bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geopolitics and Economic Sustainability Nexus
Authors: Saari Danial , Adibayeva Aigul
Published: March 2020

New trends in market relations require new methods to solve issues towards TNCs and other actors within multilateral diplomacy. The use of economic diplomacy and responsible business is essential for TNCs to achieve the sustainability in global trading system. It is important due to frequent political changes in the modern world, to which TNCs are highly susceptible, and therefore, must be reliably protected by revised international law, clearly enshrined into relevant multilateral agreements. As the legal status of TNCs is somehow blurred, the cases of unstable TNCs performance due to political atrocities may occur. The latter leads to disruptions in their work making them to obey states' interests and further concern of the issue from states and global business entities. The disruption of both agent interests creates an overall economic instability and negatively affects the process of sustainability achieving. The work summarizes some problems TNCs face due to confrontation between states, and the question of the importance of economic diplomacy use and legal support for TNCs.
Educational Approaches and Strategies in the Knowledge Society
Authors: Turarbekova Laura
Published: March 2020

According to the theory of the link between democracy and society's need for educated citizens, the process of transmission of experiences is a basic activity for a society. The conditions of this transmission are the academic, institutional, and political freedom of that society's universities. This transmission takes the form of the communication model: a top-to-bottom form or a horizontal form. The form of transmission is a specific form of rationality expressed in a communicative action. To understand this rationality, it is necessary to analyze existing forms of communication in the context of the history of rationality itself. Today, the digitization of the higher education system has become a global trend, bringing with it new forms of communication. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, the “Industry 4.0” state program affirms that digital communication skills need to be implemented at all levels of social life. The chapter is devoted to the problem of which form of academic communication will be chosen and the consequences of this choice for the Kazakhstan in the future.
The EMAS and Its Role in the ESL Instruction to Immigrants in England
Authors: Borelli María Teresa , Anguita Acero Juana María , Sánchez-Verdejo Pérez Francisco Javier
Published: March 2020

This chapter presents the results of a quantitative research carried out through the administration of a questionnaire to the Multilingual Education Assistants who are part of the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS) at the Coventry City Council (UK). Authors investigate the importance and impact the EMAS service has in the reception of foreign students newly arrived in England. In particular, the strategies implemented to promote students' integration within the new socio-cultural context are analysed. A revision of the most important theories related to the teaching-learning process of an L2 is carried out. An overview of migration in the 21st century and how intercultural education can foster the coexistence of cultures, ethnic groups, and languages is provided. This chapter concludes that Multilingual Education Assistants can help to encourage dialogue between individuals, promoting the overcoming of linguistic obstacles and developing the linguistic competence of foreign children who have just arrived in England.
Intercultural Education
Authors: Furtado-Guimarães Felipe , Finardi Kyria Rebeca
Published: March 2020

This chapter discusses intercultural education (in general) addressing some of its challenges and opportunities within a local context of a public university in Brazil. A review of literature on intercultural education and internationalization of higher education was conducted, followed by a meta-analysis of a corpus composed of 22 studies/documents in the university analyzed, comparing them with the reviewed literature. The study sought to answer the research question of what are the possibilities and limitations of intercultural education in the university analyzed (UFES). The discussion contrasts the analysis of the corpus with the literature reviewed suggesting that UFES adopts English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) approaches and internationalization models from the Global North which in turn, pose more difficulties than possibilities for intercultural education there. The chapter concludes that the use of other languages besides English in approaches such as CLIL, COIL, and Intercomprehension represent relevant alternatives to foster multilingualism and intercultural education in that context.
Literacy Development in L1 in Bilingual Education
Authors: Nieto Moreno de Diezmas Esther
Published: March 2020

This chapter explores literacy development in the mother tongue (L1) in bilingual education programs. To explore the impact of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) on literacy development in L1, a large-scale study was conducted in a monolingual autonomous community (Castilla-La Mancha) located in central Spain. Scores obtained by CLIL and non-CLIL (n=4,231) learners aged 9-10 in a writing task and in a reading comprehension test were compared. Results showed CLIL was not detrimental for literacy development in L1, since no significant differences were detected between both groups in their overall proficiency in written production and reading comprehension. However, a differential achievement was observed depending on the type of instruction CLIL/non-CLIL in some areas. Significant differences were observed in favour of CLIL students in receptive vocabulary, expressive richness and spelling, whereas the non-CLIL group was ahead in critical reading, planning strategies, and use of text typologies.
Intelligent CALL
Authors: Blake John
Published: March 2020

