bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influenza Vaccination Is Associated With Reduced Cardiovascular Mortality in Adults With Diabetes: A Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Modin Daniel , Claggett Brian , Køber Lars , Schou Morten , Jensen Jens Ulrik Stæhr , Solomon Scott D. , Vardeny Orly , Knop Filip Krag , Nielsen Susanne Dam , Fralick Michael , Torp-Pedersen Christian , Gislason Gunnar , Biering-Sørensen Tor
Published: July 2020

OBJECTIVE

Recent influenza infection is associated with an increased risk of atherothrombotic events, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke. Little is known about the association between influenza vaccination and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We used nationwide register data to identify patients with diabetes in Denmark during nine consecutive influenza seasons in the period 2007–2016. Diabetes was defined as use of glucose-lowering medication. Patients who were not 18–100 years old or had ischemic heart disease, heart failure, chronic obstructive lung disease, cancer, or cerebrovascular disease were excluded. Patient exposure to influenza vaccination was assessed before each influenza season. We considered the outcomes of death from all causes, death from cardiovascular causes, and death from AMI or stroke. For each season, patients were monitored from December 1 until April 1 the next year.

RESULTS

A total of 241,551 patients were monitored for a median of four seasons (interquartile range two to eight seasons) for a total follow-up of 425,318 person-years. The vaccine coverage during study seasons ranged from 24% to 36%. During follow-up, 8,207 patients died of all causes (3.4%), 4,127 patients died of cardiovascular causes (1.7%), and 1,439 patients died of AMI/stroke (0.6%). After adjustment for confounders, vaccination was significantly associated with reduced risks of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR] 0.83, P < 0.001), cardiovascular death (HR 0.84, P < 0.001), and death from AMI or stroke (HR 0.85, P = 0.028) and a reduced risk of being admitted to hospital with acute complications associated with diabetes (diabetic ketoacidosis, hypoglycemia, or coma) (HR 0.89, P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with diabetes, influenza vaccination was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and death from AMI or stroke. Influenza vaccination may improve outcome in patients with diabetes.
Effects of Lixisenatide Versus Liraglutide (Short- and Long-Acting GLP-1 Receptor Agonists) on Esophageal and Gastric Function in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Quast Daniel R. , Schenker Nina , Menge Björn A. , Nauck Michael A. , Kapitza Christoph , Meier Juris J.
Published: July 2020

OBJECTIVE

Short-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) decelerate gastric emptying more than long-acting GLP-1 RAs. Delayed gastric emptying is a risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease. We aimed to measure esophageal reflux and function as well as gastric emptying and acid secretion during treatment with short-acting (lixisenatide) and long-acting (liraglutide) GLP-1 RAs.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 57 subjects with type 2 diabetes were randomized to a 10-week treatment with lixisenatide or liraglutide. Changes from baseline in the number of reflux episodes during 24-h pH registration in the lower esophagus, lower esophagus sphincter pressure, gastric emptying (13C-sodium octanoate acid breath test), and gastric acid secretion (13C-calcium carbonate breath test) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Gastric emptying half-time was delayed by 52 min (Δ 95% CI 16, 88) with lixisenatide (P = 0.0065) and by 25 min (3, 46) with liraglutide (P = 0.025). There was no difference in the number of reflux episodes (mean ± SEM 33.7 ± 4.1 vs. 40.1 ± 5.3 for lixisenatide and liraglutide, respectively, P = 0.17) or the extent of gastroesophageal reflux (DeMeester score) (35.1 ± 6.7 vs. 39.7 ± 7.5, P = 0.61), with similar results for the individual GLP-1 RAs. No significant changes from baseline in other parameters of esophageal motility and lower esophageal sphincter function were observed. Gastric acidity decreased significantly by −20.7% (−40.6, −0.8) (P = 0.042) with the GLP-1 RAs.

CONCLUSIONS

Lixisenatide exerted a more pronounced influence on gastric emptying after breakfast than liraglutide. Neither lixisenatide nor liraglutide had significant effects on esophageal reflux or motility. Gastric acid secretion appears to be slightly reduced by GLP-1 RAs.
Kualitas Pelayanan Becak Wisata pada Wisatawan Kapal Pesiar di Kota Probolinggo
Authors: Negoro Abul Haris Suryo , Hutama Pandu Satriya
Published: July 2020

