed. There is a tendency that the governments pay a little attention to the governance of smaller urban areas, especially those which do not municipal status or the urban areas which is part of regency administrative boundary. This research analyzes the governance and planning of small towns in Central Java taken four small towns in Joglosemar region (Yogyakarta-Surakarta-Semarang). The research applied some qualitative methods combining document analysis, interview and regulation analysis. It is found that there is a significant gap between the urban development and its planning and governance. Urban development policies seem to be lacking in providing guidelines to drive the development of the small towns so that they can perform their functions within their respective regional urban system as well as solve their internal problems. The governance has mostly relied on the role of local government despite continuing lack of institutional capacity in managing urban development.
An evolving political landscape: Political reform, boundary changes and the 2014 local elections
Authors: Kavanagh Adrian P.
Published: July 2017

This paper reviews the May 2014 local election contests in the Republic of Ireland, while also offering a brief overview of the contests in Northern Ireland. These local elections took place in the context of radical changes to local government structures on both sides of the border – changes which would frame the types of choices open to voters at the May 2014 contests. The new – and generally larger – constituency areas opened up opportunity spaces for new candidates (including new female candidates) to participate in local electoral politics, although these opportunities, in turn, were very much framed by geography. The overall reduction in local representation levels in rural areas in the Republic of Ireland meant that incumbency factors acted as significant brakes on the entry of new candidates in these areas. The radically changing political landscape associated with the era of austerity politics saw a major swing against the government parties in the Republic of Ireland, with notable gains made by Sinn Féin and a number of other anti-establishment parties and groupings. These changes have brought about the formation of new alliances to control different local authorities, which, in turn, have posed an increasing set of challenges in terms of the governance of such councils, as evident in a number of conflicts over council budgets in the winter of 2014.
The Gelfand problem for the 1-homogeneous p-Laplacian
Authors: Carmona Tapia José , Molino Salas Alexis , Rossi Julio D.
Published: July 2017

In this paper, we study the existence of viscosity solutions to the Gelfand problem
for the 1-homogeneous p-Laplacian in a bounded domain

{\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^{N}}

, that is, we deal with

-\frac{1}{p-1}\lvert\nabla u\rvert^{2-p}\operatorname{div}(\lvert\nabla u%
\rvert^{p-2}\nabla u)=\lambda e^{u}

in Ω
with

{u=0}

on

{\partial\Omega}

. For this problem we show that, for

{p\in[2,\infty]}

,
there exists a positive critical value

{\lambda^{*}=\lambda^{*}(\Omega,N,p)}

such that the following holds:

•

If

{\lambda<\lambda^{*}}

, the problem admits a minimal positive solution

{w_{\lambda}}

.

•

If

{\lambda>\lambda^{*}}

, the problem admits no solution.

Moreover, the branch of minimal solutions

{\{w_{\lambda}\}}

is increasing with λ.
In addition, using degree theory, for fixed p we show that there exists an unbounded continuum of solutions that emanates from the trivial solution

{u=0}

with

{\lambda=0}

, and for a small fixed λ we also obtain a continuum of solutions with

{p\in[2,\infty]}

.
A nonlinear model for the characterization and optimization of athletic training and performance
Authors: Turner James D. , Mazzoleni Michael J. , Little Jared A. , Sequeira Dane , Mann Brian P.
Published: July 2017

Study aim: Mathematical models of the relationship between training and performance facilitate the design of training protocols to achieve performance goals. However, current linear models do not account for nonlinear physiological effects such as saturation and over-training. This severely limits their practical applicability, especially for optimizing training strategies. This study describes, analyzes, and applies a new nonlinear model to account for these physiological effects. Material and methods: This study considers the equilibria and step response of the nonlinear differential equation model to show its characteristics and trends, optimizes training protocols using genetic algorithms to maximize performance by applying the model under various realistic constraints, and presents a case study fitting the model to human performance data. Results: The nonlinear model captures the saturation and over-training effects; produces realistic training protocols with training progression, a high-intensity phase, and a taper; and closely fits the experimental performance data. Fitting the model parameters to subsets of the data identifies which parameters have the largest variability but reveals that the performance predictions are relatively consistent. Conclusions: These findings provide a new mathematical foundation for modeling and optimizing athletic training routines subject to an individual’s personal physiology, constraints, and performance goals.
Proteomic analysis of the marine-derived fungus Paecilomyces sp. strain SF-8 in response to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Velmurugan Natarajan , Lee Hyun-Mi , Cha Hyo-Jung , Lee Yang-Soo
Published: July 2017