This chapter shows readers the importance and application of pattern matching in learning languages; specifically, the application of natural language processing to address specific problems of Japanese learners of English at a public university. The chapter introduces the concepts of patterns, detection, and detection methods. The author turns to the pedagogic application of pattern matching, first discussing the relevant theory, then describing hacks developed by language teachers and learners. The final section describes and evaluates iCALL tools developed at the University of Aizu, including a mobile app and the Pronunciation Scaffolder, a real-time presentation script annotator.
The Case for Qualitative Research Into Language Learning in Virtual Worlds
Authors: Panichi Luisa
Published: March 2020

This chapter reviews some of the most common research approaches used in investigating language learning and teaching in virtual worlds. In particular, the author makes the case for qualitative research approaches to the investigation of language learning and teaching in virtual worlds. The highly representational and immersive nature of online environments such as virtual worlds demands that researchers pay specific attention to the quality of teacher and learner experience and to individual reactions to the visual and kinesthetic stimuli of the environment. The chapter discusses some of the advantages of qualitative practitioner research in relation to the specific nature of virtual world contexts for language learning.
Financial Sources for Company Scale-Up
Authors: Pokorná Pavla
Published: March 2020

This chapter deals with the reinvestment activity of enterprises. Reinvestments are commonly discussed in connection with public limited liability companies, where the general meeting of shareholders decides how much of the profit, they will redistribute among themselves and how many per cents they will return by reinvesting in the company. However, this chapter often deals with smaller companies, but for many companies these decisions are of an existential nature. These dilemmas are crucial for the company in terms of the direction of the company and determining its own character and focus. In these companies, the direction of funds is decided by the company managers or their owners. Each company is specific, both in its area of business, its strategy or its nature of development, this and many other factors influence what companies invest in or, as in this case, reinvest their funds.
The Importance of Social Innovations in Business Idea Development
Authors: Krejčí Petra
Published: March 2020

The main goal of the chapter is to find out whether age, gender, education, or business experience is related to the creation of innovations in the enterprises. Social innovation is divided into six types of innovation. These six types of innovation are divided into pure and combined innovations. This innovation activity determines whether entrepreneurs are developing business ideas. Part of the study shows how entrepreneurs approach social innovation. The approach to innovation can also change over time with regard to manager competencies and the life cycle of a manager's career in enterprise. The pilot study is based on an analysis of 128 respondents' answers. 128 companies from all regions of the Czech Republic were selected for information collection. The study points to a link between business experience, age, gender, education, and managerial innovation activity.
Which Are the Appropriate Skills Needed for the Entrepreneurial Success of Startups in the Era of Digitalization?
Authors: Omrane Amina
Published: March 2020

Consistent with prior research on start-up entrepreneurship in this era of digitalization, this chapter is a theoretical study which aims at an in-depth understanding of the main specifics of start-ups. It mainly focuses on those ones localized in resource-constrained environments, by exploring the most relevant and effective competencies for them. The literature review enables the authors to identify five relevant kinds of skills which are related not only to specific social abilities, but also to other sorts of capabilities such as effectual and ambidextrous logics or resilience. Previous works have underlined that these skills have considerable and significant effects on the startups' entrepreneurial success. Consequently, it is recommanded that startup entrepreneurs develop them and learn how to foster them.
European Youth in the Perspective of E-Youth Work
Authors: Székely Levente , Nagy Ádám , Flach Richárd
Published: March 2020

This study intends to analyze e-youth work from a global perspective focusing on European data. This chapter attempts to prove, that besides family and school there is a third main socialization environment: the leisure time socialization area. This study offers some insights into the leisure time activity of young people and shows that it is full of media usage, presents the recent data about the European young people's media consumption, the use of the Internet and smart tools, etc. Furthermore, another key topic is youth work which can be and is carried out in various digital spaces. Characteristic features of this space will be introduced with special focus on the general rules which define it. In the end, practical examples are introduced whose success should be followed as models, and general fundamental rules are formulated which are worth maintaining if we wish to pursue youth work in the virtual space.
A Two Stage Method for the Multiple Traveling Salesman Problem
Authors: Cuevas Azcarie Manuel Cabrera , Martínez Jania Astrid Saucedo , Saucedo José Antonio Marmolejo
Published: March 2020

The variation of the traveling salesman problem (TSP) with multiple salesmen (m-TSP) has been studied for many years resulting in diverse solution methods, both exact and heuristic. However, the high difficulty level on finding optimal (or acceptable) solutions has opposed the many efforts of doing so. The proposed method regards a two stage procedure which implies a modified version of the p-Median Problem (PMP) alongside the TSP, making a partition of the nodes into subsets that will be assigned to each salesman, solving it with Branch & Cut (B&C), in the first stage. This is followed by the routing, applying an Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) metaheuristic algorithm to solve a TSP for each subset of nodes. A case study was reviewed, detailing the positioning of five vehicles in strategic places in the Mexican Republic.
The Evolution From Ubiquitous to Smart Cities
Authors: Nam Taewoo
Published: March 2020

