bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Verifiable (2, n) Image Secret Sharing Scheme Using Sudoku Matrix
Authors: Chen Yi-Hui , Lee Jia-Ye , Chiang Min-Hsien , Chen Shih-Hsin
Published: July 2022

As Internet technology continues to profoundly impact our lives, techniques for information protection have become increasingly advanced and become a common discussion topic. With the aim to protect private images, this paper splits a secret image into n individual shares using a Sudoku matrix with authentication features. Later, the shares can be compiled to completely reconstruct the secret image. The shares are meaningful ones in order to avoid detection and suspicion among malicious users. Our proposed matrix is unique because the embedding rate of the secret data is very high, while the visual quality of the shares can be well guaranteed. In addition, the embedded authentication codes can be retrieved to authenticate the integrity of the secret image. Experimental results prove the advantages of our approach in terms of visual quality and authentication ability.
SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare Workers after the First and Second Pandemic Waves
Authors: de Visscher Nathalie , Holemans Xavier , Gillain Aline , Kornreich Anne , Lagasse Raphael , Piette Philippe , Ventura Manfredi , Thys Frédéric
Published: July 2022

Background: The Grand Hôpital de Charleroi is a large non-academic Belgian hospital that treated a large number of COVID-19 inpatients. In the context of this pandemic, all professions-combined healthcare workers (HCWs), and not only direct caregivers, are a frontline workforce in contact with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases and seem to be a high-risk group for exposure. The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in HCWs in our hospital after the first and second pandemic waves and to characterize the distribution of this seroprevalence in relation to various criteria. Methods: At the end of the two recruitment periods, a total of 4008 serological tests were performed in this single-center cross-sectional study. After completing a questionnaire including demographic and personal data, possible previous COVID-19 diagnostic test results and/or the presence of symptoms potentially related to COVID-19, the study participants underwent blood sampling and serological testing using DiaSorin’s LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG test for the first phase and LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 TrimericS IgG test for the second phase of this study. Results: In total, 302 study participants (10.72%) in the first round of the study and 404 (33.92%) in the second round were positive for SARS-CoV-2-IgG antibodies. The prevalence of seropositivity observed after the second wave was 3.16 times higher than after the first wave. We confirmed that direct, prolonged, and repeated contact with patients or their environment was a predominant seroconversion factor, but more unexpectedly, that this was the case for all HCWs and not only caregivers. Finally, the notion of high-risk contact seemed more readily identifiable in one’s workplace than in one’s private life. Conclusions: Our study confirmed that HCWs are at a significantly higher risk of contracting COVID-19 than the general population, and suggests that repeated contacts with at-risk patients, regardless of the HCWs’ professions, represents the most important risk factor for seroconversion (Clinicaltrials.gov number, NCT04723290).
Retrospective Investigation in Horses with Encephalitis Reveals Unnoticed Circulation of West Nile Virus in Brazil
Authors: Fritsch Hegger , Pereira Felicidade Mota , Costa Erica Azevedo , Fonseca Vagner , Tosta Stephane , Xavier Joilson , Levy Flavia , Oliveira Carla de , Menezes Gabriela , Lima Jaqueline , Santos Lenisa , Silva Luciana , Nardy Vanessa , Astete Marcela Kelly Gómez , Santos Beatriz Senra Álvares da Silva , Aguiar Nágila Rocha , Guedes Maria Isabel Maldonado Coelho , Faria Guilherme Canhestro de , Furtini Ronaldo , Drumond Safira Rachel Milanez , Cunha Gabriel Muricy , Souza Marcia São Pedro Leal , Jesus Ronaldo de , Guimarães Sara A. Franco , Nuno Italo Coelho , Santana Ian Carlos Brito de , Sá José Eduardo Ungar de , Santos George Roma , Silva Willadesmon Santos , Guedes Thiago Ferreira , Araújo Emerson Luiz Lima , Said Rodrigo Fabiano do Carmo , Albuquerque Carlos Frederico Campelo de , Peterka Cassio Roberto Leonel , Romano Alessandro Pecego Martins , Cunha Rivaldo Venâncio da , Filippis Ana Maria Bispo de , Leal e Silva de Mello Arabela , Giovanetti Marta , Alcantara Luiz Carlos Junior
Published: July 2022

