bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PERILAKU BULLYING DAN KARAKTER REMAJA SERTA KAITANNYA DENGAN KARAKTERISTIK KELUARGA DAN PEER GROUP
Authors: Karina Karina , Hastuti Dwi , Alfiasari Alfiasari
Published: March 2017

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among family characteristic, peer group, character (respectful and empathy), and bullying of youth at Bogor City. This study also aim to analyse the difference of peer group cohesiveness, bullying role, and character based on sex and school group. Fifty female and fifty male students, ages 16-18, from public and private vocational high school were selected by cluster random sampling. Result showed that there was significant difference at peer group cohesiveness between private and public schools, but no difference between male and female students. Female students more respectful than male and it were significantly different. Based on school group, there was no difference on their character. Female students also had higher score of bullying and they dominantly conducted verbal bullying. Ages of parents was significantly related to character of youth (respectful and empathy). Peer group cohesiveness was significantly related to bullying; the more cohessive to their peers, more bullying conducted by youth. It also showed that character were negatively significant related with bullying.
PENGARUH NILAI, TINGKAT PENGETAHUAN, DAN SIKAP TERHADAP PERENCANAAN KEUANGAN HARI TUA
Authors: Astuti Ririn Nindia , Hartoyo Hartoyo
Published: March 2017

This study aimed to analyze the correlation between attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral control in financial retirement planning. In addition, this study also aimed to analyze the influence of student characteristics, family characteristics, values, knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral control on the intention to do financial retirement planning that was approached by Theory of Planned Behaviour. The study involved 250 undergraduate students of Bogor Agricultural University who took management of financial consumer courses. Value was measured by Multi Item Measures of Values (MILOV). Data were collected by self-report techniques and was analyzed by hierarchical cluster analysis, Pearson correlation test, and logistic regression test. The results showed that attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral control correlated positive significantly with the intention to do financial retirement planning. In addition, the intention to do financial retirement planning was influenced by age, father’s income, the value (the value’s orientation was low on a sense of accomplishment dimension and self-respect dimension; high on security dimension and self-fulfilment dimension), knowledge, and attitudes.
KESIAPAN MENIKAH PADA DEWASA MUDA DAN PENGARUHNYA TERHADAP USIA MENIKAH
Authors: Sari Fitri , Sunarti Euis
Published: March 2017

This study aimed to analyze marriage readiness factors among young adults and to analyze its influences on the marriage age. Samples in this study were 110 college students. Qualitative data of marriage readiness was analyzed using content analysis approach, revealed seven factors that are emotional, role, financial, social, age, spiritual, and sexuality readiness. Quantitative data of marriage readiness was analyzed by using analysis factor, and revealed ten factors that are emotional control, empathy ability, financial, role, age, and sexuality readiness, communication skill, social ability, social cognitive, and tolerance. Based on the two analysis, marriage readiness factors among young adults were emotional (emotional control and empathy), social (social ability, social cognitive, and tolerance), role, communication, age, financial, and sexual. Marriage readiness between male dan female was different, for male the most important was financial readiness, but female was emotional readiness. Ideal marriage age for male was 26,3 and for female was 23,9 years old, but expected age to marriage of male was 26,1 and female was 24,2 years old. Statistic regression analysis showed that marriage readiness influence the marriage age. The increasing of empathy ability and financial readiness influenced on increasing age of marriage. Meanwhile, the increasing of age readiness, sexuality, and communication ability influenced on the decreasing of marriage.
HUBUNGAN ANTARA INVESTASI DAN KUALITAS ANAK USIA SEKOLAH PADA KELUARGA PETANI
Authors: Rahmiati Tri Sari Asih , Puspitawati Herien
Published: March 2017

Quality of human resources can be generated by child investment that conducted by parents. The study aimed to analyze correlation between investment and quality of school-aged children of farmer family in Cirebon District, West Java Province. Samples were farmer families who had children of school-age (11-12 years) in Buyut village that were selected by simple random sampling. This research involved 30 farmer families. Data was collected by interview with questionnaires and in-depth interview. Data was analyzed by correlation test. Child investment consist of material investment (family expenditure for child) and nonmaterial investment (time allocation, parent-child communication, and parenting pattern). Child quality consist of physical quality, cognitive quality, psicosocial quality, and child behavior. The results showed that child investment and child quality of farmer families were in the moderate category. Child investment will be better with increasing child’s age and parental education. Family investment especially nonmaterial investments correlated significantly with child quality. Child quality will be better with increasing nonmaterial investment who were done by family.
GAYA PENGASUHAN PERMISIF DAN RENDAHNYA SOSIALISASI NILAI DALAM KELUARGA BERISIKO TERHADAP PENURUNAN KARAKTER REMAJA
Authors: Pasaribu Ria Magdalena , Hastuti Dwi , Alfiasari Alfiasari
Published: March 2017