This study, using the smart city case of Korea (the evolution from ubiquitous to smart cities) in the recent decade, suggests conditions of successful governance for smart cities. U-City as a preceding version of smart cities in Korea failed to reflect not only ideas and opinions but also wants, needs, and desires of citizens because its vision did not emerge from citizens. Rather, the nation-driven top-down initiative sought to make technology-driven changes in city services, as the term “ubiquitous” hints. However, smart cities do not lie only in the dimension of technology. To make a city smart, city governments should focus on selected problems facing constraints of budget and resources, seeking for a small and open government. Citizens are required to play multiple roles: e.g., a co-producer of city services, a watchdog of city policies and administration, and a champion of city brands.
When a Civil Society Initiative Becomes a Tool to Justify the Government
Authors: Prysmakova Palina
Published: March 2020

The question of utility of open data and related civil society initiatives depends on whom we consider a beneficiary in each particular case. The article provides a recent example of a civil society initiative that addressed the openness of procurement practices across the nations of European Union and its neighboring partners. Analyzing the project against Open Government Working Group's principles of open data, the article demonstrates that it indeed improved some levels of procurement data openness. Meanwhile, despite some utility of the project for the European Commission, the analysis suggests rather low utility for the public at large. The article suggests that, (1) utility has multiple levels, and some data in an open source is better than none; (2) data has to be understandable to have any utility for final consumers; and otherwise, the only utility achieved is the legitimization of the current governmental practices instead of their improvement
Real-Time Mobile-Phone-Aided Melanoma Skin Lesion Detection Using Triangulation Technique
Authors: Tiwari Kumud , Kumar Sachin , Tiwari R. K.
Published: March 2020

Melanoma is a harmful disease among all types of skin cancer. Genetic factors and the exposure of UV rays causes melanoma skin lesions. Early diagnosis is important to identify malignant melanomas to improve the patient prognosis. A biopsy is a traditional method which is painful and invasive when used for skin cancer detection. This method requires laboratory testing which is not very efficient and time-consuming to detect skin lesions. To solve the above issue, a computer aided diagnosis (CAD) for skin lesion detection is needed. In this article, we have developed a mobile application with the capabilities to segment skin lesions in dermoscopy images using a triangulation method and categorize them into malignant or bengin lesions through a supervised method which is convolution neural network (CNN). This mobile application will make the skin cancer detection non-invasive which does not require any laboratory testing, making the detection less time consuming and inexpensive with a detection accuracy of 81%.
Citizen Engagement and Social Media
Authors: Sandoval-Almazan Rodrigo , Lopez Juan Carlos Montes de Oca
Published: March 2020

Social media has transformed election campaigns around the world. While it is difficult to determine to what extent social media influence voters' decisions, there is no doubt that social media platforms impact on candidate advertising and public debate during elections. This research, the methodological formulation of which is based on a case study, seeks to investigate the use of social media during political campaigns to collect signatures of support. In the elections of 2018, aspiring candidates for presidential election required a certain number of signatures of support in order to register as official candidates. We collected social media data on a weekly basis from the Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube accounts of seven candidates and contrasted this data with the number of signatures validated by the electoral authority. We found no relationship between the level of support received and the use of social media in the case of any of the candidates. However, we observed candidates who did achieve the required number of signatures and who did receive official presidential candidate status as a result of their high level of visibility. This research contributes methodologically to the current literature and provides empirical evidence regarding independent candidates in Mexico.
Evaluation of Liquefaction Potential of Soil at a Power Plant Site in Chittagong, Bangladesh
Authors: Sengupta Soumyadeep , Kolathayar Sreevalsa
Published: March 2020

This study presents an evaluation of liquefaction potential for combined cycle power plant site located in the Chittagong district, Bangladesh, using standard penetration test blow counts (SPT-N values). The peak ground acceleration (PGA) values at a bedrock level were estimated deterministically using both linear and point source models as well as different ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs). The surface level hazard was estimated using amplification factors for the soil conditions present and the response spectrum at the center of the plant site was plotted. The liquefaction potential for the site was arrived at by using the SPT-N values of 33 boreholes in the site and at every 3-meter interval from the ground level to a depth of 30 meters. The results from the LPI contours at successive depths indicate that in the majority of the borehole locations, the soil up to 15 meters depth had a significant hazard of liquefaction. These findings from the present study can prove to be crucial from the structural point of view, for any future construction activities in the area.
Rural Healthcare Delivery in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Faruk Nasir , Surajudeen-Bakinde N.T. , Abdulkarim Abubakar , Oloyede Abdulkarim Ayopo , Olawoyin Lukman , Bello Olayiwola W. , Popoola Segun I. , Edoh Thierry O.C.
Published: March 2020

