bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccination with mRNA Vaccines for Patients with Cirrhosis in Hungary: Multicentre Matched Cohort Study
Authors: Drácz Bálint , Müller Veronika , Takács István , Hagymási Krisztina , Dinya Elek , Miheller Pál , Szijártó Attila , Werling Klára
Published: December 2022

Patients with cirrhosis are vulnerable to hepatic decompensation events and death following COVID-19 infection. Therefore, primary vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines is fundamental to reducing the risk of COVID-19 related deaths in patients with cirrhosis. However, limited data are available about the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines compared to other vaccines. The aim of our study was to investigate the efficacy of mRNA vaccines versus other vaccines in cirrhosis. In this retrospective study, we compared clinical characteristics and vaccine effectiveness of 399 COVID-19 patients without cirrhosis (GROUP A) to 52 COVID-19 patients with cirrhosis (GROUP B). 54 hospitalised cirrhosis controls without COVID-19 (GROUP C) were randomly sampled 1:1 and matched by gender and age. Of the cirrhosis cases, we found no difference (p = 0.76) in mortality rates in controls without COVID-19 (11.8%) compared to those with COVID-19 (9.6%). However, COVID-19 patients with cirrhosis were associated with higher rates of worsening hepatic encephalopathy, ascites and esophageal varices. Patients with cirrhosis receiving mRNA vaccines had significantly better survival rates compared to viral vector or inactivated vaccines. Primary vaccination with the BNT162b2 vaccine was the most effective in preventing acute hepatic decompensating events, COVID-19 infection requiring hospital admission and in-hospital mortality.
A Plant-Produced Porcine Parvovirus 1-82 VP2 Subunit Vaccine Protects Pregnant Sows against Challenge with a Genetically Heterologous PPV1 Strain
Authors: Cho Kyou-Nam , Ouh In-Ohk , Park Young-Min , Park Min-Hee , Min Kyung-Min , Kang Hyang-Ju , Yun Su-Yeong , Song Jae-Young , Hyun Bang-Hun , Park Choi-Kyu , Choi Bo-Hwa , Lee Yoon-Hee
Published: December 2022

Porcine parvovirus (PPV) causes reproductive failure in sows, and vaccination remains the most effective means of preventing infection. The NADL-2 strain has been used as a vaccine for ~50 years; however, it does not protect animals against genetically heterologous PPV strains. Thus, new effective and safe vaccines are needed. In this study, we aimed to identify novel PPV1 strains, and to develop PPV1 subunit vaccines. We isolated and sequenced PPV1 VP2 genes from 926 pigs and identified ten PPV1 strains (belonging to Groups C, D and E). We selected the Group D PPV1-82 strain as a vaccine candidate because it was close to the highly pathogenic 27a strain. The PPV1-82 VP2 protein was produced in Nicotiana benthamiana. It formed virus-like particles and exhibited a 211 agglutination value. The PPV1-190313 strain (Group E), isolated from an aborted fetus, was used as the challenging strain because it was pathogenic. The unvaccinated sow miscarried at 8 days postchallenge, and mummified fetuses were all PPV1-positive. By contrast, pregnant sows vaccinated with PPV1-82 VP2 had 9–11 Log2 antibody titers and produced normal fetuses after PPV1-190313 challenge. These results suggest the PPV1-82 VP2 subunit vaccine protects pregnant sows against a genetically heterologous PPV1 strain by inducing neutralizing antibodies.
Preliminary In Vivo Evidence of Oral Selenium Supplementation as a Potentiating Agent on a Vector-Based COVID-19 Vaccine in BALB/c Mice
Authors: Mudenda Muunda , Kimani Josephine , Kinyua Johnson , Kimotho James
Published: December 2022

Evidence of efficacy and toxicity of oral selenium supplementation in vaccine administration against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) in mice models is scarce. In this study, 4 × 109 virus particles (40 µL) dose of Janssen COVID-19 intramuscular injection vaccine was supplemented with a commercial selenium supplement and sodium selenite orally in BALB/c mice (N = 18). Qualitative determination of anti-spike IgG antibody response using indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) showed significant (p ≤ 0.001) increase in anti-spike IgG antibody response for mice groups immunized with vaccine and supplemented selenium. Furthermore, cytokine profiling using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction also showed an increase in IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA levels normalized using hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase 1 (Hprt1) and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gadph) housekeeping genes. There was no statistical significance (p < 0.465) among treated and untreated groups for alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), urea, and creatinine parameters. The study presents preliminary findings and suggests that supplementing Janssen COVID-19 vaccines with selenium can generate more robust immune responses.
Investigating Visual Monitoring of the Scrotum as a Supplementary Tool for Boar Semen Quality Evaluation
Authors: Stravogianni Vasiliki , Samaras Theodoros , Boscos Constantin M. , Basioura Athina , Markakis Ioannis , Tsakmakidis Ioannis A.
Published: December 2022