An efficient and unique proteomic response is important for fungi to survive in marine environments polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The marine-derived fungus
Energetic BEM for the numerical analysis of 2D Dirichlet damped wave propagation exterior problems
Authors: Aimi A. , Diligenti M. , Guardasoni C.
Published: July 2017

Time-dependent problems modeled by hyperbolic partial differential equations can be reformulated in terms of boundary integral equations and solved via the boundary element method. In this context, the analysis of damping phenomena that occur in many physics and engineering problems is a novelty. Starting from a recently developed energetic space-time weak formulation for 1D damped wave propagation problems rewritten in terms of boundary integral equations, we develop here an extension of the so-called energetic boundary element method for the 2D case. Several numerical benchmarks, whose numerical results confirm accuracy and stability of the proposed technique, already proved for the numerical treatment of undamped wave propagation problems in several dimensions and for the 1D damped case, are illustrated and discussed.
Large Eddy Simulation of gravity currents with a high order DG method
Authors: Bassi Caterina , Abbà Antonella , Bonaventura Luca , Valdettaro Lorenzo
Published: July 2017

This work deals with Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) and Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of a turbulent gravity current in a gas, performed by means of a Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) Finite Elements method employing, in the LES case, LES-DG turbulence models previously introduced by the authors. Numerical simulations of non-Boussinesq lock-exchange benchmark problems show that, in the DNS case, the proposed method allows to correctly reproduce relevant features of variable density gas ows with gravity. Moreover, the LES results highlight, also in this context, the excessively high dissipation of the Smagorinsky model with respect to the Germano dynamic procedure.
The frequency of occurrence of fish-shaped red blood cells in different haematologic disorders
Authors: Robier Christoph , Körber Carolin , Quehenberger Franz , Neubauer Manfred , Wölfler Albert
Published: July 2017

Background:

Red blood cells (RBC) resembling the silhouette of a fish are rarely observed in peripheral blood (PB) smears. In this study, we determined the frequency of occurrence of fish-shaped RBC in different haematologic diseases.

Methods:

We examined PB smears of patients with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) (n=23), β-thalassaemia minor (BTM) (n=30), sickle cell disease (SCD) (n=7), autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) (n=13), microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (MAHA) (n=11), hereditary sphaerocytosis (HS) (n=4), hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) (n=3), vitamin B12 and folate deficiency (n=15), anaemia in liver disease (LD) (n=17), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) (n=15), acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) (n=29), chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) (n=18), primary myelofibrosis (PMF) (n=12), chronic myelo-monocytic leukaemia (CMML) (n=15) and 21 healthy controls by light microscopy for the occurrence of fish-shaped erythrocytes. The fish-shaped RBC were counted as cells per 20 high-power fields (HPF) at 1000-fold magnification, and slides containing ≥1 fish-shaped RBC/20 HPF were regarded as positive.

Results:

Fish-shaped RBC were significantly found in HE, iron deficiency, vitamin B12/folate deficiency, LD and PMF. The highest numbers of fish-shaped RBC were seen in HE and vitamin B12/folate deficiency. In patients with BTM, MDS, AML and CMML, this RBC anomaly was only occasionally observed. Furthermore, a statistically significant negative correlation of haemoglobin with the occurrence of fish-shaped RBC was apparent (p<0.014).

Conclusions:

Our data show that the occurrence of fish-shaped RBC is suggestive of a pathologic condition, especially IDA, HE, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, primary mylofibrosis or LD, and is significantly associated with severity of anaemia.
Bullying, its effects on attitude towards class attendance and the contribution of physical and dentofacial features among adolescents in Northern Nigeria
Authors: Chikaodi Oguchi , Abdulmanan Yahaya , Emmanuel Adeyemi Tope , Muhammad Jibril , Mohammed Modu Adam , Izegboya Akpasa , Donald Otuyemi Olayinka , Balarabe Sani
Published: July 2017

Background

Bullying is a worldwide problem with varying consequences. Victims of school bullying may be targeted for many reasons including their appearance. They may also fear school and have difficulties in concentration.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of bullying amongst adolescents in Kano, Northern Nigeria, the contribution of physical features and the perceived effect of bullying on their academic performance and school attendance.

