bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the financial economy of the Armed Forces Modernisation Fund
Authors: Stańczyk Konrad
Published: June 2020

The implementation of defence activities requires the allocation of specific financial resources for this purpose. The scope and quality of these activities often depends on the amount of the allocated funds. The vast majority of them come from the national budget. There are also specific organisational and legal solutions allowing for the possibility of financing defence expenditures, including financing of the Armed Forces from other sources off-budget. One of such solutions is the Armed Forces Modernisation Fund, which functions as a special purpose fund. This fund is a national special purpose fund, which has no legal personality and is one of the sources of financing of the Armed Forces Development Programme. Its main advantage is the fact that it is not subject to rigid budgetary discipline, which makes it possible to continue financing certain public services over the next few financial years. Such a solution allows for the intended accumulation of public resources which have not been used by the fund before the end of the calendar year. The aim of this study is to analyze the financial economy, i.e. the analysis of revenues and costs as well as effects of tangible property expenses incurred by the Armed Forces Modernization Fund. The analysis covers the period of the years 2016-2018.
Impact of the International Trade on the EU Clothing Industry Carbon Emissions
Authors: Valodka Ignas , Snieška Vytautas , Mihi-Ramirez Antonio
Published: June 2020

Globalization and international trade has strongly affected world’s economy in the recent decades. The importance of emissions loads distribution between countries participating in the supply chains is steadily growing. In the highly fragmented global supply chain structure, with the consumption and production separated geographically and politically, it is difficult to capture the distribution of carbon emission burden within the global production processes. Several recent scientific studies have emphasized that CO2 emissions embodied in international trade processes should be addressed. The CO2 emissions up to now are mostly evaluated on the base of domestic emission accounts. To address this research gap, our study applies multi-regional input-output (MRIO) method for the estimation of the CO2 emissions embodied in the EU clothing imports. The study evaluates carbon emissions of the EU clothing imports and provides suggestions for companies and policy makers. Our results show, that the EU has not reduced CO2 emissions t instead has outsourced them. MRIO and triangulation methods were used to evaluate the EU clothing sector embodied carbon emissions in imports from 2000 to 2016. CO2 emission reduction goal can be achieved by implementing the proposed consumption based emission accounting framework additionally to the country’s emission inventory. Our results may help businesses and policy makers to establish more efficient strategies towards the EU’s carbon emissions.
Can Readability of Loan Description Affect Loan Success Rate and Loan Cost?: A Textual Analysis of P2P Loan Description
Authors: Si Haitao , Jiang Siqi , Fang Yizhuo , Muhammad Usman
Published: June 2020

Text is an important form of information transfer. In a P2P (Peer-to-Peer) loan market with severe information asymmetry, loan descriptive information voluntarily written by a borrower may generate significant influence on investors’ decision-making. As an important language feature, readability determines whether the audience can accurately identify textual contents. To discuss the influence of readability of loan description on borrowing behaviors, the data of a Chinese P2P lending platform Renrendai during 2013–2017 were used in this study. Readability index of loan description was constructed through the textual analysis method, followed by an empirical verification of the influences of readability of loan description on loan success rate and loan cost. Results indicate that the readability of loan description in China’s P2P loan market can generate incremental information, and the readability of loan description has evident nonlinear relations with loan success rate and loan interest rate. Moreover, the readability of loan description presents a “reverse U-shaped” relation with loan success rate and a “U-shaped” relation with loan interest rate. Demographic information (gender and educational background) of borrowers will not influence investors’ feedback behaviors toward the readability of loan description. Conclusions provide empirical evidence for standardizing loan descriptive information on P2P lending platforms.
Evaluation of Wind Energy Accommodation Based on Two-Stage Robust Optimization
Authors: Tian Kunpeng , Sun Weiqing , Han Dong , Yang Ce
Published: June 2020