Farm animals behavior research uses video cameras, mainly for visual observation and recording. The purpose of this feasibility study was to enrich the predictable methods of boar semen production capacity by correlating sperm variables with the scrotal contractions (SC) frequency and intensity. A video camera was used to record the reaction of the scrotum during ejaculation. The respective collected ejaculates were evaluated and semen parameters, such as viability, morphology, membranes functional integrity and kinematics, were determined. The camera recorded the scrotal contractions/relaxations and the video was handled by the Image Processing Toolbox of Matlab (Mathworks Inc., Natick, MA, USA). The SC intensity was verified as a percentage change in the scrotum size among the video frames of maximum contraction and relaxation. The archived data from the frames were analyzed statistically, using a linear mixed effects model that involved sperm assessed parameters. Correlations of the SC intensity with the average path velocity, VAP (R2 = 0.591, p = 0.043) and with the percentage of the cytoplasmic droplets (R2 = 0.509, p = 0.036) were noticed. Previous studies reported the positive correlation of VAP with the number of live-born piglets. In conclusion, video monitoring of the boar scrotal function during ejaculation is useful, but more research is needed to establish its appropriateness as a supplementary method for the prognosis of boar ability to produce high-quality semen.
Tylvalosin Tartrate Improves the Health Status of Swine Herds during Immunization with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus-Inactivated Vaccine
Authors: Zhang Qianru , Cui Chenchen , Zhang Siyu , Deng Xiaohong , Cai Xuehui , Wang Gang
Published: December 2022

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a devastating disease that affects pigs and is responsible for severe economic losses. The commercial PRRSV-inactivated vaccine (CH-1a strain) in China was recently selected to control PRRS in large populations of PRRS-positive sows and was found to effectively reduce the rate of stillbirth abortion based on clinical observations. However, stress from vaccine inoculation (e.g., fever, anorexia, abortions, and slow body weight gain) usually appears after immunization on many swine farms. In this study, we fed piglets a diet medicated with tylvalosin tartrate during PRRSV-inactivated vaccine immunization. We found that tylvalosin tartrate attenuated the increase in total white blood cells induced by immunization at day one post-immunization (DPI) and induced an increase in monocyte counts after seven DPI. There was also attenuation in the intensity of the inflammatory response induced by vaccination and elevation of serum IFN-γ concentrations at three and seven DPI after immunization. The administration of tylvalosin tartrate could also attenuate the reduction in the percentage of CD8+ T cells induced by PRRSV-inactivated vaccine immunization at seven DPI. These results demonstrated that in addition to tylvalosin tartrate being able to control respiratory and enteric bacterial infections in swine farms, it can also improve the stress status of swine herds during PRRSV-inactivated vaccine immunization.
Decadal Changes in Soil Water Storage Characteristics Linked to Forest Management in a Steep Watershed
Authors: Gunay Charles John Consignado , Yokoyama Katsuhide , Sakai Hiroshi , Koizumi Akira , Sakai Kenji
Published: December 2022

Soil water storage properties, which are affected by land management practices, alter the water balance and flow regimes in watersheds; thus, it is highly plausible to clarify the influence of such management practices on the water storage condition by analyzing the long-term variations in discharge. In this study, the changes in soil water storage characteristics of the Ogouchi Dam watershed, which had undergone intensive forest management through the decades, were investigated using two approaches. Reported results from the rainfall–runoff correlation analysis show a gradual and steady increase in the soil water storage capacity at weaker continuous-rainfall events, i.e., uninterrupted wet days accumulating less than 70 mm. Meanwhile, the second approach utilizing the parameter calibration in the SWAT discharge model illustrated a constant trend in the runoff potential and the high possibility of a steady improvement in the soil available water capacity. Overall, the established decadal trends were able to prove the capability of sustainable forest management, i.e., thinning, regeneration cutting, multi-layer planting, deer-prevention fences, and earth-retaining fences (lined felled trees), in improving the water conservation function of the catchment.
Comparing Water Use Characteristics of Bromus inermis and Medicago sativa Revegetating Degraded Land in Agro-Pasture Ecotone in North China
Authors: Pang Zhuo , Xu Hengkang , Chen Chao , Zhang Guofang , Fan Xifeng , Wu Juying , Kan Haiming
Published: December 2022

Revegetation with herbaceous plants has been effective in neutralizing land degradation; however, there is limited understanding about the water use characteristics and influences on soil water dynamics of revegetated species for ecological restoration. Hence, the stable isotopic composition of xylem water, soil water and groundwater was measured to investigate the water uptake patterns of Bromus inermis and Medicago sativa in the semi-arid agro-pasture ecotone in North China. Based on hierarchical clustering analysis of soil volumetric water content (SWC), soil was classified into four layers (0–5 cm, 5–10 cm, 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm) as different water sources. The main sources for Bromus inermis were from 20–30 cm (27.0%) and groundwater (24.2%) in May, to 0–5 cm (33.9%) and 5–10 cm (26.8%) in June, became groundwater (54.7%) in July, and then to 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm in August (23.2% and 20.6%) and September (35.1% and 32.1%). Medicago sativa were from groundwater (52.9%) and 20–30 cm (32.4%) in May, to 0–5 cm in June (61.0%), July (39.9%), August (47.6%), and then to 5–10 cm (77.8%) in September. Regression analysis showed a negative relationship between SWC and contribution of water uptake (CWU) (CWU = −2.284 × SWC + 60.833), when the difference in water isotopes was small among soil layers. Finally, the two grassland types showed distinct soil water dynamics shaped by species-specific water use strategies and associated soil pore properties. These results indicate that water use characteristics are species specific and a species combination with less water competition is recommended for sustainable revegetation of degraded land.
Microbial Electrochemical Treatment of Methyl Red Dye Degradation Using Co-Culture Method
Authors: Sharma Kalpana , Pandit Soumya , Mathuriya Abhilasha Singh , Gupta Piyush Kumar , Pant Kumud , Jadhav Dipak A.
Published: December 2022