During these past years, several studies have provided serological evidence regarding the circulation of West Nile virus (WNV) in Brazil. Despite some reports, much is still unknown regarding the genomic diversity and transmission dynamics of this virus in the country. Recently, genomic monitoring activities in horses revealed the circulation of WNV in several Brazilian regions. These findings on the paucity of genomic data reinforce the need for prompt investigation of WNV infection in horses, which may precede human cases of encephalitis in Brazil. Thus, in this study, we retrospectively screened 54 suspicious WNV samples collected between 2017 and 2020 from the spinal cord and brain of horses with encephalitis and generated three new WNV genomes from the Ceará and Bahia states, located in the northeastern region of Brazil. The Bayesian reconstruction revealed that at least two independent introduction events occurred in Brazil. The first introduction event appears to be likely related to the North American outbreak, and was estimated to have occurred in March 2013.The second introduction event appears to have occurred in September 2017 and appears to be likely related to the South American outbreak. Together, our results reinforce the importance of increasing the priority of WNV genomic monitoring in equines with encephalitis in order to track the dispersion of this emerging pathogen through the country.
Racial Disparities in Hepatitis B Birth Dose in the Washington Metropolitan Region, 2018–2020
Authors: Juon Hee-Soon , Sheler Donna T. , Pan Jane , Le Daisy , Yang Y. Tony
Published: July 2022

Hepatitis B vaccination protects newborns from contracting the hepatitis B virus that may lead to chronic infection, liver failure, or death. Trends and racial differences in the administration of the hepatitis B (HepB) birth dose in 2018–2020 were examined in the targeted region. A retrospective analysis of electronic birth dose vaccination data of newborns in 2018–2020 was performed. Birth data from six birthing facilities and home delivery records were obtained from the DC Health Department Vital Statistics Division. This data represented 40,269 newborns and included the mother’s race and ethnicity, health insurance type, birthing facility, and administration of the HepB birth dose. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted. In addition, subgroup analysis by health insurance type was also conducted with a significant interaction of race/ethnicity and health insurance type. A total of 34,509 (85.7%) received the HepB birth dose within 12 h or before discharge from the facility. The rates of birth dose vaccination have seen an increase over the 3-year period (83.7% in 2018, 85.8% in 2018, 87.7% in 2020, p < 0.01). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed racial differences in HepB birth dose vaccination rates. Asian Americans had the highest rate of newborn vaccination consistently over the 3-year period. Conversely, African American infants were less likely to have the birth dose than non-Hispanic Whites (aOR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.71–0.83). Our research indicates that further studies are needed to explore HepB birth dose hesitancy among African Americans.
Association between Recent Usage of Antibiotics and Immunogenicity within Six Months after COVID-19 Vaccination
Authors: Cheung Ka-Shing , Lam Lok-Ka , Zhang Ruiqi , Ooi Poh-Hwa , Tan Jing-Tong , To Wai-Pan , Hui Chun-Him , Chan Kwok-Hung , Seto Wai-Kay , Hung Ivan F. N. , Leung Wai K.
Published: July 2022

Background: Gut microbiota can be associated with COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity. We investigated whether recent antibiotic use influences BNT162b2 vaccine immunogenicity. Methods: BNT162b2 recipients from three centers were prospectively recruited. Outcomes of interest were seroconversion of neutralising antibody (NAb) at day 21, 56 and 180 after first dose. We calculated the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of seroconversion with antibiotic usage (defined as ever use of any antibiotics within six months before first dose of vaccine) by adjusting for covariates including age, sex, smoking, alcohol, and comorbidities. Results: Of 316 BNT162b2 recipients (100 [31.6%] male; median age: 50.1 [IQR: 40.0–57.0] years) recruited, 29 (9.2%) were antibiotic users. There was a trend of lower seroconversion rates in antibiotic users than non-users at day 21 (82.8% vs. 91.3%; p = 0.14) and day 56 (96.6% vs. 99.3%; p = 0.15), but not at day 180 (93.3% vs. 94.1%). A multivariate analysis showed that recent antibiotic usage was associated with a lower seroconversion rate at day 21 (aOR 0.26;95% CI: 0.08–0.96). Other factors associated with a lower seroconversion rate after first dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine included age ≥ 60 years (aOR: 0.34;95% CI: 0.13–0.95) and male sex (aOR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05–0.34). There were no significant factors associated with seroconversion after two doses of BNT16b2, including antibiotic use (aOR: 0.03;95% CI: 0.001–1.15). Conclusions: Recent antibiotic use may be associated with a lower seroconversion rate at day 21 (but not day 56 or 180) among BNT162b2 recipients. Further long-term follow-up data with a larger sample size is needed to reach a definite conclusion on how antibiotics influence immunogenicity and the durability of the vaccine response.
Assessment of Clinical Profile and Treatment Outcome in Vaccinated and Unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2 Infected Patients
Authors: Korishettar Ganesh , Chikkahonnaiah Prashanth , Tulimilli SubbaRao V. , Dallavalasa Siva , Byrappa Shashidhar H. , Madhunapantula SubbaRao V. , Veeranna Ravindra P.
Published: July 2022

Vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome-corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which causes coronavirus disease–19 (COVID-19) in humans, have been developed and are being tested for safety and efficacy. We conducted the cross-sectional prospective cohort study on 820 patients who were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were admitted to Princess Krishnajammanni trauma care centre (PKTCC), Mysore, which was converted to a designated COVID hospital between April 2021 to July 2021. After obtaining the informed consent, RT-PCR report, vaccination certificate and patient history, patients were classified according to their vaccination status. Results from the study showed decreases in serum ferritin levels, clinical symptoms, improvement in oxygen saturation, early recovery in patients having diabetes and hypertension, and a substantial reduction in the overall duration of hospital stay in vaccinated patients compared to unvaccinated patients. Further, fully vaccinated patients showed better outcomes compared to single dose vaccinated and nonvaccinated patients. Taken together, our findings reaffirm the vaccine’s effectiveness in reducing case fatality and promoting faster recovery compared to nonvaccinated patients. Efforts to increase the number of immunized subjects in the community help to achieve herd immunity and offer protection against the severity of COVID-19 and associated complications while minimizing the public health and economic burden.
Redefining and Calculating the Pass-through Rate Coefficient of Nonpoint Source Pollutants at Different Spatial Scales
Authors: Wang Meng , Geng Runzhe
Published: July 2022

Accurately converting nonpoint source pollution loads from the watershed scale to administrative scale is challenging. A promising solution is calculating the pass-through rate coefficient of nonpoint source pollutants (PTRE–NPS) at the watershed scale and discretizing the watershed units on grids with the same area but with different PTRE–NPS information. However, the pollution load of agricultural nonpoint sources has received far more attention than the PTRE–NPS. Moreover, as most of the existing PTRE–NPS results are obtained by distributed, semi-distributed models and the field monitoring of small watersheds, they are not easily extended to the national-scale management of nonpoint source pollution. The present study proposes a new conception of PTRE-NPS and tests it on different spatial scales by a coupled model, which captures the entry of agricultural nonpoint source pollutants into rivers and lakes. The framework includes five major modules: a pollutant driving and loss module, a surface runoff module, a soil erosion module, a subsurface runoff module, and a retention module. The model was applied in simulations of agricultural nonpoint source pollution in the Hongfenghu reservoir watershed with a karst hydro-geomorphology, which exists in the mountainous region of southwest China. On the watershed scale, the PTRE–NPS of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorous (TP) ranged from 0 to 2.62 (average = 0.18) and from 0 to 3.44 (average = 0.19), respectively. On the administrative scale, the PTRE–NPS of TN and TP were highest in Baiyun Town. The TN and TP loads of the agricultural nonpoint source pollution in the rivers and lakes of the Hongfenghu reservoir watershed were 1707.78 and 209.03 t, respectively, with relative errors of −45.36% and 13.07%, respectively. Most importantly, the developed framework can scientifically represent the generation–migration–transmission process of agricultural nonpoint source pollutions in each grid at both the watershed and administrative scales.
Orographic Precipitation Extremes: An Application of LUME (Linear Upslope Model Extension) over the Alps and Apennines in Italy
Authors: Abbate Andrea , Papini Monica , Longoni Laura
Published: July 2022

Critical hydrometeorological events are generally triggered by heavy precipitation. In complex terrain, precipitation may be perturbed by the upslope raising of the incoming humid airflow, causing in some cases extreme rainfall. In this work, the application of LUME—Linear Upslope Model Extension—to a group of extreme events that occurred across mountainous areas of the Central Alps and Apennines in Italy is presented. Based on the previous version, the model has been “extended” in some aspects, proposing a methodology for physically estimating the time-delay coefficients as a function of precipitation efficiency. The outcomes of LUME are encouraging for the cases studied, revealing the intensification of precipitation due to the orographic effect. A comparison between the reference rain gauge data and the results of the simulations showed good agreement. Since extreme precipitation is expected to increase due to climate change, especially across the Mediterranean region, LUME represents an effective tool to investigate more closely how these extreme phenomena originate and evolve in mountainous areas that are subject to potential hydrometeorological risks.
Key Factors Dominating the Groundwater Chemical Composition in a Grain Production Base: A Case Study of Muling–Xingkai Plain, Northeast China
Authors: Su Chen , Li Zhuang , Wang Wenzhong , Cheng Zhongshuang , Zheng Zhaoxian , Chen Zongyu
Published: July 2022

Groundwater quality in the Muling–Xingkai Plain (MXP) is closely related to food security and human health. The chemical composition of groundwater in MXP has attracted great attention. A total of 168 groundwater samples were collected in MXP, and principal component analysis, chemical ion analysis and stable isotopic analysis were used to explore key factors affecting the chemical composition and hydrochemical evolution process of groundwater. Results show sources of chemical ions in groundwater are silicate minerals, carbonate minerals and domestic sewage. Domestic sewage is responsible for groundwater with high levels of Cl−, SO42− and NO3−, but a reduction environment can lead to groundwater with a high level of NH4+ due to nitrification. Human activity and soil media together influence groundwater chemical composition. Groundwater with a high level of chemical ions is mainly collected from wells near river channels, where coarse-textured soils are overlying aquifers. The black soil far away from river channels can retard the infiltration of wastewater. Agricultural activities do not directly lead to deterioration of groundwater qualities, and agricultural non-point-source pollution does not occur in MXP. Nearly 70% of the population in MXP is living in the southern plain, where the influence of sewage on groundwater chemical composition is obvious. Thus, shallow groundwater far away from river channels is the best choice for irrigation. Some measures should be implemented to control the discharge of domestic sewage for the protection of groundwater. In addition, it is necessary to avoid the transformation of the redox environment of groundwater in the northern plain.
The Effect of Rough Rigid Apron on Scour Downstream of Sluice Gates
Authors: Aamir Mohammad , Ahmad Zulfequar , Pandey Manish , Khan Mohammad Amir , Aldrees Ali , Mohamed Abdullah
Published: July 2022