Large-scale renewable energy integration brings unprecedented challenges to electric power system planning and operation. The paper aims at economic dispatch and the safe operation of high penetration renewable energy power systems. According to the principle of power system dispatchability, the assessment of wind energy accommodation is formulated into a two-stage robust optimization problem with a min-max-min structure. Based on the benders algorithm, the intractable robust optimization problem is transformed into the form of sub-problem and master problem. Strong duality theory and big-M method are used to recast the sub problem into a mixed integer linear programming. The envelope of wind energy accommodation can be obtained by using commercial software to solve the master problem and sub problem alternately. For the realization of arbitrary wind power within the envelope, the amount of wind energy leakage and load shedding in power system operation are acceptable. An example of modified IEEE 39-bus test systems is used to verify the effectiveness and practicability of the evaluation method.
Combining DVR and UPS Techniques for an Uninterruptable Supply of Ultra-Sensitive Non-Linear Appliances
Authors: Dobrucky Branislav , Sedo Jozef , Konarik Roman
Published: June 2020

The paper deals with an application of combined techniques of dynamical voltage restorer (DVR) and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that make possible both the short voltage sags compensation, as well as longer power supply interruptions, under the simultaneous operation of equipment and network. This is enabled mainly by an instantaneous voltage sag detection, quick bidirectional over-switches, and an instantaneous control method of the output voltage. This needs a fast control method, which can provide a voltage recovery for phase-sensitive loads during several calculation steps, so the dead-beat regulator is used. Such a system even compensates for the influence of non-linear loads on the power supply network without a change of a phase and amplitude of the supply voltage. The simulation results in Matlab/Simulink, as well as real experiments and their comparison results, are given in the paper.
Hardware Acceleration of Sparse Support Vector Machines for Edge Computing
Authors: Vranjkovic Vuk , Struharik Rastislav
Published: June 2020

In this paper, a hardware accelerator for sparse support vector machines (SVM) is proposed. We believe that the proposed accelerator is the first accelerator of this kind. The accelerator is designed for use in field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) systems. Additionally, a novel algorithm for the pruning of SVM models is developed. The pruned SVM model has a smaller memory footprint and can be processed faster compared to dense SVM models. In the systems with memory throughput, compute or power constraints, such as edge computing, this can be a big advantage. The experiments on several standard datasets are conducted, which aim is to compare the efficiency of the proposed architecture and the developed algorithm to the existing solutions. The results of the experiments reveal that the proposed hardware architecture and SVM pruning algorithm has superior characteristics in comparison to the previous work in the field. A memory reduction from 3 % to 85 % is achieved, with a speed-up in a range from 1.17 to 7.92.
Geburtenkontrolle als Menschenrecht
Authors: Birke Roman
Published: June 2020

Die Bedeutung von Menschenrechten für Debatten über »Überbevölkerung« und globale Reproduktionspolitik seit den 1940er Jahren.

Ängste vor einer »Überbevölkerung« des Planeten gewannen in den vierziger Jahren rapide an Bedeutung und begleiten uns bis in die Gegenwart. Regierungen, NGOs, die Vereinten Nationen, die katholische Kirche, Völkerrechtler und Frauenorganisationen diskutierten in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten kontrovers darüber, ob das Bevölkerungswachstum zu Problemen führe, und wie darauf zu reagieren sei. Im Mittelpunkt dieser Debatte stand von Beginn an die Frage, ob individuelle Entscheidungen über die Familiengröße durch Staaten eingeschränkt werden dürfen, um mögliche negative Konsequenzen abzuwenden. Bedroht das Bevölkerungswachstum Menschenrechte und sind deshalb Programme, die auf Unfruchtbarmachungen zielen, legitim? Oder stellen solche zum Teil mit Zwang durchgesetzten Maßnahmen selbst eine Verletzung der Menschenrechte dar? Roman Birke analysiert diese internationalen Deutungskämpfe über die Auslegung von Menschenrechten und zeigt anhand der Fallbeispiele Indien, Irland, USA und Jugoslawien, welche Bedeutung sie für die Politik von Nationalstaaten haben.
The Prevalence of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Pregnant Women Referring to Tertiary Hospitals of Kerman, Iran
Authors: Nakhaeizadeh Mehran , Bahar Solmaz , Khalooei Ali
Published: June 2020

