bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcending Time and Space with Digital Emotional Support
Authors: Colasante Tyler , Lin Lauren , DeFrance Kalee , Hollenstein Tom
Published: April 2020

In the current digital age, emotional support is increasingly received through digital devices. However, virtually all studies assessing the benefits of emotional support have focused on in-person support. Using an experience sampling methodology, we assessed participants’ negative emotions, digital and in-person support for those emotions, and success in regulating them three times per day for 14 days, thus covering a wide range of digital support scenarios (N = 164 participants with 6,530 collective measurement occasions). We also considered whether participants were alone versus with others at the time of their negative emotion and higher versus lower in social avoidance as plausible moderators of when digital support was utilized and effective. We expected more pronounced use and efficacy of digital support when participants were alone and higher in trait social avoidance. However, digital support was used and perceived as effective for regulating negative emotions regardless of these factors and its beneficial effects were on par with those of traditional in-person support. The unique benefits of digital support may not be restricted to socially isolated or socially avoidant users. These findings are timely given the widespread anxiety and isolation under the current COVID-19 pandemic. If transcending time and space with digital emotional support is the new norm, the good news is that it seems to be working.
The Effect of Persuasive Messages on Hospital Visitors’ Hand Hygiene Behavior
Authors: Gaube Susanne , Fischer Peter , Windl Verena , Lermer Eva
Published: April 2020

Objective: Hospital visitors pose a risk for transmitting pathogens that can cause healthcare-associated infections. The present study aimed to test an evidence-based intervention to improve visitors’ hand hygiene behavior through persuasive messages. Methods: For the 14-week-long field experiment, seven signs were designed according to the principles of persuasion proposed by Cialdini: reciprocity, consistency, social-proof, unity, liking, authority, and scarcity. Each sign was displayed on a screen for one week directly above the hand-rub dispenser in a hospital lobby. Between each posting, the screen was blank for one week. Results: An electronic monitoring system counted 246,098 people entering and leaving the hospital’s lobby and 17,308 dispenser usages. The signs based on the authority and the social-proof principles significantly increased the hand-rub dispenser usage rate in comparison to the average baseline usage rate. Conclusions: These results indicate that simple and cost-efficient interventions can initiate expedient behavior change in hospitals. However, the findings also highlight the importance of careful planning and rigorous pre-testing of material for an intervention to be effective. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Investigating Habitat Suitability and Conservation Issues of Re-introduced Wild Water Buffalo in Chitwan National Park, Nepal
Authors: Dhungel Gaurav , Thanet Dol Raj
Published: April 2020

With an ever present threat of extinction aggravated mostly by inbreeding, genetic introgression and flooding stress, translocation of wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) to another suitable habitat was a must since decades. Habitat suitability analysis for wild water buffalo has been done by using binary model in ArcGIS 10.2.2 and slope, elevation, distance to water bodies and land cover criteria were used to prepare habitat suitability map of Chitwan National Park. Vegetation compositions were assessed in the grassland of Old Padampur area in sample plots (n = 36) each of size 1m x 1m for grasses and 10m x 10m for trees by using random sampling strategy. Conservation issues were identified through key-informant interviews and on-site observation of enclosure area, where re-introduced wild water buffalo were soft released. 127.13 km2 of the park area was identified as suitable habitat for wild water buffalo with around 79% of Old Padampur area. Importance Value Index (IVI) indicated that Saccharum spontaneum was found to be the most dominant grass species (IVI = 100.43) followed by Imperata cylindrica (IVI = 56.70) in Old Padampur area. Old Padampur area lies in the lap of Rapti River with many streams and marshes in the area which contributes to its suitability. The grassland of Old Padampur area is the largest in the park. At present, the wild water buffalo is facing some conservation issues mainly due to improper execution of soft release strategy and few uncontrolled natural events, such as floods and predators attacks. Therefore, to maintain the viable population of wild water buffalo in Chitwan National Park in the long-run, it is crucial to regulate and enhance effective soft release strategy and more advance techno-based modality in close coordination with conservation partners and relevant stakeholders.
La rationalisation de l’éducation physique en France,
1950-1966 : la pédagogie du « rendement et du contrôle »
Authors: Sarremejane Philippe
Published: April 2020

In the post-war period (1950-1966), physical education in
France went through a strong movement of methodological
rationalization. Driven by a search for social acceptance and a
desire to be recognized as a fundamental school subject,
physical education sought to produce a form of efficiency
combined with a procedure for the control of learning. The goal
was to measure the effects of teaching, that is, the “progress”
made. Yet during this period evaluation tools were neither
effective nor unified or generalized. The innovative process
begins with an estimation of the physical capacities of the
pupils so as to define comparable level groups. Childcentredness
becomes the most efficient method. Gradually, the tools allowing
us to estimate this level become more impressive; the
development of the classification table of Jean Letessier can be
seen as the height of this innovation. This new methodology
presents important theoretical and practical modes of
rationality. However, controlling “progress” will turn out to be
challenging. Clearly, the school conditions of teaching make it
difficult to prove that the pupils have really progressed in
their physical education classes. Many tensions remain.
Relationship between Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio with Diaphragm Thickness in Critical Patients
Authors: Haloho Agustina , Sedono Rudyanto , Sugiarto Adhrie , Zulkifli Zulkifli
Published: April 2020

Abstract

 

Background: The cause of weaning failure is multifactorial. One of the causes was Ventilator Induced Diaphragm Dysfunction (VIDD) due to thinning process of the diaphragm thickness. Decreased diaphragm muscle mass might occur due to inflammatory process.

