bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facteurs de fidélisation dans la mutuelle de santé de Kisantu en République démocratique du Congo
Authors: Nkutu Pululu Jean-Marie , Vodiena Nsakala Gabriel , Van Loon Herman
Published: February 2022

Introduction : Plusieurs pays africains soutiennent les mutuelles de santé pour améliorer l’accès aux soins de santé, mais la plupart n’arrivent pas à affilier et à fidéliser des membres. Considérant que peu d’études, sinon aucune dans ce domaine ne font allusion à la République démocratique du Congo (RDC), cette recherche vise à déterminer les éléments explicatifs de la fidélisation et de la non-fidélisation au sein de la mutuelle de santé de Kisantu en RDC et d’identifier les éventuels facteurs spécifiques dans le contexte urbanorural congolais. Méthodologie de l’étude : Il s’agit d’une étude de cohorte prospective menée auprès de 320 ménages parmi les 2 202 affiliés à la mutuelle de santé et suivis sur une période de cinq ans de 2013 à 2017. L’association entre le niveau de fidélisation, les variables sociodémographiques et socio-économiques, le niveau de satisfaction vis-à-vis des produits d’assurance ainsi que les motivations vis-à-vis de la fidélisation à la mutuelle de santé ont été recherchée à l’aide du logiciel SPSS ® (v. 21,0). Résultats : Aucune association n’a été observée entre la fidélisation et les caractéristiques sociodémographiques. Par contre, il existe une corrélation entre les caractéristiques socio-économiques, le degré de satisfaction vis-à-vis des produits d’assurance ainsi que les facteurs de motivation, dont la qualité des soins et la protection du revenu en cas de maladie ( p  ≤ 0,01). Le modèle logistique montre, entre autres, que les ménages avec un revenu supérieur ou égal à 100 dollars ont deux fois plus de chance de se fidéliser que ceux ayant un revenu inférieur à 100 dollars. La protection du revenu ainsi que la profession du chef de famille, non prises en compte dans les autres études, se sont révélées spécifiques à notre milieu. Par contre, au-delà des facteurs de fidélisation observés dans cette étude, les aspects relatifs à la gestion de la mutuelle de santé, apparus comme prédicteurs dans d’autres contextes, ne sont pas identifiés comme tel dans notre milieu. Conclusions : Dans un contexte urbanorural en RDC, où la majorité de la population a un revenu faible et instable, et considérant le faible montant de cotisation à la mutuelle de santé de Kisantu (4,2 % du revenu médian des ménages), il faudra donc repenser la place des dépenses de santé dans les ménages et l’extension de la solidarité sur la forme de la cotisation uniforme ou proportionnelle au revenu.
Séroprévalence de la rubéole au Niger de 2005 à 2019 : estimations issues du système de surveillance épidémiologique de la rougeole
Authors: Moumouni Amadou , Doingalé Hassan , Mahamadou Douthi , Attoh Touré , Tiembré Issiaka
Published: February 2022

Introduction : Le syndrome de rubéole congénitale est une pathologie consécutive à une infection maternelle puis fœtale par le virus de la rubéole pouvant induire de lourdes séquelles chez l’enfant. L’incidence de ce syndrome a conduit un grand nombre de pays à introduire des vaccins à valence rubéole dans leur programme de vaccination. Objectif : Afin d’estimer la séroprévalence de cette maladie et évaluer l’oppotunité d’introduire le vaccin antirubéoleux, une étude transversale descriptive a été menée au Niger de 2005 à 2019. Toutes les régions du Niger étaient concernées par l’étude. Méthode : Il s’agissait d’une revue documentaire réalisée à partir de la base de données de la surveillance épidémiologique de la rougeole (2005-2019). Dans ce cadre, nous avons étudié 5 170 échantillons sérologiquement négatifs des cas suspects de rougeole en réalisant un test Élisa à la recherche des IgM antirubéoleuses. Résultats : Sur cette base des données, 7 % (366/5170) des cas suspects de rougeole étaient des cas de rubéole. L’âge médian était de 6 ans avec un intervalle interquartile de 0 à 69 ans. La rubéole était fréquente dans toutes les tranches d’âge, avec une prédominance parmi les tranches d’âge 24-59 mois (36,1 %) et 5-9 ans (33,6 %). Parmi ces cas, 52,8 % étaient des hommes, 47, 2 % des femmes avec un sexe-ratio de 1,1. La rubéole a été retrouvée dans toutes les régions du Niger, avec une prédominance dans les régions de Maradi (28,8 %), de Tahoua (17 %), et de Zinder (15,5 %). La moitié (53 %) des personnes atteintes par la rubéole provenaient des zones rurales, 47 % des zones urbaines. Au cours de cette étude, la majorité des cas étaient notifiés de janvier à avril, avec un pic en avril.
Analyse comparative des inégalités d’utilisation des services prénatals entre 2004 et 2011 au Cameroun
Authors: Nhanag Samuel
Published: February 2022