Methyl red, a synthetic azo dye, was reported for not only being mutagenic but also its persistence has severe consequences on human health, such as cancer, alongside detrimental environmental effects. In the present study, the Pseudomonas putida OsEnB_HZB_G20 strain was isolated from the soil sample to study the catalytic activity for the degradation of methyl red dye. Another isolated strain, the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA 1_NCHU strain was used as an electroactive anodophile and mixed with the Pseudomonas putida OsEnB_HZB_G20 strain to see the effect of co-culturing on the power generation in single-chambered microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The Pseudomonas putida OsEnB_HZB_G20 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA 1_NCHU strains were used as co-culture inoculum in a 1:1 ratio in MFCs. This work uses isolated bacterial strains in a co-culture to treat wastewater with varying methyl red dye concentrations and anolyte pH to investigate its effect on power output in MFCs. This co-culture produced up to 7.3 W/m3 of power density with a 250 mgL−1 of dye concentration, along with 95% decolorization, indicating that the symbiotic relationship between these bacteria resulted in improved MFC performance simultaneous to dye degradation. Furthermore, the co-culture of Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a 1:1 ratio demonstrated improved power generation in MFCs at an optimized pH of 7.
Interactive Effects of Nutrients and Salinity on Phytoplankton in Subtropical Plateau Lakes of Contrasting Water Depths
Authors: Wang Ying , Jiang Xia , Li Yan-Ling , Yang Li-Juan , Li Ye-Hao , Liu Ying , Zhou Long , Wang Pu-Ze , Zhao Xu , Wang Hai-Jun , Jeppesen Erik , Xie Ping
Published: December 2022

Eutrophication and salinization are serious global environmental problems in freshwater ecosystems, occasionally acting jointly to exert harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems. To elucidate the interactive effects of nutrients and salinity on phytoplankton assemblages, we conducted a four-season study during 2020–2021 of eight lakes from Yunnan Plateau (Southwest China) with a wide range of conductivities (Cond, reflecting degree of salinization), eutrophic states, and water depths and used General Additive Modeling (GAM) of the data. We found that: (1) species number (SN), density (DPhyt), and biomass (BPhyt) of phytoplankton showed stronger seasonal dynamics in shallow lakes than in deep lakes, all being, as expected, higher in the warm season; (2) annual and summer data revealed highly significant positive relationships between SN, DPhyt, and BPhyt with total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP), which became weaker at high TP occurring when the N:P ratio was low, indicating N limitation; (3) SN, DPhyt, and BPhyt showed a unimodal relationship with salinity, peaking at 400–1000 μS/cm (Cond); (4) the two dominant taxa (cyanobacteria and chlorophyta) showed different patterns, with chlorophyta generally dominating at low TN and cyanobacteria at high TN and Cond, suggesting the synergistic effect of nitrogen and Cond on cyanobacterial dominance.
Research on the Acoustic Conditioning Taming on Fish and Application in Marine Ranching
Authors: Yuan Huarong , Zhou Yanbo , Chen Pimao
Published: December 2022

Acoustic conditioning taming technology is one of the key tools for controlling and managing the behavior of target organisms in marine ranching. In this study, juvenile Pagrus major (Red Seabream) were subjected to acoustic conditioning taming with 400 Hz of square–wave continuous tones for 8 days in laboratory and 15 days in an open-sea area. At the same time, the elimination of conditioned reflexes to sounds and applications in marine ranching were tested. The Gaussian model was used to regression-fit the distribution of fish in the tank, and the fitting degree was 91.79%. Good conditioning was established after four days of acoustic conditioning taming, and the efficiency index was 44.49 in the laboratory. The average response time, aggregation time, and residence time of the test group were 0.95 s, 3.35 s, and 21.15 s, respectively. The aggregation rate of the test group showed an upward trend, and it remained at 100% from the 4th day to the 8th day. It took longer to establish the conditioned response to sound in the open-sea area, and good conditioning was established after the 18th acoustic conditioning taming. Juvenile Pagrus major with established acoustic conditioning were tagged before release. On the 18th day, 0.2% of released fish swam to a sound source when the sound was played, and from the 24th day, there was no fish presence in the area near the sound source. The conditioned response of fish to sound was gradually eliminated using the negative feedback mode of playing the sound without feeding bait. After 22 negative feedback tests, the sound was no longer attractive to the fish, meaning that the “sound–food” neural connection established by the acoustic conditioning taming had been eliminated. The results of this study show that acoustic conditioning taming technology was an effective method of fish behavior control, and it is feasible to apply this technology in the construction of marine ranching systems. A number of acoustic conditioning taming devices can be established in marine ranching to continuously tame the released fish and strengthen the impact of the sound. At the same time, the multi-point deployment of automatic taming devices can form an acoustic conditioning taming network to increase the action area and effects.
Assessing and Mitigating Ice-Jam Flood Hazards and Risks: A European Perspective
Authors: Lindenschmidt Karl-Erich , Alfredsen Knut , Carstensen Dirk , Choryński Adam , Gustafsson David , Halicki Michał , Hentschel Bernd , Karjalainen Niina , Kögel Michael , Kolerski Tomasz , Kornaś-Dynia Marika , Kubicki Michał , Kundzewicz Zbigniew W. , Lauschke Cornelia , Malinger Albert , Marszelewski Włodzimierz , Möldner Fabian , Näslund-Landenmark Barbro , Niedzielski Tomasz , Parjanne Antti , Pawłowski Bogusław , Pińskwar Iwona , Remisz Joanna , Renner Maik , Roers Michael , Rybacki Maksymilian , Szałkiewicz Ewelina , Szydłowski Michał , Walusiak Grzegorz , Witek Matylda , Zagata Mateusz , Zdralewicz Maciej
Published: December 2022