Background: Influenza vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent comorbidity and mortality of this infection in pregnant women. Objectives: The current study aimed at evaluating the influenza vaccination rate and its related factors among pregnant women. Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted on 520 pregnant women referring to antenatal clinics of tertiary hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences from January to April 2019 in Kerman city, Iran. The collected data through a form distributed among the subjects were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: The influenza vaccination coverage rate was 30.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 26.1 - 34.1) among the pregnant women. Age older than 30 years (AOR = 3.79; 95%CI: 1.55 - 9.24), being employed (AOR = 2.44; 95%CI: 1.01 - 5.88), having an underlying chronic disease (AOR = 4.39; 95%CI: 1.33 - 14.51), receiving recommendation to undergo influenza vaccination (AOR = 65.76; 95%CI: 11.04 - 391.48), and having good knowledge of influenza vaccine (AOR = 9.64; 95%CI: 3.87 - 24.02) increased the likelihood of receiving influenza vaccine. Conclusions: The current study highlighted that the influenza vaccination coverage rate was suboptimal. Also, findings of the current study suggested that influenza vaccination, as an important component of antenatal care services, should be considered by health policymakers. Furthermore, educating pregnant women and healthcare providers can improve compliance with influenza vaccination.
Ahmosova „Zelená“ svatyně (Staroegyptské spolium ve středověké Káhiře)
Authors: Vachala Břetislav
Published: June 2020

Mezi významné stavby středověké islámské Káhiry, kde se objevují staroegyptská spolia, patří mešita a chanqa s hrobkou Sajf ad-Dína Šajchú al-‛Umarího, nejvlivnějšího emíra za vlády sultána an-Násira Hasana (1347–1351, 1354–1361). Zvlášť významné je spolium umístěné nad vchodem do Šajchúovy chanqy. Jedná se o opracovaný monolitický kamenný blok (286 x 77 x 57 cm), který zde byl sekundárně použit jako dveřní překlad (obr. 1–3). Jeho materiálem je siltovec z lomů ve Wádí Hammámátu. Původ bloku prozrazují písemná svědectví středověkých arabských učenců, historiků a geografů, především ‛Abd al-Latífa (1162–1231), al-Qalqašandího (1355–1418) a al-Maqrízího (1364–1442). Je jím obdivovaná Zelená svatyně v Menneferu, která se při převozu do Káhiry rozlomila a její kvalitní zelený kámen byl znovu použit při stavbě mešity a chanqy emíra Šajchú. Došlo k tomu někdy těsně po roce 1350, přičemž stavba Šajchúovy chanqy byla dokončena v roce 1355. Dotyčný blok pochází z čelního horního zakončení svatyně (řecky naos), což prokazuje na něm vyznačená konkávní římsa v kombinaci se zaoblenou římsou (oblounkem) (obr. 4). Do rovné plochy pod zaoblenou římsou je v hlubokém reliéfu pečlivě vytesán po celé délce bloku (286 cm) hieroglyfický nápis (obr. 5) zaznamenaný v jednom vodorovném řádku zprava doleva (výška 10 cm), který obsahuje titulaturu Ahmose II., což umožňuje datování Zelené svatyně do doby jeho vlády (569–526 př. n. l.). V textu bylo úmyslně zahlazeno panovníkovo jméno (Chenemibre Ahmose Saneit), což má na svědomí perský král Kambýsés, který v roce 525 př. n. l. obsadil Egypt. Přibližně po 1900 letech byl blok z Ahmosovy svatyně znovu použit jako dveřní překlad nad vchodem do Šajchúovy chanqy. Vedle ryze praktického důvodu využít dostupný, již opracovaný blok z kvalitního kamene tu byl i druhý, který vycházel z tradiční lidové víry v magickou moc prastarých, jak zdobených, tak zvláště zdobených a popsaných kamenů. Taková spolia použitá jako dveřní překlady a prahy na viditelných místech při vstupech do středověkých (a raně novověkých) islámských sakrálních i profánních staveb v Káhiře měla apotropaickou a ochrannou moc. Jejich účelem bylo odvrátit od budov působení zlých sil v podobě bouří, lijáků, zemětřesení, nilské záplavy či epidemií a zamezit proniknutí myším, krysám, hadům, štírům, mouchám, komárům i ptákům. Tím také měla být samozřejmě zajištěna ochrana jejich četných návštěvníků a obyvatel.
Kategorizácia škôd spôsobených trestným činom (I. časť)
Authors: Čentéš Jozef , Beleš Andrej , Čipková Jana
Published: June 2020

