bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INTRODUCTION OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN THE RESEARCH WORK OF SSUGT STUDENTS
Authors: Bugakova Tatiana Yu.
Published: July 2020

The article discusses the current trend of digitalization of research activities of students. A model of digitalization of the research work of students of the Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies is presented. The conceptual directions of the development of a portal for research work of students are shown. Existing and planned developments, of a digital portal for the scientific work of student, are shown.
VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL INSTRUMENTS FOR DELIVERING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS UNDER MODERN TERMS OF TEACHING ACTIVITIES
Authors: Khlebnikova Elena P. , Miroshnikova Olga A.
Published: July 2020

The article discusses the basic communication skills, verbal and non-verbal tools that provide the necessary level of study of educational materials. To consolidate and test students' knowledge proven examples of exercises are proposed.
IMPORTANCE OF MATHEMATICAL DISCIPLINES IN THE STRUCTURE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF HIGHER EDUCATION WITH INTRODUCTION OF FSES 3++
Authors: Krylova Elena M.
Published: July 2020

The analysis of the importance of mathematical disciplines in the structure of the main professional educational programs of higher education was carried out on the example of undergraduate programs implemented in SSUGT in the frames of FSES 3++.
STATISTICAL APPROACH TO ASSESSING STUDENTS’ PROGRESS
Authors: Neklyudova Vera L. , Verbnaya Valentina P.
Published: July 2020

The paper analyses the dynamics of students’ progress over several semesters, examines the factors that affect the progress, and builds a regression model.
COMPUTER SIMULATION: INFLUENCE OF DIFFRACTION PARAMETERS ON THE KIND OF A DIFFRACTION PATTERN
Authors: Raychert Valery A. , Shergin Sergey L.
Published: July 2020

In the environment of the MS Excel spreadsheet processor, a model of diffraction of light by a diffraction grating is constructed. The influence of the diffraction parameters on the type of the diffraction pattern is estimated from the intensity distribution graphs of the diffraction pattern.
DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENTS AS MEANS OF VISUALIZING MATHEMATICS TEACHING MATERIAL
Authors: Rvanova Alla S. , Grigorenko Olga V.
Published: July 2020

The article deals with implementation of cognitive visualization in mathematics teaching using computer dynamic environments. Some directions are specified and examples of visualization of educational material on the theme "Surfaces in space" in the GeoGebra program are given.
USE OF GAME TECHNOLOGY “SUBJECT RELAY RACE” TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE ACTIVITY OF COLLEGE STUDENTS
Authors: Solnyshkova Olga V. , Loseva Ekaterina N.
Published: July 2020

The article explores the possibility of using pedagogical technology “Subject Relay Race” in the process of studying the professional module “Cartographic and Geodetic Support of Land and Property Relations” among students receiving secondary specialized education. The work highlights the results of a student survey to increase the capabilities of the given pedagogical technology in increasing cognitive activity.
FEATURES OF ORGANIZATION OF RESEARCH WORK OF STUDENTS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DIGITAL ECONOMY AND MANAGEMENT
Authors: Kruteeva Oksana V.
Published: July 2020

The article provides an analysis of the work of the Department of Digital Economics and Management in the development and promotion of student research projects. Statistics on student reports at regional scientific conferences and publications over the past two years are presented. Directions improving the quality of scientific work, as well as organization of research activities of the Department are offered.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AS A MEANS OF TEACHING IN THE HANDS OF EXPERIENCED EDUCATOR
Authors: Sapozhnikov Gennadij A.
Published: July 2020

The paper briefly outlines the issues and directions of the development of “digital university”, aimed at obtaining (together with partners) and applying the breakthroughs of scientific, technological and humanitarian knowledge, herewith not opposing the principles of “people-to-people” teaching to online education. The necessity of making management decisions, including active participation of regional state authorities, in more profound cooperation and integration of intellectual, personnel, technical and technological resources, aimed at development and effective use of available potential is noted.
FACTOR OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN FORMING DEMAND FOR ECOLOGICAL SPECIALISTS
Authors: Volodina Oksana A.
Published: July 2020

The priority areas of environmental development related to the goals of sustainable development, practical aspects of corporate social responsibility in the field of nature protection, as well as influence of these factors on the expansion of requirements for environmental specialists are considered.
ROLE OF CARTOGRAPHIC ONLINE SERVICES IN FORMATION OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCES WHEN TRAINING SPECIALIST IN THE FIELD “EARTH SCIENCES”
Authors: Trubina Lyudmila K. , Nikolaeva Olga N. , Baranova Yevgeniy I.
Published: July 2020