Parenting style and parents’ methods of socialization that examine the interaction between parents and child are the important factors toward adolescent’s quality. This research was aimed to analyze the influence of theparenting style and parents’ methods of socialization on character of high school students in Bogor City, West Java Province. This research was conducted in six schools representing public and vocational high schools, the sample of this research was 200 students consisted of 100 male and 100 female students. The samples criteria were grade X students and came from an intact family. The data was collected from May until June 2012. The result showed that there are positive correlations between: family income and father’s permissive/mother’sauthoritarian parenting styles; authoritative parenting style of both parents and methods of socialization of both parents; authoritative parenting style of both parents and adolescent’s character; and between methods of socialization of both parents and adolescent’s character. Negative correlations were found between: permissive parenting style of both parents and methods of socialization of both parents; and between permissive parenting style of both parents and adolescent’s character. Authoritative parenting style and methods of socialization of mothers positively influenced character of adolescents, while permissive parenting style of mothers negatively influenced adolescents’ character.
PERSEPSI RISIKO DAN NIAT PENGGUNAAN ALAT KONTRASEPSI
Authors: Putri Ayu Marlika Leni , Simanjuntak Megawati
Published: March 2017

One of efforts to reduce the birth rate can be conducted by using contraceptive. This study aimed to analyze the relationship among information access, knowledge, perceived risk, and the intention to use contraceptive. Theparticipant of this study were 60 women at reproductive age (15-49 years) who never used contraceptive and selected by purposive sampling method. Data was collected through interview by a questionnaire. The results indicated that the education level and the age of husband and wife had a correlation significantly with the knowledge level of contraceptive use. In addition, the knowledge level about contraceptive use also related to the number source and the trusted source of information. The results also revealed that there was not variablecorrelated with perceived risk. Perceived risk of between hormonal and nonhormonal contraceptives had significant difference on functional, physical, financial, social, time, and opportunity cost dimention but not at perceived risk in several. Meanwhile, intention to use had positive correlation with husband of wife’s education level.
Entre la regeneración educativa y las polémicas literarias: la "sátira gramatical" y la figura del profesor de latinidad en escritores y "hombres de letras" del siglo XVIII español
Authors: Espino Martín Javier
Published: March 2017

En el siguiente artículo se analiza la formación de la “sátira gramatical”, de tipo carnavalesco, en su aplicación a la figura literaria del profesor de latinidad dentro del entorno de las polémicas literarias del siglo xviii español. En la primera parte del estudio definimos el concepto y presentamos un panorama de autores representativos a lo largo de la historia de la literatura que han empleado en sus obras esta variedad del género satírico. En la segunda parte estudiamos detalladamente la aplicación literaria de la “sátira gramatical” en la manera de representar la figura literaria del profesor de latín, cuyo empleo deja de manifiesto las polémicas literarias de “eruditos” y “hombres de letras” en cinco obras concretas del siglo xviii español.
“A propósito del léxico de cosméticos y afeites en textos españoles: ensayo de pragmática histórica”
Authors: López Quero Salvador
Published: March 2017

Este trabajo es un acercamiento al léxico de cosméticos y afeites en textos españoles desde la perspectiva de la pragmática histórica. Los términos analizados se documentan a partir de los siglos xiii (adobo, afeitar/afeitarse y afeite), xiv (aderezo), xv (aforrar, alabastro y albayalde), o xvi (abalorio, abanillo, acicalar, ajorcas y alamar). Son frecuentes las connotaciones negativas ‒muchas veces antifeministas y homófobas‒ de algunos de estos términos (abalorio, afeitar/afeitarse y afeite). También conviene señalar que todos estos términos no se refieren exclusivamente a las mujeres, sino que algunos se usan indistintamente para mujeres y hombres (aderezo, adobo y afeitar/afeitarse). Por último, se pone de manifiesto el sentido figurado de ‘piropo’ del término adobo en el siglo xvi.
Black Feminism and Critical Media Literacy: Moving from the Margin to the Center
Authors: Patterson Ashley N. , Howard Arianna , Kinloch Valerie
Published: March 2017

The topic grounded in this essay was inspired by the interactions had and stories shared by an intergenerational group of Black women (including the three coauthors) who termed their regular meetings “the Black Women’s Gathering Place.” During meetings, discussions ranged from popular culture and political events to everyday experiences with racism, sexism, and other burning topics that need sisterly advice. Eventually the group became a place where members not only supported and leaned on each other’s shoulders for comfort, but also engaged in practices of everyday activism as described by Patricia Hill Collins (2000) and heeded bell hooks’s (1997) call to critically examine media (re)presentations of Black women. The lesson plan that follows the essay represents an expansion of the learning space created by the BlackWomen’s Gathering Place. It provides an educational opportunity for students to develop critical media literacy skills grounded in a Black feminist approach.
90 poems I didn’t write for you for Jasmine Richards
Authors: Gumbs Alexis Pauline
Published: March 2017

