bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatio-Temporal Abnormal Behavior Prediction in Elderly Persons Using Deep Learning Models
Authors: Zerkouk Meriem , Chikhaoui Belkacem
Published: April 2020

The ability to identify and accurately predict abnormal behavior is important for health monitoring systems in smart environments. Specifically, for elderly persons wishing to maintain their independence and comfort in their living spaces, abnormal behaviors observed during activities of daily living are a good indicator that the person is more likely to have health and behavioral problems that need intervention and assistance. In this paper, we investigate a variety of deep learning models such as Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), CNN-LSTM and Autoencoder-CNN-LSTM for identifying and accurately predicting the abnormal behaviors of elderly people. The temporal information and spatial sequences collected over time are used to generate models, which can be fitted to the training data and the fitted model can be used to make a prediction. We present an experimental evaluation of these models performance in identifying and predicting elderly persons abnormal behaviors in smart homes, via extensive testing on two public data sets, taking into account different models architectures and tuning the hyperparameters for each model. The performance evaluation is focused on accuracy measure.
Deep CNN Sparse Coding for Real Time Inhaler Sounds Classification
Authors: Ntalianis Vaggelis , Fakotakis Nikos Dimitris , Nousias Stavros , Lalos Aris S. , Birbas Michael , Zacharaki Evangelia I. , Moustakas Konstantinos
Published: April 2020

Effective management of chronic constrictive pulmonary conditions lies in proper and timely administration of medication. As a series of studies indicates, medication adherence can effectively be monitored by successfully identifying actions performed by patients during inhaler usage. This study focuses on the recognition of inhaler audio events during usage of pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDI). Aiming at real-time performance, we investigate deep sparse coding techniques including convolutional filter pruning, scalar pruning and vector quantization, for different convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures. The recognition performance has been assessed on three healthy subjects following both within and across subjects modeling strategies. The selected CNN architecture classified drug actuation, inhalation and exhalation events, with 100%, 92.6% and 97.9% accuracy, respectively, when assessed in a leave-one-subject-out cross-validation setting. Moreover, sparse coding of the same architecture with an increasing compression rate from 1 to 7 resulted in only a small decrease in classification accuracy (from 95.7% to 94.5%), obtained by random (subject-agnostic) cross-validation. A more thorough assessment on a larger dataset, including recordings of subjects with multiple respiratory disease manifestations, is still required in order to better evaluate the method’s generalization ability and robustness.
Correction Algorithm for the Navigation System of an Autonomous Unmanned Underwater Vehicle
Authors: Chen Danhe , Neusypin K. A. , Selezneva M. S.
Published: April 2020

More accurate navigation systems are always required for autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles (AUUV)s under various circumstances. In this paper, a measuring complex of a heavy unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) was investigated. The measuring complex consists of an inertial navigation platform system, a Doppler lag (DL) and an estimation algorithm. During a relatively long-term voyage of an UUV without surfacing and correction from buoys and stationary stations, errors of the measuring complex will increase over time. The increase in errors is caused by an increase in the deviation angles of the gyro platform relative to the accompanying trihedron of the selected coordinate system. To reduce these angles, correction is used in the structure of the inertial navigation system (INS) using a linear regulator. To increase accuracy, it is proposed to take into account the nonlinear features of INS errors; an adaptive nonlinear Kalman filter and a nonlinear controller were used in the correction scheme. Considering that, a modified nonlinear Kalman filter and a regulator in the measuring complex are proposed to improve the accuracy of the measurement information, and modification of the nonlinear Kalman filter was performed through a genetic algorithm, in which the regulator was developed by the State Dependent Coefficient (SDC) method of the formulated model. Modeling combined with a semi-natural experiment with a real inertial navigation system for the UUV demonstrated the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Understanding the Ecology of Restored Fen Peatlands for Protection and Sustainable Use
Authors: Wrage-Mönnig Nicole , Leinweber Peter
Published: April 2020

Natural peatlands are the most effective terrestrial carbon stock on our planet [...]
Changing the Focus: Viewing Design-Led Events within Collaborative Planning
Authors: AlWaer Husam , Cooper Ian
Published: April 2020