Methods: The study was an observational analytic study from September 2018 to January 2019 in Mohammad Hoesin Hospital, Palembang â€“ Indonesia. Ethical appoval for the study was obtained from Ethics Committee and subjects were recruited after signing the informed consents. Only 30 subjects were involved in the end of the study. About 6 mL of blood sample from cubital vein was withdrawn from each subject to measure neutrophils and lymphocytes. Patientsâ€™ diaphragm thickness was measured by using ultrasonography on 0th, 3rd, 5th day. Collected data were then analyzed with STATA 15.

Results: The chi-square test showed that the relationship of NLR (neutophil to lymphocyte ratio) of the 0th day to the decrease in diaphragm thickness on the 3rd day was not significant (p = 0.254), while the decrease in diaphragm thickness on the 5th day was significant (p = 0.015). Subjects with initial NLR values >7 had a significant higher risk of having decreased diaphragm thickness compared to subjects with initial NLR values â€‹â€‹â‰¤7 (RR = 1.62 (0.99-2.64); p-value = 0.003).

Conclusion: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio affected the decrease of diaphragm thickness in patients using mechanical ventilation.
Developing and Implementing a Web-Based educational platform for Children with Special Needs
Authors: Al Hayek Fatimah Ali , Mohammad Khelaif Malikah , Shaikh Zahra Ali Al , Alshammari Hayam Kareem , Alshabanah Muneerah , Alrajhi Daniah , K. Alsmadi Mutasem , Almarashdeh Ibrahim
Published: April 2020

Web-Based educational platform is now broadly adopted. These platforms are a real opportunities for education of a better quality for a lot of people. Though, people with disabilities are still meeting many barriers to use these systems. In fact, the main barrier is that most accessible Web-Based educational platforms is not available to people with disabilities and doesn’t consider their special needs. In this paper, we present an accessible web-based educational platform for children with special needs from the design step to the implementation. The motive for choosing this idea was the lack of comprehensive educational platforms for children in particular, which bring together children, parents and schools. The proposed platform will support the educational process in schools as the platform contains simplified explanations of what is taught in some school curricula such as numbers, letters and mathematical operations, and also forms a link between the child and his school where it contains worksheets and extracurricular activities that the teaching staff can benefit from. There is also a section for parents that include educational home games and simple books that enhance children's skills and train them on what has been learned. The proposed system was developed using the Unified Modeling Language (UML), ASP.NET , HTML and CSS.
Effective removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution using Acasia Arabica tree bark sustrate
Authors: A. D. Gharde , B. D. Gharde
Published: April 2020

This work reports the characterization of intensive industrial and agricultural activity is the basic reason of enormous pollution of the environment. Heavy metals generally occur in water in low concentration as a result of metal industries and partly through geological processes, but these cause direct toxicity both to human and other living beings. Due to their presence obeyed the specified limit. Heavy metals in wastewater has emerged as focus of environment remediation efforts of industrialization, urbanization with new technological advantages. The natural bodies of water are polluted by means of different contaminant like organic refractories, heavy metal ions etc. The significant concentration of some of the heavy metal ions in water are toxic to human being, animals as well as aquatic organisms. Some heavy metal ions even at the trace level has been recognized toxic to the public health. Many metals have been evaluated toxic to aquatic life certain to threshold toxicity level. The effect of tree bark for Cu(II) from copper sulphate on the metal content of industrial wastewater was investigated in the pH of 4-6. It is observed that the method of binding follows the first order adsorption rate expression such as effect of pH, agitation time, doses of bark substrate, initial metal ion concentration, effect of varying temperature were also studied.
O uso da modelagem computacional em funções de cinemática com o Modellus
Authors: Cardoso Kaio Felipe Nink , Junior Gilberto Nunes da Silva , Júnior João Hermano Torreiro de Carvalho
Published: April 2020

A aplicação da Física ainda se mostra um desafio para os meios de ensino, baseando-se nos métodos tradicionais, podendo excluir outros meios mais modernos e que façam um uso maior de tecnologias educacionais. Fizemos uso do programa de modelagem computacional, Modellus, voltado principalmente para aplicações de Cinemática, com dois exercícios envolvendo os movimentos de Lançamento Vertical e Lançamento Oblíquo, uma vez que são levantadas dificuldades quanto à compreensão, possivelmente, gerada pelos métodos educacionais expositivos. Aplicamos os exercícios em um questionário com 15 alunos da 2ª Série do Ensino Médio do IFBA/ Barreiras, como amostra para análise da forma que os estudantes avaliam o atual ensino da Física e as possíveis necessidades de novas metodologias na educação dessa Ciência.