In the long tradition of black women protecting and honoring black women, Jasmine Richards, a Black Lives Matter organizer in Pasadena California, was part of a group of activists who intervened in the arrest of a participant in a peace March in Pintroesca Parkin Pasadena on August 29th 2015. In a move designed to attack the Black Lives Matter Movement and to disrupt their work in Pasadena, Jasmine was arrested and charged with "felony lynching” a California law against taking a person out of police custody which carries a sentence of up to 4 years in prison. This summer after Jasmine began serving the 90 days she was sentenced to, I wrote (or didn’t write) the following poems as part of a project to send messages of love to Jasmine in prison. I sent the poem in the morning and later in the day I learned Jasmine was released from prison. This poem is for Jasmine’s freedom and for #blackgirlactivism, long may we love each other, remember each other and free the world.
Where Is It (in the Map)? Recall and Recognition of Spatial Information
Authors: Bestgen Anne-Kathrin , Edler Dennis , Müller Christina , Schulze Patrick , Dickmann Frank , Kuchinke Lars
Published: March 2017

Findings of empirical studies of spatial memory using maps are direct responses to the successful transfer and processing of map information. The memory performance of map users is an important indication of the quality of a map design. Studies of spatial memory have mainly relied on recall performances, but maps can be used in various ways depending on the map user's task and applied strategy. Therefore, one memory paradigm does not cover the entire spectrum of options for examining the retrieval of map information. Three different experiments were designed to analyze and compare memory performances using different map information in recall and recognition (combining episodic and semantic memory) paradigms. The results demonstrate that map complexity, as varied by the amount of displayed map detail, contributes significantly to memory performance. Moreover, memory enhancement affected by map-structuring elements (grids) depends on the respective paradigm and also on the visual appearance of the structuring elements. Both paradigms for examining the influence of map information on cognitive processing can be applied specifically to analyze the efficiency of map designs. On the basis of the different effects of map information, a reasoned application of these paradigms to test map designs is indispensable.
Megaregion Projections 2015 to 2045 with Transportation Policy Implications
Authors: Nelson Arthur C.
Published: March 2017

A megaregion is characterized by common economic structures, culture, history, topography, and climate, among other factors. The United States is composed of 10 megaregions. Together they account for three-quarters of the nation’s population, but they make up a fifth of the land located in the contiguous states. Moreover, the U.S. megaregions are more densely settled than are megaregions in Western Europe. It would seem that America’s future is in the policies, planning, and investments aimed at the megaregion scale. To help advance such a proposition, this paper generates population, economic, and employment projections for the nation’s megaregions as well as for the nation as a whole. Implications and recommendations for next steps are offered.
Application of Environmental Justice Analysis in a Statewide Freight Plan
Authors: Ryan Christopher
Published: March 2017

Executive Order 12898 and subsequent U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) orders require all state DOTs to complete environmental justice analyses to identify disproportionately high and adverse effects of programs, polices, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations. Many analysis techniques have emerged in practice and academic literature, but no official guidance has designated a preferred analysis approach. The passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act introduced a number of new freight provisions for state DOTs, including a requirement to develop state freight plans to be eligible for funding through the National Highway Freight Program. This paper reviews the existing guidance for environmental justice analyses and documents the application of this guidance to an environmental justice analysis for the Minnesota Statewide Freight System Plan. The plan provides strategies and a policy framework for statewide freight stakeholders to guide planning efforts and investments in the state freight system. The paper concludes with a discussion of further considerations, strategies, and challenges facing freight planning practitioners in future freight environmental justice analyses.
Development of a prediction rule for diagnosing postoperative meningitis: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Hernández Ortiz Olga Helena , García García Héctor Iván , Muñoz Ramírez Fabián , Cardona Flórez Juan Sebastián , Gil Valencia Bladimir Alejandro , Medina Mantilla Salvador Ernesto , Moreno Ochoa María Juliana , Sará Ochoa Jorge Eliécer , Jaimes Fabián
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE

Diagnosing nosocomial meningitis (NM) in neurosurgical patients is difficult. The standard CSF test is not optimal and when it is obtained, CSF cultures are negative in as many as 70% of cases. The goal of this study was to develop a diagnostic prediction rule for postoperative meningitis using a combination of clinical, laboratory, and CSF variables, as well as risk factors (RFs) for CNS infection.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed in 4 intensive care units in Medellín, Colombia. Patients with a history of neurosurgical procedures were selected at the onset of febrile symptoms and/or after an increase in acute-phase reactants. Their CSF was studied for suspicion of infection and a bivariate analysis was performed between the dependent variable (confirmed/probable NM) and the identified independent variables. Those variables with a p value ≤ 0.2 were fitted in a multiple logistic regression analysis with the same dependent variable. After determining the best model according to its discrimination and calibration, the β coefficient for each selected dichotomized variable obtained from the logistic regression model was used to construct the score for the prediction rule.