Design-led planning events typically seek to involve stakeholders in collaborative decision-making about their built environment. In the literature, such events are often treated as one-off or standalone. In this paper, which draws on a survey of the experience of stakeholders involved in them, design-led events are seen in the context of, and in relation to, the collaborative planning process as a whole. Such events are portrayed as being critically affected by how they are instigated; how they are framed; how they are conducted; and, just as importantly, how they are implemented. Three separable strands of activity in collaborative planning processes are identified—design, stakeholder management, and event facilitation—along with the roles played in each of those by those responsible for initiating and then maintaining the engagement and enrolment of participating stakeholder groups in collaborative decision-making. Based on the captured experience of those who have participated in them, the value of design-led events is portrayed not as standing alone but as being crucially dependent on (a) prior decisions made long before any participants gather to engage in them and (b) subsequent decisions made long after the participants have departed. The originality of this paper lies in a desire to begin to construct an empirical base that can be employed for discussing and recommending improvements to collaborative planning processes. The three strands of activity identified by event participants—design, stakeholder management, and facilitation—may individually be relatively weak. But their contributions to collaborative planning can be strengthened by being bound tightly together into a more integrated and coherent whole.
Sustainability Teaching Tools in the Digital Age
Authors: Napal María , Mendióroz-Lacambra Ana María , Peñalva Alicia
Published: April 2020

The increasing presence and relevance of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in learning scenarios has imposed new demands on teachers, who must be able to design new learning situations while relying on the growing supply of available digital resources. One of the fields that more urgently needs to utilize the potential benefits of ICT to transform learning is sustainability, and more precisely the development of sustainability competences (SCs). Indeed, wider societal changes are needed that ensure a balance between economic growth, respect for the environment, and social justice, and these changes must start with individual action, knowledge, and the capacity and willingness to act (i.e., the definition of “competence”). However, although there is a wide consensus on the fact that education should ensure the acquisition of competences for life, making this a reality may be more problematic. This difficulty stems, partly, from a lack of a definition of the intervening elements (knowledge, skills, values, attitudes) that enables the integration of competences into specific learning sequences and activities. Taking into account all the above and the difficulties that teachers face in choosing relevant resources and incorporating competences into their planning, we propose a series of indicators that serve to characterize the four dimensions of scientific competence: contents of science, contents about science, the value of science, and the utility of science in educational materials. Although primarily intended for filtering multimedia resources in an educational platform, this instrument (as well as the indicators therein) can be extrapolated to the selection and management of a variety of resources and activities, eventually selecting those that are more useful for the acquisition of the scientific competence. They can also provide learning-managers with a common ground to work on by sharing the objectives and indicators related to the acquisition of competences.
University 4.0: Promoting the Transformation of Higher Education Institutions toward Sustainable Development
Authors: Giesenbauer Bror , Müller-Christ Georg
Published: April 2020

Higher education institutions (HEIs) could act as pivotal change agents for sustainable development (SD) in times of global climate action. However, HEIs have to respond to increasingly complex demands simultaneously, such as massification, globalization, marketization, and digitalization. Based on Graves’ model of systemic development, this paper discusses two main strategies to deal with increased complexity in order to meet the challenge of SD: (a) Promoting general systemic development of a given HEI, progressively opening up to various stakeholders and focusing on co-creative collaboration, and (b) participating in inter-organizational networks to find inspiration for dealing with challenging trends. Four distinct phases of higher education development are presented. It is argued that transdisciplinary research and research-based learning will increasingly be needed for tackling societal issues and that HEIs should address different organizational subsystems individually. Furthermore, four types of inter-organizational networks are proposed and implications for network management are discussed. A case study of the HOCH-N network illustrates the practical application of the presented ideas. Finally, adopting a multi-dimensional and networked organizational model as an integrative University 4.0 is argued to be suitable for increasing the capacity to deal with complexity, thus meeting the challenge of sustainable development.
Detailed Assessment of Embodied Carbon of HVAC Systems for a New Office Building Based on BIM
Authors: Kiamili Christina , Hollberg Alexander , Habert Guillaume
Published: April 2020

The global shift towards embodied carbon reduction in the building sector has indicated the need for a detailed analysis of environmental impacts across the whole lifecycle of buildings. The environmental impact of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems has rarely been studied in detail. Most of the published studies are based on assumptions and rule of thumb techniques. In this study, the requirements and methods to perform a detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) for HVAC systems based on building information modelling (BIM) are assessed and framed for the first time. The approach of linking external product data information to objects using visual programming language (VPL) is tested, and its benefits over the existing workflows are presented. The detailed BIM model of a newly built office building in Switzerland is used as a case study. In addition, detailed project documentation is used to ensure the plausibility of the calculated impact. The LCA results show that the embodied impact of the HVAC systems is three times higher than the targets provided by the Swiss Energy Efficiency Path (SIA 2040). Furthermore, it is shown that the embodied impact of HVAC systems lies in the range of 15–36% of the total embodied impact of office buildings. Nevertheless, further research and similar case studies are needed to provide a robust picture of the embodied environmental impact of HVAC systems. The results could contribute to setting stricter targets in line with the vision of decarbonization of the building sector.
Evaluating Cyclists’ Route Preferences with Respect to Infrastructure
Authors: Hardinghaus Michael , Papantoniou Panagiotis
Published: April 2020

