bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pour une approche plus simple et motivante de la grammaire
Authors: Satzinger Christa
Published: December 2019

De nombreux retours de collègues enseignants selon lesquels il devient de plus en plus difficile d'enseigner la grammaire, dans notre cas la grammaire française, soulèvent naturellement la question de savoir

• comment rendre l'enseignement des langues efficace,• si l'enseignement de la grammaire a encore du sens et sous quelle forme,• si on peut « optimiser les processus d'acquisition » (Thurmair 2010: 357), par lesquels les apprenants acquièrent des connaissances et des compétences grammaticales,• comment aider les apprenants à comprendre la grammaire et à acquérir des connaissances grammaticales tout en les motivant à apprendre la langue.

Ce n'est certes pas une tâche facile pour les enseignants, mais un beau défi à relever! Au moins depuis le dernier débat autour de PISA et la remise en question de la formation des enseignants, la recherche sur le cerveau a acquis un nouveau statut dans le domaine de la didactique et de la pédagogie. Malgré toutes les critiques, qui reviennent sans cesse, il faut admettre que les neuroscientifiques sont arrivés dans leurs travaux de recherche à des résultats précieux et passionnants, qui ne sont pas en soi une solution, mais qui, combinés à des activités didactiques appropriées, peuvent mener à une amélioration de l'enseignement et de l'apprentissage. Nous illustrerons notre propos de quelques exemples concrets tirés de nos leçons de français.
L'image de Moscou dans les récits de voyage des écrivains français contemporains
Authors: Vladimirovna Kazakova Ekaterina
Published: December 2019

Né au Ve siècle avant J.-C. à des fins utilitaires, le récit de voyage est un genre répandu dans la littérature moderne. La description (nature, ville, habitants, symboles, impressions personnelles et associations) est le composant principal et immuable de ces oeuvres. L'action joue également un rôle de soutien. Le genre du récit de voyage a acquis une popularité particulière au cours des trente dernières années, non seulement en Russie mais aussi à l'étranger, malgré le fait que les voyages sont devenus plus accessibles à tout le monde. Cet état de fait a corrigé le concept d'oeuvres et, en conséquence, leur contenu. L'image de Moscou est analysée d'après les récits de voyages d'auteurs français publiés de 2008 à 2016, dont la plupart décrivent le voyage transsibérien. Les moyens de transmission de la vision de l'auteur, de sa perception de la ville et de l'interprétation de ce qu'il a vu, sont divers et sont conditionnés par des facteurs différents : national, professionnel, biographique, celui de genre, des intentions de voyage, ainsi que de son expérience culturelle vécue auparavant et sa maîtrise de la langue russe. Ainsi, l'image de Moscou est révélée dans les oeuvres indiquées à travers des faits historiques, des souvenirs et des comparaisons avec l'image passée de Moscou, la toponymie, la morphologie de la ville, les gens et les rencontres avec eux, à travers une comparaison du réel et des préjugés. C'est finalement l'inconscient national et personnel qui ressort dans l'acception de la capitale étrangère.
A wardrobe suitable for a virtuous pauper
Authors: Marinčič Katarina
Published: December 2019

The subject of this paper is not the influence of Pierre de Marivaux's La Vie de Marianne upon Samuel Richardson's Pamela (a question that has been widely discussed since the 18th century). In spite of some obvious similarities, La Vie de Marianne and Pamela are two profoundly dissimilar novels. Pamela is a tale with a happy ending and a clear moral message. La vie de Marianne is an unfinished tale and, as such, morally ambiguous by its very nature. However, at crucial moments of their stories, confronted with the first attempts upon their virtue, both heroines react in accordance with their sense of propriety in clothing as well as with an acute fashion sense. In both novels, the seducer tries to lure his victim with clothes. Upon receiving the gift, both girls display a naive and joyful gratitude. Their dilemma begins when the gift of clothing turns out to be a gift of lingerie. The self-indulgent French heroine, after a short reflection, decides to keep the clothes. Pamela turns out to be a much more modern young woman. She returns the gift and – in a seemingly paradoxical way – puts herself in need of a new set of clothes.
Erzählte Kulturgeschichten zu Skidoo von Alex Capus
Authors: Virant Špela
Published: December 2019

Nach dem großen Erfolg des Romans Léon und Louise (2011) veröffentlichte Alex Capus das nur 77 Seiten umfassende Buch mit dem Titel Skidoo und dem Untertitel „Meine Reise durch die Geisterstädte des Wilden Westens“. Das Buch umfasst eine Sammlung kleiner, skurriler Geschichten aus der Vergangenheit dieser Städte. Der ironische Ton, der zwar alle Texte Capusʼ prägt, in diesem aber noch besonders bedeutungstragend ist, wird schon auf dem Buchumschlag angekündigt, auf dem die Bemerkung des Autors zitiert wird: „Wenn ein Mann einen Liebesroman geschrieben hat, muss er hernach zum Ausgleich etwas Ordentliches tun. Einen Western schreiben zum Beispiel. Man ist sich das einfach schuldig, nicht wahr?“
The Oxford Handbook of Endangered Languages
Authors: Repanšek Luka
Published: December 2019

