bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Un intento de ciberdemocracia en España: el portal participativo “Decide Madrid” del Ayuntamiento de Madrid
Authors: Hinojosa Navarro Ghiovani Amilcar
Published: August 2019

En febrero del 2017 hubo en Madrid las primeras cibervotaciones de carácter vinculante, es decir, aquellas en las que los vecinos tomaron decisiones de cumplimiento obligatorio para el ayuntamiento. Eligieron el diseño que tendrá la nueva Plaza de España, una de las más emblemáticas de la ciudad, y acordaron la creación de un billete único de transporte que permitiría cambiar de medio sin pagar de nuevo durante noventa minutos. Esto se canalizó a través de portal “Decide Madrid” (https://decide.madrid.es/). El encargado de ese espacio afirma que las nuevas tecnologías permiten transferir a los representados una cuota del poder de los representantes. Sin embargo, la promesa madrileña ya muestra sus primeras limitaciones: la creación del billete único excede la responsabilidad del Ayuntamiento de Madrid e involucra a otra institución, la Comunidad de Madrid, que no está obligada a ejecutar la decisión ciudadana.
Motivations of youth audiences to content creation and dissemination on social network sites
Authors: López de Ayala López Mª Cruz , Paniagua Santamaría Pedro
Published: August 2019

Young people show very high and intensive levels of social networks use. However, users have different levels of involvement as regards their degree of interactivity in these platforms. Supported by uses and gratifications theory and applying a factor analysis, the motivations that explain their participation in several profiles of social networks and differences between those who do and those who do not comment are analysed. Based on a self-administered survey of 461 young university students, the main conclusions include the diversity of nuances in the combinations of reasons that explain participation in different types of profiles on social networks; particularly worth highlighting are the similarities between profiles of NGOs and those of celebrities. Also of note is the tendency of users who comment on commercial, political, social and leisure profiles to display motivations linked to searching for information, being useful, influencing others, interacting and showing adhesion, depending on the sphere.
Patrones de uso, control parental y acceso a la información de los adolescentes en la red
Authors: Pastor Ruiz Yolanda , Martín Nieto Rebeca , Montes Vozmediano Manuel
Published: August 2019

Los patrones de uso y consumo de información mediática de los adolescentes experimentan cambios frecuentes debido a la constante evolución tecnológica. Este trabajo, fruto del proyecto REDCON, trata de conocer el uso y consumo de internet, redes sociales y servicios de mensajería de los adolescentes en la Comunidad de Madrid, así como su percepción de los riesgos, el control parental y el acceso a las noticias. A través de cuatro grupos de discusión, con menores de entre 13 y 17 años, se ha constatado un uso multitarea de internet, las redes sociales y los servicios de mensajería, en periodos cortos de consulta repartidos durante el día, con control parental al inicio de la adolescencia que se diluye cuando crecen. Destaca un consumo incidental de noticias, unido a una baja valoración de la credibilidad mediática y una falta de autorregulación de los jóvenes en el uso de internet y dispositivos móviles.
Ocultar el sujeto como un recurso para representar la realidad en las metafunciones ideacional e interpersonal de la cláusula: el caso de Pablo Escobar en la revista "Semana"
Authors: Prada Penagos Rodolfo
Published: August 2019

Los medios de prensa, que son lugares simbólicos de emisión (Raiter, 2001), escogen los recursos de lenguaje que determinan el “potencial de significado” (Gil & García, 2010) de los mensajes que comparten con sus públicos. Al hacerlo, presentan versiones de la “realidad” acordes con sus intenciones y sus particulares formas de ver el mundo. Este artículo presenta los resultados de un análisis de discurso en el que se evidencian los recursos lingüísticos que empleó la revista Semana para ocultar y representar al narcotraficante Pablo Escobar en ciertos procesos asociados a la guerra del narcotráfico en Colombia (1883-1993). El análisis se centró en las metafunciones ideacional e interpersonal de las cláusulas de 39 titulares de reportajes publicados por la revista en el periodo aludido.
Creación y mantenimiento de una comunidad de voluntarios medioambientales a través de una comunicación "cross-media"
Authors: Sánchez-Blanco Cristina , León Bienvenido
Published: August 2019

El auge de las formas de participación ciudadana en la ciencia ha supuesto que las decisiones sobre ciencia y tecnología no sean patrimonio exclusivo de los políticos o expertos. El papel de la comunicación para crear y mantener una comunidad de ciudadanos que forman parte de proyectos de ciencia ciudadana es, sin duda, una cuestión de gran relevancia. Este artículo presenta los resultados de una investigación sobre las acciones de comunicación empleadas en un proyecto de ciencia ciudadana financiado por la Comisión Europea, Life+Respira, basado en la participación de voluntarios medioambientales. Esta investigación analiza, mediante una investigación cuantitativa (encuesta) y cualitativa (entrevistas semiestructuradas) a los voluntarios medioambientales, si las diversas motivaciones que presentan los voluntarios para participar en el proyecto influyen en su interés por interactuar en el proyecto y si ese interés influye a su vez en su percepción sobre la eficacia y credibilidad de las diferentes acciones de comunicación.
Estilo informativo entre los siglos XVI y XVII: los manuales epistolares
Authors: Soto Escobar Rafael
Published: August 2019

