bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hyperglycemia in Rural Dwellers: A cross sectional study of the Effutu Municipality, Ghana
Authors: Ephraim Richard K.D , Acquah Dennis , Amoako Enos Oduro , Adoba Prince , Agbodzakay Hope , Kyei-Mensah Joseph
Published: November 2018

Background: Despite increasing prevalence of hyperglycemia leading to a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the urban areas, relatively little is known about its actual prevalence and associations in the rural population. This study sought to determine hyperglycemia and its associated risk factors among rural dwellers in the Effutu Municipality.Method: A simple-random cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2015 to May 2015 at the Effutu Municipality, in the Central region of Ghana. One hundred and forty-nine (149) participants were enrolled onto the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain information on demography, alcohol use, tobacco use, educational status, visual challenges, sugary food intake and late-night eating. Blood samples were obtained for determination of fasting blood glucose (FBG). Body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC) were determined and hip circumference (HC) using standard protocols. Data obtained was analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The study showed 8.1% hyperglycemia among the rural dwellers and advanced age showed significant association with glycemic status (P = 0.0376). BMI, gender, waist hip ratio, waist circumference and hip circumference were higher in hyperglycemic participants than in normogylcaemic participants, however there was no significant difference when these parameters were compared by glycemic status.Conclusion: The prevalence of hyperglycemia in rural dwellers was 8.1% and it was significantly associated with advanced age. BMI, gender, HC, WC, WHR showed no association with hyperglycaemia.
Izometrycznie czy z rymem? Nowy przekład zbioru „Basia” (Pocałunki) Ianusa Secundusa
Authors: Łuka Agata
Published: November 2018

Jan Everaerts, poeta z Hagi, zwany z łacińska Ianusem Secundusem (1511–1536) pozostawił po sobie m.in. przekłady z greki na łacinę, epigramaty, listy i dzienniki podróży, ale znany jest głównie jako autor utworów miłosnych: księgi elegii zatytułowanej Iulia na cześć jego pierwszej ukochanej oraz słynnego zbioru 19 utworów pt. Basia (Pocałunki) poświęconego drugiej wielkiej miłości poety, którą opiewał pod imieniem Neaera. Basia były chętnie czytane, naśladowane i przekładane tak przez twórców współczesnych Secundusowi, jak i późniejszych. Do dzisiaj doczekały się one wielu mniej lub bardziej wiernych oryginałowi przekładów na języki europejskie. W przekładzie polskim mamy Pocałunki Arnolda Spaeta (1932) oraz Wiesława Sienkiewicza (1991), ten drugi to przekład izometryczny dokonany na podstawie przekładu filologicznego Ksawerego Sajewicza. Autorka artykułu prezentuje zarówno spostrzeżenia dotyczące wybranych polskich tłumaczeń, jak i próbkę własnego przekładu Secundusowych „buziaków”.
Świat mitologii słowiańskiej w ujęciu baśniowym. Strategie przekładu nazwy Bjesomar na podstawie utworu Ivany Brlić-Mažuranić
Authors: Szymczak Karolina
Published: November 2018

Artykuł podejmuje tematykę onomastyki literackiej – na przykładzie jednego onimu przedstawione zostały trzy metody tłumaczenia nazwy własnej w zależności od przyjętej idei. Wybór metody jest szczególnie ważny, gdyż jest literatura ta kierowana jest do dzieci, które w specyficzny sposób odbierają teksty literackie, stąd tak ważny jest dobór odpowiedniej strategii translatorskiej. Ważnym czynnikiem, który można brać pod uwagę podczas procesu przekładu jest również osoba autora oraz jego intencje. Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić w 1916 roku wydała zbiór baśni inspirowanych mitologią słowiańską i ideą panslawistyczną. W związku z tymi różnymi czynnikami, można więc brać pod uwagę różne techniki, które zostały zademonstrowane w artykule.
Discounts or happy money for efficient inventory management? A new trend on Romanian markets in changing the consumer behaviour
Authors: Chivu Raluca Giorgiana , Stoica Ivona , Orzan Gheorghe , Radu Andra-Victoria
Published: November 2018

Consumer behaviour is one of the basic factors precisely analysed by major companies to identify the main requirements, needs, desires and trends in peopleâ€™s consumption habits and to generate profit. Do these occur when consumersâ€™ financial resources are limited and whether consumer habits are changing according to their financial availability? In this study, the impact of discounts on peopleâ€™s buying behaviour, especially during the productâ€™s expiration when it is sold with only 50% of the initial price was analysed. An online quantitative research was carried out with a sample of 160 respondents concluding that most of the consumers bought 50% less products even if they are not on their shopping list, most of the time there was only the illusion of an economy, not the saving itself. As a final remark, people are very sensitive when it comes to discounts changing the mindset of individuals who usually waste money for useless amounts of food and other products.Keywords: Happy money, discount, consumer behaviour, quantitative research.
New trends in marketing mix strategies for digital consumer behaviour
Authors: Chivu Raluca Giorgiana , Stoica Ivona , Orzan Mihai-Cristian , Radu Andra-Victoria
Published: November 2018