The last few years have seen an increase in handbooks – monographs that should by any standard aim to function as well-rounded state-of-the-art reports on all the various relevant aspects that constitute a particular specialized field of a given scientific discipline – that seem to represent a new generation of reference works, one not necessarily too engaging.
Édito. Méthode de français et cahier d'activités, niveau C1
Authors: Lamy-Joswiak Anne-Cécile
Published: December 2019

Édito, méthode de français pour étudiants adultes et grands adolescents, enrichit sa collection d'un ouvrage couvrant le niveau C1 et destiné à des apprenant.e.s ayant acquis le niveau B2 du CECRL. C'est d'ailleurs par ce niveau que les éditions Didier avait choisi en 2006 de commencer cette collection, soit à l'inverse de l'offre éditoriale générale qui propose toujours en premier lieu des niveaux débutants. Les utilisateur.rice.s n'attendant généralement pas de « suite » à un niveau « si » haut (B2), le pari d'Édito a réussi à inscrire ses méthodes de niveaux avancé et intermédiaire dans le paysage éditorial du FLE, si bien que la publication des niveaux débutants a suivi tout récemment.
Bruno und ich: Deutsch für Kinder: Band 1: Schülerbuch
Authors: Leskovec Mojca
Published: December 2019

Učno gradivo Bruno und ich 1 poleg pregledanega učbenika, izdanega v letu 2018, ter delovnega zvezka s priloženo avdiozgoščenko obsega še avdioposnetke k učbeniku, digitalni priročnik za učitelja in izročke za pouk. Na platformi Scook (https://www.scook.de/) je prav tako na voljo učbenik v e-obliki. Za osrednjo učbeniško figuro, medvedka Bruna, pa je bila izdelana tudi marioneta.
Izazovi učenja stranoga jezika u osnovnoj školi
Authors: Lah Meta
Published: December 2019

Delo Izazovi učenja stranoga jezika u osnovnoj školi, ki ga je uredila Yvonne Vrhovac, skupaj s sodelavkami tudi (so)avtorica prispevkov, je impresivno in poglobljeno delo, ki se nanaša na poučevanje in učenje tujih jezikov v hrvaških osnovnih šolah. Razdeljeno je na osem obsežnih tematskih poglavij.
Nekatere težave mladih prevajalcev pri prevajanju strokovnih besedil – primeri napak v prevodih komercialnega besedila
Authors: Dobnik Nadja
Published: December 2019

Prevajanje avtentičnih besedil s področja ekonomije in komercialnega poslovanja je pomemben del izobraževanja bodočih strokovnih prevajalcev. Prevajanje strokovnih besedil pomeni za večino študentov prevajalstva prvi odmik od splošnega in literarnega jezika in vstop na področje, na katerem nimajo osebnih izkušenj in kjer morajo zaupati virom in prevodnim rešitvam, ki so jim tuje in nepoznane. Didaktična funkcija prevajanja strokovnih besedil temelji na premišljeni izbiri avtentičnih besedil in sistematičnem pregledovanju in komentiranju napak v prevodih študentov. Na podlagi povratne informacije o napakah lahko študent ozavesti težavnost prenosa iz enega jezika v drugega, predvsem pa izkustveno spozna, da pri prevajanju poslovnih besedil ne gre le za vprašanje razumevanja, ampak predvsem potrpežljivega in natančnega iskanja pravih virov, razumevanja odnosov in konteksta ter natančnost pri izražanju v ciljnem jeziku. Članek predstavlja rezultate empirične raziskave, narejene na prevodih komercialnega besedila - Conditions de vente, ki so ga prevajali študenti enajstih generacij med letoma 1999/2000 in 2014/2015. Rezultati razkrivajo težave in napake na več ravneh, tako pri prevajanju komercialnih izrazov in frazemov, pri razumevanju in prevajanju skladenjskih struktur, kot tudi težave, značilne za študente in mlade prevajalce, od pomanjkanja splošne izobrazbe in neustreznega tvorjenja besedil v slovenščini do pomanjkanja vztrajnosti, natančnosti in motivacije za ustrezno izpeljavo prevoda.
The influence of pre-task planning on speed and breakdown fluency
Authors: M. Kovač Mirjana , Vickov Gloria
Published: December 2019

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of pre-task planning on L2 fluency performance by measuring the temporal variables. Performing a picture description task, two groups of thirty-seven students were given 10 minutes of planning time and no planning time before the performance, respectively. The temporal fluency variables are extracted by means of the PRAAT speech analysis program in order to be automatically measured for evaluation purposes. Fluency is operationalized as speed fluency (i.e. speech rate and articulation rate) and breakdown fluency (i.e. average pause duration and number of pauses). The results indicate that no significant difference is found when comparing the non-planning and planning condition for each temporal variable. Presumably, the chosen task type containing highly frequent lexemes does not seem to impose increased conscious attention on the part of the more proficient speakers, and thus the formulation and articulation can, to a high degree, run in parallel. Based on the observed results, a modified task design is proposed, i.e. guided pre-task planning directed to attend to less frequent formulae as vocabulary or lexical items for everyday contexts, having a clear potential as a pedagogic device, aiming at activating relatively underused vocabulary and promoting ultimate fluency in the temporal sense.
Medio siglo documentando el patrimonio arquitectónico con fotogrametría
Authors: Almagro Gorbea Antonio
Published: December 2019