The assessment and mapping of riverine flood hazards and risks is recognized by many countries as an important tool for characterizing floods and developing flood management plans. Often, however, these management plans give attention primarily to open-water floods, with ice-jam floods being mostly an afterthought once these plans have been drafted. In some Nordic regions, ice-jam floods can be more severe than open-water floods, with floodwater levels of ice-jam floods often exceeding levels of open-water floods for the same return periods. Hence, it is imperative that flooding due to river ice processes be considered in flood management plans. This also pertains to European member states who are required to submit renewed flood management plans every six years to the European governance authorities. On 19 and 20 October 2022, a workshop entitled “Assessing and mitigating ice-jam flood hazard and risk” was hosted in Poznań, Poland to explore the necessity of incorporating ice-jam flood hazard and risk assessments in the European Union’s Flood Directive. The presentations given at the workshop provided a good overview of flood risk assessments in Europe and how they may change due to the climate in the future. Perspectives from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Poland were presented. Mitigation measures, particularly the artificial breakage of river ice covers and ice-jam flood forecasting, were shared. Advances in ice processes were also presented at the workshop, including state-of-the-art developments in tracking ice-floe velocities using particle tracking velocimetry, characterizing hanging dam ice, designing new ice-control structures, detecting, and monitoring river ice covers using composite imagery from both radar and optical satellite sensors, and calculating ice-jam flood hazards using a stochastic modelling approach.
Study of the Internal Cyclonic Flow Characteristics of Cyclones with Different Guide Vane Heights
Authors: Tao Siyuan , Li Yongye , Song Xiaoteng , Zhang Jiaxuan
Published: December 2022

To investigate the influence of the guide vane height on the cyclonic flow characteristics of guide vane cyclones, this paper mainly adopts a combination of numerical simulation and physical experiments, taking the guide vane height as the research object, analysing the internal spiral flow generation law through the flow velocity distribution in each section of the cyclone and the change trend along the course and comparing the tangential velocity, radial velocity and axial velocity characteristics of the cyclone at different guide vane heights. The results show that the tangential velocity increases with the increase in the guide vane height on the cyclone and then decreases. When the ratio between the height of the guide vane and the inner radius of the cyclone is in the range of 0.5–0.7, a higher−strength and more stable spiral flow can be produced, and the tangential velocity reaches the maximum when the guide vane height is 30 mm and the height−to−diameter ratio is around 0.6. As the height of the guide vane increases, the radial velocity area towards the wall of the tube increases, while the radial velocity area towards the tube axis decreases. The overall distribution of axial flow velocity is similar to that of turbulent flow in a circular tube, and the velocity increases with increasing height of the guide vane. The conclusion of this paper provides a theoretical basis for further optimisation of the cyclone structure parameters.
Optimization of an Empirical Model for Microorganism-Immobilized Media to Predict Nitrogen Removal Efficiency
Authors: Shin Dongchul , Chung Wonsik , Lee Jongkeun
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study was to develop a model to predict the total nitrogen (T-N) concentration in treated wastewater effluent when microorganism-immobilized media are applied. The operational data for this study were obtained using synthetic wastewater and actual wastewater within a lab-scale reactor. The organic matter removal, nitrification, and denitrification rates were 81.8, 87, and 82.9%, respectively. These rates adequately satisfied the effluent water quality standard. The observed parameters from the lab-scale reactor operation were applied to develop the optimization model, and the model showed correlation coefficients as 0.9785 and 0.9811 for nitrification and denitrification efficiencies, respectively. The model predicted that T-N concentration could be reduced to <10 mg/L with the injection of the external carbon source. The predicted value for the T-N concentration was higher than the observed value from the lab-scale reactor, which operated under the same conditions. The model showed comparable values to the observed data, and the model seems to be useful for predicting related parameters in effluent water quality, with further development of the specifications required in the treatment facilities under various operating conditions.
Analysis of Surrogate Physicochemical Parameters for Studying Heavy Metal Pollution in Urban Road Runoff
Authors: Jiménez-Fernández Vicente , Suárez-López Joaquín , Zafra-Mejía Carlos Alfonso
Published: December 2022