The article discusses the possibilities of using geoportals as the main source of open digital cartographic data for the development of spatial thinking and skills among students. Currently insufficient attention is being paid to the development of spatial thinking skills among students. The definition of the concept of "geoportal" is given. An analysis of a number of regional geoportals in terms of their content with spatially distributed natural resource data is made as well as the variety of tools provided for working with these data. Conclusions about the criteria that a geoportal recommended for use by students to consolidate their skills in working with geospatial data should meet are made.
DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATION COMPETENCE OF STUDENTS OF NON-LINGUISTIC UNIVERSITIES (DISCIPLINE “RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE OF SPEECH”)
Authors: Zhdanov Sergey S. , Nedostup Oleg I.
Published: July 2020

In the article, the components of the universal competence (UC-4), are analyzed. The correlation between the universal competence indicators and the programme content of the discipline “Russian Language and Culture of Speech” is established, and the authors suggest the version of the updated programme of the specified discipline.
ROLE OF A CONTEXT IN TEACHING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Authors: Nikulina Ludmila M.
Published: July 2020

In the article the author analyses the role of a context and contextual links, reveals the idea of polysemy as the main factors of efficient educational process in teaching a foreign language.
PATTERNS IN TEACHING COMPLEX GRAMMAR CONSTRUCTIONS
Authors: Pleshivtseva Elena Yu.
Published: July 2020

The article is focused on the issue of teaching master students the skills of working with scientific text. One of the main prerequisites to perceive the meaning of a specialized foreign language text optimally is to identify and understand its grammatical structures. However, the author claims that difficult grammar material should be presented as simplified constructs implying a certain standard model (template) of a particular grammatical structure; such models justify themselves in the light of achieving the general goal of obtaining the most complete and correct information. In cases of complicated grammatical constructions that are inherent to the scientific style, the most effective method is the so-called patterns (phrasal samples), or the method of models.
Democracy, Authoritarianism, and Pandemic Management: The Case of SARS-CoV-2 Testing
Authors: Petersen German
Published: July 2020

A strand of political economy literature expects democratic governments to be more effective than their authoritarian peers in the management of catastrophic situations (famines, pandemics). The ongoing COVID 19 pandemic offers an interesting setting to test this expectation, in particular to explore whether democracies are more preventive and therefore massify SARS-CoV-2 testing. Analyzing data from 85 countries, the more democratic a country is, not necessarily the more tests it runs. The relationship is rather curvilinear, best described by a U, with low and high levels of democracy associated with the massification of testing, and medium levels associated with low testing. Besides testing democracies and non-testing authoritarianisms, there are testing authoritarianisms —basically rentier states— and non-testing democracies; anocracies tend to be non-testing. The variance in testing seems to be also partially explained by GDP per capita and government effectiveness, but surprisingly unrelated to the length of the pandemic in a country.
Breakfast Consumption Patterns among the Students at Ahfad University for Women
Authors: Mohammed Somiya Gutbi Salim
Published: July 2020

Background: The intake of breakfast fuels the body with essential nutrients needed for the optimal function and helping the brain to concentrate during the day. Skipping breakfast puts the body at risking of entering into a starvation mode, leading to compensate and overeat later in the day. This current study was conducted between July 2019 and March 2020 at Ahfad University for Women. The main objective: To assess breakfast consumption pattern among the female students of Health sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Ahfad University for Women in Sudan. Methodology: An epidemiological, cross-sectional study was conducted at Ahfad University for Women. A total of 100 students were selected by a stratified multi stage sample technique. Data was collected by using close ended questionnaire and analyzed by using SPSS (version 21). Results: The results showed that 80% of the students skipped their breakfast. Reasons for skipping their breakfast included lack of time to eat breakfast (32%), lack of appetite (18%), financial constraints (16%), stress and family eating patterns (6%), with only 2% mentioned they were following dietary regimen. Statistically significant differences was found between the observed and expected distributions of the sample regarding difficulties facing the students when skipping their breakfast (P=0.000), more than half of the students (n=56) faced many difficulties when skipping their breakfast. These included feeling hungry, lack of attention and being less active during their practical class. Linear regression model revealed that when students’ pocket money increased, some types of their food consumed increased by 90%. Conclusion: The study concluded that the majority of the student skipped their breakfast and there was significant relationship between students' pocket-money and types of food consumed in the breakfast meal. Recommendation: The study recommends development of nutrition education program on the importance of breakfast meal for the student’s health.
Electrospray Propulsion Engineering Toolkit (ESPET)
Authors: Peter Benjamin St. , Dressler Rainer A. , Chiu Yu-hui , Fedkiw Timothy
Published: July 2020

