bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bayesian Regularized Neural Network for Prediction of the Dose in Gamma Irradiated Milk Products
Authors: Terziyska M. , Todorov Y. , Miteva D. , Doneva M. , Dyankova S. , Metodieva P. , Nacheva I.
Published: July 2020

Gamma irradiation is a well-known method for sterilizing different foodstuffs, including fresh cow milk. Many studies witness that the low dose irradiation of milk and milk products affects the fractions of the milk protein, thus reducing its allergenic effect and make it potentially appropriate for people with milk allergy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the gamma radiation dose and size of the protein fractions, as potential approach to decrease the allergenic effect of the milk. In this paper, an approach for prediction of the dose in gamma irradiated products by using a Bayesian regularized neural network as a mean to save recourses for expensive electrophoretic experiments, is developed. The efficiency of the proposed neural network model is proved on data for two dairy products – lyophilized cow milk and curd.
Corporate bonds or bank loans? The choice of funding sources and information disclosure of Polish listed companies
Authors: Białek-Jaworska Anna , Krawczyk Tomasz
Published: July 2020

The paper aims to find what determines the choice of companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) between public debt (corporate bonds) and private debt (bank loans). For this purpose, we estimate logistic regression models and panel models of corporate borrowing determinants to compare the impact of enterprise characteristics on financing with the use of corporate bonds or bank loans. In this study, we are interested in explanatory variables that explain the role of transparency measured by the level of information disclosure; and a risk proxy of the variability of operational cash flows and investment risk (retrieved from generalised auto-regressive conditional heteroscedasticity [GARCH] models estimated on companies’ stocks [shares] trading on the WSE).
Impact of drought, farmers’ adaptation strategies and administrative mitigation measure in the Marathwada region, India
Authors: Khetwani Sagar , Singh Ram Babu , Moin Khusro
Published: July 2020

The number of serious and extreme drought events is increasing, causing a serious threat to ecosystems, food security, livelihood security, social stability, and sustainable development. The Marathwada region of India is highly vulnerable to the impacts of drought and has been severely affected because of consecutive drought events from 2012 to 2016. This article aims to understand the rural farming household’s perceptions of the impacts of drought, their adaptation and mitigation measures, and also attempts to assess the level of satisfaction of rural households with government mitigation measures. This study is based on primary and secondary sources of data collected from 192 farming households following a structured questionnaire survey. The survey reveals that crop failure, livelihood insecurity, declines in livestock production, livestock loss, water conflicts, and problems in meeting agricultural expenses, increased school dropout rates of children, and both psychological and health problems, were the most immediate socio-economic impacts of drought. The various environmental impacts of drought perceived by farmers included depleted groundwater levels, poor groundwater quality, land degradation, a decrease in seasonal river flows, degradation of pastures and declines in soil fertility. It was found that small and medium sized farmers were highly affected by drought compared with marginal and large scale farmers because of their high dependency on agriculture and poor adaptation strategies.
Multi-temporal monitoring of cotton growth through the vegetation profile classification for Tashkent province, Uzbekistan
Authors: Gerts Jasmina , Juliev Mukhiddin , Pulatov Alim
Published: July 2020

As satellite data of the Earth surface seems to be of vital importance for many applications, classification of land use and land cover has been found to vary dramatically in different approaches. In this paper, modified classification algorithm of remote sensing data is presented for processing medium and high spatial resolution satellite images like Landsat and Sentinel in Tashkent province of Uzbekistan. The results of NDVI (Normalized difference vegetation index) profile analysis via Spectral Correlation Mapper classification are shown for the period 1994-2017. It is implied, that combination of optical and radar data with application of Spectral Correlation Mapper classification improve the results of classification for a specific dataset by considering such factors as overall classification accuracy and time and labor involved.
Social media and politics: the case of Ukraine
Authors: Alberti Alessandra , De Serio Ludovico
Published: July 2020

Nowadays, politics is undergoing several changes, especially because of the growing use of social media from politicians, who are using these virtual platforms as tools to gain more and more consent. Social media are also leading to extreme democratization of politics, making it possible for non-politicians not only to enter the sphere of politics but even to win major competitions, such as presidential elections. To bring an actual and highly illustrative example, in this article the authors go through a deep analysis of the former actor and recently elected prime minister of Ukraine Volodimir Zelenskij and his strategical use of social media compared to the one carried out by his opponents, leading him to win the presidential elections with an enormous consent.
‘Lifting the shell’: expressions of emotion and cross-cultural struggle in international students
Authors: Callow Rebekah
Published: July 2020

