bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Among Municipal Waste Collectors in Penang Island, Malaysia and Their Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards the Prevention of Hepatitis B
Authors: Kader Maideen Siti Fatimah , Rahim Fairuz Fadzilah , Rashid Abdul , Abdulrahman Surajudeen
Published: May 2020

While there are many risks that increase an individuals’ exposure to infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B, occupational exposure increases one’s risk to acquire such infections.  The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B among municipal solid waste collectors and their knowledge, attitude and practice towards the prevention of Hepatitis B. An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out among solid waste collectors in Penang Island from November 2017 to Mei 2018.  The inclusion criteria of this study were solid waste collectors who have been working for at least 6 months and able to understand either Malay or English language. Those who did not turn up during the data collection period and who were unable to give their blood sample were excluded from the study. Participants’ blood were tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) using Elisa. The waste collectors were then interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Research Ethics Committee, PMC RC-14. A total of 184 out of 221 eligible waste handlers participated in the study, giving a response rate of 83.3%. The prevalence of Hepatitis B in this study was 1.6%.  Significant correlation was observed between attitude and practice scores (r=0.203, p=0.006). The prevalence of Hepatitis B among municipal waste collectors was low in this study. Most had poor knowledge in regards to Hepatitis B. Empowering workers by providing them adequate information is essential to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.
Exploring Factors Affecting the Development of Export-Oriented Garment Industry: Facing the Global Competitiveness Challenges
Authors: Zeng Yan
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that affect the development of exported-oriented garment industry facing the global competitiveness challenges.This study examines competitiveness challenges of export-oriented garment industry by testing the research hypotheses.The basis of this study lies in understanding what kind of competitiveness challenges in terms of resource-based, dynamic capabilities and market-based factors. In this study, a purposeful sample of 250 sectors was drawn from total 359 Thailand exported-oriented garment sectors and a total of 211 respondents fully answered the required questions. Study participants were garment supervisors and managers, in garment industry over 5 years. The data collection includes questionnaire investigation for quantitative factor analysis method. Specifically, this study provides empirical evidence on the specific channels and mechanisms through what principal factor within current garment sectors. The findings showed the factors influence the competitiveness challenges of export-oriented garment industry. Therefore, the competitiveness challenges conceptual model emerged with respect to this industry.The model, which identified the main competitive hurdles that export-oriented garment industry faces (i.e., challenges relates to productivity, lead-time, collaboration, opportunity identification, quick response and risk identification factors). Additionally, the author presents Tai export-oriented garment industry current situation, which revealed this strong buy-driven industry needs to restructure their strategies to focus high value added activities and to enhance their competitiveness.
A Simplified Variable Analysis of Credit Ratings for Small Chinese Enterprises Based on Support Vector Machine
Authors: Chen Ying , Guo Yangkai , Wu Maoguo
Published: May 2020

Small enterprises are an important component of the national economy and valuable customers of commercial banks. Commercial banks use credit ratings, including financial and nonfinancial indices, to analyze small enterprises before committing to long-term collaborations, including loans. This paper uses a support vector machine algorithm to establish an imbalanced multi-classification model and compares the results to those of other methods. Commercial banks need simplified variable analysis credit ratings that use minimal information to rapidly and accurately obtain credit ratings and improve the efficiency of the process. Accordingly, we perform multiple tests of simplified rating systems using fewer variables.
Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia Associated with Non-Cigarette Smoking Products: A Systematic Review
Authors: Chaaban Toufic
Published: May 2020

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) is characterized by an acute onset respiratory illness with bilateral chest infiltrates and evidence of pulmonary eosinophilia. Cigarette smoking is the main risk factor, but drugs and other inhalational exposures have also been reported. Herein, the association between AEP and smoking devices other than cigarettes is reviewed The PubMed database was searched using terms such as ”smoking”, ”vaping”, ”e-cigarette”, ”waterpipe”, and ”marijuana”, along with other commonly used synonyms for these terms. In addition, eosinophilic lung diseases were also searched for using the same database. All cases of AEP were identified using the modified Philit criteria in association with the use of marijuana, waterpipe, e-cigarettes or heat-not-burn cigarettes. Cases associated with illicit drug use were excluded. Twelve cases were included with amedian age of 20 (15–60). 75% of patients studied were male. Exposures included marijuana smoking (n = 5), waterpipe usage (n = 2), heat-not-burn cigarette use (n = 2), e-cigarette use (n = 2) and synthetic cannabinoid use (n = 1). Arecent change in smoking habits was reported in 50% of patients. Presenting symptoms were dyspnea (91.6%), cough (66.6%), fever (66.6%) and chest pain (25%). 90% of patients had leukocytosis on presentation, but only 16.6% had peri-pheral eosinophilia. The median eosinophil percentage in bronchoalveolar lavage was 67.5% (0 to 78). Two patients had alung biopsy performed. Bilateral involvement on chest imaging was reported in all patients. Five patients (41.6%) required invasive mechanical ventilation and ten patients (83.3%) were treated in an intensive care unit. All patients responded to corticosteroid therapy with no relapses reported. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia is reported with smoking that does not include traditional cigarette smoking such as waterpipes, e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn cigarettes, and marijuana and can have asimilar presentation and clinical course.
An Unusual Case of Right Upper Zone Pneumonic Patch
Authors: Jagaty Suman , Rahman KK Mujeeb , Dhanurdhar Yera , Mohapatra Prasanta
Published: May 2020