Palavras chaves: Ensino de Física, software, modelagem computacional, avaliação estudantil.
Kekuatan Hukum Rekam Medis Dalam Pembuktian Perkara Malpraktek
Authors: Boediningsih Widyawati
Published: April 2020

Medical record is a file who contains the patient’s identity and what medical act has been done by the medical expert for the patient, therefore it can be difinite that datas include on the medical record is absolutely the patien’s property. Related with that property and to warrant the patient’s rights of their medical records, government issued several regulations about medical record. Related of the function as the evidence, therefore medical record has two functions, there are as an expert statement evidence and mail evidence on the medical malpractice case, and having free proofing value. This rights is not absolute, in the meaning that with the patient’s authority, medical record will able to discover for the important things including for the court importance. Key words : medical record, proofment, medical malpractice
EFEKTIVITAS MOBILISASI MIRING KIRI MIRING KANAN DALAM UPAYA PENCEGAHAN PRESSURE INJURY PADA PASIEN SEPSIS DI RUANG INSTALASI PELAYANAN INTENSIF
Authors: Simanjuntak Tiurmauli Rotua , Purnama Agus
Published: April 2020

Pendahuluan :Â perawat berperan dalam merawat pasien dalam keterkaitan dengan kenyamanan pasien-pasien dengan total bedrest, salah satunya adalah dengan melakukan miring kanan dan kiri..Tujuan :Â untuk memgetahui efektivitas mobilisasi miring kiri miring kanan yang dalam hal ini posisi miring 30 derajat dalam upaya pencegahan pressure injury/luka tekan pada pasien sepsis.Metode:Â Metode yang digunakan Post Test Only Control Group Design dengan jumlah populasi sebanyak 30 responden.Hasil :Â Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa mobilisasi miring kiri miring kanan ada pengaruh dalam pencegahan pressure injury/luka tekan pada pasien sepsis baik itu dengan metode 30 derajat dan 90 derajat (p=0,004 < Î±=0,05).Kesimpulan: Mobilisasi miring kiri miring kanan efektif dalam pencegahan risiko pressure injury/luka tekan pada pasien sepsis.
Atomic Vacancy Defect, Frenkel Defect and Transition Metals (Sc, V, Zr) Doping in Ti4N3 MXene Nanosheet: A First-Principles Investigation
Authors: Zhou Tingyan , Zhao Wan , Yang Kun , Yao Qian , Li Yangjun , Wu Bo , Liu Jun
Published: April 2020

Using first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory, the effects of atomic vacancy defect, Frenkel-type defect and transition metal Z (Z = Sc, V and Zr) doping on magnetic and electric properties of the Ti4N3 MXene nanosheet were investigated comprehensively. The surface Ti and subsurface N atomic vacancies are both energetically stable based on the calculated binding energy and formation energy. In addition, the former appears easier than the latter. They can both enhance the magnetism of the Ti4N3 nanosheet. For atom-swapped disordering, the surface Ti-N swapped disordering is unstable, and then the Frenkel-type defect will happen. In the Frenkel-type defect system, the total magnetic moment decreases due to the enhancement of indirect magnetic exchange between surface Ti atoms bridged by the N atom. A relatively high spin polarizability of approximately 70% was detected. Furthermore, the doping effects of transition metal Z (Z = Sc, V and Zr) on Ti4N3 nanosheet are explored. All doped systems are structurally stable and have relatively large magnetism, which is mainly induced by the directed magnetic exchange between surface Z and Ti atoms. Especially in the doped Ti4N3-Sc system, the high spin polarizability is still reserved, suggesting that this doped system can be a potential candidate for application in spintronics.
Potential Application of Tetrapleura tetraptera and Hibiscus sabdariffa (Malvaceae) in Designing Highly Flavoured and Bioactive Pito with Functional Properties
Authors: Adadi Parise , Kanwugu Osman N.
Published: April 2020

Sorghum beer (pito) is an indigenous alcoholic beverage peculiar to northern Ghana and parts of other West African countries. It is overwhelmed with calories, essential amino acids (such as lysine, etc.), B-group vitamins, and minerals. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for highly flavoured yet functional pito in Ghana; however, the local producers lack the prerequisite scientific expertise in designing such products. We propose the utilization of Tetrapleura tetraptera (TT) and Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) as cheap and readily available materials in designing functional flavoured pito. The addition of TT and HS would not alter the fermentation profile but rather augment the starter with nutrients, thus improving the fermentation performance and shelf life of the final pito. In vitro and in vivo studies provide substantive evidence of antioxidant, nephro- and hepato-protective, renal/diuretic effect, anticholesterol, antidiabetic, and antihypertensive effects among others of the TT and HS, hence enriching the pito with health-promoting factors and consequently boosting the health of the consumer. Herein, we summarise the phytochemical, biological, pharmacological, and toxicological aspects of TT and HS as well as the technology involved in brewing the novel bioactive-flavoured pito. In addition, we also report the incidence of heavy metal in conventional pito.
Persistently Worsened Tear Break-up Time and Keratitis in Unilateral Pseudophakic Eyes after a Long Postoperative Period
Authors: Hanyuda Akiko , Negishi Kazuno , Tsubota Kazuo , Ayaki Masahiko
Published: April 2020