Presented in this paper is an experimental study on scour downstream of rough and smooth stiff aprons under the influence of wall jets. The effect of various parameters on asymptotic scour depth is studied. The analysis of data reveals that maximum scour depth reduces with increasing sediment size, sluice opening, and apron length. It is directly proportional to densimetric Froude number. Maximum equilibrium scour depth initially decreases with increasing tailwater level (up to a minimum), but thereafter an increase is observed. The effect of roughness of stiff apron on scour is studied and quantification of decline in maximum scour depth due to roughness is carried out. Scour profiles and their temporal variation are also studied. A regression-based equation to predict equilibrium scour depth under smooth and rough apron is proposed, which conforms to experimental data. Based on the conclusions of this study, it is recommended to use roughness over the surface of stiff apron to confine scour under-wall jets.
INFLUENCE OF LARGE AGGREGATES ON THE ENERGY AND POWER CHARACTERISTICS OF STEEL FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE
Authors:   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering», St. Petersburg, PUKHARENKO Yu.V. ,   Research Institute of Building Physics of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Building Sciences, PANTELEEV D.A. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering», St. Petersburg; Research Institute of Building Physics of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Building Sciences, MOROZOV V.I. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering», ZHAVORONKOV M.I. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering»
Published: July 2022

At present, composite materials are gaining more and more development in construction, including the use of dispersed reinforced concrete, which is due to its significantly improved physical, mechanical and operational characteristics compared to traditional concrete and reinforced concrete. The article presents the results of the influence of coarse filler in the composition of the composite on the energy and power characteristics of the crack resistance of fiber-reinforced concrete reinforced with steel anchor fibers. The process of deformation and the mechanism of destruction of steel fiber reinforced concrete have been studied. To do this, in accordance with the provisions of GOST 29167 "Methods for determining the characteristics of crack resistance (fracture toughness) under static loading", steel-fiber-reinforced concrete sample beams were tested with control of the applied load and the deflection caused by it. Based on the data obtained, diagrams of the dependence of the load on the deflection were constructed, after their processing and additional constructions, the energy costs for static destruction, tensile strength in bending, and the stress intensity factor were determined. It has been established that the value of the conditional specific effective energy consumption for static failure and tensile strength in bending of fiber-reinforced concrete samples with a matrix of heavy concrete with coarse aggregate turned out to be lower than that of fiber-reinforced concrete samples with a matrix of fine-grained concrete, which is explained by the lower adhesion of the steel anchor fiber to the matrix, and a corresponding decrease in their efficiency.
INFLUENCE OF ALUMINOSILICATES ON THE PROPERTIES OF POROUS GLASS CERAMICS FROM SILICEOUS ROCKS
Authors:   National Research Ogarev Mordovia State University, RODIN A.I. , ERMAKOV A.A. ,   National Research Ogarev Mordovia State University, ABRASHIN P.I. ,   National Research Ogarev Mordovia State University, EROFEEV V.T. ,   National Research Ogarev Mordovia State University
Published: July 2022

The article presents the results of the study of the structure, physical-mechanical and thermophysical properties of glass-ceramic materials. The charge mixture for the production of samples was obtained from siliceous rocks, kaolin, bentonite, Na2CO3 and KCl. Joint mechanochemical activation of the components was carried out in a planetary ball mill. The charge mixture obtained was fired in a muffle furnace at a temperature of 850 °C. The experimental results were obtained using the method of X-ray phase (XRF) analysis. The physical-mechanical and thermophysical properties of the samples are determined. The developed materials (in the form of blocks) have an apparent density of 308 to 409 kg/m3, flexural strength up to 3.2 MPa and compressive strength up to 13 MPa, thermal conductivity from 0.081 to 0.107 W/m∙°С, limiting operating temperature up to 890 °С inclusive. The materials obtained are superior in many respects to foam glass and glass ceramics from industrial waste. They can be used as thermal insulation in the construction of industrial and civil facilities.
PERMANENT DEFORMATIONS OF CONCRETE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE ELEMENTS DURING CYCLIC FREEZING AND THAWING
Authors:   Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, ISTOMIN А.D. , PETROVA V.А. ,   Moscow State University of Civil Engineering
Published: July 2022