The marketing mix is the first step in establishing a lasting relationship between the companyâ€™s offer and the final consumer. From the product to the price meeting the needs and allows the consumer to buy, the placement and the promotion have received increasing importance. Also, when we think of an online environment where the consumer can be found, smartphonesâ€”consumer mobile journey, online TV advertising on Netflix and YouTube a.s.o. This paper aims to identify the element of the marketing mix with the highest impact on the final consumer buying decisions. For this, we have conducted a quantitative research on a sample of 100 respondents. The results show that the elements of the marketing mix passed through major changes because of the digital revolution and the unavoidable appearance of many situational factors that led to a significant variation of the consumer behaviours and changing the consumersâ€™ mindset and their personal system of values.Keywords: Digital marketing mix, consumer behaviour, quantitative research
Evaluation of Ipomoea carnea (jacq.) extracts and chlorpyrifos insecticide against the cotton leafworms, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.)
Authors: Nassar Mamdouh I. , Taha Mohamed T. , Mead Hala M. I. , Salama Mohamed G. M.
Published: November 2018

The cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.), is an insect that causes serious damages to more than 112 plant species belonging to 44 different families. Botanical extracts of Ipomoea carnea were very efficient against fourth instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis. Based on LC50 and LC90 values, Ipomoea carnea acetone extracts were recorded 24.622 and 164.947 ppm, respectively. While hexane extracts were 232.677 and 15,377.590 ppm, respectively. Also, the treatment of fourth instar larva of S. littoralis with chlorpyrifos insecticide caused 9.497 and 91.126 ppm, respectively. The chemical constituents of acetone extract of I. carnea by using GCâ€“MS analysis resulted in the most active compounds that were palmatic (iso propyl-hexadecanoate), silane, [[(3.alpha.,5.alpha.,20R)-pregnane-3,20-diyl]bis(oxy)] bis (trimethyl-(cas)5. and pederone that recorded (44.025%, 11.455% and 9.325%, respectively). Ipomoea carnea extracts were produced with different deformation abnormalities of all S. littoralis stages.Keywords: Schistocerca gregaria, Ipomoea carnea, botanical extracts, bioassay.
Leading changes through adaptive design: Change management practice in one of the universities in a developing nation
Authors: Muluneh Girma Shimelis , Gedifew Matebe Tafere
Published: November 2018

Universities are making changes to fulfil their education, research and community service responsibilities. Exacerbated by limited experience of systemic change management approaches, most change initiatives fail to address institutional problems. Therefore, this study has tried to propose adaptive design as a promising approach to create adaptive changes in universities. Guided by a pragmatic philosophical viewpoint, this research followed a practice theory to understand actions and decisions related to changes. Staff members and students were invited to reflect on their perceptions of the principles and tactics extracted from adaptive design and their implementation in the university. Also, the study tried to identify major challenges to create adaptive changes by using a mixed method-sequential explanatory approach. Survey and interviews were made to gather relevant data. The finding reflected that tenets of adaptive design, its principles and tactics are important tools to lead and institutionalise change initiatives. This may affirm the significance of the approach if accepted and scaled up as an alternative change management theory.Keywords: Adaptive design, adaptive leadership, design thinking, change.
Mechanical engineering with solidwork flow simulation improving and supporting undergraduate student learning in mechanical engineering courses: Fluid dynamic course
Authors: Kassem Youssef , Faraj Ramzi Asteg , Camur Huseyin
Published: November 2018

The computer-aided design programs such as Solidwork flow simulation (SWFS) provide powerful, engaging, hands-on software to understand and develop designs for the real world. SWFS can be considered as a virtual laboratory. The purpose of this study is to show that using SWFS will help the undergraduate students to understand the concepts of fluid dynamic course in the Mechanical Engineering Department. This paper presents an example of the effect of both the temperature and density on the stream flow characteristics around a vertical axis wind turbine using SWFS. Moreover, the use of the SWFS in engineering education is shown by an important experiment taken from the field of mechanical engineering.Keywords: Fluid dynamic, mechanical engineering, SWFS, virtual laboratory.
Usability evaluation of 3-D visualisations augmented by cartoons for teaching solids and crystal structures in chemical engineering
Authors: Dalacosta Konstadina , Pavlatou Evangelia. A.
Published: November 2018

In chemical engineering, undergraduate students often have to face the highly demanding process of understanding concepts from the microscopic level (e.g., ionic crystals such as zinc sulphide or covalent lattice crystals diamond, graphite, graphene etc.) and then explain with certain physicalâ€“chemical properties their macroscopic behaviour. Therefore, the main idea was to construct a specifically designed educational material that focusses on the benefits of viewing visualisations to enhance studentsâ€™ conceptual understanding of solids and crystal structures augmented by cartoons, and evaluate its usability. The interactive â€˜cartoonsâ€™ agents were developed from scratch, giving them freedom of movement and realism at the same time. A research was conducted in the School of Chemical Engineering in Greece (National Technical University of Athens), evaluated the usability of the digital material and the contribution of the 3-D visualisations and the cartoons agents in the understanding of such high-cognitive load concepts.Keywords: Cartoons, 3-D visualisations, crystal structures, chemical engineering.
Employability in Indiaâ€”A framework for effective management education
Authors: Sehrawat Poornima , Pillai Rajasshrie
Published: November 2018

The purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive employability framework for management education. This study is a qualitative study and practical model used in a management institute. The gaps in management education in India are discussed, and after extensive literature review and a qualitative survey of B-schools, the employability framework is developed. The framework needs to be validated using empirical research with a large sample size and different B-schools. Also, this study has a valuable contribution to the management education in India and it provides the guidelines for policy makers, management governing bodies and assessment bodies in India to improve the employability in India. Moreover, this study makes the contribution to the society by providing employability framework for management education. This paper contributes to the extant literature of employability of management graduates and also provides the highlight on innovative teaching and training pedagogy for management institutes for holistic development of management graduates.Keywords: Framework, management education, employability, innovative teaching pedagogy.
A comparison with the competencies of classroom education programme
Authors: Aktas Aysegul Kubra , Babadogan Mustafa Cem
Published: November 2018

Education has been adapting itself to the constant change and renewal of the world in every field. Higher education in Turkey also suffered from this situation and one of the steps taken to improve the quality of education must be included in the Bologna Process. This study examines the programme competencies of the undergraduate programmes of the classroom education in the seven selected universities, to make comparisons among the universities and to make arrangements. A case study was used in qualitative research methods. As a result, it was seen that there were mistakes in writing and expressing programme competences. Also, some of the universities have never implemented programme competencies, even when it is wrong to classify programme competencies into sub-dimensions as knowledge, skills and competence. Regulations can be made in terms of distribution in the sub-dimensions of language proficiency and competences in programme competencies, and seminars related to programme competencies can be given to universities.Keywords: Bologna Process, programme competencies, classroom education programme competencies, national qualifications framework for higher education in Turkey.
User Consent in MOOCs – Micro, Meso, and Macro Perspectives
Authors: Khalil Mohammad , Prinsloo Paul , Slade Sharon
Published: November 2018

While many strategies for protecting personal privacy rely on regulatory frameworks, consent, and anonymizing data, they are not always effective. Terms and Conditions often lag behind advances in technology, software, and user behaviours, and consent to use data for a range of unclear purposes may be provided unwittingly. As the commercial market for (student) data expands, so does the number of brokers who move, share and sell data across continents and legislative environments. This paper reviews four Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) providers from different geopolitical and regulatory contexts. It explores how consent to collect and use data is described to potential users, and how that consent applies at micro, meso, and macro levels.This paper proposes a need for greater transparency around the implications of users granting consent at the point of registration. Further, it highlights that though MOOC providers have a responsibility to make clear the potential uses and sharing of user data, users themselves should also be more aware and consider how meaningful student agency can be achieved.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS INTERACTION MODELS IN THE SPHERE OF VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES: SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ANALYSIS
Authors: ULYANOVA Elena Vladimirovna
Published: November 2018

The issue of institutionalization of the volunteer movement in Russia in the context of consideration of such forms as: social and cultural partnership, corporate volunteering, cooperation. Social and cultural partnership in the field of volunteerism is characterized as a constructive cooperation between three major sectors: public, private and public organizations. The public and private sector interaction models in the field of volunteer activities (classical, state, self-organization, etc.) are characterized. The main directions of volunteer movement development, in which a special role is given to the state structures and civil society interaction system: event volunteering, social volunteering, cultural and educational volunteering, medical volunteering, environmental volunteering, silver volunteering, inclusive volunteering. Attention is focused on corporate volunteering, which is just beginning to develop on the territory of the Russian Federation and pursues the goal of spreading the best volunteer social and cultural actions to promote socially significant volunteer activities of the company’s staff. Corporate volunteering is defined as voluntary and gratuitous activity of employees of the organization on the basis of their initiative participation in the practice of “helping behavior”. The analysis of the leading domestic and foreign volunteer practices implemented on the basis of various models of intersectoral social interaction aimed at the development of social initiatives of the population is presented.
MENTORING TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIAL SPHERE SPECIALISTS’ TRAINING
Authors: DRUZHININA Anastasia Aleksandrovna
Published: November 2018