Introduction : La mortalité maternelle au Cameroun est préoccupante lorsqu’on la compare à la mortalité générale. Selon les Enquêtes démographiques et de santé (EDS), le taux de mortalité maternelle est passé de 669 décès pour 100 000 naissances vivantes en 2004 contre 782 en 2011. Les EDS montrent également que la systématisation des consultations prénatales et l’amenuisement des disparités dans l’utilisation des services de santé prénatale jouent un rôle important dans la réduction de la mortalité maternelle. Objectif : Cette étude tente d’appréhender la dynamique des inégalités liées à la demande en soins prénatals de même que ses déterminants entre 2004 et 2011. Méthode : Les données relatives à la santé maternelle issues des EDS 2004 et 2011 ont été utilisées. Le plan de sondage de ces deux enquêtes était un échantillonnage aréolaire et tiré à deux degrés. La population ciblée pour cette étude était les femmes en âge de procréer [15-49 ans] ayant eu au moins une naissance vivante au cours des cinq ans ayant précédé l’enquête. Pour répondre à cette problématique, il a été utilisé tour à tour la courbe de concentration, une analyse en composante multiple et une analyse multiniveau. Résultats : L’étude a montré que les disparités relatives à la demande des services prénatals existent en 2004 et en 2011. Cependant, le niveau de ces disparités est resté identique au cours des deux périodes de référence. En outre, les déterminants de ces disparités sont la région de résidence, le niveau d’instruction de la femme et le niveau d’instruction du conjoint, le niveau de bien-être de la femme et le sexe du chef de ménage dans lequel vit la femme. Conclusion : Cette étude montre que la structure n’a pas changé en termes de facteurs influençant ces disparités, mais, la façon dont cette influence s’opérationnalise est différente entre l’année 2004 et l’année 2011.
Comparison of medium chain organic acids with zinc oxide and benzoic acid; effect on growth performance of pigs
Authors: Portocarero N.
Published: February 2022

Medium chain organic acids (MCOA) show strong and specific antimicrobial activity and may be useful as part of an antibiotic reduction strategy. Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of MCOA on growth performance of pigs in comparison with benzoic acid (BA) and ZnO (ZnO). Each used 240 pigs in a randomised complete block design with six treatments in eight replicate pens. Trial 1 tested a blend of C6:0, C8:0, C10:0 and C12:0 for 56 d post-weaning. Treatments were (1) control basal diet (BD), (2) BD+ZnO (3) BD+ZnO+BA, (4) BD+MCOA (5) BD+MCOA+ZnO, (6) BD+MCOA+BA. Pigs receiving MCOA+BA showed higher average daily liveweight gain in the grower period (849 g/d) than pigs receiving the control diet (773 g/d) or the ZnO treatment (779 g/d; P=0.040), grew 7% more efficiently (P=0.008) and were 3.02 kg heavier at 56 d than control pigs. Trial 2 tested the MCOA blend at two inclusion levels in comparison with C6:0/C12:0 (50/50) and C6:0/C12 monolaurin (C12M; 50/50), for 28 d post-weaning. Treatments were (1) control basal diet, (2) BD+ZnO (3) BD+1,500 mg/kg MCOA (4) BD+750 mg/kg MCOA (5) BD+ C6/C12 (total 3,000 mg/kg), (6) BD + C6/C12M (total 3,000 mg/kg). Pigs receiving 750 mg/kg MCOA grew more slowly than those receiving C6/C12M or ZnO (P<0.05) to d 21. Pigs fed ZnO were 1.61 kg heavier than these pigs (P<0.05), while those fed C6/C12M were 1.29 kg heavier (P<0.05) at d 21. During 0-14 d pigs fed ZnO showed the best feed conversion ratio (FCR), but at 15-28 d the improvement was no longer seen. Both the C6/C12 and the C6/C12M treatments appeared to improve FCR during this second phase (P<0.01). The results suggested that supplementation with a combination of MCOA and BA may be a promising strategy to improve growth performance while replacing ZnO and reducing antibiotic dependence.
Impact of agronomic practices onFusarium mycotoxin accumulation in maize grain
Authors: Eli K. , Schaafsma A.W. , Hooker D.C.
Published: February 2022

In the Great Lakes region of North America,Gibberella ear rot (GER), caused byFusarium graminearum, affects grain quality due to the accumulation of mycotoxins. GER severity is strongly influenced by environmental conditions; however, agronomic practices can also influence disease severity and mycotoxin accumulation. In this study, three separate small-plot experiments were conducted at Ridgetown, ON, Canada during 2019 and 2020 under an inoculated-misted system to determineFusarium mycotoxin accumulation as affected by: (1) plant population density; (2) in-row-plant developmental variability; and (3) the effect of integrated Bt refuge genetics. In this study, DON concentrations were at least 49% higher in maize at 113,600 plants/ha compared to 79,000 plants/ha. Moreover, mycotoxin accumulation was higher in plants that were delayed developmentally in the crop row; total DON concentrations were at least 310% higher in late silked plants adjacent to early silked plants. Results of the plant population density and in-row-plant developmental variability suggest that the main driver for mycotoxin accumulation was stress induced by plant competition rather than environmental conditions; this highlights the importance of avoiding plant competitive stress as a strategy to reduce the risks of mycotoxin accumulation. In this study, there was no statistical difference in DON accumulation between the Bt component and the non-Bt component in each of the four hybrids tested; however, there was evidence that hybrids varied in susceptibility, including the Bt and non-Bt components that were paired commercially in a bag of seed maize. Reducing mycotoxins in maize requires integrated management, which includes agronomic considerations. These results indicate that mycotoxins are favoured with high plant populations and plant-to-plant variability in the row, especially in susceptible hybrids.
Global Well-posedness and Optimal Decay Rate of the Quasi-static Incompressible Navier–Stokes–Fourier–Maxwell–Poisson System
Authors: Xu Yuan , Zhou Fujun , Gong Weihua
Published: February 2022