RESULTS

Among 320 patients recruited for the study, 154 had confirmed or probable NM. Using bivariate analysis, 15 variables had statistical associations with the outcome: aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), traumatic brain injury, CSF leak, positioning of external ventricular drains (EVDs), daily CSF draining via EVDs, intraventricular hemorrhage, neurological deterioration, age ≥ 50 years, surgical duration ≥ 220 minutes, blood loss during surgery ≥ 200 ml, C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 6 mg/dl, CSF/serum glucose ratio ≤ 0.4 mmol/L, CSF lactate ≥ 4 mmol/L, CSF leukocytes ≥ 250 cells, and CSF polymorphonuclear (PMN) neutrophils ≥ 50%. The multivariate analysis fitted a final model with 6 variables for the prediction rule (aSAH diagnosis: 1 point; CRP ≥ 6 mg/dl: 1 point; CSF/serum glucose ratio ≤ 0.4 mmol/L: 1 point; CSF leak: 1.5 points; CSF PMN neutrophils ≥ 50%: 1.5 points; and CSF lactate ≥ 4 mmol/L: 4 points) with good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit = 0.71) and discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.94).

CONCLUSIONS

The prediction rule for diagnosing NM improves the diagnostic accuracy in neurosurgical patients with suspicion of infection. A score ≥ 6 points suggests a high probability of neuroinfection, for which antibiotic treatment should be considered. An independent validation of the rule in a different group of patients is warranted.
The role of physical therapy and rehabilitation after lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative disease: a systematic review
Authors: Madera Marcella , Brady Jeremy , Deily Sylvia , McGinty Trent , Moroz Lee , Singh Devender , Tipton George , Truumees Eeric
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to provide a systematic and comprehensive review of the existing literature regarding postfusion rehabilitation.

METHODS

Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the authors conducted an exhaustive review of multiple electronic databases. Potential articles were screened using inclusion/exclusion criteria. Two authors independently analyzed these studies using predefined data fields, including study quality indicators such as level of evidence and availability of accepted patient-reported outcomes measures. These findings were synthesized in a narrative format. A third author resolved disagreements regarding the inclusion of a study.

RESULTS

Twenty-one articles with I or II levels of evidence were included in the review. The authors divided the findings of the literature review into several groups: rehabilitation terminology, timing and duration of postfusion rehabilitation, the need for rehabilitation relative to surgery-related morbidity, rehabilitation's relationship to outcomes, and cognitive and psychosocial aspects of postsurgical rehabilitation. Current evidence generally supports formal rehabilitation after lumbar fusion surgery. Starting physical therapy at the 12-week postoperative mark results in better outcomes at lower cost than an earlier, 6-week start. Where available, psychosocial support improves outcomes. However, a number of the questions could not be answered with high-grade evidence. In these cases, the authors used “best evidence available” to make recommendations. There are many cases in which different types of caregivers use clinical terminology differently. The data supporting an optimal protocol for postfusion rehabilitation remains elusive but, using the data available, the authors have crafted recommendations and a model protocol, which is currently undergoing prospective study.

CONCLUSIONS

Rehabilitation has long been a common feature in the postoperative management of patients undergoing spinal fusion. Although caregivers from multiple disciplines agree that the majority of their patients will benefit from this effort, the supporting data remain sparse. In creating a model protocol for postlumbar fusion rehabilitation, the authors hope to share a starting point for future postoperative lumbar fusion rehabilitation research.
The durability of endoscopic third ventriculostomy and ventriculoperitoneal shunts in children with hydrocephalus following posterior fossa tumor resection: a systematic review and time-to-failure analysis
Authors: Dewan Michael C. , Lim Jaims , Shannon Chevis N. , Wellons John C.
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE

Up to one-third of patients with a posterior fossa brain tumor (PFBT) will experience persistent hydrocephalus mandating permanent CSF diversion. The optimal hydrocephalus treatment modality is unknown; the authors sought to compare the durability between endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) therapy in the pediatric population.

METHODS

The authors conducted a systematic review of articles indexed in PubMed between 1986 and 2016 describing ETV and/or VPS treatment success/failure and time-to-failure rate in patients < 19 years of age with hydrocephalus related to a PFBT. Additionally, the authors conducted a retrospective review of their institutional series of PFBT patients requiring CSF diversion. Patient data from the systematic review and from the institutional series were aggregated and a time-to-failure analysis was performed comparing ETV and VPS using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

A total of 408 patients were included from 12 studies and the authors' institutional series: 284 who underwent ETV and 124 who underwent VPS placement. The analysis included uncontrolled studies with variable method and timing of CSF diversion and were subject to surgeon bias. No significant differences between cohorts were observed with regard to age, sex, tumor grade or histology, metastatic status, or extent of resection. The cumulative failure rate of ETV was 21%, whereas that of VPS surgery was 29% (p = 0.105). The median time to failure was earlier for ETV than for VPS surgery (0.82 [IQR 0.2–1.8] vs 4.7 months [IQR 0.3–5.7], p = 0.03). Initially the ETV survival curve dropped sharply and then stabilized around 2 months. The VPS curve fell gradually but eventually crossed below the ETV curve at 5.7 months. Overall, a significant survival advantage was not demonstrated for one procedure over the other (p = 0.21, log-rank). However, postoperative complications were higher following VPS (31%) than ETV (17%) (p = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