Autori sa v štúdii zameriavajú na komparáciu pojmu „škoda“ v slovenskom a českom právnom poriadku, a to v zmysle porovnania zákonom ustanovených výšok škôd, ako aj ich použitia a vplyvu na výšku hroziacich trestných sadzieb. Porovnávajú tak zdanlivo väčšiu benevolenciu všeobecného ustanovenia § 125 ods. 1 zákona č. 300/2005 Z. z. Trestný zákon (v porovnaní s ustanovením § 138 ods. 1 zákona č. 40/2009 Sb. trestní zákoník), a prílišnú represiu prejavujúcu sa v osobitnej časti zákona č. 300/2005 Z. z. Trestný zákon. Súčasne prichádzajú k viacerým záverom, z ktorých formulujú námety k lepším trestnoprávnym úpravám zákona č. 300/2005 Z. z. Trestný zákon, a to aj za súčasného rešpektovania princípu ultima ratio v normotvornej činnosti.
Mandibular Sexual Dimorphism Analysis in CBCT Scans in a Syrian Sample
Authors: ABO FAKHER Majid , OWAYDA Amer , AL-ASSAF Maher , HAMADAH Omar , ABDUL-HAK Mahmoud , NOFAL Houssein
Published: June 2020

Objectives: This study
aimed to develop metrical and angular indices to predict the sex of unknown
skeletonized human remains in Syria using the mandibular bone.

Material
and Methods: The sample consisted of 99 CBCT scans of the Syrian population (43
males, 56 females) aged between 18-25 years. The collected CBCT images were
analyzed on two occasions and by two examiners to test the reliability of
measurements. Four measurements were analyzed to be used for sexual prediction
analysis as following: Coronoid-Gonion length (the distance between Gonion and
the highest lateral point on the Coronoid process (, minimum ramus breadth,
Gonial angle, and Bigonial width.

Results:
All the aforementioned measurements showed significant statistical sex-related
differences. The Bigonial width showed the highest difference with (P < 0.01
_ mean: 95.17 ± 6.45 mm for males, 86.84 ± 4.81 mm for females), followed by
the gonial angle (P<0.01_ mean: 127.11º ± 7.87º for males, 131.52º ± 6.08º
for females). Coronoid-gonion length (P < 0.01 _ mean: 58.61 ± 6.78 mm for
males, 53.97 ± 5.26 mm for females) and minimum ramus breadth (P < 0.01 _
mean: 29.63 ± 2.90 mm for males, 27.89 ± 2.73 mm for females). specificity and sensitivity for the four indices derived function
were 79 % and 80 % respectively and the diagnostic accuracy was 79.6 %.

Conclusions:
The present study suggested that the sex of mandible in Syrian population could
be assessed using metrical and angular measurements which considered as an
additional tool for sex identification.
Lack of Association between Enamel Gene Variants and Dental Caries in Adults
Authors: YILDIZ TELATAR Gül , SAYDAM Faruk
Published: June 2020

Objectives: Studies report that gene polymorphisms associated with mineralization
may change the structure of enamel and create a predisposition for developing
dental caries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the VDR and TFIP11 gene
variants in adults with caries experience and to investigate their interactions
with the environmental factors. Materials
and Methods: A total of 160 individuals at the age of 24-40 years were
included in the study and they were assigned to two groups according to
decayed-missing-filled teeth index (DMFT); namely the low caries experience
(LCE, DMFT≤4) and high caries experience (HCE, DMFT> 9.13).  DNA was isolated from buccal swab samples to
genotype the VDR (TaqI; rs731236) and
TFIP11 (rs5997096) gene variants. The
real-time PCR was used for genotyping. The frequency of tooth brushing, carbohydrate
intake, smoking, and the dental plaques were evaluated as environmental risk
factors. Results: Between the caries
groups and the distribution of the genotypes and alleles of the VDR rs731236 and TFIP11 rs5997096 gene variants were not statistically different.
There was also no significant difference when homozygous, heterozygous,
dominant, and recessive models were evaluated for the two variants. The
frequency of tooth brushing was significantly higher in the LCE group.
According to the regression analysis; the amount of plaque explained the high
caries experience at a rate of 51.4%. Conclusions:
The study findings indicated that common
variants in the VDR and TFIP11 genes were not associated with high caries
experiences in Turkish adults.
Sueños para una nueva danza española: la dramaturgia de El desertor (1930), de Felipe Ximénez de Sandoval
Authors: Coello Hernández Alejandro
Published: June 2020