This work aims to establish global classical solution and optimal \begin{document}$ L^p $\end{document} (\begin{document}$ p\ge 2 $\end{document}) time decay rate of the quasi-static incompressible Navier–Stokes–Fourier–Maxwell–Poisson system with small initial data in \begin{document}$ \mathbb{R}^3 $\end{document}. The optimal \begin{document}$ L^2 $\end{document} time decay rate for higher order spatial derivatives is also given. To deal with the difficulty induced by the degeneration of the coupled Maxwell equation, we adopt the vector-valued form of the electric field \begin{document}$ E $\end{document} to obtain the time decay rate.
Invariant measure for neutral stochastic functional differential equations with non-Lipschitz coefficients
Authors: Stanzhytsky Andriy , Misiats Oleksandr , Stanzhytskyi Oleksandr
Published: February 2022

In this work we study the long time behavior of nonlinear stochastic functional-differential equations of neutral type in Hilbert spaces with non-Lipschitz nonlinearities. We establish the existence of invariant measures in the shift spaces for such equations. Our approach is based on Krylov-Bogoliubov theorem on the tightness of the family of measures.
Enhanced structural, thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of nano ZTA/epoxy composites
Authors: Srikanth Chaitra ,   Department of Chemical Engineering, M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology, MSR Nagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560054, India, Madhu G.M. , Kashyap Shreyas J. ,   Centre for Advanced Materials Technology, M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology, MSR Nagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560054, India
Published: February 2022

Epoxy composites were prepared by doping nano Zirconia Toughened Alumina (ZTA) which were synthesized by solution combustion method into epoxy resin and hardener. Initially ZTA nanopowder was characterized to check its purity, morphology and to confirm its metal-oxide bonding using XRD, SEM and FTIR respectively. The thermal properties such as TGA and DTG were also analysed. The polymer composites were obtained by uniformly dispersing ZTA nanopowder into epoxy using an ultrasonicator. Polymer composites of various concentrations viz, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 wt% were synthesized, all concentrations were prepared on weight basis. All the polymer composites were tested for compression properties, flexural properties and tensile properties. Best results for all the mechanical properties were obtained for epoxy with 1.5 wt% ZTA composites. Electrical properties such as breakdown voltage and breakdown strength were analysed and outstanding results were observed for epoxy with 2.5 wt% ZTA composite.
Chebyshev fifth-kind series approximation for generalized space fractional partial differential equations
Authors: Ali Khalid K. ,   Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Al Azhar University, Nasr City 11884, Cairo, Egypt, Abd El Salam Mohamed A. , Mohamed Mohamed S. ,   Department of Mathematics, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we propose a numerical scheme to solve generalized space fractional partial differential equations (GFPDEs). The proposed scheme uses Shifted Chebyshev fifth-kind polynomials with the spectral collocation approach. Besides, the proposed GFPDEs represent a great generalization of significant types of fractional partial differential equations (FPDEs) and their applications, which contain many previous reports as a special case. The fractional differential derivatives are expressed in terms of the Caputo sense. Moreover, the Chebyshev collocation method together with the finite difference method is used to reduce these types of differential equations to a system of differential equations which can be solved numerically. In addition, the classical fourth-order Runge-Kutta method is also used to treat the differential system with the collocation method which obtains a great accuracy. Numerical approximations performed by the proposed method are presented and compared with the results obtained by other numerical methods. The introduced numerical experiments are fractional-order mathematical physics models, as advection-dispersion equation (FADE) and diffusion equation (FDE). The results reveal that our method is a simple, easy to implement and effective numerical method.
On a novel impulsive boundary value pantograph problem under Caputo proportional fractional derivative operator with respect to another function
Authors: Pleumpreedaporn Songkran ,   Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University, Chanthaburi 22000, Thailand, Pleumpreedaporn Chanidaporn , Sudsutad Weerawat , Kongson Jutarat , Thaiprayoon Chatthai , Alzabut Jehad ,   Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok 10240, Thailand,   Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Burapha University, Chonburi 20131, Thailand,   Center of Excellence in Mathematics, CHE, Sri Ayutthaya Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand,   Department of Mathematics and General Sciences, Prince Sultan University, 11586 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,   Department of Industrial Engineering, OSTİM Technical University, Ankara 06374, Turkey
Published: February 2022

In this manuscript, we study the existence and Ulam's stability results for impulsive multi-order Caputo proportional fractional pantograph differential equations equipped with boundary and integral conditions with respect to another function. The uniqueness result is proved via Banach's fixed point theorem, and the existence results are based on Schaefer's fixed point theorem. In addition, the Ulam-Hyers stability and Ulam-Hyers-Rassias stability of the proposed problem are obtained by applying the nonlinear functional analysis technique. Finally, numerical examples are provided to supplement the applicability of the acquired theoretical results.
Celebrating the 20 Years of CAP
Authors: NOH Tae Won
Published: February 2022

