bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Case of Units
Authors: Kribs-Zaleta Christopher M. , Bradshaw D'Lynn
Published: December 2020

Young children learn by playing, and they first learn mathematics through exploration that develops naturally from their curiosity and experiences. They count, build, draw, model, and measure the world around them. The informal origins of their first mathematical insights remain an important link to the role of context in learning at any age. It is especially important for teachers to know this, in order to be alert to learning opportunities that arise. By paying attention to the details in students' conversations, we can develop the habit of listening to their mathematical discoveries. Encouraging and focusing these discoveries often releases the great learning potential inside students. Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 2000) elaborates on the idea of play being children's work by observing, “Adults support young children's diligence and mathematical development when they direct attention to the mathematics children use in their play, challenge them to solve problems, and encourage their persistence” (p. 74).
What Do You Get When You Cross a Math Professor and a Body Builder?
Authors: Arvold Bridget , Stone Gina , Carter Lynn
Published: December 2020

As part of a reflective paper, fifth-grade student Jony offered the riddle that appears in the title of this article. His answer, “a construction worker,” showed that he had made a connection between mathematics and the real world after participating in a mathematics activity called “garage math.” This activity highlights some of the mathematics commonly used by construction workers. A construction worker who is building a garage needs both mathematical expertise and muscles. Jony was not the only student who made connections between the mathematics he learned in the classroom and a real-life occupation.
Identify fractions and decimals on a number line
Authors: Shaughnessy Meghan M.
Published: December 2020

To examine students' understanding of this core mathematics content, analyze their erroneous strategies.
Mathematics concept maps: assessing connections
Authors: Gallenstein Nancy L.
Published: December 2020

Assessment is an ongoing process integrated within instruction (NCTM 2000). Assessment activities can take on a variety of forms, one being performance tasks. Concept mapping is a technique that offers students opportunities to demonstrate learning through performance. In this example, elementary school students designed math concept maps, allowing their teachers to assess the children's concept connections and other valuable, relevant skills before determining the steps necessary for further learning.
Performing Big Math Ideas Across the Grades
Authors: Gadanidis George , Hughes Janette M.
Published: December 2020

Children's literature and the dramatic arts can aid students in communicating mathematical understanding.
Living in cohousing communities: Psychological effects and coping strategies in times of COVID-19
Authors: Schetsche Christian , Jaume Luis Carlos , Gago-Galvagno Lucas , Elgier Ángel
Published: December 2020

The aim of this study was to compare a sample of residents in cohousing communities (n = 180) and inhabitants in traditional neighborhoods (n = 104). During the social isolation that was decreed by the German government due to the COVID-19 pandemic, data collection was carried out through the Internet. Psychological symptoms and coping strategies were measured, and their differences were investigated by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results showed that residents in cohousing communities have lower levels of depressive, anxiety, compulsive and eating disorders, as well as less use of coping strategies which are based on emotional concealment, problem avoidance, and social withdrawal. Moreover, its inhabitants showed higher levels in the use of social support. It is concluded that living in a cohousing community favors, in comparison with life in traditional neighborhoods, the mental health of its inhabitants.
Maternal chronic depression affects love styles: A cohort study in Southern Brazil
Authors: Böhm Denise Müller , de Avila Quevedo Luciana , da Cunha Coelho Fabio Monteiro , de Souza Luciano Dias Mattos , de Matos Mariana Bonati , Trettim Jéssica Puchalski , Scholl Carolina Coelho , Rubin Bárbara Borges , Castelli Rochele , Molina Mariane Lopez , Pinheiro Karen Amaral Tavares , Pinheiro Ricardo Tavares
Published: December 2020

Given the importance that love has in individuals’ lives, and considering that more specific studies about the relationship between depression and the way people love are lacking, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of major depressive disorder (MDD) on “love styles.” This study was nested in a cohort of adolescent mothers. Women were assessed for MDD at each point of assessment: during pregnancy (T1), at between 30 and 60 postpartum days (T2), and at approximately 30 postpartum months (T3), by using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI PLUS) tool. The Love Attitudes Scale (LAS) was administered to assess the six love styles at T3. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to express the strength of depression on love styles. We found that chronic major depression had the largest effect on the love styles (low Eros, high Mania, and high Agape), followed by current major depression. However, the same association was not observed in the perinatal period. Thus, the assessment of love style is relevant as it seems that an MDD-related injury in maternal life is related to their attitudes about love and there could be possible harmful consequences of these attitudes to the mother and the whole family.
An Analytical Approach to the Italian Renaissance through Popular TV: The case of Medici
Authors: Mariani Annachiara
Published: December 2020