A 32-year-old male heavy smoker presented to outside hospital with history of cough and shortness of breath for 20 days [...]
Gynecomastia in Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis—Ethionamide the Villain
Authors: Deokar Kunal , Shaikh Abdul , Chawla Gopal
Published: May 2020

A 59-year-old married male, a known case of line probe assay-confirmed multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis was treated with kanamycin, levofloxacin, ethionamide, ethambutol, pyrazinamide and cycloserine for seven months [...]
L'Uno oltre l'Intelletto e il Pensiero nel trattato 24 (Enn. V 6) di Plotino
Authors: Romano Francesco
Published: May 2020

This book offers readers an extensive introduction, which not only helps in reading Plotinus’ text, but also explains the methodological choices that are the basis of the constitution and interpretation of the 24th treatise from the Enneads. The introduction is followed by the Greek text, in which the reader can find a critical apparatus in which variants of the text from Henry & Schwytzer’s book are given. These variae lectiones mainly take a clear stance on the intensive or reflective form and the gender, male or neutral, of the pronoun with which Plotinus indicates the first principle. The Italian translation follows, accompanied by explanatory notes. The translation is followed by an extensive commentary, in which the method of explaining Plotinus with Plotinus is mainly used. Although it makes critical comparisons with selected research literature, the commentary mainly uses the ancient sources and the various treatises of the Enneads, to which it constantly relates the passages of Enn. V 6 [24].
More than a Language to Come
Authors: Haddad Samir ,   DePaul University
Published: May 2020

In this paper I demonstrate that the analysis supporting Derrida’s identification of the desire for a pure, originary idiom in Heidegger’s reading of Trakl in Geschlecht III provides a framework with which we can understand the call for a new language in Monolingualism of the Other. While acknowledging how his interpretation of Heidegger provides important insights that guide Derrida’s later negotiation with the dual dangers of nationalism and colonialism, I argue that the proximity to Heidegger, manifest in Derrida’s articulation of a desire for language in the singular, threatens to close down possibilities latent in the promising definition of deconstruction as plus d’une langue—both more than a language and no more of a language.
PUBLICIDADE DO BASA – BANCO DA AMAZÔNIA – COMO MARCA DE DIVULGAÇÃO DO PROGRESSO E DO DESENVOLVIMENTO DA REGIÃO
Authors: Santos Luiz Cezar
Published: May 2020

Este artigo tem por base a publiCIDADE e as mudanças históricas da construção da marca do Banco da Amazônia (BASA), por meio das mensagens publicitárias veiculadas ao longo de mais de sete décadas de existência da instituição financeira (banco). Assim, buscamos estudar a construção das marcas do banco (Banco de Crédito da Borracha, Banco de Crédito da Amazônia, BASA e Banco da Amazônia) como uma personalidade representativa do progresso e do desenvolvimento da região amazônica, como lugar de pertencimento das populações atendidas e atingidas pelos projetos financiados pelo banco estatal e suas iniciativas institucionais publicizadas com o intuito de promover, publicitariamente, o(s) discurso(s) de progresso e de desenvolvimento da Amazônia.
O INQUIETANTE NO ATO DA COMUNICAÇÃO: A RELAÇÃO DE IDENTIDADE E ALTERIDADE A PARTIR DO TWITTER BRITISH LOGIC
Authors: Martino Luis Mauro Sá , Marques Ângela Cristina Salgueiro
Published: May 2020

Este texto delineia alguns aspectos da relação entre identidade e alteridade a partir da análise das interações delineadas na página BritishLogic (@BritishLogic), na rede social digital Twitter. A partir do conceito de “inquietante”, formulado por Freud (2010[1919]), foram analisados todos os “tweets”entre dezembro de 2015 e maio de 2016 com o objetivo de analisar como a questão do “estranho” é desvelada a partir da descrição de situações cotidianas reconhecíveis e, ao mesmo tempo, estranhas quando observadas em conversações políticas ordinárias às quais os interlocutores estão acostumados. Três elementos ganham destaque no tweet: (a) a trivialidade das ações é retratada como fonte de inquietação cotidiana; (b) a dificuldade de definir e expressar sentimentos nas interações sociais; (c) interações comunicacionais são problematizadas, reprimidas e deslocadas de sua condição original, em um contínuo estranhamento das próprias atitudes. Esses elementos são discutidos aproximando a ideia de estranhamento e Comunicação.
O POSICIONAMENTO DO LOWSUMERISM NOS PROCESSOS DE CONSUMO: UM DISCURSO PERSUASIVO COMUNICACIONAL BASEADO EM PROPÓSITOS PUBLICITÁRIOS.
Authors: Lima Leticia Salem Herrmann
Published: May 2020

Este artigo visar promover discussões sobre o consumo e a publicidade com foco no lowsumerism, movimento que estimula o baixo (low) consumo (consumer). O termo em questão sugere reflexões sobre o que se produz e se consome, de forma a tornar o processo mais sustentável. O estudo resgata outros conceitos que, de alguma forma, se colocam com diferentes olhares as questões que envolvem movimentos estimuladores do baixo consumo, como o “minimalismo” e o “faça você mesmo” (DIY), pontuando características específicas de cada ideologia, a fim de refletir sobre possíveis impactos nos estudos do consumo e nas estratégias discursivas publicitárias. Evidencia-se, por meio de publicidades, estratégias apoiadas em propósitos lowsumeristas, minimalistas e DIY como forma de exemplificação do discurso persuasivo adotado pelas causas.
O BOCA A BOCA: AS CONVERSAÇÕES E A VOZ DO CONSUMIDOR NAS REDES SOCIAIS VIRTUAIS – ESTUDO DE CASO DA MARCA ABERCROMBIE
Authors: Silva Marcelo Pereira da , Oliveira Vânia Braz de
Published: May 2020

