bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management of Coconut Mite in Bangladesh Involving Communities as Implanter
Authors: Md. Nazirul Islam
Published: April 2020

A study on management of coconut mite (Aceria guerreronis Keifer, Acari: Eriophyidae) was carried out in farmers fields at Bagharpara Sub-district of Jashore district, in an area of about 696 ha during May 2011 to June 2014. The mite attacking coconut in Bangladesh remained unidentified until 2008. Field and laboratory studies on morpho-anatomy revealed that 2-6 month old nuts hosted colonies of mites while no mites were found on unfertilized button (flowers) and nuts of more than 06 months old. Colonization was found maximum in younger nuts of 3 -4 month old. Mites were found to reside under the perianth near the stalk of young coconut. Six different treatments  viz, removing of infested young nuts and foliar application of Omite @ 0.2% adjacent to the bunch region (T1);  removing of infected young nuts and foliar application of Neem-oil @ 0.3% adjacent to the bunch region (T2); T1 & soil incorporation of Neem cake @ 500g/tree (T3); T1 & soil incorporation of tricho-compost @ 2000g/tree (T4); T2 & soil incorporation of Neem cake @ 500g/tree (T5) and T2 & incorporation of tricho-compost 2000g/tree  (T6). Results of three consecutive years showed that all the treatments were equally effective in controlling mite attack in coconut. Edible portion of mature nuts was found to improve by the treatments T3 and T5, containing soil incorporated Neem cake.  Days to spath opening, male phase, number of bunch and nut per bunch were not influenced by any one of the treatments. On an average 77 nuts were harvested/palm/year and their estimated market value was Taka 1540. Income augmented due to technology was Taka 1339.80 with BCR value 6.
Differential Scanning Calorimetric Analysis of Virgin Coconut Oil, Palm Olein, and their Adulterated Blends
Authors: J.M.N. Marikkar
Published: April 2020

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is a premium product with a high market value. Its authenticity and quality assurance are important to safeguard consumers from fraudulent practices. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adulteration by palm olein (PO) on differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) heating and cooling profiles of VCO. Pure samples of VCO, PO and their adulterated blends (5 to 30%, w/w) were subjected to thermal analysis by DSC according to a specified temperature program. DSC thermal analysis system software and SAS statistical system were used subsequently to analyze thermal data. Both cooling and heating curves of VCO were found to be vivid for fingerprint comparison of qualitative identification at 5% level of adulteration.
O PROCESSO DE INCLUSÃO DA CRIANÇA COM TRANSTORNO DO ESPECTRO AUTISTA NO ENSINO REGULAR
Authors: Cristina de Araújo Batista Ana
Published: April 2020

Atualmente a inclusão se tornou um dos assuntos mais discutidos na sociedade, entretanto, há algumas décadas atrás as pessoas  onsideradas diferentes ou fora dos padrões normativos eram excluídas e segregadas. Como forma de garantir a inclusão das  essoas com deficiência na sociedade, foram criadas leis para possibilitar o acesso dessas crianças em escolas regulares, sendo  ssim,  ais crianças ficam em um período na escola regular e no contra turno em uma escola especial, tal iniciativa favoreceu o processo de  nclusão. Considera-se a educação inclusiva fundamental para todos esses progressos conquistados, hoje ter uma criança autista dentro de uma sala de aula, sendo incluída com outras crianças consideradas “normais”, é um ganho enorme para esse movimento.  ortanto, a educação inclusiva vem rompendo paradigmas jamais questionados em décadas anteriores, como por  xemplo, o isolamento dessas pessoas que eram vistas somente pela sua particularidade, e através da elaboração dessa lei essas  essoas hoje tem voz, tem direito, tem estímulos, tem reabilitações, tem respeito, e, sobretudo, são vistos como sujeitos de deveres e  ireitos.
Types of Englishes and the case of maritime English: some insights
Authors: Visan Ioana Raluca , Georgescu Mircea
Published: April 2020

The role of English as a world language can be traced back to its formal role as the dominant language of the British Empire, whereby Standard British English has diversified into numerous regional and local varieties of ''new Englishes''. The paper is an attempt to make a theoretical overview of the role of English nowadays, analyzing some of its varieties and approaches to Maritime English as a fully-fledged type of ESP, arguing for its unique character, since its teaching and learning, as well as its research, are based on international legal procedures.
Identifying the needs of the stakeholders of the blue economy regarding the inclusion of young people in the labor market
Authors: Stanca Costel , Olteanu Ana , Acomi Nicoleta , Stanga Viorela , Ghita Simona
Published: April 2020

"Blue Economy" represents a sustainable use of marine resources to ensure economic growth, job growth, an improvement in living standards, and the health of marine ecosystems. This research seeks to identify the requirements of the private sector related to human resources in terms of training, technical and behavioral competencies, as well as the presentation of the main challenges faced by the workforce. The present study is channeled to facilitate the access of young people to the labor market in the sectors of interest taking into account the demands of potential employers.
A way to increase safety in marine refrigeration when using ammonia as a working agent
Authors: Memet Feiza
Published: April 2020