Becak wisata Kota Probolinggo telah menunjukan peran strategisnya dalam pelayanan wisatawan kapal pesiar. Kualitas pelayanan becak wisata menjadi bagian penting peningkatan promosi dan pengembangan pariwisata di Kota Probolinggo. Beberapa permasalahan yang muncul, yaitu rendahnya kualitas pelayanan pengemudi becak wisata yang masih belum menjadi sebuah produk wisata menarik, dan ketidakkonsistenan fungsi kelembagaan asosiasi sebagai fasilitator peningkatan kualitas pelayanan wisatawan kepada para anggotanya. Tujuannya untuk meningkatkan pelayanan becak wisata sebagai moda transportasi unggulan serta merevitalisasi fungsi kelembagaan Asosiasi Becak Bestari dalam peningkatan kualitas pelayanan wisatawan. Metode yang dipergunakan yaitu menggunakan metode penelitian deskriptif kualitatif. Menghasilkan beberapa aspek, yaitu rumusan Standar Operasional Prosedur (SOP) khusus pelayanan becak wisata untuk wisatawan kapal pesiar, serta menyusun fungsi sistem kelembagaan Becak Bestari Kota Probolinggo. Kesimpulan bahwa SOP khusus pelayanan wisatawan kapal pesiar menjadi panduan pelayanan dasar kepada wisatawan, serta system kelembagaan baru mampu mengadopsi perkembangan kebutuhan terhadap pelayanan kepada wisatawan.
The Effect of Process Based Approach on Seventh Grade Students’ Writing Achievement
Authors: Blangsinga Aditya , Padmadewi Ni Nyoman , Juniarta Putu Adi Krisna
Published: July 2020

This study aimed at investigating the implementation of the process based approach in teaching writing in order to know its effect to the improvement of students’ writing achievement Furthermore, the quantitative method was used in this research with quasi experimental design. The subjects involved in this study were 35 Junior High School students from VII A7 class in SMP Negeri 1 Singaraja, Bali, Indonesia. The proficiency test such as pretest and post test were conducted in this study in oder to collect the data. The students were given a treatment for about eight weeks. The data obtained were analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. It was analyzed using SPSS. As the result of statistical analysis, it was found that sig 2-tailed result in the paired samples t-test wast 0.00, which was below 0.05. In terms of the mean score, it was found the mean score in the post test (80.46) was higher than the mean score in the pretest (68.59). So, it can be concluded that process based approach had a significant effect on the seventh’ grade students writing achievement.
Estudio socioeducativo de caso mejora del clima laboral en guarderías mediante la comunicación efectiva al utilizar técnicas de programación neurolingüística
Authors: López Villagómez Silvina Lucia , Vásquez Martínez Claudio Rafael , Valdez Jiménez Liliana
Published: July 2020

La mala comunicación es la causa de la mayoría de los problemas puertas adentro que presentan las organizaciones. Cuando no se resuelven rápidamente pueden crear sentimientos negativos entre compañeros, relaciones débiles entre los líderes y el resto de los empleados, un mal clima laboral y una disminución de la productividad, afectan la continuidad de cada proceso que desarrolla la empresa. Por lo que el objetivo de este trabajo fue mejorar el clima laboral de dos guarderías mediante la comunicación efectiva utilizando técnicas de programación neurolingüística. Para ello se realizó un diseño cuasiexperimental, pre-postest de un solo grupo; es decir, se aplicó una evaluación precisa sobre el clima laboral, se identificaron las áreas de oportunidad, se aplicaron talleres basados en técnicas de programación neurolingüística y finalmente se contrastaron los resultados de antes y después de la intervención. En total, se encuestó a 87 trabajadores con contrato indefinido (44 de una guardería y el resto de la otra). En la evaluación previa correspondiente a la guardería uno, ocho personas de la población señalan que la comunicación es baja (18 %), 24 que es moderada (54 %) y 12 señalan que es óptima (28 %). En la posintervención, 14 participantes comentaron que es moderada (32 %) y 30 que es óptima (68%), con una p = 0.005. En tanto que en la guardería dos, en la preintervención ocho de los participantes reportaron que la comunicación en la organización es baja (18 %), 24 moderada (56 %) y 11 óptima (25 %). Mientras que en la evaluación posintervención, dos trabajadores reportaron una comunicación baja (4 %), 12 moderada (28 %) y 29 óptima (68 %) (p = 0.003). En cuanto al clima organizacional, en la fase de preintervención se encontró que 28 % señala que es óptimo, mientras que en la postintervención subió a 57 %. En la guardería dos, en la preintervención 57 % del personal señaló que el clima organizacional es moderado y 25 % lo encontró óptimo. En la evaluación posintervención, la calificación de moderada bajó a 39 % y la óptima se incrementó a 61 %. En conclusión, se logró mejorar la comunicación y el clima laboral.
Perceived Social Disconnectedness, Low Frustration Tolerance and Coping with Uncertainty in Mothers of Children Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Qamar Tuba , Latif Sara
Published: July 2020

The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship among perceived social disconnectedness, low frustration tolerance and coping with uncertainty in mothers of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The current study used correlational research design. Hundred participants were collected through non-probability purposive sampling technique. Data was drawn from both government and private special education centers of Lahore within six months. Perceived social disconnectedness scale, low frustration tolerance checklist and coping with uncertainty scale were used to measure variables under study. Correlational analysis showed highly significant negative association of social disconnectedness and low frustration tolerance with coping with uncertainty. Findings also showed significant predicting role of social disconnectedness and low frustration tolerance on coping with uncertainty in mothers of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Keywords: Perceived Social Disconnectedness, Low Frustration Tolerance and Coping with Uncertainty, CP Child’s Mothers
Strategi Menggambar untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Long-Term Memory dalam Menghafal Istilah dan Definisi
Authors: Qinthara Fadhilla Najmi , Alifa Annisa Nur , Iman M. Rafif , Ghassani Inggar Ainayya , Huwaida Labibah , Srisayekti Wilis , Sulistiobudi Rezki Ashriyana
Published: July 2020