O consumidor contemporâneo potencializa sua expressão, avaliando as marcas e transmitindo opiniões sobre elas nas redes sociais online. É neste ambiente de interatividade que reside nosso objeto de estudo: o boca a boca online. Caracterizamos o buzz online como um novo fluxo comunicacional entre consumidores que altera a percepção das marcas, demonstrando como, mesmo no habitar virtual, a comunicação, muitas vezes, é unidirecional. Selecionamos o caso da marca Abercrombie, ocorrido em 2015. Através da análise de conteúdo categorizamos as falas manifestadas pelos consumidores na fanpage da empresa no Facebook, inferindo que as organizações ainda utilizam a cultura do massivo e precisam olhar ipso facto ao atual fluxo comunicativo da sociedade em rede.
COMUNICAÇÃO COMO TECNOLOGIA SOCIAL PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO: PROPOSTA METODOLÓGICA PARA AVALIAÇÃO DA ESTRUTURA DE COMUNICAÇÃO DE UM TERRITÓRIO
Authors: Carniello Monica Franchi , Santos Moacir José dos
Published: May 2020

A comunicação é um dos fatores que incide sobre os processos de desenvolvimento de um território e um aspecto de interesse estratégico para um país.  A questão central é identificar quando e como um ambiente comunicacional é favorável para o desenvolvimento. Parte-se da premissa teórica de que a comunicação deve operar como uma Tecnologia Social para cumprir seu papel de vetor do desenvolvimento. O objetivo geral deste artigo é propor um método para avaliação da estrutura e fluxos de comunicação de determinados territórios para verificar se esta cumpre um papel favorável ao desenvolvimento.  A pesquisa caracteriza-se como exploratória, de abordagem qualitativa e delineamento bibliográfico. A proposta metodológica aproxima referentes à estrutura e processo de produção de conteúdo midiático das premissas da Tecnologia Social, que a distinguem da Tecnologia Convencional.
IDENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS NA NARRRATIVA DE UMA TELENOVELA BRASILEIRA: O PROCESSO DE RECEPÇÃO DE CAMINHO DAS ÍNDIAS
Authors: Peciar Paola Luciana Rodriguez , Zanini Maria Catarina Chitolina
Published: May 2020

Assistir a telenovelas é um hábito bastante arraigado no modo de vida dos brasileiros que também é adotado por imigrantes que residem no Brasil. As considerações deste artigo se baseiam no processo de recepção de imigrantes indianos da telenovela Caminho das Índias, cuja narrativa versava sobre a identidade étnica indiana em contraponto aos costumes do nosso país. O objetivo geral foi o de compreender a experiência desses imigrantes ao assistirem a uma telenovela que veiculava informações sobre seu país de origem e seu povo. Dentre as considerações alcançadas, entendemos que as narrativas das telenovelas são vivenciadas reflexivamente e que esse processo se configura como um rico objeto de pesquisa para a área da Antropologia, quando dialoga com os conhecimentos produzidos pela área da Comunicação.
HUMAN FLOW: ATRAVESSAR, CUSTE O QUE CUSTAR
Authors: Lessa Filho Ricardo , Vieira Frederico
Published: May 2020

Partindo do ensaio pouco conhecido de Hannah Arendt sobre os refugiados e das lapidações teóricas de Giorgio  Agamben sobre o tema, como também da exposição sobre a hospitalidade de Jacques  Derrida,o artigo propor-se-á a partir de Human Flow (2017), filme dirigido pelo artista e ativista chinês Ai Weiwei, exercer um olhar histórico, teórico e morfológico sobre as imagens registradas em diversos campos de refugiados, imagens que acabam por expelir ao nosso campo visual uma inconteste violência contra tantas vidas humanas, cujas “autoridades” dos países receptores destes imensos fluxos de pessoas deixam transparecer, ao mesmo tempo pela crueldade e indiferença, a enfermização de nossa condição humana e o aniquilamento de toda a ideia de hospitalidade – ali mesmo onde a genealogia da Europa e do mundo é renegada de maneira absoluta quando se passa a perceber o refugiado não mais como um estrangeiro, senão como um inimigo, como um ser hostil.
A CONVERGÊNCIA JORNALÍSTICA POR QUEM A FAZ: UMA ANÁLISE DOS SENTIDOS RELATIVOS AOS PROCESSOS CONVERGENTES EM ENTREVISTAS COM JORNALISTAS DO DIÁRIO DOS CAMPOS
Authors: Bomfim Ivan , Souza Ana Luisa Vaghetti
Published: May 2020

O presente trabalho busca problematizar os diversos sentidos acerca da convergência jornalística a partir de entrevistas com profissionais do periódico Diário dos Campos, de Ponta Grossa (PR). Para tanto, utilizamos a Análise de Discurso de linha francesa, em especial os trabalhos de Michel Pêcheux (1995; 1997) com o intuito de compreender as formações discursivas que engendram a compreensão dos profissionais sobre as reformulações do jornalismo contemporâneo na estruturação dos processos convergentes.
DESCARTES Y EL PERIODISMO DE ESTADISTA. UNA INTERPELACIÓN A VARGAS Y A LA OPINIÓN PÚBLICA INTERNACIONAL (1951-1953)
Authors: Díaz César Luis
Published: May 2020