Trade with perishables, especially food, has always been a successful business, marine refrigeration being a vital part of the specific international trade since it can cause economic losses and environmental fatalities. This paper analysis the possibility of decreasing the amount of R717 by mixing it with dimethyleter (DME). Two mixtures (20% DME, 80% R717) and (40% DME, 60% R717) are compared with pure ammonia, based on the fulfillment of the selection criteria of a refrigerant. The comparison will reveal the fact that the first mentioned mixture satisfies in a more convenient way these criteria, replacement of R717 with this mixture being a good option in improving safety, by not affecting the thermodynamic aspect of the problem, or its environmental aspect.
The Discovery of the Long-Period, Eccentric Planet Kepler-88 d and System Characterization with Radial Velocities and Photodynamical Analysis
Authors: Weiss Lauren M. , Fabrycky Daniel C. , Agol Eric , Mills Sean M. , Howard Andrew W. , Isaacson Howard , Petigura Erik A. , Fulton Benjamin , Hirsch Lea , Sinukoff Evan
Published: April 2020

We present the discovery of Kepler-88 d (

,

,

) based on six years of radial velocity (RV) follow-up from the W. M. Keck Observatory High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer spectrograph. Kepler-88 has two previously identified planets. Kepler-88 b (KOI-142.01) transits in the NASA Kepler photometry and has very large transit timing variations (TTVs). Nesvorný et al. performed a dynamical analysis of the TTVs to uniquely identify the orbital period and mass of the perturbing planet (Kepler-88 c), which was later was confirmed with RVs from the Observatoire de Haute-Provence (OHP). To fully explore the architecture of this system, we performed photodynamical modeling on the Kepler photometry combined with the RVs from Keck and OHP and stellar parameters from spectroscopy and Gaia. Planet d is not detectable in the photometry, and long-baseline RVs are needed to ascertain its presence. A photodynamical model simultaneously optimized to fit the RVs and Kepler photometry yields the most precise planet masses and orbital properties yet for b and c:

,

,

, and

. The photodynamical solution also finds that planets b and c have low eccentricites and low mutual inclination, are apsidally anti-aligned, and have conjunctions on the same hemisphere of the star. Continued RV follow-up of systems with small planets will improve our understanding of the link between inner planetary system architectures and giant planets.
Spectral Classification of B Stars: The Empirical Sequence Using SDSS-IV/APOGEE Near-IR Data
Authors: Ramírez-Preciado Valeria G. , Roman-Lopes Alexandre , Román-Zúñiga Carlos G. , Hernández Jesús , García-Hernández D. A. , Stassun Keivan , Stringfellow Guy S. , Kim Jinyoung Serena
Published: April 2020

We present a semi-empirical spectral classification scheme for normal B-type stars using near-infrared (NIR) spectra (1.5–1.7 μm) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Apache Point Observatory Galaxy Evolution Experiment (APOGEE2)-N data release 14 (DR14) database. The main motivation for working with B-type stars is their importance in the evolution of young stellar clusters; however, we also take advantage of having a numerous sample (316 stars) of B-type star candidates in APOGEE2-N, for which we also have optical (3600–9100 Å) counterparts from the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) survey. By first obtaining an accurate spectral classification of the sources using the LAMOST DR3 spectra and the canonical spectral classification scheme, we found a linear relation between optical spectral types and the equivalent widths of the hydrogen lines of the Brackett series in the APOGEE2-N NIR spectra. This relation extends smoothly from a similar relation for O and early B stars found by Roman-Lopes et al. This way, we obtain a catalog of B-type sources with features in both the optical and NIR and a classification scheme refined down to one spectral subclass.
The FLASHES Survey. I. Integral Field Spectroscopy of the CGM around 48 z ≃ 2.3–3.1 QSOs
Authors: O’Sullivan Donal B. , Martin Christopher , Matuszewski Mateusz , Hoadley Keri , Hamden Erika , Neill James D. , Lin Zeren , Parihar Prachi
Published: April 2020

We present the pilot study of the Fluorescent Lyman-Alpha Structures in High-z Environments Survey; the largest integral field spectroscopy survey to date of the circumgalactic medium at z = 2.3–3.1. We observed 48 quasar fields with the Palomar Cosmic Web Imager to an average (2σ) limiting surface brightness of 6 × 10−18 erg s−1 cm−2 arcsec−2 (in a 1″ aperture and ∼20 Å bandwidth). Extended H i Lyα emission is discovered around 37/48 of the observed quasars, ranging in projected radius from 14 to 55 proper kiloparsecs (pkpc), with one nebula exceeding 100 pkpc in effective diameter. The dimming-adjusted circularly averaged surface brightness profile peaks at 1 × 10−15 erg s−1 cm−2 arcsec−2 at R
⊥ ∼ 20 pkpc and integrated luminosities range from 0.4 to 9.4 × 1043 erg s−1. The emission appears to have an eccentric morphology and an average covering factor of ∼30%–40% at small radii. On average, the nebular spectra are redshifted with respect to both the systemic redshift and Lyα peak of the quasar spectrum. The integrated spectra of the nebulae mostly have single- or double-peaked profiles with global dispersions ranging from 143 to 708 km s−1, though the individual Gaussian components of lines with complex shapes mostly have dispersions ≤400 km s−1, and the flux-weighted velocity centroids of the lines vary by thousands of km s−1 with respect to the QSO redshifts. Finally, the root-mean-square velocities of the nebulae are found to be consistent with those expected from gravitational motions in dark matter halos of mass