The pollution associated with road runoff water can generate significant impacts on the receiving natural environment due to the significant masses mobilized under certain climate, morphological, and anthropic conditions. The aim of this paper is to show an analysis of the possible surrogate conventional physicochemical parameters of pollution by heavy metals (HMs) in urban road runoff. The best surrogate physicochemical parameters are detected by a differentiated analysis between the HM concentrations (Fe, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn, Hg, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) in the total, particulate, and dissolved fractions. This analysis is also performed under two scenarios of runoff event energy according to the mobilized TSS load. The results suggested that it was easier to detect surrogate parameters for total HM concentrations during higher-energy runoff events. The outcomes hinted that regardless of the runoff event energy, it was easier to detect conventional surrogate parameters for the particulate HM concentration compared to the dissolved HM concentration. The findings showed for total HM concentration that the best surrogate parameter during higher-energy runoff events was TSS. The best surrogate HM during these runoff events was Fe. The results also suggested that HMs with high percentages of association with the particulate fraction (>70%) of road runoff were the best surrogates for the other HMs under study. For lower-energy runoff events, the best surrogate parameter was VSS, although TSS also showed good behavior.
Determinación del tamaño y de las dimensiones de unidades experimentales para ensayos de maíz
Authors: Gavilánez Luna Freddy , García Bolívar Judith
Published: December 2022

Por la importancia del maíz para el Ecuador, cuya mejora productiva viene dada por los resultados de los distintos experimentos que se realizan con esta gramínea, se desarrolló este estudio; el cual tuvo como objetivo la definición del tamaño y dimensiones de la parcela experimental. Para ello se realizó un experimento de uniformidad con 676 unidades básicas (UB) de 1,0 m2, abarcando 5 plantas de maíz por cada una de ellas, con distanciamiento de siembra de 100 cm entre hileras y 20 cm entre plantas. Se simularon 81 combinaciones de UB, desde 1 x 1 hasta 9 x 9. Para cada combinación (parcela simulada) se determinó el rendimiento (g/parcela) y, simultáneamente, el coeficiente de variación (CV). Complementariamente se aplicó el método de curvatura máxima, apoyado por el test F de Fisher, así como el de regresión múltiple y su correspondiente superficie de respuesta, para definir el tamaño y las dimensiones de la parcela experimental. Adicionalmente se valoró la heterogeneidad del suelo, mediante el índice de Smith. De un análisis integral de las metodologías indicadas, al final se determinó un tamaño de parcela de 6,0 m2, con dimensiones recomendadas de 2,0 m x 3,0 m; dejando a libertad del investigador la consideración de al menos 1,0 m para controlar el efecto de borde en las parcelas definitivas.
Analysis and Study Indicators for Quarter Car Model with Two Air Suspension System
Authors: Mahmood Mahmood , Nassar Ameen , Mohammad Haider
Published: December 2022

Modeling and simulation of non-linear quarter-car suspension system for two air spring models (traditional and dynamic new air spring) are contrasted in terms of (RMS) sprung mass acceleration, dynamic load coefficient, the vertical displacement, they are compared. Two and three (DOF) of the mathematical quarter models are implemented in MATLAB/Simulink platform. The Ride Comfort (RC), Dynamic Load Coefficient (DLC) and Road Handling (RH) responses are evaluated as objective functions respectively considering a vehicle speed at 72 km/h and road ISO Class B. The obtained results indicate that the vertical displacement, the (RMS) of the sprung mass acceleration, and dynamic load coefficient values with the new air model system decrease by 10.7 %, 30.6 %, and 13.49 % respectively, in comparison to a tradition suspension system, this one gives more comfort and effortless handling.
Impact of Telework Strategy on Quality of Work Life during COVID-19 Pandemic "A Case Study of Orange Jordanian Telecommunication Company"
Authors: Shehadeh Hazem
Published: December 2022

This study aims to identify the impact of Telework Strategy on the quality of work life during COVID-19 pandemic in Orange Jordanian Telecommunication Company. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the researchers used the descriptive-analytical method. The study population is the employees of Orange Jordanian Telecommunication Company. Based on the company's annual report for the year 2021, (493) employees work in Public Administration Center. Therefore, the researcher chose a convenient sampling method to distribute (300) questionnaires soft copies via email to the sample, 248 questionnaires were received back, thus the percentage of valid questionnaires is (82.2%), which then where analyzed and about (17.8%) of these questionnaires were excluded because either they are incomplete or were not received back. The study concluded that there is a significant impact of Telework Strategy on the quality of work life in Orange Jordanian Telecommunication Company, the telework strategy contributed to the quality of work life about (79%), also the telework strategy has a significant impact on all quality of work life dimensions (Psychological Pressure, Flexible Schedule, Employee Satisfaction, Work-Life Balance), and the telework strategy has the highest impact on the work life balance. The study introduces a set of recommendations, the most important of which are; increasing interest in health and psychological safety of employees, encouraging them to take care of themselves and spending time with family and friends, in addition to securing a suitable work environment of a family nature by communicating with employees individually, on a personal approach away from functional hierarchy
The Design of the Dilworth Building
Authors: Moore Cameron , Mađanović Milica
Published: December 2022