El presente artículo se propone demostrar, a partir de la noción de “periodismo de estadista”, la estrategia discursiva desarrollada por Descartes en el diario Democracia (1945-1955). El seudónimo fue utilizado por el presidente argentino, Juan D. Perón entre los años 1951-1953, para generar conciencia en la opinión pública internacional y en su par Getulio Vargas, sobre la trascendencia de llevar adelante el proyecto del ABC. Además se explorarán diversos aspectos periodísticos vinculados con el diario Democracia, Descartes y la columna de opinión “Política y Estrategia (No ataco, critico”). Así como también, la participación de João B. Lusardo y Geraldo Rocha, personas de estrecha confianza de Vargas y Perón.
La comunidad del balcón
Authors: Sanz Martos Sandra
Published: May 2020

Desde que se declarara el estado de alarma el 15 de marzo, nuestras vidas han cambiado radicalmente. Unos actos tan cotidianos como ir a comprar, bajar la basura o sacar al perro se han convertido en extraños y angustiantes. Sin duda, hemos perdido muchas cosas: libertad de movimientos, estar con aquellos que nos importan y algunos, desgraciadamente, el empleo (sin mencionar a enfermos y fallecidos). Sin embargo, hemos ganado otras, quizá no tangibles, que nos permiten mejorar nuestras relaciones personales y, especialmente, hacer el confinamiento más llevadero.
Cambrian Intelligence
Authors: Brooks Rodney A.
Published: May 2020

Until the mid-1980s, AI researchers assumed that an intelligent system doing high-level reasoning was necessary for the coupling of perception and action. In this traditional model, cognition mediates between perception and plans of action. Realizing that this core AI, as it was known, was illusory, Rodney A. Brooks turned the field of AI on its head by introducing the behavior-based approach to robotics. The cornerstone of behavior-based robotics is the realization that the coupling of perception and action gives rise to all the power of intelligence and that cognition is only in the eye of an observer. Behavior-based robotics has been the basis of successful applications in entertainment, service industries, agriculture, mining, and the home. It has given rise to both autonomous mobile robots and more recent humanoid robots such as Brooks' Cog.

This book represents Brooks' initial formulation of and contributions to the development of the behavior-based approach to robotics. It presents all of the key philosophical and technical ideas that put this "bottom-up" approach at the forefront of current research in not only AI but all of cognitive science.

Bradford Books imprint
Clustering of multiple health risk behaviors and its association with diabetes in a Southern Chinese adult population: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhang Guanrong , Luo Caibing , Cui Ying , Lu Yifan , Yang Yang
Published: May 2020

Background

Identifying the clustering patterns of health risk behaviors (HRBs) within individuals and their health impacts are essential to develop lifestyle promotion strategies. This study aimed to explore the clustering of a range of HRBs and the associations between such identified clusters and diabetes in Southern Chinese adults.

Methods

Data from 5,734 adults aged 35–75 years and underwent health examinations from November 2012 to December 2013 at a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou were analyzed. Behavioral characteristics, including smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and sleep duration and quality, were measured by questionnaires. Latent class analysis was conducted by gender to identify HRBs clustering patterns, and logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between behavioral patterns and diabetes.

Results

Three distinct behavioral clusters emerged in both genders. Male classes were defined as: (1) healthy lifestyle (Class 1, 62.9%); (2) cumulate harmful habits (Class 2, 27.1%); (3) poor sleep and risky habits (Class 3, 10.0%). Female classes were: (1) healthy lifestyle (Class 1, 83.0%); (2) inactive, daytime dysfunction (Class 2, 5.7%); (3) poor sleep habits (Class 3, 11.3%). Individuals of Class 2 and Class 3 showed a higher likelihood of diabetes across genders (multivariable-adjusted ORs [95% CIs], 2.03 [1.49–2.76] and 2.61 [1.78–3.81] among males, 2.64 [1.16–5.98] and 1.81 [1.07–3.06] among females) when compared with those of Class 1.

Conclusions

Our data provided additional evidence of HRBs clustering among adults, and such clustering was associated with an increased risk of diabetes. These findings have implications for identifying vulnerable subgroups and developing diabetes prevention programs.
Direct and Indirect Effect between the Antecedent Characteristics of Women Self-help Groups of Gujarat and their Group Dynamics
Authors: Patil N. D. Chethan , Patel J. K. , Gattupalli Naveen Kumar , Bellagi Rahul Dundesh , Manunayaka G.
Published: May 2020

Self-help groups are informal associations of people who choose to come together to find ways to improve their living conditions. This paper presents the results of a study conducted in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat, India during the year 2018-19 to determine the direct and indirect effect between the members of women self-help groups and group dynamics effectiveness. The Direct and Indirect effect of antecedent characteristics of women Self-help groups and their group dynamics effectiveness was calculated with the help of path analysis. The path analysis of group dynamics effectiveness revealed that attitude towards SHG, annual income and market facility had exerted a positive and direct effect on group dynamics, while, mass media exposure, age and education had exerted maximum negative direct effect. Whereas economic motivation, social participation and market facility exerted maximum positive indirect effect and age, farm size and mass media exposure exerted an indirect negative effect. Attitude towards SHGs and economic motivation routed maximum times in the maximum substantial indirect effect.
Impact of Cultural Practice, Socio-economic Level and Environment on the Profitability of the Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in Niger (West Africa)
Authors: Ibrahim Maman Laouali Adamou , Zango Oumarou , Inoussa Maman Maârouhi , Rafiou Abdoulaye , Abba-Mahmoud Oumar Hissein , Chabrillange Nathalie , Aberlenc-Bertossi Frédérique , Bakasso Yacoubou
Published: May 2020