Current Applied Physics (CAP) is a representative journal in the interdisciplinary field of physics, materials, chemistry, and life science. Since its first publication through Elsevier in 2001, CAP has grown as an SCI journal with worldwide authors and usage for 20 years. However, CAP is challenged to grow as a leading SCI journal in the field by the comparative and rapidly changing circumstances. Thus, I would like to suggest several strategies to overcome the challenges. I sincerely celebrate the 20 years of CAP, and I look forward to the care and affection of all Korean Physical Society members for CAP.
Experimental study and theoretical modeling for the compressive stress-strain relationship of multi-scale hybrid fiber-reinforced SHCC
Authors: Zhang C. , Yuan Z. , Shen Y.
Published: February 2022

In order to better match the multi-level structural characteristics and multi-scale fracture process of cementitious composite, multi-scale hybrid fiber-reinforced strain hardening cementitious composite (MsHySHCC) was designed by adding hooked steel fiber and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) whisker into conventional polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber-reinforced SHCC. Compressive properties of PVA-SHCC and MsHySHCC were evaluated experimentally. The results indicate that the designed MsHySHCC had a better compressive performance than that of PVA-SHCC. Moderately partially substituted PVA fibers by steela fiber and CaCO3 whisker enhanced the compressive parameters, however, further substitution of PVA fibers by increasing the content of CaCO3 whisker didn’t bring a higher promotion. Two kinds of semi-theoretical compression constitutive models were developed from the perspective of damage mechanics theory and geometrical mathematical description, respectively. It was found that both of the proposed models can be applied to predict the uniaxial compressive stress-strain relationships of PVA-SHCC and MsHySHCCs.
The "Tender Technicians" of Nielsen Norman Group Videos
Authors: Wilkinson Jaci
Published: February 2022

Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) YouTube content predominantly features young, white-presenting, normatively attractive women. The uniform presentation of these women, combined with the unspecific, universalizing script content, compromises their expertise and is objectifying. This treatment, combined with a lack of diversity in featured employees, undercuts NN/g’s standing as an authoritative resource in the field of user experience (UX). Additionally, it contributes to a sexist representation of UX as a pink-collar field and compounds librarianship’s own pink-collar culture and whiteness problems. NN/g video content echoes a century-old manipulation of librarians as “tender technicians” (Garrison, 1972; Sloniowski, 2016), now made into clickbait using the aesthetics of YouTube beauty vloggers. 
The Perceived Role of Communities and Government Officials in Solid Waste Management in Ghana, West Africa
Authors: Fichtel Pearl Sika , Duram Leslie A.
Published: February 2022

This study examined the role of community members and government officials in sustainable solid waste management and identified options to improve waste management in Ghana. Mixed-methods approach was used in research design, data collection, and analysis. Data was collected from 81 community members drawn from three areas (Kanda, Asylum Down, and Nima) in the Accra Metropolitan Area, and four government officials. Data sets were analyzed using manual transcription, coding and Microsoft excel. The study revealed that communities are actively involved in managing waste. However, education and enforcement measures have not been effective due to political interference and a lack of resources. Furthermore, the study found that greater support from local government and stakeholders is needed in managing waste. The study recommends educating community members and integrating waste pickers into Ghana’s waste management stream to reduce the costs involved in SSWM and gain social and environmental benefits..
Assessment of Drought Using Earth Observation Data and Cloud Computing in Morocco for 2010-2020
Authors: Laachrate Hibatoullah , Fadil Abdelhamid
Published: February 2022

Drought is an extreme event that has hit several countries in the world including Morocco. The aim of this research was to assess drought in Morocco with a view to providing information for planning and management of droughts. For this, three drought indices were chosen: Combined Drought Indicator (CDI), Soil Moisture Agricultural Drought Index (SMADI), and Microwave Integrated Drought Index (MIDI). Drought monitor was done during the growing seasons of 2010-2020 using Earth Observation data and cloud computing with the mapping of the drought indices and their inter-comparing via Pearson correlation. The main drought events were tracked and drought characteristics analyzed. Seven drought years were tracked for regions of cereal production. CDI and MIDI were very well correlated, whereas SMADI showed poor correlation with CDI and MIDI. Validation of results was done by comparing our results with another study for the 2015-2016 drought event and comparing yearly precipitation with the long-term average. An Earth Engine App of the three indices was published to make public drought maps.
Revisiting the Impact of Drought Over Mid-Continent USA From 2000-2019 Using High Resolution Data
Authors: Mbuh Mbongowo Joseph
Published: February 2022