Providing a sufficiently appropriate route environment is crucial to ensuring fair and safe biking, thus encouraging cycling as a sustainable mode of transport. At the same time, better understanding of cyclists’ preferences regarding the features of their routes and their infrastructure requirements is fundamental to evaluating improvement of the current infrastructure or the development of new infrastructure. The present study has two objectives. The first is to investigate cyclists’ route preferences by means of a choice experiment based on a stated preference survey. Subsequently, the second objective is to compare cyclist preferences in two countries with different cycling characteristics (both in infrastructure as well as cyclists’ behavior). For this purpose, a graphical online stated preferences survey was conducted in Greece and Germany. Within the framework of statistical analyses, multinomial mixed logit discrete choice models were developed that allow us to quantify the trade-offs of interest, while distinguishing between the preferences of different user groups. In addition, user requirements in Greece, as a country with a low cycling share and very little dedicated bike infrastructure, were compared to the requirements in Germany, where cycling is popular and the infrastructure is well developed. The results over the whole sample indicate that subgroups value infrastructure differently according to their specific needs. When looking at country specifics, users from Greece are significantly more willing to accept longer travel times in return for higher-quality facilities. The utility of low speed limits in mixed traffic is also different. In Germany, low speed limits offset the disturbance caused by motorized traffic, but in Greece they do not. Consequently, the results help to asses which types of infrastructure are most sustainable from a user perspective and help to set priorities when the aim is to adapt the road infrastructure efficiently in a stable strategy.
How do Environmental, Social and Governance Initiatives Affect Innovative Performance for Corporate Sustainability?
Authors: Zhang Qi , Loh Lawrence , Wu Weiwei
Published: April 2020

Corporate sustainability has been a long-established topic in the corporate operating process. Much research focuses on the internal relationships among environmental, social and economic dimensions of corporate sustainability, yet few studies have examined the topic from the perspective of environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives and innovative performance. Using insights from stakeholder theory, this study develops theoretical linkages between corporate ESG initiatives and innovative performance. It further considers whether these relationships still exist under different institutional development settings. Based on the samples of 433 observations which are listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, in China, from 2007 to 2017, empirical results using the method of hierarchical regression analysis have confirmed that corporate environmental initiatives, social initiatives and governance initiatives have direct positive impacts on innovative performance. Furthermore, in examining the interactive effect of individual dimensions of ESG initiatives, the results reveal that corporate governance initiatives play a moderating role in the relationship between environmental initiatives and innovative performance and in the relationship between social initiatives and innovative performance. Finally, the empirical analyses also show that institutional development influences the effectiveness of corporate governance initiatives. This research contributes to extending the prior literature and providing several recommendations for firms to achieve corporate sustainability.
Innovation Mode and Optimization Strategy of B2C E-Commerce Logistics Distribution under Big Data
Authors: Zhao Yingyan , Zhou Yihong , Deng Wu
Published: April 2020

With the advent of big data era and rapid development of Internet technology, e-commerce has had a strong development tendency that causes many problems, such as redundant and complex business processes, low efficiency and a high cost for e-commerce logistics in the distribution sector. It is not difficult to conclude that the key to improving logistics distribution efficiency—and reduce logistics distribution costs—is to optimize logistics distribution under big data. In this study, the management model, influence factors and development status of B2C e-commerce logistics distribution under big data are analyzed in detail. Then big data processing, business process and route optimization strategies for B2C e-commerce logistics distribution under big data are deeply studied. Furthermore, an optimization model of product sales and logistics distribution of B2C e-commerce by big data platform is discussed in order to propose an innovative optimization strategy for B2C e-commerce logistics distribution under big data. Big data technology is applied in B2C e-commerce logistics business management, which is studied in detail. These findings achieve the optimal distribution of B2C e-commerce, reduce the B2C e-commerce logistics distribution cost and improve the B2C e-commerce logistics distribution efficiency under big data. In addition, enhanced competitiveness of B2C e-commerce logistics distribution is examined in this study. This study provides a reference for follow-up big data studies in the field of e-commerce.
Place Attachment, Feeling of Belonging and Collective Identity in Socio-Ecological Systems: Study Case of Pegalajar (Andalusia-Spain)
Authors: Escalera-Reyes Javier
Published: April 2020

