bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential diagnosis of parkinsonian degenerative disorders in combination manual measurements with automated volumetry of the brain
Authors: Zhang Yiwei , Wang Han , Xu Dan , Hou Bo , Lin Tianye , Shi Lin , Luo Yishan , You Hui , Feng Feng
Published: July 2020

Background: To compare brain morphological differences in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), multiple system atrophy with the parkinsonian variant (MSA-P), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and controls by manual and automated measurements and to explore the feasibility of these measurements in disease differentiation.Methods: Ninety-five PSP patients (48 males, mean age 67.9 y), 32 MSA-P patients (18 males, mean age 63.0 y), 136 PD patients (72 males, mean age 66.6 y) and 100 controls (50 males, mean age 66 y) were included. The 12 manual measurements were acquired. Relative brain structural volumes adjusted according to the intracranial volume (ICV) of different brain regions werealsoquantified. Differences among and between groups were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to assess diagnostic performance and define cutoff values of these measures.Results: P/M area 2.0displayed the highest diagnostic performance (AUC: 0.801) for distinguishing PSP from MSA-P or PD (sensitivity69.5%, specificity 82.1%). Furthermore, the combination of morphological features in manual parameters (P/M area 2.0, MRPI and M/P diameter) and volume atrophy in the midbrain improved the PSP discrimination (AUC: 0.870, sensitivity 76.8%, specificity 83.9%). The relative volume of the putamen can better differentiate MSA-P from PSP and PD (AUC: 0.844, sensitivity 81.3%, specificity 75.3%). Similarly, the ability to differentially diagnose MSA-P increased most significantly (AUC: 0.927, sensitivity 87.5%, specificity 87.9%) when combing volume atrophy in the putamen with the caudate and manual parameter (M/P diameter).Conclusion: Manual and automated MR variables can reveal atrophy features of the brain and be helpful in the differential diagnosis.
Rehabilitation of Individuals With Schizophrenia: a Scoping Review Protocol of Evidence From Sub-saharan Africa
Authors: Oyelade Oyeyemi Olajumoke , Nkosi-Mafutha Nokuthula Gloria
Published: July 2020

Background: The rehabilitation of an individual with mental illness is an evidenced-based approach to reducing the burden of the illness and the associated stigma globally. Specifically, in Africa, it has promising value for African life and the African economy. Psychosocial rehabilitation is described as a set of approaches that aim to assist an individual in achieving restoration from a state of dependency caused by schizophrenia to a state of being an independent decision-maker. However, there seems to be a dearth of literature and implementation of psychosocial rehabilitation in Africa. Therefore, it is necessary to map articles on how rehabilitation is conducted for people living with the most chronic form of mental illness, schizophrenia, in Africa.Methods: This study will adopt the Arsey and O’Malley scoping review framework to search and compile relevant articles. This process will involve three steps: title screening, which will be performed solely by the principal investigator, followed by abstract and full-text screening, which will be performed independently by two reviewers (the principal investigator and co-investigator). The data charting form will be used by both reviewers for screening, while Rayyan QCRI, a systematic reviews web app, will be used for tracking the screening records. The quality of articles identified for screening will be assessed by the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT), and content analysis of the screened articles will be performed with NVivo.Discussion: This study has the likelihood of revealing a research gap in rehabilitation approaches and methods. The results of the review will constitute part of the available evidence that the researchers aim to adopt in the broader part of the project, which aims to develop implementation strategies for the rehabilitation of chronic mental illnesses, specifically schizophrenia, in Sub-Saharan Africa. The implementation process also encompasses the dissemination of the findings of this review to stakeholders, which will enhance their knowledge of the current state of Sub-Saharan Africa and may stimulate support for the implementation of rehabilitation strategies.
Analysis of Stress, Strain, and Fatigue Strength of the Rotary Table of Boom-Type Roadheaders
Authors: tian Jie , Zhang Lansheng , YAO Haifeng , WU Miao
Published: July 2020

The rotary table is the key component in the optimal design of roadheaders. In this study, a simulation model of the cutting part and a rotary table is established in SolidWorks, and stress analysis and strength evaluation of the structure of the rotary table are performed. To this end, finite element analysis is performed on the basis of the dynamic theory of a coupled multibody system comprising rigid and flexible bodies. Considering actual working conditions, the load file of the cutting head is calculated based on the development of the “Roadheader Machine load Calculation Program”, and the stress and strain cloud map of the cutting head running to the bottom left, middle end, and right end of the rotary table is obtained through Adams simulation. Then, the 6-order modal analysis is carried out, and the S-N curve of the turntable is finally established. In addition, the fatigue life reliability of the turntable is analyzed using the AWE fatigue module. The results show that, provided reliable working conditions, the EBZ160 type roadheader machine during the normal service life shows no risk of fatigue failure under normal working load.
Enchondroma of the spine: a report of eleven cases
Authors: Liu Dehuai , Li Boxiang , Wang Hui , Luo Kai , Lin Chengsen , Chen Xianxiang , Liu Yun , Tang Haijun
Published: July 2020