Salah satu topik penelitian mengenai memori yang banyak diteliti saat ini adalah tentang strategi menghafal. Berdasarkan penelitian sebelumnya, menggambar definisi membantu seseorang untuk menghafal definisi tersebut terutama jika dibandingkan dengan strategi yang umumnya digunakan untuk mencatat, yaitu menulis ulang secara verbatim. Penelitian ini penting untuk dilakukan mengingat bahwa mahasiswa membutuhkan strategi menghafal yang efektif untuk menghadapi tuntutan akademik dalam perkuliahan. Pada penelitian ini, peneliti ingin mengetahui apakah terdapat pengaruh strategi menggambar terhadap memori terkait istilah dan definisi pada mahasiswa. Penelitian dilakukan kepada 30 mahasiswa dari populasi yang dipilih secara acak melalui desain eksperimen between-subject post tes only design. Hasil penelitian eksperimen menunjukkan bahwa menggambar lebih efektif dalam menghafal definisi apabila dibandingkan dengan menulis verbatim. Secara praktis, temuan ini diharapkan dapat menjadi salah satu alternatif bagi mahasiswa dalam menggunakan metode menggambar untuk memudahkan dalam menghafal definisi
The Shadow and the dual-identity avenger tradition in American popular fiction
Authors: Pecina Jozef
Published: July 2020

A secret identity is one of the definitional characteristics of comic-book superheroes. However, American popular literature had been populated by characters with secret identities long before the first superhero comics appeared. The crime-fighting dual-identity vigilantes enjoyed their heyday in the 1930s and 1940s, during the golden era of pulps. Selling usually for 10 cents, pulp magazines were the best source of cheap thrills and heroics. In this era, dozens of costumed avengers appeared and the most popular was undoubtedly The Shadow. Between 1931 and 1949, Street and Smith published more than three hundred stories featuring The Shadow, most of them written by Walter B. Gibson. In the late 1930s, several of the pulp conventions, including costumed avengers, were adopted by the creators of the superhero comic books, and The Shadow served as a main inspiration for Bill Finger’s and Bob Kane’s Batman. The article discusses the evolution of crime-fighting pulp heroes with a particular emphasis on The Shadow as the most influential dual-identity avenger of the era.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Load and Geo-Electric Characterization of Soils from Ogale Community, Eleme, Rivers State, Nigeria
Authors: Cyril Ovuru , Leizou  , Elijah Kaywood , Ashraf Muhammad Aqeel
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons load in soils of Ogale community, Rivers State, Nigeria and as well delineate the lateral and vertical extensions of the soils and groundwater. Geo-electric characterization of the soils and groundwater, using Electrical Resistivity methods (vertical electrical sounding, VES by Abem Terrameter and Gas chromatograph - Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) for finger-print was employed. The interpreted VES results revealed four geo-electric subsurface layers. The first layer which has a resistivity value of 60Ωm and a thickness of 2.0M was interpreted as top soil. Underlying the first layer is the second layer which had a resistivity value of 122Ωm with a thickness of 3m, interpreted as lateritic sand. The third layer had a resistivity value of 750Ωm and a thickness of 9.0m, and is interpreted as coarse sand. The fourth layer which had a resistivity value of 1255Ωm and a thickness of 49m is interpreted as very coarse sand. Borehole one was used as control and it is 1.85km away from the Resistivity sampling points. The results revealed that the presence of C10-C40 hydrocarbon which indicates un-weathered to fresh hydrocarbon in parts of the study area and heavy metals were below detection limits. The vulnerability of the aquifer to hydrocarbon contamination was due to high permeability, unconsolidated coarse grained and poorly sorted sands, of the vadose zone as well as shallowness of the aquifer. It is recommended that boreholes in the study area should be of deeper depths, and well constructed to avoid contaminated water from the polluted zone entering the borehole through the annulus.
Parameters of tissue iron overload and cardiac function in patients with thalassemia major and intermedia
Authors: Safniyat Sarah , Shakibazad Nader , Haghpanah Sezaneh , Amoozegar Hamid , Karimi Mehran , Safaei Sanaz , Safniyat Saeed , Mohammadi Hamid , Zekavat Omid Reza
Published: July 2020

Background

Noninvasive T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment can stratify the risk of subsequent cardiac dysfunction in β-thalassemia major (TM) and β-thalassemia intermedia (TI) patients. The normal level of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptides (NT-proBNP) can rule out acute heart failure.

Aim

We aim to investigate the relation of NT-proBNP level, T2* MRI, and echocardiographic findings in TM and TI patients.

Materials and methods

In this cross-sectional study, 41 TM patients, 41 TI patients, and 41 healthy individuals (HI) were enrolled. NT-proBNP level, T2* MRI, and two-dimensional echocardiography were assessed for all patients and controls.