ETV failure occurred sooner than VPS failure, but long-term treatment durability may be higher for ETV. Complications occurred more commonly with VPS than with ETV. Limited clinical conclusions are drawn using this methodology; the optimal treatment for PFBT-related hydrocephalus warrants investigation through prospective studies.
The Relationship between Value Types and Environmental Behaviour in Four Countries: Universalism, Benevolence, Conformity and Biospheric Values Revisited
Authors: Katz-Gerro Tally , Greenspan Itay , Handy Femida , Lee Hoon-Young
Published: March 2017

Using the social-psychological literature on the antecedents of environmental behaviour and comparative data from Germany, India, Israel and South Korea, we test four value types that correspond with environmental behaviour. Our cross-national context represents varying social, economic, cultural and environmental configurations, giving credence to the effects of values. The authors collected survey data among students on a variety of environmental behaviours and on questions that comprise Schwartz's value scale. The results show similarities between the countries in the effect of biospheric values and differences in the effects of the other values tested. We also find that biospheric value is the most important value type for explaining environmental behaviour, and that biospheric values, universalism and benevolence – three key values that we analyse – have different effects on environmental behaviour, and therefore should be treated separately rather than in a unified self-transcendence value orientation. We finally demonstrate the importance of conformity in the analysis of environmental behaviour. Our conclusions point to the importance of further exploring the mechanism that links values and environmental behaviour while contextualising it in different national and cultural settings.
Notions of robust information coding
Authors: Dzhafarov Damir D. , Igusa Gregory
Published: March 2017

We introduce and study several notions of computability-theoretic reducibility between subsets of ω that are “robust” in the sense that if only partial information is available about the oracle, then partial information can be recovered about the output. These notions are motivated by reductions between [Formula: see text] principles in the context of reverse mathematics, where some of our results have already been applied, e.g., by Hirschfeldt and Jockusch [to appear]. Our work also encompasses generic and coarse reducibilities, previously studied by Jockusch and Schupp [ J. Lond. Math. Soc. (2) 85(2) (2012), 472–490].
Transcranial direct current stimulation in individuals with spinal cord injury: Assessment of autonomic nervous system activity
Authors: da Silva Fabiana Tenório Gomes , Browne Rodrigo Alberto Vieira , Pinto Camila Bonin , Saleh Velez Faddi Ghassan , do Egito Eryvaldo Sócrates Tabosa , do Rêgo Jeferson Tafarel Pereira , da Silva Marília Rodrigues , Dantas Paulo Moreira Silva , Fregni Felipe
Published: March 2017

Background: We hypothesized in this study that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of primary motor cortex could exert top-down modulation over subcortical systems associated with autonomic control and thus be useful to revert some of the dysfunctional changes found in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) of subjects with spinal cord injuries (SCI).

Objective: To explore the acute effect of tDCS on ANS indexed by Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in individuals with SCI and analyze whether this effect depends on the gender, degree, level and time of injury.

Methods: In this randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover, double-blinded study, 18 adults with SCI (32.9±7.9 years old) were included; the intervention consisted of a single 12-minute session of active tDCS (anodal, 2 mA) and a control session of sham tDCS applied over Cz (bihemispheric motor cortex). HRV was calculated using spectral analysis. Low-frequency (LF), high-frequency (HF), and LF/HF ratio variables were evaluated before, during, and post tDCS.

Results: A two-way repeated measures ANOVA showed that after active (anodal) stimulation, LF/HF ratio was significantly increased ( P = 0.013). There was a trend for an interaction between time and stimulation for both LF and HF ( P = 0.052). Paired exploratory t-tests reported effects on the difference of time [post–pre] between stimulation conditions for LF ( P = 0.052), HF ( P = 0.052) and LF/HF ( P = 0.003).

Conclusion: Anodal tDCS of the motor cortex modulated ANS activity in individuals with SCI independent of gender, type and time of lesion. These changes were in the direction of normalization of ANS parameters, thus confirming our initial hypothesis that an enhancement of cortical excitability by tDCS could at least partially restore some of the dysfunctional activity in the ANS system of subjects with SCI.
Productivity Improvement of premium Quality Rice Through Fertilizer Management in The Haor Areas
Authors: Aziz MA , Kashem MA
Published: March 2017