Subjects and methods

Eight hundred and thirty-five students aged between 12 years and 17 years from eight randomly selected secondary schools in Kano, Nigeria took part in this study. Data collection was by self-administered questionnaires and analysis was by SPSS version 17.

Results

The pupils’ mean age and standard deviation was 14.79 + 1.53 years. There were more male and private school pupils with 55.1% and 62%, respectively. About 43% of respondents reported being victims of bullying while about 32% had bullied someone else. There was more bullying in public schools than in private schools (p-value = 0.003). However, there was no significant gender difference (p > 0.05). More bullied pupils hated being in or outside the classroom (p < 0.05). Similarly, significantly higher number of bullied pupils played truant than non-bullied (p < 0.001). One-fifth of the victims of bullying felt it had consequences on their academic performance. Bullies frequently targeted general physical and dento-facial appearance.

Conclusion

The prevalence of bullying was high among the sampled population especially within public schools. This also had a significant negative effect on the students’ academic performance.
On the Mittag–Leffler Stability of Impulsive Fractional Solow-Type Models
Authors: Stamova Ivanka M. , Stamov Gani Tr.
Published: July 2017

In this article, we introduce fractional-order Solow-type models as a new tool for modeling and analysis in mathematical finance. Sufficient conditions for the Mittag–Leffler stability of their states are derived. The main advantages of the proposed approach are using of fractional-order derivatives, whose nonlocal property makes the fractional calculus a suitable tool for modeling actual financial systems as well as using of impulsive perturbations which give an opportunity to control the dynamic behavior of the model. The modeling approach proposed in this article can be applied to investigate macroeconomic systems.
Analysis of the Use of Background Distribution for Naive Bayes Classifiers
Authors: Andrade Daniel , Tamura Akihiro , Tsuchida Masaaki
Published: July 2017

The naive Bayes classifier is a popular classifier, as it is easy to train, requires no cross-validation for parameter tuning, and can be easily extended due to its generative model. Moreover, recently it was shown that the word probabilities (background distribution) estimated from large unlabeled corpora could be used to improve the parameter estimation of naive Bayes. However, previous methods do not explicitly allow to control how much the background distribution can influence the estimation of naive Bayes parameters. In contrast, we investigate an extension of the graphical model of naive Bayes such that a word is either generated from a background distribution or from a class-specific word distribution. We theoretically analyze this model and show the connection to Jelinek-Mercer smoothing. Experiments using four standard text classification data sets show that the proposed method can statistically significantly outperform previous methods that use the same background distribution.
Novel Relevance Feedback Approach for Color Trademark Recognition Using Optimization and Learning Strategy
Authors: Pinjarkar Latika , Sharma Manisha , Selot Smita
Published: July 2017

The trademark registration process, apparent in all organizations nowadays, deals with recognition and retrieval of similar trademark images from trademark databases. Trademark retrieval is an imperative application area of content-based image retrieval. The main challenges in designing and developing this application area are reducing the semantic gap, obtaining higher accuracy, reducing computation complexity, and subsequently the execution time. The proposed work focuses on these challenges. This paper proposes the relevance feedback system embedded with optimization and unsupervised learning technique as the preprocessing stage, for trademark recognition. The search space is reduced by using particle swam optimization, for optimization of database feature set, which is further followed by clustering using self-organizing map. The relevance feedback technique is implemented over this preprocessed feature set. Experimentation is done using the FlickrLogos-32 PLUS dataset. To introduce variations between the training and query images, transformations are applied to each of the query image, viz. rotation, scaling, and translation of the image. The same query image is tested for various combinations of transformations. The proposed technique is invariant to various transformations, with significant performance as depicted in the results.
Volatility Modeling with Leverage Effect under Laplace Errors
Authors: Jiang Zhengjun , Xia Weixuan
Published: July 2017