Access to quality healthcare is a major problem in Sub-Saharan Africa with a doctor-to-patient ratio as high as 1:50,000, which is far above the recommended ratio by the World Health Organization (WHO) which is 1:600. This has been aggravated by the lack of access to critical infrastructures such as the health care facilities, roads, electricity, and many other factors. Even if these infrastructures are provided, the number of medical practitioners to cater for the growing population of these countries is not sufficient. In this article, how information and communication technology (ICT) can be used to drive a sustainable health care delivery system through the introduction and promotion of Virtual Clinics and various health information systems such as mobile health and electronic health record systems into the healthcare industry in Sub-Saharan Africa is presented. Furthermore, the article suggests ways of attaining successful implementation of telemedicine applications /services and remote health care facilities in Africa.
Doing More Than Asking for Opinions
Authors: Helwig Jessica Elaine , Bishop-Williams Katherine E. , Berrang-Ford Lea , Lwasa Shuaib , Namanya Didacus Bambaiha , Bwindi Community Hospital
Published: March 2020

Health information systems (HIS) are used to manage information related to population health. The goal of this research was to conduct an evaluation of a HIS used at a hospital in south-western Uganda using participatory approaches. The evaluation structure was based on guidelines generated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and a series of theoretical and methodological concepts regarding participatory engagement that encouraged stakeholder participation throughout the evaluation. The primary objectives were to describe the areas of strength and limitations of the HIS, and develop potential system enhancements. Ultimately, engagement of local staff members throughout each stage of the evaluation resulted in the development of a series of recommendations considered relevant and feasible by local stakeholders. We build on these results by highlighting the value of stakeholder engagement and opportunities to apply participatory and community-based research methods and an Ecohealth framework to an HIS evaluation.
An Arabic Dialects Dictionary Using Word Embeddings
Authors: Chaimae Azroumahli , El Younoussi Yacine , Moussaoui Otman , Zahidi Youssra
Published: March 2020

The dialectical Arabic and the Modern Standard Arabic lacks sufficient standardized language resources to enable the tasks of Arabic language processing, despite it being an active research area. This work addresses this issue by firstly highlighting the steps and the issues related to building a multi Arabic dialect corpus using web data from blogs and social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, etc.). This is to create a vectorized dictionary for the crawled data using the word Embeddings. In other terms, the goal of this article is to build an updated multi-dialect data set, and then, to extract an annotated corpus from it.
Are Visitors Willing to Pay for a Green Park?
Authors: Moreira da Silva Clayton Robson , Lima Diego Sampaio Vasconcelos Ramalho , Farias Ivaneide Ferreira , Oliveira Laís Vieira Castro , Fontenele Raimundo Eduardo Silveira
Published: March 2020

This study verifies the willingness of visitors in contributing towards the preservation and conservation of Rio Cocó Ecological Park. Contingent Valuation Method was used with estimation of the values of the Willingness to Pay (WTP). 159 questionnaires were applied with park visitors. Descriptive analysis, logistic regression and calculation of WTP were used. The results indicated that 58% of respondents are willing to pay to visit the park. The data shows that: 64% were female; 25% had dependents; the average number of visits to the park was 2.09 visits per year; the mean age was 29.69 years; and the average salary of the respondents was R$ 3,669.00. Logistic regression reveals that family income, gender, and number of dependents have positive influence on WTP while schooling and conservation influence negatively. There was also an average WTP of R$ 11.53 to visit the park and a total WTP of R$ 44,194.49 per month.
Causal Relationships Among Multiple Criteria of Sustainable Development
Authors: Abdullah Lazim
Published: March 2020

The assessment of sustainable development is really challenging due to multiple criteria that characterize sustainable development. These criteria are interdependent where one criterion may influence the effectiveness of the entire criteria. This article aims to unravel the causal relationship among the criteria of sustainable development. Five experts in sustainable development were invited to provide linguistic evaluation about the criteria of sustainable development in Terengganu Malaysia. The current research proposes the use of fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) methods for the formation of causal relationship. The use of fuzzy DEMATEL approach is harmonious in dealing with experts' bias and ambiguity pertaining to the investigation. Research findings indicate that ‘economic growth' (C31) is the most important criteria in sustainable development in the investigated region. The main contribution of this paper is the establishment of the cause-effect relationship among fifteen criteria of sustainable development.
Understanding and Modeling Visitor Behaviours for Enhancing Personalized Cultural Experiences
Authors: Pandolfo Laura , Spanu Sara , Pulina Luca , Grosso Enrico
Published: March 2020

Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in using adaptive technologies in cultural heritage sites to personalize and enhance the user's visit experience. However, personalizing the cultural experiences is still a challenging task that requires a deep knowledge of those user aspects that influence the visit. In order to facilitate the learning process during the visit, adaptive systems should consider differences between individuals for personalizing access to cultural heritage collections. This article calls into question the role that technologies can play both to enhance a user's visit experience and to attract new audiences through personalized interactions with cultural objects. It addresses a specific understanding of visitors' needs and behaviours by means of empirical data collected through a survey questionnaire. Knowing the main factors underlying visitors' styles it allowed formalization of this knowledge into a user model ontology which collects the main visitors' characteristics in the use of cultural heritage contexts.
Researcher Intention to Use Statistical Software
Authors: Shukla Shalini , Kumar Rakesh
Published: March 2020

The present study seeks to analyse researchers' willingness and intention to use statistical software packages by using the framework of the technology acceptance model. A sample of 380 researchers was taken from various academic institutions using convenience sampling. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and respondents were asked to respond on five-point Likert scale. The findings of the study support the applicability of the technology acceptance model in explaining and predicting researchers' intention to use statistical software packages in their data analysis process. External variables such as statistical efficacy, computer attitude, statistical anxiety, perceived enjoyment and accessibility were found to have a significant relationship with the researchers' intention to use statistical software. The study provides some interesting and meaningful implications for researchers and marketing professionals involved in the development of statistical software; these are detailed in the article.
Transformational Leaders Help Their Employees Overcome Their Technophobia
Authors: Khasawneh Odai Y.
Published: March 2020

The lack of technology acceptance in the workplace has haunted companies in the past and it seems that it will continue to do so in the future. One of the many variables that impact employees' acceptance of a new technology is technophobia; which previously has been studied within the narrow context of computers or few other technologies that are now outdated. In a novel approach, the current study examines employees' technophobia and how it impacts their technology acceptance. In addition, the moderating influence of transformational leadership is studied to determine whether that type of leadership would influence employees to overcome their technophobia. The data analysis confirms that technophobia and its subdimensions are still an issue that haunts the workplace. However, having a leader who's identified as a transformational leader can help employees overcome their technophobia. This study argues that it is vital for companies to understand the level and type of technophobia as well as what type of leadership their employees have before implementing any new technologies.
The Influence of Residual Stresses on Dimension Stability during Thermal Mechanical Processes for High-Precision Components
Authors: Qiao Xun , Bai Xu Feng , Zhang Yi , Meng Dong Rong
Published: March 2020

This paper mainly investigated the revolution of residual stresses and dimension stability in high-precision components during thermal-mechanical processes. Especially, originate of residual stress and its influences on dimension stability, from each step of the design and manufacture processes to thermal-mechanical processes, as well as their complicated interactions were elucidated in detail. Finally, the recent progress of modern analytical and computational techniques were discussed to provide possibilities to quantitative predict and control residual stresses and dimensional stabilities in high-precision components.
Mathematical Simulation and Physical Modeling of Self-Source Magnetization by Liquid Electrolyte Flow
Authors: Li Sheng Hao , Huang Ao , Qu Yun Tao , Lu Xin , Gu Hua Zhi , Li Guang Qiang
Published: March 2020

With the increasing requirements for steel quality, the refining conditions are increasing strict. The high-speed movement of molten steel under mechanical or pneumatic agitation can uniform the temperature and composition, and accelerate the collision of the inclusions to eliminate. However, the electromagnetic field has an important influence on the removal of inclusions in steel and the corrosion of refractory materials. The magnetic phenomenon caused by the movement of molten steel needs to be explored. Considering the complexity of high temperature thermal simulation, this work adopted the physical modeling combined with mathematical simulation method, saturated sodium chloride solution was selected to simulate molten steel as a liquid electrolyte, the magnetic phenomenon caused by solution motion was tested and analyzed, and mathematical model of solution motion magnetization was based on discharge mechanism and magnetic vector potential superposition principle, then the variation law of spatial magnetic field generated by liquid electrolyte flow was discussed. The results show that the simulation results agree with that of the physical modeling, and the mathematical model is promising for prediction of the magnetic field generated by liquid electrolyte flow. Under a constant flow speed of 2000 r/min, a magnetic field with magnetic flux density up to 0.15 Gs was produced, which has a significant effect on the refractory corrosion and removal of impurities in the molten steel.
Nanoscale Evaluation of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube’s Performance on Resisting Oxidization of Asphalt
Authors: Al Mamun Abdullah , Sirin Okan
Published: March 2020

Nanotechnology has contributed significantly to different subfields of the construction industry, including asphalt pavement engineering. The improved properties and new functionalities of the nanomaterials have provided different desired properties of asphalt. In this study, the effectiveness of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in resisting the oxidation of polymer-modified asphalt was measured. A total of three different percentages (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) of MWCNT were used to modify the Styrene-Butadiene (SB) and styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) modified asphalt (4% and 5%). The laboratory oxidized asphalt samples were evaluated by an atomic force microscopy machine. The oxidation of the polymer-MWCNT modified asphalt is measured by simulating the existing functional group of the asphalt and as a function of the adhesive force. It is observed that the use of MWCNT in SB and SBS can increase the resistance to oxidation.
Self-Healing Magnetorheological Elastomer for Vibration Damping
Authors: Shuib Raa Khimi , Thajudin Nuur Laila Najwa , Zainol Mohd Hafiz
Published: March 2020