Results

There was statistically significant correlation between NT-proBNP levels and mitral inflow late diastolic velocity (r = −0.538; p = 0.006) in TM group. There was statistically significant correlation between NT-proBNP levels and tricuspid annulus systolic velocity (r = −0.438; p = 0.028), systolic velocity of septum (r = −0.472; p = 0.020), and mitral inflow early-to-late diastolic wave ratio (r = 0.592; p = 0.002) in TM group.

Conclusion

Early diagnosis and treatment of myocardial iron overload are likely to prevent the mortality in patients with established ventricular dysfunction. Since NT-proBNP levels were not significantly increased in documented left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction, this factor may not be sensitive for the detection of latent LV diastolic dysfunction in the early stages of disease progression.
Transfer of Some Toxic Metals from Soil to Honey Depending on Bee Habitat Conditions
Authors: Tomczyk Monika , Zaguła Grzegorz , Puchalski Czesław , Dżugan Małgorzata
Published: July 2020

The transfer of toxic metals from soil to honey was studied based on two different areas of the Podkarpackie region located in the south-east part of Poland: U-urbanized and E-ecologically pure. The metal content was determined using the ICP-OES method with prior microwave mineralization of the soil, plant (goldenrod, dandelion, rapeseed, tilia and fir), bee bodies and honey samples collected from 10 sampling points (U-5 and E-5). The impact of soil pH on heavy metal mobility was also evaluated. It was found that Podkarpackie soils are less contaminated with heavy metals as compared to other regions of Poland and only in the case of cadmium an enhancement of the natural background level was observed. The migration of heavy metals, especially cadmium, in the soil-plant-bee-honey food chain was accelerated by soil acidity (p<0.05). The influence of human activity (region development) on heavy metals concentrations was not significant (p>0.05). Based on bioaccumulation factors, goldenrod and dandelion plants were confirmed as cadmium accumulators. It was also confirmed that the bodies of bees act as an effective barrier to the migration of heavy metals from the environment to honey, due to this, honey is free from these metals and safe for human consumption.
Moisture and Thermal Transport Properties of Different Polyester Warp-Knitted Spacer Fabric for Protective Application
Authors: Chen Qing , Shou Dahua , Zheng Rong , Tang Ka-Po Maggie , Fu Bailu , Zhang Xiaoting , Ma Pibo
Published: July 2020

Warp-knitted spacer fabrics are generally used for sportswear, functional clothing, protective clothing, and other applications. This article studied the heat and mass transfer properties of polyester warp-knitted spacer fabrics from low thickness (2 mm) to high thickness (20 mm), from low mass (247.34 g/m2) to high mass (1,585.9 g/m2), and surface structure in plain or mesh construction. Water vapor permeability, air permeability, water absorption, and thermal insulation property were conducted to evaluate the spacer fabrics. The results revealed that with increasing volume density the water vapor permeability of spacer fabrics decreased, but the water absorption ratio increased. The water vapor permeability of fabrics increased when thickness decreased and volume density increased. It was further found that spacer fabrics with mesh worn nearby the skin and plain structure worn far from the skin could facilitate water vapor and air transmission. The difference of 8.82% for water vapor permeability and 14.19% for air permeability were found between testing mesh side up and down for the spacers (2.56 and 3.37 mm), respectively. Thermal insulation ratio was highly and significantly correlated with heat transfer coefficient at −0.958 and with thickness at 0.917. Thermal insulation ratio is highly and significantly correlated with air permeability at 0.941.
Developing the Expert Decision-Making Algorithm Using the Methods of Multi-Criteria Analysis
Authors: Basheleishvili Irakli
Published: July 2020

The paper deals with the development of an expert decision-making algorithm using the AHP and TOPSIS methods of multi-criteria analysis. In the proposed algorithm, the AHP and TOPSIS methods are used in combination; in particular the AHP method is used to determine the vector of the alternatives’ weights, while the TOPSIS method is used assessing and ranking the alternatives. The obtained algorithm ensures optimal decision making based on the experts’ assessments. A simple web application has been developed to demonstrate the algorithm’s performance.
Image Copy Detection Based on Local Binary Pattern and SVM Classifier
Authors: Srivastava Mayank , Siddiqui Jamshed , Ali Mohd. Athar
Published: July 2020

Due to the availability of a large number of image editing software, it is very easy to find duplicate copies of original images. In such a situation, there is a need to develop a robust technique that can be used for the identification of duplicate copies apart from differentiating it from different images. In this paper, we have proposed an image hashing technique based on uniform Local Binary Pattern (LBP). Here, the input image is initially pre-processed before calculating the Local Binary Pattern (LBP) which is used for image identification. Experiments show that proposed hashing gives excellent performance against the Histogram equalization attack. The Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) indicates that the proposed hashing also performs better in terms of robustness and discrimination. Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier shows that generated features can easily classify images into a set of similar and different images, and can classify new data with a high level of accuracy.
Metabolism study of morpholinium 2- ((4- (2-methoxyphenyl)-5-(pyridin-4-yl) -4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-yl)thio) acetate
Authors: Varynskyi Borys , Kaplaushenko Andriy
Published: July 2020