Phoeniciculture, or date palm cultivation plays a major socio-economic and ecological role. However, few studies have quantified the drivers of date palm cultivation and its socio-economic and environmental benefits in West African Sahel. Therefore, this study assessed the effect of anthropic and environmental factors on quantitative and qualitative production of dates palm in Niger. We conducted an ethnobotanical survey to collect data in the Sahelian and Saharian zones of Niger. We used permutation regression test to assess the influence of climatic conditions, fidelity of cultural practices implementation and the socio-economic level of producers on the date palm profitability. The Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the economic parameters and the geographical position of palm groves were also estimated based on the Spearman rank permutation test. A total of 60 producers were surveyed in ten villages of Sahelian and Saharian zones known as two main phoenicicultural areas in Niger. This analysis showed that date palm production varies quantitatively and qualitatively across agro-ecological zones. The study revealed also that ethnic groups influence the quantitative aspect of date palm production (P = 0.023), by socioeconomic parameters (P = 0.005) and by the index of fidelity to the cultural practice implementation (P = 0.035). The date palm production varies quantitatively (P = 0.001) and qualitatively (P = 0.033) according to the agro-climatic zones. The Spearman rank test shows a significant correlation between the quantitative and qualitative production, the geographical position of the palm groves and the depth of the water table. The profitability of the date palm seems not to be up to the phoenicicultural potential that can be the consequence of the poor implementation of the cultural practices, the socio-economic level of the producers and the environmental conditions.
Development of a Model for an Inbound Call Centre Using Hierarchical Timed Coloured Petri Nets
Authors: Afolabi Akinlolu O. , Ganiyu Rafiu A. , Arulogun Oladiran T. , Ganiyu Azeez O.
Published: May 2020

Inbound call centres are centralized offices which are operated by modern organizations to administer incoming product supports or information inquiries from consumers. In this paper, a model for an inbound call centre, which is characterized by agent utilization and call abandon rates, was developed using Hierarchical Timed Coloured Petri Nets (HTCPN). The inbound call section of SN Nigeria Ltd., Lagos, Nigeria, was used as a case study in developing the HTCPN model. Data were collected and analyzed statistically using ARENA simulation software to determine the model parameters. These parameters were used as inputs in developing the HTCPN model which consists of Call Arrival, Hang up Processes, Sales Processes, Customercare and Enterprise Process modules. The model was simulated using Colour Petri Nets tools and validated by carrying out a statistical analysis (t-Test) between the simulated and the real number of abandon calls and agents utilization rates at 5% significance level. The simulation results of the developed HTCPN model revealed that increase in number of agents utilized resulted into decrease in abandon calls from 71, 7 and 108 to 35, 4 and 102 in customer care, enterprise and sales departments, respectively. Correspondingly, increase in number of utilized agents led to reduction in agents’ utilization rates from 96, 50 and 96% to 84, 40 and 92% for customer care, enterprise and sales departments, respectively. The result of the validation showed that there were no significant differences between the simulated and the real number of abandoned calls and agents utilization rates.
Granulometric Evolution of Soils in Response to Their Fertilization with Crushed Rocks: Case Study of the Western Highlands Andosols Treated with Trachyte Powder
Authors: Tuebue J. C. Fopoussi , Tematio P. , Nguetnkam J. P.
Published: May 2020

The present paper aims to highlight the consequence of the fertilization of soils with rock powder on their granulometric evolution. For that purpose, Andosols developed on trachyte in the upper part of the southern limb of the Bambouto Mountains were fertilized with trachyte powder at different rates, activated with water and incubated during nine months. The different treatments generate the granulometric evolution of soils. The increasing of the amounts of trachyte powder as same as the duration of the incubation process makes the evolution more significant. In the detail, that treatment induces the enrichment of the treated soils in silts particles in the expense of clay and sands. At the end of the process, soils with high amounts of sands and silts in general are engendered. The use of rock powder as fertilizers must be gainfully preceded by the acquisition of informations concerning their amounts in organic matters. In case of low amounts, a supply with organic fertilizers would be necessary.
Incidence and Susceptibility Pattern of Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Selected Teaching Hospitals in Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Azeez I. A. , Owolabi S. L.
Published: May 2020

Despite advances in sanitation facilities and the introduction of various antimicrobial agents with anti-pseudomonal activities, the life-threatening infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa has continue to be hospital infections. This study was aimed to determining the incidence and susceptibility patterns of P. aeruginosa from some teaching hospitals in Southwest, Nigeria. Seventy-seven (77) isolates of Pseudomonas species were obtained from different clinical specimens from three (3) teaching hospitals in southwest, Nigeria. The isolates were re-identified by culturing on cetrimide agar plate and oxidase test was performed on the isolates. Information on the site of isolation, age and gender of the patient were obtained from request forms. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections is mostly associated with the age range of 30-39 years in male patients and 10-19 years in female patients (P<0.05). The wound swab (29.87%) has the highest rate of P. aeruginosa infections closely followed by ear swab (22.08%). There was a statistical significant increase in the mean diameter of zone of inhibition of ciprofloxacin against P. aeruginosa when compared with other antibacterial agents (F-ratio = 18.798, P< 0.0001). However, P. aeruginosa was absolutely resistant to ceftazidime and augmentin.
Natural Response of Rice Seedlings under Cold Conditions
Authors: Rathod Ramya , Sandyakishore N. , Kumar G. Praveen , Shahana Firdoz
Published: May 2020