This article explores the educational value of using audiovisual media to enhance the learning of history and civilization in foreign language and culture classes. More specifically, it analyzes the pedagogical impact of learning about the Italian Renaissance through a television series about the Medici family, the most acclaimed patrons of the Renaissance. Focusing on the televised adaptation of this family, the article examines how media can revisit and reshape the history of this period through streaming television distribution, the important and highly popular internet-based delivery system of services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Fubo TV. I argue that students can become conscious of the mechanisms of historical adaptation by considering their own learned perspectives, and by reshaping them through a highly dramatized and psychologically rooted narrative. Questioning students about the extent to which their understanding of the past is filtered or modified through popular culture—and about the way popular culture uses the past—leads them to think critically about historical continuity. The article pays specific attention to the two main characters in the series, entitled Medici: The Magnificent (2018): the hero, Lorenzo de’ Medici, and the villain, Jacopo Pazzi. An accurate historical and cinematic discussion of the two characters will allow me to elucidate the medium-specific potential of the TV series to teach historical facts. Drawing on a few courses I taught on Renaissance Italy, where I implemented this approach, I will demonstrate that students are not just entertained, but also actively engaged in the cognitive aspects barely to be found in written history, namely, the characters’ inner lives and struggles. The article will demonstrate that a comparison of the historical sources with their cinematic adaptation is of great pedagogical value for students.
Determinantes socioculturales de la política alimentaria: voces de los beneficiarios del programa Comedores Comunitarios. Estudio realizado en la Ciudad de Culiacán Sinaloa México
Authors: Verdugo Araujo Luz Mercedes , Garza Leticia Cabello
Published: December 2020

El propósito de este trabajo es dar a conocer parte de los resultados de una investigación sobre el proceso de implementación de una política social alimentaria a través de Comedores Comunitarios en atención a la inseguridad alimentaria en la ciudad de Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. El objetivo fue conocer los elementos socioculturales que determinan la eficiencia del programa social. El diseño de la investigación es descriptivo-interpretativo utilizando un enfoque cualitativo basado en un método hermenéutico-critico que recupera los discursos de 30 beneficiarios de 27 Comedores Comunitarios que operan el programa en la Ciudad de Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. Los hallazgos muestran que las representaciones del proyecto político significan para el beneficiario una opción de alimentación y crean un espacio de convivencia y descanso, los discursos muestran lo que viven y sienten respecto a la cotidianidad del comensal. Asimismo se visualiza la necesidad del conocimiento de las determinantes socioculturales de la alimentación para contribuir a transformar la realidad alimentaria, pues reconoce los factores estructurales de la inseguridad alimentaria, pero también las condicionantes en el seno de las prácticas sociales de las familias, ya que ambas son importantes a la hora de la toma de decisiones de la política alimentaria.

The purpose of this paper is to present some of the results of a research into the process of implementing of a social food policy through Community Kitchens in response to food insecurity in the city of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. The objective was to know the sociocultural factors that determine the efficiency of this social program. The research design is descriptive-interpretive using a qualitative approach based on a hermeneutic-critical method that recovers the discourses of 30 beneficiaries of 27 Community Kitchens who operate the program in the City of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. The findings show that the representations of the political project mean for the beneficiary a food option and create a space for conviviality and rest, the speeches show what they live and feel with regard to daily life of the diner. Likewise, the need for knowledge of the sociocultural determinants of food is visualized to contribute to transforming the food reality, since it recognizes the structural factors of food insecurity, but also the conditions within the social practices of families, meanwhile both are important when making food policy decisions.
Towards Teaching With an Open Heart
Authors: Walsh Susan
Published: December 2020

In this paper, I explore practices for opening the heart and offering compassion towards others and also myself in the context of teaching. In doing so, I reflect upon experiences that involve the uneven distribution of “air time” in the classroom; I concentrate on such experiences because, as long-standing sources of irritation for me, I believe they can evoke insights about being present. How, for example, might I invite deeper awareness of my own being in such situations, notice how I am feeling in relation to the students, individually and collectively? How might I become better acquainted with my own resistances? Send love and compassion towards the students and also myself? Through contemplative practice, I observe my mind and habits of being. My aspiration is to teach from a softer, gentler place. I situate this work in relation to the literature in contemplative education, specifically that which offers insights into teachers’ inner work.
John Dewey: Closet Conservative?
Authors: Waddington David I.
Published: December 2020

Several well-known scholars, including Clarence Karier, Walter Feinberg, and Eamonn Callan, have offered arguments suggesting that John Dewey was more politically conservative than is generally thought. Karier and Feinberg base their respective cases on Dewey’s involvement with Polish community during World War I, while Callan relies heavily on some remarks offered in one of Dewey’s later works, Ethics. In the following account, it is suggested that neither of these analyses withstands careful scrutiny. In the case of the Polish affair, Karier and Feinberg are not able to marshal sufficient evidence to condemn Dewey convincingly, and there is a significant quantity of counterevidence which indicates that Dewey’s intentions were benign. Callan’s case, though seemingly convincing, is undermined by the joint authorship of the Ethics and by information contained in Dewey’s correspondence. In conclusion, it is argued that the more popular understanding of Dewey as a left-liberal reformer is, in fact, correct.
Teaching and the Value of Inquiry
Authors: O'Leary Paul
Published: December 2020