We consider the mentoring technology, basic models of mentoring and mentor’s roles. The relevance of implementing this technology into social sphere specialists’ training is substantiated. We present the project “Mentoring for Students, Future Bachelors of Social Work”, which is aimed to develop professional competencies of students on training direction 39.03.02 Social Work, we also suggest this project to realization. During realization of the project students will get the support of a senior student, an alumnus, a lecturer, a head of social organization. The main goal of the project is to provide individual support for the professional development of stu-dents in the field of Social Work with the resources of mentoring. The main activities of the pro-ject (meeting with mentors (head-mentor, senior student – mentor, graduate-mentor), entrance survey (with mentors and mentees (protege)), information conversations with the mentor-head of the social organization of the Tambov Region (supervisor-mentor), training from a senior course student-mentor (winner of the contest “Active generation”) and graduate (winner of the competition of research), business game “Activities of Social Sphere Specialist” (graduates-mentors), participation in the Olympics, conference on the results of participation in the project, protection of joint with mentors of social projects, publication of recommendations). The models of mentoring, which can be used in the implementation of the project: the model “buddying”, mentoring on the principle of “equal – equal”, shadowing, mentor-navigator. The benefits received by both the mentee and the mentor are summarized. We present the results of a survey conducted with students of the direction 39.03.02 Social Work aimed at determining the relationship to the technology of mentoring.
FORMATION OF BASIC VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE TAMBOV GOVERNORATE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH – THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Authors: MAKHRACHEV Georgiy Sergeevich
Published: November 2018

We present the view on the process of the development of basic vocational education in the Tambov Governorate in the second half of the 19th – the early 20th centuries as the result of the course of functioning of the government and zemstvos to support crafts in the Russian Empire. The background for the process of development of basic vocational education in the Tambov Governorate in the late 19th – the early 20th centuries is studied. The help of the Ministry of National Education and zemstvos in this process is considered. The problems with budget of the Tambov crafts school that arose on the early stage of its existence are analysed. The peculiarities of functioning and development of this largest in the Governorate school of basic vocational education are studied. The information about the continuingly growing number of students is presented. We discuss the growth of the number of crafts classes and sections in the Governorate. The information about their costs, peculiarities of functioning and the number of students is given. The peculiarities of the basic vocational education for women are viewed. On the basis of the statistical data the conclusion is made that the problem of improvement of the qualification level of the craftsmen was not solved.
PARTICIPATION OF TAMBOV CLERGY IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION AND STATE DUMA ACTIVITY OF 1–4 CONVOCATIONS (1906–1917)
Authors: LISYUNIN Viktor
Published: November 2018

The analysis of participation of Orthodox clergy in the election process and State Duma activity of 1–4 convocations (1906–1917), and also attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church to carried out state reforms are presented. On a reasonable basis it is proved that general strategy of participation of clergy in parliamentary activities was planned at Tambov clergy congress in January of 1905 and it was resolved into following statements: peaceful progress, reforms without violence, preservation of dominating role of Orthodox Church with simultaneous liberation from state patronage, economic protection of poor people and laboring classes, development of education in Orthodox direction. The clergy had certain expectations towards activity of State Duma of 1 and 2 convocations, while during 3 and 4 convocations the voice of Tambov Eparchy representatives was unnoticed. Two deputies from Tambov clergy, priests P.F. Vozdvizhenskiy and M.F. Lachinov supported the authorities. Their inactivity is explained as the political inertia, and also it stood for objective reasons: village priest could not leave his parish for a long time. Among deputies there were representatives of Tambov clergy: metropolite of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Vladimir (Bogoyavlenskiy), synodical curator of missionary fellowships of the Tambov Eparchy I.G. Ayvazov, editor of the journal “The Voice of the Church” A.M. Spasskiy, former lecturer of Tambov Seminary. The evaluation is given to complicated relations between the church and the state, the result of which was the change of the Holy Synod body due to the initiative of chief procurator V.N. Lvov and Local Council of 1917–1918, in the work of which representatives of the Tambov Eparchy took part actively.
THE STATE-SOCIETY INTERACTION THROUGH THE FAMINE OF 1932–1933
(THE TAMBOV REGION CASE)
Authors: ZHIGULSKIY Andrey Vladimirovich
Published: November 2018

An experience of the Soviet State – Russian society relations through the 1932–1933 famine is under analysis. The approaches of different authority levels (local, regional, central) to the famine problem are viewed as well as their foundations of the electoral tactics. Special attention is focused on the local and regional authorities as they held the keys to the people’s welfare. The activities of the political departments with their authorization, covering and interaction the people and local authorities were studied to highlight their strengths and weaknesses. The “famine tactics” and behavior of rural population is also viewed. The roots of profiteering and normal trade are traced to clear their role to solve the crisis. The effectiveness and the lawfulness of the trials and their verdicts to the officials and the ordinary collective farmers are evaluated. The sources of the investigation are kept in the State Archives of Social and Political History of the Tambov Region.
Guidelines for Solid Waste Management Approaches at Kerng Sub-District Administrative Under the Maha Sarakham Provincial Administrative Organization
Authors: Charoenrut Orawan
Published: November 2018