El discurso informativo tuvo sus orígenes en la Retórica. En concreto, la Retórica epistolar estableció las bases del estilo informativo. En su intento de “informar a los ausentes” con decoro y eficiencia, los manuales epistolares no humanísticos transmitieron principios y recomendaciones que, en ocasiones, todavía hoy son aplicables al Periodismo Informativo.
Una nueva mirada en el tratamiento de los mayores en los medios desde la ética de la comunicación
Authors: Suay Madrid Amparo
Published: August 2019

El colectivo de las personas mayores no ha recibido la atención debida desde la ética comunicativa, si comparamos las recomendaciones éticas sobre el tratamiento mediático que han ido surgiendo en los últimos años con otros ámbitos en los que ha habido una notable aportación de iniciativas como mujer o infancia. En este artículo se plantean una serie de directrices relativas al tratamiento mediático correcto de este asunto en los medios que sirvan de guía a los profesionales, teniendo en cuenta también el escaso número de recomendaciones aparecidas en los últimos años en relación a la vejez.
El estudiante en la estructura productiva de la radio universitaria colombiana
Authors: Ventín Sánchez José Augusto
Published: August 2019

La radio universitaria es un medio de comunicación que ha ido conformando su identidad desde 1915 (Faus, 1973; Miller, 2007), a partir de las necesidades sociales y de las funciones de las instituciones universitarias (Ventín, 2018). Hoy, referirse a la radio universitaria, es entenderla desde sus diferentes finalidades: la divulgación del conocimiento, la extensión y la formación de los estudiantes. Como cualquier medio de comunicación, con mayor o menor grado de organización, tiene una estructura productiva conformada por, entre otros, estudiantes. Pero, ¿los estudiantes tienen el mismo peso en cada una de las tipologías de radios universitarias?, ¿cumplen el mismo rol? ¿existen diferencias en los perfiles productivos y en los procesos de toma de decisión? Con el presente informe resultado de investigación se pretende exponer el papel que cumplen los estudiantes en cada una de las finalidades de las radios universitarias, con el objetivo de determinar su peso y su valor como parte de sus estructuras, de manera que estos medios puedan comprender el tipo de vinculación que mantienen para potencializar su perfil como integrantes de estos medios. Partiendo de una investigación descriptiva de metodología mixta, cuantitativa y cualitativa, y de enfoque correlacional, el presente artículo se ha estructurado en cuatro partes: una primera en la que se desarrolla el concepto de radio universitaria, con el fin de tipificar este medio de comunicación a partir de sus funciones fruto de la interrelación medio y universidad. Una segunda en la que se expone la metodología llevada a cabo. Una tercera en la que se expone el rol del estudiante desde dos componentes: su peso en la estructura productiva y sus dinámicas de producción. Y una final, las conclusiones, en la que se concreta el papel del estudiante y se correlaciona su rol con cada una de las tipologías de radio universitaria.
A Corpus-Driven Analysis of Explicitness in English as Lingua Franca
Authors: Önen Serap , İnal Dilek
Published: August 2019

This paper examines explicitness in English as lingua franca (ELF) spoken interactions. Using a conversationanalysis procedure, about 11h of audio-recorded naturally occuring ELF interactions of 79 incoming Erasmusstudents were analyzed for this purpose. The corpus was compiled by means of 54 speech events, 29 interviews and25 focus group meetings and the participants represented 24 mother tongues. Research into ELF reveals that ELFspeakers tend to use various “explicitness strategies” (Mauranen, 2007) in order to enhance intelligibility. Thefindings of this study show that there are indeed variations from standard ENL forms with respect to the degree ofexplicitness in spoken interactions. There is a tendency among ELF speakers to make the meaning more explicit forthe listeners. Repetitions of same expressions in subsequent sentences, use of over-explicit forms, use of an extrasubject following a relative clause and use of emphatic reference are the emerging patterns observed in this study.
Impact of Federal Funds Rate on Monthly Stocks Return of United States of America
Authors: Javed Sarfaraz , Atallah Aldalaien Baaeth , Husain Uvesh , Shahfaraz Khan Mohammed
Published: August 2019

This study examines the impact of federal funds rate on monthly stocks return of the United States of America. The study made use of secondary data from 31st January 1980 to 31st December 2009 gotten from Fred Economic Data and Economic Research Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Ordinary Least Square Method was applied to perform the analysis using Eviews 9.0. The findings of this study reveal that before the crisis, the rate of interest significantly predicted monthly stock return while during the crisis; the rate of interest did not significantly predict monthly stock return. In addition, the growth rate of industrial production significantly predicted monthly stock return with while FFR did not significantly predict monthly stock return. Likewise, change in FFR significantly predicted monthly stock return while the growth rate of industrial production did not significantly predict monthly stock return.
Developing and Validating an Organizational Forgiveness Measure: An Exploratory Factor Analysis Approach
Authors: Khezri Parizad
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this validation study was to develop and validate an organizational forgiveness measure. Convenient sampling was employed to recruit 148 participants from among the staff of Iran Rehabilitation Organization. A Likert scale questionnaire consisting of 21 statements on five subscales, namely, ‘emotional composure’, ‘empathy with the perpetrator’, ‘rebuilding the broken relationship’, ‘willingness to forgive’, ‘satisfaction from forgiving’, and ‘better understanding’ was developed by the researcher. The questionnaire was completed by the participants after they were instructed as to how to do it. Exploratory factor analysis was used to validate the questionnaire. The results showed that the questionnaire was a valid instrument to measure degree of organizational forgiveness.
Enterprise Risk Management Implementation and Firm Performance: Evidence from the Malaysian Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Kashif Shad Muhammad , Lai Fong-Woon
Published: August 2019