The experiment was conducted at the farmers fields of two villages namely Bahadurpur and Noagaonat Sadar upazilla and Daskin Sunamganj, respectively under Dekhar haor of Sunamganj district during the period from November, 2015 to May 2016 to find out the effect of variety and fertilizer on the, yield and yield contributing characters of premium quality rice in haor area. Two varieties (BRRI dhan50 and BRRI dhan63) and three fertilizer treatments (Farmers practice, FRG and Soil test based fertilizers) were included in the experiment. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three dispersed replications. Tillers hill-1 was significantly affected due to different varieties at 60, 75, 90 DAT (Days after Trasplnting) and at harvest but significantly varied due to different fertilizers application at 30 and 60 DAT interaction at 45 and 60 DAT. The maximum grain and straw yield of 3.86 and 5.67 t ha1, respectively was produced from the BRRI dhan63. Though the grain yield was identical but lower yield in the STB and maximum in farmers practice due to higher fertilizer. practices.Bangladesh Agron. J. 2016 19(2): 139-143
Numerical Investigation of Periodic Fluctuations in Energy Efficiency in Centrifugal Pumps at Different Working Points
Authors: Zhang Hehui , Deng Shengxiang , Qu Yingjie
Published: March 2017

In order to simulate the energy efficiency fluctuation behavior of an industrial centrifugal pump with a six-blade impeller, a full-scale three-dimensional (3D) an unsteady state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was used. Five operational points with different flow fluxes were numerically investigated by using the Navier–Stokes code with shear-stress transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model. The predicted performance curves agreed well with the test data. A sine function was fitted to the transient calculation results and the results show that the efficiency fluctuates mainly on the blade passing frequency, while the fluctuation level varies with flow rate. Furthermore, high efficiency is not necessarily associated with low fluctuation level. The efficiency fluctuation level is high at part-load points, and becomes relatively low when flow rate exceeds the design value. The effect of change in torque is greater than that of the head lift with respect to fluctuations of efficiency. Based upon the analysis of velocity vector distribution of different impeller phase positions, a hypothesis which considers both the effect of pump’s structural shape and flow fluxes was proposed to explain the above behavior by analyzing the impeller–tongue interaction. This work enriches the theoretical system of flow parameters fluctuation of centrifugal pump, and provides useful insight for the optimal design of centrifugal pumps.
Keloid and Hypertrophic Scars Are the Result of Chronic Inflammation in the Reticular Dermis
Authors: Ogawa Rei
Published: March 2017

Keloids and hypertrophic scars are caused by cutaneous injury and irritation, including trauma, insect bite, burn, surgery, vaccination, skin piercing, acne, folliculitis, chicken pox, and herpes zoster infection. Notably, superficial injuries that do not reach the reticular dermis never cause keloidal and hypertrophic scarring. This suggests that these pathological scars are due to injury to this skin layer and the subsequent aberrant wound healing therein. The latter is characterized by continuous and histologically localized inflammation. As a result, the reticular layer of keloids and hypertrophic scars contains inflammatory cells, increased numbers of fibroblasts, newly formed blood vessels, and collagen deposits. Moreover, proinflammatory factors, such as interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α are upregulated in keloid tissues, which suggests that, in patients with keloids, proinflammatory genes in the skin are sensitive to trauma. This may promote chronic inflammation, which in turn may cause the invasive growth of keloids. In addition, the upregulation of proinflammatory factors in pathological scars suggests that, rather than being skin tumors, keloids and hypertrophic scars are inflammatory disorders of skin, specifically inflammatory disorders of the reticular dermis. Various external and internal post-wounding stimuli may promote reticular inflammation. The nature of these stimuli most likely shapes the characteristics, quantity, and course of keloids and hypertrophic scars. Specifically, it is likely that the intensity, frequency, and duration of these stimuli determine how quickly the scars appear, the direction and speed of growth, and the intensity of symptoms. These proinflammatory stimuli include a variety of local, systemic, and genetic factors. These observations together suggest that the clinical differences between keloids and hypertrophic scars merely reflect differences in the intensity, frequency, and duration of the inflammation of the reticular dermis. At present, physicians cannot (or at least find it very difficult to) control systemic and genetic risk factors of keloids and hypertrophic scars. However, they can use a number of treatment modalities that all, interestingly, act by reducing inflammation. They include corticosteroid injection/tape/ointment, radiotherapy, cryotherapy, compression therapy, stabilization therapy, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) therapy, and surgical methods that reduce skin tension.
The Role and Molecular Mechanism of Non-Coding RNAs in Pathological Cardiac Remodeling
Authors: Gao Jinning , Xu Wenhua , Wang Jianxun , Wang Kun , Li Peifeng
Published: March 2017

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules that do not encode proteins. Studies show that ncRNAs are not only involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, metabolism and other physiological processes, but also involved in the pathogenesis of diseases. Cardiac remodeling is the main pathological basis of a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Many studies have shown that the occurrence and development of cardiac remodeling are closely related with the regulation of ncRNAs. Recent research of ncRNAs in heart disease has achieved rapid development. Thus, we summarize here the latest research progress and mainly the molecular mechanism of ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), in cardiac remodeling, aiming to look for new targets for heart disease treatment.
Forecasting Monthly Electricity Demands: An Application of Neural Networks Trained by Heuristic Algorithms
Authors: Chen Jeng-Fung , Lo Shih-Kuei , Do Quang
Published: March 2017