We report on the development of a software tool, the Electrospray Propulsion Engineering Toolkit (ESPET), that is currently being shared as a web application with the purpose to accelerate the development of electrospray thruster arrays for space propulsion. ESPET can be regarded as a database of microfluidic properties and electrohydrodynamic scaling models that are combined into a performance estimation tool. The multiscale model integrates experimental high-level physics characterization of microfluidic components in a full-scale electrospray propulsion (ESP) microfluidic network performance solution. ESPET takes an engineering model approach that breaks the ESP system down into multiple microfluidic components or domains that can be described by either analytical microfluidic or reduced order numerical solutions. ESPET can be divided into three parts: a central database of critical microfluidic properties, a microfluidic domain modeler, and a microfluidic network solver. Two options exist for the network solution, a detailed multi-domain solver and a QuickSolver designed for rapid design and testing of simple three-domain reservoir-feed-emitter arrays. The multi-domain network solver exploits the Hagen–Poiseuille/Ohm’s law analogy by using the publicly available SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis) electric circuit simulation software to solve the flow properties of the microfluidic network. Both the multi-domain and QuickSolver solutions offer Monte Carlo analysis of arrays based on user supplied tolerances on design parameters. Benchmarking demonstration examples are provided for experimental work in the literature, as well as recent experimental work conducted at Busek Co. The demonstration examples include ionic liquid propelled systems using active and passive capillary emitters, externally wetted emitter needles, and porous glass emitters, as well as a liquid metal system based on an externally wetted emitter needle.
A Lean Satellite Electrical Power System with Direct Energy Transfer and Bus Voltage Regulation Based on a Bi-Directional Buck Converter
Authors: Rojas Juan J. , Takashi Yamauchi , Cho Mengu
Published: July 2020

The lean satellite approach requires aggressive measures for cutting development time and resource utilization; therefore, the power system should be simple, with a low part count, high reliability, and good electrical performance. The fully-regulated bus direct energy transfer (FRDET) architecture is considered the most common solution for big satellites; however, it is rarely used in lean satellite designs because of its complexity and the lack of commercial off-the-shelf solutions. Based on this, a new implementation of the FRDET architecture was proposed, prototyped, and evaluated. The system was based on a bidirectional converter that charges and discharges the battery while maintaining the bus voltage regulation. The system was evaluated by comparing it with the prevailing architectures in the field, in terms of efficiency and average harvested solar power per orbit. The proposed system was superior in both aspects which made it more suitable for its application in lean satellite designs.
Gender Matters: Climate Change, Gender Bias, and Women’s Farming in the Global South and North
Authors: Glazebrook Tricia , Noll Samantha , Opoku Emmanuela
Published: July 2020

Can investing in women’s agriculture increase productivity? This paper argues that it can. We assess climate and gender bias impacts on women’s production in the global South and North and challenge the male model of agricultural development to argue further that women’s farming approaches can be more sustainable. Level-based analysis (global, regional, local) draws on a literature review, including the authors’ published longitudinal field research in Ghana and the United States. Women farmers are shown to be undervalued and to work harder, with fewer resources, for less compensation; gender bias challenges are shared globally while economic disparities differentiate; breaches of distributive, gender, and intergenerational justices as well as compromise of food sovereignty affect women everywhere. We conclude that investing in women’s agriculture needs more than standard approaches of capital and technology investment. Effective ‘investment’ would include systemic interventions into agricultural policy, governance, education, and industry; be directed at men as well as women; and use gender metrics, for example, quotas, budgets, vulnerability and impacts assessments, to generate assessment reports and track gender parity in agriculture. Increasing women’s access, capacity, and productivity cannot succeed without men’s awareness and proactivity. Systemic change can increase productivity and sustainability.
Market Integration and Price Transmission in the Vertical Supply Chain of Rice: An Evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Deb Limon , Lee Yoonsuk , Lee Sang Hyeon
Published: July 2020

As a staple food, rice has an enormous market in Bangladesh in terms of market participants and the volume of the product. As the price of rice is always a sensitive factor for producers, poor consumers and policy makers, this paper investigates market integration and price transmission along the vertical supply chain of rice. Johansen’s test of co-integration confirmed that farm, wholesale and retail prices are co-integrated in the long-run. A causality test revealed that prices were found to be at wholesale levels for both the upstream and downstream markets. The asymmetry error correction model (ECM) has discovered short-run and long-run asymmetry in price transmission in the vertical supply chain where both producers and consumers were being affected due to positive and negative asymmetry. Threshold autoregressive (TAR) and momentum threshold autoregressive (M-TAR) models have confirmed threshold co-integration as well as threshold effect on asymmetry in price transmission. The results highlight the inevitability of policy implementations and increased public interventions to reduce asymmetry for engendering greater pricing efficiency in Bangladesh rice markets.
Assessment of the Glutenin Subunits Diversity in a Durum Wheat (T. turgidum ssp. durum) Collection from Morocco
Authors: Chegdali Youssef , Ouabbou Hassan , Essamadi Abdelkhalid , Cervantes Fausto , Ibba Maria Itria , Guzmán Carlos
Published: July 2020