This paper considers a self-acknowledged indoctrinator’s defense of his teaching. This defense relies on the correspondence conception of truth which allows a logical gap between the conduct of an inquiry and the truth of our beliefs. In criticism, I will seek to characterize the truth of our beliefs in terms of a link with genuine inquiry. Finally, I consider the value of having true beliefs and what constitutes the importance of acquiring the ability to inquire. On this view, good teaching, at a minimum, involves the exercise and the fostering of what I shall call epistemic prudence.
‘Placing’ Caring Relationships in Education: Addressing Abstraction and Domination
Authors: Rushmere Andrew Tyler
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to underscore the possible dangers of abstraction, objectification and reification as roots of human domination over other human and non-human beings; and to suggest that, as one possibility, place-based education, can counter these dominating patterns by pulling up their roots through fostering relational ontologies based on care and emotional/sensuous experience. The author will foreground the work of Henri Lefebvre, Neil Evernden, and R. D. Laing in the abstraction discussion, while the discussion of place-based education will draw largely on the writings of David Gruenewald.
Welcoming Confusion, Embracing Uncertainty: Educating Teacher Candidates in an Age of Certitude
Authors: Gordon Mordechai
Published: December 2020

This essay challenges the current emphasis on certainty, measurement and control in the field of education and the widespread view that confusion hurts students. Drawing on some recent analyses of Socrates as well as my own interpretation of his dialogues, I discuss how he might respond to the quest for certainty in education. Socrates would want us to welcome confusion and embrace uncertainty, and urge us to reconceptualize the quest for certainty as an ongoing process aimed at increasing complexity and enhancing understanding. Based on the insights I gleaned from Socrates, I argue that creating a space for perplexity and uncertainty in our classrooms is crucial for the goal of fostering citizens who are critical and independent thinkers. I conclude this essay by proposing a number of ways in which teacher educators can help their students welcome confusion and embrace uncertainty.
Beyond Liberal Democracy: Diverse Educational Relations
Authors: Thayer-Bacon Barbara J.
Published: December 2020

This essay offers a critical analysis of Locke's and Rousseau's basic assumptions upon which classical liberalism is built: rationalism, universalism, and individualism. I then describe an alternative starting place for democracy with a transactional view of individuals-in-relation-to-others. I then offer specific educational examples to help me sketch two themes that illustrate problems with classical liberalism and how a transactional democracy-always-in-the-making can help to solve these problems.
What Are We Doing when We Are Doing Philosophy of Education?
Authors: Vokey Daniel James
Published: December 2020

In this paper I describe a research project designed to address the general question “What are we doing when we are doing philosophy of education?” I also describe how the research results are intended to inform three initiatives: (a) designing philosophy of education courses for Bachelor of Education programs; (b) designing graduate programs in philosophy of education; and (c) maintaining courses and programs in philosophy of education by communicating our relevance to people, academics and otherwise, outside our professional circles. The overall objective of the proposed research is to develop and illustrate a defensible account of the nature and role of philosophy in general and philosophy of education in particular, focusing on the potential role of philosophy of education in promoting consensus on norms and priorities for public education by collaborating in the emergence of a new world view through moral inquiry and discourse.
Light symbolism of female mythological images as a spiritual foundation of Japanese and Chinese cultures
Authors: Belova Darya Nikolaevna
Published: December 2020

This article analyzes female principle reflected in the images of goddesses of Japanese and Chinese mythology associated with the solar cult and light symbolism. An attempt is made to trace the role of female principle in the mythological phenomenon of Sky and its connection with Earth. The subject of this research is the Japanese and Chinese myths and legends, iconographic images of goddesses and their resemblance in foxes (Kitsune) in the religious painting of the XIII – early XX centuries. In the course of this work, the author applies comparative-historical and iconographic methods of research that lean on scientific materials dedicated to philosophy, culturology and art history. The relevance of the selected topic is substantiated by the fact that in globalizing world, the countries of the Far East are more capable of retaining ideological paradigms and preserving their national cultural identity due to traditionalism and spiritual consciousness. The novelty of this work consists in examination based on the iconographic material and mythological themes of solar manifestations of goddesses as demonstration of the energy of female principle and its reflection in the phenomenon of Sky – Earth connection. The conclusion is made that for assessing Japanese and Chinese art, it is essential to consider multicultural interaction of these countries founded on the the harmony of existence of human nature. The goddesses of Sun, Moon and Earth seek to communicate with the Sky, as in particular the autochthonous deity Inari through their intermediaries, the foxes. The sun and moon goddesses and Earth goddesses seek communication with the Sky, as the autochthonous deity Inari through their mediators – foxes. The female principle, resembled in femininity of divine foxes, is described as the endless struggle for immortality and opportunity to be in Heaven surrounded by the steam light and reason. The light saturation of female images contributes to their spirituality.
About the first part of the collection "100 Yakut songs" (songs for voice and piano arranged by M.N. Zhirkov and G.G. Lobachev, song fragments from operas by M.N. Zhirkov, G.I. Litinsky)
Authors: Pavlova-Borisova Tat'yana Vladimirovna
Published: December 2020

The object of the research is the processing of Yakut folk songs stored in the fund of the first Yakut composer M.N. Zhirkov (1892-1951) in the National Library of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The subject of the study is the manuscript "100 Yakut songs". Some of them were published in the collections "Sakha Yryalara" (1948) and "Yakut folk Songs" (1958). Special attention in the comparative aspect is paid to the already published samples, in particular, in the music collections of A.V. Scriabin and F.G. Kornilov. The article examines the internal content of the treatments of the songs included in the manuscript "100 Yakut songs", expert reviews, testimonies of contemporaries. The article for the first time raises the problem of co-authorship of tunes and completed treatments, some of which are folk tunes. Samples characterized by a developed melodic structure are considered as the result of the melodic creativity of amateur authors, as well as the impact of musical professionalism of the European type. As a result of the analysis of M.N. Zhirkov's handwritten heritage, it was found that many treatments of Yakut folk songs were performed by him in collaboration with Moscow composers G.I. Litinsky and G.G. Lobachev. Also, for the first time, a comparative analysis of the corpus of song treatments from M.N. Zhirkov's manuscript "100 Yakut songs", which is stored in the collections of the National Library of the RS (Ya), was carried out.
MACROSCOPICAL BEAM-PLASMA KINK INSTABILITY RESEARCH IN TOKAMAK
Authors: Xu Xue-qiao  , Huo Yu-ping  ,   中国科学院等离子体物理研究所
Published: December 2020