Rice (Oryza sativa L., Poaceae) is the primary source of food for billions of people throughout the world and around 90% of the cultivated area under rice is in Asia. Rice is the majorly grown during both seasons and in Rabi season the seedlings are raised in exposure to the cold months and hence, cold tolerant rice varieties are the prerequisite for rice cultivation. Among the districts of Telangana, Nizamabad, records the lowest mean minimum temperature ranging from 11-16°C over past ten years. The main aim of the study was to identify cold tolerant genotypes.  The experiment was conducted to evaluate 35 genotypes of rice for cold tolerance under field conditions. Sprouted seeds of these genotypes were sown in nursery during Rabi 2017-18. The germination percentage was recorded at 15 days after sowing (DAS) and 30 DAS, scoring for cold was done and chlorophyll content through SPAD meter were taken. Akshaydhan and Krishna Hamsa were least affected by cold and scored 1 considering them as cold tolerant and can be used as donors in crossing programs.
Erythrocyte Phenotyping in ABO, RH and Kell Blood Group Systems in the Donor and Recipient of Blood Products at the Yaounde University and Hospital Center
Authors: Chemegni B. Chetcha , Ndoumba A. , Bogning Jiatsa , Lontsi E. , Tagne C. Tayou , Mbanya D.
Published: May 2020

In order to prevent post transfusion alloimmunization, it is essential to give recipients compatible blood products. However in countries with limited income, blood grouping is limited to the ABO system and to the D antigen of the Rhesus system; however, there are other immunogenic antigens such as C, c, E, e and K to name a few. This should be the reason why a retrospective study by Tayou et al. at the blood bank of the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Yaoundé in 2009 on the erythrocyte phenotype in the donor and recipient of blood product only reported to us that data relate to the erythrocyte blood group system ABO and the Rh 1 antigen. We therefore found it expedient to carry out erythrocyte phenotyping in the ABO, RH and KELL blood group systems in the donor and recipient of blood products at the CHU of Yaoundé.

A descriptive, transversal and prospective study was carried out at the blood bank of the CHU of Yaoundé over 6 months, from June 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017. It was interested in the donor-recipient couples of blood within which the recipient was a patient hospitalized at the CHU. Laboratory analyses of donor and recipient blood samples have allowed us to have the phenotypes in the ABO, RH, and KELL blood group systems.

In the ABO system, the phenotypes obtained were 4: A1, A1B, B and O at 27.27%, 2.27%, 13.64% and 56.82% respectively among donors and 31.82%, 2.27%, 13.64% and 52.27% among recipients. In addition, from the Rhesus system, there were 5 phenotypes in donors: D + C + E + c + e +, D + C + E-c + e +, D + C-E + c + e +, D + CE-c + e +, DCE-c + e + respectively at 2.27%, 11.36%, 9.09%, 75.00% and 2.27% and in recipients 4 phenotypes, namely: D + C + E + c + e +, D + C-E + c + e +, D + CE-c + e +, DCE-c + e + at 15.91%, 27.27%, 54.55% and 2.27% respectively. In the KELL system, the K antigen was present in 4.55% of donors and 2.27% of recipients. An antigen supply from the donor to the recipient was evaluated at 6.82% for C, 4.54% for E, 2.27% for K and 2.27% for K, C, E at the same time. This gave us an estimate of the average risk of alloimmunization at 15.9%.

Erythrocyte phenotyping would therefore be of major benefit during blood transfusion and would considerably prevent the risks of alloimmunization.
Organic Farming: Prospects, Constraints, Opportunities and Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture in Chhattisgarh - A Review
Authors: Singh S. P. , Patel Chanchala Rani , Paikra K. K.
Published: May 2020

Organic farming is a sustainable agriculture production system is being followed from ancient times in India. The natural resource management and biodiversity conservation is a core principle of organic agriculture. During post independence, the most important challenge in country has been to produce enough food grain for the growing population. Hence, high-yielding production system contributing to concerns of soil health, agrosphere, environmental pollution, chemical fertilizers, agrochemicals and sustainability of agricultural production. This process involves the use of biological wastes (crop, animal and farm wastes, aquatic wastes), biological materials, avoiding synthetic substances to maintain soil fertility and ecological balance thereby minimizing environmental pollution. Organic farming is a farming system that involves growing and nurturing crops without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Also, no genetically modified organisms are permitted. The primary aim of organic farming is to keep the soil alive in good health through the use of biological wastes and other biological materials along with beneficial microbes to release macronutrients and micronutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco friendly pollution free environment. Organic farming provides quality food is beneficial to human health and practice keeps the environmental friendly. The production of these organic crops is reviewed with regard to sustainable agriculture in Chhattisgarh.
Tool Setup Improvement for Package Scratch Mitigation at End-of-Line Process
Authors: Jr. A. Sumagpang , Gomez F. R. , Rodriguez R.
Published: May 2020