Shared feelings of belonging and attachment held by people in relation to the place they live, and the development of collective identities that such feelings can promote, should be taken into account when seeking to understand the configuration and operation of socio-ecological systems (SES), in general, and the impact these factors have on SES adaptability, transformability and resilience, in particular. However, these topics have not been examined in enough depth in prior research. To address the effects of people’s feelings of place attachment and belonging in specific SES and the impacts they have on the aforementioned properties, in addition to theoretical instruments appropriate to the emotional and cognitive nature of this kind of phenomena, in-depth empirical qualitative studies are required to enhance understanding of the cultural and symbolic dimensions of the SES of which they are part. In this regard, the analysis of people–place connections, feelings of belonging and territorial identifications (territoriality) is strategic to understanding how the biophysical and the socio-cultural are interconnected and structured within SES. This article is based on a case study implemented through long-standing ethnographic research conducted in Pegalajar (Andalusia-Spain), which examined the struggle of the local population to recover the water system on which the landscape, as well as the ways of life that sustain their identity as a town, has been built. This case proposed a perspective on feelings and collective identifications as analytical interfaces between social and natural dimensions of SES in order to enhance understanding of their structuring and dynamics, particularly their resilience, and in order to manage them in a more sustainable way.
Principal Leadership Styles and Teacher Job Performance: Viewpoint of Middle Management
Authors: Saleem Atif , Aslam Sarfraz , Yin Hong-biao , Rao Congman
Published: April 2020

Achievement-oriented leaders let their followers know their expectations. They regularly set clear goals with potential high-performance standards, they trust in the capabilities of their subordinates, and they encourage the continued performance improvement of their subordinates. This investigation studied the effects of private secondary school principals’ leadership styles on teachers’ job performance. Four leadership styles outlined in the path–goal theory and five key performance indicators (KPIs) of teacher job performance were chosen for the present research. Numerous prior studies have documented this subject. However, they reported on teacher job performance as a single unit. Therefore, a concerted effort was required to examine the effects of adopted principal leadership styles on each of the five key performance indicators of teacher job performance. A total of 253 middle management personnel took part in this empirical study. The correlation findings from the structural equation modeling revealed that the directive leadership style had a significant effect on teacher job performance in the studied schools, followed by the supportive and achievement-oriented leadership styles. Conversely, although participative leadership was identified as a significant predictor, it was not considered a promising predictor of teacher job performance. This research was conducted in a non-Western culture, where directive leadership is beneficial for encouraging teacher job performance; this claim is greatly supported by the available rigorous literature.
Apple or Huawei: Understanding Flow, Brand Image, Brand Identity, Brand Personality and Purchase Intention of Smartphone
Authors: Mao Yanhui , Lai Yao , Luo Yuwei , Liu Shan , Du Yixin , Zhou Jing , Ma Jianhong , Bonaiuto Flavia , Bonaiuto Marino
Published: April 2020

The global use of smartphone has had tremendous social, environmental, and economic impacts in the last decade, and continues to grow impressively. In order to comprehend customers’ purchase behavior, it is crucial to understand the driving force behind their choice of one specific brand among various competitors. A few prior researches have demonstrated that not only the optimal experience of flow, but also identity features (i.e., self-identity, social identity, brand identity) facilitate a customer’s purchase intention. Previous studies also indicate that brand-related constructs (e.g., typically brand image but sometimes also brand personality and communication) predict purchase intention. As the first study combining flow, which focuses on investigating the consumer purchase behavior through identity and brand-related constructs, we propose a conceptual model that combines flow theory, brand image, brand communication, brand identity, and brand personality to investigate purchase intention. We have empirically tested the conceptual model based on the data collected from 1377 Chinese smartphone users. Results via the structural equation modeling with AMOS software indicated that flow experience, brand image, brand communication, brand personality, and brand identity all directly or indirectly explain purchase intention. Flow experience serves a critical role in mediating the path from brand communication, brand personality, and brand identity to purchase intention. The research focuses on the strategic implication of the various brand features management and aims to harmonize economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
The Importance of Different Knowledge Types in Health-Related Decisions—The Example of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Arnold Julia Caroline
Published: April 2020

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs, e.g., type 2 diabetes) are a burden to humanity and hence addressed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (target 3.4). One way of tackling NCDs is by health education as part of science education. Yet, the role of knowledge for health-promoting actions, and thus, the role of science teaching in health education, is not sufficiently clarified. Therefore, the author proposes to differentiate three knowledge types: System Health Knowledge (SK), Action-related Health Knowledge (AK), and Effectiveness Health Knowledge (EK). Accordingly, we designed a questionnaire that asked students to evaluate different questions about sugar consumption and type 2 diabetes according to their relevance for deciding their future sugar consumption. We found that students considered all questions as rather important (3–4.3, out of 5) with an assigned mean importance for SK with a mean of 3.8, for AK with a mean of 4.0, and for EK with a mean of 3.9. This research indicates that knowledge is important for decision-making and that all three types of knowledge should be recognized in health education.
AppCon: Mitigating Evasion Attacks to ML Cyber Detectors
Authors: Apruzzese Giovanni , Andreolini Mauro , Marchetti Mirco , Colacino Vincenzo Giuseppe , Russo Giacomo
Published: April 2020