Log

10

(

M

h

[

M

⊙

]
)
≃

12.2

−
1.2

+
0.7

. We compare these results to existing surveys at higher and lower redshift.
Wind-reprocessed Transients
Authors: Piro Anthony L. , Lu Wenbin
Published: April 2020

We consider the situation where the luminosity from a transient event is reprocessed by an optically thick wind. Potential applications are the tidal disruption of stars by black holes (BHs), engine-powered supernovae, and unique fast transients found by current and future wide-field surveys. We derive relations between the injected and observed luminosity for steady and time-dependent winds, and discuss how the temperature is set for scattering-dominated radiative transport. We apply this framework to specific examples of tidal disruption events and the formation of a BH by a massive star, as well as discuss other applications such as deriving observables from detailed hydrodynamic simulations. We conclude by exploring what is inferred about the mass-loss rate and underlying engine powering AT 2018cow if it is explained as a wind-reprocessed transient, demonstrating that its optical emission is consistent with reprocessing of the observed soft X-rays.
Biting midges of Egypt (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)
Authors: El-Hawagry Magdi , El-Azab Salah El-Din , Abdel-Dayem Mahmoud , Al Dhafer Hathal
Published: April 2020

This study is one in a series of planned studies on different Egyptian dipteran taxa aiming to catalogue the whole order in Egypt.

All known Egyptian taxa of the family Ceratopogonidae (biting midges) are systematically catalogued. A total number of 64 species belonging to 11 genera, four tribes and four subfamilies has been treated. Data for this study have been compiled from both available literature and specimens collected from different Egyptian localities by the authors. An updated classification, synonymies, type localities, world distributions by biogeographic realm(s) and country, Egyptian localities and dates of collection are provided comprising some new locality records. The study treats all previous inaccuracies in the classification of the family in Egypt.
Dealing with difficult authors
Authors: Smart Pippa
Published: April 2020

There is considerable literature about the responsibilities of authors and editors in regard to ethics, integrity and but there is little information on how to manage editor-author relationships when serious disagreements occur and the one party starts to behave in an unacceptable manner. This article is based on a recent experience and presents some thoughts and suggestions for editors on managing relationships between editors and the authors when authors start to behave badly.
Russia and post-Soviet countries compared: coverage of papers by Scopus and Web of Science, languages, and productivity of researchers
Authors: Alimova Natalia , Brumshteyn Yuri
Published: April 2020

Objective: To analyse the productivity of post-Soviet countries, adjusted by population, in terms of research papers published and the proportions of those papers indexed by Scopus and the Web of Science.Methods: Relevant data on the journals indexed in Scopus and the Web of Science were analysed. Where required, data were also extracted from Russian Science Citation Index databases and websites of journals.Results: On average, the post-Soviet countries had 31 researchers per 10,000 people. The average numbers of publications per researcher in journals indexed by Scopus was 1.04 and the corresponding figure for the Web of Science was 0.87. In terms of the number of journals indexed in Scopus and the Web of Science, the leading countries were Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.Conclusion: Although the post-Soviet countries differed considerably in terms of bibliometric indices, the overall values were low. Main features of the journals were as follows: articles published in national languages – in Russian in many cases – and in English, articles mostly by authors within the region, and only a minority of foreigners as members of editorial boards. Thus most of the journals cannot be considered international. All the journals examined have websites in a national language and/or in English and invariably carry information on ethical practices, although such information is not given in a uniform format and varies from country to country.
Le repositionnement géostratégique du Tchad et sa contribution économique et financière dans la Seconde Guerre mondiale
Authors: Abakar Kassambara Abdoulaye , Ousman Abakar Goni
Published: April 2020

La Seconde Guerre mondiale réactiva le rôle géostratégique du Tchad qui avait motivé son occupation par la France au début du xxe siècle. Ce pays fut le premier à rallier la France libre en Afrique. Les conscrits tchadiens constituèrent l’ossature de la colonne Leclerc et payèrent un lourd tribut aux opérations en Libye. La population civile fut aussi mise à contribution de gré ou de force et consacra plus de 30 % de ses ressources à ce conflit mondial. Sa situation sociale se dégrada à cause du rationnement des produits alimentaires, de la conscription pour les travaux d’utilité militaire et de la ponction de ressources à travers de l’augmentation des impôts et différentes contributions dites volontaires. Les sacrifices ainsi consentis ne se traduisirent pas en avantages politiques et économiques faute d’une élite, qui était en gestation au moment de la décolonisation.
Fiscal welfare : le rôle des niches socio-fiscales dans la protection sociale en Europe
Authors: Morel Nathalie , Touzet Chloé , Zemmour Michaël
Published: April 2020

Le recours aux dispositifs fiscaux dérogatoires est un élément structurant des politiques sociales, à la fois d’un point de vue institutionnel, économique et politique. Or cet aspect, largement étudié dans le cas des États-Unis, constitue un point aveugle de l’analyse comparée de l’État social. Nous dressons un état des connaissances théoriques et empiriques sur le fiscal welfare en Europe et nous analysons les raisons spécifiques au contexte européen du recours aux dépenses fiscales de protection sociale.
Hope as a Generative Force: Lifting Our Gaze to the Future
Authors: Jones-Schenk Jan
Published: April 2020

Pandemics are by nature “out of the blue.” Their unpredictable nature and impact can leave nurses and support systems reeling. Nurses are physically and emotionally exhausted but also may be isolated from the physical and emotional support of families and other loved ones. As leaders concurrently manage the logistical and resource challenges of the COVID-19 epidemic, it is essential for leaders to also lift their gaze to the future. Leaders can be a force multiplier for supporting resilience in their teams.