With new and continuous semiconductor technology trends, challenges in assembly manufacturing are inevitable. This paper focused on the elimination of assembly defects particularly package chip-out and scratch at the singulation end-of-line (EOL) process of a semiconductor device.  Simulation using computer-aided design (CAD) tools, actual process replication, and validations were done, eventually verifying and replicating the desired defect signatures. Singulation tool setup of the package was improved and a standardized tool setup was established based on the simulation and actual validations, resulting to at least 90% improvement in assembly EOL process parts per million (ppm) reduction.
Assessment of Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water in Market Gardening Sites in the Centre-Ouest Region in Burkina Faso
Authors: Aminata Kaboré , Boubacar Savadogo , Sawadogo Jacques , Haoua Kafando , Grissoum Tarnagda , Paul Savadogo Windinpsidi , Serge Diagbouga
Published: May 2020

Microbiological quality of drinking water in market gardening sites was assessed to understand the persistence of diarrhoeal diseases and malnutrition among children under five. Households with children under five (5) were selected in Dassa, Nebia, Nariou and Tanguin-wobdo located in centre-ouest region in Burkina Faso. A total of 140 water samples were collected from storage containers in households (n=108), boreholes (n=7) and hand dug wells (n=25) during the month of February 2018. Faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and faecal streptococci were isolated and enumerated according French standard methods. WHO standards guidelines for drinking water were used to assess water quality. Results showed that 100% of hand dug well water were contaminated with faecal bacteria whereas all water from boreholes were potables. 72% of hand dug well water were contaminated with E. coli, 96.3% with faecal coliforms and 96% with faecal streptococci. In households, 95.9% of drinking water from boreholes were contaminated with faecal bacteria versus 100% of water from hand dug wells. This situation is related to the lack of safe drinking water infrastructures, unimproved sanitation and lack of hygiene in households. In fact, 78.12% of water infrastructures were hand dug wells located mostly in gardens. In these areas, contaminated hand dug well water are used for both irrigation and consumption. Regarding these results, a reinforcement of safe drinking water infrastructures such as boreholes, improved hygiene and sanitation and health education are necessary to improve the quality of drinking water to reduce diarrhoeal diseases and malnutrition among market gardeners’ children.
A Study on the Required Operational Abilities of the Drone Combat System for Countering Underground Facilities (UGFs)
Authors: Kim Kukjoo , Lee Youngju , Lee Sunho , Park Youngjun
Published: May 2020

This research aimed to derive the required operational capability considerations of the drone combat system to carry out CWMD operations in underground facilities. The Delphi technique was used for this study and the survey was conducted among 30 experts in the fields of drone combat systems and CWMD operations, and in the military and civilian sectors. The first questionnaire investigated the required operational capabilities by using open-ended questions, and the second to fourth questionnaires statistically analyzed the agreement of the experts on each required capability. As a result of the factor analysis, a total of eight factors were derived.
FDA warns companies not to promote CBD for opioid addiction
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: May 2020

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning companies for illegally selling cannabidiol (CBD) by claiming that the product can treat opioid addiction or be used as an alternative to opioids. These claims violate the law, and the warning letters are a continuation of the FDA's efforts to pursue companies that illegally market CBD products with claims that they can treat medical conditions.
ONDCP: SUD treatment providers need PPE
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: May 2020

Last month, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) issued a “Dear Colleagues” letter calling on personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers to honor requests from substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers. “Treatment providers and all others associated with maintaining this vital sector of healthcare serve in a critical capacity and will require personal protective equipment (PPE) during unavoidable face‐to‐face patient interactions,” wrote James W. Carroll, ONDCP director, in the April 23 letter.
Preparation of Flower‐Like DUT‐5@BiOBr Environmental Purification Functional Material with Natural Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Zou Hao , Zhou Yi , Xiang Ye , Deng Yuehong , Tan Yawen , Tang Haiqin , Xu Yifeng
Published: May 2020

The formation of heterojunctions is an effective method to develop visible light‐driven photocatalytic materials. A flower‐like DUT‐5@BiOBr composite is prepared by the hydrothermal method. The presence of a large number of heterojunctions in the 2D–2D interface accelerates the separation of photogenerated charges. When the mass ratio is 20%, the composite material shows the highest visible light catalysis and excellent stability in cycling experiments. The photocatalytic mechanism is analyzed by various characterization methods. The results show that the main active species in the photocatalytic process are superoxide radicals and holes and prove that the heterojunction that forms between DUT‐5 and BiOBr is a type‐II heterojunction. The synergy between the increase in specific surface area, the unique mesoporous structure, and the heterojunction promotes the speed of photocatalysis. Herein, new ideas are provided for the development of 2D–2D composite materials to degrade organic pollutants under visible light to solve environmental pollution.
Strong Circular Dichroism in Single Gyroid Optical Metamaterials
Authors: Kilchoer Cédric , Abdollahi Narjes , Dolan James A. , Abdelrahman Doha , Saba Matthias , Wiesner Ulrich , Steiner Ullrich , Gunkel Ilja , Wilts Bodo D.
Published: May 2020