Research has shown that while humans around the world hold various emotions in common with one another – sadness, happiness, fear and anger – the expression of these emotions can look different depending on the culture. This article explores the different expressions of ‘struggle’ that arise when a person experiences ‘culture shock’ or ‘culture stress’ due to life in a cross-cultural context. The article argues that in the increasingly international context of higher education, urgent attention needs to be given to these different cultural expressions of struggle, in order to better understand students’ experiences and provide effective coping strategies. Richard Lewis's cultural model is developed for use in this context.
Martin Luther: music and mission
Authors: Swarbrick John
Published: July 2020

This article seeks to demonstrate Martin Luther's often-overlooked credentials as a musician. Luther was convinced that music was the viva voce evangelii (living voice of the gospel), and unlike other more radical Reformation movements, he encouraged the use of choral and congregational singing in worship. Some of his familiar hymns – Nun freut euch, Ein’ feste Burg and Aus tiefer Not – offer insights into his ambitions to embed congregational singing into his vision of reformed worship, which went hand in hand with liturgical reform. Luther's Formula Missae and the vernacular Deutsche Messe lay the groundwork for Lutheran worship, which restructured the service around the centrality of the gospel proclamation. Luther's musical tradition reached its zenith in the work of J. S. Bach, which continues to echo in the Western musical canon, leaving Luther with a lasting musical legacy.
Domesticating Light: Standards and Artisanal Knowledge in Early Astrophysics
Authors: Ordóñez Javier
Published: July 2020

Astrophysics was born in the nineteenth century as a “New Astronomy” (in the words of Samuel Langley, 1884), a knowledge built primarily by amateurs who explored deep space by studying the Sun, stars and nebulae. They were credible enough to interest physicists who did research on the properties of radiation and hence came to constitute a solid and recognised discipline. The aim of this research is to study the contribution of artisanal knowledge in the construction of this new discipline at two distinct moments. The first, when artisans worked to find a standard to normalise the manufacture of the glass with which the lenses of refracting telescopes were manufactured. The most recognised of these artisans was Fraunhöfer. The second moment occurred when the experience of artisan knowledge enabled the manufacture of instruments that improved the traditional classification of the magnitude of the stars. The search for standards led to an alliance between artisans and scientists during the same period in which spectroscopy was carried out. In this case, a unit of luminous intensity was sought that could serve as a standard to classify the stars by their luminosity. Industries, university laboratories and astronomers interested in solar astronomy (such as Karl F. Zöllner), collaborated with the artisan manufacturers of measuring devices, and gave rise to a paradigmatic case of science and industry transfer.
A New Approach to the Concepts of Conservation to Identify and Evaluate Railway Heritage through Indicators
Authors: Borges Breno Albuquerque B.
Published: July 2020

The wide railway universe, with its particular and peculiar characteristics, requires the implementation of criteria to improve the identification and conservation of cultural goods. Recently concepts of authenticity, integrity and cultural significance have been identified as fundamental in the selection of the cultural heritage of humanity. Although we find these concepts being analyzed in theory as independents, through a theoretical-methodological reflection, this PhD research argues that, in practice, they are interconnected, and therefore should be approached together. Following the contemporary theory of conservation, my doctoral research aims at contributing to the conservation of railways’ heritage using this new approach, by proposing new indicators as assessment tools so that conservation institutions will be able to identify railway goods as cultural heritage. The research uses the Railway Complex of Barreiro, in Portugal, as a case study.
Scientometric Implosion that Leads to Explosion: Case Study of Armenian Journals
Authors: Sargsyan Shushanik , Gzoyan Edita , Mirzoyan Aram , Blaginin Viktor
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to introduce a new concept and term into the scientometric discourse and research—scientometric implosion—and test the idea on the example of the Armenian journals. The article argues that the existence of a compressed scientific area in the country makes pressure on the journals and after some time this pressure makes one or several journals explode—break the limited national scientific area and move to the international arena. As soon as one of the local journals breaks through this compressed space and appears at an international level, further explosion happens, which makes the other journals follow the same path.

Design/methodology/approach

Our research is based on three international scientific databases—WoS, Scopus, and RISC CC, from where we have retrieved information about the Armenian journals indexed there and citations received by those journals and one national database—the Armenian Science Citation Index. Armenian Journal Impact Factor (ArmJIF) was calculated for the local Armenian journals based on the general impact factor formula. Journals were classified according to Glänzel and Schubert (2003).

Findings

Our results show that the science policy developed by the scientific authorities of Armenia and the introduction of ArmJIF have made the Armenian journals comply with international standards and resulted in some local journals to break the national scientific territory and be indexed in international scientific databases of RISC, Scopus, and WoS. Apart from complying with technical requirements, the journals start publishing articles also in foreign languages. Although nearly half of the local journals are in the fields of social sciences and humanities, only one journal from that field is indexed in international scientific databases.

Research limitation

One of the limitations of the study is that it was performed on the example of only one state and the second one is that more time passage is needed to firmly evaluate the results. However, the introduction of the concept can inspire other similar case study.