This paper discusses four GARCH-type models (A-GARCH, NA-GARCH, GJR-GARCH, and E-GARCH) in representing volatility of financial returns with leverage effect. In these models, errors are assumed to follow a Laplace distribution in order to deal with the typical leptokurtic feature of financial returns. The properties of these models are analyzed theoretically in terms of unconditional variance, kurtosis, autocorrelation function and news impact, and are further examined in the applications to real financial time series. Comparison is made with other choices of error distributions such as normal, Student-5, and Student-7 distributions, respectively. We also conduct residual analyses to justify the choice of error distributions and find that Laplace-E-GARCH model still performs very well. Our main purpose is to study and compare the proposed models’ relative adequacies and underlying limitations.
Crystal structure of diazido-dimethanolato-bis(μ2-2-(((3-oxidopropyl)imino)methyl)phenolato-κ4
O:O,O′,N)dimanganese(III), C22H28Mn2N8O6
Authors: Wu Qiong , Pu Qing , Liu Dian , Ju Hong-Ping , Qiao Yong-Feng , Wang Xiao-Yan , Wu Yong-Mei , Zou Tao-Yu , Wang Hai
Published: July 2017

C22H28Mn2N8O6, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 7.2827(15) Å, b = 8.6433(17) Å, c = 11.410(2) Å, α = 98.58(3)°, β = 96.15(3)°, γ = 107.67(3)°, V = 667.8(2) Å3, Z = 1, R
gt(F) = 0.0414, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0972, T = 293(2) K.
Crystal structure of hexaaquanickel(II) bis((E)-4-((4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)diazenyl)benzenesulfonate), C28H40N6NiO12S2
Authors: Oh In-Hwan , Park Garam , Park Seong-Hun
Published: July 2017

C28H40N6NiO12S2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 6.202(1) Å, b = 7.126(1) Å, c = 38.499(2) Å, β = 91.258(2)°, V = 1701.1(4) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0698, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1515, T = 300 K.
Elemental Two-Dimensional Materials Beyond Graphene
Authors: Schwingenschlögl Udo , Zhu Jiajie , Morishita Tetsuya , Spencer Michelle J.S. , Padova Paola De , Generosi Amanda , Paci Barbara , Ottaviani Carlo , Quaresima Claudio , Olivieri Bruno , Salomon Eric , Angot Thierry , Lay Guy Le , Zandvliet Harold J.W. , Lew Yan Voon L. C.
Published: July 2017

This review article summarizes a few of the papers presented during Symposium II of the International Conference of Pure and Applied Chemistry in July 2016. Properties of monolayers of silicene are first addressed, followed by multilayer silicene and, at the end, a discussion on germanene.
The Drunken World of Dionysos
Authors: Catalin Anghelina
Published: July 2017

The Greek god Dionysos is often characterized by modern scholarship in a highly conceptualized way. From the perspective of such studies, Dionysos has become a metaphysical concept, a symbol of the primeval human impulses. For such hermeneutics, Dionysos’ relation to wine has been considered to be secondary and unessential. The present study is a reassessment of the role of wine in some of the main themes of Dionysiac mythology and cult. These include the ivy, the Theban myth of Dionysos’ birth, the Orphic myth of Dionysos, the main festivals dedicated to the god, the Dionysiac madness, the satyrs and the maenads as the main followers of Dionysos, the identification of Bakchos with the Eleusinian Iakchos, rituals such as those of Dionysos liknitēs, the aiōra (swinging), and the flood, the relation of the god to the sea, and the sacred wedding between the Athenian basilinna and Dionysos. I show that not only does wine not represent a secondary or derived aspect of Dionysos, but it can be found at the foundation of all these well-known aspects of Dionysiac cult and myth. Dionysos is essentially what the whole of antiquity recognized and celebrated in him, namely the god of wine. The mythology of Dionysos is the mythology of wine.
Furia as an Auctor in Seneca’s Thyestes
Authors: Frangoulidis Stavros
Published: July 2017

The opening Act of Seneca’s
Gallium-containing Heusler phases ScRh2Ga, ScPd2Ga, TmRh2Ga and LuRh2Ga – magnetic and solid state NMR-spectroscopic characterization
Authors: Heletta Lukas , Seidel Stefan , Benndorf Christopher , Eckert Hellmut , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: July 2017