Adversarial attacks represent a critical issue that prevents the reliable integration of machine learning methods into cyber defense systems. Past work has shown that even proficient detectors are highly affected just by small perturbations to malicious samples, and that existing countermeasures are immature. We address this problem by presenting AppCon, an original approach to harden intrusion detectors against adversarial evasion attacks. Our proposal leverages the integration of ensemble learning to realistic network environments, by combining layers of detectors devoted to monitor the behavior of the applications employed by the organization. Our proposal is validated through extensive experiments performed in heterogeneous network settings simulating botnet detection scenarios, and consider detectors based on distinct machine- and deep-learning algorithms. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of AppCon in mitigating the dangerous threat of adversarial attacks in over 75% of the considered evasion attempts, while not being affected by the limitations of existing countermeasures, such as performance degradation in non-adversarial settings. For these reasons, our proposal represents a valuable contribution to the development of more secure cyber defense platforms.
Numerical Modeling of Sloshing Frequencies in Tanks with Structure Using New Presented DQM-BEM Technique
Authors: Wei Zhenda , Feng Junwen , Ghalandari Mohammad , Maleki Akbar , Abdelmalek Zahra
Published: April 2020

The sloshing behavior of systems is influenced by different factors related to the liquid level and tank specifications. Different approaches are applicable for the assessment of sloshing behavior in a tank. In this paper, a new numerical model based on the differential quadrature method and boundary element approaches is adopted to investigate the sloshing behavior of a tank with an elastic thin-walled beam. The model is developed based on small slope considerations of the free surface. The main assumption of fluid modeling is homogeneity, isotropy, inviscid, and only limited compressibility of the liquid. Indeed, the formulation is represented based on the reduced-order method and then is employed for simulating the coupling between structure and fluid in symmetric test cases. The results are verified with the ANSYS and literature for symmetric rigid structural walls and then the code is employed to study the behavior of fluid-structure interaction in a symmetric tank with new and efficient immersed structure.
Differential Small RNA Responses against Co-Infecting Insect-Specific Viruses in Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes
Authors: Frangeul Lionel , Blanc Hervé , Saleh Maria-Carla , Suzuki Yasutsugu
Published: April 2020

The mosquito antiviral response has mainly been studied in the context of arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) infection in female mosquitoes. However, in nature, both female and male mosquitoes are frequently infected with insect-specific viruses (ISVs). ISVs are capable of infecting the reproductive organs of both sexes and are primarily maintained by vertical transmission. Since the RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated antiviral response plays an important antiviral role in mosquitoes, ISVs constitute a relevant model to study sex-dependent antiviral responses. Using a naturally generated viral stock containing three distinct ISVs, Aedes flavivirus (AEFV), Menghai rhabdovirus (MERV), and Shinobi tetra virus (SHTV), we infected adult Aedes albopictus females and males and generated small RNA libraries from ovaries, testes, and the remainder of the body. Overall, both female and male mosquitoes showed unique small RNA profiles to each co-infecting ISV regardless of the sex or tissue tested. While all three ISVs generated virus-derived siRNAs, only MERV generated virus-derived piRNAs. We also studied the expression of PIWI genes in reproductive tissues and carcasses. In contrast to Piwi5-9, Piwi1-4 were abundantly expressed in ovaries and testes, suggesting that Piwi5-9 are involved in exogenous viral piRNA production. Together, our results show that ISV-infected Aedes albopictus produce viral small RNAs in a virus-specific manner and that male mosquitoes mount a similar small RNA-mediated antiviral response to that of females.
Experimental Infection Using Mouse-Adapted Influenza B Virus in a Mouse Model
Authors: Prokopyeva Elena , Kurskaya Olga , Sobolev Ivan , Solomatina Mariia , Murashkina Tatyana , Suvorova Anastasia , Alekseev Alexander , Danilenko Daria , Komissarov Andrey , Fadeev Artem , Ramsay Edward , Shestopalov Alexander , Dygai Alexander , Sharshov Kirill
Published: April 2020