Practical implications

The new term and relevant model offered in the article can practically be used for the development of national journals.

Originality/value

The article proposes a new term and a concept in scientometrics.
A Tailor-made Data Quality Approach for Higher Educational Data
Authors: Daraio Cinzia , Bruni Renato , Catalano Giuseppe , Daraio Alessandro , Matteucci Giorgio , Scannapieco Monica , Wagner-Schuster Daniel , Lepori Benedetto
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper relates the definition of data quality procedures for knowledge organizations such as Higher Education Institutions. The main purpose is to present the flexible approach developed for monitoring the data quality of the European Tertiary Education Register (ETER) database, illustrating its functioning and highlighting the main challenges that still have to be faced in this domain.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed data quality methodology is based on two kinds of checks, one to assess the consistency of cross-sectional data and the other to evaluate the stability of multiannual data. This methodology has an operational and empirical orientation. This means that the proposed checks do not assume any theoretical distribution for the determination of the threshold parameters that identify potential outliers, inconsistencies, and errors in the data.

Findings

We show that the proposed cross-sectional checks and multiannual checks are helpful to identify outliers, extreme observations and to detect ontological inconsistencies not described in the available meta-data. For this reason, they may be a useful complement to integrate the processing of the available information.

Research limitations

The coverage of the study is limited to European Higher Education Institutions. The cross-sectional and multiannual checks are not yet completely integrated.

Practical implications

The consideration of the quality of the available data and information is important to enhance data quality-aware empirical investigations, highlighting problems, and areas where to invest for improving the coverage and interoperability of data in future data collection initiatives.

Originality/value

The data-driven quality checks proposed in this paper may be useful as a reference for building and monitoring the data quality of new databases or of existing databases available for other countries or systems characterized by high heterogeneity and complexity of the units of analysis without relying on pre-specified theoretical distributions.
Regional Policy as a Factor in Shaping Regional Development in Poland
Authors: Czaplewski Maciej , Klóska Rafał
Published: July 2020

Regional development is firmly rooted in the theory of land management, and today’s considerations and analyses in this area are gaining special importance. The relationship between specific conditions and the observed effects of regional development was considered under various theoretical concepts. Additionally, the interdependence of processes taking place on the international, national and regional level renders it necessary to pursue, inter alia, an effective regional policy. In this study, particular attention was given to the premises and objectives of intentional actions taken both at supra-regional level (inter-regional policy) and regional level (intra-regional policy). The theoretical considerations concerning the regional policy carried out were supplemented with current statistics regarding the development of regions in Poland. The aim of the study is to show the role of regional policy in shaping regional development and to analyse its current state on the basis of own research using multidimensional comparative analysis (MCA) methods. The considerations presented in the article lead to the conclusion that regional policy is an important factor in regional development, and the presented research results allow to assess the current level and diversity of this development in Poland.
A Question of Value: Exploring Perceptions of Higher Education Value in Academic and Popular Literature
Authors: Saurbier Ann L.
Published: July 2020

Research purpose. The pursuit of higher education has, until recently, been viewed as a worthwhile pursuit. However, factors including rising tuition costs, graduate job-readiness, and the associated debt have diminished the perceived value of college degrees at all levels. This research seeks to explore both academic literature and popular publication sources to gain a deeper understanding of the value proposition of higher education in the dynamic 21st century.

Design/Methodology/Approach. An aggregative qualitative synthesis of the selected academic and popular sources is examined for emergent themes. Drawing on theory from the disciplines of economics, marketing, education and humanities, a meta-matrix is then constructed from the content analysis, with the goal to not only more effectively describe the variant perceptions of value but also to reconcile and synthesizes these views where possible.

Findings. The perceived value of a contemporary higher education has been challenged, requiring post-secondary institutions to find new ways to demonstrate the benefits that accompany an advanced degree. Through a more explicit understanding of the dichotomies that exist between the various perceptions of value, as well as the emergence of thematic agreements, a more holistic depiction of higher education’s value proposition may be created.

Originality/Value/Practical implications. The creation of a framework that allows post-secondary institutions to gain a more explicit understanding of the perceptions of value held both within and outside the academy will allow colleges and universities to respond more directly to this critical challenge and more accurately demonstrate both the short-term and life-long value of a college degree.
Epicardial Fat Volume as a New Imaging-Based Feature Associated with Risk of Recurrence after Pulmonary Veins Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Blîndu Emanuel , Korodi Szilamér , Bordi Lehel , Kovács István , Benedek Imre
Published: July 2020

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF), a common arrhythmia in clinical practice, is associated with a high rate of complications and an increased risk for thromboembolic events. Pulmonary vein ablation is a new therapeutic option to cure AF; however, it remains associated with a high rate of recurrence. In this study we aimed to identify the clinical characteristics and imaging-based features that may predict the risk of recurrence after pulmonary veins ablation in atrial fibrillation.