Dry eye disease may develop and persist after cataract surgery; however, unilateral cases have not been fully documented. This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in five eye clinics in Japan. A total of 1023 outpatients were initially enrolled, and 89 unilateral pseudophakic subjects with 1+ year of follow-up after uncomplicated cataract surgery were included. The tear break-up times (TBUTs) and keratoconjunctival staining results were compared between phakic and pseudophakic eyes. The mean age of the patients was 69.3 ± 10.4 years (32 men, 36.0%), and the mean postoperative period was 4.6 ± 4.4 (1–20) years. For the ophthalmic parameters, the TBUTs were 4.4 ± 1.9 and 3.8 ± 1.9 s (p < 0.001), the keratoconjunctival staining scores were 0.11 ± 0.38 and 0.22 ± 0.56 (p = 0.02), the spherical equivalents were −1.27 ± 2.51 and −0.99 ± 1.45 D (p = 0.21), the astigmatic errors were 0.79 ± 0.66 and 0.78 ± 0.58 D (p = 0.80), and the intraocular pressures were 13.6 ± 2.9 and 13.5 ± 2.6 mmHg (p = 0.62) for the phakic and pseudophakic eyes, respectively. The corneal status was significantly worse in the pseudophakic eyes than in the contralateral phakic eyes, even after more than one year after implant surgery. The present results suggested that long-term ocular surface problems should be examined further since they may not originate only from surgery or postoperative ocular surface diseases.
Causality Effects among Gross Capital Formation, Unemployment and Economic Growth in South Africa
Authors: Pasara Michael Takudzwa , Garidzirai Rufaro
Published: April 2020

Stagnant economic growth, decreasing investment and high unemployment remain consistent macroeconomic challenges for South Africa. Gross Capital formation (GCF) is designed to improve employment and economic growth (GDP). This study investigates the causality effects of the three variables using time series data from 1980 to 2018 in a Vector Autoregressive (VAR) framework. Results of the first model reveal a positive long-term relationship between gross capital formation GCF and economic growth GDP. Contrariwise, the first model indicates that unemployment (UNEMP) does not influence economic growth (GDP) in the short run. The second model results reveal a significant and positive relationship between UNEMP and GCF, while the third model shows an inverse relationship between GDP and UNEMP. Based on these findings, the study therefore recommends that fiscal authorities introduce expansionary fiscal policy that stimulates economic growth, investment and employment.
A Preliminary Study of the Influence of Game Types on the Learning Interests of Primary School Students in Digital Games
Authors: Chen Min-Bin , Wang Siou-Ge , Chen You-Ning , Chen Xiao-Fang , Lin Yi-Zhen
Published: April 2020

Learning is mainly based on the students’ mental activities. If they can learn spontaneously, it will help increase their interest and the effectiveness of the learning. Learning through playing will make it easier for students to learn spontaneously. The balance between gameplay and education in educational games is a key issue in designing such games. Designing educational games to be less complex and more casual makes it easier to balance education and entertainment. For courses with practical operational characteristics, combining a game with a virtual and real integration experience can increase both student interest and learning effectiveness. This research develops an augmented reality app, named "Mobile Plant", which is an app developed for the primary school plant curriculum, combining games and augmented reality to enhance students’ interest in learning. A questionnaire shows that the game has positive results in terms of game difficulty and absorption of content.
Hydrodynamic Response of a Combined Wind–Wave Marine Energy Structure
Authors: Wang Yapo , Zhang Lixian , Michailides Constantine , Wan Ling , Shi Wei
Published: April 2020

Due to the energy crisis and greenhouse effect, offshore renewable energy is attracting increasing attention worldwide. Various offshore renewable energy systems, such as floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs), and wave energy converters (WECs), have been proposed and developed so far. To increase power output and reduce related costs, a combined marine energy structure using FOWT and WEC technologies has been designed, analyzed and presented in the present paper. The energy structure combines a 5-MW braceless semisubmersible FOWT and a heave-type WEC which is installed on the central column of the semisubmersible. Wave power is absorbed by a power take-off (PTO) system through the relative heave motion between the central column of the FOWT and the WEC. A numerical model has been developed and is used to determine rational size and draft of the combined structure. The effects of different PTO system parameters on the hydrodynamic performance and wave energy production of the WEC under typical wave conditions are investigated and a preliminary best value for the PTO’s damping coefficient is obtained. Additionally, the effects of viscous modeling used during the analysis and the hydrodynamic coupling on the response of the combined structure are studied.
Sensitivities of Bottom Stress Estimation to Sediment Stratification in a Tidal Coastal Bottom Boundary Layer
Authors: Peng Yun , Yu Qian , Wang Yunwei , Zhu Qingguang , Wang Ya Ping
Published: April 2020

The bottom friction velocity (U*), which controls seabed erosion and deposition, plays a critical role in sediment transport in tidal coastal bottom boundary layers. Approaches have been proposed to calculate U*, including the log profile (LP) estimation, the direct covariance (COV) measurement, and the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) method. However, the LP method assumes homogeneous flow and the effects of stratification need to be taken into account. Here, field investigations of hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics were carried out on the Jiangsu Coast, China. Two acoustic Doppler velocimeters (ADV) velocity measurements at 0.2 and 1 m above the seabed have been used to estimate U*, based on the aforementioned three methods. The COV and TKE methods provided reasonable estimations of U*, while a pronounced overestimation was identified when using the LP method. This overestimation can be attributed to the stratification effects associated with the vertical suspended sediment concentration (SSC) gradient near the bottom. Then, three models were utilized to correct the overestimation, in which the gradient/flux Richardson number was modified with empirical constants α, β, and A to parameterize the stratification effects in the logarithmic velocity distribution. The values of α, β, and A derived from the observation are smaller than the results from previous investigations. These modified logarithmic velocity distribution models can be applied in numerical simulations when sediment stratification is important.
Advancement of Routing Protocols and Applications of Underwater Wireless Sensor Network (UWSN)—A Survey
Authors: Haque Khandaker Foysal , Kabir K. Habibul , Abdelgawad Ahmed
Published: April 2020