Aim. The purpose of this study is to reveal the determination of the structure of the main metabolite of morpholinium 2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-5-(pyridin-4-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-yl)thio)acetate (an active pharmaceutical ingredient – API) by way of chromatography through mass spectrometry detection, utilizing the liquid chromatography system Agilent 1260 Infinity and mass spectrometry detector (single quadrupole detector Agilent 6120). In the work, the graph of the change in the area of the peak of the metabolite from time after the introduction of the API solution was constructed. Moreover, the charges on the atoms of 2-((4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-5-(pyridin-4-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thio) acetate were calculated and the structure of the methyl derivative was proposed. We saw that the methylation of the active substance during metabolism formed a 5-((carboxymethyl)thio)-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-1-um cation through N-methyltransferase.
Role of stable hydrogen isotope variations in water for drug dissolution managing
Authors: Uspenskaya Elena V. , Pleteneva Tatyana V. , Syroeshkin Anton V. , Kazimova Ilaha V. , Elizarova Tatyana E. , Odnovorov Artem I.
Published: July 2020

In the present work, we provide the results of defining by utilizing Laser diffraction spectroscopy, the kinetic isotopic effect of solvent and constant of dissolution rate κ, s−1 of аn active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in water with a different content of a stable

2
1

H

_2^1{\rm{H}}

isotope on the basis of the laws of first-order kinetics. This approach is based on the analysis of the light scattering profile that occurs when the particles of the dispersion phase in the aquatic environment are covered with a collimated laser beam. For the first time, the dependence of the rate of dissolution is demonstrated not only on the properties of the pharmaceutical substance itself (water solubility mg/ml, octanol–water partition coefficient log P oct/water, topological polar surface area, Abraham solvation parameters, the lattice type), but also on the properties of the solvent, depending on the content of stable hydrogen isotope. We show that the rate constant of dissolution of a sparingly hydrophobic substance moxifloxacin hydrochloride (MF · HCl) in the Mili-Q water is: k=1.20±0.14∙10−2 s−1 at 293.15 K, while in deuterium depleted water, it is k=4.24±0.4∙10−2 s−1. Consequently, we have established the development of the normal kinetic isotopic effect (kH/kD >1) of the solvent. This effect can be explained both by the positions of the difference in the vibrational energy of zero levels in the initial and transition states, and from the position of water clusters giving volumetric effects of salvation, depending on the ratio D/H. The study of kinetic isotopic effects is a method that gives an indication of the mechanism of reactions and the nature of the transition state. The effect of increasing the dissolution of the API, as a function of the D/H ratio, we have discovered, can be used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries in the study of API properties and in the drug production through improvement in soluble and pharmacokinetic characteristics.
Assessment of Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella spp. Isolated from Farmed Asian Clam Corbicula Fluminea
Authors: Ngiam Jing Jing , Akrimah Yusof , Aweng Eh Rak , Lee Seong Wei
Published: July 2020

In the present study, Salmonella spp. was successfully isolated from Asian clam Corbicula fluminea by using Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) selective agar. A total of 200 bacterial colonies from live Asian clams were isolated and subjected to antimicrobial sensitivity test by using disc diffusion method. A total of 18 antibiotics was applied in the present study, namely oxolinic acid, nalidixic acid, erythromycin, tetracycline, doxycycline, oleandomycin, oxytetracycline, spiramycin, ampicillin, kanamycin, fosfomycin, florfenicol, lincomycin, novobiocin, chloramphenicol, amoxycillin, flumequine and sulphamethoxazole. The findings of the present study showed that total antibiotic sensitive case for Salmonella spp. isolated from C. fluminea sample was 50% or 1800 cases. This was followed by antibiotic resistance case 45% or 1620 cases and intermediary antibiotic sensitive case (5% or 180 cases). Based on the results of the present study, tetracycline, doxycycline, oxytetracycline and flumequine showed the highest inhibition of isolated Salmonella spp. The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index was 0.36, indicating the sampled clams were highly exposed to the tested antibiotics.
Sensitivity of Cercospora beticola Isolates to Azoxystrobin
Authors: Balandžić Milijanka , Stojšin Vera , Grahovac Mila , Bagi Ferenc , Petreš Mladen , Loc Marta , Dudaš Tatjana , Vukotić Jelena , Savić Zagorka , Stankov Aleksandra , Budakov Dragana
Published: July 2020

Sugar beet leaf spot, caused by the air-borne fungus Cercospora beticola Sacc., leads to a decrease in sugar beet leaf mass and the consequent regrowth of leaves based on exploiting the sugar reserves stored in the plant’s roots, thus ultimately resulting in lower yields and sugar contents of sugar beets. Azoxystrobin belongs to the group of QoI fungicides, which inhibit mitochondrial respiration by blocking cytochrome c reductase. The QoI fungicides are characterized by a very high risk of resistance interfering with their biological activity. For the purpose of testing the azoxystrobin sensitivity of the Cercospora beticola population found at the site of Rimski Šančevi, a collection of 84 isolates was assembled and tested for sensitivity to azoxystrobin by measuring the mycelial growth on fungicide-amended media with the addition of SHAM. The results obtained indicate that none of the isolates tested exhibited complete sensitivity to azoxystrobin, 4% were found to have reduced sensitivity, 26% were moderately resistant and 70% were highly resistant. A higher proportion of resistant isolates recorded is associated with the loss of azoxystrobin biological efficacy at the experimental site.
The ethical dimension of erotic self-education and development ethics
Authors: Grzybek Grzegorz , Morska Liliya
Published: July 2020