Materials and method: Twenty-four patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF, who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation and a 12-month follow-up were included in the study. Group 1 included 8 patients with AF recurrence, and group 2 included 16 patients with no AF recurrence. In all cases, cardiovascular risk factors, ejection fraction, left atrial diameter, atrial volumes, and epicardial fat volume were analyzed.

Results: CT analysis revealed that patients with AF recurrence presented a significantly larger mean index of left atrial volume (59.57 ± 8.52 mL/m2 vs. 49.99 ± 10.88 mL/m2, p = 0.04), right atrial volume (58.94 ± 8.37 mL/m2 vs. 43.21 ± 6.4 mL/m2, p<0.0001), and indexed bi-atrial volume (118.5 ± 15.82 mL/m2 vs. 93.19 ± 16.42 mL/m2, p = 0.005). At the same time, CT analysis of the epicardial adipose tissue volume indicated that patients with AF recurrence have a larger amount of epicardial fat than those without AF recurrence (176.4 ± 100.8 mL vs. 109.8 ± 40.73 mL, p = 0.02).

Conclusion: Left atrial diameter, indexed atrial volumes, and epicardial fat volume may be used as factors to identify patients at risk for developing recurrence after pulmonary vein ablation.
Incidence of Periodontal Disease among Adolescents
Authors: Dicu Delia-Roxana , Lazăr Ana Petra , Lazăr Luminița
Published: July 2020

Background: Despite the scarcity of studies regarding periodontal disease in young patients (teenagers and young adults), it seems that this disorder is also affecting the young population. Risk factors for periodontal disease include older age, chronic tobacco use, male gender, habits regarding oral hygiene, educational status, ethnicity, and financial status.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the periodontal health among adolescents in two high schools in Târgu Mureș that had dental practices.

Material and Methods: An online questionnaire consisting of 16 questions was distributed among high schoolers of Târgu Mureș. Data about personal characteristics, oral hygiene habits, family history of periodontal disease, risk factors for periodontal disease, and symptoms of periodontal disease observed by the respondents were collected and analyzed.

Results: Out of the 501 teenagers who responded to the online questionnaire, 114 (22.8%) were 18 years old and were mostly females (88.2%). Regarding oral hygiene habits, 75.8% prefer a manual toothbrush over an electric toothbrush, 66.7% brush their teeth twice a day, and 54.1% practice a horizontal method of toothbrushing. Mouthwash was the most used oral hygiene aid (58.3%). Family history of periodontal disease was observed in 21.9% of respondents. As favoring factors, nicotine addiction (23.8%), bruxism (24.4%), interposition of various objects between teeth (48.3%), past or present orthodontic treatments (38.7%) were recorded. Symptoms of gingivitis and periodontitis, such as gingival bleeding (81.4%), redness of gingiva (39.3%), increased gingival volume (44.5%), gingival retraction (22.8%), and halitosis (81%), were present in the responding teenagers.

Conclusions: In this study, periodontal disease was affecting mostly adolescent females who are practicing inappropriate methods of toothbrushing with inadequate frequency.
The Impact of Senior-Managerial Leadership Culture on Value Creation for Shareholders – A Study of Local and Multinational Companies in Portugal
Authors: Romana Fernando Acabado
Published: July 2020

Objective: This study is based on the analysis of three fundamental aspects of company and managerial life: the culture of organizations, the style of leadership and financial performance. Its focus was to question the connection between these and to devise a strategy that could be applied in Portugal, during 2017 and 2019, in industrial sector companies.

Methodology: To do so, it was decided to start methodological analysis of the behaviour of managers and organizations operating in this environment, considering several classifications: multinational companies operating in Portugal and Portuguese companies with a strategy for and in the process of internationalization. On this basis the study problem was set at the level of managerial behaviour, bearing in mind that this varies depending on the type of organization in which managers’ work. The problem involves scientific, methodological, and cultural aspects that have already been demonstrated by several authors, whose considerations have been incorporated. The study was conducted in 16 companies operating in Portugal.

Findings: The characteristics of leadership in the multinationals tend towards greater balance between the four roles of each of the corresponding quadrants, while in the national companies it tends to be more internally focused.

Value Added: This difference could be related to what R. Quinn calls the Normal State of Leadership, which is focused on the comfort zone that the internal processes seem to generate; the multinational companies are more focused on external aspects and future development – Fundamental State of Leadership – centred on strategic dedication to clients and flexibility.