En este artículo se hace un repaso de la evolución de las técnicas fotogramétricas durante los pasados cincuenta años desde la experiencia del autor en actividades desarrolladas tanto en el campo de la restauración monumental como de la investigación arquitectónica. El progreso tecnológico producido en estos años nos permite mirar con optimismo hacia el futuro, sin dejar de valorar lo realizado, pero siendo conscientes de la tarea ingente aún por realizar, que nunca tendrá fin pues el propio desarrollo tecnológico y la necesidad de mejorar el conocimiento de nuestro patrimonio nos impone una continua revisión y perfeccionamiento de la documentación.
Cultural heritage design: theories and methods for the project complexity management
Authors: Besana Daniela
Published: December 2019

The contribution focuses on the design project in particular in relation to the existing Cultural Heritage. The principle aim is the investigation and the analysis of a complex as an indispensable relationship between the phase of building knowledge and that of intervention. Methodologically this question will be addressed firstly through a historical excursus through the main restoration theories with the aim of understanding how this aspect has always been perceived as a fundamental element for the success of the project; then it will be addressed towards the study and investigation of some more recent methodological solutions. Outcome, still open to development and progress scenarios, is the evaluation of how the most recent technologies and information systems can be able, if wisely used, to became tools able to assist the designer in the synthetic control of the management of the building process.
The Mies van der Rohe exhibition at the MoMA in 1947: a 3D reconstruction model
Authors: Montes Serrano Carlos , Durántez Stolle David
Published: December 2019

Between 16 September 1947 and 25 January 1948 the Museum of Modern Art of New York hosted a Mies van der Rohe exhibition. This exhibition was made up of photo-murals, collages, drawings and photographs of his buildings. In addition; five scale models of commissions received in the United States and some of his pieces of furniture were on display. This article will study the graphical works selected by Mies and how they were laid out in the exhibition area, so as to enable the reproduction in the form of computer recreations of the spatial impressions received by visitors going around the site.
Geometry of vaulted systems in the treatises by Guarino Guarini
Authors: Spallone Roberta
Published: December 2019

Guarini first develops a rigorous and systematic discourse on vaulted systems. In three treatises: Architettura Civile, Euclides adauctus, and Modo di misurare le fabriche, he described the geometric nature of the vaults, the principles of geometry and their practices in the stereotomy, and the measurement of the vaults’ surfaces and volumes, respectively. In this paper, moving from previous studies, the significant relationships between the Architettura Civile and Modo di misurare le fabriche are deepened, also in light to the theoretical bases established in the Euclides adauctus. Graphical analyses and reconstructive digital models, linking the texts to the original diagrams and drawings of the treatises, allow to highlight the role of geometry in Guarini’s theorization and the logic of shapes’ composition at the basis of his inventions, and constitute a knowledge base to recognize and interpret the geometric structure of the vaults in Baroque built heritage.
Insights for emergency management undergraduates about the importance of exercises in their chosen profession
Authors: Goff, MEP, MA, MBA, DM Steven J.
Published: December 2019

Objective: To explore the use of exercises as a component of emergency management (EM) baccalaureate degree programs to assure competence of new emergency managers.Methods: This qualitative study used document and Web site review and open-ended survey questions for program directors to determine the extent of use and need for exercises as a part of EM undergraduate programs.Results: Exercise planning, design, and implementation courses are available through the Emergency Management Institute, and based on the literature, education, and training in planning, designing, and executing exercises should be a component of baccalaureate degree programs in EM.
Self-triage at an urgent care collaboration with and without information campaign
Authors: Morreel, MD, PhD Stefan , Philips, MD, PhD Hilde , Verhoeven, MD, PhD Veronique
Published: December 2019

Background: Patients in Belgium needing out-of-hours care have two options: the emergency department (ED) or the general practitioner on call. The latter is often organized in a General Practice Cooperative (GPC). At the ED, there is an overload of patients who could be helped more efficiently by the GPC. Research question: What is the proportion of patients switching from the ED to the GPC (called voluntary switchers) with and without an information campaign? What are the characteristics of these patients?Methods: Single-center prospective intervention trial during the opening hours of the GPC (only weekends: Friday 7.00 pm to Monday 7.00 am). The first 10 weekends there was no intervention. The next 24 weekends, patients in the ED were informed about the out-of-hours care in Belgium. The information contained several topics: characteristics of both services, where to go using examples, practicalities, and costs. This information was distributed through leaflets and broadcasted on a screen in five languages.Results: During the study period, 7,453 patients entered the ED of which 330 are voluntary switchers. The proportion of voluntary switchers was 1.7 percent before and 5.4 percent after the intervention (p < 0.01). This effect remained stable for 10 more months after the study. The average number of patients presenting at the ED per hour was 3.1, whereas on hours with voluntary switchers was 5.1 (p < 0.01). The age distribution and epidemiological profile of the voluntary switchers resembles the one of primary care patients. The general practicioners (GPs) referred 6 percent of the voluntary switchers back to the ED.Conclusion: Co-location of the GPC and the ED and informing patients is a meaningful step toward a more profound collaboration.
Comparing the Law Related to Market Manipulation in Islamic Law and US Law
Authors: Aljloud Saad A.
Published: December 2019

The financial markets have been beset by large-scale market manipulations since its beginning. This article focuses on comparing the laws of market manipulation of the US and Islamic law and how Muslim countries get benefits from US regulation of financial markets. This will investigate market manipulation from US law and Islamic perspective. This article will present a comprehensive step review of the Islamic law regarding market manipulation. Also this article begins with a snapshot of financial markets in US law and the meaning of manipulation. Understanding more about the way the jurisprudence was designed to adapt to the existing laws and institutions of the Islamic Shariah will help place some of the unique features in Islamic law of financial markets.