In this paper, the kink modes of the plasma in a tokamak with parallel NB injection have been studied. The fast ion component of the plasma has been modelled by a mono-energetic ion beam. Negleiting the dissipative process, an energy principle could be derived from the Vlasov equation in low frequency and small Lamar-radius limit. It is found that none of the entemal kink modes (m≥2) are influenced by the ion beam in the thintorus approximation. But the existance of the fast ion component has changed the kink modes (m = l). Obviausly, by proper choice of the velocity profile of ion beam m = l, n=2 modes can be stabilized absolute. The behaviour of the m/n =1/1 kink mode is very complicated. It could be stabilized or destabilized depending on the beam energy βb, axial safety factor q(0) and radial velocity profile of the beam. A numerical culculation shows that when q(0)<0.924 and the beam velocity profile is properly chosen, the m/n = 1/1 mode can also be totaly stabilized.
SOLITONS IN ONE-DIMENSIONAL NONLINEAR LATTICE
Authors: CHEN WEI-ZHONG  ,   宁波师范学院物理系,宁波315020
Published: December 2020

We report here the experimental observations for non-propagational solitons in the one-dimensional nonlinear lattice that are damped and parametrically driven. Theoretrically, Using the method of multiple-scaling expansion. We have well brought the experimental results of both soliton and kink in both models in match and mismatch into the frame of the cubic nonlinear Schr?dinger (NLS) equation. According to NLS, we predict that the form of the self-localized structure is only determineted by the intrinsic parameters of the lattice, rather than the exciting ones.
THE RELATION BETWEEN THE RADIATION FORCE ON AN ATOM IN THE STANDING WAVE FIELD AND THE ATOMIC TRANSITION RATE
Authors: CHEN XU-ZONG  , LIU LIANG  , WANG YU-ZHU  ,   中国科学院上海光学精密机械研究所量子光学(联合)开放研究实验室,上海201800
Published: December 2020

Based on equation of motion of the two-level atomic density matrix, we have studied theoretically the relation between the radiation force on an atom in the standing wave field and the atomic induced absorption rate and induced radiation rate. We find that the radiation force on an atom in the standing wave field consists of induced absorption force and induced radiation force. This piont of view is also valid in the circumstance of interaction between an atom and N plane waves.
MODEL INVESTIGATIONS OF COUPLED PARALLEL CHAINS
Authors: WANG HUAI-YU  ,   烟台大学物理系,烟台264005
Published: December 2020

Some simple solvable models, which are in connection with the molecular structure of gene code carrier deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA),are constructed. Their electronic structures are investigated and their physical properties are discussed.
FLUX PINNING EFFECT OF OXYGEN DEFICIENCIES IN YBa2Cu3Oy
Authors: HU GANG-JIN  , FANG MING-HU  , LI ZHONG-XIAN  , ZENG XING-BIN  , CHEN NAN-SONG  , JIAO ZHEN-KUAN  , ZHANG QI-RUI  , ZHANG YI-TONG  , JIN XIN  , YAO XI-XIAN  ,   (1)金日成大学物理系,平壤,朝鲜民主主义人民共和国; (2)南京大学物理系,南京210008; (3)浙江大学物理系,杭州310027
Published: December 2020

A series of single phase YBa2Cu3Oy samples with various oxygen contents and Tcmid's> 90K were prepared, and their structures, superconductivities, flux pinning behaviors have been determined and investigated. The experimental results show that the oxygen deficiencies result in enhancements of critical current density Jc and flux pinning force density Fp, moreover, there exists an optimal concentration of okygen deficiencies, corresponding to the maximal enhancemenes of Jc and Fp. Different from the cases of y= 6. 96,6. 83,Jc of y= 6.94,6.86 samples vary unmonotonicly with magnetic field H, correpondingly, the magnetization curves exhibit an abnormal peak known as "fishtail" effect. Fitted with the scaling law, it is found that when 6.83≤y≤6.94, the peak in fp(h) curves appears at the same reduced magnetic field h(≈0. 6). It indicates that the existence of oxygen deficiencies introduces new flux pinning centres in YBa2Cu3Oy.
MONTE CARLO STUDY OF THE ORDER OF PHASE TRANSITION OF A MULTISPIN INTERACTIONS ISING MODEL
Authors: ZHANG GUO-MIN  , YANG CHUAN-ZHANG  ,   苏州大学物理系,苏州215006
Published: December 2020