[
J Contin Educ Nurs
. 2020;51(5):203–204]

.
Impact of Systemic Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Use in Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Rahimy Ehsan , Baker Keith , Thompson Desmond , Saroj Namrata ,   On behalf of the VIVID and VISTA Study Investigators
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate impact of baseline systemic dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor use in diabetic macular edema (DME).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

This was a post hoc exploratory analysis of previously completed randomized, controlled clinical trials (VISTA and VIVID) in patients with DME evaluating intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) every 4 weeks (2q4) or every 8 weeks (2q8) or macular laser photocoagulation.

RESULTS:

Overall, a small number of patients (12.2% [n = 35], 9.7% [n = 28], and 15.4% [n = 44]) in the laser control, 2q4, and 2q8 groups reported baseline DPP-4 inhibitor use. There were no differences in changes from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity, central subfield thickness, or rates of 2-or-greater-step improvement in Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale score based on DPP-4 inhibitor use within each treatment group.

CONCLUSION:

DPP-4 inhibitor use at baseline did not influence the magnitude of visual and anatomic benefit in patients with DME being treated with IAI or laser.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina.
2020;51:226–234.]
Optimizing DME Treatment With Decreased Injection Frequency Using Long-Term Steroid Implants
Authors: Mantopoulos Dimosthenis , Zhang Rui , Roth Daniel B.
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are the first-line treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME) based on randomized, control trials from the early 2000s. However, the efficacy of anti-VEGF is limited in clinical practice because its monthly injection schedule is logistically challenging for most working-age patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Recent large-scale, randomized, control trials have demonstrated that intravitreal corticosteroid implants provide efficacious long-term treatment for DME.

RESULTS:

Intravitreal corticosteroid implants block a wide spectrum of inflammatory factors involved in DME pathogenesis, with each implant lasting from months to years. Intravitreal corticosteroid implants also have the pharmacokinetic advantage over anti-VEGF agents in vitrectomized eyes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although anti-VEGF agents have lower bioavailability in vitrectomized eyes due to rapid clearance, intravitreal corticosteroid implants are not significantly affected by vitrectomy in bioavailability or efficacy. Side effects of intravitreal corticosteroid implants include cataract formation and ocular hypertension, both of which are manageable with appropriate monitoring. Taken together, intravitreal corticosteroid implants serve as a convenient, efficacious, and long-term treatment for patients with DME.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina.
2020;51:S22–S29.]
COMPETÊNCIAS ESSENCIAIS NA PRODUÇÃO DE CAFÉS ESPECIAIS: UM ESTUDO DE CASO EM UMA FAZENDA NO CERRADO MINEIRO
Authors: Arantes Rita de Cássia , Menezes Raquel Santos Soares
Published: April 2020

O mercado dos cafés especiais tem experimentado transformações significativas em sua cadeiade valor. Assim, os novos determinantes da vantagem competitiva deste setor passaram a ser ainovação tecnológica e a diferenciação de produtos. Desse modo, competências específicas sãoexigidas das empresas atuantes nesse segmento. Diante disso, buscou-se identificar ascompetências essenciais em uma fazenda produtora de cafés especiais na região do CerradoMineiro. Para tanto, utilizou-se uma abordagem qualitativa e optou-se pela estratégia estudo decaso. Como técnica de pesquisa, utilizou-se a entrevista semiestruturada. O corpus do estudocompreende cinco entrevistas com colaboradores que ocupam cargos de liderança na gestão daempresa. Para a identificação das competências essenciais utilizou-se o modelo proposto porHafeez, Zhang e Malak (2002), que parte da identificação dos seguintes aspectos: (i) recursos;(ii) capacidades e; (iii) competências organizacionais. Observou-se que a Fazenda São Luizpossui um legado no mercado de cafés especiais, sendo toda sua cultura e estratégiasrespaldadas em uma aprendizagem familiar. Tais características corroboraram paraidentificação de três competências organizacionais essenciais da organização, que são: Imagem,Inovação e Qualidade. Percebe-se que as três competências identificadas apresentam-se deforma dinâmica e sobrepõem-se umas às outras, reforçando a interdependência entre elas. Alémdisso, estão presentes de maneiras distintas nas práticas organizacionais e na tomada de decisão.
PESQUISAS SOBRE GESTÃO DE PESSOAS EM GESTÃO DE PROJETOS: ANÁLISE DE REVISTAS ACADÊMICAS BRASILEIRAS NO PERÍODO DE 2005-2017
Authors: SILVA Luciano Ferreira da , Oliveira Paulo Sergio Gonçalves de , Santos Ana Caroline Lourenço dos , Freitas Maria Gisele Luciano de , Silva Sheyla Luiza Gomes da
Published: April 2020