In this work, magnetorheological elastomers (MRE) based on nickel zinc ferrite and natural rubber were prepared. Self-healing capability was employed to the MRE by peroxide induced graft polymerization between zinc thiolate and natural rubber to produce reversible ionic crosslinks that can recover the properties of the fracture materials. Evidence that reversible ionic crosslinks occurred was determined by tensile test of original and healed sample. The results revealed that the tensile strength of the MRE recovered 56% in a minute and almost 100% in 10 minutes at room temperature. The morphology of the fractured surface also showed the fracture area was recovered after the healing processed. The dynamic mechanical analysis of the MREs under cyclic loading were also examined with parallel plate rheometer.
Photo-Crosslinkable Double-Network Hyaluronic Acid Based Hydrogel Dressing
Authors: Ding Yu Long , Zhang Hong Bo , Yin Rui Xue , Zhang Wen Jun
Published: March 2020

Hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogels are widely used in biomedical applications due to their excellent biocompatibility and enzymatic degradability. In this paper a photo-crosslinking double-network hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel dressing was proposed. Hyaluronic acid can be UV-crosslinked by modification with methacrylic anhydride (HA-MA) and disulfide-crosslinked by modification with 3,3'-dithiobis (propionylhydrazide) (DTP) (HA-SH). The mixings of these two materials at different ratios were produced. All the samples can be quickly gelled at 365 nm for 10 s. The rheological tests show that the storage modulus (G') of the double network (HA-SH/HA-MA) hydrogel is increased with the increase of HA-SH content. The HA-SH/HA-MA hydrogel has porous structure, high swelling ratio and Controlled degradation rate. In vitro degradation tests show that the ratio of HA-SH/HA-MA ratio was 9:1 (S9M1) in 100 U/ml hyaluronidase (Hase) degraded by 89.91±2.26% at 11d. The cytocompatibility of HA-SH/HA-MA hydrogels was proved by Live/Dead stainings and CCK-8 assays in the human dermis fibroblasts (HDF) cells test. All these results highlight the biological potential of the HA-SH/HA-MA hydrogels for DFU intervention.
Formability Analysis of Fiber Metal Laminates with Different Core and Skin Layers by Stamping Process
Authors: Li Lei , Lang Li Hui , Hamza Blala , Alexandrov Sergei
Published: March 2020

Fiber metal laminates (FMLs) are widely used in aerospace industry due to their unique high specific strength, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance and other excellent characteristics. Thermosetting FMLs is generally used for forming large size parts and rarely used as raw material for producing small size and complex shape parts. This study attempts a methodology that stamping thermosetting FMLs to form cylinder shape parts before the curing process. The forming limit height of FMLs were analyzed by choosing different core materials, layup direction and skin layer thickness. And through the optimization of these variables, a better-quality part has been formed.
Application of 3D Printing in Future Manned Space Exploration
Authors: Zhang Ying Yi , Jin Zhao Jun , Zhang Wei
Published: March 2020

3D Printing in space has shown obvious advantages in several fields such as on-ground or in-situ manufacturing, space supplies, reducing spares and transportation, emergency response and promoting deep space exploration. This paper analyzes the application modes and technology development trend of 3D Printing in space. Based on the investigation of the current situation, technical plans and the potential development of 3D Printing in space, the article proposed a technical path suitable for the development of 3D printing in space.
The effectiveness of two different multimodal training modes on physical performance in elderly
Authors: Oreská Ľudmila , Slobodova Lucia , Vajda Matej , Kaplánová Adriana , Tirpáková Veronika , Cvečka Ján , Buzgó Gabriel , Ukropec Jozef , Ukropcová Barbara , Sedliak Milan
Published: March 2020

The study compared the effect of 12-week multimodal training programme performed twice a week at the regular exercise facility (REF) with the 12-week multimodal training programme performed three times per week as a part of the research programme (EX). Additionally, the study analysed how the experimental training programme affect the physical performance of cognitive healthy and mild cognitive impaired elderly (MCI). The REF training group included 19 elderly (65.00±3.62 years). The experimental training programme combined cognitively healthy (EXH: n=16; 66.3±6.42 years) and age-matched individuals with MCI (EXMCI: n=14; 66.00±4.79 years). 10m maximal walking speed (10mMWS), Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSS), maximal and relative voluntary contraction (MVC and rel. MVC) were analysed. The REF group improved in 10mMWS (t=2.431, p=.026), the MVC (t=-3.528, p=.002) and relative MVC (t=3.553, p=.002). The EXH group improved in FTSS (t=5.210, P=.000), MVC (t=2.771, p=.018) and relative MVC (t=-3.793, p=.004). EXMCI improved in FTSS (t=2.936, p=.012) and MVC (t=-2.276, p=.040). According to results, both training programmes sufficiently improved walking speed and muscle strength in cognitively healthy elderly. Moreover, the experimental training programme improved muscle strength in MCI elderly.
Persistence of the inverse care law in maternal health service utilization: An examination of antenatal care and hospital delivery in Ghana
Authors: Jonah Coretta M.P.
Published: March 2020