Landraces and old wheat cultivars display great genetic variation and constitute a valuable resource for the improvement of modern varieties, especially in terms of quality. Gluten quality is one of the major determinants of wheat quality, and it is greatly influenced by variation in the high molecular weight and low molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS and LMW-GS). Identification of novel allelic variants for either of the two groups of the gluten-forming proteins could greatly assist in the improvement of wheat gluten quality. In the present study, the allelic composition of the HMW- and LMW-GS of ninety-five durum wheat accessions was evaluated. These accessions included Moroccan cultivars and landraces and North American cultivars and were all conserved in the National Gene Bank from Morocco. In total, 20 cataloged alleles and 12 novel alleles were detected. For the HMW-GS, two alleles were found at the Glu-A1 locus, and seven different allelic variants were identified at the Glu-B1 locus. Among them, two alleles were new (alleles Glu-B1cp and co). Additionally, two of the analyzed accessions exhibited the Glu-D1d allele, suggesting the presence of the Glu-D1 locus introgression. For the LWM-GS, eight, ten and two alleles were identified at the Glu-A3, Glu-B3 and Glu-B2 loci, respectively. Among them, two new allelic variants were identified at the Glu-A3 locus, and seven new allelic variants were identified at the Glu-B3 locus. Overall, the Moroccan landraces exhibited a greater genetic diversity and a greater number of glutenin alleles compared to the Moroccan and North American durum wheat cultivars. The novel germplasm and glutenin alleles detected in this study could contribute to the improvement of durum wheat quality and the expansion of modern durum wheat genetic diversity.
The R Package PROSPER: An Environment for Modeling Weed Population Dynamics and the Evolution of Herbicide Resistance
Authors: von Redwitz Christoph , de Mol Friederike
Published: July 2020

Weed management is a challenge for farmers worldwide, and the problem is exacerbated by the spread of weed herbicide resistance. Simulation models that combine population dynamics and genetics are valuable tools for predicting the impact of competing management options on weed density, allele frequency, and phenotypic resistance levels. The new R package PROSPER provides functions for the forward simulation of weed population dynamics on a field scale, the selection of individuals according to their sensitivity to herbicides, and the recombination of alleles during reproduction. Objects are provided to enter and save model parameters in a clear structure, and to save output data for further processing in R. The basic functions are extensible with R code. PROSPER combines individual-based population dynamics with monogenic or polygenic diploid inheritance and flexible selection pressure. Stochasticity can be included at all model steps. Two examples of the population dynamics of two annual weed species with herbicide resistance are presented. All parameters and the models are available in PROSPER. In addition to simulation, PROSPER is intended for sharing and publishing population dynamic parameters and models, which is easily done thanks to R.
Modeling Climate Warming Impacts on Grain and Forage Sorghum Yields in Argentina
Authors: Druille Magdalena , Williams Amber S. , Torrecillas Marcelo , Kim Sumin , Meki Norman , Kiniry James R.
Published: July 2020

Sorghum is the world’s fifth major cereal in terms of production and acreage. It is expected that its growth will be affected by the increase in air temperature, an important component of global climate change. Our objective was to use the Agricultural Land Management Alternatives with Numerical Assessment Criteria (ALMANAC) model to (a) evaluate the impact of climate warming on forage and grain sorghum production in Argentina and (b) to analyze to what extent yield changes were associated with changes in water or nitrogen stress days. For model calibration, we used previous information related to the morpho-physiological characteristics of both sorghum types and several soil parameters. We then used multiyear field data of sorghum yields for model validation. Yield simulations were conducted under three possible climate change scenarios: 1, 2, and 4 °C increase in mean annual temperature. ALMANAC successfully simulated mean yields of forage and grain sorghum: root mean square error (RMSE): 2.6 and 1.0 Mg ha−1, respectively. Forage yield increased 0.53 Mg ha−1, and grain yield decreased 0.27 Mg ha−1 for each degree of increase in mean annual temperature. Yields of forage sorghum tended to be negatively associated with nitrogen stress (r = −0.94), while grain sorghum yield was negatively associated with water stress (r = −0.99). The information generated allows anticipating future changes in crop management and genetic improvement programs in order to reduce the yield vulnerability.
Activity of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle Extract as a Potential Bioherbicide for Sustainable Weed Management in Horticulture
Authors: Caser Matteo , Demasi Sonia , Caldera Fabrizio , Dhakar Nilesh Kumar , Trotta Francesco , Scariot Valentina
Published: July 2020