Every year, influenza B viruses (IBVs) contribute to annual illness, and infection can lead to serious respiratory disease among humans. More attention is needed in several areas, such as increasing virulence or pathogenicity of circulating B viruses and developing vaccines against current influenza. Since preclinical trials of anti-influenza drugs are mainly conducted in mice, we developed an appropriate infection model, using an antigenically-relevant IBV strain, for furtherance of anti-influenza drug testing and influenza vaccine protective efficacy analysis. A Victoria lineage (clade 1A) IBV was serially passaged 17 times in BALB/c mice, and adaptive amino acid substitutions were found in hemagglutinin (HA) (T214I) and neuraminidase (NA) (D432N). By electron microscopy, spherical and elliptical IBV forms were noted. Light microscopy showed that mouse-adapted IBVs caused influenza pneumonia on day 6 post inoculation. We evaluated the illness pathogenicity, viral load, and histopathological features of mouse-adapted IBVs and estimated anti-influenza drugs and vaccine efficiency in vitro and in vivo. Assessment of an investigational anti-influenza drug (oseltamivir ethoxysuccinate) and an influenza vaccine (Ultrix®, SPBNIIVS, Saint Petersburg, Russia) showed effectiveness against the mouse-adapted influenza B virus.
Evaluating the effectiveness of a support programme for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary care: an observational prospective study in Ecuador
Authors: Barrera-Guarderas Francisco , De la Torre-Cisneros Katherine , Barrionuevo-Tapia Maria , Cabezas-Escobar Carmen
Published: April 2020

Background

The success of primary health care relies on the integration of empowered practitioners with cooperative patients regardless of socioeconomic status. Using resources efficiently would help to improve healthcare promotion and reduce complications of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The importance of network support programmes relies on the fact that they allow to accurately deliver medical care by shaping a sense of community and purpose among the patients.

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of a network support programme for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Design & setting

A centre-based observational prospective study took place in a primary care setting in Ecuador.

Method

The impact of the diabetes care programme was assessed by comparing initial and final metabolic characteristics and outcomes of 593 patients with T2DM, followed-up from April 2007 to December 2017, using paired samplet-test. Electrocardiograms (ECGs), ankle-brachial indexes (ABIs), ocular fundus, and monofilament neuropathy tests were assessed with the McNemar test to evaluate complications at the beginning and end of the study.

Results

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) showed statistically significant decreases between the initial measurement (IMs) and final measurements (FMs). In the FM, significantly lower HbA1c, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and atherogenic index were found. Despite the length of time since diagnosis, during the follow-up time, long-term micro- and macro-vascular complications, such as ocular fundus, serum creatinine, and ABI, remained unchanged throughout the period of active participation in this healthcare programme.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the feasibility of reducing plasma glucose, plasma lipids, and long-term complications in patients with T2DM by implementing a network support programme, which involves the medical team and patients themselves in an environment with limited resources.
Perte de masse et transformation de débris de bois enfouis dans le sol en milieu tropical humide
Authors: Fujisaki Kenji , Perrin Anne-sophie , Gogo Sébastien , Boussafir Mohammed , Sarrazin Max , Brossard Michel
Published: April 2020

Woody inputs in agroecosystems can enhance physiso-chemical properties of soil, however decomposition kinetics of these fresh inputs have been rarely studied in tropical humid regions. In Amazonia, this practice occurs for fire-free forest clearing, and could contribute to carbon storage in soil. In this study we aimed to assess the fate of woody debris buried in soil, in an experimental site located in French Guiana, fire-free cleared and cultivated. Decomposition kinetic of woody debris > 4 mm was assessed by mass loss measurements, until 4 years after deforestation. Organic matter composition of woody debris was analysed over time with Rock-Eval pyrolysis, allowing us to distinguish two carbon pools in this woody debris, one labile and one resistant. Woody debris > 4 mm decomposed with a first-order kinetic, and its half-life was 17,6 months. During the first year after its burying, the C : N ratio, R400, and hydrogen index of woody debris significantly decreased, showing that processes of decarboxylation and dehydrogenation occurred. Labile carbon stocks and resistant carbon stocks both decreased with a first-order decay, with a half-life slightly lower for labile carbon. This indicates a low humification and the absence of long term preservation of woody debris. This study suggests that benefits of woody inputs for soil properties in a humid tropical climate only occur the first year following deforestation.
Time lapse, rendre visible l’invisible. Premiers développements et applications au suivi des glaciers
Authors: Moreau Luc
Published: April 2020

We have designed automatic photo cameras to monitor and study glacier dynamics. We were interested in having completely autonomous systems to take repeated photographs at regular intervals with a fixed focus and frame. This technique is called “ time-lapse photography”. We discuss here the scientific benefits offered by these systems that allow us to visualise processes that are invisible in real time and often unexpected. We describe the current advantages of digital photography, the technologic improvements we have worked on, as well as the new insights gained on the flow mechanisms of alpine and polar glaciers.
Stratégie de suivi hydrologique spatialement distribué. Application à la compréhension des crues éclair sur les bassins versants cévenols
Authors: Ayral Pierre-alain , Braud Isabelle , Nord Guillaume , Gonzalez-Sosa Enrique , Spinelli Rosario
Published: April 2020