Purpose

To explore clinical characteristics, surgical strategies, and prognosis of spinal enchondroma.
Methods

We retrospectively analyzed eleven cases with primary benign spinal enchondroma who were treated in our institution between January 2008 and December 2016.
Results

Of the 11 patients included in our study, the average age was 43 years(range from 5–66 years). There were 7 men and 4 women. The lesions were mainly located in the lumbar and thoracic column with 5 cases and 4 cases respectively, and following by the cervical and sacral vertebrae with both 1 cases. Total tumor resection was used in 10 cases and curettage in one case. The average follow-up was 3.3 years(range from 2 to 6 years). Most of the cases had achieved satisfied therapeutic outcome with the symptoms disappeared. However, Case 9 developed into local recurrence and a second surgery was performed. Although the lesion have not recured any more after the second operation during the follow-up, the lower extremity paralysis had no improvement. Case 2 was sent to our hospital for the recurrence of the sacral tumor which was very closed to the common iliac artery.When the second operation was conducted, the artery was ruptured and the patient died from hemorrhagic shock.
Conclusion

To establish the diagnosis of spinal enchondroma is not always a simple job for the absence of specific clinical characteristics. The optimal treatment is total resection. Although spinal enchondroma is benign, a few cases can develop into local recurrence. Sacral enchondroma should be more vigilant for its fatal complications.
Anticancer effects of miR-124 delivered by BM-MSC derived exosomes on cell proliferation, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and chemotherapy sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Xu Yan , Liu Nanbin , Wei Yuhua , Zhou Deren , Lin Rui , Wang Xiuyan , Shi Baomin
Published: July 2020

Objective
This study aims to explore the roles of miR-124 in pancreatic tumor and potential vehicles.
Methods
The expression of miR-124 and EZH2 was determined in both pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. miR-124 or EZH2 was overexpressed in AsPC-1 and PANC1 cells. Then, the effects on cell viability. apoptosis, invasion, migration and epithelial mesenchymal transition were evaluated. Afterwards, the roles of miR-124 on the expression and function of EZH2 in pancreatic tumors were determined by dual luciferase reporter assay. Subsequently, miR-124 was transfected to bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs), and the BM-MSCs derived exosomes were isolated and co-cultured with AsPC-1 and PANC1 cells, or injected into pancreatic cancer tumor-bearing mice.
Results
The miR-124 expression levels decreased in pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissues and cancer cell lines AsPC-1, PANC1, BxPC-3 and SW1990. Furthermore, the elevated expression of miR-124 in AsPC-1 and PANC1 via miR-124 mimic transfection-induced apoptosis, metastasis and epithelial mesenchymal transition was suppressed, and the EZH2 overexpression partly reversed the protective effects of miR-124 against pancreatic tumors. In addition, the expression of miR-124 was detected in exosomes extracted from miR-124-transfected BM-MSCs, and these exosomes delivered miR-124 into pancreatic cancer cells, and presented the anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo.
Conclusion
MiR-124-carried BM-MSC-derived exosomes have potential applications for the treatment of pancreatic tumors.
Molecular detection of Campylobacter species from human and cattle faecal samples in Kilosa district, Tanzania
Authors: Gahamanyi Noel , Mboera Leonard E.G. , Matee Mecky I. , Mutangana Dieudonné , Amachawadi Raghavendra G. , Yoon Kye-Yoon , Mabwi Humphrey A. , Cha Kwang Hyun , Pan Cheol-Ho , Komba Erick V.G.
Published: July 2020

Background: A growing number of Campylobacter species other than C. jejuni and C. coli have been considered as emerging human and animal pathogens. However, the contribution of these species to human gastroenteritis is poorly documented. This study aimed at detecting Campylobacter species from human and cattle faecal samples in Kilosa district, Tanzania using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of the 16S rRNA gene, and Sanger sequencing . Methods: A total number of 100 faecal samples (70 from human and 30 from cattle) were collected from diarrheic and non-diarrheic patients and healthy cattle in Kilosa district, Tanzania from July to October 2019. Species identification was conducted by PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing. The phylogenetic analysis was carried out by comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences to reference strains by the Neighbor-Joining method in MEGA X. Results: Campylobacter species detection rate by PCR was 65.7% (46/70) and 20% (6/30) in humans and cattle, respectively. There were five human diarrheic cases, four showed Campylobacter presence and two were from children ≤15 years of age. In humans, the 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that C. concisus was the most predominant species occurring at a frequency of 37.8% (14/37), followed by uncultured Campylobacter spp. 24.3% (9/37) and C. hominis 21.6% (8/37). The least represented species were C. jejuni and C. lanienae all occurring at 2.7% (1/37). In cattle, five (100%) sequenced PCR products matched with C. lanienae . Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Campylobacter 16S rRNA sequences were closely related to C. concisus , uncultured Campylobacter sp., C. hominis , and C. gracilis . Conclusion: The non- C. jejuni / C. coli species are present in human and cattle faecal samples and their true occurrence is probably under-reported due to shortcomings of conventional techniques used in most diagnostic microbiology laboratories. Based on our findings, we recommend that molecular techniques be adopted for direct detection of Campylobacter species during routine laboratory screening and surveillance studies. Keywords: Campylobacter , molecular diagnostics, polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, gastroenteritis, Tanzania
Effect of Pyrolytic Carbon Interphase on Mechanical Properties of mini T800-C/SiC Composites
Authors: Zhao Donglin , Guo Tong , Fan X.M. , Chen Chao , Ma Yue
Published: July 2020