This paper intends to vindicate the influence of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) implementation on firm performance. A sample of 11 oil and gas Public Listed Companies (PLC’s) were selected in this study. Data were collected using content analysis with regard to the companies’ ERM practices and their financial performances. ERM implementation was measured using COSO’s ERM integrated framework while the firm financial performance was assessed through return on assets (ROA) measurement. Multiple regression analysis was performed to test eight developed hypotheses. Results indicate that four components of the ERM framework, i.e. supportive internal environment, objective setting, control and monitoring activities, are found to be positive and significant predictors for the firm’s performance. The findings support the efficacy and potential strengths of ERM implementation in the oil and gas companies.
Factors in the Sharing of Tacit Knowledge among Volunteer Firefighters
Authors: Márcio Oliveira , Paulo Pinheiro
Published: August 2019

The studies in the area of knowledge management, directed to non-profit organizations are scarce, as opposed to what happens in the private and public sector. The growing importance of the third sector and its institutions, in establishing a more just and balanced society, combating asymmetries and placing itself on the side of the neediest, justifies the attention of the academic community, in order to establish and adopt best practices to carry out their missions.

The choice of a case study of organizations such as the Portuguese fire brigades, unique in their action and identity, accompanies the need increasingly recognized by Portuguese society to enable these organizations to perform best in the face of tragic events in recent years in Portugal, particularly in the case of large fires.

This study focuses on analysing the sharing of tacit knowledge in non-profit organisations (NPOs) through the case of Portuguese volunteer firefighters (Vfs). A literature review on tacit knowledge sharing allowed the identification of indicators to share this knowledge. A quantitative methodology was followed, with data collection through questionnaires and the treatment of which was able to determine the indicators that influence each factor. We correspondingly applied exploratory factorial analysis to study the indicators for the tacit sharing of knowledge.

This returned three factors as leading to the sharing of tacit knowledge within the scope of these organisations: organisational culture, individual characteristics and organisational structure.
Growing, Production and Quality of Thornless Cactus Irrigated With Dairies Effluent
Authors: Reges Keivianne da S. L. , Costa Andrezza G. , Cunha Vanessa T. da , Portela Jeane C. , Batista Rafael O. , Mendonça Vander , Pereira Joaquim O. , Gurgel Gabriela C. de S. , Oliveira Jacineumo F. de , Freire Francisco G. C. , Gadelha Paulo H. M. , Diógenes Maria F. S.
Published: August 2019

The environmental pollution coming from dairies industries are the most hazardous of the economy sector due to the great amount of garbage produced. This work aimed it evaluating the dairies effluent on the morphometric, productive, bromatological, and nutritional effects of the thornless cactus. One trial was carried out it the Water Reuse Experimental Station during the period from April to December 2015. The experiment was carried out in randomized blocks design, with five treatments and five replications, totaling 25 experimental units. The treatments were irrigation with water of well (T1), irrigation with 10% of annual dose plus water of well (T2), irrigation with 20% of annual dose plus water of well (T3), irrigation with 30% of annual dose plus water of well (T4), and irrigation with 40% of annual dose plus water of well (T5). The growth parameteres determinations parameteres (production and quality) of thornless cactus were achieved at 240 days after planting. The highest productivity (28.2 Mg ha-1) was achieved with the treatment T4. The nitrogen concentrations were significative to thornless cactus, whereas the treatment T4 increased mostly the Nitrogen content in the plants. Then, the T4 treatment predominated, since it enhanced the crop productivity about crude protein and Nitrogen contents.
Socially Responsible Investment and Market Performance: The Case of Energy and Resource Companies
Authors: Brzeszczyński Janusz , Ghimire Binam , Jamasb Tooraj , McIntosh Graham
Published: August 2019

Do financial markets reward the energy and resource companies for adopting socially responsible practices? In this study, we investigate the stock market performance of major international energy and resource firms, classified within the socially responsible investment (SRI) category, from 2005 to 2016. We simulate investments in the portfolios of the SRI energy and resource companies stocks during this 11-year period and we further assess their risk-adjusted performance. The returns of the energy and resource SRI portfolio as a whole were neither consistently superior nor inferior to those of the benchmark indices. However, there exist substantial differences across the individual sub-sectors. The overall results show that markets do not reward or penalize the energy and resource firms for their SRI attitudes. We also find that the crude oil price consistently had a significant influence on the stock returns of the SRI energy and resource companies.
The Impacts of Lower Natural Gas Prices on Jobs in the U.S. Manufacturing Sector
Authors: Gray Wayne , Linn Joshua , Morgenstern Richard
Published: August 2019