Experiments on the study of the effect of cyclic freezing and thawing (GCS) on the behavior of concrete show that in concrete, when exposed to negative temperatures, there is an increase in residual deformations in the form of destructive expansion of concrete. Until now, the question of the influence of the percentage of reinforcement of reinforced concrete elements on the magnitude of residual deformations of concrete expansion depending on its stress state (stretching, compression) remains little studied. In particular, how much reinforcement slows down the development of destructive processes in concrete, namely reduces the residual deformations of its expansion during sign-variable temperature effects. The purpose of this work was an experimental study of the effect of the percentage of reinforcement on the residual deformations of concrete of reinforced concrete elements under conditions of alternating temperatures. Concrete and reinforced concrete prisms with a size of 10x10x40 cm were adopted as prototypes, while the percentage of reinforcement varied (0.0 %; 0.5 %; 1.13 %; 2.54 %) and the level of loading of samples (0.0; 0.3; 0.7). As a result of testing of prototypes, residual deformations of concrete expansion were obtained under conditions of cyclic freezing and thawing. Based on the results obtained, formulas are proposed for calculating the residual deformations of concrete reinforced concrete elements under alternating temperature conditions, taking into account the percentage of reinforcement.
Goldbach partitions and norms of cusp forms
Authors: Davis Simon Brian
Published: July 2022

An integral formula for the Goldbach partitions requires uniform convergence of a complex exponential sum. The dependence of the coefficients of the series is found to be bounded by that of cusp forms. Norms may be defined for these forms on a fundamental domain of a modular group. The relation with the integral formula is found to be sufficient to establish the consistency of the interchange of the integral and the sum, which must remain valid as the even integer $N$ tends to infinity.
Comparison of some optimal derivative-free three-point iterations
Authors: Zhanlav Thugal , Otgondorj Khuder
Published: July 2022

We show that the well-known Khattri et al. methods and Zheng et al. methods are identical. In passing, we propose a suitable calculation formula for Khattri et al. methods. We also show that the families of eighth-order derivative-free methods obtained in [8] include some existing methods, among them the above-mentioned ones as particular cases. We also give the sufficient convergence condition of these families. Numerical examples and comparison with some existing methods were made. In addition, the dynamical behavior of methods of these families is analyzed.
Preconditioned conjugate gradient methods for absolute value equations
Authors: Anane Nassima , Achache Mohamed
Published: July 2022

We investigate the NP-hard absolute value equations (AVE), \(Ax-B|x| =b\), where \(A,B\) are given symmetric matrices in \(\mathbb{R}^{n\times n}, \ b\in \mathbb{R}^{n}\).By reformulating the AVE as an equivalent unconstrained convex quadratic optimization, we prove that the unique solution of the AVE is the unique minimum of the corresponding quadratic optimization. Then across the latter, we adopt the preconditioned conjugate gradient methods to determining an approximate solution of the AVE.The computational results show the efficiency of these approaches in dealing with the AVE.
Optimal properties for deficient quartic splines of Marsden type
Authors: Bica Alexandru , Curilă-Popescu Diana , Curilă Mircea
Published: July 2022

In this work, we obtain an improved error estimate in the interpolation with the Hermite \(C^{2}\)-smooth deficient complete quartic spline that has the distribution of nodes following the Marsden type scheme and investigate the possibilities to compute the derivatives on the knots such that the obtained spline \(S\in C^{1}[a,b]\) has minimal curvature and minimal \(L^{2}\)-norm of \(S^{\prime }\) and \(S^{\prime \prime \prime }\). In each case, the interpolation error estimate is performed in terms of the modulus of continuity.%MCEPASTEBIN%
The Status of Contemporary Islamic Women in the Perspective of Creator Salma
Authors: I Munni
Published: July 2022

Feminism is the struggle for women's liberation. That means a woman is as independent as a man. She is not inferior in any capacity or in any way. She fights to reclaim this right for herself. In that struggle, she is not an enemy to the man. She is the enemy of his supremacy and power. She wants to involve him in the struggle. If he stands in their way, she will defeat him and fight to get freedom for both of them. In the absence of economic security, social rights, and political recognition for women, women are suffering because they cannot decide their own lives. Through her novels, Salma emphasises the rights and liberation of Muslim women. Those women are also human beings in every way. He emphasises through the female character that they have all kinds of emotions.
Enhance modelling predicting for pollution removal in wastewater treatment plants by using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system
Authors: Alnajjar Hussein , Üçüncü Osman
Published: July 2022