The gap in maternal health outcomes, access and utilization between the haves and have-nots continues to be a challenge globally despite improvements over the past decade. Though Ghana has experienced steady gains in maternal health access and utilization over the years, maternal outcomes, on the other hand, remain poor. In this regard, it is essential to know how various groups in the population achieved improvements and whether some women continue to be disproportionately disadvantaged. The paper performs an analysis of cross-sectional data from the 2017 Ghana maternal health survey to examine the existence of the inverse care law in maternal health services in Ghana. Using descriptive techniques and multivariate logistic regression models the study reveals a pro-rich and pro-urban gradient in the use of hospital facilities for delivery and antenatal care attendance — also, regions known for their high levels of poverty feature significantly lower rates of hospital deliveries. The paper concludes by stressing that unless policies are changed to accommodate these groups, overall gains in maternal health will continue to be incremental.
Collegiate Athletic Trainers' Experiences With External Pressures Faced During Decision Making
Authors: Pike Lacy Alicia M. , Singe Stephanie Mazerolle , Bowman Thomas G.
Published: March 2020

Context

Conflict is prevalent between sports medicine professionals and coaching staffs regarding return-to-play decisions for athletes after injury in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I setting. The firsthand experiences of athletic trainers (ATs) regarding such conflict have not been fully investigated.

Objective

To better understand the outside pressures ATs face when making medical decisions regarding patient care and return to play after injury in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) setting.

Design

Qualitative study.

Setting

Semistructured one-on-one telephone interviews.

Patients or Other Participants

Nine ATs (4 men, 5 women; age = 31 ± 8 years [range = 24–48 years]; years certified = 9 ± 8).

Data Collection and Analysis

Interviews were audio recorded and later transcribed. Thematic analysis was completed phenomenologically. Researcher triangulation, peer review, and member checks were used to establish trustworthiness.

Results

Two major themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: (1) pressure is an expected component of the Division I FBS AT role, and (2) strategies can be implemented to mitigate the negative effects of pressure. Three subthemes supported the second major theme: (1) ensuring ongoing and frequent communication with stakeholders about an injured athlete's status and anticipated timeline for return to play, (2) providing a rationale to coaches or administrations to foster an understanding of why specific medical decisions are being made, and (3) establishing positive relationships with coaches, athletes, and administrations.

Conclusions

External pressure regarding medical decisions was an anticipated occurrence for our sample. Such pressure was described as a natural part of the position, not negative but rather a product of the culture and environment of the Division I FBS setting. Athletic trainers who frequently face pressure from coaches and administration should use the aforementioned strategies to improve the workplace dynamic and foster an environment that focuses on patient-centered care.
A survey on gender-based violence – The paradox of trust between women and men in South Africa: A missiological scrutiny
Authors: Banda Zuze J.
Published: March 2020

South Africa continues to be plagued by gender-based violence (GBV). Recurring incidents of GBV cram news tabloids, social and electronic media, creating the impression of a country at war with itself. Of great concern is that, at the centre of these killings, men are allegedly the main culprits. This then has unleashed national protest campaigns, one notably, by the name #menaretrash, led by activists, mostly women, who angrily voice their disquiet against men. As a response, it was followed by another, namely, #notinmyname, led by those, mostly men, who say, there are many good and proud men who will not allow the image of manhood to be tarnished. At risk is ‘trust’ which is an important social asset, the demise of which plunges any society into a state of parody. This article then seeks to establish the damage GBV causes in terms of trust, especially of women to men. To do this, a survey was conducted to test levels of trust under different circumstances and in respect of different categories of people and public figures. The findings partly confirm existing surveys elsewhere whilst also making contradicting and worrying revelations. The article tries to reconcile these divergent positions socioculturally and theologically and conclude with proposals towards addressing the scourge of GBV.
The book of Hebrews and the Reformed view of Scripture: Hebrews echoed in Belgic Confession Articles 2–7
Authors: Coetsee Albert J.
Published: March 2020