The effect of pyrolytic carbon (PyC) thickness on the tensile property of mini T800-carbon fiber reinforced SiC matrix composites (mini-C/SiC) was studied in this work. PyC interphase was prepared by CVI process, and the PyC thickness was adjusted from 0 to 400 nm. The results showed that the tensile strength of mini-C/SiC first increased and then decreased with the increase of the PyC thickness. When the thickness of PyC was 100 nm, the average strength reached the maximum value of 393±70 MPa. Weibull modulus increased from 2.0 to 8.06 with the increase of PyC thickness, indicating that the increase of PyC thickness is conducive to reducing the dispersion of mechanical properties.
Association between polypharmacy and the persistence of delirium: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kurisu Ken , Miyabe Daisuke , Furukawa Yoshiko , Shibayama Osamu , Yoshiuchi Kazuhiro
Published: July 2020

Background
Although the association between polypharmacy and the occurrence of delirium has been well studied, the influence of polypharmacy on the persistence of delirium remains unclear. We aimed to explore the effect of polypharmacy on the persistence of delirium.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary hospital. The medical records of patients diagnosed with delirium who were referred to the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine were reviewed. Presentation with delirium on day 3 was set as the outcome in this study. We counted the number of drugs prescribed on the date of referral, excluding general infusion fluids, nutritional or electrolytic products, and psychotropics. To define polypharmacy, we developed a classification and regression tree (CART) model and drew a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The odds ratio (OR) of polypharmacy for the persistence of delirium on day 3 was calculated using a logistic regression model with the propensity score as a covariate.
Results
We reviewed the data of 113 patients. The CART model and ROC curve indicated an optimal polypharmacy cutoff of six drugs. Polypharmacy was significantly associated with the persistence of delirium both before [OR, 3.02; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.39–6.81; P = 0.0062] and after (OR, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.32–8.03; P = 0.011) propensity score adjustment.
Conclusion
We discovered an association between polypharmacy and worsening courses of delirium and suggest that polypharmacy is a prognostic factor for delirium.
Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiases Among Pre-School Age Children (12-59 Months) and WASH Condition in Mkuranga, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Musfata Ummul-khair , Tarimo Donath Samuel
Published: July 2020

BackgroundNational efforts for STH control have hitherto been concentrated on school age children (SAC) excluding pre-school age children (PSAC). Though Preventive Chemotherapy (PC) for PSAC has been going on during deworming and vitamin A supplementation campaigns in the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) clinics since 2004, it has not been optimal because not all PSAC receive PC thus remaining vulnerable to STH infections and potential source of community transmission. This study examined the prevalence and intensity of STHs infections among PSAC and the associated water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) factors in Mkuranga district, Tanzania.MethodsA quantitative community based cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2019. Stool samples from 525 PSAC were examined for STH infections. This was complemented with a questionnaire interview of mothers/caretakers of the PSAC to obtain their socio-demographic characteristics and WASH practices. An observation check list was used to gather environmental WASH practices. Data were analyzed by statistical computer package (SPSS version 23), and summarized by descriptive statistics; proportions were compared by the Chi-square test at the significance level of 0.05.ResultsThe overall prevalence of STH infection was very low (1.3%) and was significantly associated with condition of child finger nails (P= 0.001) and place of disposal of faecal matter (P= 0.031). Latrine coverage was very high (97.3%), while disposal of children faeces was 100% hygienic. Less than a half (43.6%) of households were using improved latrines. Majority (95%) of households had access to improved water sources; however, only few (5.3%) treated drinking water. Very few (1.3%) households owned hand washing facilities, conceivably leading to a low practice of hand washing with soap at food preparation (12.8%), child feeding (13%), after defecation (34.1%) and after handling children faeces (23%). Nail trimming habit was very good as a large majority (83.8%) of caretakers and corresponding children (87.2%) had their finger nails trimmed at time of survey.Conclusion PSAC are a reservoir of STHs infections, which coupled with the prevalent risk factors of transmission, form a potential source of continuity of transmission in the community, hence the need for a national deworming program extending to PSAC*Corresponding author: Address: P. O. BOX 2329, Dar es Salaam, email: ummybadia@gmail.com;
Low Bone Mineral Density is a Potential Risk Factor for Symptom Onset and Related with Hypocitraturia in Urolithiasis Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Taguchi Kazumi , Hamamoto Shuzo , Okada Atsushi , Tanaka Yutaro , Sugino Teruaki , Unno Rei , Kato Taiki , Ando Ryosuke , Tozawa Keiichi , Yasui Takahiro
Published: July 2020