The gallium-containing Heusler phases ScRh2Ga, ScPd2Ga, TmRh2Ga and LuRh2Ga have been synthesized by arc-melting of the elements followed by different annealing sequences to improve phase purity. The samples have been studied by powder X-ray diffraction. The structures of Lu0.97Rh2Ga1.03 (Fm3̅m, a=632.94(5) pm, wR2=0.0590, 46 F2 values, seven variables) and Sc0.88Rh2Ga1.12 (a=618.91(4) pm, wR2=0.0284, 44 F2 values, six variables) have been refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data. Both gallides show structural disorder through Lu/Ga and Sc/Ga mixing. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements showed Pauli paramagnetism for ScRh2Ga, ScPd2Ga, and LuRh2Ga and Curie-Weiss paramagnetism for TmRh2Ga. 45Sc and 71Ga solid state MAS NMR spectroscopic investigations of the Sc containing compounds confirmed the site mixing effects typically observed for Heusler phases. The data indicate that the effect of mixed Sc/Ga occupancy is significantly stronger in ScRh2Ga than in ScPd2Ga.
Minimal Detectable Change Thresholds and Responsiveness of Zephyr Bioharness and Fitbit Charge Devices
Authors: Nazari Goris , MacDermid Joy C.
Published: July 2017

Nazari, G and MacDermid, JC. Minimal detectable change thresholds and responsiveness of zephyr bioharness and Fitbit Charge devices. J Strength Cond Res 34(1): 257–263, 2020—The aim of the current study was to define the minimal detectable change (MDC) thresholds for Zephyr Bioharness (ZB) and Fitbit Charge Heart Rate (FC-HR) variables and to establish the internal responsiveness of ZB and FC-HR devices in terms of their HR, respiratory rate variables, and number of steps taken variables, in a healthy sample of men and women at resting, submaximal activity and throughout recovery phases. A total of sixty participants (30 women, 48 ± 15) and (30 men, 48 ± 15) were recruited using stratified convenience and snowball sampling approaches from our university student, staff, and faculty population. At rest, MDC90 values of ±4.89 and ±5.15 were noted for ZB and FC-HR devices, respectively. Throughout the recovery, thresholds of ±8.14 for ZB and 8.74 for FC-HR were reported. During the submaximal phases, scores of ±8.18 and ±9.35 were established for ZB and FC-HR, respectively. From a resting to a submaximal state, the standardized response means (SRMs) for ZB and FC-HR variables exhibited large responsiveness of SRMZB-HR = 4.42; SRMFC-HR = 4.04. In addition, the ZB respiratory rate variable showed the largest effect size of SRMZB-RR = 2.55. Similarly, the large effect size of SRMFC-ST = 1.76 was reported for the FC-HR steps taken variable. From a submaximal to a recovery state, the SRMs for ZB and FC-HR variables demonstrated effect sizes of SRMZB-HR = −3.10; SRMFC-HR = −3.12. Furthermore, the ZB respiratory rate variable displayed similar internal responsiveness measures of SRMZB-RR = −2.45. To conclude, Similar MDC HR thresholds can be expected using the ZB and FC-HR devices and that the two devices demonstrated large internal responsiveness in our healthy male and female cohort when transitioning from resting to submaximal states and vice-versa. Our findings suggest that the ZB and FC-HR devices can be used in monitoring performance improvements or deterioration over time and would allow qualified personnel in assessing the effectiveness of exercise programs in healthy individuals.
Fiber Type Composition and Rate of Force Development in Endurance- and Resistance-Trained Individuals
Authors: Methenitis Spyridon , Spengos Konstantinos , Zaras Nikolaos , Stasinaki Angeliki-Nikoletta , Papadimas Giorgos , Karampatsos Giorgos , Arnaoutis Giannis , Terzis Gerasimos
Published: July 2017