The recovery of the U.S. manufacturing sector following the 2008-2009 economic recession coincided with a sharp drop in natural gas prices. To determine whether a causal connection in fact exists, we use confidential plant-level data for 1972-2012 to estimate the employment effects of changes in natural gas and other energy prices. Previous analyses have used aggregated data and failed to control for multiple drivers of employment dynamics, such as other input costs. We show that controlling for these factors substantially diminishes the effects of natural gas and electricity prices on manufacturing employment. Accounting for the direct effects of natural gas prices as well as the indirect effects via electricity prices, we estimate that the decline in natural gas prices between 2007 and 2012 raised overall manufacturing employment by 0.6 percent, and for gas-intensive industries, by 1.8 percent.
Incentivizing Energy Efficiency under Private Information: The Social Optimum
Authors: Wirl Franz
Published: August 2019

This paper addresses how far public initiatives should try to eliminate the energy efficiency gap if consumers hold private information about their willingness to pay for efficiency. The major finding is that even socially optimal efficiency programs should only close a fraction of the gap. This conclusion has to be strengthened if the external costs of energy were internalized, because an intervention is then only justified for low costs of public funds and very large payback gaps. Furthermore, the realistic assumption of private information implies that the highest subsidies must be paid to efficient types, which turns incentives based on perfect information upside down.
Renewables, Allowances Markets, and Capacity Expansion in Energy-Only Markets
Authors: Falbo Paolo , Pelizzari Cristian , Taschini Luca
Published: August 2019

We investigate the combined effect of an Emissions Trading System (ETS) and renewable energy sources on investments in electricity capacity in energy-only markets. We study the long-term capacity expansion decision in fossil fuel and renewable technologies when electricity demand is uncertain. We model a relevant tradeoff: a higher share of renewable production can be priced at the higher marginal cost of fossil fuel production, yet the likelihood of achieving higher profits is reduced because more electricity demand is met by cheaper renewable production. We illustrate our theoretical results comparing the optimal solutions under a busi-ness-as-usual scenario and under an ETS scenario. This illustration shows under which limiting market settings a monopolist prefers to withhold investments in renewable energy sources, highlighting the potential distortionary effect introduced via an ETS. Our conclusions remain unaltered under varying key modelling assumptions.
Philosophy in Prisons
Authors: Pritchard Duncan ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: August 2019

This paper describes a pilot study devoted to developing the teaching of philosophy within prison education in Scotland. The study paired the CoPI (community of philosophical inquiry) approach to learning and teaching with a set of educational resources created around a high-profile MOOC (massive open online course) that introduced students to core topics in philosophy. The primary goal of the study was to determine the extent to which the teaching of philosophy in prisons in this specific manner could enhance the intellectual virtues, and thereby the intellectual character, of the students. The results that were collected suggested that the project generated significant success on this front. In addition, the study had a further consequence, which had not been anticipated, in that it also helped the students to develop important personal and interpersonal skills, and thereby also enhanced their character more generally.
The value of campus partnerships in redesigning library instruction: Administrators, faculty, and students get involved
Authors: Escobar, Jr. Hector , Kanzler Joni , Porter G. Margaret , Smith Cheryl
Published: August 2019

he value of campus partnerships in redesigning library instruction: Administrators, faculty, and students get involved
And the winners are…: The official results of the 2003 ACRL elections
Authors: Cannon Tyrone H. , Maloy Frances
Published: August 2019

And the winners are…: The official results of the 2003 ACRL elections
Classified Ads
Authors: Library Association American
Published: August 2019

Classified Ads
Comment: The UK Government's strategic approach to the biotechnology industry
Authors: Sainsbury Lord
Published: August 2019

The UK Government recognises that biotechnology is a key industry for the future and is determined to create the best possible conditions to continue the sectorâ€™s growth and success. This paper addresses the key initiatives being taken by government.
Opinion piece: Biotechnology's growthâ€“innovation paradox and the new model for success
Authors: Baker Ann
Published: August 2019

Biotechnology companies are increasingly challenging traditional pharmaceutical companies as the discoverers, developers and marketers of drugs. The biotechnology sector, however, is facing a paradox. The sector's strength has been based on companies' innovation abilities while the sector's future success will depend on growth. The traditional pharmaceutical business model, however, may not be the best for biotechnology companies to emulate. Instead, biotechnology companies may be better served by transforming themselves into product-driven companies with a centre of innovation and a network of third parties or capability providers that can supply elements such as development, manufacturing and sales.
Life after Enron and ImClone: Special concerns for the biotechnology company
Authors: Aronson Neil H
Published: August 2019