Recommendations: Dedication to clients and flexibility, that we intend to link with Internal Marketing strategy drivers, considering the investigation ideas for this paper, as the demonstration if some different Leadership Styles influence the Financial Performance of the Companies or not.
Estimating Literacy Levels at a Detailed Regional Level: an Application Using Dutch Data
Authors: Bijlsma Ineke , van den Brakel Jan , van der Velden Rolf , Allen Jim
Published: July 2020

Policy measures to combat low literacy are often targeted at municipalities or regions with low levels of literacy. However, current surveys on literacy do not contain enough observations at this level to allow for reliable estimates when using only direct estimation techniques. To provide more reliable results at a detailed regional level, alternative methods must be used.

The aim of this article is to obtain literacy estimates at the municipality level using model-based small area estimation techniques in a hierarchical Bayesian framework. To do so, we link Dutch Labour Force Survey data to the most recent literacy survey available, that of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). We estimate the average literacy score, as well as the percentage of people with a low literacy level. Variance estimators for our small area predictions explicitly account for the imputation uncertainty in the PIAAC estimates. The proposed estimation method improves the precision of the area estimates, making it possible to break down the national figures by municipality.
Controlling for Selection Bias in Social Media Indicators through Official Statistics: a Proposal
Authors: Iacus Stefano M. , Porro Giuseppe , Salini Silvia , Siletti Elena
Published: July 2020

With the increase of social media usage, a huge new source of data has become available. Despite the enthusiasm linked to this revolution, one of the main outstanding criticisms in using these data is selection bias. Indeed, the reference population is unknown. Nevertheless, many studies show evidence that these data constitute a valuable source because they are more timely and possess higher space granularity. We propose to adjust statistics based on Twitter data by anchoring them to reliable official statistics through a weighted, space-time, small area estimation model. As a by-product, the proposed method also stabilizes the social media indicators, which is a welcome property required for official statistics. The method can be adapted anytime official statistics exists at the proper level of granularity and for which social media usage within the population is known. As an example, we adjust a subjective well-being indicator of “working conditions” in Italy, and combine it with relevant official statistics. The weights depend on broadband coverage and the Twitter rate at province level, while the analysis is performed at regional level. The resulting statistics are then compared with survey statistics on the “quality of job” at macro-economic regional level, showing evidence of similar paths.
On Accuracy Estimation Using Parametric Bootstrap in small Area Prediction Problems
Authors: Żądło Tomasz
Published: July 2020

We consider longitudinal data and the problem of prediction of subpopulation (domain) characteristics that can be written as a linear combination of the variable of interest, including cases of small or zero sample sizes in the domain and time period of interest. We consider the empirical version of the predictor proposed by Royall (1976) showing that it is a generalization of the empirical version of the predictor presented by Henderson (1950). We propose a parametric bootstrap MSE estimator of the predictor. We prove its asymptotic unbiasedness and derive the order of its bias. Considerations are supported by Monte Carlo simulation analyses to compare its accuracy (not only the bias) with other MSE estimators, including jackknife and weighted jackknife MSE estimators that we adapt for the considered predictor.
In-house validation method for quantification of amoxicillin in medicated feedingstuffs with the use of HPLC-DAD technique
Authors: Patyra Ewelina , Kwiatek Krzysztof
Published: July 2020

Introduction

A high-performance liquid chromatographic–diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method for the determination of amoxicillin in medicated feedingstuffs was developed and validated. The method was used to investigate the quality requirements of animal feedingstuffs (declared content of active substance and feed homogeneity).

Material and Methods

Two-gram samples were extracted by potassium phosphate buffer solution. Extracts were filtered and directly analysed by HPLC-DAD without further clean-up. Amoxicillin was separated by acetonitrile and 0.01M phosphate buffer (pH 5.0) on a Phenomenex Luna C18 column.

Results

This method provided average recoveries of 76.1 to 81.6% with coefficients of variation (CV, %) for repeatability and reproducibility in the ranges of 3.7–7.2% and 5.3–7.6%, respectively. The limit of detection was 51.2 mg/kg and limit of quantification was 103.0 mg/kg.

Conclusion

The method was successfully validated and proved to be efficient, precise, and useful for quantification of amoxicillin in medicated feedingstuffs.
Emerging trends and drivers for knowledge-intensive economy
Authors: Grigorescu Adriana , Zamfir Ana-Maria , Mocanu Cristina
Published: July 2020

Innovation and knowledge-intensive economy are considered crucial for addressing challenges and opportunities currently faced by Europe. The present paper aims to provide inputs for building a long-term vision aiming to promote innovation and knowledge economy for fostering smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. We analyze microdata from the 2016 Innobarometer “EU Business Innovation Trends” (Flash Eurobarometer 433), covering 14,112 companies from 30 countries in order to shed light on main drivers and results of business investments in innovation. We focus our analysis on high-tech industries and knowledge-intensive services. Additionally, expected positive impacts of innovation in knowledge-intensive sectors are explored in terms of job creation, digital economy, environment protection, health, transport, food quantity and quality, development of smart cities, etc. Our results are useful for designing an improved support for the emergence and impact of knowledge-intensive economy.
A Review of Electrical Methods as A Worthy Tool for Mineral Exploration
Authors: Egbelehulu Priscillia , Mallam Abu , Abdulsalam Naeem , Adewumi Taiwo
Published: July 2020