To integrate the problems and needs of solid waste management (SWM) for administering the SWM approach at Kerng Sub-District Administrative Organization (K-SAO) under the Maha Sarakham PAO in Thailand were studied. This SAO increasingly shares in these problem natural limited products and highly vulnerable in 14 villages are arranged with a sample size of 357 people to their perceptions with the Questionnaire on Waste Management (QWM) and the Focus Group Discussion technique in three scales; Waste Collection, Waste Separation, and Waste Disposal scales, the classifications’ problems indicated that of moderate level. according to have their problems and needs, plastics bins are the type of their garbage bins, people collected the collecting SWM by the K-SAO, the households’ memberships have participated in the implementation of the project with social local communities, and took part in solving problems caused by the collection of the SWM on their communities, the K-SAO has been listening to comments of their suggestions and communities’ solving and given advices the burdensome problem of collecting waste to lack of responsibility. Most of guidelines the Waste Collection as to set at least twice a day and the public should be aware of the collection time and carry out their own fermentation. An importance campaign for people to sort out their sales from solid waste as Waste Separation scale was promoted. The Disposal Project Biomass Waste Treatment (MBT) was planned and organized to give pieces of advice for using disposal waste to relate waste collection time of the K-SAO was the guidelines.
Grades of Openness. Open and Closed Articles in Norway
Authors: Mikki Susanne , Gjesdal Øyvind Liland , Strømme Tormod Eismann
Published: November 2018

Based on the total scholarly article output of Norway, we investigated the coverage and degree of openness according to three bibliographic services 1) Google Scholar, 2) oaDOI by Impact Story and 3) 1findr by 1science. According to Google Scholar, we find that more than 70% of all Norwegian articles are openly available. However, degrees are profoundly lower according to oaDOI and 1findr, respectively 31% and 52%. Varying degrees are mainly caused by different interpretations of openness, with oaDOI being most restrictive. Furthermore, open shares vary considerably by discipline, with the Medcine and Health sciences at the upper and the Humanities at the lower end. We also determined the citation frequencies using Cited-by values as of Google Scholar, applying year and subject normalization. We find a significant citation advantage for open articles. However, this is not the case for all types of openness. In fact, the category Open Access journals was by far lowest cited, indicating that young journals with a declared open access policy still lack recognition.
Study of the Microstructure and Crack Evolution Behavior of Al-5Fe-1.5Er Alloy
Authors: Li Ming , Shi Zhiming , Wu Xiufeng , Wang Huhe , Liu Yubao
Published: November 2018

The microstructure of Al-5Fe-1.5Er alloy was characterized and analyzed by using XRD, SEM, TEM and EDS. The effect of microstructure on the behavior of crack initiation and propagation was investigated by in situ tensile testing. Results show that the microstructure consists of α-Al matrix, Al3Fe, Al4Er, eutectic phase Al3Fe + Al4Er, while the 1.5 wt.% Er was added in Al-5Fe alloy. The twin structure of the Al3Fe phase was observed, and the twin plane is {001}. Moreover, a continuous concave and convex interface structure of the Al4Er has been found. Al3Fe is in the form of a sheet with a clear gap inside.In situ tensile tests of the alloy at room temperature show that the crack initiation occured mainly in the Al3Fe phase, and that the crack propagation modes include intergranular and transgranular expansion. Crack transgranular expansion is due to the strong binding ability between Al4Er phases and surrounding organization, and the continuous concave and convex interface structure of the Al4Er provides a significant meshing effect on the matrix and eutectic structure.
Shot-Gun Proteomic Analysis on Roots of Arabidopsis pldα1 Mutants Suggesting New Roles of PLDα1 in Mitochondrial Protein Import, Vesicular Trafficking and Glucosinolate Biosynthesis
Authors: Takáč Tomáš , Šamajová Olga , Vadovič Pavol , Pechan Tibor , Šamaj Jozef
Published: November 2018

Phospholipase Dα1 (PLDα1) belongs to phospholipases, a large phospholipid hydrolyzing protein family. PLDα1 has a substrate preference for phosphatidylcholine leading to enzymatic production of phosphatidic acid, a lipid second messenger with multiple cellular functions. PLDα1 itself is implicated in biotic and abiotic stress responses. We present here a shot-gun differential proteomic analysis on roots of two pldα1 mutants compared to the Col-0 wild type. Our data suggest new roles of PLDα1 in endomembrane transport, mitochondrial protein import and protein quality control and glucosinolate biosynthesis. Thus, we identified proteins involved in endocytosis, endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi transport and attachment sites of endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane (V-type proton ATPases, protein transport protein SEC13 homolog A, vesicle-associated protein 1-2, vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 29, syntaxin-32, all upregulated in the mutants), mitochondrial import and electron transport chain (mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunits TIM23-2 and TIM13, mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenases, ATP synthases, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 6b-1, ADP,ATP carrier protein 2, downregulated in the mutants) and glucosinolate biosynthesis (3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenases 1, 2 and 3, methylthioalkylmalate synthase 1, cytochrome P450 83B1, Glutathione S-transferase F9, indole glucosinolate O-methyltransferase 1, adenylyl-sulfate kinase 1, all upregulated in mutants). Our results suggest broader biological roles of PLDα1 as anticipated so far.
Stocks and Stoichiometry of Soil Organic Carbon, Total Nitrogen, and Total Phosphorus after Vegetation Restoration in the Loess Hilly Region, China
Authors: Xu Hongwei , Qu Qing , Li Peng , Guo Ziqi , Wulan Entemake , Xue Sha
Published: November 2018