This article argues that the view of Scripture found in the book of Hebrews is echoed in Belgic Confession (BC) Articles 2–7. The article endeavours to prove this hypothesis by indicating how Hebrews and BC Article 2–7 overlap. Articles 2–7 of the BC are discussed successively by summarising what each article says, investigating the conviction of the writer of Hebrews concerning the specific topic and comparing the two. The article finds that the view of Scripture found in BC Articles 2–7 can indeed be traced to the book of Hebrews. The article concludes by drawing some implications from this comparison for the (reformed) church today.
Obituary: Miss Marjorie Douglas
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: March 2020

No abstract available.
Modular prostheses
Authors: Walker Joan M.
Published: March 2020

No abstract available.
Magnetic rice husk ash 'cleanser' as efficient methylene blue adsorbent
Authors: Lawagon Chosel P. , Amon Ramiro Emerson C.
Published: March 2020

Burning of agricultural residues has been a prevalent cause of environmental concern especially in developing countries. In the Philippines, rice husks are usually burned in open air and either usually left in the field or rarely collected to be sold in the wet market as a cleanser. Hence in this study, an alternative use of this burning residue (rice husks ash, RHA) for removal of dyes from aqueous solutions was explored. Yet, its applications in real wastewater will be difficult in its pristine powdered form. Therefore, the RHA was functionalized with Fe3O4 to become inherently magnetic (MRHA), providing relative ease in handling. The RHA used was obtained from the local markets of Davao City, Philippines. Systematic adsorption studies on the effects of contact time, solution pH, solid/liquid ratio, and feed concentration were conducted. MB adsorption was Langmuir-type and followed a pseudo-second-order rate model. Its adsorption rate is significantly fast (t = 10 min, k2 = 0.015 g mg-1 min-1) with high qm (150.5 mg g-1). MRHA was highly stable and reusable (> 10 cycles) demonstrating its high potential as an economical alternative for treatment of dye contaminated wastewater.
Octólogos curvos para una creación audiovisual feminista
Authors: Bueno Alejandra
Published: March 2020

Para pensar en diferentes formas de sentir, crear y representar desde las artes, debemos desestructurar la mirada patriarcal y hegemónica, así como sus estructuras de creación, donde las jerarquías y el individualismo están por encima de lo colectivo. Este estudio presenta una metodología de creación basada en la sensibilidad femenina, feminista y queer, con el objetivo de generar nuevas formas de creación que nos enseñen a relacionarnos mejor, respetarnos y vernos desde la multiplicidad de individualidades y subjetividades. Esta metodología cualitativa y cuantitativa, ha sido creada en base al análisis audiovisual de obras de video presentadas en el festival Internacional de videoarte Fem Tour Truck. El producto obtenido del análisis generó dos octólogos o mapas de tácticas, los cuales se presentan para ser discutidos, probados y evaluados. Estos octólogos se generan a partir de bases feministas donde el principio de reunión, comunidad y cuidado son esenciales para pensar y crear. Si sólo nos enseñaron a mirar desde perspectivas masculinas, bajo estéticas de deseo y subordinación o bajo estructuras de dominación, resulta difícil pensar que nuestras formas de crear no repliquen dichas estructuras. El análisis del constructo audiovisual ha dado una respuesta colonial y patriarcal que debe de ser modificada para una buena educación de la mirada y de las prácticas audiovisuales. La posibilidad de esta modificación trae consigo las bases para las tácticas de creación que darán lugar a una dinámica colectiva, sin roles, abierta y a la deriva. No hablamos de protocolos, sino de mapas con posibles tácticas para la creación, una experiencia rizomática y plural de creación en oposición con la lineal y determinada, una experiencia que se origina en la idea del octólogo, lo curvo, lo infinito, lo continuo.
Poéticas de archivo en el documental contemporáneo
Authors: Marín Ramos Rubén
Published: March 2020

El presente artículo aborda las obras de cineastas y artistas que se autoimponen ciertos protocolos ligados a la configuración archivística para estructurar y dar sentido a sus películas o vídeos. De esta forma, coleccionar, clasificar, realizar listas, series o catálogos, serán prácticas comunes en este tipo de obras, siguiendo así algunos de los pasos del binomio arte-archivo que arranca a principios del S. XX con archivos fotográficos como los de Augène Atget o August Sander y que se expande y desarrolla a través de diversas prácticas artísticas hasta nuestros días. Piezas documentales radicales con una clara alusión a la fotografía - mostrando especial atención en el retrato y el paisaje – y donde proliferan las estructuras repetitivas, planos fijos y, por lo general, un ritmo lento que invita a la contemplación. Countenance (2002) de Fiona Tan, Twenty Cigarettes (2011) de James Benning, Ruinas (2009) de Manuel Mozos o Equí y n'otru tiempu (2014) de Ramón Lluís Bande son algunos de los ejemplos de este cine que se apropia de principios archivísticos, no sólo para cuestionar la idea misma de archivo, sino también como estrategia posnarrativa que sondea las posibilidades de lo que el cine es y puede ser.