O objetivo desta pesquisa é descrever como a Gestão de Pessoas está inserida nas pesquisassobre Gestão de Projetos nas revistas acadêmicas brasileiras, entre os anos de 2005 e 2017. Acoleta de dados iniciou com a busca de artigos publicados em periódicos brasileiros queapresentavam os termos "Gestão de Pessoas” e “Projetos", e também "Recursos Humanos” e“Projetos". Os sites das revistas selecionadas foram visitados e foram analisadas todas asedições entre 2005 e 2017 disponíveis. Os 62 artigos que passaram pelos critérios de inclusão,contemplar a temática Gestão de Pessoas em pesquisas sobre Gestão de Projetos, forambaixados e os metadados exportados para uma planilha de Excel. Após essa fase foi realizada aanálise dos metadados do corpus de pesquisa e posterior análise crítica do conteúdo dos artigosselecionados. Os resultados apontam que o tema Gestão de Pessoas é objeto central de análiseem um número reduzido de artigos na área de Gestão de Projetos, sendo abordado de formatransversal em muitas pesquisas que tratam sobre maturidade em projetos, estratégia, risco,entre outros. Destaca-se que a principal revista que publicou os temas pesquisados foi a revistaGeP, seguida pelas revistas Production, JISTEM e Produção On Line. Um aspecto relevanteencontrado nesta pesquisa é que muitos artigos estudaram Gestão de Conhecimento e Competências, sendo estes tópicos apresentados como fatores determinantes de uma maiorprodutividade ou sucesso em Gestão de Projetos. Outro ponto importante é que muitaspesquisas analisaram a alocação de pessoas numa perspectiva racional instrumental.
Development of Bamboo - Derived Activated Carbon as Catalyst Support for Glucose Hydrogenation
Authors: Kurniawansyah Firman , Pertiwi Ratna Dewi , Perdana Mahendra , Al-Muttaqii Muhammad , Roesyadi Achmad
Published: April 2020

Indonesia possesses high potential to develop an advanced biorefinery system, thanks to its high richness of natural resources. Bamboo for instance, with more than 200 species, in which 5% of its global distribution is found in Indonesian archipelago, is an invaluable resource to develop many useful materials. Here in this study, bamboo has been used to produce activated carbon for catalyst material. Bamboo raw material was obtained from a city park in Surabaya, and converted to activated carbon through carbonization at 773 K, followed by activation using acidic solution. The activated carbon (AC) was used as catalyst support, impregnated by nickel (Ni) as metal active. The catalyst was used in conversion of glucose to glucitols (sorbitol, mannitol) trough reduction with hydrogen. The Ni/AC was applied as catalyst for hydrogenation of glucose, conducted at 0.5 MPa and 363 – 403 K. With surface area of 125 m2/g of the carbon supported catalyst applied, glucose could be converted to polyols with overall yield of approximately 3 wt % from the total products.
Modelling malaria reduction in a highly endemic country: Evidence from household survey, climate, and program data in Zambia
Authors: Nawa Mukumbuta , Halwindi Hikabasa , Hangoma Peter
Published: April 2020

Substantial efforts have seen the reduction in malaria prevalence from 33% in 2006 to 19.4% in 2015 in Zambia. Many studies have used effect measures, such as odds ratios, of malaria interventions without combining this information with coverage levels of the interventions to assess how malaria prevalence would change if these interventions were scaled up. We contribute to filling this gap by combining intervention coverage information with marginal predictions to model the extent to which key interventions can bring down malaria in Zambia. We used logistic regression models and derived marginal effects using repeated cross-sectional survey data from the Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) datasets for Zambia collected in 2010, 2012 and 2015. Average monthly temperature and rainfall data were obtained from climate explorer a satellite-generated database. We then conducted a counterfactual analysis using the estimated marginal effects and various hypothetical levels of intervention coverage to assess how different levels of coverage would affect malaria prevalence. Increasing IRS and ITNs from the 2015 levels of coverage of 28.9% and 58.9% respectively to at least 80% and rising standard housing to 20% from the 13.4% in 2015 may bring malaria prevalence down to below 15%. If the percentage of modern houses were increased further to 90%, malaria prevalence might decrease to 10%. Other than ITN and IRS, streamlining and increasing of the percentage of standard houses in malaria fight would augment and bring malaria down to the levels needed for focal malaria elimination. The effects of ITNs, IRS and Standard housing were pronounced in high than low epidemiological areas.
Die gevaar van wye verspreiping van weerstandbiedendheid teen wurmmiddels deur veldramprestasietoetssentra
Authors: Van Wyk J. A. , Van Schalkwyk P. C. , Bath G. F. , Gerber H. M. , Alves Regina M.R.
Published: April 2020