This paper focuses on the review of electrical geophysical methods such as electrical resistivity and induced polarization as a technique for mineral exploration. It highlights the general fundamental principles of the electrical methods and result from other investigations. Most rock – forming minerals are insulators, and electrical current is carried through rocks mainly by the passage of ions in pore waters. In light of this, most rocks conduct electricity by electrolytic rather than electronic processes. Since metals and most metallic sulphides conduct electricity efficiently by the flow of electrons, electrical method is efficient and important in environmental investigation especially in areas where metallic objects are the targets and also in the search for sulphide ores. The results from various research showed the applicability of these geophysical ground methods, specially the Induce Polarization method, as a support tool in the identification and selection of exploration targets for test drilling.
Attenuation parameters of polyvinyl alcohol-tungsten oxide composites at the photon energies 5.895, 6.490, 59.54 and 662 keV
Authors: Muthamma M V , Gudennavar Bubbly S , Gudennavar Shivappa B
Published: July 2020

The growing demand for lightweight, non-toxic and effective X- and γ-ray shielding materials in various fields has led to the exploration of various polymer composites for shielding applications. In this study, tungsten filled polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composites of varying WO3 concentrations (0 - 50 wt%) were prepared by solution cast technique. The structural, morphological, and thermal properties of the prepared composite films were studied using X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The AC conductivity studies showed the low conductivity property of the composites. The X-ray (5.895 and 6.490 keV) and γ-ray (59.54 and 662 keV) attenuation studies performed using CdTe and NaI(Tl) detector spectrometers revealed a noticeable increase in shielding efficiency with increase in filler wt%. The effective atomic number (Zeff) calculated by the direct method agreed with the values obtained using Auto-Zeff software. The % heaviness showed that tungsten filled polyvinyl alcohol composites are lighter than traditional shielding materials.
Transformation of the Landscape Structure of the Selected Testing Grounds in the Tri-city Agglomeration in the Years 1985–2012
Authors: Korwel-Lejkowska Barbara
Published: July 2020

The aim of the research was to define the scale and directions of transformation of the selected forms of land cover in the surroundings of the intra-urban areas of the Tri-city Agglomeration (Poland), combined with simultaneous testing of the usefulness of the index of convergence of structures for analysing changes in the structure of land use. The analysis was made on the basis of data from topographic maps on a scale of 1:10,000 and digital data from BDOT10k for a period of 28 years. In the areas of major changes, the scale and directions of changes between particular types of land cover were determined. Negative natural effects expressed, among other things, by the deteriorating proportion between the biologically active and built-up areas were indicated.
Rural Areas as the Origin and Destination of Permanent Internal Migrations between 2002 and 2017 in Poland. A Local-Level Analysis (Nuts 5)
Authors: Ilnicki Dariusz
Published: July 2020

The main aim of the study is to identify the main streams of permanent migration and determine their reach. Special attention has been paid to rural areas (a rural commune, the rural area of an urban–rural commune) as the origin and destination of migration. The study has been conducted at the lowest level of territorial division in Poland (NUTS 5 – cities and communes). The analysed data cover the period between 2002 and 2017 and come from the online database Demografia GUS [Demography, Statistics Poland]. While presenting the volume and directions of migrations, the total and maximum values of migration have been considered. This approach allowed identifying the catchment areas as well as the areas of migratory attractiveness. These areas are highly similar in terms of their spatial extent. However, they differ significantly in terms of magnitude and reach of the main migration streams. Permanent internal migrations within rural areas are the least significant among all migration directions. One of their characteristics is the fact that they are short–distance migrations, occurring between neighbouring units. Permanent internal migrations appear to be a good indicator of urbanisation of suburban zones and the shaping of functional urban–rural–urban connections.
Contemporary Directions of Transformations in the Settlement and the Landscape of Rural Areas in the Silesian Lowland
Authors: Łach Janusz , Szczepańska Barbara
Published: July 2020