The sustainable management of weeds is one of the main challenges in agriculture. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of plant phytotoxins, such as ailanthone from Ailanthus altissima (Mill) Swingle, as bioherbicides. Since a complex extract may be more active than a single compound, we explored the phytotoxicity of A. altissima extracts obtained from the leaves, samaras, rachises, and secondary roots, and we evaluated their application potential for weed control in horticulture. The pre-emergence activity of all plant extracts was evaluated over varying concentrations on two indicator species (i.e., Lepidium sativum L. and Raphanus sativus L.) under controlled conditions. As the leaf extract was able to be generated in sufficient quantities, it was therefore further evaluated in glasshouse experiments with seven common weed species as indicators, as well as in a nursery production system for the cultivation of three horticultural crops (i.e., Salvia officinalis L., S. rosmarinus Schleid., and Dianthus caryophyllus L.). Following the application of the extract, the index of germination (IGe%), the index of biomass, and the density of weeds per pot were evaluated, along with the impact on crop growth and quality (i.e., plant growth index and leaf damage). Under controlled conditions, the extract from the secondary root was the most active in reducing the IGe%, with greater persistence across time in both indicator species. At 18 days following application, the lowest concentration of the leaf extract at 1.8 mg L−1 ailanthone reduced the IGe%by up to 15% and 45% in R. sativus and L. sativum, respectively. In R. sativus, all of the extract types affected the IGe%, but extract activity was greater in L. sativum. Under glasshouse conditions, leaf extracts containing 50 and 200 mg L−1 ailanthone showed strong inhibition (98%–99%) in the biomass of all treated indicator and weed species. Under nursery conditions, leaf extracts formulated at 100 and 200 mg L−1 ailanthone performed similarly, and no weeds were observed in any of the treated pots of S. officinalis and S. rosmarinus in the 60-day study period. Conversely, in the D. caryophyllus pots, an increase in the percentage of weed presence per pot was observed after 40 days. A reduction in the growth index and an increase in leaf phytotoxicity were observed during the cultivation experimentation, especially in S. officinalis when the extract was applied post-emergence to the crop canopy. Phytotoxicity was alleviated by the application of the extract directly to the soil or growth media. These results provide new insights into A. altissima extracts and their phytotoxicity to support their additional use as a sustainable solution for weed management in horticultural crops.
Optimization of Analytical Ultrasound-Assisted Methods for the Extraction of Total Phenolic Compounds and Anthocyanins from Sloes (Prunus spinosa L.)
Authors: V. González-de-Peredo Ana , Vázquez-Espinosa Mercedes , Espada-Bellido Estrella , Ferreiro-González Marta , Carrera Ceferino , Palma Miguel , Álvarez José Ángel , F. Barbero Gerardo , Ayuso Jesús
Published: July 2020

Prunus spinosa L. is a shrub that produces berries—sloes—with a high content of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins. Numerous consumer products are made from sloes, such as “Pacharán” liquors or jams. For these reasons, it is crucial to design accurate analytical methods for the extraction of these bioactive compounds in order to promote their consumption and to improve our health. In this study, an ultrasound-assisted extraction method was developed to extract phenolic compounds and anthocyanins from sloes. Several process variables (methanol composition, pH, temperature, cycle, amplitude, and sample–solvent ratio) were optimized based on a Box–Behnken design. The most influential parameters for the extraction of total phenolic compounds were the cycle, the percentage of methanol, and pH of the extraction solvent, with 0.2 s, 67%, and pH 7 as their optimal values, respectively. For total anthocyanins, all parameters were influential, with 44% methanol at pH 2, 48 °C, 0.2 s cycles, 30% amplitude, and 1.5 g/20 mL ratio as the optimal values for their corresponding variables. Both methods showed high recoveries, short time use, and high precision (RSD < 5%). In addition, the sloe liqueur “Pacharán” and sloe jams were analyzed to demonstrate the applicability of these methods for the extraction of the real matrix.
Impact of Case Definitions on Efficacy Estimation in Clinical Trials—A Proof-of-Principle Based on Historical Examples
Authors: Hahn Andreas , Frickmann Hagen , Zautner Andreas E.
Published: July 2020

Efficacy estimations in clinical trials are based on case definitions. Commonly, they are a more or less complex set of conditions that have to be fulfilled in order to define a clinical case. In the simplest variant, such a case is identical with a single positive diagnostic test result. Frequently, however, case definitions are more complex. Further, their conditions often ignore the inherent logical structure of symptoms and disease: A symptom or a set of symptoms may be necessary but not sufficient for the unambiguous identification of a case. After describing the structure of case definitions and its impact on efficacy estimations, we exemplify this impact using data from two clinical trials dealing with the effectiveness of the vaginal application of tenofovir gel for the prevention of HIV infections and with the therapeutic effects of fecal transplantation on recurrent Clostridium difficile infections. We demonstrate that the diagnostic performance of case definitions affects efficacy estimations for interventions in clinical trials. The potential risk of bias and uncertainty is high, irrespective of the complexity of the case definition. Accordingly, case definitions in clinical trials should focus on specificity in order to avoid the risk of bias.
Colonization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among Medical Students in Tertiary Institution in Central Malaysia
Authors: Rampal Sanjiv , Zainuddin Nur Hidayah , Elias Nur Athirah , Tengku Jamaluddin Tengku Zetty Maztura , Maniam Sandra , Teh Seoh Wei , Subbiah Suresh Kumar
Published: July 2020