This spatially-distributed strategy, dedicated to flash flood monitoring, has been developed on Cartaou (0.6 km ² ) and Claduègne (43 km ² ) catchments with a dense limnimeter network with drained area between 0.01 and 12.5 km ² . On the Cartaou this experimental approach is completed with “ low-cost” temperature sensors and hydrological observation points with the main objective to cartography the extension of drainage network during flash flood events. First results allow to analyze the reaction and response times and to define first flash flood patterns. It will be necessary to develop “ low-cost” experimental sensors but above all it appears necessary to implement algorithm for the management and the critical analysis of this high volume of data before a deployment of a similar experimental strategy on another watersheds.
Mesure de la charge en suspension de torrents proglaciaires. L’exemple des torrents issus du glacier des Bossons
Authors: Mugnier Jean-Louis , Guillon Hervé , Buoncristiani Jean-françois , Romeyer Olivier , Bascou Pascale
Published: April 2020

L’érosion sous-glaciaire est estimée à partir du flux sédimentaire de torrents en provenance des glaciers. Pour ce faire, nous avons instrumenté les torrents des Bossons et de Crosette situés à l’aval du glacier des Bossons. Les solutions trouvées pour résoudre les problèmes liés à la complexité du terrain proglaciaire sont exposées. Elles reposent sur l’utilisation d’un matériel éprouvé dans de nombreux sites et sur une acquisition haute résolution effectuée sur plusieurs sites distincts avec une transmission journalière des données.
Mesure de la fréquentation d’itinéraires d’accès à la haute montagne dans le massif du Mont Blanc à l’aide de capteurs pyroélectriques
Authors: Mourey Jacques , Ravanel Ludovic
Published: April 2020

Global warming effects on high mountain environments are more and more affecting mountaineering routes. In order to better quantify and characterise the vulnerability of mountaineering as a result of those effects, pyroelectric sensors have been installed at three of the main access to high mountain of the Mont-Blanc massif. However, due to the specific conditions in which they have been installed, important limits and constraints must be taken into account to insure the effectiveness of the sensors and the data analysis. In our case, the mounting systems had to be adapted to the local specificities of the terrain and the sensors had to be set in a particular measurement mode of unite counting. However, the specificities of the terrains in which they have been installed and the specific mountaineers’ way of walking lead to important and variable measurement errors. Also, information will be acquired but the mountaineers flux will not be quantified and characterized with the expected accuracy.
Assessment of the effectiveness of the management of agricultural organizations in management accounting
Authors: Ostaev Gamlet Y. , Suetin Sergey N. , Frantsisko Olga Yu. , Alexandrova Elena V.
Published: April 2020

The dynamic development of the agrarian sector of the Russian economy in recent years makes specific demands on agricultural organizations that require a quick response and decision-making based on strategic analytical approaches.
Agricultural organizations can achieve the goals previously set during business planning, using reliable information support, tools for analytical actions and competent management decisions. Any managerial decision made in agriculture should be based on timely information analyzed, taking into account cost-effectiveness, practicality, profitability and efficiency. However, it is necessary to evaluate this business in the long term, taking into account the effectiveness of the management of the agricultural organization, for the development of the agricultural organization. In management accounting of agricultural production, the problem of a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of the management of an organization (business) is not given attention, and the importance of evaluating a business is also underestimated.
The subject of the study is the improvement of management accounting in terms of a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of the management of agricultural organizations, based on available accounting documents for external and internal users.
The main objective was determined in accordance with the stated goal: to develop recommendations for improving the methodology of management accounting, to assess the effectiveness of management of agricultural organizations.
Performance management is an important financial and economic indicator of agricultural production. In this paper, various aspects of management accounting and analysis of the effectiveness of the management of agricultural production are analyzed. It is concluded that the proposed activities will be understood not only by internal users, but also external ones with the help of the developed methodology and management decisions on public documents.
Migration processes in rural areas as an indicator of economic security
Authors: Mukhina Inna A. , Ostaev Gamlet Y. , Sokolov Vyacheslav A. , Markovina Ekaterina V.
Published: April 2020

The article reveals the migration processes characteristic of the whole of Russia, including in the village. The migration policy of the regions is one of the key elements of the social development of society, taking into account the economic, political and demographic features of the territory; it determines the direction of migration processes and the formation of migratory connection. The migration process in rural areas (territories) acts as a two-way movement - as a stream of departures and as a stream of arrivals. The article provides basic statistics on migration in the region for 2014-2018.