Methenitis, S, Spengos, K, Zaras, N, Stasinaki, A-N, Papadimas, G, Karampatsos, G, Arnaoutis, G, and Terzis, G. Fiber type composition and rate of force development in endurance- and resistance-trained individuals. J Strength Cond Res 33(9): 2388–2397, 2019—The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between muscle fiber composition and the rate of force development (RFD) in well-trained individuals with different training background. Thirty-eight young men with different training background participated: 9 endurance runners, 10 power-trained individuals, 9 strength-trained individuals, and 10 sedentary individuals. They performed maximal isometric leg press for the measurement of RFD. Body composition (dual x-ray absorptiometry) and vastus lateralis fiber type composition were also evaluated. When all participants were examined as a group, moderate correlations were found between the percent of type II muscle fibers and RFD between 100 and 600 milliseconds (r = 0.321–0.497; p ≤ 0.05). The correlation coefficients were higher for the cross-sectional area (CSA) and the %CSA of type II and IIx muscle fibers (r = 0.599–0.847; p < 0.001). For the power group, RFD up to 250 milliseconds highly correlated with % type IIx muscle fibers and type IIx fiber CSA (r = 0.670–0.826; p ≤ 0.05), as well as with %CSA of type IIx fibers (r = 0.714–0.975; p ≤ 0.05). Significant correlations were found between the relative RFD (·kg−1 lower extremities lean mass) and CSA-%CSA of type II and IIx fibers for the power group (r = 0.676–0.903; p ≤ 0.05). No significant correlations were found between muscle morphology and RFD for the other groups. In conclusion, the present data suggest that there is a strong link between the type IIx muscle fibers and early RFD and relative RFD in power-trained participants. Type II fibers seem to be moderately linked with RFD in non–power-trained individuals.
In VivoAnalysis of the Neurovascular Niche in the DevelopingXenopusBrain
Authors: Lau Melissa , Li Jianli , Cline Hollis T.
Published: July 2017

The neurovascular niche is a specialized microenvironment formed by the interactions between neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and the vasculature. While it is thought to regulate adult neurogenesis by signaling through vascular-derived soluble cues or contacted-mediated cues, less is known about the neurovascular niche during development. InXenopus laevistadpole brain, NPCs line the ventricle and extend radial processes tipped with endfeet to the vascularized pial surface. Usingin vivolabeling and time-lapse imaging in tadpoles, we find that intracardial injection of fluorescent tracers rapidly labels Sox2/3-expressing NPCs and that vascular-circulating molecules are endocytosed by NPC endfeet. Confocal imaging indicates that about half of the endfeet appear to appose the vasculature, and time-lapse analysis of NPC proliferation and endfeet-vascular interactions suggest that proliferative activity does not correlate with stable vascular apposition. Together, these findings characterize the neurovascular niche in the developing brain and suggest that, while signaling to NPCs may occur through vascular-derived soluble cues, stable contact between NPC endfeet and the vasculature is not required for developmental neurogenesis.
Finding Fault with the Nexus Pipeline? Agency Capture and the Public Good
Authors: Kear Andrew R.
Published: July 2017

Natural gas is an increasingly vital U.S. energy source that is presently being tapped and transported across state and international boundaries. Controversy engulfs natural gas, from the hydraulic fracturing process used to liberate it from massive, gas-laden Appalachian shale deposits, to the permitting and construction of new interstate pipelines bringing it to markets. This case explores the controversy flowing from the proposed 256-mile-long interstate Nexus pipeline transecting northern Ohio, southeastern Michigan and terminating at the Dawn Hub in Ontario, Canada. As the lead agency regulating and permitting interstate pipelines, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is also tasked with mitigating environmental risks through the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act's Environmental Impact Statement process. Pipeline opponents assert that a captured federal agency ignores public and scientific input, inadequately addresses public health and safety risks, preempts local control, and wields eminent domain powers at the expense of landowners, cities, and everyone in the pipeline path. Proponents counter that pipelines are the safest means of transporting domestically abundant, cleaner burning, affordable gas to markets that will boost local and regional economies and serve the public good. Debates over what constitutes the public good are only one set in a long list of contentious issues including pipeline safety, proposed routes, property rights, public voice, and questions over the scientific and democratic validity of the Environmental Impact Statement process. The Nexus pipeline provides a sobering example that simple energy policy solutions and compromise are elusive—effectively fueling greater conflict as the natural gas industry booms.