We will discuss the Islamic doctrine ḥisbah (حسبة‎) which means ‘accountability’ or a duty to ‘enjoin good and forbid wrong’ and how it benefits Islamic financial markets. Finally we will discuss whether principles of market manipulation, supplemented in Islamic law, have attained their purpose.
Issue Analysis of Competency-Based Mathematics Curriculum Design in African Countries: A Case Study of Mozambique’s Primary Mathematics Education
Authors: Kusaka Satoshi
Published: December 2019

The paper firstly clarified the characteristic of competencies being discussed in African countries by comparing them with competencies being discussed in developed countries. It has become clear that both countries are very similar. In other words, against the background of rapidly increasing internationalization and globalization, the competencies required to live in the society of the future are the same across borders, regardless of whether in a developed country or a developing country. Secondly, using Mozambique as a case study, how the competencies are actualized and what kind of challenges they face are discussed by analyzing primary mathematics curriculum, textbooks and in classes. An emphasis was placed on the ability to use social, cultural and technological tools used in an interactive manner in the competencies that were contained in the 2015 curriculum. However, most of the contents of the new textbook focus on “basic competencies” centered on basic knowledge and skills. Furthermore, there were many classes where teachers presented questions listed in the textbook as they are. Hence, it became apparent that the nurturing of practical competencies listed in the curriculum was largely reliant on the abilities of the teacher.
Truffle and truffle-like fungi from continental Africa
Authors: Thomas Paul William , Elkhateeb Waill Ahmed , Daba Ghoson
Published: December 2019

Africa is a diverse continent composed of many different terrestrial biomes, from the largest nonpolar desert in the world to equatorial forests and Southern African Fynbos. Biodiversity within the continent is high but much remains to be discovered. Sightings of hypogeous fruiting bodies of mycorrhizal fungi (truffles and truffle-like fungi) have been recorded from the most northern countries of the continent to the most southern countries; they have been widely collected for culinary and medicinal purposes. In this review, we describe the most prominent species of mycorrhizal fungi forming hypogeal fruiting bodies, across six genera. The most ubiquitous of these are the “desert truffle” species and the most common genus of plants with which they associate are those of the genus Helianthemum. We also describe the key species of truffle and truffle-like fungi in continental Africa. Where information exists, we describe the ecology, medicinal properties, and ethnomycology of the identified fungi.
Next-generation immunomodulatory drugs in multiple myeloma
Authors: Suska Anna , Czerniuk Maciej Rafał , Jurczyszyn Artur
Published: December 2019

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy that mainly affects elderly patients, with the median age of 69 years at the time of diagnosis. Despite the recent increase in the number of drugs used in the antimyeloma therapy, the disease remains incurable, with remissions and subsequent relapses. Immunomodulatory drugs (IMIDs), known to have multiple mechanisms of actions, including direct anti-MM activity and immune-stimulatory properties, are currently the backbone in multidrug regimens. New generation IMIDs are recommended nowoby
ESMO – lenalidomide is included in frontline therapy, while pomalidomide is accepted from
the third line. Clinical trials proved lack of apparent cross-resistance between immunomodulatory
agents, confirmed their high efficacy and acceptable safety profile in individuals with
relapsed multiple myeloma (RRMM) refractory to proteasome inhibitors and lenalidomide,
even with adverse cytogenetic abnormalities. Also, triplet pomalidomide-based combinations
with bortezomib, carfilzomib, cyclophosphamide, daratumumab or elotuzumab were proved
to be effective and safe in this group of patients. The most common adverse events of the new
generation IMIDs are the following: hematological toxicity (neutropenia, thrombocytopenia,
anemia), fatigue and, while administered with dexamethasone, infections. However, peripheral
neuropathy, significantly limiting the use of first generation IMID - thalidomide, is much less
frequently observed. Due to the increased risk of venous thromboembolism, thromboprophylaxis
should be implemented in the whole course of IMID therapy. Data from real-life settings
demonstrate that new generation IMIDs are a cost-effective treatment option in relapsed/
refractory myeloma. Currently, one drug program with the new IMIDs is available in Poland.
Developing Engineering Students’ Moral Reasoning Skills Using Problem-Based Learning
Authors: Harrell Maralee ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: December 2019

Problem-Based Learning has become an increasingly popular instructional method for a variety of disciplines at all levels. Many studies and meta-analyses of these studies have shown the efficacy of this method for developing knowledge and skills. I adopted this method for teaching Engineering Ethics at Carnegie Mellon University, which has as its main course objectives the development of moral reasoning skills, as well as collaboration and communication skills, with special attention given to ethical dilemmas that may arise in the normal course of an engineer’s professional career. In the most recent iteration of the course, I used the Engineering and Science Issues Test as a pretest and posttest to test the development of my students’ moral reasoning skills over the course of the semester. Based on the results of these tests, I argue that the students in my Engineering Ethics course did in fact significantly develop their moral reasoning skills.
Activity-dependent death of transient Cajal-Retzius neurons is required for functional cortical wiring
Authors: Riva Martina , Genescu Ioana , Habermacher Chloé , Orduz David , Ledonne Fanny , Rijli Filippo M , López-Bendito Guillermina , Coppola Eva , Garel Sonia , Angulo Maria Cecilia , Pierani Alessandra
Published: December 2019