Background: Patients with urolithiasis have a lower bone mineral density (BMD) than those without stones, suggesting a potential correlation between calcium stone formation and bone resorption disorders, including osteopenia and osteoporosis. Methods: To investigate the influence of BMD on clinical outcomes in urolithiasis, we performed a single-center retrospective cohort study to analyze patients with urolithiasis who underwent both BMD examination and 24-hour urine collection between 2006 and 2015. Data from the national cross-sectional surveillance of the Japanese Society on Urolithiasis Research in 2015 were utilized, and additional data related to urinary tract stones were obtained from medical records. The primary outcome was the development of stone-related symptoms and recurrences during follow-up. A total of 370 patients were included in this 10-year study period. Results: Half of the patients had recurrent stones, and the two-thirds were symptomatic stone formers. While only 9% of patients had hypercalciuria, 27% and 55% had hyperoxaluria and hypocitraturia, respectively. There was a positive correlation between T-scores and urinary citrate excretion. Both univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that female sex was associated with recurrences (odds ratio=0.44, p=0.007), whereas a T-score <−2.5 and hyperoxaluria were associated with symptoms (odds ratio=2.59, p=0.037; odds ratio=0.45, p=0.01; respectively). Conclusion: These results revealed that low T-scores might cause symptoms in patients with urolithiasis, suggesting the importance of BMD examination for high-risk Japanese patients with urolithiasis having hypocitraturia.
8q24 Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Germline Variant is Associated with VHL Mutation Status and Clinical Aggressiveness
Authors: Eckel-Passow Jeanette E , Yan Huihuang , Kosel Matthew , Serie Daniel , Decker Paul A. , Jenkins Robert , Costello Brian , Leibovich Bradley , Ho Thai , Parker Alexander
Published: July 2020

Background: The four most commonly-mutated genes in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tumors are BAP1, PBRM1, SETD2 and VHL. And, there are currently 14 known RCC germline variants that have been reproducibly shown to be associated with RCC risk. However, the association of germline genetics with tumor genetics and clinical aggressiveness are unknown.Methods: We analyzed 420 ccRCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Molecular subtype was determined based on acquired mutations in BAP1, PBRM1, SETD2 and VHL. Aggressive subtype was defined clinically using Mayo SSIGN score and molecularly using the ccA/ccB gene expression subtype. Publically-available Hi-C data were used to link germline risk variants with candidate target genes. Results: The 8q24 variant rs35252396 was significantly associated with VHL mutation status (OR=1.6, p=0.0037) and SSIGN score (OR=1.9, p=0.00094), after adjusting for multiple comparisons. We observed that, while some germline variants have interactions with nearby genes, some variants demonstrate long-range interactions with target genes.Conclusions: These data further demonstrate the link between rs35252396, HIF pathway and ccRCC clinical aggressiveness, providing a more comprehensive picture of how germline genetics and tumor genetics interact with respect to tumor development and progression.
Accumulation of the Delivered Dose Based on Cone-beam CT and Deformable Image Registration for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Hypofractionated Radiotherapy
Authors: Wang Bin , Wang DaQuan , Lin MaoSheng , Lu ShiPei , Zhang Jun , Chen Li , Li QiWen , Cheng ZhangKai , Liu FangJie , Guo JinYu , Liu Hui , Qiu Bo
Published: July 2020

Background: This study aimed to quantify the dosimetric differences between the planned and delivered dose to tumor and normal organs in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LANSCLC) treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy (HRT), and to explore the necessity and identify optimal candidates for adaptive radiotherapy (ART).Methods: Twenty-seven patients with stage III NSCLC were enrolled. Planned radiation dose was 51Gy in 17 fractions with cone-beam CT (CBCT) acquired at each fraction. Virtual CT was generated by deformable image registration (DIR) of the planning CT to CBCT for dose calculation and accumulation. Dosimetric parameters were compared between original and accumulated plans using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Correlations between dosimetric differences and clinical variables were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test or Chi-square test.Results: Patients had varied gross tumor volume (GTV) reduction by HRT (median reduction rate 11.1% , range -2.9%-44.0%). The V51 of PTV-GTV was similar between original and accumulated plans (mean, 88.2% vs. 87.6%, p=0.452). Only 11.1% of patients had above 5% relative decrease in V51 of PTV-GTV in accumulated plans. Compared to the original plan, limited increase (median relative increase <5%) was observed in doses of total lung (mean dose, V20 and V30), esophagus (mean dose, maximum dose) and heart (mean dose, V30 and V40) in accumulated plans. Less than 30% of patients had above 5% relative increase of lung or heart doses. Patients with quick tumor regression or baseline obstructive pneumonitis showed more notable increase in doses to normal structures. Patients with baseline obstructive atelectasis showed notable decrease (10.3%) in dose coverage of PTV-GTV.Conclusions: LANSCLC patients treated with HRT had sufficient tumor dose coverage and acceptable normal tissue dose deviation. ART should be applied in patients with quick tumor regression and baseline obstructive pneumonitis/atelectasis to spare more normal structures.
From Business Modelling to the Leadership and Innovation in Business: Bibliometric Analysis (Banking as a Case)
Authors: Goncharenko Tetiana
Published: July 2020