Electricity demand forecasting plays an important role in capacity planning, scheduling, and the operation of power systems. Reliable and accurate prediction of electricity demands is therefore vital. In this study, artificial neural networks (ANNs) trained by different heuristic algorithms, including Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) and Cuckoo Optimization Algorithm (COA), are utilized to estimate monthly electricity demands. The empirical data used in this study are the historical data affecting electricity demand, including rainy time, temperature, humidity, wind speed, etc. The proposed models are applied to Hanoi, Vietnam. Based on the performance indices calculated, the constructed models show high forecasting performances. The obtained results also compare with those of several well-known methods. Our study indicates that the ANN-COA model outperforms the others and provides more accurate forecasting than traditional methods.
A Highly Sensitive Gold-Coated Photonic Crystal Fiber Biosensor Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance
Authors: Hasan Md. , Akter Sanjida , Rifat Ahmmed , Rana Sohel , Ali Sharafat
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we numerically demonstrate a two-layer circular lattice photonic crystal fiber (PCF) biosensor based on the principle of surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The finite element method (FEM) with circular perfectly matched layer (PML) boundary condition is applied to evaluate the performance of the proposed sensor. A thin gold layer is deposited outside the PCF structure, which acts as the plasmonic material for this design. The sensing layer (analyte) is implemented in the outermost layer, which permits easy and more practical fabrication process compared to analyte is put inside the air holes. It is demonstrated that, at gold layer thickness of 40 nm, the proposed sensor shows maximum sensitivity of 2200 nm/RIU using the wavelength interrogation method in the sensing range between 1.33–1.36. Besides, using an amplitude interrogation method, a maximum sensitivity of 266 RIU−1 and a maximum sensor resolution of 3.75 × 10−5 RIU are obtained. We also discuss how phase matching points are varied with different fiber parameters. Owing to high sensitivity and simple design, the proposed sensor may find important applications in biochemical and biological analyte detection.
“Second Language Writing” Publications in Web of Science: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Arik Beril , Arik Engin
Published: March 2017

There are several indicators that distinguish an academic discipline, including journals, conferences, and graduate programs. One of them is the presence of academic publications in well-regarded citation indices such as Web of Science (WoS). This study explored the bibliometric characteristics of publications on “second language writing” (SLW) covered in the Social Sciences Citation Index and the Arts & Humanities Citation Index of WoS. We found that, while the first appeared in 1992 with a steady increase in recent years, there were a total of 266 SLW publications, mostly in the linguistics research area (92%), in the WoS between 1900 and 2013. The publications included articles, book reviews, and bibliographies written by 1.64 authors per publication, suggesting a low level of collaborations among SLW scholars. They cited 31.44 publications and received citations from 5.90 publications on average. An average SLW title had 2.49 different words and a total of 10.85 words, with an abstract of about five sentences and about six keywords and diverse topics including second language writing, writing, academic writing, error correction, and plagiarism. Our findings will be of value to second language writing scholars, graduate students, and practitioners for examining the status of their field.
Evaluating Extensions to Coherent Mortality Forecasting Models
Authors: Shair Syazreen , Purcal Sachi , Parr Nick
Published: March 2017

Coherent models were developed recently to forecast the mortality of two or more sub-populations simultaneously and to ensure long-term non-divergent mortality forecasts of sub-populations. This paper evaluates the forecast accuracy of two recently-published coherent mortality models, the Poisson common factor and the product-ratio functional models. These models are compared to each other and the corresponding independent models, as well as the original Lee–Carter model. All models are applied to age-gender-speciﬁc mortality data for Australia and Malaysia and age-gender-ethnicity-speciﬁc data for Malaysia. The out-of-sample forecast error of log death rates, male-to-female death rate ratios and life expectancy at birth from each model are compared and examined across groups. The results show that, in terms of overall accuracy, the forecasts of both coherent models are consistently more accurate than those of the independent models for Australia and for Malaysia, but the relative performance differs by forecast horizon. Although the product-ratio functional model outperforms the Poisson common factor model for Australia, the Poisson common factor is more accurate for Malaysia. For the ethnic groups application, ethnic-coherence gives better results than gender-coherence. The results provide evidence that coherent models are preferable to independent models for forecasting sub-populations’ mortality.
Real-Time Digital Signal Processing Based on FPGAs for Electronic Skin Implementation †
Authors: Ibrahim Ali , Gastaldo Paolo , Chible Hussein , Valle Maurizio
Published: March 2017