Programmed cell death and early activity contribute to the emergence of functional cortical circuits. While most neuronal populations are scaled-down by death, some subpopulations are entirely eliminated, raising the question of the importance of such demise for cortical wiring. Here, we addressed this issue by focusing on Cajal-Retzius neurons (CRs), key players in cortical development that are eliminated in postnatal mice in part via Bax-dependent apoptosis. Using Bax-conditional mutants and CR hyperpolarization, we show that the survival of electrically active subsets of CRs triggers an increase in both dendrite complexity and spine density of upper layer pyramidal neurons, leading to an excitation/inhibition imbalance. The survival of these CRs is induced by hyperpolarization, highlighting an interplay between early activity and neuronal elimination. Taken together, our study reveals a novel activity-dependent programmed cell death process required for the removal of transient immature neurons and the proper wiring of functional cortical circuits.
Inferring True Species Richness and Complete Abundance Distribution in Six Reef-fish Communities from Red-sea, Using the Numerical Extrapolation of Incomplete Samplings
Authors: Beguinot Jean
Published: December 2019

Even when ecological communities are incompletely sampled (which is most frequent in practice, at least for species-rich assemblages including many rare species), it remains possible to retrieve much more information than could be expected first, by applying numerical extrapolation to incomplete field data. Indeed, recently developed procedures of numerical extrapolation of partial samplings now allow to estimate, with fair accuracy, not only the number of the still unrecorded species but, moreover, the distribution of abundances of each of these unrecorded species, thereby making available the full range of the Species Abundance Distribution, despite dealing with incomplete data only. In turn, this allows to address a series of descriptive and functional aspects of the internal organization of species assemblages, which otherwise would have required disposing of truly exhaustive samplings.

This approach is applied, here, to the previously reported partial samplings of six neighboring reef-fish communities from Tiran Island, Red Sea, with the goal of better understanding their internal organization in relation to their respective environments.

In practice, the numerical completion contributes to avoid erroneous interpretations that would likely stem from considering only the incomplete field data. This point is especially relevant when studying reef-associated communities because accurate understanding of their organization will help guiding and refining at best the protective measures required by these particularly vulnerable communities.
Profit Enhancement of Rice-based Production System through Lac Enterprise
Authors: Kumari Kiran , Jaiswal A. K.
Published: December 2019

Jharkhand agriculture a rainfed one characterized with ninety percent cultivable area monocropped with rice only. On one hand there is need to enhance productivity of agricultural crop, other hand priority should be given for profit enhancement. Lac is a major source of rural livelihood in Jharkhand. Major lac host species like Butea monosperma (palash), Zizyphus mauritiana (ber) and Schleichera oleosa (kusum)are available in plenty in forest as well as on own gravel upland which is otherwise not under cultivation and are wasteland.  Diversifying the existing agriculture system through inclusion o lac not only enhances the profit margin of the production system but also developed entrepreneurial behavior of the main actor of the system.  In this background lac cultivation interventions was introduced in rice based monocropping system. Inclusion of Lac on abandoned tree of Butea monosperma and Zizyphus mauritiana fetch good economic return to the farm families with net return of Rs.  25090 per hectare and Rs. 7480/ha respectively from kusumi lac on and rangeeni lac, whereas in upland rice net return was only Rs. 3804/ha. The benefit per rupee of investment is lowest in case of growing only rice with Rs. 2.08 and maximum benefit was Rs. 5.14 in case of lac on ber. Lac cultivation on different host trees were compaered and it was found that benefit per rupee of investment were Rs. 3.59, 4.83, and 2.41. and 2.08 respectively in rice with lac cultivation of rangeeni on palash, rice with kusumi lac on ber, rice with lac on palash and ber in alternate season   and cultivation of  only rice crop. Organizing Lac cooperative and input bank at kisan club proved a pivot in better management of produce and ensuring local availability of brood lac.
Effect of Farmyard Manure, Zinc and Boron on Growth and Yield of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L) in Farmers’ Fields in Bihar, India
Authors: Singh Hemant Kumar , Saha Bholanath , Roy Manoj Kumar , Sohane R. K.
Published: December 2019