The analysis of approaches to defining the banking business model showed that digital financial technologies, e-commerce, information management are important factors that form the model of leadership and innovation in business. The development of risk management, risk assessment, profitability-risk-stability triangle balancing, which create relevant trends in the formation of business leadership models, has increasing importance for managers, clients and shareholders. The article identifies the dominant tendencies in the development of scientific thought (based on 6377 articles from 1991-2019 in journals indexed by Scopus and Web of Science) regarding the transformation of business models in banks and the future research directions with the help of bibliometric analysis (VOSviewer). The conducted analysis showed that in 2012-2017 the number of scientific articles about the transformation of banks’ business models began to increase. It proves the relevance of business modelling for leadership and innovation in business. At the same time, the focus of research has shifted from general strategic management issues to risk management issues. In 2017, the number of articles studying the banking business model increased by 148% compared to 2012. Therefore, these articles in the subject area observe such areas as business, management, economics, econometrics, finance, social and computer sciences. Among the scientists who studied the banks’ business models, most are scientists from the US, UK and India. In 2018, there was a significant increase in the number of articles on banking strategic management published in high impact journals, such as the Journal of Banking and Finance, the International Journal of Bank Marketing and Economic Modeling. The use of the VOSviewer has identified 8 research clusters exploring the issue from different perspectives. The first (largest) cluster consists of studies that examine banks’ business models through decision-making and information management technologies, risk assessment and minimization mechanisms, the relationship between banking sales dynamics and the information databases etc. The second-largest cluster brought together researchers examining banks’ business models in terms of the financial crisis effects, regulatory changes, business efficiency and stability (z-score), etc. The third-largest cluster is the study of business models through the dynamics of transformations in the financial market, in lending behaviour and business cycles. These three largest clusters confirm that the key to leadership and innovation in banking is the balance between the profitability-risk-stability triangle and information technology.

Keywords: Bank, Banking, Business Model, Leadership and Innovations in Business.
Correlate of Workforce Diversity and Organisational Performance of Multinational Food Producing Industry in Nigeria
Authors: Akpoviroro Kowo Solomon , Ismaila Kadiri Bolarinwa , Abu Zekeri
Published: July 2020

The paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue cultural and age diversity of workforce and the level of workers’ productivity in the multinational companies. Three hundred and seventy-five employees from five multinational food companies in Southwest Nigeria form the object of the research. Methodological research tools contain questionnaires; the regression analysis methods was used when testing hypotheses on the existence of a correlation between cultural diversity and team performance; cross-tabulation analysis method; inter-position correlation test, and ANOVA method for generalizing and interpreting the results. The results of the study regarding the relationship between a company’s cultural diversity and its market share showed that cultural diversity does not affect the performance of the organization’s employees, while work experience has a non-linear impact on the company’s productivity. The results of findings conclude that there is a link between workforce diversity and the organizational effectiveness of the company, as well as the positive relationship between the cultural diversity of employees and their work experience. The findings of the study are agreed with the work of other scientists on the subject and complement their results. According to the results of the analysis, it was concluded that it is necessary to increase the level of awareness of the staff about the cultural diversity that exists in the organization. The reason is that it is necessary to increase the employees’ morale and their work efficiency, which will increase the level of customer satisfaction with the work of the company. The study recommends that; multinational food producing industries should not only ensure employee diversity in their businesses but they should also make sure that diversity is used to improve organizational performance. Future research in this area should focus on consideration of all stakeholders’ opinions in the formulation of multinational company’s personnel policies. Keywords: Employees Diversity, Organizational Performance, Cultural Diversity, Work Experience Diversity, MNCs.
Examining Counsellor Expertise: Evidence from the Sri Lankan Microfinance Sector
Authors: Abeysekera Ruwan
Published: July 2020

Posited in the context of the exacerbating conditions of the economic crisis, the shortage of financial resources in the small and medium-sized enterprise market, and the low standard of living of the population in a number of countries, microfinancing is one of the effective tools to stimulate entrepreneurship. Microfinancing is the issuance of small loans and other services, such as business development services (BDS), which also comprise components of financial literacy, business registration, market linkages, thereby serving as a reliable mechanism to support low-income individuals to start and grow their businesses and to alleviate poverty in the country. Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) use innovative techniques, such as group lending and gradually increasing loan sizes in order to provide these services. The systematic analysis of the existing scientific literature on microfinance revealed the lack of comprehensive research on the significance of counselor expertise in the provision of BDS. Thus, the objectives of the present study were to understand the meaning of counselor expertise, to see how counselor expertise could help owner-managers in different areas of their businesses, and to examine how the organizational factors affect the expertise of the counselors. A case study method was used to carry out the study. Accordingly, six MFIs were selected as cases, and a microfinance manager, a counselor, and three owner-managers/clients from each MFI were interviewed to collect the data. The findings show that counselor expertise is twofold: business knowledge and experiential knowledge. It was evidenced that, while the business knowledge of counselors helps owner-managers in record keeping, business plan preparation, and financial literacy, the experiential knowledge helps owner-managers in networking, business linkages, and different industries. The findings also reveal that the type of MFI, the type of linkage, and the counsellor selection method influence the expertise of the counselors. Therein, the findings are useful both to the practice and the knowledge domains in the microfinance setting. Keywords: counseling, expertise, microfinance, business knowledge, experiential knowledge, business development services.
The Effect of Environmental Management Accounting on Corporate Sustainability
Authors: Pratiwi Yobi Nagoya , Meutia Inten , Syamsurijal Syamsurijal
Published: July 2020