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA infection is virulent and presents with a broad spectrum of severity. Limited regional reports that specifically outlined the potential risk of medical students being part of the dissemination of MRSA in healthcare settings were noted. This study aims to assess the prevalence and contributory factors of colonization of MRSA on neckties, headscarves, and ID badges among medical students in a local medical university in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 256 medical students. A validated questionnaire was used to collect the data, and sample swabs were collected between July and August 2013 by swabbing neckties, headscarves, or identification badges. The swabs were then streaked onto mannitol salt agar (MSA) and incubated at 37 °C overnight. Out of 433 samples taken, 40 swabs (9.24%) were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. Out of the 40 swabs, five (12.5%) isolates were MRSA (one culture was isolated from the headscarf of a preclinical student, one culture was isolated from the necktie of clinical students, while the remaining three were isolated from identification badges of clinical students. There was no significant association between age, gender, ethnicity, and phase of medical students with the colonization of MRSA (p > 0.05). There was a significant association between knowledge score on hand hygiene practice and phase of medical students. MRSA colonies were present on neckties, headscarves, and identification badges of medical students of all phases. The findings from this study suggest the need for improvement of hand hygiene knowledge and discontinuity of mandatory use of physical ID badges and neckties among medical students.
Application of Rank Annihilation Factor Analysis for Antibacterial Drugs Determination by Means of pH Gradual Change-UV Spectral Data
Authors: Esteki Mahnaz , Dashtaki Elham , Heyden Yvan Vander , Simal-Gandara Jesus
Published: July 2020

The main objective of this study was to develop a simple and efficient spectrophotometric technique combined with chemometrics for the simultaneous determination of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP) in drug formulations. Specifically, we sought: (i) to evaluate the potential use of rank annihilation factor analysis (RAFA) to pH gradual change spectrophotometric data in order to provide sufficient accuracy and model robustness; and (ii) to determine SMX and TMP concentration in drug formulations without tedious pre-treatments such as derivatization or extraction techniques which are time-consuming and require hazardous solvents. In the proposed method, the spectra of the sample solutions at different pH values were recorded and the pH-spectra bilinear data matrix was generated. On these data, RAFA was then applied to estimate the concentrations of SMX and TMP in synthetic and real samples. Applying RAFA showed that the two drugs could be determined simultaneously with concentration ratios of SMX to TMP varying from 1:30 to 30:1 in the mixed samples (concentration range is 1–30 µg mL−1 for both components). The limits of detection were 0.25 and 0.38 µg mL−1 for SMX and TMP, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of SMX and TMP in some synthetic, pharmaceutical formulation and biological fluid samples. In addition, the means of the estimated RSD (%) were 1.71 and 2.18 for SMX and TMP, respectively, in synthetic mixtures. The accuracy of the proposed method was confirmed by spiked recovery test on biological samples with satisfactory results (90.50–109.80%).
Control of Reactive Oxygen Species for the Prevention of Parkinson’s Disease: The Possible Application of Flavonoids
Authors: Kim Tae Yeon , Leem Eunju , Lee Jae Man , Kim Sang Ryong
Published: July 2020

Oxidative stress reflects an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense systems, and it can be associated with the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease (PD). The application of antioxidants, which can defend against oxidative stress, is able to detoxify the reactive intermediates and prevent neurodegeneration resulting from excessive ROS production. There are many reports showing that numerous flavonoids, a large group of natural phenolic compounds, can act as antioxidants and the application of flavonoids has beneficial effects in the adult brain. For instance, it is well known that the long-term consumption of the green tea-derived flavonoids catechin and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) can attenuate the onset of PD. Also, flavonoids such as ampelopsin and pinocembrin can inhibit mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal death through the regulation of gene expression of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. Additionally, it is well established that many flavonoids exhibit anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammatory effects through cellular signaling pathways, such as those involving (ERK), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), and (Akt), resulting in neuroprotection. In this review article, we have described the oxidative stress involved in PD and explained the therapeutic potential of flavonoids to protect the nigrostriatal DA system, which may be useful to prevent PD.
Microorganisms and Biostimulants Impact on the Antioxidant Activity of Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) Sprouts
Authors: Witkowicz Robert , Biel Wioletta , Skrzypek Edyta , Chłopicka Joanna , Gleń-Karolczyk Katarzyna , Krupa Mateusz , Prochownik Ewelina , Galanty Agnieszka
Published: July 2020

The study analyzes the influence of plant growth promoters and biological control agents on the chemical composition and antioxidant activity (AA) in the sprouts of buckwheat. The AA of cv. Kora sprouts was higher than cv. Panda, with 110.0 µM Fe2+/g (FRAP—Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), 52.94 µM TRX (Trolox)/g (DPPH—1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), 182.7 µM AAE (Ascorbic Acid Equivalent)/g (Photochemiluminescence—PCL—ACW—Water-Soluble Antioxidant Capacity) and 1.250 µM TRX/g (PCL—ACL—Lipid-Soluble Antioxidant Capacity). The highest AA was found in the sprouts grown from seeds soaked in Ecklonia maxima extract and Pythium oligandrum (121.31 µM Fe2+/g (FRAP), 56.33 µM TRX/g (DPPH), 195.6 µM AAE/g (PCL—ACW) and 1.568 µM TRX/g (PCL—ACL). These values show that the antioxidant potential of buckwheat sprouts is essentially due to the predominant hydrophilic fraction of antioxidants. The AA of the sprouts was strongly correlated with total polyphenol content.
Authentication of “Adelita” Raspberry Cultivar Based on Physical Properties, Antioxidant Activity and Volatile Profile
Authors: Valdés García Arantzazu , Maestre Pérez Salvador E. , Butsko Mikita , Prats Moya María Soledad , Beltrán Sanahuja Ana
Published: July 2020