Enabling touch-sensing capability would help appliances understand interaction behaviors with their surroundings. Many recent studies are focusing on the development of electronic skin because of its necessity in various application domains, namely autonomous artificial intelligence (e.g., robots), biomedical instrumentation, and replacement prosthetic devices. An essential task of the electronic skin system is to locally process the tactile data and send structured information either to mimic human skin or to respond to the application demands. The electronic skin must be fabricated together with an embedded electronic system which has the role of acquiring the tactile data, processing, and extracting structured information. On the other hand, processing tactile data requires efficient methods to extract meaningful information from raw sensor data. Machine learning represents an effective method for data analysis in many domains: it has recently demonstrated its effectiveness in processing tactile sensor data. In this framework, this paper presents the implementation of digital signal processing based on FPGAs for tactile data processing. It provides the implementation of a tensorial kernel function for a machine learning approach. Implementation results are assessed by highlighting the FPGA resource utilization and power consumption. Results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed implementation when real-time classification of input touch modalities are targeted.
Terrestrial Water Storage in African Hydrological Regimes Derived from GRACE Mission Data: Intercomparison of Spherical Harmonics, Mass Concentration, and Scalar Slepian Methods
Authors: Rateb Ashraf , Kuo Chung-Yen , Imani Moslem , Tseng Kuo-Hsin , Lan Wen-Hau , Ching Kuo-En , Tseng Tzu-Pang
Published: March 2017

Spherical harmonics (SH) and mascon solutions are the two most common types of solutions for Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mass flux observations. However, SH signals are degraded by measurement and leakage errors. Mascon solutions (the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) release, herein) exhibit weakened signals at submascon resolutions. Both solutions require a scale factor examined by the CLM4.0 model to obtain the actual water storage signal. The Slepian localization method can avoid the SH leakage errors when applied to the basin scale. In this study, we estimate SH errors and scale factors for African hydrological regimes. Then, terrestrial water storage (TWS) in Africa is determined based on Slepian localization and compared with JPL-mascon and SH solutions. The three TWS estimates show good agreement for the TWS of large-sized and humid regimes but present discrepancies for the TWS of medium and small-sized regimes. Slepian localization is an effective method for deriving the TWS of arid zones. The TWS behavior in African regimes and its spatiotemporal variations are then examined. The negative TWS trends in the lower Nile and Sahara at −1.08 and −6.92 Gt/year, respectively, are higher than those previously reported.
Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources in Three Representative Ukrainian Catchments Using Eco-Hydrological Modelling
Authors: Didovets Iulii , Lobanova Anastasia , Bronstert Axel , Snizhko Sergiy , Maule Cathrine , Krysanova Valentina
Published: March 2017

The information about climate change impact on river discharge is vitally important for planning adaptation measures. The future changes can affect different water-related sectors. The main goal of this study was to investigate the potential water resource changes in Ukraine, focusing on three mesoscale river catchments (Teteriv, Upper Western Bug, and Samara) characteristic for different geographical zones. The catchment scale watershed model—Soil and Water Integrated Model (SWIM)—was setup, calibrated, and validated for the three catchments under consideration. A set of seven GCM-RCM (General Circulation Model-Regional Climate Model) coupled climate scenarios corresponding to RCPs (Representative Concentration Pathways) 4.5 and 8.5 were used to drive the hydrological catchment model. The climate projections, used in the study, were considered as three combinations of low, intermediate, and high end scenarios. Our results indicate the shifts in the seasonal distribution of runoff in all three catchments. The spring high flow occurs earlier as a result of temperature increases and earlier snowmelt. The fairly robust trend is an increase in river discharge in the winter season, and most of the scenarios show a potential decrease in river discharge in the spring.
Societal Drivers of European Water Governance: A Comparison of Urban River Restoration Practices in France and Germany
Authors: Zingraff-Hamed Aude , Greulich Sabine , Wantzen Karl , Pauleit Stephan
Published: March 2017

The European water governance took a decisive turn with the formulation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), which demands the restoration of all water bodies that did not achieve sufficient ecological status. Urban rivers are particularly impaired by human activities and their restorations are motivated by multiple ecological and societal drivers, such as requirements of laws and legislation, and citizen needs for a better quality of life. In this study we investigated the relative influence of socio-political and socio-cultural drivers on urban river restorations by comparing projects of different policy contexts and cultural norms to cross-fertilize knowledge. A database of 75 projects in French and German major cities was compiled to apply (a) a comparative statistical analysis of main project features, i.e., motivation, goals, measures, morphological status, and project date; and (b) a qualitative textual analysis on project descriptions and titles. The results showed that despite a powerful European directive, urban river restoration projects still keep national specificities. The WFD drives with more intensity German, rather than French, urban river restoration. This study showed the limits of macro-level governance and the influence of microlevel governance driven by societal aspects such as nature perception and relationships between humans and rivers.
Une variété nouvelle de Fusicladium (Hyphomycètes) sur peuplier en Chine
Authors: Morelet Michel
Published: March 2017

Fusicladium martianoffianum var. sinensis var. nov. (Hyphomycètes) est décrit et illustré à partir de macules foliaires de Populus simonii et Populus simonii x Populus nigra en provenance du nord-est de la Chine (province du Liaoning).