Drought-associated water shortage a complicated hazard, and extreme weather and climate events have serious impacts on agricultural, ecological, and socio-economic activities in any society. This work focuses on drought analysis using a high-resolution remote sensing and meteorological dataset from MODIS’s NDVI and LST to evaluate the Spatio-temporal distribution drought events and intensities in three physiographic regions of the USA from 2000–2019. Results were compared with other remote-sensing-based drought indices, such as the temperature condition index (TCI), Vegetation Health index (VHI), and it was observed that the VCI and VHI, which was a combination of vegetation and meteorological information, had a strong correlation with precipitation data than the NDVI-derived VCI. The results demonstrated the severity of vegetation stress and extreme droughts in 2000, 2006, 2011, and 2012. The long-term agricultural drought situation and compared with other drought indices, reveals a good agreement as to the TCI, VHI, and precipitation anomalies also decreased significantly.
Questionable Research Ethics
Authors: Albert Donald P. , Adu-Prah Samuel
Published: February 2022

This commentary reviews four case studies involving questionable research and publication tactics in academia. Warnings and possible solutions are proposed for each ethical infraction. The editors encourage full disclosure when preparing resume and submitting tenure, promotion, and merit materials. For co-authored articles, explain one's exact contribution and provide letters of collaboration from co-authors. Be wary of departmental politics, and provide copious documentation to support claims of scholarships.
Persistence and Spatio-Temporal Change Intensity Analysis of Woody Vegetation Cover in Barbados
Authors: Yawson David O.
Published: February 2022

This study applied a supervised machine learning classification and intensity analysis of Landsat imageries to examine the spatio-temporal dynamics of woody vegetation cover in Barbados for two-time intervals: 2001-2015 and 2015-2019. The results show a larger persistence and concentration of woody vegetation in the East Coast (the Scotland District) of Barbados. Woody vegetation cover declined by approximately 11 km2 from 2001 to 2015, and 1.5 km2 from 2015 to 2019. Intensity analysis showed that total observed change in the landscape was slow in the first time interval but fast in the second. Categorical gain-loss showed a systematic targeting between woody vegetation and other vegetation. Built-up and woody vegetation, however, systematically avoided each other. Woody vegetation remained active in both time intervals but the intensity of change was larger in the second interval. In conclusion, the systematic targeting between woody vegetation and other vegetation (mainly agriculture) provides a focus for management, conservation and spatial expansion of the latter.
Learning Design Preferences in LMOOCs
Authors: Huertas-Abril Cristina A. , Muszyńska Barbara
Published: February 2022

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have come to stay supported by the development of educational technologies, and within them Language MOOCs (LMOOCs) are a phenomenon that has risen expectations but also shown their limitations. This study aims at comparing students’ preferences from two universities (UCO, Spain, and ULS, Poland) regarding the learning design preferences of LMOOCs and analyze whether there are differences based on sociocultural context, gender and educational stage. The respondents (n = 260) stated to be in favor of a balance between the constructivist and instructionist educational practices in online language courses. The findings reveal significant differences regarding LMOOCs learning and feedback design in terms of gender and sociocultural context, while no significant differences were found between undergraduate and postgraduate students. These results may be used to plan innovative and effective learning situations that suit learners’ needs and preferences, which should lead to higher quality of learning, and higher learner engagement and satisfaction.
The Prediction of Diabetes
Authors: Kumar Lalit , Johri Prashant
Published: February 2022

In the current scenario, diabetes is considered as a widely spread disease globally. This issue is a matter of great concern and the disease is spreading at an alarming rate across the country. We can analyse, visualize the data appropriately and forecast the chances of having diabetes for a person, with the highest level of accuracy and exactness. This indefatigable investigation and papers aim to analyze, compare different neural networks, machine learning algorithms and classifiers which can predict the probability of disease in patients. the results obtained from the proposed methods are assessed using recollection techniques and making assessments based on exactness of the outputs, which are tested for a number of cases consisting of correct forecasts and wrong forecasts. A thorough study is done on diabetes dataset and experiments have been carried out using Neural Networks and several different classifiers.
Time to Shift for University of Cloud
Authors: Kundu Arnab , Bej Tripti , Mondal Gourish Chandra
Published: February 2022

Distance education and the notion of ‘university of the cloud’ have been gaining traction across the globe. This study aimed to read and report Indian students’ perception of their distance courses - satisfaction level, problems, and prospects. It followed a mixed-method approach. Data were collected through an online survey among 500 students enrolled in several distance courses following the stratified random sampling technique. Findings revealed students were all set for a shift towards the university of cloud, and the time has come where the country can have an ambitious take-off for well-organized distance education system. Students’ key motivation behind enrolling in a distance course was to prepare themselves for a better career. Correspondence courses were the most preferred mode for distance education among students, the second being the MOOCs. Overall, students were satisfied with their courses although, their perceptions smeared with a few glitches that need appropriate attention. Finally, all these findings were students’ age group neutral.
Turkish EFL Learner Perceptions of Using a Social Network Environment for Collaborative Writing
Authors: Selcuk Hasan , Jones Jane
Published: February 2022

In this article we report on a study investigating the perceptions from Turkish High School English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students of using the social media platform Facebook group to undertake a collaborative writing task. Opportunities for these students to advance their writing skills are often limited in classrooms because of curriculum restrictions. This study explored how students in two small groups of three might use their smartphones to collaboratively write a short story outside of the classroom over several weeks. The researchers gathered data from group interviews and online written researcher-participant chats. With minimal support, the students organised themselves enthusiastically for the FB task. Their perceptions of the task were positive, the students feeling comfortable with the FB medium and with each other. Student agency was pivotal in creating an informal social affinity and smart learning space, suggestive of extended writing affordances in other contexts.
Best Practices for Managing Dispersed Teams
Authors: Cleveland Simon , Duve Jennifer , Maltz Julia , McConnell Michelle , Oonnoonny Bency , Williams Lisa L.
Published: February 2022