Agricultural selection programmes are, today, working hard to obtain novel raspberry cultivars with higher nutritional and commercial quality. One of those cultivars is “Adelita”. This study aims to provide novel tools for raspberry cultivar identification—more specifically, the differentiation of “Adelita” from other raspberry cultivars. To perform this study, five “Adelita” samples were analysed—four cultivated in Spain and one, in Morocco—and they were compared to seven samples from six raspberry cultivars (“P04”, “Lupita”, “Enrosadira”, “P10”, “Quanza” and “Versalles”). The physical parameters (mass, length, equatorial diameter and firmness) combined with the Total Phenolic Content (TPC); the antioxidant capacity according to the antioxidant activity tested with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) methods; and the main target volatile compounds were used as independent variables. Principal component and cluster analysis showed that the target volatiles and physical parameters together with the TPC and DPPH values could be useful to classify Adelita cultivars separately from the rest of the cultivars included in the work. Those results proved that the developed methodology could be proposed as a reliable approach for the identification of cultivar fraud in the supply chain.
Lignin to Materials: A Focused Review on Recent Novel Lignin Applications
Authors: Yu Osbert , Kim Kwang Ho
Published: July 2020

In recent decades, advancements in lignin application include the synthesis of polymers, dyes, adhesives and fertilizers. There has recently been a shift from perceiving lignin as a waste product to viewing lignin as a potential raw material for valuable products. More recently, considerable attention has been placed in sectors, like the medical, electrochemical, and polymer sectors, where lignin can be significantly valorized. Despite some technical challenges in lignin recovery and depolymerization, lignin is viewed as a promising material due to it being biocompatible, cheap, and abundant in nature. In the medical sector, lignins can be used as wound dressings, pharmaceuticals, and drug delivery materials. They can also be used for electrochemical energy materials and 3D printing lignin–plastic composite materials. This review covers the recent research progress in lignin valorization, specifically focusing on medical, electrochemical, and 3D printing applications. The technoeconomic assessment of lignin application is also discussed.
Quality Control of the Continuous Hot Pressing Process of Medium Density Fiberboard Using Fuzzy Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Authors: Lv Yunlei , Liu Yaqiu , Jing Weipeng , Woźniak Marcin , Damaševičius Robertas , Scherer Rafał , Wei Wei
Published: July 2020

In this paper, a fuzzy failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) method is proposed by combining fault theory and a failure analysis method. The method addresses the problem of board thickness control failure and the problem of thickness deviation defect blanking, which can occur during continuous hot pressing (CHP) process, which is one of the most important processes in the production of medium-density fiberboard (MDF). The method combines the fault analysis with the Hamming code method and using the Hamming code to calculate and represent the cylinder array of the continuous hot-pressed thickness control execution unit to analyze and process the potential fixed thickness failure modes in MDF hot press production, and then summarizes the decision rules for controlling the board thickness and the level of sheet deviation. By combining the fuzzy FMEA method of the Hamming code and the logical OR operation of the experimental analysis, the method of thickness deviation and recognition control fault information for the CHP of MDF, which is proposed in this paper, permits the increase of the number of error levels, which makes optimization for controller more convenient and improves the efficiency to recognize errors.
Self-Adaptive Global-Best Harmony Search Algorithm-Based Airflow Control of a Wells-Turbine-Based Oscillating-Water Column
Authors: M’zoughi Fares , Garrido Izaskun , Garrido Aitor J. , De La Sen Manuel
Published: July 2020

The Harmony Search algorithm has attracted a lot of interest in the past years because of its simplicity and efficiency. This led many scientists to develop various variants for many applications. In this paper, four variants of the Harmony search algorithm were implemented and tested to optimize the control design of the Proportional-Integral-derivative (PID) controller in a proposed airflow control scheme. The airflow control strategy has been proposed to deal with the undesired stalling phenomenon of the Wells turbine in an Oscillating Water Column (OWC). To showcase the effectiveness of the Self-Adaptive Global Harmony Search (SGHS) algorithm over traditional tuning methods, a comparative study has been carried out between the optimized PID, the traditionally tuned PID and the uncontrolled OWC system. The results of optimization showed that the Self-Adaptive Global Harmony Search (SGHS) algorithm adapted the best to the problem of the airflow control within the wave energy converter. Moreover, the OWC performance is superior when using the SGHS-tuned PID.
Identification of Optimal Process Parameter Settings Based on Manufacturing Performance for Fused Filament Fabrication of CFR-PEEK
Authors: Park Kijung , Kim Gayeon , No Heena , Jeon Hyun Woo , Kremer Gül E. Okudan
Published: July 2020