The Loess Plateau is an important region for vegetation restoration in China, however, changes in soil organic carbon (SOC), soil nutrients, and stoichiometry after restoration in this vulnerable ecoregion are not well understood. Typical restoration types, including orchardland (OL), grassland (GL), shrubland (SL), and forestland (FL) were chosen to examine changes in the stocks and stoichiometry of SOC, soil total nitrogen (TN), and soil total phosphorus (TP) at different soil depths and recovery times. Results showed that SOC stocks first increased and then stabilized in OL, GL, and SL at 0–30 cm depth, while in FL, stocks gradually increased. Soil TN stocks first increased and then decreased in OL, SL, and FL with vegetation age at 0–30 cm depth, while soil TP stocks showed little variation between restoration types. In the later stages of restoration, the stocks of SOC and soil TN at 0–30 cm soil depth were still lower than those in natural grassland (NG) and natural forest (NF). The overall C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios increased with vegetation age. Additionally, the SOC, soil TN and soil TP stocks, and C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios decreased with soil depth. The FL had the highest rate of change in SOC and soil TN stocks, at 0-10 cm soil depth. These results indicate a complex response of SOC, soil TN, and soil TP stocks and stoichiometry to vegetation restoration, which could have important implications for understanding C, N, and P changes and nutrient limitations after vegetation restoration.
Lie Symmetry and Painlevé Test for the SIRD Model
Authors: Matadi Maba Boniface
Published: November 2018

In this paper, Lie symmetry and Painlevé Techniques are applied to the SIRD (Susceptible, Infected, Recovered and Dead) model. A demonstration of the integrability of the model is provided to present an exact solution. The study revealed that nonlinear system passes Painlevé test and does not possesses complex chaotic behaviour. However, the system fails to pass the Painlevé test while constraints reach values equivalent to the corresponding complex chaotic behaviour. The two-dimensional Lie symmetry algebra and the commutator table of the infinitesimal generators are obtained. Lie symmetry analysis serves to linearize the nonlinear system and find the corresponding invariant solution.
Classification Theorems in Minkowski 3-space
Authors: Choi Miekyung , Kim Young Ho
Published: November 2018

By generalizing the notion of pointwise 1-type Gauss map, the generalized 1-type Gauss map has been recently introduced. Without any assumption, we classified all possible ruled surfaces with generalized 1-type Gauss map in a 3-dimensional Minkowski space. In particular, null scrolls do not have the proper generalized 1-type Gauss map. In fact, it is harmonic.
Robust Guaranteed-Cost Preview Repetitive Control for Polytopic Uncertain Discrete-Time Systems
Authors: Lan Yong-Hong , Jun-Jun Xia
Published: November 2018

A robust guaranteed cost preview repetitive controller is proposed for a class of polytopic uncertain discrete-time systems. In order to improve the tracking performance, the repetitive controller combined with preview compensator is inserted in the forward channel. By using the L-order forward difference operator, an augmented dynamic system is constructed. Then, the guaranteed cost preview repetitive control problem is transformed into the guaranteed cost control problem for the augmented dynamic system. For given performance index, the sufficient condition of asymptotic stability for the closed-loop system is derived by combining parameter-dependent Lyapunov function method with linear matrix inequality (LMI) techniques. By incorporating the controller obtained into the original system, the guaranteed-cost preview repetitive controller is derived. A numerical example is also included to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Italian Throughout Seven Centuries of Literature: Deep Language Statistics And Their Relationship With Miller’s 7∓2 Law and Short−Term Memory
Authors: Matricciani Emilio
Published: November 2018

Statistics of languages are calculated by counting characters, words, sentences, word rankings. Some of these random variables are also the main “ingredients” of classical readability formulae. Revisiting the readability formula of Italian, known as GULPEASE, shows that of the two terms that determine the readability index G – the semantic index G_C, proportional to the number of characters per word, and the syntactic index G_F, proportional to the reciprocal of the number of words per sentence −, G_F is dominant because G_C is, in practice, constant for any author throughout seven centuries of Italian Literature. Each author can modulate the length of sentences more freely than he can do with the length of words, and in different ways from author to author. For any author, any couple of text variables can be modelled by a linear relationship y=mx, but with different slope m from author to author, except for the relationship between characters and words, which is unique for all. The most important relationship found in the paper is, in author’s opinion, that between the short−term memory capacity, described by Miller’s “7∓2 law”, and the word interval, a new random variable defined as the average number of words between two successive punctuation marks. The word interval can be converted into a time interval through the average reading speed. The word interval is spread in the same of Miller’s law, and the time interval is spread in the same range of short−term memory response times. The connection between the word interval (and time interval) and short−term memory appears, at least empirically, justified and natural, and should further investigated. Technical and scientific writings (papers, essays etc.) ask more to their readers. A preliminary investigation of these texts shows clear differences: words are on the average longer, the readability index G is lower, word and time intervals are longer. Future work done on ancient languages, such as Greek or Latin, could bring us a flavor of the short term−memory features of these ancient readers.
Substrate induced proximity effect in superconducting niobium nanofilms
Authors: Rezvani S.J, , Perali Andrea , Fretto Matteo , De Leo Natascia , Flammia Luca , Milosevic Milorad , Nannarone Stefano , Pinto Nicola
Published: November 2018