The order of phase transition of a two-dimensional Ising model with m-body interactions in the horizontal direction and n-body interactions in the vertical direction in the m = 3, n = 3 case is of the first-order which is determined by our Monte Carlo algorithm, while in the m= 3,n=2 case the transition is of the second order.
MEASUREMENT OF EFFECTIVE MAGNETIC ANISOTROPY IN NANOCRYSTALLINE Fe-Cu-Nb-Si-B SOFT MAGNETIC MATERIALS
Authors: HE KAI  , YUAN ZHI-JING  , XIONG XIAMG-YUAN  , CHENG LI-ZHI  ,   东北工学院材料科学与工程系,沈阳110006
Published: December 2020

M agnetic anisotropy of a nanocrystalline Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 soft magnetic alloy was investigated. Theoretical analysis and measurement results show that the effective magnetic anisotropy constant in the nanocrystalline alloys can be measured by means of the process of approaching saturation and the measured value is about one orders of magnitude smaller than the magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant K1 of the α-Fe(Si) grains.
INFLUENCE OF INTERSTITIAL CARBON ATOMS ON STRUCTURAL AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF Er2Fe17Cx COMPOUNDS
Authors: KONG LIN-SHU  , SHEN BAO-GEN  , CAO LEI  , WANG FANG-WEI  , ZHAO JIAN-GAO  , ZHANG ZONG  , GONG HUA-YANG  , CHEN YI-LONG  ,   (1)武汉大学物理系,武汉430072; (2)中国科学院物理研究所磁学国家重点实验室,北京100080
Published: December 2020

The Er2Fe17Cx compounds with high carbon contents have been prepared by melt-spinning. The structures, phase stability and intrinsic magnetic properties of Er2Fe17Cx(x=0. 0, 0. 5,1. 0,1. 5,2. 0,2. 5,2. 8 and 3.0 ) have been investigated in detail. The influence of interstitial carbon atoms on atomic moments, exchange interaction and anisotropy has been discussed. At the same time, the hyperfine fields on various Fe sites have also been analyzed by 57Fe M?ssbauer effect.
QUASI-WRONGSKY DETERMINANTES AND EXTENDED KP AND KdV HIERARCHIES
Authors: ZHAO LIU  ,   西北大学现代物理研究所,西安710069
Published: December 2020

The Sato theory of KP and KdV hierarchies is generalized to the case of matrix lax operators , leading to new hierarchies of integrable nonlinear partial differential equations, which are called extended KP and KdV hierarchies in the context. It can be seen from the construction Process, the solutions of these new hierarchies can be expressed by the so-called quasi-wrongsky determinartes, and these quasi-wrongsky determinantes are just those obtained in ou recent study of 2-extended Toda field theories.
ON SOLITARY WARE SOLUTIONS TO A GENERALIZED KdV EQNATION
Authors: MA WEN-XIU  , ZHOU DE-TANG  ,   复旦大学数学研究所,上海200433
Published: December 2020

The deformation theory, in Ref [5],of travelling wave solutions to a generalized KdV equation is modified. The necessary and sufficient condition for a relevant algebraic equation to possess nonzero real root is presented and thus an error of analyses in Ref. [5] is pointe-dont. Finally an explicit formula of the solitary wave solutions generated by deformetion theory is obtained directly from the generalized KdV equation itselp.
A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE AMORPHOUS SCATTERING OF CLUSTERS IN C60 CRYSTAL
Authors: SHI LEI  , HUANG YUN-SONG  , ZHOU GUI-EN  , ZHANG YU-HENG  ,   中国科学技术大学结构分析开放研究实验室
Published: December 2020

Based on the X-ray diffraction theory, the X-ray diffraction patterns of C60 crystals with various stacking patterns have been simulated. The origin of amorphous scattering in C60 crystals has been discussed. It is suggested that there are two kinds of movements for a C60 molecule. The amorphous scattering of the crystals displays an intrinsic strutural characteristic of C60 crystals.
CHARACTERIZATION STUDY OF TEXTURED DIAMOND FILMS GROWN ON SILICON (100) SUBSTRATE BY HOT FILAMENT CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
Authors: HAN LI  , WANG XIAO-HUI  , YU WEI  , DONG LI-FANG  , LI XIAO-WEI  , FU GUANG-SHENG  ,   河北大学物理系
Published: December 2020

In this paper, textured (100) diamond films are successfully grown on single crystalline (100) silicon substrate by bias enhanced hot filament chemical vapor deposition from a gas mixture of methane and hydrogen. The films show the well defined facet and are identified to be textured films by means of scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The effects of various parameters have been systematically investigated and the optimum conditions of films growth have been obtained.
NOETHER’S THEORY OF BIRKHOFF SYSTEMS WITH UNILATERAL CONSTRAINTS
Authors: ZHANG HONG-BIN  ,   巢湖师专物理系,巢湖238000
Published: December 2020

Noether’s theory of Birkhoff systems with unilateral constraints by introducing the quasi-symmetry of infinitesimal transformations of the transformation group Gr is presented and an example is given to illustrate the application of the result.
STRUCTURE AND POTENTIAL ENERGY FUNCTION INVESTIGATION ON UH AND UH2 MOLECULES
Authors: LUO DE-LI  , SUN YING  , LIU XIAO-YA  , JIANG GANG  , MENG DA-QIAO  , ZHU ZHENG-HE  ,   (1)四川大学原子分子物理研究所,成都610065; (2)四川大学原子分子物理研究所,成都610065;中国工程物理研究院,绵阳621900; (3)中国工程物理研究院,绵阳621900
Published: December 2020