Zinc and boron are two most important micronutrients found deficient in the intensive vegetable growing fields of the northern parts of Bihar, India. Keeping the above in view, the field trials were conducted in ten farmers’ fields during Rabi season of 2016-17 and 2017-18 with four treatments consisting of: i) Farmers’ practice/control (T1), ii) 10.0 kg Zn + 1.0 kg B / ha (T2), iii) 5 t farmyard manure (FYM) ha-1 with 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 as basal + foliar spray of Zn twice @ 0.5% ZnSO4.7H2O solution - one at maximum vegetative growth stage and another at flower initiation stage + 1.0 kg B ha-1 (T3) and iv) 5t FYM ha-1 with 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 as basal + foliar spray of Zn twice @ 0.5% ZnSO4.7H2O solution - one at maximum vegetative growth stage and another at flower initiation stage with 2.0 kg B ha-1 (T4). The field trials were conducted with randomized complete block design under the supervision of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kishanganj, Bihar. Results revealed that the maximum fruit yield of 280.51 q/ha was recorded with 12.03 maximum fruit number and early days to first fruit harvest (60.86) by the application of 5t FYM ha-1, 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 as basal + foliar spray of Zn twice @ 0.5% ZnSO4.7H2O solution  applied one at maximum vegetative growth stage and another at flower initiation stage with 2.0 kg B ha-1  as basal application in comparison to farmer practice with 189.79 q/ha fruit yield, 6.07 numbers of fruit and days to first fruit harvest (70.11). This treatment also recorded the highest B:C ratio (3.82) in comparison to farmer practice (2.93) indicating an economically better response to farmers of the intensively brinjal cultivated region of the state.
Effect of Strain on External and Internal Egg Parameters of Exotic, Indigenous Chicken and Crossbreds
Authors: Ezekiel Udoh, Jessie , Hilary Udoh, Utibe-Abasi
Published: December 2019

Examining effect of Strain on External and Internal Egg Parameters of Rhode Island Red (RIR), two Nigerian indigenous chicken strain:-(Pure naked neck (NNK); pure Normal feathered (NF)); Crosses were:- RIR x naked neck (RNK) cross; RIR x Normal feathered (RNF) cross. Matured 100 birds reared intensively for 10 weeks at Teaching and Research farm, University of Uyo in a Completely Randomized Design in standard management practices. Feed (16.0% crude protein, 2800 Kcal/Kg Metabolize-able energy) and water given ad libitum. 10 eggs per strain were cracked every Mondays and Fridays every week to examined External (egg weight(Ewt), egg length(El), shell weight (Swt) and Internal (yolk height (Yht), yolk weight(Ywt), albumen weight(Awt) albumen height  (Aht) and Haugh unit (HU)) egg parameters. All data were subjected to one-way Analysis of Variance of SAS Statistical Software Package Version 9.2. Results indicated significant (P<0.05) effect of strain on external egg parameters studied. For Ewt, RNK (46.38±0.79 g) and RNF (45.54±0.96 g) were statistically (P<.05) higher than NF (42.42±0.85 g). For Swt, RNF(4.71g±0.09 g) was statistically (P<.05) higher than NF (4.36±0.11g) but similar in other strains. Result indicated significant (P<0.05) effect of strain on all the internal egg parameters measured. For Hu (RNK) 79.08±1.23% and (RNF) 77.83±1.88 were statistically (P<.05) higher than (NF) 73.84±1.10%. The same trend followed in other internal egg parameters among the strains. Generally, the trends placed were exotic birds first, then Crossbreds and Purebreds last in the parameters. In conclusion, RNK and SNF crossbreds performed better in both External and Internal egg parameter than purebred strains studied. Hence, crossbreeding should be adopted to improve Nigerian Chickens.
A Comparative Study of LiFi and Other Data Transfer Mediums
Authors: Nwosu R. I.
Published: December 2019

The growing rate of data transfer is a concern for end users in transmitting large files. There is need for a faster mechanisms for data transfer and Light Fidelity (LiFi) is an alternative medium for transferring data. This study compares LiFi and other data transfer mediums using selected parameters to improve data transfer. It is a better alternative because it’s safer, greener, cheaper and it does not have any radio waves or any other medium. It shows that LiFi have a better transfer rate of 1-3.5Gbps as compared to other mechanisms and its future application is in different fields such as industries, medicine, education and other regions requiring further exploration.
Landuse Pattern and Landcover of Akure Forest Reserve and Its Environs
Authors: Ojo O. O. , Shittu A. A. , Adebolu T. J.
Published: December 2019

This study investigated the pattern of land use and land cover of forest reserve in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Currently, deforestation constitutes one of the global development challenges. The broad objective of this study is to identify land use and land cover class within the study area using satellite imagery (ies) to determine the rate/trend of change of this Forest Reserve from 1988 to 2018. The research method includes the use of Geographical Positioning System, and processing of field data through GIS and Remote sensing tool (ILWIS). The research was able to identify various land use and land cover within the Akure forest reserve with the help of GIS and remote sensing tools, the boundary of Akure forest reserve and its environs was delineated, and further result of the classification of Landsat shows that as at 2018 the forest reserve is covered with majorly light vegetation with 51.79%. The study recommended that there Department of Forestry and Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development must ensure Policy that will encourage local people and institutional participation in forestry management and conservation along with safeguarding indigenous people’s traditional rights and tenure with rightful sharing of benefits.
Changes in Morpho-physiological and Yield Parameters of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Response to Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) Radiation
Authors: Wagh Y. S. , Nandini K.
Published: December 2019