Virtual teams have become increasingly common, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Various industries and organizations have transitioned to working remotely, and project management is no exception. Incorporating a dispersed team into the context of international projects further affects the project implementation, creating both benefits and challenges. This study examines the topic of international project management within dispersed teams and focuses on five core challenges, including: 1) language and communication issues, 2) time zone differences, 3) sociocultural differences, 4) motivation and negotiation issues, and 5) political issues. Using the five challenges as a foundation, study authors conducted semi-structured, open-ended interviews with project managers of diverse backgrounds to shed light on their experiences. Key findings from the interviews and scholarly research were utilized to generate best practices for project managers of dispersed teams spearheading global projects.
A Framework for Selecting a Cloud-Based Project-Portfolio Management Tool to Maximize Business Value
Authors: Bianchin Silvia , Conner Maria , Moschoglou Georgios , Ortiz Franklin , Cleveland Simon
Published: February 2022

Organizations continuously need to adapt and respond to ever-present technology advancements. Proactivity is a necessity; only those organizations who can pivot when presented with change gain a competitive edge in their respective industry. The most invaluable strategic weapon organizations will have in the face of change is a method to streamline initiatives, conserve resources, and have seamless communication. The modern benefits of cloud-based project-portfolio management (PPM) tools are the solution. This study identifies a gap in the research and knowledge about these modern tools. Extant literature is focused on what cloud-based PPM tools provide, but there doesn’t exist research on how to diagnose an organization’s specific needs and select the appropriate tool to maximize business value. Through a two-phase research approach, this study fills the lack of research on the topic and provides a framework for tool selection which is applicable to multiple industries.
Outcomes of Social Media Marketing in Sport Brands
Authors: Dias Álvaro Lopes , Pereira Leandro , Costa Renato Lopes
Published: February 2022

In an increasingly globalized world, social networks appear as an indispensable tool for sports clubs, as they make it easier for them to reach a large number of supporters. The main objective of this study is to measure the impact that this commitment between supporter and club has on the social networks, on the purchase and reference intention. Based on two sequential studies (one survey and in-depth interviews), the methodology aimed to help understand both the viewpoint of the fans and decision-makers. The results show that the commitment between the supporter and the club on the social networks has a positive influence on the relationship between the two; the commitment between the supporter and the club on the social networks has a positive influence on the intention of fans to buy; the commitment between the supporter and the club on the social networks has a positive influence on the intention of reference by the fans.
Local Knowledge Management and Innovation Spillover
Authors: Dias Álvaro Lopes , Gomes Marta Figueiredo Marques , Pereira Leandro , Costa Renato L.
Published: February 2022

Tourism lifestyle entrepreneurs play an essential role in the innovation and competitiveness of tourist destinations. However, existing knowledge about the determinants of the innovation they generate is far from being fully exploited. There is still little knowledge about the innovation spillover effect, which is a determining factor for the destination's competitiveness. One of the key factors for innovation results from local knowledge management and the ability of tourism lifestyle entrepreneurs to turn this knowledge into innovation. To test the role of knowledge management in innovation and spillover, a survey was conducted on a sample of 115 tourism lifestyle entrepreneurs, with the hypotheses tested using structural equations. The results reveal that place attachment and knowledge acquisition have a direct effect on knowledge assimilation and community-centered strategy. Furthermore, it was also found that community-centered strategy and knowledge assimilation play a mediating role between place attachment and innovation capacity.
Measuring Enterprise Mutual Information Based on the Helix Model
Authors: Wang Wei , Huang Xucheng , Luo Shougui
Published: February 2022