A veld ram performance testing unit consists of an association of stud or commercial ram breeders, who compare the performance of selected rams under field conditions on common pastures. The best performers are subsequently auctioned at public sales. To date, at least 10 Merino veld ram clubs have been established in various centres in South Africa. A strain of Haemonchus contortus, which was isolated from the pastures of one of these performance testing units, was found to be resistant to ivermectin, oxfendazo1e and rafoxanide. Closantel, levamisole and disophenol were more than 99% effective. The wide dispersal of the rams after testing, constitutes a potential danger for dissemination of helminths with resistant genes. Precautionary methods should include careful routine monitoring of drug susceptibility on the communal pastures, on the farms of individual members and thorough deworming of rams before they leave the testing unit. The prevention and control of resistance in such testing units are discussed, but it is emphasised that this is difficult, particularly if the worm strains on the communal grazing have become resistant to some of the anthelmintic groups.
A Note on Chirally Cosmetic Surgery on Cable Knots
Authors: Ito Tetsuya
Published: April 2020

We show that a $(p,q)$-cable of a non-trivial knot K does not admit chirally cosmetic surgeries for $q\neq 2$, or $q=2$ with additional assumptions. In particular, we show that a $(p,q)$-cable of a non-trivial knot K does not admit chirally cosmetic surgeries as long as the set of JSJ pieces of the knot exterior does not contain the $(2,r)$-torus exterior for any r. We also show that an iterated torus knot other than the $(2,p)$-torus knot does not admit chirally cosmetic surgery.
Elecciones 2015 y 2016 en España: el debate desde los temas a los “meta-temas” de agenda
Authors: Rodríguez-Díaz Raquel , Castromil Antón R.
Published: April 2020

Introducción: Este es un trabajo de investigación que se centra en las elecciones generales españolas de 2015 y en la nueva celebración de los comicios en 2016, ya que en las primeras no hubo acuerdos suficientes para la formación de un ejecutivo estable. Durante este periodo, y especialmente desde 2015, la política española superó por primera vez en el reciente periodo democrático un bipartidismo histórico, anclado en el Partido Popular (PP) y el Partidos Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE), para dar paso a nuevas formaciones con opciones de gobierno nacional como fueron Podemos y Ciudadanos. Los principales elementos de la investigación conectan con los estudios de agenda-setting, en donde se ofrece un análisis de la agenda pública española y la agenda mediática, deteniéndose en la cobertura política. Metodología: Se ha realizado un análisis de contenido en prensa de referencia (El Mundo y El País) durante los días de campaña de las dos elecciones mencionadas que permiten visibilizar los temas más importantes de agenda. Resultados y discusión: Los datos ofrecidos por el estudio reflejan que los problemas que los españoles señalan como importantes para el país se ven relegados a un segundo plano durante la campaña electoral. Los líderes y las diferentes formaciones prefieren visibilizar en sus discursos temas ligados a la política y la gobernabilidad, denominados “meta-temas”, centrados en los pactos, acuerdos y automenciones frente a los temas clásicos de agenda pública como el empleo, la sanidad o la educación entre otros.
Dual Approach to the Harmonized Model between Inventory Reduction and Heijunka (Production Leveling) based on the Minimum Average-energy Principle
Authors: Kurihara Tsuyoshi , Kawanaka Takaaki , Yamashita Hiroshi
Published: April 2020

A major issue in manufacturing is the balance between inventory reduction and heijunka (i.e., production leveling). To address this issue in aggregate production planning, linear programming models that consider many factors and use “exponential smoothing” as an approximate leveling method have been mainly studied. However, this methodology has problems that may limit its use as an optimal solution approximate method, and impair the timeliness required for aggregate production planning by the complexity of these models. To solve this issue, we have been developing harmonized models to balance between lowering the inventory management energy and increasing the heijunka entropy, based on demand and inventory quantities as simple optimization models. In this study, we develop a dual approach to the previously proposed model to maximize the heijunka entropy and propose a new model to minimize the inventory management energy based on the “minimum average-energy principle.” We show that the proposed model’s inventory state is lower than that of traditional exponential smoothing through numerical experiments. This study, therefore, theoretically enables a new optimal solution to the harmonized (balancing) problem, based on the concept of entropy and energy, and practically enables aggregate production planning in a timely and simple manner.
Deviation Degree between Ideal and Real Domain Transition Probabilities in Resource Circulation Considering the Production Synchronization Ratio
Authors: Kawanaka Takaaki , Yamashita Hiroshi , Kaneko Shoichi
Published: April 2020

The ideal state for achieving smooth resource circulation on Earth is achieved when the intake, expulsion, and natural purification rates (three-element) are equal. In this research, we propose the four-element deviation degree, which combines the three-element deviation degree with the synchronization deviation degree, by considering the deviation degree of the synchronization between production and sales in corporate activities. We use a domain transition probability model for resource circulation, and based on this model, we investigate the three-element deviation degree to evaluate the deviation degrees of these three elements in ideal and real situations quantitatively. Further, we conduct a quantitative discussion of the gap between the ideal and real situations in the four domain transitions, including corporate activities, by considering the four-element model.
We considered simple numerical examples of the current state (t = 0) vector (initial state vector) and the domain transition probability matrix and simulated the resource circulation. Each simulation indicated the effect of slow natural purification from the waste domain to the resource domain in the natural space. Unlike previous studies based on input-output analyses, the proposed model, which can describe the circulation of natural and social spaces, considers the time course of natural purification. We believe that the proposed model is more realistic than the previous ones and is more suitable to describe the real society.
Nigeria: Does Terrorism Spring from Economic Conditions?
Authors: Okon Emmanuel O.
Published: April 2020