This research aimed to examine the effect of Environmental Management Accounting (EMA) on corporate sustainability in mining, agriculture, construction and construction materials, energy, textile and apparel companies in Indonesia from 2014-2018. This research had 87 observations from 20 in Indonesia from 2014-2018. EMA was measured by eco-efficiency energy. Meanwhile, corporate sustainability was measured by environmental and social factors. The researchers used content analysis to measure entity sustainability. The data were qualitative and quantitative in the form of annual reports and company sustainability reports based on the G4 of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The results show that there is a positive influence between EMA on corporate sustainability. The high value of the eco-efficiency of the companies indicates the low usage of energy. The low use of energy certainly has a positive impact on environmental and social aspects as well as being a determining factor for corporate sustainability.
Monetary and Fiscal Policies Interactions on Stock Returns in Nigeria
Authors: Idowu Onanuga , Bamidele Ilo , Elumah Lucas
Published: July 2020

This research examined the effects of monetary and fiscal policies on stock returns in Nigeria. The researchers utilized ex-post facto research design using the time series data of the annual market values of All Share Index (ASI) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). It was yearly data on the various monetary policy and fiscal policy variables obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletins covering from 1985 to 2017. The result of the cointegration test reveals a long-run relationship between monetary variables and stock returns. Meanwhile, the overall result shows that monetary policy has a significant effect on stock return. However, there is no long-run relationship between fiscal policy variables and stock returns. Meanwhile, the result of the Unrestricted Vector Autoregression model shows that fiscal policy has a significant effect on stock prices in Nigeria. On the other hand, a long-run relationship exists between monetary policy, fiscal policy, and stock returns. It has a significant effect on stock returns in Nigeria. This implies that monetary and fiscal policies have a significant effect on stock returns in Nigeria. It is recommended that there is a need for the federal government to harmonize fiscal and monetary policies in the same direction and to equally design policies that promote a free market for the growth of the Nigerian economy.
Analysis of Decision Support System in Determining the Nutritional Status of Toddlers Using Simple Additive Weighting
Authors: Sofian Ofan , Joseph Joseph , Fauziyah Fauziyah
Published: July 2020

The problem that currently happens in the decision process of the nutritional status for toddlers is often based on manual calculation. However, the manual calculation is prone to data duplication, insufficient data, and a lack of availability of the data itself, which can hinder the monitoring status and the report. Therefore, to ease the determination and calculation process of the nutritional status of toddlers, the researchers conduct a study using the Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) method. The SAW method is selected because it defines the best alternative and some other alternatives based on specified or preferred criteria. This research is conducted by finding the weight value of each attribute and rating the data to determine the nutritional status of toddlers. For the result, the researchers find there are no toddlers with malnutrition in Pemberdayaan Kesejahteraan Keluarga, Program Kerja Kelompok Kerja IV (PKK POKJA IV) of Depok.
Analysis of Deauthentication Attack on IEEE 802.11 Connectivity Based on IoT Technology Using External Penetration Test
Authors: Kristiyanto Yogi , E Ernastuti
Published: July 2020

The research aims to know the level of security of WiFi connectivity against deauthentication attacks on Internet of Things (IoT)-based devices. It is done through testing using an external penetration test method. The external penetration test simulates a real external attack without information about the target system and network given. The process starts from accessing the device through Internet or WiFi by the test target. At the same time, the attacker performs Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks onWiFi. The attacker uses Arduino ESP8266 NodeMCU WiFi with Lua programming. To record WiFi activities, the researchers use CommView for WiFi V. 7.0, and the target is Internet Protocol (IP) camera device. The result shows that the communication of the test target with the gateway is lost, but the Media Access Control (MAC) of the test target is still registered at the gateway. Deauthentication attacks cause communication paralysis, and several changes occur, such as an increase in data rate, and change in frequency channel, Distribution System (DS) status, retry bits in frame management, and the sequence number.
PARKİNSON HASTALARINDA MOTOR VE BİLİŞSEL İKİLİ GÖREVLERİN EL FONKSİYONU ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ
Authors: ACARÖZ CANDAN Sevim , AKOĞLU Abdullah Sinan , ÖZCAN Tuba Şaziye
Published: July 2020