Water covers a greater part of the Earth’s surface. However, little knowledge has been achieved regarding the underwater world as most parts of it remain unexplored. Oceans, including other water bodies, hold substantial natural resources and also the aquatic lives. These are mostly undiscovered and unknown due to the unsuited and hazardous underwater environments for the human. This inspires the unmanned exploration of these dicey environments. Neither unmanned exploration nor the distant real-time monitoring is possible without deploying Underwater Wireless Sensor Network (UWSN). Consequently, UWSN has drawn the interests of the researchers recently. This vast underwater world is possible to be monitored remotely from a distant location with much ease and less risk. The UWSN is required to be deployed over the volume of the water body to monitor and surveil. For vast water bodies like oceans, rivers and large lakes, data is collected from the different heights/depths of the water level which is then delivered to the surface sinks. Unlike terrestrial communication and radio waves, conventional mediums do not serve the purpose of underwater communication due to their high attenuation and low underwater-transmission range. Instead, an acoustic medium is able to transmit data in underwater more efficiently and reliably in comparison to other mediums. To transmit and relay the data reliably from the bottom of the sea to the sinks at the surface, multi-hop communication is utilized with different schemes. For seabed to surface sink communication, leading researchers proposed different routing protocols. The goal of these routing protocols is to make underwater communications more reliable, energy-efficient and delay efficient. This paper surveys the advancement of some of the routing protocols which eventually helps in finding the most efficient routing protocol and some recent applications for the UWSN. This work also summarizes the remaining challenging issues and the future trends of those considered routing protocols. This survey encourages further research efforts to improve the routing protocols of UWSN for enhanced underwater monitoring and exploration.
Gendered Species Preferences Link Tree Diversity and Carbon Stocks in Cacao Agroforest in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: Sari Rika , Saputra Danny , Hairiah Kurniatun , Rozendaal Danaë , Roshetko James , van Noordwijk Meine
Published: April 2020

The degree to which the maintenance of carbon (C) stocks and tree diversity can be jointly achieved in production landscapes is debated. C stocks in forests are decreased by logging before tree diversity is affected, while C stocks in monoculture tree plantations increase, but diversity does not. Agroforestry can break this hysteresis pattern, relevant for policies in search of synergy. We compared total C stocks and tree diversity among degraded forest, complex cacao/fruit tree agroforests, simple shade-tree cacao agroforestry, monoculture cacao, and annual crops in the Konawe District, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. We evaluated farmer tree preferences and the utility value of the system for 40 farmers (male and female). The highest tree diversity (Shannon–Wiener H index 2.36) and C stocks (282 Mg C ha−1) were found in degraded forest, followed by cacao-based agroforestry systems (H index ranged from 0.58–0.93 with C stocks of 75–89 Mg ha−1). Male farmers selected timber and fruit tree species with economic benefits as shade trees, while female farmers preferred production for household needs (fruit trees and vegetables). Carbon stocks and tree diversity were positively related (R2 = 0.72). Adding data from across Indonesia (n = 102), agroforestry systems had an intermediate position between forest decline and reforestation responses. Maintaining agroforestry in the landscape allows aboveground C stocks up to 50 Mg ha−1 and reduces biodiversity loss. Agroforestry facilitates climate change mitigation and biodiversity goals to be addressed simultaneously in sustainable production landscapes.
Synergies and Determinants of Sustainable Intensification Practices in Pakistani Agriculture
Authors: Jabbar Awais , Wu Qun , Peng Jianchao , Zhang Jian , Imran Asma , Yao Luo
Published: April 2020

Sustainable intensification practices (SIPs) involve a process to produce high yields for existing land without affecting the environment. The significance and relevance of SIPs in a Pakistani context demands an investigation. Hence, this study takes the initiative to investigate the determinants regarding the adoption of these practices. Based on the evidence, we selected five SIPs, namely, improved seeds, organic manure, crop rotation, intercropping, and low tillage. Furthermore, this study analyzes the adoption of SIPs with randomly collected data from 612 farmers through multistage sampling. A multivariate probit model (MVP) is employed to analyze the mutually dependent adoption decisions and identify the factors associated with them. The results revealed that education, the area under cultivation, access to information, extension access, social participation, rainfall variability, and temperature increase significantly predict the adoption of SIPs. The adoption of organic manure and crop rotation was highest between all the ecological zones, whereas low tillage was the least adopted practice. Adoption intensity in mixed cropping zones was slightly higher than the other ecological zones. Moreover, the findings also reveal the important synergies amid natural resource management and input-based SIPs. Hence, the study highlights the perseverance and importance of social groups and recommends the government to formulate comprehensive policies to facilitate institutional access and elevate the adoption level amongst the farming community.
Candida albicans Adaptation on Simulated Human Body Fluids under Different pH
Authors: Barbosa Ana , Araújo Daniela , Ribeiro Eduarda , Henriques Mariana , Silva Sónia
Published: April 2020