The ethical dimension of sexual education can referred to morality, religion and the ethos of life. Morality and religion exert pressure on certain behavior patterns. “Ethical eroticism” in relation to the theory of Development ethics implies a positive integration of sexuality with the ethos of life. “Ethical eroticism” in this area is not identical to sexual morality. Sexual morality is an external element as comprehended by a person, while “ethical eroticism” based on the ethos of life expresses a person’s moral subjectivity. In the principles of development ethics, the emphasis is shifted to individual development, which is the reason for propounding the postulate of erotic self-education.
The limits of libertarianism in debates over euthanasia and the application of moral fictionalism in bioethics
Authors: Trčka Michal
Published: July 2020

This text focuses on selected basic arguments of libertarianism that could be found in certain debates on the moral issues of euthanasia and the application of moral fictionalism in bioethics. Firstly, I devote my article to the criticism of libertarian arguments (as one of the dominant discourses related to the debate over euthanasia) in a wider perspective of moral philosophy. The article is based on an approach that understands morality as a kind of social practice and the primary goal is to grasp the key theoretical concepts which are included in the mechanism for identifying and assessing our moral intuitions. This text is primarily an analysis of selected arguments of current normative theories of libertarianism on two levels: first it examines the idea of self-ownership in connection with certain debates over euthanasia, while the latter part of the article concerns an analysis of the critique of libertarian arguments and a comparison of the alternative arguments of moral fictionalism. The last part of this text, focusing on moral fictionalism and its general application in bioethics, is the core of the article.
Aquinas on Relations: A Topic Which Aquinas Himself Perceives as Foundational to Theology
Authors: Whitfield Mikail
Published: July 2020

Fundamental to theology is the ordering of all things to God, yet this ordering is directly tied to the topic of relation. Thus, while the category of relation is inherited by Aquinas from ancient philosophy, it mostly shows up in Aquinas’ theological treatments. This paper will look specifically at the distinction between God and creatures as understood through Aquinas’ use of mixed relations. It will provide an expository treatment of Aquinas’ use of mixed relation in attempt to bridge his philosophy and theology while seeking to encourage and aide others to more actively incorporate the category of relation in theological work, as Aquinas himself did.
Land Cover and Land Use Change-Driven Dynamics of Soil Organic Carbon in North-East Slovakian Croplands and Grasslands Between 1970 and 2013
Authors: Skalský Rastislav , Koco Štefan , Barančíková Gabriela , Tarasovičová Zuzana , Halas Ján , Koleda Peter , Makovníková Jarmila , Gutteková Monika , Tobiášová Erika , Gömöryová Erika , Takáč Jozef
Published: July 2020

Soil organic carbon (SOC) in agricultural land forms part of the global terrestrial carbon cycle and it affects atmospheric carbon dioxide balance. SOC is sensitive to local agricultural management practices that sum up into regional SOC storage dynamics. Understanding regional carbon emission and sequestration trends is, therefore, important in formulating and implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation policies. In this study, the estimation of SOC stock and regional storage dynamics in the Ondavská Vrchovina region (North-Eastern Slovakia) cropland and grassland topsoil between 1970 and 2013 was performed with the RothC model and gridded spatial data on weather, initial SOC stock and historical land cover and land use changes. Initial SOC stock in the 0.3-m topsoil layer was estimated at 38.4 t ha−1 in 1970. The 2013 simulated value was 49.2 t ha−1, and the 1993–2013 simulated SOC stock values were within the measured data range. The total SOC storage in the study area, cropland and grassland areas, was 4.21 Mt in 1970 and 5.16 Mt in 2013, and this 0.95 Mt net SOC gain was attributed to inter-conversions of cropland and grassland areas between 1970 and 2013, which caused different organic carbon inputs to the soil during the simulation period with a strong effect on SOC stock temporal dynamics.
Socio-environmental conflicts between the refugee populations and their host communities: The case of Eritrean Refugees in North Western Tigray, Ethiopia
Authors: Aregai Mekonen , Bedemariam Muluberhan
Published: July 2020

This article presents research on the socio environmental impact of refugees on their host communities. We assessed the challenges of refuge populations to their host community in north western Tigray, Ethiopia, where the Eritrean refugees are settled,. Primary data was produced from semi-structured questionnaires and a random sampling technique deploying a logistic regression model to describe the relationship between the socio-environmental changes of the host community. Results suggested 96% of the sample respondents confirmed changes of tree species and forest coverage on community farms was observed during the study period. Similarly, change in forest coverage and changes in tree species are strongly and positively associated with the existence of refugees in the study communities. The dramatic change observed on forest coverage and tree species has led to a progressive decline in natural resources. The study concluded that unplanned human population influxes, especially refugee inflows, affected host communities negatively and the socio-environmental situation has been significantly changed in the study areas. The study highlights the need for holistic intervention to ameliorate the negative impacts and to maintain the sustainable management of natural resources so as to improve the socio-environmental impact of refugees on host communities.
Diversity of soil bacteria complexes associated with summer truffle (Tuber aestivum)
Authors: Siebyła Marta , Hilszczańska Dorota
Published: July 2020