Density functional (B3LYP) method with Relativistic Effective Core Potential (RECP) have been used to optimize the structures and to calculate the potential energy function both for the ground and excited states of UH and UH2 molecules. Results show that the ground state of UH and UH2 molecules are X4Π and X3A2, which belongs to C2v symmetry, and the disassociation energies are 2.886 eV and 5.249ev respectively, and the spectral data of UH and UH2 have also been derived both for the ground and excited state. The potential energy functions of UH and UH2 have been derived based on normal equation fitting method and the many-body expansion theory. The information is useful to mechanism analysis of the aging effect of the hydrogen storage material.
Isotope effect of carrier transport in organic semiconductors
Authors: Liu Xuan , Gao Teng , Xie Shi-Jie ,   State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, School of Physics, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
Published: December 2020

Isotopic substitution can effectively tune the device performances of organic semiconductors. According to the experimental results of isotope effects in electric, light and magnetic process in organic semiconductors, we adopt the tight-binding model with strong electron-phonon coupling to study the isotope effects on carrier transport. We try to give a quantificational explanation and show the physical origin of isotope effects on mobility in organic semiconductors in this work. Using polaron transport dynamics with diabatic approach, we simulate the carrier transport in an array of small molecule crystals under weak bias. Because of strong electron-phonon coupling in organic materials, an injected electron will induce lattice distortion, and the carriers are no longer free electrons or holes, but elementary excitations such as solitons, polarons or bipolarons. Our simulation results indicate that the existence of deuterium and 13C element will reduce the mobility of organic material, which means that the isotopic substitution can be utilized to manifest organic device performance. Besides, we also find that the isotope effect on mobility will increase with electron-phonon coupling increasing. This suggests that both the mass of lattice groups and electron-phonon coupling should be taken into account to understand the isotope effects in organic semiconductors. With the consideration of that, we derive the effective mass of polaron based on the continuum model, and verify that effective mass can successfully describe the isotope effect on mobility. The effective mass of carrier can be measured to represent the property of a material, which can tell us whether we need the isotopic substitution in organic layer to improve the device performance. Then we present the microcosmic movement of a polaron at the moment when it encounters isotopic substituted molecules. We come to the conclusion that the isotopic distribution will affect the instantaneous speed of the carrier, but has little effect on the mobility of the whole device when the substituted concentration remains constant. In conclusion, after simulating various possible isotope effects in materials, analyzing its physical mechanism and comparing calculation results in experiment, we provide a theoretical foundation for describing the isotope effects on mobility, which can be a basis of improving the performances of organic semiconductor devices.
Optimizing the amount of pig manure in the vermicomposting of spent mushroom (Lentinula) substrate
Authors: Shi Yajing , Wang Zhenyu , Wang Yurong
Published: December 2020

Background

The mushroom industry produces a large amount of spent mushroom substrate (SMS), which requires a large geographical footprint and causes pollution.

Methods

We sought to optimize the C:N ratio of the initial feedstock used in vermicomposting of SMS by adding pig manure additions. We applied five treatments to the initial feedstock (S0, S1, S2, S3, and S4) with different C:N ratio of approximately 35, 30, 25, 20, and 15, respectively.

Results

Our results showed that lignin and cellulose in SMS were degraded after 56 days vermicomposting, especially in S2 (77.05% and 45.29%, respectively) and S3 (65.05% and 48.37%, respectively) treatments. We observed the degradation of the fibrous structure in SMS using pig manure treatments after vermicomposting by microscope and scanning electron microscope. Cellulase and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were enhanced in pig manure treatments during vermicomposting, especially in the S2 and S3 treatments. The biomass of earthworms in the S2 treatments was at its highest level among all treatments at 28 to 56 days. The high level of PPO activity in the S2 treatment may protect cellulase and earthworms against the aromatic toxicity that is a byproduct of lignin degradation, particularly at 28 to 56 days of vermicomposting. Conclusively, it indicated that the C/N ratio of 25 in the S2 treatment was the optimal for SMS vermicomposting with the addition of pig manure. Our results provide a positive application for the recycling of both SMS and pig manure.
AVALIAÇÃO MICROBIOLÓGICA EM PROCESSOS DE COMPOSTAGEM DE RESÍDUOS AGROINDUSTRIAIS VISANDO A PRODUÇÃO DE COMPOSTO ORGÂNICO DE QUALIDADE
Authors: Czapela Fabiane Fernanda , Rodrigues Carina Da Silva , Golunski Simone Maria , Korf Eduardo Pavan , Treichel Helen
Published: December 2020