A rice variety Jyothi (PTB 39) is a red kernelled with bold grain, popular in the region of Kerala, India used in the study. Plants were grown in pots under three different conditions, natural solar UV-B conditions, UV-B excluded condition using UV-B filters and supplemental UV-B using UV-B lamps along with ambient solar radiation. During the study period, UV-B radiation was in the range of 1.30 to 3.58 Wm2 which affected the productivity of the crop under open solar condition. A decrease in morphological traits like plant height, number of tillers, flag leaf angle and increase in leaf thickness were observed. Physiological parameters, leaf gas exchange parameters and biochemical constituents such as chlorophyll content also recorded less value under high UV-B condition along with the high content of protective compounds such as flavonoid content, catalase and PAL activity. The phenophases of the crop were also delayed by 4-5 days under UV-B radiation exposed conditions. All these negative impacts of UV-B radiation on crop leads to restricted filling of grain, lesser harvest index and grain development leading to a decrease in yield and yield attributing characters.
Prevalence and Demographic Correlates of Seropositive HIV and HBsAg Cases among Women Booking for Antenatal Care at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Authors: Awoyesuku P. A. , Macpepple D. A. , Altraide B. O. , John D. H.
Published: December 2019

Background: Infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are global public health problems. These infections during pregnancy increase the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality, and also pose a risk to the fetus due to mother to child transmission.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of seropositive HIV and HBsAg cases amongst pregnant women at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).

Methodology: A retrospective review of hospital and laboratory records of all pregnant women booked at RSUTH in two years, from May 2017 to April 2019, was carried out. Data on patients’ age, parity and educational level and reactivity of HIV and HBsAg test at booking were retrieved using structured proforma and analyzed using Epi Info Version 7. Test for significance using Chi-square was set at a significant level of P<0.05.

Results: 3560 patients had HIV and HBsAg screening out of which 148 (4.2%) and 9 (0.3%) respectively were positive. The comorbidity rate in this study was 0.06%. The mean age was 31.5±4.7 years and the mean gestational age at booking was 22.1±6.8 weeks. There was no significant relationship between their age (χ2 = 2.690, p-value=0.442) and parity (χ2 = 3.759, p-value = 0.145) with HIV seropositivity, but these were significant for HBsAg (χ2 = 13.691, p-value = 0.003) (χ2 = 13.121, p-value=0.001).  Educational status was significant for HIV (χ2 = 16.188, p-value=0.000) but not for HBsAg (χ2 = 0.229, p-value=0.892).

Conclusion: The seroprevalence rate of HIV and HBsAg in this study were low. HIV seroprevalence was significantly affected by lower education, while HBsAg seroprevalence was significantly affected by younger maternal age and nulliparity. Continued screening of pregnant women for these infections remains valuable and further community-based studies to identify risk factors are recommended.
Using Factor Analysis Procedures to Validate Score Reporting Practice of Large Scale Examinations: Establishing the Baseline
Authors: Mogapi Molefhe
Published: December 2019

Performance of candidates in large scale examinations is often reported using a composite score that represents an aggregation of several components of a subject. The components are meant to reflect the fact that subjects are made up of different topics or modalities and each modality is assessed by means of a subset of items. The subsets of items measure a candidates’ knowledge with respect to the specific domain. However, more often than not, the construct validity or psychometric independence of each specific domain has not been empirically defined although the domain has intuitive meaning. Factor analysis can be used to make sure that the score reporting practice as indicated by the number of domains is supported by the underlying factor structure. In this paper, Social Studies and Science final examinations test scores were used as dependent variables to extract underlying dimensions.  The co-variance matrix for each of the two subjects was submitted to a principal component analysis with Varimax rotation to produce factor loading. The results indicated a unidimensional factor structure for Social Studies and a three component model for Science. The findings were used to evaluate the adopted score reporting structure for each of the two subjects.
Optimization of HU threshold for coronary artery calcium scans reconstructed at 0.5‐mm slice thickness using iterative reconstruction
Authors: Hou Kuei‐Yuan , Tsujioka Katsumi , Yang Ching‐Ching
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This work investigated the simultaneous influence of tube voltage, tube current, body size, and HU threshold on calcium scoring reconstructed at 0.5‐mm slice thickness using iterative reconstruction (IR) through multivariate analysis. Regression results were used to optimize the HU threshold to calibrate the resulting Agatston scores to be consistent with those obtained from the conventional protocol.

Methods

A thorax phantom set simulating three different body sizes was used in this study. A total of 14 coronary artery calcium (CAC) protocols were studied, including 1 conventional protocol reconstructed at 3‐mm slice thickness, 1 FBP protocol, and 12 statistical IR protocols (3 kVp values*4 SD values) reconstructed at 0.5‐mm slice thickness. Three HU thresholds were applied for calcium identification, including 130, 150, and 170 HU. A multiple linear regression method was used to analyze the impact of kVp, SD, body size, and HU threshold on the Agatston scores of three calcification densities for IR‐reconstructed CAC scans acquired with 0.5‐mm slice thickness.

Results

Each regression relationship has R2 larger than 0.80, indicating a good fit to the data. Based on the regression models, the HU thresholds as a function of SD estimated to ensure the quantification accuracy of calcium scores for 120‐, 100‐, and 80‐kVp CAC scans reconstructed at 0.5‐mm slice thickness using IR for three different body sizes were proposed. Our results indicate that the HU threshold should be adjusted according to the imaging condition, whereas a 130‐HU threshold is appropriate for 120‐kVp CAC scans acquired with SD = 55 for body size of 24.5 cm.