Candida albicans remains the most problematic of all Candida species, causing severe infections. Adaptation to different human body niches, such oral and urinary tracts, has been shown to be essential for survival and critical for virulence of C. albicans. Thus, the present work aimed to study the behaviour of C. albicans on simulated human body fluids (artificial saliva and urine) at different values of pH (pH 5.8 and 7) by determining its ability to develop two of the most important virulence factors: biofilms and filamentous forms. Under this study, it was demonstrated that C. albicans was able to grow as free cells and to develop biofilm communities composed of multiple cell types (yeast and elongated hyphal cells) on both simulated human body fluids and under different pH. It was interesting to note that the pH had little impact on C. albicans planktonic and biofilm growth, despite influencing the development of filamentous shapes in artificial saliva and urine. So, it was possible to infer that C. albicans presents a high plasticity and adaptability to different human body fluids, namely saliva and urine. These can be the justification for the high number of oral and urinary candidiasis in the whole world.
Phenotype, Virulence and Immunogenicity of Edwardsiella piscicida Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein (Crp) Mutants in Catfish Host
Authors: Zhou Peng , Han Xueqing , Ye Xiang , Zheng Feifei , Yan Ting , Xie Quan , Zhang Yong-An , Curtiss Roy , Zhou Yang
Published: April 2020

Edwardsiella piscicida, a facultative aerobic pathogen belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, is the etiological agent of edwardsiellosis that causes significant economic loses in the aquaculture industry. cAMP receptor protein (CRP) is one of the most important transcriptional regulators, which can regulate large quantities of operons in different bacteria. Here we characterize the crp gene and report the effect of a crp deletion in E. piscicida. The crp-deficient mutant lost the capacity to utilize maltose, and showed significantly reduced motility due to the lack of flagella synthesis. We further constructed a ΔPcrp mutant to support that the phenotype above was caused by the crp deletion. Evidence obtained in fish serum killing assay and competitive infection assay strongly indicated that the inactivation of crp impaired the ability of E. piscicida to evade host immune clearance. More importantly, the virulence of the crp mutant was attenuated in both zebrafish and channel catfish, with reductions in mortality rates. In the end, we found that crp mutant could confer immune protection against E. piscicida infection to zebrafish and channel catfish, indicating its potential as a live attenuated vaccine.
The Response to Oxidative Stress in Listeria monocytogenes Is Temperature Dependent
Authors: Manso Beatriz , Melero Beatriz , Stessl Beatrix , Jaime Isabel , Wagner Martin , Rovira Jordi , Rodríguez-Lázaro David
Published: April 2020

The stress response of 11 strains of Listeria monocytogenes to oxidative stress was studied. The strains included ST1, ST5, ST7, ST6, ST9, ST87, ST199 and ST321 and were isolated from diverse food processing environments (a meat factory, a dairy plant and a seafood company) and sample types (floor, wall, drain, boxes, food products and water machine). Isolates were exposed to two oxidizing agents: 13.8 mM cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) and 100 mM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at 10 °C and 37 °C. Temperature affected the oxidative stress response as cells treated at 10 °C survived better than those treated at 37 °C. H2O2 at 37 °C was the condition tested resulting in poorest L. monocytogenes survival. Strains belonging to STs of Lineage I (ST5, ST6, ST87, ST1) were more resistant to oxidative stress than those of Lineage II (ST7, ST9, ST199 and ST321), with the exception of ST7 that showed tolerance to H2O2 at 10 °C. Isolates of each ST5 and ST9 from different food industry origins showed differences in oxidative stress response. The gene expression of two relevant virulence (hly) and stress (clpC) genes was studied in representative isolates in the stressful conditions. hly and clpC were upregulated during oxidative stress at low temperature. Our results indicate that conditions prevalent in food industries may allow L. monocytogenes to develop survival strategies: these include activating molecular mechanisms based on cross protection that can promote virulence, possibly increasing the risk of virulent strains persisting in food processing plants.
Manufacturing Tolerance Analysis of Deep-Ridged 90° Hybrid Based on InP 4 × 4 MMI
Authors: Lu Ziqing , Han Qin , Ye Han , Wang Shuai , Xiao Feng
Published: April 2020

An optical 90° hybrid based on an InGaAsP/InP deep-ridged 4 × 4 multimode interference (MMI) coupler is proposed and fabricated. Manufacturing tolerances on structural parameters of the 90° hybrid including multimode waveguide width and length, waveguide core thickness, and refractive index are analyzed over the whole C-band using a three-dimensional beam propagation method (3D BPM). The simulation results show that the 90° hybrid is insensitive to the interference length with a deviation of 10 μm. However, the width fluctuations produce far stronger performance variations than length fluctuations. The common-mode rejection ratios (CMRRs) are always above 40 dB, and the phase error (PE) is always below 2.5° with the fluctuations of the refractive index by 0.01 and the thickness by 0.1 μm of the core layer. The fabricated device exhibited a quadrature phase response with a high common-mode rejection ratio of more than 25 dB and a small phase error of less than 5° from 1545 nm to 1560 nm.
Underutilised Resources in Urban Environments
Authors: Kusch-Brandt Sigrid
Published: April 2020