A preocupação com a geração de resíduos provenientes da produção de alimentos tem se intensificado. Isto porque estes resíduos possuem altas concentrações de matéria orgânica, que causam danos se não forem tratados adequadamente. Uma forma de tratar de maneira eficaz estes resíduos é por meio da compostagem. O objetivo deste trabalho foi contribuir para a melhoria dos processos de compostagem de resíduos agroindustriais gerados em pequenas propriedades rurais. Para isso, realizou-se uma avaliação microbiológica em processos de compostagem em pequena escala em amostras de três sistemas distintos localizados na região sul do Brasil, para verificar a presença de microrganismos potencialmente patogênicos como E. coli, Salmonella spp., fungos filamentosos e leveduriformes. Foi verificado que nos sistemas com controles de aeração a presença de patogênicos foi menor apenas para E.coli, porém houve permanência de Salmonella spp. e fungos nos três sistemas avaliados apontando para a necessidade de melhoria nos sistemas de compostagem utilizados pelas pequenas propriedades rurais. A presença de Salmonella nos compostos dos três sistemas evidencia o risco à saúde pública e a necessidade de padronização e melhoria do processo de compostagem hoje utilizados.
Antimicrobial Resistance Profile and Quinolone Resistance Genes in Staphylococcus aureus from Patients Attending Federal Medical Centre Keffi, Nigeria
Authors: Sunday E. A. , Ngwai Y. B. , Abimiku R. H. , Nkene I. H. , Ibrahim Y. , Envuladu E. Y. , Kigbu S. K.
Published: December 2020

Aims: This study investigated the antimicrobial resistance profile and quinolone resistance genes in Staphylococcus aureus from patients attending Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nigeria.

Methodology: A total of 240 clinical samples which comprised of high vaginal swabs, endocervical swabs, sputum, ear swabs, wound swabs, semen and eye swabs, were collected from the patients. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated and identified from these samples using standard microbiological method. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolates was performed and interpreted in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) method. Ciprofloxacin-resistant S. aureus were screened for quinolone resistance genes using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method.

Results: Out of 240 clinical samples, the prevalence of S. aureus was 21.3%. The prevalence in relation to clinical samples was higher in eye swab (45.5%) and ear swab (44.4%), but lower in sputum (14.5%). The isolates were more resistant to oxacillin (88.2%), sulphamethoxazole/ trimethoprim (82.4%) and erythromycin (76.5%), but less resistant to ciprofloxacin (19.6%) and levofloxacin (5.9%). The most common resistance phenotypes in the isolates were sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SXT) - clindamycin (DA) – ofloxacin (OX) - erythromycin (E) - rifampicin (RD) and SXT-DA-OX-E- streptomycin (S) -RD with an occurrence of (13.7%) each. The percentage occurrences of multidrug resistant and extensive-drug resistant isolates were 92.2% and 7.8% respectively. The occurrences of quinolone resistance genes in the ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates were: aac(6′)-Ib-cr (60.0%), gyrA and gyrB (50.0%), parC (40.0%), qnrB (20.0%) and qnrS (10.0%).

Conclusion: The isolates were less resistant to levofloxacin, cefoxitin, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin in the study location. Most of the ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates harbored quinolone resistance genes with aac(6′)-Ib-cr as the most common.
Study on the Influencing Factors of Farmers' Purchase Behavior of Organic Fertilizers Based on Logistic Model
Authors: Lin Luo , Ming Shi Yu
Published: December 2020

The widespread use of chemical fertilizers has played an important role in China's agricultural development, but with the increasing input of chemical fertilizers, it has caused serious impact on the ecological environment, leading to agricultural non-point source pollution, food safety and many other problems. In order to promote the sustainable development of agriculture, China has issued a series of policies to popularize organic fertilizer in agriculture, which can not only improve the quality of agricultural products, promote agricultural production and increase income, but also make resource utilization of urban and rural organic wastes and protect the environment. Farmers are the main force of agricultural production and also the main body of rural environmental protection. It is of great significance to study farmers' ecological behavior. Through a survey of 407 farmers in the surrounding areas of Chengdu, Sichuan Province in 2019, and the logitstic model constructed based on the survey data, this article analyzed the factors influencing farmers' behavior in purchasing organic fertilizer. The results show that 12 indexes such as farmers' gender, education level, and the number of family farmers are the main factors influencing farmers' purchase of organic fertilizer. At the end, the article puts forward relevant policy recommendations to guide farmers to purchase and apply organic fertilizer.
Application of Geospatial Technology in Assessment of Spatial Variability in Soil Properties: A Review
Authors: Kaur Harneet , Kaur Avneet , Singh Bikramjeet , Bhatt Rajan
Published: December 2020

Under the changing climatic scenarios, sustaining agricultural production and enhancing input use efficiency is highly crucial to ensure food security in future. As crop productivity is considerably affected by soil characteristics such as soil organic carbon (SOC), nutrient availability, pH, salinity and soil moisture etc., thus their spatial variability needs to be assessed for site-specific and more efficient management. RS, GIS and GPS can be used quite successfully for assessing spatial variability in these properties. Recently with the advent of highly sophisticated sensors, it is possible to assess various soil properties by observing spectral reflectance in different wavelength bands and computing various spectral indices from the data recorded through satellite remote sensing. Spectral reflectance in different wavelength bands viz. visible, thermal and microwave etc. along with different spectral indices computed from spectral reflectance viz. normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), modified soil adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI), ratio vegetation index (RVI), soil moisture index (SMI), normalised difference water index (NDWI) and normalized difference salinity index (NDSI) etc. are used to retrieve different soil properties from satellite data. Similarly, various spatial interpolation techniques viz. inverse distance weighting (IDW), ordinary kriging (OK), radial basis function (RBF) and empirical bayes kriging (EBK) etc. are used for spatial interpolation of various soil characteristics. A critical review concluded that geospatial techniques can be used successfully for retrieval and spatial interpolation of various soil properties, which can be highly beneficial in site specific management leading to improved input use efficiency and sustained agricultural productivity for future food security.
Genetic Characterization of Leaf Tip Necrosis and its Effect on Quantitative traits in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Dubey Naveen Kumar , Upadhyay Sameer , Ashutosh .
Published: December 2020