tructural and superconducting properties of high quality Niobium nanofilms with different thicknesses are investigated on silicon oxide and sapphire substrates. The role played by the different substrates and the superconducting properties of the Nb films are discussed based on the defectivity of the films and on the presence of an interfacial oxide layer between the Nb film and the substrate. The X-ray absorption spectroscopy is employed to uncover the structure of the interfacial layer. We show that this interfacial layer leads to a strong proximity effect, specially in films deposited on a SiO2 substrate, altering the superconducting properties of the Nb films. Our results establish that the critical temperature is determined by an interplay between quantum-size effects, due to the reduction of the Nb film thicknesses, and proximity effects.
Small Bowel Carcinomas Associated with Immune-Mediated Intestinal Disorders: the Current Knowledge
Authors: Giuffrida Paolo , Vanoli Alessandro , Arpa Giovanni , Bonometti Arturo , Solcia Enrico , Corazza Gino Roberto , Paulli Marco , Di Sabatino Antonio
Published: November 2018

Small bowel carcinomas (SBC) are uncommon neoplasms, whose predisposing conditions include hereditary syndromes and immune-mediated intestinal disorders, including coeliac disease (CD) and Crohn’s disease (CrD). Although both CD-associated SBC (CD-SBC) and CrD-associated SBC (CrD-SBC) arise from an inflammatory background, they differ substantially in tumour cell phenotype, frequency of microsatellite instability and nuclear β-catenin expression, as well as in prognosis. For these patients, high tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte density and glandular/medullary histotype represent independent positive prognostic factors. Dysplasia adjacent to SBC is rare and characterized by intestinal phenotype and nuclear β-catenin in CD, while it is frequent and typified by gastro-pancreatobiliary marker expression and preserved membranous β-catenin in CrD. Recent evidence suggests that Epstein-Barr virus-positive dysplasia and SBC, albeit exceptional, do exist and are associated with CrD. In this review we summarize the novel pathological and molecular insights of clinical and therapeutic interest to guide the care of CD-SBC and CrD-SBC.
New Burnout Evaluation Model Based on the Brief Burnout Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties for Nursing
Authors: Pérez-Fuentes María del Carmen , Molero María del Mar , Martos Martínez África , Linares José Jesús Gázquez
Published: November 2018

Healthcare personnel are considered one of the sectors of workers most exposed to heavier workloads and work stress. One of the consequences associated with its chronic presence is the development of burnout syndrome. Given that, for the evaluation of this syndrome, the context in which they are to be used must be addressed, the purpose of this work was to analyze the psychometric properties, as well as the structure, and to propose a more suitable version for its application to health professionals, and more specifically, nursing, of the Burnout Brief Questionnaire (CBB). The final study sample was made up 1236 working nursing professionals. An exploratory factorial analysis was carried out and a new model was proposed through a confirmatory factorial analysis. Thus, the validation of the CBB questionnaire for nursing healthcare personnel showed an adequate discrimination of the items and a high internal consistency of the scale. With respect to the factorial analysis, four factors were extracted from the revised model. Specifically, these new factors called Job Dissatisfaction, Social Climate, Personal Impact and Motivational Abandonment, showed an adequate index of adjustment. Thus, the Burnout Revised Brief Questionnaire for nursing staff has favorable psychometric properties, and this Burnout model can be applied to all healthcare professionals.
Preparation and Characterization of Hydrophobic Groups Grafted Starches by In-Situ Solid Phase Polymerization
Authors: Zuo Yinfeng , He Xiaoyu , Li Ping , Li Wenhao , Wu Yiqiang
Published: November 2018

Three kinds of hydrophobic groups grafted starches of maleic anhydride grafted starch (MAH-g-starch), lactic acid grafted starch (LA-g-starch), and methyl acrylate grafted starch (MA-g-starch) were prepared by in-situ solid phase polymerization. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were confirmed successful grafting. The grafting ratios of MAH-g-starch, LA-g-starch and MA-g-starch were 6.50%, 12.45%, and 0.57%, respectively. Influenced by the grafting ratio, LA-g-starch had the best hydrophobic properties and the largest molecular weight, and those for MA-g-starch was the worst. The surfaces of grafted starches were covered with graft polymer, with obvious surface roughness and bond degree of MAH-g-starch and LA-g-starch. The crystalline structure of grafted starches showed some damage, with LA-g-starch exhibiting the greatest decrease in crystallinity, and less of a change for MA-g-starch. Overall, the grafting reaction improved thermoplasticity, with LA-g-starch the most improved, followed by MAH-g-starch, and then MA-g-starch.
An Overview of Convolutional Neural Network: Its Architecture and Applications
Authors: Sakib Shadman , Ahmed Nazib , Kabir Ahmed Jawad , Ahmed Hridon
Published: November 2018