The recent enactment of federal legislation and the ongoing adoption of comprehensive regulations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and stock exchanges create a new era for corporate governance. For public biotechnology companies, these new laws and regulations create specific concerns and significant criminal and civil sanctions. Private companies considering a public offering should also consider the implications of these statutes and regulations. In the future, investors are expected to reward both public and private companies that enact strong corporate governance practices.Biotechnology companies will need to carefully review and modify document retention, disclosure, compensation and stock trading policies to comply with the following new requirements:Document retention policies will need to address complex recordkeeping requirements imposed both by the Sarbanesâ€“Oxley Act of 2002 (SOA) as well as a myriad of regulations imposed by the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.Severe penalties for improper certification by senior officers of SEC reports places added pressure on public biotechnology companies. Officers will need to establish systems to regularly review the accuracy of disclosures involving all intellectual property, regulatory and healthcare reimbursement disclosures in these periodic reportsCompensation plans for officers and directors must prevent future loans (and modifications to existing loans) and address corporate governance concerns now raised by institutional investors and the media.New reporting requirements for insider sales require that corporations develop systems to accurately track insider sales and to establish systems to prevent insiders and their family members from trading during critical periods preceding Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory actions.
The key to successful collaborations: Rigorous and independent due diligence
Authors: Rhodes Ian , Nelson Craig , Berman Gregory
Published: August 2019

In a maturing bio-pharma industry and with capital markets closed, collaboration is becoming the main route for companies to achieve the critical mass and cash flow necessary for sustainability. Indeed, collaboration is currently being driven by several factors, including the high-risk/high-reward profile of drug development, the lengthy time to profitability and the credibility provided by big pharma backing. However, in a complex industry such as biopharmaceuticals, many collaborative deals fail to deliver the value they initially promise. In this environment rigorous and independent due diligence will pay handsome returns by minimising 'asymmetry of information', and will allow companies to structure more successful deals, with risks and rewards more fully understood. How can state-of-the-art due diligence processes help clarify the objectives, define the optimum deal structure, identify the right partner and provide a pragmatic strategic plan to improve the chances of successful collaboration?
Dominating global intellectual property: Overview of patentability in the USA, Europe and Japan
Authors: Kowalski Thomas J , Maschio Antonio , Megerditchian Samuel H
Published: August 2019

The USA, Europe and Japan dominate intellectual property. The patent offices of these three economies issue the vast majority of the world's patents and harmonisation has been a key initiative in recent years. Corporate and academic leaders, inventors and practitioners should be aware of the examination practices in all three patent offices.
Reframing Autism in a Mainstream Classroom via the Constructs of Inclusion and Stigma
Authors: Xuereb Kevin , Lawson Wenn B.
Published: August 2019

An investigation was undertaken to explore the social environment in a mainstream classroom that housed both non-autistic and autistic students. The research focus was to see if engaging students in a particular programme, successfully reduced stigma. The research is founded upon the concept of autism as part of neurodiversity rather than only disorder. It posits affective and social outcomes of inclusive education can be a reality once stigma is exposed and autism, reframed. The literature reviewed yielded valuable insights into how best to support the rationale of this study to prepare typical classmates for entry of autistic children.
Method: Via a single case-study, an engaging and interactive Peer Preparation Programme (PPP) provided opportunities for the pupils and the focus child to interact with each other; enabling them to acquire knowledge about themselves, each other, autism and ways to minimise the negative impact of stigma.
Results: Findings indicated a considerable increase in empathetic attitudes, spontaneous interactions, peer awareness, positive peer imitations and peer advocacy.
Conclusions: To reframe autism within mainstream classrooms, although conscious this is a single case-study, the program helped pupils comprehend the sensitive issues of social stigma and encourage empathy in practice.
Available Approaches to Combining Traditional and Modern Medicine in China
Authors: Haiyan Wang
Published: August 2019

The search for the best possible form of interaction between modern and traditional medicine in China is quite a controversial issue. It is established that there is a number of social and philosophical viewpoints concerning the problem of integration of modern and traditional medicine, including the following: their integration is impossible; Chinese and modern medicine can be combined in terms of mutual complementation in treatment practice; the integration is quite likely. The author proves that an important prerequisite for the solution to this problem is understanding of the role of the worldview factor and traditions of the Chinese population. The search for the ways to integrate traditional and modern medicine is possible only provided that there is necessary political support from the state.
12 Grand challenges in single-cell data science
Authors: Laehnemann David , Köster Johannes , Szcureck Ewa , McCarthy Davis , Hicks Stephanie C , Robinson Mark D , Vallejos Catalina A , Beerenwinkel Niko , Campbell Kieran R , Mahfouz Ahmed , Pinello Luca , Skums Pavel , Stamatakis Alexandros , Stephan-Otto Attolini Camille , Aparicio Samuel , Baaijens Jasmijn , Balvert Marleen , de Barbanson Buys , Cappuccio Antonio , Corleone Giacomo , Dutilh Bas , Florescu Maria , Guryev Victor , Holmer Rens , Jahn Katharin , Jessurun Lobo Thamar , Keizer Emma M , Khatri Indu , Kiełbasa Szymon M , Korbel Jan O , Kozlov Alexey M , Kuo Tzu-Hao , Lelieveldt Boudewijn PF , Mandoiu Ion I , Marioni John C , Marschall Tobias , Mölder Felix , Niknejad Amir , Rączkowski Łukasz , Reinders Marcel , de Ridder Jeroen , Saliba Antoine-Emmanuel , Somarakis Antonios , Stegle Oliver , Theis Fabian J , Yang Huan , Zelikovsky Alex , McHardy Alice C , Raphael Benjamin J , Shah Sohrab P , Schönhuth Alexander
Published: August 2019

The recent upswing of microfluidics and combinatorial indexing strategies, further enhanced by very low sequencing costs, have turned single cell sequencing into an empowering technology; analyzing thousands—or even millions—of cells per experimental run is becoming a routine assignment in laboratories worldwide. As a consequence, we are witnessing a data revolution in single cell biology. Although some issues are similar in spirit to those experienced in bulk sequencing, many of the emerging data science problems are unique to single cell analysis; together, they give rise to the new realm of 'Single Cell Data Science'.