The Dilworth Building was architecture firm Gummer and Ford’s first significant building. It was completed in 1927 and sits on one of the most prominent locations in Aotearoa New Zealand, the corner of Queen Street and Customs Street East in downtown Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. The Dilworth Building has been referred to as one of this country’s finest examples of classical architecture by critics such as Miles Warren, Bruce Petry, Peter Shaw, John Stacpoole and Peter Beaven, among others. It holds a Category 1 rating from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Paradoxically, this building remains under-researched in current architectural discourse – the most written about it has been in newspaper articles from the 1920s. This paper aims to bring the building’s design and construction methods to light, investigating the brief, the client’s motivations, the limitations of the site, budget and typology, and the application of William Gummer’s design principles to maximise sunlight and air circulation, and with efficient circulation and structure. The building’s materiality, design of the façades, and spatial sequences will also be analysed to discover their contribution to the building’s overall composition and character. It is hoped that today’s architecture students can benefit from formal and practical analysis and use a similar approach in their own architecture and writing.
Tau-utuutu: The Development of a Living Vision for the Unitec School of Architecture
Authors: Francis Kerry , Ratana Maia , Jadresin Milic Renata
Published: December 2022

Late in 2019 a small group of Pākehā staff at Unitec School of Architecture organised an initiative to review the course structure after relocating to a different building on campus. Gifted a name, Tau-utuutu, by Kaihautū Kimoro Taiepa, they facilitated a series of staff engagement workshops, and from this extensive staff feedback developed a draft Living Vision document that identified the interconnected issues of the climate emergency and colonisation. However, it became evident that the process to that point had lacked genuine partnership with tangata whenua. Subsequent, kōrero with Ngā Ia Vai, the Māori and Pacific caucus within the school, resulted in a collaborative presentation to the Unitec Research Symposium in December 2021. This paper records the process of getting to this presentation phase and suggests that a deeper understanding of the responses might be gained through the twin languages of drawing and kōrero. The paper acknowledges the significance of Te Noho Kotahitanga, an existing partnership document at Unitec, and calls for action to implement the ideals and values of te Tiriti o Waitangi in order to decarbonise and decolonise the Unitec Architecture programme.
The School of Architecture e-Newsletter
Authors: Foote Hamish , Su Bin , Wu Lian , Smith Trina
Published: December 2022

he School of Architecture at Unitec publishes an e-newsletter biannually, keeping alumni and industry contacts informed of developments in the school and its communities. The publication also provides an opportunity to share details regarding continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities for practitioners and calls for papers published in the school's peer-reviewed journals, such as XSection and Asylum. The e-newsletter, edited by Senior Lecturer Hamish Foote, supports the school in meeting the aims of its Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior programmes: grounding in the historical and theoretical foundations of our disciplines; knowledge of professional, social and environmental responsibilities; development of appropriate communication skills; ability to analyse work critically; and an overview of taha Māori, the Treaty of Waitangi, and Māori perspectives as they relate to our disciplines. Publication of the e-newsletter was paused during Aotearoa New Zealand’s Covid-19 outbreak, and the following items were compiled this year to share recent developments and the return to everyday life.
Turist Rehberlerinin Uzmanlaşma Sürecine Lisansüstü Eğitimin Katkısı ve Mevcut Durumun Tespiti
Authors: AKDU Serap
Published: December 2022

Amaç ve Önem: Türkiye’de tezli ve tezsiz olarak verilen turist rehberliği yüksek lisans programlarının ortak bir müfredatı bulunmamaktadır. Tezli ve tezsiz olarak açılan turizm rehberliği yüksek lisans programları arasında amaca hangi düzeyde hizmet ettiğine yönelik farklı görüşler bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı lisansüstü eğitimin turist rehberlerinin uzman unvanı alabilmesine yönelik kazanımlarını verilen ders ve içerikleri bağlamında inceleyerek doktora ve yüksek lisans müfredatlarının lisans müfredatlarından farklı olarak uzmanlaşma eğitimine etkisini tespit etmektir.Yöntem: Çalışmada nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden doküman incelemesi kullanılmıştır. Bu bağlamda Türkiye’de açılan turist rehberliği yüksek lisans programlarının müfredatları ayrıntılı olarak incelenmiş ve uzmanlık eğitimine etkisi araştırılmıştır.Bulgular: İncelenen 24 tezli yüksek lisans müfredatında uzmanlığa yönelik 13 ders tespit edilmiş olup bu derslerin tamamını açan bir programa rastlanılamamıştır. Tezsiz yüksek lisans programlarının müfredatı incelendiğinde 14 tezsiz yüksek lisans programında uzmanlığa yönelik sadece 3 ders tespit edildiği ve bu programlardan sadece 3’ünde bu derslerin bulunduğu tespit edilmiştir.Özgünlük/Bilimsel Katkı: Turist rehberliği mesleğinde uzmanlaşma eğitimleri ve lisansüstü düzeydeki eğitimlerin uzmanlaşmaya katkısı veya gerekliliğini inceleyen akademik çalışmaların kısıtlı olduğu düşünülmektedir. Turist rehberliği mesleğine yönelik lisansüstü eğitimlerin niteliklerinin, gerekliliklerinin ve mesleğe katkısının tartışıldığı süreçte yapılan bu çalışmanın hem mesleki hem eğitim düzeyinde bir kaynak teşkil edeceği ayrıca alan yazına katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir.Anahtar Kelimeler: Turist rehberliği, uzmanlaşma, lisansüstü eğitim, turist rehberliği eğitimi
Estudantes com Autismo na Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro: uma análise dos espaços didáticos para melhorar a ambientação
Authors: Cândido Maria Eduarda Peçanha , Beneditto Ana Paula Madeira Di
Published: December 2022

O Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA) se caracteriza por déficits na interação e na comunicação social, com comportamentos restritos, repetitivos e/ou estereotipados. Pessoas com TEA geralmente têm condições concomitantes de déficits sensoriais, e a boa ambientação dos seus espaços de uso é fundamental para a qualidade de vida e o bom desempenho acadêmico. Este trabalho descreve os espaços didáticos utilizados pelos estudantes de graduação de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro - UENF, e propõe adequações que podem ser realizadas pela administração nos curto e médio prazos para atender ao que é proposto pelo índice ASPECTSS™, conceito de design para o autismo. Há três medidas comuns a todos os espaços que melhorariam de imediato a ambientação de estudantes autistas: i) garantia de ventilação adequada, ii) garantia de iluminação adequada, e ii) redução do número de estudantes por turma. No caso dos espaços de aulas práticas, a reorganização arquitetônica é mais difícil, mas os docentes podem modificar a forma de condução das atividades práticas para atender, ao mesmo em parte, ao que é indicado no índice ASPECTSS™. Os espaços verdes da UENF podem ser reorganizados para funcionarem como espaços de fuga para estudantes autistas em momentos de estresse ou crise sensorial. Este trabalho recomenda à administração da UENF consulta a NR-17, a NBR ISO 8995-1 e ao Manual de Ambientes Didáticos organizado pela Fundação Universidade do Tocantins, que descreve diretrizes para layout, equipamentos e conforto ambiental para atender a inclusão educacional na universidade.
Ensino remoto: a inserção de novas tecnologias na educação especial e inclusiva no ensino de geografia
Authors: Neto José Soares Fernandes , Evangelista Armstrong Miranda
Published: December 2022

O artigo tem como objetivo principal identificar como as novas tecnologias podem contribuir com a educação especial e inclusiva no ensino remoto de geografia em tempos de pandemia. A elaboração deste trabalho inicia com uma abordagem sobre a compreensão da ressignificação do novo modelo educacional utilizado no ensino remoto no período da pandemia da COVID-19, em seguida foi enfatizado a importância da formação docente na perspectiva tecnológica e no âmbito da educação especial e inclusiva, na sequência foram exemplificadas as alternativas e as limitações encontradas na utilização dessas novas tecnologias no ensino remoto de geografia. No referencial teórico foram utilizadas obras de autores que trazem contribuições na área da utilização das novas tecnologias no processo de ensino-aprendizagem da geografia, na educação especial e inclusiva, na formação docente e no ensino remoto. A metodologia adota procedimentos da pesquisa bibliográfica sobre a temática tratada e dialoga com princípios do método dialético. Nos resultados encontrados ficou evidente, que atualmente, período de vigência da pandemia da COVID-19, forçosamente os métodos educacionais estão passando por ressignificações, colocando desafios para a formação docente no âmbito tecnológico e na esfera da educação especial e inclusiva. Além disso, a partir do exame do material compilado foi constatado que podem ser criadas diversas alternativas didáticas na utilização das novas tecnologias no ensino remoto de geografia, contribuindo para dinamizar o ensino desse componente curricular.
DETERMINATIOM OF EFFECTIVE METHOD OF RUNNING-IN OF QUARRY PBX ENGINES
Authors: Semykina Alla
Published: December 2022

A comparative analysis of the parameters of the efficiency of the rolling-braking and non-brake methods of loading the engine of quarry PBX is carried out. It is established that after major repairs for the investigated model of the engine of a quarry motor transport, it is necessary to carry out its run-in by a formless loading method. After a non-brake run-in, the engine life increases compared to engines that have not been run-in or have been run-in only at idle.
Classification of Batu Bara Songket Using Gray-Level Co-Occurrence Matrix and Support Vector Machine
Authors: Sriani Sriani , Hasibuan Muhammad Siddik , Ananda Rizkika
Published: December 2022

Songket is a traditional woven cloth from the Malay and Minangkabau tribes. Songket can also be classified from the brocade woven family and woven with gold or silver thread. Songket cloth's beauty is the Indonesian people's wealth and preservation. Batu Bara Regency is one of Indonesia's regions with several Songket motifs characteristics. Public knowledge of Batu Bara Songket motifs is still minimal, and the differences between one motif and another are still unknown. This research provides information about the variety of Songket fabrics by classifying six types of Batu Bara Songket motifs, namely the Bunga Tanjung motif, Pucuk Betikam motif, Pucuk Cempaka motif, Pucuk pandan motif, Tampuk Manggis motif and Tolab Berantai motif based on the extraction of the Gray Level texture feature. The Co-Occurrence Matrix includes four parameters: Contrast, Correlation, Energy, and Homogeneity, as well as a classification method with a Support Vector Machine. The feature extraction values ​​ process as input for classification using a Support Vector Machine. The highest accuracy achieved in this study was 57%, using 60 training data and 30 test data.
Improving Human Resources Technology Innovation as a Business Growth Driver in the Society 5.0 Era
Authors: Elli Sulistyaningsih
Published: December 2022