Biological and physical treatment in wastewater treatment plants appears to be one of the most important variables in water quality management and planning. This crucial characteristic, on the other hand, is difficult to quantify and takes a long time to obtain precise results. Scientists have sought to devise several solutions to address these issues. Artificial intelligence models are one technique to monitor the pollutant parameters more consistently and economically at treatment plants and regulate these pollution elements during processing. This study proposes using an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) model to regulate primary and biological wastewater treatment and used it to model the nonlinear interactions between influent pollutant factors and effluent variables in a wastewater treatment facility. Models for the prediction of removal efficiency of biological oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total suspended solids (TSS) in a wastewater treatment plant were developed using ANFIS. Hydraulic retention time (HRT), temperature (T), and dissolved oxygen (DO) were input variables for BOD, TN, TP, and TSS models, as determined by linear correlation matrices between input and output variables. The findings reveal that the developed system is capable of accurately predicting and controlling outcomes. For BOD, TN, TP, and TSS, ANFIS was able to achieve minimum mean square errors of 0.1673, 0.0266, 0.0318, and 0.0523, respectively. The correlation coefficients for BOD, TN, TP, and TSS are all quite strong. In the wastewater treatment plant, ANFIS' prediction performance was satisfactory and the ANFIS model can be used to predict the efficiency of removing pollutants from wastewater.
Teaching Practicum Assessment Procedures Adopted by Primary Teachers’ Colleges during COVID-19 pandemic era in Zimbabwe
Authors: Chinengundu Tawanda , Hondonga Jerald , Mhazo Founders
Published: July 2022

The advent of COVID-19 caused massive disruptions to Teaching Practicum (TP) continuity and scheduled assessment activities. This study investigated the assessment tools and procedures adopted by Primary Teachers' colleges in Masvingo province during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. The transformative learning theory underpinned this study. A quantitative research design was used and data was gathered using online questionnaires with both closed and open-ended items. The items solicited information on how colleges transformed assessment tools and procedures during the pandemic for continuity of learning by teacher trainees. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select respondents. There were 14 respondents, amongst them 13 primary teacher training lecturers and one TP coordinator. Findings indicated that TP assessment strategies did not change from physical lesson observations instead, TP assessments stopped at the peak of the pandemic since schools that host teacher trainees also closed. The completion of the course for teacher trainees was extended. Where lecturers got access to schools, they resorted to the observation of TP files and supporting documents. It can be concluded that assessment of teaching practicum online remains a challenge and there is a need to change assessment strategies post COVID-19 pandemic.
Reimagining Online and Blended Provision of English for Academic Purposes: Practices and Reflections from a Distributed Network in East Africa
Authors: Antunes Jean , Farooq Mariam
Published: July 2022

The online and blended delivery of courses through the use of technologies has attracted attention and research.The teaching and learning of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) in multilingual contexts such as in Africa has also been given prominence in research, as well as the benefits of technology in EAP programmes. The pressing need for technology - supported educational practices has been evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic that affected most educational systems around the world. Although there is an increasing body of research on the integration of technology in education emerging from developing contexts, most proposed models still come from high-income countries.Therefore, there is a need for more critical and contextually relevant approaches to the integration of technology in education. Based on the authors’ narratives of their lived experiences as teachers of EAP in a university in East Africa, this article aims to describe and reflect on the practices related to design and delivery of online and blended courses to university students, including in a teacher education programme. It is hoped that this work will contribute to discussions on how to make online and blended teaching practices of EAP more contextually relevant and how exogenous resources can be adapted to the realities of students in multilingual developing contexts.The online and blended delivery of courses through the use of technologies has attracted attention and research. The teaching and learning of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) in multilingual contexts such as in Africa has also been given prominence in research, as well as the benefits of technology in EAP programmes. The pressing need for technology-supported educational practices has been evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic that affected most educational systems around the world. Although there is an increasing body of research on the integration of technology in education emerging from developing contexts, most proposed models still come from high-income countries. Therefore, there is a need for more critical and contextually relevant approaches to the integration of technology in education. Based on the authors’ narratives of their lived experiences as teachers of EAP in a university in East Africa, this article aims to describe and reflect on the practices related to design and delivery of online and blended courses to university students, including in a teacher education programme. It is hoped that this work will contribute to discussions on how to make online and blended teaching practices of EAP more contextually relevant and how exogenous resources can be adapted to the realities of students in multilingual developing contexts.
Teacher Development During and Beyond COVID-19: Perspectives from Zimbabwe
Authors: Nyaruwata Leonorah T.
Published: July 2022

The purpose of the study was to examine how Zimbabwean teacher educators can develop pre-service and in-service teachers to teach effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. This qualitative study, guided by the case study method, gathered the perspectives of experienced teachers and teacher educators in schools, teacher colleges and universities in Harare. Data was generated by means of face-to face interviews, Zoom meetings, WhatsApp and Google Talk, and it was analysed using the content analysis technique. My study found that pre-service and in-service teachers should acquire pedagogical and technological skills in addition to what they have been taught. Teacher educators as well as pre-service and in-service teachers also need information communication technology (ICT) knowledge and skills to implement blended teaching and learning, use the On-Demand Examination system, and develop and implement formative and summative assessment. Beyond the pandemic, the traditional 3-3-3 model of teacher development (i.e., 1 year, 3 school terms in college; 1 year’s teaching practice;1 year in college)will likely continue to be based on blended learning and Open and Distance eLearning (ODeL). It is recommended that technology infrastructure in Zimbabwe be upgraded to allow teacher educators, practising teachers and student teachers easy access to the internet, while also training them in ICT skills and knowledge.
How well are student teachers prepared for e-learning and teaching? A case study from the University of Lagos
Authors: Aitokhuehi Oyeyemi Ololade
Published: July 2022