Here, we outline twelve challenges that will be central in bringing this new field forward. For each challenge, the current state of the art in terms of prior work is reviewed, and open problems are formulated, with an emphasis on the research goals that motivate them.

This compendium is meant to serve as a guideline for established researchers, newcomers and students alike, highlighting interesting and rewarding problems in 'Single Cell Data Science' for the coming years.
Physicochemical Parameters and Toxic Heavy Metals Concentration in Coffee
Authors: Omer Eltigani Osman Musa , Labib Osama Ahmed , Zafar Mubashir
Published: August 2019

Background and Objective: Coffee is one of the common drinks in Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia due to its desirable aroma, taste and putative positive physiological functions. The concentration of metals is commonly present in coffee powder. The presence of heavy metal concentration in different brands of coffee powder available in Saudi Arabia market has been analyzed.

Methods: Thirteen different coffee brands were selected in different markets, all assessment was carried out in advanced instruments such as Inductively Coupled Plasma and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. There are 14 metals which divide into seven non toxic and seven toxic metals were analyzed. Non toxic metals are calcium (Ca), iron (Fe),magnesium (Mg), Magnese (Mn), Potassium (K), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), and toxic metals are arsenic (Ar), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony and cadmium (Cd).

Results: The mean and standard deviation of non-toxic and toxic metals concentration in different samples of coffee were as follows: Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P and Na were 24.87±6.76, 6.670±4.88, 235.98±100.05, 407.02±22.56, 8.63±10.14, 0.01±0.01, 333.86±247.35 respectively. Toxic metals concentration were as Al, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Si, Zn were   11.04±10.03, 0.80 ±2.52, 2.43±3.02, 0.07±0.11, 7.57±9.26,  23.48±27.32  and 1.853±1.66 respectively. These concentration values were high compared to threshold limit values (TLVs) of metals.

Conclusion: It was concluded from the study that coffee powder had high concentration of heavy toxic metals which is the major public health problem. Thus, quality control for food safety recommended during production of coffee.
A Conjoint Analysis on Consumers’ Revealed Preferences for Products from Coconuts in Madurai City India
Authors: Harshini J. , Samuel A. Daniel Viswasam
Published: August 2019

India per se being leader nation in coconut production, only 2 per cent hardly utilised for value addition. To discern the pull factors causing consumer preference for coconut products, a study was conducted among different income group of consumers from Madurai city of Tamil Nadu. Five coconut value-added products like desiccated coconut, processed tender coconut, skimmed coconut milk, skimmed coconut milk powder and neera were selected for the study. The objective of the study is to evaluate the performance and specific factor influencing the marketing of selected coconut products and to study the market opportunities of the selected coconut product based on the consumer preference. Conjoint analyses, Multi-log linear function, Dummy variable model, ANOVA with two qualitative variable model were used in the study to find the factors influencing the marketing of selected coconut product. The result from all the analysis conclusively showed that income is the main factor influencing the market opportunities of selected coconut products.
Gender Influence on Students’ Perception in Learning Chemistry Using Multiple Representations in Learning Chemistry in Nigerian Secondary Schools
Authors: Ogunyemi T. C. , Bamidele E. O.
Published: August 2019

This study was aimed for investigating the influence of gender difference in learning chemistry using multiple representations which were spurred towards obtaining an improved academic achievement. The study employed a descriptive research design using a survey across the senatorial districts in Ondo state. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics while inferential analysis was carried out using Paired t-test Statistical Analysis. Findings from the study showed that there was no significant gender difference in the preferred effectiveness of multiple representation. However, female students showed more interest in the use of multiple representation in learning chemistry than male students. Based on the findings of this research, teachers should permit better student interactions and engagements in their classroom for a better understanding of chemistry context.
Genetic Divergence Studies in Ailanthus excelsa Using D2 Analysis
Authors: Kanna S. Umesh , Krishnakumar N. , Jailani K. Md. Mohideen Abdul Kather
Published: August 2019

Aims: To estimate the genetic diversity studies among the biometric attributes of 30 progenies in Ailanthus excelsa Roxb.

Place and Duration of Study: The study has conducted at Forest College and Research Institute, TNAU, Mettupalayam during 2015-2018.

Methodology: The D2 statistics was adopted for the estimation of genetic divergence. Using D2 statistical results, the clustering of progenies was done. The progenies were grouped into different clusters using ‘GENERES’ statistical package on the basis of D2 values according to Tocher’s method as suggested by Rao.