Over the last half-century, Nigeria has become one of Africa’s three giants along with Egypt and South Africa, thereby gaining considerable clout on the regional and global arenas. It is Africa’s largest oil producer and recent finds ensure Nigeria’s significance in the energy market for the foreseeable future. But the country has an inability or an unwillingness to distribute economic resources and development programs equitably. The primary objective of this paper is to find out whether economic condition leads to domestic terrorism in the country, as the contemporary Nigeria society is engulfed by terrible acts of Terrorism. This paper uses annual data for the time period 1970-2016 and the multivariate regression results suggest that government expenditure hinders terrorism, whereas macroeconomic policies foster it. Possible reasons for the outcomes and the policy implications of the findings were discussed.
Buhari’s Administration and Review of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy: A Realist Approach
Authors: Gamawa Yusuf Ibrahim
Published: April 2020

There is no doubt that Nigeria’s foreign policy is indeed outdated. This is evidenced in the fact that we now live in different times. Though Nigeria’s role in Africa still remains significant, however, the time “Africa” was made the centre piece of Nigeria’s foreign policy, was a time when many countries in the continent were struggling to throw off the yolk of colonialism. And the adoption of such a policy was to stand in solidarity with those nations that were struggling to achieve or gain independence. And today, no single country in the continent is under foreign rule or direct control, and the times now call for a review of Nigeria’s foreign policy to reflect the nations current circumstances and realities among the committee of states across the globe. And there is no time than under the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Buhari administration must look critically and make an assessment of how and which way to direct Nigeria’s foreign policy. The responsibility appears to be binding on President Buhari’s administration having been neglected or not given the required attention by many previous regimes and administrations. The confidence of Nigerians in President Buhari’s vision, promises and commitment to change and general progress/ greatness of Nigeria seems to justify such expectations in the area of foreign relations and policy. There is need for Nigeria to be more involved in world affairs and to seek observer status in certain supranational institutions including the E.U, NATO and the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) in this era of globalisation, and the accompanying system of interdependence. This paper tries to provide a guide with regards to the review of the foreign policy of Nigeria by President Buhari to reflect the realities and challenges of the times in which we are living. The paper argues that Nigeria must be a global player despite being a regional power in consideration of its pottentials and position in the scheme of things, drawing lessons based on Realist theories in international affairs and conduct as well as the experiences of certain states like Japan as models for foreign policy development.
Household Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Waste Management Services in Rural Nigeria
Authors: Edeme Richardson Kojo , Nkalu Nelson C.
Published: April 2020

Safe and clean environment is an essential requirement for maintaining life on earth and creating human friendly environment is one of the most important issues in the world today. The concern of this paper is to examine household preference and willingness to pay for waste management services. The population of the study is made up of the households in the Nsukka urban where simple random sampling techniques was employed to select 25 households from each of the six town in Nsukka urban, employing binary modelling using probit model to estimate the impact of both cultural and demographic factors and economic factors on household willingness to pay for waste management service. The result revealed that demographic factors such as age, household size and education have great influence on household willingness to demand for waste management in Nsukka urban area. Also, economic factors such, income level of the households, awareness of the household about the environment, impact of waste management service and cost of waste management service has positive significant impact on household willingness to pay for waste management services.
The Dynamics of Exports and Economic Growth: Assessing the Evidence from Nigeria
Authors: Ighodaro Clement A.U. , F. O. Ovenseri-Ogbomo
Published: April 2020

The paper empirically examines the dynamics of exports and economic growth in Nigeria using time series data for 1970 to 2017. The Vector autoregressive model (VAR) was used to investigate the long run and short run relationship between exports and economic growth as well as some selected variables. The result shows that there exists a stable long run relationship among economic growth, exports, capital expenditure on education and social services. Also, the Granger causality results reveal that export Granger causes economic growth and not the other way round. This means that an increase in economic growth may result from increase in export, but increase in economic growth does not necessarily lead to increase in exports. The Impulse Response Function (IRF) shows that a one standard innovation in exports will lead to permanent positive impact on economic growth in Nigeria. This therefore supports the exports led growth hypothesis for Nigeria.
Naira Exchange Rate Variation and Nigeria Economic Growth: A Time Series Study
Authors: Okoro Rev Canon Charles Ugochukwu , Charles Fortune Bella
Published: April 2020