Over the past two decades, metamaterials have led to an increasing number of biosensing and nanophotonic applications due to the possibility of a careful control of light propagating through subwavelength features. Chiral nanostructures (characterized by the absence of any mirror symmetry), in particular, give rise to unique chiro‐optical properties such as circular dichroism and optical activity. Here, a gyroid optical metamaterial with a periodicity of 65 nm exhibiting a strong circular dichroism at visible wavelengths is presented. This bottom‐up approach, based on metallic replication of the gyroid morphology in triblock terpolymer films, generates a large area of periodic optical metamaterials. A strong circular dichroism in gold and silver gyroid metamaterials at visible wavelengths is observed. It is shown that the circular dichroism is inherently linked to the handedness of the gyroid nanostructure and its tuneability is demonstrated. The optical effects are discussed and compared to other existing systems, showing the potential of bottom‐up approaches for large‐scale circular filters and chiral sensing.
Quaternary Supramolecular Nanoparticles as a Photoerasable Luminescent Ink and Photocontrolled Cell‐Imaging Agent
Authors: Fu Hong‐Guang , Chen Yong , Dai Xian Yin , Liu Yu
Published: May 2020

Photoswitchable luminescent supramolecular assemblies based on cyclodextrins have attracted considerable attention owing to their potential applications as smart materials, but most of the assemblies reported to date emit green or blue light with low contrast and high interference. In this study, novel photoluminescent red‐luminescent quaternary supramolecular nanoparticles (2) are constructed from a dithienylethene derivative (1), a β‐cyclodextrin‐functionalized ruthenium complex (Ru‐HOP‐CD), Pluronic F‐127, and cetrimonium bromide. Compared with the binary assembly 1@Ru‐HOP‐CD, the quaternary nanoparticles exhibit high fluorescence resonance energy transfer efficiency, with Ru‐HOP‐CD acting as the donor and 1 as the acceptor. Owing to the reversible photoswitched interconversion of the two forms of the dithienylethene component, the fluorescence of the nanoparticles could be switched on/off by irradiation with UV or visible light, both in solution and in the solid state. As a result, the nanoparticles could be used as a photoerasable red‐luminescent ink and as a photocontrolled cell‐imaging agent. These functional nanoparticles can be expected to be useful in the fields of information security and biology.
Multilevel Monte Carlo applied for uncertainty quantification in stochastic multiscale systems
Authors: Kimaev Grigoriy , Chaffart Donovan , Ricardez‐Sandoval Luis A.
Published: May 2020

The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of multilevel Monte Carlo (MLMC) sampling technique for uncertainty quantification in stochastic multiscale systems. Two systems, a chemical vapor deposition chamber and a catalytic flow reactor, subject to multiple parameter uncertainty, were considered. The distributions of the systems' observables were estimated using standard MC sampling and polynomial chaos expansions (PCE), where the coefficients were calculated by nonintrusive spectral projection. The MLMC technique was used to efficiently sample the two systems and accurately estimate the data necessary for constructing the PCE expressions. The results show that the usage of MLMC improved the precision of identification of PCE versus the traditional heuristic approach and lowered the computational cost of uncertainty quantification compared to standard MC.
Self‐Boosting Catalytic Nanoreactors Integrated with Triggerable Crosslinking Membrane Networks for Initiation of Immunogenic Cell Death by Pyroptosis
Authors: Li Junjie , Anraku Yasutaka , Kataoka Kazunori
Published: May 2020

Synthetic polymer vesicles spur novel strategies for producing intelligent nanodevices with precise and specific functions. Engineering vesicular nanodevices with tunable permeability by a general platform without involving trade‐offs between structural integrity, flexibility, and functionality remains challenging. Herein, we present a general strategy to construct responsive nanoreactors based on polyion complex vesicles by integrating stimuli‐responsive linkers into a crosslinking membrane network. The formulated ROS‐responsive nanoreactor with self‐boosting catalytic glucose oxidation could protect glucose oxidase (GOD) to achieve cytocidal function by oxidative stress induction and glucose starvation, which is ascribed to stimuli‐responsive vesicle expansion without fracture and size‐selective cargo release behavior. The GOD‐loaded therapeutic nanoreactor induced an immunostimulatory form of cell death by pyroptosis, which has the great potential to prime anti‐tumor immune responses.
Inverse Vulcanized Polymers with Shape Memory, Enhanced Mechanical Properties, and Vitrimer Behavior
Authors: Yan Peiyao , Zhao Wei , Zhang Bowen , Jiang Liang , Petcher Samuel , Smith Jessica A. , Parker Douglas J. , Cooper Andrew I. , Lei Jingxin , Hasell Tom
Published: May 2020

The invention of inverse vulcanization provides great opportunities for generating functional polymers directly from elemental sulfur, an industrial by‐product. However, unsatisfactory mechanical properties have limited the scope for wider applications of these exciting materials. Here, we report an effective synthesis method that significantly improves mechanical properties of sulfur‐polymers and allows control of performance. A linear pre‐polymer containing hydroxyl functional group was produced, which could be stored at room temperature for long periods of time. This pre‐polymer was then further crosslinked by difunctional isocyanate secondary crosslinker. By adjusting the molar ratio of crosslinking functional groups, the tensile strength was controlled, ranging from 0.14±0.01 MPa to 20.17±2.18 MPa, and strain was varied from 11.85±0.88 % to 51.20±5.75 %. Control of hardness, flexibility, solubility and function of the material were also demonstrated. We were able to produce materials with suitable combination of flexibility and strength, with excellent shape memory function. Combined with the unique dynamic property of S−S bonds, these polymer networks have an attractive, vitrimer‐like ability for being reshaped and recycled, despite their crosslinked structures. This new synthesis method could open the door for wider applications of sustainable sulfur‐polymers.