Results: The 30 progeny of Ailanthus excelsa has grouped into nine clusters and among the nine clusters, the cluster IV has ten progenies. The maximum intra cluster distance was exhibited by the cluster VIII followed by cluster IV. The maximum inter cluster distance was in cluster III which indicated the presence of wider genetic distance between Ailanthus excelsa progenies. Among the growth attributes, volume index contributed maximum percentage towards genetic divergence.

Conclusion: The results of 30 progeny of Ailanthus excels showed the presence of wider genetic distance between Ailanthus excelsa progenies.
A Comparative Evaluation of Selected Medicinal Plants on Male Fertility Indices (Reproductive Hormones and Sperm Profile) of Albino Wistar Rats: An Animal Case Study
Authors: E. Ngwu Oliver , Okoye J. I.
Published: August 2019

The study aims to investigate the effects of the medicinal plants {seeds} on the  reproductive hormones and sperm profile of male albino rats to ascertain their possible usefulness  as  fertility agent. Walnuts [Tetracarpidium conophorum], Sesame (Sesamine indicum), and Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) seeds were obtained and taken to the Department of plant  Science and  Biotechnology, University of  Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The seeds were milled into fine powder. One hundred and ten sexually matured aibino rats of about twelve weeks weighing 130-180 g were divided into eleven groups (1-11) using completely randomized design. There were two different control groups and rats in group 1 served as the Control 1 and were fed with normal commercial feed. Rats in group 2 were administered with a drug (Ketoconazole) to induce infertility. The Infertility Induced groups were treated with low dose (groups 3-5), medium dose (groups 6-8) and  high dose (9-11) for the period of nine (9) weeks. At the end and testes and Epididymides were surgically removed and weighed. Blood  sample analysis revealed that the concentration of sex hormones  measured in the male rats fed with medium plants (seeds) showed that the testosterone concentration significanty increased (p<0.05) in animal control group 1(normal rats) Therefore,  these medicinal plants walnut seeds showed significant increase in their testosterone concentration, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which significantly enhanced the production of reproductive hormones which enriched the fertility status of these animals.
Determinants and Inverses of Skew Symmetric Generalized Foeplitz Matrices
Authors: Chen Xiaoting
Published: August 2019

In this paper, explicit determinants and inverses of skew symmetric generalized Foeplitz matrices are given by constructing the special transformation matrices.
The Relationship between Hospital Occupational Stress and Prevalence of Depression in Nurses Working in Ilam Hospitals
Authors: Roughani Alireza , Shaidaei Mehdi Fallah Bagher , Rohani Akram , Delpishe Ali , Sharifi Zahra , Ahmadzadeh AmirAbbas
Published: August 2019

Introduction: Long-term stress can also lead to mental disorders such as anxiety, depression and physical burnout. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between hospital occupational stress and prevalence of depression among nurses working in Ilam hospitals.

Methods: This is a descriptive-analytic study. The statistical population includes the staff of Imam Khomeini Hospital and martyr Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in Ilam. The study was conducted using a census method. The criteria for entering the individuals were their willingness to participate in this study. The subjects were included in the study with complete satisfaction. Demographic questionnaires, standard questionnaires for occupational stress (HSI), and Beck Depression Inventory were used. Questionnaires were distributed to pre-trained individuals. The data was extracted and analyzed by SPSS software.

Results: The findings of this study showed that 31.8% of the samples had a degree of depression. In this study, the rate of depression in men is higher than that of women. According to the results, occupational stress and environmental stress in nursing women were more than men. There is a significant relationship between job stress and stress associated with life with depression (p = 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively).

Conclusion: The results of this study always emphasize the point that attention should be paid to stress and stressful occupation of nursing and to think about it and to take preventive measures. Because of the stress of the valve towards all mental illnesses In the event of manpower and the work of a community, it can cause many problems and costs for the individual and society and reduce the quality of the services provided by the nurses.
Viral Aetiology of Severe Acute Respiratory Infections in Hospitalised Adult Patients in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: N'chott Sandrine Michele Anne Sopi , Kadjo Herve , Koné Alima , N'tapke Marius Adagba , Horo Klinignan , Kacou-N'douba Adele , Djaman Joseph Alico , Faye-Kette Hortense
Published: August 2019

Aims: Pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and a significant cause of mortality worldwide. Although information is available on pneumonia in children, the incidence in adults in many parts of Africa including Côte d'Ivoire is unknown. Knowledge of local etiologic agents of pneumonia is critical for making reasonable decisions about treatment as differences in etiology may result in poor response to therapy chosen to cover common pathogenic microbes in studies done in high countries of income.

The objective of this study was to identify the viral etiology of pneumonia in adult patients with pneumonia in Abidjan, Côte d 'Ivoire.

Study Design: This is a prospective experimental study conducted on the basis of the successive recruitment of patients admitted to hospital for severe pulmonary interstitial pneumonitis confirmed by radio or CT scan of the thorax.

Place and Duration of Study: Pneumophtisiology department (PPH) of the University Hospital Center of Cocody (Côte d'Ivoire) and laboratory of Bacteriology- Virology of Pasteur Institut of Côte d’Ivoire, between February 2016 and October 2017.