In the context of digital transformation, this emerging technologies input creates powerful digital capabilities. Despite of the long distance, The enterprises cooperate more closely through wireless networks in digital space than ever before. Thus the digital technology has fundamentally changed the total performance of Shanghai-based enterprises over the 2016-2020 period. This paper creatively explores the influence mechanism of digital transformation through the mutual information measures on enterprise development We use the helix model to the interactive relationship transformation among location, industry, vertical industrial linkages and cooperative partners for the enterprises which is based on the degree of link among the quadruple variables. It shows transformation of enterprise structure and innovation and performance by measuring the mutual information. As a result, this paper reveals transformation of the total performancewith emerging technologies. In addition, it shows the transformation of industrial and spatial structure in Shanghai by comparing other countries.
Weaning and concentrate supplementation on the characteristics of carcass cuts and longissimus muscle of Suffolk lambs finished on pasture
Authors: Fernandes Sergio Rodrigo , Monteiro Alda Lúcia Gomes , Silva Marina Gabriela Berchiol da , Silva Cláudio José Araújo da , Zanotelli Júlia Marina , Rossi Junior Paulo , Pinto Pedro Henrique Nicolau
Published: February 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of weaning and concentrate supplementation on the characteristics of carcass cuts and longissimus muscle of Suffolk lambs finished on a Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) pasture. Weaning and concentrate supplementation strategies were evaluated in four finishing systems: i) non-weaned and non-supplemented lambs; ii) non-weaned lambs supplemented with concentrate in creep feeding; iii) weaned and non-supplemented lambs; and iv) weaned lambs supplemented with concentrate. In the systems with weaning, lambs were weaned at 46 ± 6 days of age. In the systems with supplementation, the concentrate was offered daily at 2% of lambs’ body weight. Weaning led to a decrease, whereas supplementation led to an increase in carcass cut weights. Supplemented lambs had lower yields of neck and uncovered ribs, and higher yields of breast + flank and loin. The characteristics of loin eye and fat thickness over the longissimus muscle presented lower values in weaned lambs and higher values in supplemented lambs. Keeping lambs with their dams and offering concentrate supplementation until slaughter are strategies recommended to obtain heavier cuts with increased muscularity and fat content.
Reproductive parameters and weight gain of roosters fed with waste oil from olive culture
Authors: Oliveira Carolina Oreques de , Tavares Amauri Telles , Castro Júlia Parada Nobre , Ávila Sérgio Leandro Costa de , Gheller Stela Mari Meneghello , Soares Sara Lorandi , Gonçalves Fernanda Medeiros , Bongalhardo Denise Calisto
Published: February 2022

Waste oil from olive oil extraction industry was used, instead of soybean oil, in heavy roosters’ diet in order to evaluate birds’ reproductive parameters. A total of forty roosters were housed individually in boxes with 1.2 m². Two experimental diets were used: control diet, based on corn, soybean meal, and soybean oil; and test diet, where soybean oil was totally replaced by waste oil. In order to verify weight gain and feed intake, animals were individually weighed weekly. Seven semen collections were performed with fifteen-day interval. Reproductive variables analyzed sperm volume, motility, concentration, and morphology. No statistical difference (p > 0.05) was observed between treatments at the different collection periods for the variables sperm volume, motility, and concentration. There was a statistically significant difference between treatments for body weight in periods three (p = 0.04), and seven (p = 0.04). Statistical differences (p = 0.01) were also observed between treatments for abnormal sperm morphology. Among collection periods, statistical difference was observed for motility (p = 0.00), and sperm concentration (p = 0.01). Total replacement of soybean oil by waste oil from olive oil extraction in young heavy roosters’ diets does not affect sperm volume, motility, and concentration; reduces defects in sperm tail, and promotes better weight gain control.
Forage performance and cattle production as a function of the seasonality of a Brazilian tropical region
Authors: Feitosa Odimar de Sousa , Leite Rubson da Costa , Alexandrino Emerson , Pires Thiago de Jesus Saboia , Oliveira Leonardo Bernardes Taverny de , Paula Neto Joaquim José de , Santos Antonio Clementino dos
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to evaluate forage yield, tiller population density, canopy height, nutritional value as well as cattle performance in alternate stocking from three tropical forage cultivars. The experiment followed a randomized block design, in a 3 x 3 factorial scheme with three replications. Three forage cultivars (Marandu, Massai and Xaraés) distributed in nine hectares were evaluated in three dry season periods (transition wet/dry, dry, and end of dry season), with repeated measures over time. The following variables were evaluated: canopy height, leaf: stem ratio, forage mass, leaf mass, stem mass and dead material mass. Total digestible nutrients, crude protein and in vitro dry mass digestibility were evaluated regarding forage nutrition. Animal performance, using 36 eleven-month-old animals (half-blood Nelore), was evaluated by the daily average gain and weight gain by area. During pre-grazing, canopy height presented interaction among forage cultivars and the evaluated periods. The average daily gain showed no interaction among cultivars and period of the year the similarity in animal performance among the cultivars Marandu and Massai show that the Massai grass can be used as an alternative for forage diversification under an alternate management system.
Evaluation of Aids and hepatitis-B knowledge and job satisfaction among hairdressers and barbers in Turkey
Authors: Kerkez Müjde , Sohbet Rabia , Okuyan Canan Birimoglu
Published: February 2022

Blood-borne viruses, including the human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus, have certain common epidemiological characteristics and these viruses infect millions of people worldwide. This study aimed to determine the job satisfaction and the level of knowledge and practices regarding infectious diseases of employees working as hairdressers and barbers. This descriptive and cross-sectional study comprised 1200 hairdressers and barbers. The study sample comprised 628 people who consented to participate in the study. The mean age of the participants who participated in the study was 28, 13 ± 6. 9 years. The mean job satisfaction score of the participants was 3.85 ± 0.58. The job satisfaction score was found to be higher among those with sufficient knowledge of hepatitis B (p < 0.005). Employees should be provided performance trainings to achieve job satisfaction. It is recommended that employees be encouraged to wear gloves and gowns to protect their health and prevent contamination.
Kinematic model of bar mechanism for ectrodactyly applications
Authors: Caicedo Jesse Alexander , Valencia Angie Julieth , Avilés Sanchez Oscar Fernando , Mauledoux Mauricio Felipe , Dutra Max Suell
Published: February 2022