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020. Various governments introduced measures to mitigate the pandemic, including lockdown, enforced compliance with social distancing, travel restrictions, a ban on large meetings and the closure of schools. At the peak of the epidemic, learning centres and higher institutions were closed in more than 190 countries, disrupting the education of 1.6 billion students. In Nigeria, this situation forced many schools, including universities, to introduce e learning. This study, which explores the extent to which selected students at the University of Lagos were adequately prepared for e-learning, was based on the Garrison and Anderson Community of Inquiry model. An analytical survey research design was adopted and a stratified random sampling technique was used to select 282 respondents from the University of Lagos. A validated self-developed questionnaire was used for data collection. Frequencies, percentages and means were calculated. Hypotheses were statistically tested at a 5% level of significance. The study found that the students in the Faculty of Education were to some extent prepared for the teaching mode, and they were assisted to establish social and cognitive presences to create a meaningful e-learning environment.
Editorial
Authors: Makoe Mpine , Mays Tony
Published: July 2022

Although the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education systems, especially at the schooling level, it is important that we now begin to look ahead to determine what we have learned from the pandemic that will help us to rebuild and move away from an emergency response to future-directed resilience (Kanwar & Daniel, 2020; Hodges et al., 2020).
The United States' First Business Cycle: An Austrian Interpretation of the Panic of 1797
Authors: Curott Nicholas , Watts Tyler
Published: July 2022

This paper argues that a boom-and-bust trade cycle was set into motion by the credit expansion of the First Bank of the United States, culminating in the Recession of 1797. This episode constitutes the first of many economy-wide business cycles in the history of the United States that are explained by Austrian business cycle theory.
Astillero Río Santiago: La permanencia de un sentimiento
Authors: Corzo Raúl Arnaldo
Published: July 2022

En estas páginas se intenta plasmar los sucesos que produjeron nuestras y nuestros jóvenes al reencender en el siglo XXI la llama de la histórica mística de lucha y de trabajo del Astillero Río Santiago.
Estado Federal Brasileiro e a possibilidade de Conselhos Estaduais de Justiça
Authors: Coan Hugo de Pellegrin , Scapin Evelyn
Published: July 2022

O presente artigo trabalha com a temática do Estado Federal Brasileiro, sob a perspectiva do controle administrativo do Poder Judiciário pelo Conselho Nacional de Justiça, e se essa experiência pode ser reproduzida em nível estadual. A abordagem é crítica e não desconsidera a influência do patrimonialismo e da luta de classes na composição, atuação e cultura dos órgãos estatais. Para contextualização desse cenário serão utilizados autores como Florestan Fernandes e Darcy Ribeiro. Assim, haverá a exposição do Estado Federal Brasileiro, do CNJ e dos argumentos que envolvam a instituição de conselhos estaduais de justiça dentro dos aspectos democráticos e federalistas. O método empregado é dedutivo, que parte de uma generalização para uma questão particularizada. A técnica de pesquisa empregada é a bibliográfica, que se desenvolve a partir de fontes primárias e secundárias, ou seja, a partir da Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil de 1988, da jurisprudência do Supremo Tribunal Federal e de normas esparsas do ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, bem como da literatura disponível atinente à questão.
O que é liberdade acadêmica?
Authors: Fonseca Laura Gandra Laudares
Published: July 2022

Ao longo dos últimos anos, a liberdade acadêmica vem sendo alvo de grandes disputas, isto não ocorre por acaso, afinal, o ensino e a pesquisa são partes fundamentais para a formação do debate democrático e para a busca do conhecimento. Todo este cenário torna a liberdade acadêmica particularmente frágil. O trabalho visou estudá-la de maneira pormenorizada, dividindo-a em: a liberdade do aluno frente ao docente; autonomia do professor frente à instituição; autonomia do professor frente ao governo e, por fim, liberdade e autonomia da própria instituição frente ao governo. Ao pensarmos em mecanismos de defesa para a liberdade acadêmica, primeiro é preciso questionar até que ponto ela se entrelaça com a liberdade de expressão, e se a proteção desta basta para proteger aquela. No decorrer das investigações, concluiu-se que a liberdade acadêmica tem facetas mais amplas do que a liberdade de expressão, pois envolve aspectos administrativos e de pesquisa, dentre outros. A delimitação desta liberdade passa por diferenças dos discursos acadêmico intramural e extramural, além dos padrões de comportamentos éticos. É necessário compreender também que a autonomia educacional passa por aspectos administrativos e financeiros. Compreendamos, por fim, que os gastos com ensino nada mais são do que verdadeiros investimentos no futuro do país.
Pengembangan Model Sistem Informasi Multimedia Museum Panca Yadya Melalui E-Museum Berbasis Android
Authors: Hidayat Agus Rahmat , Astawa Ni Luh Putu Ning Septyarini Putri , Eka Putra I Gede Juliana , Ardyanti Anak Agung Ayu Putri
Published: July 2022