This paper describes the quantitative and qualitative composition of bacteria isolated from soil in the selected sites in the Nida Basin, in places where mycorrhizae and ascocarps of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum) were found, and in a control soil (without truffle). A classic growth culture method was used with Sanger DNA sequencing to obtain quantitative and qualitative measures of bacterial cultures. The obtained results showed differences in bacteriome composition between the case samples, in which summer truffle fructification was observed, and the control samples. Seven classes of bacteria were identified: Actinobacteria, Bacilli, Deinococci, Flavobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria. The most numerous bacterial genera were Pseudomonas (class Gammaproteobacteria) – 33%, Streptomyces (class Actinobacteria) – 29% and Bacillus (class Bacilli) – 15%. This research broadens the understanding of individual groups of bacteria accompanying truffles and their potential impact on the formation of summer truffle ascocarps.
Dynamic forest fire risk evaluation in Poland
Authors: Szczygieł Ryszard , Kwiatkowski Mirosław , Kołakowski Bartłomiej , Piwnicki Józef
Published: July 2020

The weather conditions determine the dynamic forest fire risk. In Poland, the dynamic forest fire risk is calculated using a method elaborated at the Forest Research Institute. The forest fire risk degree (4-level scale) is calculated every day at 9:00 am and at 1:00 pm during the fire season (1.03 till 30.09) for 60 prognostic zones selected on the basis of stand and climatic conditions. 97% of all annual forest fires occur during the fire season. Surface fires are a significant part of the fires (90%) and occur in forest stands where pine is the dominant species. The purpose of the research was to prepare a new method of forecasting forest fire risk, which would enable a more precise method of evaluation of the risk of an outbreak of fire in relation to the existing and forecast meteorological conditions in forests. The results obtained during testing of this method indicate a high accuracy in forecasting fire risk and a satisfactory precision of formulae for calculating moisture content of pine litter.

The assumptions of the new method included:

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possibility of determining the actual risk of fire for the given area, being the average for all measurement points located on the terrain equally those in which the moisture content measurement of litter has not been performed,

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possibility of forecasting the risk of forest fire for the afternoon in the morning hours of the given day,

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possibility of forecasting fire risk for the following day,

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forecasting moisture content of litter for the afternoon and of the given day and for the following day,

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drawing up a method enabling limitation of operational costs of fire prevention system.
Public and community conservation of biodiversity—rivalry or cooperation?
Authors: Slavíková Lenka , Smutná Zdenka , Žambochová Marta , Valentinov Vladislav
Published: July 2020

Although private or community initiatives for biodiversity conservation (such as land trusts) have a strong tradition in many countries, rigorous evidence of recently evolved movements in post-socialist countries is missing. This study describes the evolution of Czech land trust movement and analyses their representatives’ motivation for engagement in biodiversity conservation. It also investigates the intensity of interaction among public and land trust conservation efforts. For this purpose, we identified localities in which the territory managed by Czech land trusts overlaps with small-scale public nature reserves managed by regional governments. We conducted semi-structured face-to-face interviews with representatives of all NGOs and regional officials in-charge. Our qualitative analysis revealed that some regional biodiversity conservation officials see land trusts as partners, but others are rather indifferent to, or uninformed about, their activities. Additionally, land trust representatives see themselves as complementing the public effort: their main motivation for engagement is to facilitate biodiversity conservation in addition to the public provision.
Review of current approaches to spatially explicit urban vulnerability assessments: hazard complexity, data sources, and cartographic representations
Authors: Raška Pavel , Dolejš Martin , Pacina Jan , Popelka Jan , Píša Jan , Rybová Kristýna
Published: July 2020