Amaç: Günlük yaşam aktiviteleri büyük çoğunlukla ikili görev (İG) performansı gerektirir. Parkinson hastalığında (PH) bireyin günlük yaşamdaki fonksiyonel durumu, motor ve bilişsel fonksiyon arasındaki etkileşimden etkilenebilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Parkinson hastalarında motor ve bilişsel İG’nin el fonksiyonuna etkisini incelemekti. Yöntem: Çalışmaya 50-80 yaş arası 33 PH ve benzer yaş ve cinsiyet dağılımına sahip 32 sağlıklı birey dahil edildi. El fonksiyonunu değerlendirmek için dokuz delikli peg testi (DDPT) kullanıldı. Motor İG, DDPT sırasında ayağın ritmik vurması ile, bilişsel İG ise, DDPT sırasında seri yedi çıkarma testi ile değerlendirildi. DDPT sonuçları tek görev, motor İG ve bilişsel İG altında saniye cinsinden kaydedildi. İG etkileşim yüzdesi hesaplandı. Ölçümler dominant ve dominant olmayan el için tekrarlandı. Sonuçlar: PH grubunda dominant ve dominant olmayan el fonksiyonunun hem motor hem de bilişsel İG sırasında kontrol grubuna göre daha fazla azaldığı görüldü (p<0,05). Her iki grupta da bilişsel İG’nin, el fonksiyonunu motor İG’den daha fazla azalttığı belirlendi (p<0,05). İG etkileşim yüzdeleri karşılaştırıldığında, motor İG etkileşimi açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı bir fark olmadığı (p>0,05); bilişsel İG etkileşim açısından ise PH grubunda etkileşimin kontrol grubuna göre daha fazla olduğu görüldü (p<0,05). Tartışma: PH olan bireylerin el fonksiyonu İG altında azalmaktadır. Bu azalma özellikle bilişsel İG sırasında daha fazladır. PH olan hastaların rehabilitasyon hedefleri arasında el fonksiyonu sırasında İG performansının artırılması da yer almalıdır. PH olan hastaların rehabilitasyon programına özellikle bilişsel görev içerikli İG’e yönelik egzersizlerin eklenmesi, el fonksiyonunu geliştirmede yararlı olabilir.
SAFE AND EFFECTIVE USE OF ARM CYCLE ERGOMETRY IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS
Authors: AYYILDIZ ÇİNAR Sinem , TOPELİ Arzu , UMAROĞLU Mutlu , İNAL İNCE Deniz , BİLGİN Sevil
Published: July 2020

Purpose: Patients in intensive care units (ICU) are often exposed to prolonged immobilization, which, in turn, plays a vital role in impaired functional status. Exercise with an arm cycle ergometer (ACE) could be a treatment option to minimize the harmful effects of immobility. This study was aimed to investigate whether using ACE is a safe and effective intervention for preventing or attenuating the decrease in functional status in critically ill patients. Methods: A total of 35 adult critically ill patients were recruited for this study from among those admitted to the ICU. The subjects received conventional physiotherapy or conventional physiotherapy with an additional ACE intervention during their stay in the ICU. The intervention was administered passively or actively based on clinical status for 20 minutes, once a day, five days a week. During the ACE training, cardiopulmonary responses and the highest/lowest values were recorded before, during, and immediately and 5 minutes after the exercise. Cardiopulmonary responses recorded at the first, the second, and discharge days of the training (last training session) were analyzed. Ambulation Score and Barthel Index were used to evaluate the functional level. Results: Although cardiopulmonary responses were varied with ACE exercise (p<0.05), these changes stayed within the safety limits. At ICU discharge, there were no significant differences between the groups regarding functional level scores (p>0.05). Conclusion: In the ICU, the daily exercise of ACE training is possible and safe. Further study is needed to determine the effects of exercise training using ACE on the functional outcomes.
Detention-based green roofs for stormwater management under extreme precipitation due to climate change
Authors: Hamouz Vladimír , Pons Vincent , Sivertsen Edvard , Raspati Gema Sakti , Bertrand-Krajewski Jean-Luc , Muthanna Tone Merete
Published: July 2020

Rooftops cover a large percentage of land area in urban areas, which can potentially be used for stormwater purposes. Seeking adaptation strategies, there is an increasing interest in utilising green roofs for stormwater management. However, the impact of extreme rainfall on the hydrological performance of green roofs and their design implications remain challenging to quantify. In this study, a method was developed to assess the detention performance of a detention-based green roof (underlaid with 100 mm of expanded clay) for current and future climate conditions under extreme precipitation using an artificial rainfall generator. The green roof runoff was found to be more sensitive to the initial water content than the hyetograph shape. The green roof outperformed the black roof for performance indicators (time of concentration, centroid delay, T50 or peak attenuation). While the time of concentration for the reference black roof was within 5 minutes independently of rainfall intensity, for the green roof was extrapolated between 30 and 90 minutes with intensity from 0.8 to 2.5 mm/min. Adding a layer of expanded clay under the green roof substrate provided a significant improvement to the detention performance under extreme precipitation in current and future climate conditions.
Assessment of artificial intelligence models for calculating optimum properties of lined channels
Authors: Niazkar Majid
Published: July 2020