Rural areas of the Silesian Lowland, undergoing social and economic transformations today, have had a strong impact on the formation of the region's settlement landscapes. Political and economic changes after 1989 have affected the development of rural areas, in particular of ‘privileged’ settlements for which the proximity of towns and a trunk road are favourable factors. The result of these seemingly positive factors is the escape of young people (potential farmers) to the cities and an influx of new settlers. This affects social behaviour and activity, as well as the visual rural landscape, creating suburban zones with residential and leisure functions. The village seems to have lost its typical character but has it really? The subject of the research is, therefore, an analysis of changes in the spatial and social structure of a rural village as exemplified by Borek Strzeliński, which allows setting out its functions. The research issue is to determine the level of social activity of rural residents and their attitude towards the local cultural heritage, which influences their identity and the value of the landscape. The use of integrated methods of field work based on a free sociological survey has allowed identifying the spatial directions of village development and threats resulting from divided social activity.
Quality of Public Transport Services in the Aspect of City Logistics Requirements
Authors: Perzyńska Agnieszka
Published: July 2020

The purpose of the article is to analyse and evaluate public transport in the aspect of city logistics requirements on the example of Zielona Góra. The following study is an attempt to determine the quality of public transport services carried out by the Municipal Public Transport Company. The assessment of public transport is a comprehensive concept referring to more than one parameter. New rolling stock, available information, price of tickets, safety of journeys are only some of the components that affect the assessment of public transport. All the elements that the traveller draws attention to are the factors determining the assessment of public transport. Based on the research carried out in Zielona Góra, despite a small research sample, we can assume that the analysis of the research contributed to the assessment of the level of public transport. After the analysis, the test results confirm the residents’ satisfaction with the means of transport. The parameters with unsatisfactory responses provide a signal to improve the quality of services so that subsequent studies will bring greater satisfaction.
30 Jahre Mauerfall in der französischen Presse
Authors: Braun Stefanie
Published: July 2020

La contribution revient sur le retentissement de l’anniversaire de la chute du Mur de Berlin dans la presse française à travers l’étude de plus de cent articles parus autour du 9 novembre 2019 dans les principaux quotidiens et hebdomadaires français selon le classement de l’ACPM. Les thématiques dégagées se consacrent à la représentation et l’interprétation de l’événement historique en France, la problématique du traitement du passé et de la mémoire de la RDA, le changement de la perspective mémorielle, la relation entre la chute du Mur et la question européenne, la signification de la chute du Mur en lien avec les disparités est-ouest en Allemagne et les débats sur la fin de l’Histoire et des idéologies. Au-delà du simple constat d’une commémoration qui se démarquerait des précédentes par une célébration plus discrète, l’étude de la presse française démontre dans quelle mesure le regard porté sur l’évènement hors-frontières allemandes a évolué et à quel point il reste encore un enjeu idéologique et polémique dans les débats sur l’Allemagne et l’Europe dans la France actuelle.
Heave analysis of shallow foundations founded in swelling clayey soil at N’Gaous city in Algeria
Authors: Khennouf Abdelaziz , Baheddi Mohamed
Published: July 2020

The design of shallow foundations on swelling soils needs a thorough study to evaluate the effect of swelling potential soil on the final foundation heave. For this reason, a simple analytical approach based on the soil stress state under the foundation can be used to calculate the foundation heave. This paper reports a set of analytical and numerical analysis using the finite-difference code (FLAC 3D), performed on an isolated shallow foundation founded on a swelling soil mass at N’Gaous city in Batna Province, Algeria, subjected to distributed vertical loads. Further, the influence of some parameters on total heave was analyzed, such as the embedded foundation and soil stiffness. The analysis results from the proposed 3D modelling was compared and discussed with analytical results. The numerical results obtained show a good agreement with the analytical solutions based on oedometer tests proposed in the literature, and deliver a satisfactory prediction of the heave of the shallow foundations.
Empirical and theoretical models for prediction of soil thermal conductivity: a review and critical assessment
Authors: Różański Adrian , Kaczmarek Natalia
Published: July 2020

The paper discusses existing models used to estimate the thermal conductivity of the soil medium. The considerations are divided into three general sections. In the first section of the paper, we focus on the presentation of empirical models. Here, in the case of Johansen method, different relations for Kersten number are also presented. In the next part, theoretical models are considered. In the following part, selected models were used to predict measured thermal conductivities of coarse- and fine-grained soils, at different water contents. Based on these predictions as well as on the authors’ experience, a critical assessment of the existing models is provided. The remarks as well as advantages and disadvantages of those models are summarized in a tabular form. The latter is important from a practical point of view; based on the table content, one can simply choose a model that is suitable for the particular problem.
Optimisation of Heart Failure Management in Nursing Homes Using Point-of-Care Ultrasonography: Harmonious Trial Rationale and Design
Authors: Homar Vesna , Švab Igor , Lainščak Mitja
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Heart failure is common in the nursing home population and presents many diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Point-of-care ultrasonography is a bedside method that can be used to assess volume status more reliably than clinical examination. This trial was conceived to test whether point-of-care ultrasonography-guided management improves heart failure outcomes among nursing home residents.