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) has been proven to be an effective additive manufacturing technique for carbon fiber reinforced polyether–ether–ketone (CFR-PEEK) due to its practicality in use. However, the relationships between the process parameters and their trade-offs in manufacturing performance have not been extensively studied for CFR-PEEK although they are essential to identify the optimal parameter settings. This study therefore investigates the impact of critical FFF parameters (i.e., layer thickness, build orientation, and printing speed) on the manufacturing performance (i.e., printing time, dimensional accuracy, and material cost) of CFR-PEEK outputs. A full factorial design of the experiments is performed for each of the three sample designs to identify the optimal parameter combinations for each performance measure. In addition, multiple response optimization was used to derive optimal parameter settings for the overall performance. The results show that the optimal parameter settings depend on the performance measures regardless of the designs, and that the layer thickness plays a critical role in the performance trade-offs. In addition, lower layer thickness, horizontal orientation, and higher speed form the optimal settings to maximize the overall performance. The findings from this study indicate that FFF parameter settings for CFR-PEEK should be identified through multi-objective decision making that involves conflicts between the operational objectives for the parameter settings.
Developments, Trends, and Challenges in Optimization of Ship Energy Systems
Authors: Frangopoulos Christos A.
Published: July 2020

A review of developments, trends, and challenges in synthesis, design, and operation optimization of ship energy systems is presented in this article. For better understanding of the context of this review, pertinent terms are defined, including the three levels of optimization: synthesis, design, and operation (SDO). The static and dynamic optimization problems are stated mathematically in single- and multiobjective form. The need for intertemporal optimization is highlighted. The developments in ship energy systems optimization throughout the years is clearly presented by means of journal articles, giving the main characteristics of each article. After the review of what has been done up to now, ideas for future work are given. Further research needs for optimization of ship energy systems are mentioned: further development of methodology for synthesis optimization and SDO optimization, including transients, uncertainty, reliability, and maintenance scheduling. Hints are given for expansion of the system border in order to include aspects belonging to other disciplines, such as electrical and control engineering as well as hull and propulsor optimization, thus, opening a way to the holistic ship optimization.
Deep Learning System for COVID-19 Diagnosis Aid Using X-ray Pulmonary Images
Authors: Civit-Masot Javier , Luna-Perejón Francisco , Domínguez Morales Manuel , Civit Anton
Published: July 2020

The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has made the COVID-19 disease a worldwide epidemic. The most common tests to identify COVID-19 are invasive, time consuming and limited in resources. Imaging is a non-invasive technique to identify if individuals have symptoms of disease in their lungs. However, the diagnosis by this method needs to be made by a specialist doctor, which limits the mass diagnosis of the population. Image processing tools to support diagnosis reduce the load by ruling out negative cases. Advanced artificial intelligence techniques such as Deep Learning have shown high effectiveness in identifying patterns such as those that can be found in diseased tissue. This study analyzes the effectiveness of a VGG16-based Deep Learning model for the identification of pneumonia and COVID-19 using torso radiographs. Results show a high sensitivity in the identification of COVID-19, around 100%, and with a high degree of specificity, which indicates that it can be used as a screening test. AUCs on ROC curves are greater than 0.9 for all classes considered.
The Use of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to Detect Bed Joint Reinforcement in AAC Masonry
Authors: Drobiec Łukasz , Jasiński Radosław , Mazur Wojciech
Published: July 2020

Detecting non-metallic reinforcement made of FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymers) can be problematic, particularly at the stage of work inspection and constructional evaluation. In contrast to steel reinforcement, detecting non-metallic reinforcement is difficult using NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) techniques. These difficulties mainly arise from considerably lower density, radiation resistance or electromagnetic impedance and cross-section of rebars when compared to steel reinforcement. Specific problems with the reinforcement detection are experienced in masonry structures, in which reinforcement is laid in bed joints. Measurements are made on a masonry face in the plane perpendicular to the reinforcement plane, and not the parallel one compared to reinforced concrete structures. Thus, the interpretation of results obtained from NDT can be complicated due to many physical phenomena occurring during tests, methods of presenting measurements and their accuracy. This paper compares different testing techniques used to detect non-metallic reinforcement in the masonry wall made of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). For the purpose of the tests, fibreglass and basalt meshes, traditional steel trusses and steel wire meshes were placed in bed joints of the masonry wall. An ultrasonic tomography and GPR (Ground-Penetrating Radar) scanner operating within a broad range of frequencies were used for the tests. We also used the electromagnetic device to detect metal meshes. As expected, the tests confirmed problems with detecting the non-metallic reinforcement. Only the radar method was effective in detecting the non-metallic method, whereas other methods failed. The electromagnetic method detected only the steel reinforcement in the masonry.