Socio-ecological hazards are processes that − depending on the vulnerability of societal systems − may have profound adverse impacts. For this reason, the current discourse in disaster risk reduction (DRR) has been experiencing a shift toward a vulnerability-led paradigm, raising new questions about how to address (i) the complexity of vulnerabilities to multiple hazards, (ii) their cultural, dynamic, and subjective character, and (iii) the effectiveness and legitimacy of vulnerability assessments as decision-support tools. In this paper, we present a review of 707 vulnerability studies (derived from the Clarivate WoS database; 1988−2018) with a particular focus on urban settings and spatially explicit assessments in order to evaluate current efforts to meet the aforementioned issues. The reviewed studies assessed vulnerabilities to 35 hazard types that were predominantly (n=603, 85%) analysed as single hazards (mostly seismic, flood, and groundwater contamination hazards, as well as climate change), whereas only 15% (n=104) of studies focused on multiple hazards (mostly atmospheric hazards). Within the spatially explicit vulnerability studies, almost 60% used data collected by the study itself (mostly seismic hazards), while statistical and combined data were both employed in 20% of cases (mostly floods, climate change, and social and political hazards). Statistical data were found to have only limited transferability, often being generalised to be applicable in small-scale studies, while reducing the role of cultural and contextual factors. Field research data provided high-resolution information, but their acquisition is time-consuming, and therefore fixed at a local scale and single temporal stage. Underlying hazard types and suitable data sources resulting in other differences found a preference towards the specific coverage and resolution of vulnerability maps that appeared in 44% of all reviewed studies. Altogether, the differences we found indicated a division of spatially explicit vulnerability research in two major directions: (i) geological and geomorphological studies focusing on physical vulnerability, using their own data surveys at a detailed scale and lacking links to other hazards, and (ii) other studies (mostly atmospheric hazards and socialpolitical hazards) focusing on social or combined vulnerabilities, using primarily statistical or combined data at a municipal, regional, and country scale with occasional efforts to integrate multiple hazards. Finally, although cartographic representations have become a frequent component of vulnerability studies, our review found only vague rationalisations for the presentation of maps, and a lack of guidelines for the interpretation of uncertainties and the use of maps as decision-support tools.
John Wesley and Methodist Responses to Slavery in America
Authors: Morris-Chapman Daniel J Pratt
Published: July 2020

John Wesley considered the slave trade to be a national disgrace. However, while the American Methodist Church had initially made bold declarations concerning the evils of slavery, the practical application of this principled opposition was seriously compromised, obstructed by the leviathan of the plantation economy prominent in this period of American history. This paper surveys a variety of Methodist responses to slavery and race, exploring the dialectical germination of ideas like holiness, liberty and equality within the realities of the Antebellum context.
Preserved Worlds: Vulnerability, Ontology, and the Logics of Standards
Authors: Valverde-Pérez Nuria
Published: July 2020

Standards are linked to specifications about scaling, safety, feasibility and suitability. The threshold setting process defines the environment in which the standards are meaningful to a given community and the conditions of vulnerability implied by their absence. This paper will discuss the role of standards in defining safety conditions for endangered bird species in urban environments and in designing closed environments for polio patients during the 1950s, the infamous iron lungs, which are still rarely used today. The aim is to explore how standards are involved in defining preservation strategies and the shortcomings of their systematic implementation in this regard. The interdependence of technological standards and the increasing amount of information handled are joining cultural assemblages to question the objectives of preservation in artificial environments, urging the question of what we are preserving. This raises the issue of the relationship between stabilisations through epistemic tools and ontological continuity and robustness in dense technological environments.
Innovation Types and Sales Growth in Small Firms: Evidence from Kosovo
Authors: Mahmutaj Lura Rexhepi , Krasniqi Besnik
Published: July 2020

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of different forms of innovation on firm growth, in terms of sales. A total of 278 samples were collected from SMEs in the manufacturing, service and trade industries throughout Kosovo. The data were analysed using a logistic regression analysis. The findings confirm the hypotheses that marketing innovation is positively associated with firm growth, while new to the firm products is negatively associated with firm growth. Other innovation attributes have resulted with non-significance value. The findings in this study can be useful for theoretical discussion, as well as for policy formulation related to introduction of innovation and SMEs development considering that innovation is critical factor in today’s market and competition. Further studies should look into how SMEs could investigate over time from the initial stage to the full development of innovation.
Assessing the Impact of Burnout Syndrome on Romantic Relationship Satisfaction: The Dark Side of Workplace Bullying
Authors: Khoshkar Parisa Gharibi , Farmanesh Panteha , Nweke Gabriel
Published: July 2020

The present study addressed the issue of whether occupational Burnout Syndrome (BS) is associated with Romantic Relationship Dissatisfaction (RRS) among academics; it was also expected that Workplace Bullying (WPB) moderates the relationship between these variables. A cross-sectional study was conducted by delivering the questionnaire surveys to the recruited sample group of 320 university lecturers from three different universities in Northern Cyprus to test the research hypothesis. Moderated multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data. As it was hypothesized, our results indicated a negative association between burnout syndrome and romantic relationship satisfaction; indicating higher levels of burnout might lead to lower romantic relationship satisfaction. However, the proportion of romantic relationship satisfaction total score varied slightly when workplace bullying moderated this relationship. Our findings contribute to different scientific aspects by its valuable implications for researchers, practitioners, academicians, managers, and various organization staffs’ self-awareness.
Migration Patterns in Eastern Europe and the World: A Gravity Approach
Authors: Parker Elliott
Published: July 2020

This study uses a UN dataset of foreign-born residents in and from 154 different countries, available every fifth year since 1990, to estimate an augmented gravity model for Eastern Europe and the world. Migration responds to higher incomes in the host country, though the effect diminishes with income. Unlike the rest of the world, East European migration increases with the exchange rate in the host and higher incomes in the origin, but not with political autocracy or conflict in the origin country. Controlling for these differences, Eastern Europe has fewer immigrants and emigrants than the model would otherwise predict.