This document describes the design and construction of a mechanical device that allows a subject with ectrodactyly to perform a power grip. For this purpose, the coupled bar mechanism for the emulation of a finger is presented, and a system that allows, from a single movement, to perform a large diameter grip, considering design variables obtained from anthropometric and goniometric measurement techniques. This is complemented by kinematic and static analysis, in which the position and force behaviours required in the design are verified. Then, the final construction scheme is carried out by means of computer-assisted design (CAD) software, in which the position behaviour of the distal phalanx end is obtained and compared with the models obtained in Linkage and Matlab. Finally, the work conclusions are presented.
Free Fatty Acid Reduction of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Using Heterogeneous Acid Catalyst for Esterification
Authors: Juera-ong Panupong , Oo Ye Min , Somnuk Krit
Published: February 2022

In this study, Amberlyst-15 as heterogeneous catalyst was used for the reduction of free fatty acid (FFA) from the palm oil mill effluent (POME) for biodiesel production with acid-catalyzed esterification process. The objective of this study was to decrease a high FFA in POME to less than 2 wt.% FFA, for used as a raw material to produce biodiesel in the second-step transesterification process. Amberlyst-15 as an eco-friendly catalyst with non-toxic wastes after reactions, when compared to homogeneous catalysts such as sulfuric acid. Therefore, an esterification reaction with a heterogeneous acid catalyst was carried out to examine the FFA conversions. The conditions of two parameters of Amberlyst-15 catalyst (10–40 wt.%), and 1–8 h reaction time were varied, whereas the methanol to oil molar ratio and the speed of the stirrer were fixed at 5:1 and 300 rpm, respectively. As a result, the FFA sharply decreased from 89.16 wt.% to 1.75 wt.% under the conditions of 40 wt.% of Amberlyst-15, 5 h reaction time, 5:1 molar ratio methanol to oil, speed of the 300 rpm stirrer. The Amberlyst-15 had the potential to reduce high FFA in POME using the esterification reaction.
Machine Learning Enabled Prediction of Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Effectiveness of Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride)/Mxene Nanocomposites
Authors: Zazoum Bouchaib
Published: February 2022

Using machine learning (ML) approaches for the design and manufacturing of materials becomes an emerging technology that may possibly allow us to systematically discover novel materials with promising electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties. Herein, we explored the correlation between input variables such as MXene loading, thickness of nanocomposites films, frequency, and predicted EMI shielding effectiveness (ES) of poly (vinylidene fluoride)/MXene (PVDF/MXene) nanocomposites materials via ML. Two different models of ML including Gaussian process regression (GPR) and support vector machine (SVM) were considered and compared. The results showed that the predicted data by the two models are in good agreement with the experimental values, indicating that the developed ML models are appropriate for predicting properties of nanocomposites materials for EMI shielding applications.
Fabrication and Mechanical Evaluation of Pressed Wood Powder Compounds Reinforced with Alpaca Wool and Ichu
Authors: Cuzziramos-Gutiérrez F.A. , Paredes-Malma D.K. , Cerpa-Salas V.B. , Rueda-Pacheco P.F. , Rodríguez-Guillén G.P. , Huamán-Mamani Fredy Alberto
Published: February 2022

Composites are a group of materials that for several years have been attracting the attention of the international scientific community, these materials combine the properties of two or more types of materials to make a new one with better properties than those of their precursors, without them react chemically.
This paper presents a study about the manufacture of new composite materials of wood sawdust dust, obtained by hot pressing at 180 ° C and reinforced with natural fibers from Peru (alpaca wool and ichu). The mean apparent density found for all the compounds was around 1.21 g/cm3 and the values of maximum stress and modulus of elasticity reported were in the range of 77 - 95 MPa and 3.5 - 4.1 GPa, respectively. The microstructures found for all the compounds consist of a continuous and homogeneous matrix of lignin (from wood) with short fibers of alpaca and ichu wool, dispersed in the continuous matrix.
Investigation on the Structural and Electrical Properties of ZnO Thin Films Co-Doped with Rare Earth Gd and Al Prepared by Co-Sputtering Method
Authors: Raship Nur Amaliyana , Tawil Siti Nooraya Mohd , Nayan Nafarizal , Ismail Khadijah , Bakri Anis Suhaili , Mohkhter Faezahana
Published: February 2022

Undoped ZnO, Gd-doped ZnO, and (Al, Gd) co-doped ZnO thin films were synthesized using the co-sputtering technique on a glass substrate. XRD data confirmed all the films are hexagonal structures with dominant (002) diffraction peaks. There are no secondary phases or other peaks detected except for ZnO which proves well incorporation of Gd3+ and Al3+ ions into ZnO ions for Gd and (Al, Gd) co-doping ZnO thin films. The EDX analysis shows the composition of Al, Gd, Zn, and O for (Al, Gd) co-doped ZnO thin films considering the successfully doping of Gd and Al into ZnO structure by this deposition method. As compared with undoped ZnO and Gd-doped ZnO, the electrical properties of (Al, Gd) co-doped ZnO showing a good enhancement of carrier concentration (2.34 x 1026 m-3) and electrical conductivity (1.41 x 105 Ωm-1) whereas the resistivity is low about 7.11 x 104 Ωcm.