The study aimed to estimate the phenotypic variability for LTN as well as yield traits, genotypic variability for Lr34, Lr46 and Lr67 and to investigate the association between genotypic and phenotypic variability for LTN and yield traits. Two hundred fifty wheat genotypes were screened for the presence of Leaf Tip Necrosis (LTN), a phenotypic marker of wheat resistance to leaf rust infection following Randomized Block Design. Of which 77 genotypes showed variable expression of LTN. Twelve yield traits were analyzed that showed highly significant differences. All these 77 genotypes were validated for the presence of three genes using respective markers viz., csLV34 for Lr34; Xwmc44 for Lr46, and Xcfd71 for Lr67. Out of 77 genotypes, 19 genotypes showed the presence of a single gene (7 with Lr34, 5 with Lr46, and 7 with Lr67), 13 genotypes had all the 3 genes, 14 with a combination of 2 genes and 31 had not shown the presence of any gene. Wheat genotypes within the individual presence of three genes increased the LTN area but their combination, reduced the thousand grain weight, LTNA, and the plot yield. All three genes individually or in combination increased the leaf area. Lr67 alone and in combination with Lr46 reduced the plot yield of wheat genotypes. Interestingly, LTNA had no significant correlation with any of the traits analyzed in this study. Leaf area showed a negative correlation with days to heading, glaucousness index, and thousand grain weight (TGW). NDVI-3 (at dough stage) showed a positive correlation with plot yield and TGW but had a negative association with the leaf area. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for leaf area (99.70%, 29.52%), LTNA (99.35%), 1000- grain weight (95.37%), grains per spike (93.65%, 17%), and days to headings (88.04%).
Adoption of Cloud Computing Technology for Effective University Administration in Nigeria
Authors: Adeleke Imran A. , Muraina Ismail O. , Adegbuyi Kazeem K.
Published: December 2020

Cloud computing is a technology that represents a shift from the traditional ownership of infrastructure and other resources to a more scalable pattern in which computer resources are rented online to organizations on either as a pay-as-you-use basis or by subscription. The researcher is motivated to undertake this study due to cloud computing growing awareness which has led to the increasing adoption of the technology by organizations in Nigeria including educational sector. However, the challenges that comes with the technology slow down the rate of its adoption by many universities in Nigeria and making them unconvinced to entrust into the cloud technology. This work investigates the use of cloud computing technology for effective administration in Nigerian universities. From analysis, the research reveals the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the adoption of cloud technology and points out the concerns and challenges impeding its adoption. It further discusses the enormous benefits the universities stand to gain for adopting the cloud technology and proffers threat mitigation techniques to prevent the occurrence of the impediment towards the cloud adoption. The finding also recommends some cloud platforms as a means of IT delivery services for effective university administration.
Assessment of Some Biochemical Changes in Wistar Rats Following Administration of Three Polyherbal Preparations Repurposed for COVID-19
Authors: Amagon Kennedy Iliya , Bukar Bukata Bayero , Kolawole Jacob Adegboyega , Falang Kakjing Dadul , Ajima Ukpe , Damen James Garba , Agabi Yusuf Amuda , Kutshik Richard Joseph , Longdet Ishaya Yohanna , Gomerep Simji Samuel , Shittu Ismaila , Davou Stephen Daniel , Wannang Noel Nen’man
Published: December 2020

Background and Aims: The current pandemic known as Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is a significant public health menace. Currently, there is no specific treatment for this disease, although some medicinal agents are under investigation. Some published articles have reported Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) involvement in other organs, including the liver and kidneys, which can impair the metabolism and excretion of the medications taken to treat the disease. This study evaluated the effects of 3 herbal mixtures on some biochemical parameters of the liver and kidney of laboratory animals.

Methods: Liver enzymes such as serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, albumin and total serum protein were quantified. Urea, creatinine and bilirubin (total and direct) were also evaluated. These parameters were determined for all three polyherbal combinations (CoV Pla-1, CoV Pla-2, CoV Pla-3).

Results: The extracts did not produce any mortality up to 5000 mg/kg per oral. Results showed that the polyherbal extracts (CoV Pla-1, CoV Pla-2 CoV Pla-3) did not cause any significant changes in ALT, AST, ALP, compared to control. The mean values of urea showed an insignificant (P>0.05) decrease across all test doses in the three extracts, compared to the control. In the current   study, the mean creatinine concentration showed slight decrease across all three extracts. Total protein was observed to be lower in CoV Pla-1 and CoV Pla-2, and increased in CoV Pla-3,    though these changes were not statistically significant. Serum albumin decreased at the low   and intermediate doses for the three polyherbal extracts in an insignificant manner compared to control.

Conclusion: The results obtained in this study indicate that the extracts did not cause  significant changes in biochemical parameters evaluated and support their use in the treatment of Covid-19.