An important opportunity for more sustainable development pathways in an urbanising world is missed where resources remain underutilised, when they could be valorised in a sound and environmentally favourable mode. This Special Issue of the journal Resources was initiated to identify promising solutions and specific challenges in the context of underutilised resources in urban environments. The compiled contributions address two main areas, namely the establishment of circular economy schemes based on valorising wastes that occur in urban areas and the exploitation of renewable energies. Circular economy and renewable resources hold key potential for making cities more sustainable, and the authors of this Special Issue, with their publications, enhance our understanding of how to unlock this potential. Effective regulatory frameworks and policymaking processes which balance the powers between stakeholders are required to successfully manage energy transition and the transition to more circular economies. The positive role of community engagement merits high attention. To recover valuable resources from household waste, a focus on technology and infrastructure is required but is not enough; motivational factors and knowledge of citizens are most essential elements. It also becomes evident that the need to more reliably quantify and better characterise recyclable material streams, especially where population numbers are further growing, remains. The publications compiled in this Special Issue are a rich source to identify promising solutions, challenges and research needed for the sound management of urban resource demands.
A Note on Combining Machine Learning with Statistical Modeling for Financial Data Analysis
Authors: Sarabia José María , Prieto Faustino , Jordá Vanesa , Sperlich Stefan
Published: April 2020

This note revisits the ideas of the so-called semiparametric methods that we consider to be very useful when applying machine learning in insurance. To this aim, we first recall the main essence of semiparametrics like the mixing of global and local estimation and the combining of explicit modeling with purely data adaptive inference. Then, we discuss stepwise approaches with different ways of integrating machine learning. Furthermore, for the modeling of prior knowledge, we introduce classes of distribution families for financial data. The proposed procedures are illustrated with data on stock returns for five companies of the Spanish value-weighted index IBEX35.
Impact of Nutritional Supplementation on Canine Dermatological Disorders
Authors: Marchegiani Andrea , Fruganti Alessandro , Spaterna Andrea , Dalle Vedove Elena , Bachetti Benedetta , Massimini Marcella , Di Pierro Francesco , Gavazza Alessandra , Cerquetella Matteo
Published: April 2020

Nutritional supplements, also known as complementary feeds, are products administered with the aim of furnishing health benefits, regardless of nutritional needs. They have been used since ancient times in veterinary dermatology, and a number of studies have focused on investigating the health benefits of some ingredients found in commercially available complementary feed for dogs. The aim of this paper is to review the literature available on the use of nutritional supplementation for the management of canine skin diseases, critically appraising the clinical efficacy of such interventions and summarizing the current state of knowledge. This review highlights how these feeds can be considered useful in the management of dermatological disorders and outlines their beneficial effects in the prevention of dietary deficiencies and treatment of diseases, alone, or in addition to conventional pharmacological therapy. In recent years, nutritional supplements have found increasing potential application in veterinary medicine, and the scientific proofs of their beneficial effects are described in this review.
Perancangan Sistem Informasi Akademik Pada Sekolah Menengah Pertama Berbasis Web
Authors: Nurelasari Ela
Published: April 2020

Teknologi informasi melaju dengan cepatnya. Adapun komputer yang merupakan peralatan yang diciptakan untuk mempermudah pekerjaan manusia, saat mencapai kemajuan baik di dalam pembuatan hardware maupun software. Teknologi komputer sangat mendukung dalam hal pengolahan data untuk membuat suatu sistem informasi yang digunakan agar memberikan suatu hasil kerja yang maksimal. Perkembangan teknologi informasi dipengaruhi juga oleh internet. Dengan internet kita dapat memberikan pelayanan dengan mudah yang dapat diakses dari mana saja didunia ini. Sekarang ini, hampir semua orang dapat mengakses informasi, salah satunya melalui website di internet. Dengan menggunakan sistem informasi akan dengan mudah mendapatkan informasi yang dibutuhkan. Sistem informasi akademik sekolah menengah pertama adalah salah satu sistem akademik yang sangat penting untuk semua informasi-informasi kegiatan yang ada di sekolah. Maksud dan tujuan dari dibuatnya website tersebut adalah untuk menyediakan sistem pendaftaran siswa baru yang terkomputerisasi ,dapat memudahkan siswa untuk melihat nilai hasil belajar tanpa datang ke sekolah dan memudahkan guru-guru dalam penginputan nilai siswa.
STUDENTS SATISFACTION TOWARD INDUSTRIAL TRAINING PLACEMENT SERVICES
Authors: Mohamed Zahari , Haji Ismail Samihah Saad , Zainuddin Nizamuddin
Published: April 2020