The role of human resources in an organization or company is very strategic, where human resources are the key to achieving a company's success. Strategic human resources will provide added value as a measure of business success. This human resource capacity is a company's competitive advantage, where with better human resources, the company will become a growing company. The increasingly intense business competition requires organizations/companies to be managed professionally to survive and continue to develop in the long term. In addition to technology, capital, finance, operating systems, and human resources are the determining factors. The quality of human resources determines the success of a company. This research method uses a survey research method with a research field for academics. And from the results of this study, the industrial revolution is a concept that makes it easier for humans to live with AI as its main component by using modern technology. This concept will create a technological development that can minimize the gap in humans, where .50 marketing combines technology and humanity or the role of humans.
Membangun Resiliensi dari Bawah: Perempuan dengan Disabilitas dan Keadilan Iklim di Indonesia
Authors: Dewi Yogi Paramitha , Wongkar Etheldreda E. L. T.
Published: December 2022

Socially, the impacts of climate change are unevenly distributed within the society. Those who have been marginalized, albeit their less contribution to climate change, have been the most vulnerable group suffered from those impacts due to their lack of access to resources and capacities to act. One segment within the group is women with disabilities. Although many policies dealing with adaptation and mitigation to climate change have been adopted by the government, specific interests of women with disabilities are not considered as a result from their lack of involvement and participation in the decision-making process. Nevertheless, women with disabilities have been undertaking voluntary initiatives to build resilience among themselves in dealing with the climate crisis. This article aims to examine the essence and significance of accommodating women with disabilities in formulating policies on climate change and to discuss how they exercise their agency to develop initiatives in responding to the problem. A combined conceptual framework from feminist environmentalism and climate justice is used here in addressing both issues
Ragam Modal Perempuan Perdesaan dalam Menghadapi Perubahan Iklim di Tengah Subordinasi
Authors: Situmeang Widya Hasian , Aflaha Fairuz Rafidah
Published: December 2022

Climate change causes the emergence of various phenomena in social life. This phenomenon has a tendency to increase uncertainty over the fulfillment of food, clean water needs, health, to the household economy in various communities in rural Indonesia. Women and children are the vulnerable groups who bear more of the burden of climate change. In reality, women are indirectly required to be able to strategize to meet family needs in the midst of the vulnerability of life due to climate change. The strong patriarchal pressure on Indonesian society makes the role of women often invisible and not taken into account in seeking household resilience, especially in rural and coastal areas. This paper aims to identify the characteristics and raise the story of rural and coastal women in Indonesia in the face of climate change. Another thing identified in this study is the variety of strategies used by women, as well as the challenges of subordination they experience. This study was conducted using a literature study method as well as collecting qualitative field findings on the experiences of women facing climate change in various regions in Indonesia. This study draws on the literature from 2010 to 2020 and compares it with field findings on the experiences of women in rural and coastal areas in Java and East Nusa Tenggara in the period 2019 – 2022. The results show that rural and coastal women are proven to continue to carry out various adaptation strategies that tends to be dominated by social capital in facing the challenges of climate change even though its role is not taken into account as a struggle within the community
Deteksi Tepi untuk Mengidentifikasi Kanker Ginjal Menggunakan Metode Sobel, Roberts dan Canny
Authors: Saputra Dhio , Sumijan
Published: December 2022

Kidneys are organs that function to filter metabolic waste in the blood and dispose of them in the form of urine. One of kidney disease is kidney cancer. Kidney cancer occurs due to gene mutations in kidney cells that cause kidney cells to grow abnormally and uncontrollably. To take an image of kidney cancer using a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tool. The purpose of this research is to identify and recognize the pattern object of kidney cancer in the MRI image. To identify kidney cancer images, it begins with collecting image data, image processing, image edge detection, image thinning, and identification processes. Edge detection is used to detect the boundaries of objects in the image. The method used in this research is the Canny and Sobel method. The number of images taken were 23 images of kidney cancer samples. The results of this research show that the Canny method gives better image results than the Sobel image results
Investigation of Metal Matrix Composites Aluminium Reinforced Graphite Particles Produced Using Powder Metallurgy
Authors: Fatchurrohman Nanang , Binti Mamat Anis Nabilah , Yetrina Mutiara , Muhida Rifki
Published: December 2022

Many industries have been in demand for metal matrix composites (MMC), especially in the aerospace and automotive sectors. The advancement of MMC is being investigated to improve the material's mechanical properties. MMC is a composite material consisting of at least two materials. One of them would act as a matrix, and the other materials would serve as reinforcement. MMC allows for overcoming the specific limitations of metallic and ceramic materials by blending their mutually exclusive property profiles. The main objective of this research is to successfully fabricate aluminium and graphite metal matrix composites using powder metallurgy. In this research, powder metallurgy was used, where aluminium and graphite were blended according to the sample volume ratio. Both graphite and aluminium were in the form of metal powder. Graphite powder with each ratio of volume percentages of 0%, 1.5%, 3%, 4.5%, and 6% was mixed with aluminium powder. The blended material is produced by powder metallurgy via the compaction process using the hydraulic press brake machine. Subsequently, the compacted sample was sintered using a laboratory furnace at 600°C for 4 hours. The mechanical tests show that the highest tensile strength and Young's modulus were obtained by MMC aluminium – 1.5 % volume graphite. While for the highest hardness was achieved by aluminium – 4 % volume graphite.