With the increase of the Artificial Neural Network (ANN), machine learning has taken a forceful twist in recent times. One of the most spectacular kinds of ANN design is the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is a technology that mixes artificial neural networks and up to date deep learning strategies. In deep learning, Convolutional Neural Network is at the center of spectacular advances. This artificial neural network has been applied to several image recognition tasks for decades and attracted the eye of the researchers of the many countries in recent years as the CNN has shown promising performances in several computer vision and machine learning tasks. This paper describes the underlying architecture and various applications of Convolutional Neural Network.
Análise e previsão demográfica utilizando-se matrizes de crescimento e distribuição populacional intermunicipal
Authors: Muniz Jeronimo Oliveira
Published: November 2018

Entre os desafios para a área de projeções demográficas estão a volatilidade do componente migratório – fundamental para a projeção de pequenas áreas –, a compatibilização entre projeções de pequenas e grandes áreas de forma consistente e a mensuração e inclusão da incerteza em cenários futuros de crescimento demográfico. O presente artigo lida com estes três desafios ao desenvolver e testar um novo método probabilístico de previsão populacional para os municípios paulistas. As vantagens do método proposto são: utilizar como insumo apenas as informações sobre o município de residência anterior e as distribuições populacionais dos últimos dois Censos; gerar intervalos de confiança para as populações projetadas; explicitar o papel dos fluxos migratórios na dinâmica de crescimento intermunicipal; e facilitar a elaboração de cenários contrafactuais e análises de sensitividade usando matrizes de crescimento multirregional. Descrevem-se os padrões e tendências das trocas migratórias municipais utilizando ferramentas de análise e visualização espacial e identificam-se as áreas nas quais a migração é responsável por parte considerável da dinâmica demográfica observada. Mais de 95% das 572 populações municipais paulistas projetadas tiveram boa precisão e localizaram-se dentro dos intervalos de confiança previstos. Utilizaram-se os dados dos Censos Demográficos de 1980, 1991 e 2000.
CULTURAL HERITAGE AND INNOVATION
Authors: Ang James
Published: November 2018

Cultural heritage is a major driver of behavioral, social and economic norms in a society. This paper studies the relationship between culture and economic development by focusing on how individualism is related to technological innovation. It hypothesizes that individualistic people tend to have beliefs and views that emphasize the importance of innovation and creativity. Using individual-level data from the World Values Survey, the results provide some evidence in favor of this hypothesis.
Beyond Climate Risk: Integrating Sustainability into the Duties of the Corporate Board
Authors: Sjåfjell Beate
Published: November 2018

Finding out how business can be a part of the shift to sustainability has never been more crucial. This article starts out by presenting the results of a multi-jurisdictional comparative analysis of corporate law, seeking to investigate the barriers, to and possibilities for, sustainable business in the dominant business form — the corporation. The social norm of shareholder primacy is identified as a major barrier to sustainability. Shareholder primacy has taken over the space that corporate law leaves open for the discretion of the individual corporate board.
Global Supply Chain Governance: The Search for ‘What Works’
Authors: Rühmkorf Andreas
Published: November 2018

This article critically discusses the developing legislative framework for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in global supply chains in the ‘home states’ of transnational corporations, that is, the countries where these companies are incorporated and have their headquarters. The article focuses on the interaction of private and public governance by examining how legislation can steer companies’ use of private CSR instruments such as Codes of Conduct. Following a critical review of empirical data relating to the Supplier Codes of Conduct of the top 30 listed German companies (DAX30), recent examples of ‘home state’ legislation of CSR are assessed. The article shows that most of these laws are not very stringent. The article argues that a hybrid regulatory approach towards CSR in global supply chains is necessary.
Sustainability in Large UK Listed Retail Companies: A Sectoral Analysis
Authors: Keay Andrew , Iqbal Taskin
Published: November 2018

This article documents a study on the sustainability efforts of the largest UK general retail companies that are listed on the FTSE 100. Along with offering empirical insights into the position taken by large listed UK retail companies on sustainability issues, the study also provides an interpretive analysis of the data examined in order to gain greater understanding of what the companies are communicating and the attitude that they are taking in relation to sustainability. Based on an extended content analysis of each corporation’s annual and sustainability reports, the study was intended to be a pilot study, that is, a small study conducted in advance of a planned larger and broader project that would examine more companies and in different industrial sectors. It would specifically test aspects of the research design and allow necessary adjustment before final commitment to the design for the larger project. Nonetheless, the results of the study documented here are sufficiently substantive to constitute a stand-alone study and permit us to ascertain the state of sustainability in retail companies. Our findings demonstrate that companies are taking substantive actions to integrate sustainability into their business operations and are willing to communicate these actions to their stakeholders. They are actively engaged in re-designing their strategies in order to address factors that are at the root of unsustainability.