This study was conducted to measure the effectiveness of quality management of industrial training management services by CUIC UUM. The study essentially utilizes the SERVQUAL service quality study model as a theoretical framework and the development of questionnaires. The questionnaires contained demographic information and 49 measurement items. Fieldwork was conducted from June 2014 to January 2015, i.e. the training session of the UUM’s student industry training or the respondents. The unit of analysis used is the individual, who is a UU CUIC customer. A total of 827 questions were analyzed. The results show that there is a strong relationship between the quality of service quality produced by CUIC UUM with the level of customer satisfaction. The five dimensions of service quality, namely reliability, assurance, empathy, sensitivity, and reliability as well as the role of marketing or promotion communication indicate the varying strengths of relationships in influencing customer satisfaction of service dominating organizations such as CUIC UUM.
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: A CASE STUDY ON ITS CHALLENGES AND LONG-TERM IMPACT ON VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS
Authors: Elnour Hind Eldaw , Saad Supiah
Published: April 2020

Inclusive education is arguably currently one of the most debated topics in the field of education. With more and more families opting for this approach to education for their special needs child, there is a rise in the number of schools adopting this approach. The present study examines the perceptions of visually impaired individuals towards inclusive education in Malaysia, including the challenges faced. The impact on their social lives was also investigated. Participants for the study comprised of 4 visually impaired individuals who had previously gone through inclusive education in their secondary school years. Employing a qualitative approach, a semi-structured interview was conducted in order to generate an in-depth insight into the phenomenon. The results of the study have indicated overall positive experiences for the participants. While the majority of the teachers were reported to show positive attitudes towards the participants, there were rare occurrences of teachers being unaware of the appropriate approaches of including the visually impaired students while teaching. Moreover, although there were a few instances of being bullied by peers, this improved once the visually impaired and their sighted peers began to socialize and understand each other. This positive repercussion of socialization was evident in the social development of the participants with regard to their working life and relationships with others. Some suggestions were made by the participants, which have been put forth as implications. These include more viable education options and widespread opportunities for attaining stable jobs. Nonetheless, further research is required in the field involving female participants to gain a wider perspective on the phenomenon, while the integration of quantitative methods of data collection will generate more conclusive outcomes.
آراء أبي الحسن الأشعري في مسائل أصول الفقه وأثرها في اختياراته الكلامية
Authors: الميساوي محمد الطاهر , سلهب بلال بركات
Published: April 2020

تُعنى هذه الدراسة بإبراز جانب مهم من التراث العلمي لأبي الحسن الأشعري (260-324ﻫ/874-936م) لم ينل حظه من البحث، وهو الجانب المتعلِّق بالعلاقة الجدلية التفاعلية عنده بين النظر في مسائل علم أصول الفقه والبحث في قضايا علم الكلام، من أجل الكشف عن أثر آرائه في الأول في توجيه مذاهبه في الثاني. وقد سلكت الدراسة في ذلك منهجاً يقوم على استنطاق نصوص الأشعري نفسه، وعدم التعويل على ما نُسِب إليه في مصنَّفات علماء الأصول والكلام المتأخرين، باستثناء ابن فورك الذي يُعَدُّ كتابه "مقالات الأشعري" مصدراً أولياً لفكر الأشعري بعد مصنَّفات هذا الأخير الثابتة نسبتها إليه. أمّا مناط التركيز في الدراسة فهو مباحث الجانب الأصولي اللغوي كما يتجلّى في تلك المصادر الأولية.

This study is concerned with bringing to light an important, but understudied, aspect of the scholarly legacy of Abu al-Hasan al-Ash‘ari (260-324H/874-936CE), namely the dialectical and interactive relationship between the inquiry of issues of Islamic legal theory and investigation into questions of Islamic theology. The aim is to see how al-Ash‘ari’s views in legal theory shaped his opinions in theology. The study engages itself with al-Ash‘ari’s texts themselves with resorts to what has been attributed to him in the works of later Muslim legal theorists and theologians, to the exception of Ibn Furak’s Maqalat al-Ash‘ari which stands as a primary source next to al-Ash‘ari’s works whose attribution to is beyond doubt. The study has focused on fundamental issues pertaining to legal theory as expounded in those primary sources.
Diabetes and Chronic Inflammation for Future Research Development
Authors: H Bando
Published: April 2020

Congratulations on the inaugural issue of Diabetes Research: Open Access (DROA). Across the world, the necessity of medical practice and research concerning diabetes has been more emphasized. The significant role of this journal will be expected from now.
The Influence of the Vír Reservoir on Maximum Annual and Flood Discharge Rates on the Upper Svratka River
Authors: Sklenář Jiří , Brázdil Rudolf
Published: April 2020

This paper provides an analysis of maximum annual and flood discharges on the upper Svratka River during a period of systematic hydrological measurements before and after the construction of the reservoirs known as Vír I and Vír II. The water-gauge stations of Borovnice (upstream from the reservoirs) and Vír (downstream from the reservoirs) are used to analyse peak discharges (Qk) with a return period equal to or higher than two years (Q2), from 1925 to 2010. The flood regime is evaluated in terms of the frequency of floods, their seasonality and extremity. The article explores anthropogenic influence on maximum annual discharges and flood discharges on the upper Svratka River after construction of the two reservoirs, using numerical and statistical methods. These are evident, primarily, in the disruption of the homogeneity of observations, reductions in the frequency and extremity of floods, decreasing in the values and variability of maximum annual discharges, and delay in their culminations. The construction of the reservoir provides a unique example of modification of a natural hydrological regime that facilitates the quantification of an anthropogenic influence.