This study examined the effect of exchange rate variation on Nigeria economy. The objective was to investigate how Naira exchange rate variations against key currencies affect the country’s real gross domestic product. Time series data was sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria statistical bulletin. Real gross domestic products were modeled as the function of United State commodity currency, British commodity currency, Japanese yen currency, Chinese yen currency and French franc currency. The ordinary least square method was used as data analysis techniques. The study used cointegration, unit root, and granger causality test and error correction estimate to study the dynamic effects of commodity currencies on financial market. The study found that naira exchange rate variation with the currencies can explain 65 percent variation on Nigerian real gross domestic products while the remaining 35 percent estimation can be traced to external variables not included in the model. The estimated f-test proved that the model is fit while the estimated DW statistics found the presence of positive serial autocorrelation among the variables. The estimated beta coefficient of the variables revealed that commodity currency of US; Japanese yen and Chinese yen have positive and significant effect on Nigeria real gross domestic products while British pound and French Franc have negative effect on Nigeria real gross domestic products.  From the co-integration test, we found at least two co-integrating equation from the trace test and maximum eigenvalue.  The granger causality test found unidirectional causality from real gross domestic products to Chinese yen and from French Franc to real gross domestic products. The study found that in the long run, Japanese and Chinese yen and French Franc have negative long run effect on Nigeria real gross domestic products; while United States dollar and British Pound Sterling have positive long run effect on Nigeria gross domestic products. The study recommended amongst others that Monetary and macroeconomic policies should be properly articulated with an impregnable feedback loop, implemented to the letter, and a quarterly examination of the impact on the Naira should be regularly engaged, evaluated, interpreted and ensure that the results and possible remedial action(s) get to the appropriate authority timeously so as to ensure well informed decision(s).
Higher Serum Levels of Stromelisyn 2 (MMP10) but not Matrilysin (MMP7) in Patients with End-Stage Chronic Kidney Disease on Chroniodialysis
Authors: Velikova Tsvetelina , Velikov Toni , Mihailov Georgi
Published: April 2020

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases with proteolytic activity against components of extracellular matrix, such as collagen and elastin, which are involved in many biological and pathophysiological processes in humans. There is some evidence for MMPs` role in nephrogenesis, renal damage, and remodeling, such as MMP-7 (matrilysin) and MMP-10 (stromelysin). However, the implication of MMPs in the pathogenetic renal changes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to measure the serum levels of circulating MMP-7 and MMP-10 in patients at different stages of chronic kidney disease and to analyze the impact of MMP-7 and MMP-10 on the renal disease burden of these patients. In our study, we have evaluated 80 persons – 20 with CKD (II – IV stage), 20 with end-stage CKD on chronic hemodialysis, and 40 age and sex-matched control subjects: 20 with isolated arterial hypertension and 20 healthy persons. The serum samples were tested for MMP-7 and MMP-10 by performing enzyme immunoassay method. Serum levels of both investigated MMPs were most increased in end-stage CKD patients on hemodialysis. The concentration of MMP10 was significantly higher in CKD patients on chroniodialysis than healthy persons (p < 0.001), and patients with isolated arterial hypertension (p < 0.001) and patients at different stages of CKD (p = 0.037). To conclude, it is possible that the increased levels of MMP-10 could be associated with poor prognosis and eventually need for dialysis treatment at earlier stages. We hypothesize that CKD is associated with alterations of MMPs and that may be related to the severity of atherosclerosis in this clinical setting.
Perception of Librarians towards Use of Social Media for Information Service Delivery: A Conceptual Paper
Authors: Awurdi Asabe Pera
Published: April 2020

This study conceptualizes how librarians perceive social media in library and information service delivery. The study consults and review previous research on the use of social media to provide service delivery by librarians by librarians. Social media encourages librarians to create new knowledge, ideas, and services and share it across their community of users. Service delivery is the primary function of any university library. Due to the difficult nature of traditional library services, libraries now embrace and adopt some social media tools for service delivery. This research highlighted the opportunities offer by social media to improve service delivery, the study also discuss the categorization of social media, types of social media, applicability of social media, challenges face by librarians when using social media and strategies on incorporating social media when using service delivery. Based on the conceptual review carried out, majority of studies reveals that librarians use social media and ICT in information service library and the most use form of social media is the Facebook, WhatApps and twitter, but, however, they do encounter obstacles in terms when using the social media. The study concludes that librarians actually use social media for library information service delivery, but yet there is a lot of challenges for proper use of social media in library and information delivery. Therefore, the study recommends that university libraries should incorporate more social media to provide effective services to their clients and adequate finance should be provided regularly by the university management to improve the use of social media in information service delivery and finally librarians should render more proactive and more quality social media services to meet the information needs of clients
Gender Issue in Transportation Sector of Nigeria: A Case Study of Lokoja, Kogi State
Authors: Richard Shaibu Hasssan , Okon Emmanuel Okokondem
Published: April 2020

This paper aimed at finding out what constraint women in transport sector in Lokoja and why employers are reluctant in employing women in the sector? The null hypothesis is that women constraints have no significant effect in transportation sector in Lokoja. Information for the paper was basically from the questionnaire survey method Data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, simple percentages and graphical illustrations. Chi-square analysis was used to test the formulated hypothesis. The result reveals that women constraints have significant effect in transportation sector in Lokoja. Transport business in Lokoja is so dominated by male counterpart and yet some routes are not adequately covered. Based on the aforementioned findings, it is recommended that social attitude in Lokoja, Kogi state and Nigeria in general should be changed in favour of women employment in transport sector. The government of Kogi state should establish driving schools and transport scheme meant to enhance the livelihood of women. The National Union of Road Transport Worker (NURTW) should encourage women to invest in the sector.