Conclusion

The optimized HU thresholds were proposed for CAC scans reconstructed at 0.5‐mm slice thickness using IR. Our study results may provide a potential strategy to improve the reliability of calcium scoring by reducing partial volume effect while keeping radiation dose as low as reasonably achievable.
Dosimetric study of three‐dimensional static and dynamic SBRT radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma based on 4DCT image deformable registration
Authors: Ma Changdong , Duan Jinghao , Yu Shuang , Ma Changsheng
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this work was to determine the actual dose received by normal tissues during four‐dimensional radiation therapy (4DRT) composed of ten phases of four‐dimensional computer tomography (4DCT) images. The analysis was performed by tracking the hepatocellular carcinoma SBRT. Data were acquired from the tracking of each phase with the beam aperture for 28 hepatocellular carcinoma patients, and the data were used to generate a cumulative plan, which was compared to a three‐dimensional (3D) plan formed from a merged target volume based on 4DCT images in a radiation treatment planning system (TPS). The change in normal tissue dose was evaluated in the plan using the parameters V5, V10, V15, V20, V25, V30, V35, and V40 (volumes receiving 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 Gy, respectively) in the dose‐volume histogram for the liver; the mean dose was analyzed for the following tissues: liver, left kidney, and right kidney. The maximum dose was analyzed for the following tissues: bowel, duodenum, esophagus, stomach, and heart. There was a significant difference in the dose between the 4D planning target volume (PTV) (average 115.71 cm3) and ITV (169.86 cm3). The planning objective was for 95% of the volume of the PTV to be covered by the prescription dose, but the mean dose for the liver, left kidney and right kidney had an average decrease of 23.13%, 49.51%, and 54.38%, respectively. The maximum dose for the bowel, duodenum, esophagus, stomach, and heart had an average decrease of 16.77%, 28.07%, 24.28%, 4.89%, and 4.45%, respectively. Compared to 3D RT, the radiation volume for the liver V5, V10, V15, V20, V25, V30, V35, and V40 using the 4D plans had a significant decrease (P ﹤ 0.05). The 4D method creates plans that permit sparing of the normal tissues more than the commonly used ITV method, which delivers the same dosimetric effects to the target.
A common‐mesocosm experiment recreates sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) phenotypes from Everglades marl prairies and peat marshes
Authors: Richards Jennifer H. , Olivas Paulo C.
Published: December 2019

Premise

The southern Florida Everglades landscape sustains wetlands of national and international importance. Sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense), the dominant macrophyte in the Everglades, has two phenotypes that vary in size and density between Everglades marl prairies and peat marshes. Marl prairies have recently been hypothesized to be a newly formed habitat developed after European colonization as a result of landscape‐scale hydrologic modifications, implying that sawgrass marl phenotypes developed in response to the marl habitat. We examined whether sawgrass wetland phenotypes are plastic responses to marl and peat soils.

Methods

In a common‐mesocosm experiment, seedlings from a single Everglades population were grown outdoors in field‐collected marl or peat soils. Growth and morphology of plants were measured over 14 mo, while soil and leaf total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total carbon, and plant biomass and biomass allocation were determined in a final harvest.

Results

Sawgrass plant morphology diverged in marl vs. peat soils, and variations in morphology and density of mesocosm‐grown plants resembled differences seen in sawgrass plants growing in marl and peat habitats in Everglades wetlands. Additionally, sawgrass growing in marl made abundant dauciform roots, while dauciform root production of sawgrass growing in peat was correlated with soil total phosphorus.

Conclusions

Sawgrass from a single population grown in marl or peat soils can mimic sawgrass phenotypes associated with marl vs. peat habitats. This plasticity is consistent with the hypothesis that Everglades marl prairies are relatively new habitats that support plant communities assembled after European colonization and subsequent landscape modifications.
Epalrestat improves motor symptoms by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the reserpine induced mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Rahman Md. Mahbubur , Chakraborti Rupali Rani , Potol Md. Abdullah , Abir Ariful Haque , Sharmin Ozayra , Alam Mahabub , Khan Md. Fazlur Rahman , Afrin Rownock , Jannat Humayra , Wadud Rasiqh , Habib Zaki Farhad
Published: December 2019

Background

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting a large number of elderly people worldwide. The current therapies for PD are symptom‐based; they do not provide a cure but improve the quality of life. Muscular dysfunction is the hallmark clinical feature of PD and oxidative stress and inflammation play a critical role in its pathogenesis. Epalrestat is used for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy and is known to improve antioxidative defense mechanisms in the CNS. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the role of Epalrestat in the reserpine induced mouse model of PD.

Method

We used Swiss Albino mice for the PD model and tested for akinesia/bradykinesia, muscular rigidity, palpebral ptosis, and tremor, as well as conducting swim and open field tests. Brain samples were used to determine oxidative stress parameters and infiltration of immune cells.

Results

Epalrestat treatment significantly improved akinesia and bradykinesia, muscular dysfunctions, tremor level, and gait functions compared to the reserpine group. It also improved the latency in the swim test. Eplarestat significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and NO concentration in different brain tissues and increased the activity of antioxidative enzymes, glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Furthermore, Epalrestat reduced neuroinflammation by reducing the number of infiltrating immune cells.

Conclusion

Eplarestat improves muscular dysfunction in PD by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.