Abstrak. Museum merupakan sarana untuk mengembangkan budaya dan peradaban manusia, Dengan berbagai macam artefak dan sedikitnya informasi yang terdapat di dalam museum terkadang membuat pengunjung menjadi kurang berminat untuk datang ke Museum. Untuk mengatasi masalah yang terjadi maka di perlukan sistem yang dapat memudahkan wisatawan mendapatkan informasi tentang Museum. Sistem ini dibuat dengan memanfaatkan Multimedia Video dalam visualisasinya dan QR Code sebagai komponen utama dalam memudahkan pengguna untuk mengaskses. Dalam penelitian ini menggunakan metode Villamil-Molina untuk mencari solusi atas permasalahan yang ada. Hasil dari pengujian yang dilakukan dengan metode blackbox dan dilakukan oleh wisatawan terhadap sistem ini sudah sesuai dengan tujuan program dibuat, yaitu untuk memudahkan wisatawan dan pengguna sistem dalam memperoleh informasi tentang Museum.

Kata kunci: Sistem Informasi Multimedia, E-Museum, Berbasis Android

 

Abstract. The museum is a means to develop human culture and civilization, with a variety of artifacts and the lack of information contained in the museum sometimes makes visitors less interested in coming to the Museum. To overcome the problems that occur, then we need a system that can facilitate tourists to get information about the Museum. This system is made by utilizing Multimedia Video in its visualization and QR Code as the main component in making it easy for users to access. In this study using the Villamil-Molina method to find solutions to existing problems. The results of testing conducted by the blackbox method and conducted by tourists to this system are in accordance with the purpose of the program created, namely to facilitate tourists and system users in obtaining information about the Museum.

Keywords: Multimedia Information System, E-Museum, Based on Android
Model Sistem Informasi Produksi Pada Perusahaan Garment Awel Uniform
Authors: Sari Ni Made Sasnita , Estiyanti Ni Made , Dharma Eddy Muntina
Published: July 2022

Abstrak. Awel Uniform merupakan perusahaan yang bergerak di bidang usaha Garment. Pada saat ini sistem yang sedang berjalan di Awel uniform masih dilakukan secara manual khususnya dalam proses transaksi pencatatan harga pokok penjualan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengimplementasikan sistem produksi pada Awel uniform agar harga jual tidak dibawah harga pokok penjualan. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah pendekatan kualitatif. Metode dalam pembuatan aplikasi ini menggunakan Metode Waterfall serta untuk perancangannya menggunakan Framework Codeigniter dengan menggunakan bahasa pemrograman PHP serta database yang digunakan adalah MySQL, dan untuk metode pengujian sistem menggunakan black box testing. Penelitian ini berhasil merancang sistem produksi berbasis website yang dimana dengan adanya sistem produksi ini dapat memudahkan perusahaan khususnya pada bagian marketing, gudang, kasir serta accounting untuk dapat membantu manajer perusahaan dalam mendapatkan informasi dengan cepat dan akurat, sehingga memberikan kemudahan dalam proses biaya bahan baku, biaya tenaga kerja serta biaya overhead pabrik yang menghasilkan harga pokok penjualan. Berdasarkan hasil wawancara, sistem informasi penjualan ini efektif dalam mengatasi permasalahan yang ada pada Awel Uniform.

Kata kunci: Pengembangan Sistem, Sistem Informasi Produksi, Perusahaan Garmen

 

Abstract. Awel Uniform is a company engaged in the Garment business. At this time the system that is running in Awel uniform is still carried out specifically in the process of recording the transaction cost of goods sold. The purpose of this study is to implement a production system on uniform Awel so that the selling price is not below the cost of goods sold. Suggestions used in this study are qualitative. The method in making this application uses the Waterfall Method and for its design using the Codeigniter Framework using the PHP programming language and the database used is MySQL, and for the system testing method using black box testing. This research succeeded in developing a production system based on the website that presents this production system can provide specialized companies in the marketing, warehouse, accounting and accounting to be able to assist company managers in obtaining information quickly and accurately, providing provides in the process of supply of raw materials, labor costs work with factory overhead that results in cost of goods sold. Based on the results of the interview, this sales information system is effective in overcoming problems that exist in Awel Uniform.

Keywords: System Development, Production Information Systems, Garment Companies