The aim of the study is to analyze the migration situation in rural areas (territories) of the Udmurt Republic, one of the regions of the Russian Federation, since these processes directly affect the state of the labor market. In this regard, it seems relevant to study migration processes in rural areas (territories) of the Udmurt Republic.

The object of research is the processes of migration in the context of modern international relations.

The subject of the study is - migration processes in rural areas; at the same time, migration is considered in comparison with labor market indicators in addition to traditional indicators of migration growth (decrease) in the population.

In accordance with this goal, the main task was determined: to offer statistical indicators characterizing migration in terms of the labor market and the quality of life of rural areas. Methods of comparison, grouping, systematization, analysis of dependence were used.

It is concluded that these calculation methods can be applied to determine target indicators of the municipal policy of the region.
Innovations of the new public administration language: professionally prestigious sociolectisms or the signs of communicative failures?
Authors: Zavarzina Galina A. , Dankova Tatyana N. , Demidkina Ekaterina A. , Grigorenko Olga V.
Published: April 2020

This article is devoted to the study of the formation and functioning of professional innovations in the language of Russian public administration, reflecting the manifestation of tendencies toward standardization and informality in the choice of lexical items and syntactic constructions. To conduct a research, we used methods of linguistic observation and description, methods of component, comparative and lexicographic analysis, as well as the methodology of complex cognitively oriented synchronous diachronic analysis of language subsystems and their units. Printed text versions of speeches by people in the Government and the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation were the materials for the study. A language analysis of the new public administration made it possible to single out a whole series of lexical-semantic, word-formative, morphological and syntactic innovations, which are identification marks of the studied subsystem and necessary elements of the thesaurus of a civil servant personality. A special group of language innovations of the new public administration is formed by the so-called thematically reoriented semantic neologisms. It is established that the language development of the new public administration is on the way to expand the field of functioning and strengthening its influence on the linguistic taste formation of Russian society. It is noted that the written form of communication in the field of public administration is significantly influenced by the oral colloquial element, and the results of this effect are manifested in all aspects: from lexical to communicative-pragmatic. Researchers are particularly worried about the consolidation in the professional language of the studied sphere of linguistic items violating linguistic and ethical-moral standards that create barriers for effective communication. In conclusion, it is unacceptable to actualize reduced professional language elements that contribute to the inefficiency of communication between representatives of authority and the community.
Decentralized control of a group of quadrocopters using the molecular dynamics method
Authors: Maximov Nikolay A. , Protasov Vladislav I. , Potapova Zinaida E. , Sharonov Anatoly V. , Shatalov Ilya K.
Published: April 2020

The development of artificial intelligence systems based on various principles, including anthropomorphic and nature-like systems, as well as progress in the construction of quadrocopters for various purposes, made relevant the practical application of these tools for the effective monitoring of underlying surfaces by groups of such devices. The solution of this problem is associated with the effective control of them in conditions of passive and active interference that impedes the fulfillment of missions, as well as with the problem of reconfiguring their construction in case of fail.

The model obtained in the work and the calculations made it possible to conclude that the use of the following approach in the future will allow the creation of a self-government system by an independent group of quadrocopters, capable of performing various missions without control from the Earth under conditions of active and passive interference, as well as with permanent failure of quadrocopters.
Integrated economic analysis and evaluation of competitiveness of wheat flour of top variety at Perm market
Authors: Katlishin Oleg Ilyasovich , Panyshev Anatoly Ivanovich
Published: April 2020

Flour is one of the most significant essential commodities, and quality of the final product produced by food enterprises in baking, pasta, confectionery, and catering and modern trade depends on its properties. The aim of the study is comprehensive economic analysis and assessment of competitiveness of premium wheat flour sold by New Family LLC in Perm. Achieving this goal the following tasks were carried out: consideration of theoretical foundations of wheat flour competitiveness, conducting primary and secondary marketing research on the wheat flour market (including sociological survey); quality analysis of premium wheat flour; assessment of competitiveness using economic analysis. The object of research in this article are samples of premium wheat flour of various brands sold in New Family LLC Perm, and directly competing with each other for the final consumer. Within the framework of the article, comprehensive economic analysis was as follows: to conduct an examination of flour quality (determination of organoleptic indicators); assessing quality indicators “quality / price”of flour samples; application of Yudanov method; using the method of integrated competitiveness assessment and Buhl method competitiveness assessment (with the use of point scales). The study showed that the issue of considering competitiveness of products is very important in domestic market. The results of competitiveness assessment indicate that the most competitive premium grade wheat flour is “Tsar”.