Methodology: Among all admitted patients in the unit of pneumophtisiology (PPH) of the hospital University, 90 patients aged at least 18 years were pre-included. A total of 33 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) samples from adults suspected of pneumonia were analyzed. The viruses were identified by the real-time multiplex reverse polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results: Of the 33 BAL samples tested, 18.2% (6/33) viral agents were detected. Parainfluenza-3 PV-3 was the most prevalent virus (57.1%, 4/7), followed by coronavirus OC43 (14.3%, 1/7), coronavirus HKUI (14.3%, 1/7). ) and human rhinovirus (14.3%, 1/7).

A virus and virus association was detected, which was PV-3 associated with coronavirus HKUI (14.3%, 1/7).

Conclusion: The viral etiology of pneumonia is not very frequent in Côte d’Ivoire.
Analysis on design method and energy consumption for high thermal performance housings
Authors: Maruyama Shoei , Mori Taro
Published: August 2019

Recently, construction techniques for thick insulation and high airtightness have advanced in Hokkaido, Japan. As a result, there are many houses which surpass the current standards. Several municipalities encourage the construction of these houses by granting subsidies to the owners. One of the subsidies is called Sapporo Eco‐e House. The purpose of this research is to analyze the design method of these houses with thick insulation and high air‐tightness under the Sapporo Eco‐e House subsidy. We also analyzed whether the design methods were able to effectively save energy consumption. This work will contribute to develop the next method for energy‐efficient houses.
Improved Interyarn Friction, Impact Response, and Stab Resistance of Surface Fibrilized Aramid Fabric
Authors: Nasser Jalal , Steinke Kelsey , Groo LoriAnne , Sodano Henry A.
Published: August 2019

Improvement of the ballistic performance of aramid fabric is an important topic in the study of soft body armors, especially with their increasing use in such applications over the past decades. To enhance and tailor the performance of fabrics, having control over one of its primary energy absorption mechanisms, interyarn friction, is required. Here, a recently reported surface fibrilization method is exploited and optimized to improve interyarn friction in aramid fabrics. Through tow pullout testing of fibrilized fabrics, the fibrilization treatment is shown to provide up to seven times higher pullout energy and six times higher peak load. To correlate the effects of the treatment on the ballistic response, impact tests are conducted on treated fabric targets using a gas gun setup. The fibrilized fabrics displayed a 10 m s‐1 increase in V50 velocity, compared to that of untreated fabrics, while retaining its original flexibility and mechanical strength. Similarly, the fibrilization treatment also resulted in 230% improvement in depth of penetration when dynamically stabbed using a spike impactor. The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed surface fibrilization treatment as a fast and cost‐effective technique to improve the ballistic and stab performance of aramid‐based soft body armors.
Copper‐Catalyzed Domino Synthesis of Sulfur‐Containing Heterocycles Using Carbon Disulfide as a Building Block
Authors: Gan Ziyu , Yan Qiuli , Li Guoqing , Li Qin , Dou Xiaomeng , Li Guang‐Yao , Yang Daoshan
Published: August 2019

In this paper, we describe the successful development of an efficient domino method for the synthesis of C‐3 sulfenylated imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivatives applying carbon disulfide as a readily available, cheap and easy‐to‐handle building block. Most importantly, a single copper catalyst mediates two type reactions and three chemical bonds are formed in a one‐pot organic transformation. The developed method provids an attractive alternative approach to various potentially bioactive sulfur‐containing heterocycles, and will find broad applicability in organic synthesis and pharmaceutical chemistry.

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Ultra‐Stretchable Porous Fiber‐Shaped Strain Sensor with Exponential Response in Full Sensing Range and Excellent Anti‐Interference Ability toward Buckling, Torsion, Temperature, and Humidity
Authors: Yu Yunfei , Zhai Yue , Yun Zhigeng , Zhai Wei , Wang Xiaozheng , Zheng Guoqiang , Yan Chao , Dai Kun , Liu Chuntai , Shen Changyu
Published: August 2019

As a crucial element for wearable devices, high‐performance strain sensors have been spotlighted as an ideal strategy to develop machine‐human interfaces and healthcare systems. It still remains a huge challenge to construct flexible strain sensors with equational response in a broad range. Herein, highly stretchable multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)–decorated thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fibers with a porous microstructure are produced through a scalable and facile strategy by wet‐spinning and ultra‐sonication. The fiber is composed of pure TPU fibers with MWCNTs decorated on the surface. The porous fiber is then assembled as a strain sensor. Interestingly, the effective MWCNTs distribution on the TPU fiber enables exponential sensing over the whole strain range. The sensor possesses a high gauge factor (GF, 102 at 300% strain), very large workable sensing range (300% strain), excellent durability (10 000 cycles), light weight (0.85 g cm−3), and fast response (200 ms). The as‐prepared strain sensor exhibits excellent insensitive properties toward buckling, torsion, temperature, and humidity stimuli. Based on the high sensing performance, the fiber‐shaped strain sensor detects human movements precisely by directly attaching to skin or embedding in garments, demonstrating huge potential in human–machine interfaces, health monitoring application, etc.