Methods

Nursing home residents with heart failure will be enrolled in a multi-centre, prospective, randomised controlled trial. Residents will first be screened for heart failure. Patients with heart failure will be randomised in 1:1 fashion into two groups. Nursing home physicians will adjust diuretic therapy according to volume status for six months. Point-of-care ultrasonography will be used in the test group and clinical examination in the control group. The primary endpoint will be heart failure deterioration, defined as a composite of any of the following four events: the need for an intravenous diuretic application, the need for an emergency service intervention, the need for unplanned hospitalisation for non-injury causes, or death from whatever cause.

Expected results

The expected prevalence of heart failure among nursing home residents is above 10%. Point-of-care ultrasonography-guided heart failure management will reduce the number of deteriorations of heart failure in the nursing home population.

Conclusion

This study will explore the usefulness of point-of-care ultrasonography for heart failure management in the nursing home population.
Changes in the Growth and Development of Adolescents in a Country in Socio-Economic Transition 1993–2013
Authors: Robič Pikel Tatjana , Malus Tina , Starc Gregor , Golja Petra
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Changes in human growth and development depend on genetic and environmental factors. In the case of Slovenia, the environmental factors changed as a result of the period of socio-economic transition that the country underwent between 1991 and 2013. The authors used anthropometric techniques to evaluate differences in body height, proportions and sexual maturity in 1,221 adolescents aged 14 in 1993, 2003 and 2013.

Methods

Data was collected as a part of the ACDSi study, which has monitored children’s somatic growth and motor development every decade over the last 40 years.

Results

Between 1993 and 2013, a trend (p=0.08) towards increased body height was observed in males. The comparison of age at peak height velocity (PHV) between generations demonstrated a trend (p=0.07) of earlier entry into puberty in adolescents in 2013 compared to those in 1993. The leg-to-body height ratio increased (p<0.05) with every decade in males, while in females it decreased (p<0.05) in 2013. Similar trends were observed in the leg-to-trunk ratio. Contemporary generations experienced PHV at a younger age (p<0.05), which is true for both genders even in adolescents born no more than two decades (1993 (2013) apart. In both generations, females experienced PHV sooner than their male peers.

Conclusion

The authors assume that females of the 2013 generation reached puberty earlier than females of older generations. It is most likely that, unlike females from older generations and unlike males, they were already at the stage of trunk growth at the time of the measurements, which explains the observed changes in their trunk length, leg-to-body height and leg-to-trunk ratios in comparison to earlier generations.
Evaluation of Biomedical Laboratory Performance Optimisation Using the DEA Method
Authors: Lamovšek Nejc , Klun Maja
Published: July 2020

Introduction

The Slovenian Resolution on the National Healthcare Plan notes that the country’s medical laboratory activities are fragmented, which may result in cost-inefficiency and a reduction in the quality of the services provided. Defining the efficiency of laboratory service providers can therefore help us to pursue the objectives of the Resolution, i.e. to consolidate and integrate laboratory activities.

Methods

Using the DEA method, we conducted an analysis of the efficiency of 20 biomedical laboratories in Slovenia, and made a comparison with a “virtual” laboratory, i.e. a merger of laboratories within a selected organisational unit. By testing different DEA models, we sought to determine whether the use of different input variables caused significant differences in the laboratories’ efficiency scores.

Results

The research results show that inefficiency resulting from the size of the units is 1.5 times greater than process inefficiency. Using a non-parametric Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, we determined, at a risk level of 0.05, that there was no difference between the efficiency results when using two different technical efficiency DEA models. When evaluating the virtually merged laboratory, we determined that, under all three models, the virtual laboratory achieved 100% VRS efficiency. However, when the CRS methodology was used, the laboratory showed a certain degree of scale inefficiency.

Conclusions

When evaluating merger of medical laboratories we note that the DEA method is methodologically suitable for evaluating the effects of health policy implementation, and is an appropriate tool for identifying where the field of laboratory medicine might be further developed and improved.
Agritouch- An efficient smartphone based approach for rooftop gardening
Authors: Islam Muhaimenul , Shahriar Fahmid
Published: July 2020

With the increasing growth of population in mega cities like Dhaka, most of the Agricultural land has given away for housing, factories, highways and other urban needs. As a result, lack of crop production as well as various environmental crisis has already been showing up with a great threat to humankind. Rooftop gardening can be an effective method to reduce this problem and the nutritional needs of the inhabitants. But for the unavailability of the necessary resources, supports and lack of awareness among the people, most of the spaces available at the rooftop are being unutilized. We have proposed an online and smartphone-based approach to overcome the above limitations. Though the current popularity of smartphones causes rising of different mobile application technologies and selecting the appropriate one could be challenging. Here we have introduced some latest technology stack that fit best to develop our application with a comparative study of the suitable geo-location-based services. AgriTouch, a smartphone app, will act as a bridge between the gardeners and the service providers to maintain the balance of nature.