Lined channels with trapezoidal, rectangular and triangular sections are the most common manmade canals in practice. Since the construction cost plays a key role in water conveyance projects, it has been considered as the prominent factor in optimum channel designs. In this study, artificial neural networks (ANN) and genetic programming (GP) are used to determine optimum channel geometries for trapezoidal-family cross sections. For this purpose, the problem statement is treated as an optimization problem whose objective function and constraint are earthwork and lining costs and Manning's equation, respectively. The comparison remarkably demonstrates that the applied artificial intelligence (AI) models achieved much closer results to the numerical benchmark solutions than the available explicit equations for optimum design of lined channels with trapezoidal, rectangular and triangular sections. Also, investigating the average of absolute relative errors obtained for determination of dimensionless geometries of trapezoidal-family channels using AI models shows that this criterion will not be more than 0.0013 for the worst case, which indicates the high accuracy of AI models in optimum design of trapezoidal channels.
Characterizing the structure of aerobic granular sludge using ultra-high field magnetic resonance
Authors: Kirkland Catherine M. , Krug Julia R. , Vergeldt Frank J. , van den Berg Lenno , Velders Aldrik H. , Seymour Joseph D. , Codd Sarah L. , Van As Henk , de Kreuk Merle K.
Published: July 2020

Despite aerobic granular sludge wastewater treatment plants operating around the world, our understanding of internal granule structure and its relation to treatment efficiency remains limited. This can be attributed in part to the drawbacks of time-consuming, labor-intensive, and invasive microscopy protocols which effectively restrict samples sizes and may introduce artefacts. Time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) allows non-invasive measurements which describe internal structural features of opaque, complex materials like biofilms. NMR was used to image aerobic granules collected from five full-scale wastewater treatment plants in the Netherlands and United States, as well as laboratory granules and control beads. T1 and T2 relaxation-weighted images reveal heterogeneous structures that include high- and low-density biofilm regions, water-like voids, and solid-like inclusions. Channels larger than approximately 50 μm and connected to the bulk fluid were not visible. Both cluster and ring-like structures were observed with each granule source having a characteristic structural type. These structures, and their NMR relaxation behavior, were stable over several months of storage. These observations reveal the complex structures within aerobic granules from a range of sources and highlight the need for non-invasive characterization methods like NMR to be applied in the ongoing effort to correlate structure and function.
Agricultural biowaste, rice bran, as carbon source to enhance biomass and lipid production: analysis with various growth rate models
Authors: Choi H. J.
Published: July 2020

As a byproduct of agriculture, rice bran can be a good alternative carbon source to mass-produce microalgae and increase lipid content. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of rice bran extract (RBE) on the mass culture and oil content of microalgae. Various parameters were applied to the growth rate model to explain the dynamics of substrate inhibition and growth of microalgae. The rice bran contains 46.1% of carbohydrates, in which is 38.3% glucose, and is very suitable as a carbon source for microalgae growth. The culture with RBE had a four times higher biomass production than microalgae cultured on Jaworski's medium (JM) with a small amount of 1 g/L. In addition, for RBE, the lipid content was three times higher and saturated fatty acid was 3% lower than were those of JM. According to the above results, when Chlorella vulgaris is cultured using RBE, a high amount of biomass and high lipid content can be obtained with a small amount of RBE. RBE is a discarded waste and has a high content of glucose, so it can be replaced by an organic carbon source to increase microbial biomass growth and lipid content at low cost.
Considering a Potential Role of Linalool as a Mood Stabilizer for Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Levenberg Kate , Edris Wade , Levine Martha , George Daniel R.
Published: July 2020

Epidemiologic studies suggest that the lifetime prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorders ranges from
2.8 to 6.5 percent of the population. To decrease morbidity and mortality associated with disease progression,
pharmacologic intervention is indicated for the majority of these patients. While a number of effective treatment
regimens exist, many conventional medications have significant side effect profiles that adversely impact patients’
short and long-term well-being. It is thus important to continue advancing and improving therapeutic options
available to patients. This paper reviews the limitations of current treatments and examines the chemical
compound Linalool, an alcohol found in many plant species, that may serve as an effective mood stabilizer. While
relatively little is known about Linalool and bipolar disorder, the compound has been shown to have antiepileptic,
anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, anti-depressive, and neurotrophic effects, with mechanisms that are comparable
to current bipolar disorder treatment options.
An Overview of Metal-organic Frameworks-based Acid/Base Catalysts for Biofuel Synthesis
Authors: Zhang Qiuyun , Zhang Yutao , Cheng Jingsong , Li Hu , Ma Peihua
Published: July 2020

Biofuel synthesis is of great significance for producing alternative fuels. Among
the developed catalytic materials, the metal-organic framework-based hybrids used as
acidic, basic, or supported catalysts play major roles in the biodiesel production. This paper
presents a timely and comprehensive review of recent developments on the design and
preparation of metal-organic frameworks-based catalysts used for biodiesel synthesis from
various oil feedstocks, including MILs-based catalysts, ZIFs-based catalysts, UiO-based
catalysts, Cu-BTC-based catalysts, and MOFs-derived porous catalysts. Due to their
unique and flexible structures, excellent thermal and hydrothermal stability, and tunable
host-guest interactions, as compared with other heterogeneous catalysts, metal-organic
framework-based catalysts have good opportunities for application in the production of
biodiesel at industrial scale.