En la obra literaria de Felipe Ximénez de Sandoval (1903-1978), se puede observar una dedicación especial a las artes escénicas. Más allá de su faceta de dramaturgo, se relacionó con los grandes músicos españoles y se interesó por la danza española. Por eso, escribió dos dramaturgias de ballet: El desertor (1930), sin representación, y La rosa viva (1966), coreografiado por Mariemma. Aunque este último ballet no ha sido hallado, El desertor ha sido localizado en los fondos de la bailarina Antonia Mercé la Argentina, para quien lo compuso con música de Gustavo Pittaluga. Este artículo estudia la vinculación del autor con la danza española y analiza la dramaturgia del ballet de 1930.
El deseo de representar: las acotaciones en la obra dramática de Alonso Remón
Authors: Massanet Rodríguez Rafael
Published: June 2020

En este estudio se ahondará en la capacidad de Alonso Remón para ofrecer directrices en sus comedias. Se comprobará como las acotaciones evolucionan a media que el autor se aleja de las tablas, en un deseo de dejar por escrito su voluntad dramática. El autor llega a tener en cuenta las posibles disposiciones de los espacios, así como a las compañías. Es también consciente de la presencia del público, por lo que muchas de sus indicaciones indican el cuidado con el que se debe disponer la tramoya para no estropear el efecto óptico ante los ojos de los espectadores.
Communicative-syntactic model of teaching precis writing of English scientific texts in a non-core university
Authors: Balygina Elena Anatol'evna , Yarovikova Yuliya Vladimirovna , Krukovskaya Oksana Aleksandrovna
Published: June 2020

An important condition for the formation of foreign language professional communicative competence is the development of a skill of precis writing. Annotation of scientific texts suggests a strong command to determine communicative and semantic structure of the text. However, this process is complicated by information saturation of a scientific text, which on the level of linguistic interpretation manifests in a high frequency of syntactic constructs with complex communicative and semantic structure. Using the example of one of such structures (sentences with gerundive turn as an adverbial), the author examines the peculiarities of teaching the aspects of precis writing, which are related to the analysis of semantic structure of the text and develop the following skills: the ability to determine communicative significance of thematic sequence that ensure logical-semantic integrity of the text, as well as ability to segment the English sentence considering its syntactic specificities and interaction with semantic structure of the text. The proposed model of teaching of the discursive aspects of precis writing is focused on the necessity to form the skill of integration of knowledge regarding the peculiarities of linguistic interpretation of local and global connectedness of the scientific text for determination of most important elements of its content and further creation of logically organized and connected secondary text.
Theoretical approaches towards determination of entrepreneurial potential of university students
Authors: Ostrovskaya Irina Eduardovna , Mukhina Dina Valer'evna , Dyakov Ivan Ivanovich
Published: June 2020

Currently the development of entrepreneurial potential of the youth becomes a priority of socioeconomic policy of the country, as well as a strategic vector in modern higher education. The subject of this research is the essence, content and specificity of entrepreneurial potential of university students. The goal consists in the development of theoretical approaches towards determination and clarification of the concept of entrepreneurial potential of students within the system of higher education. Research methodology is based on the systemic, competence, and subject-activity approach, as well as included the methods of theoretical analysis and summarization of the results of scientific research. The authors examine different approaches towards determination of the essence and content of the concepts “entrepreneurial potential” and “entrepreneurial potential of an individual”. A conclusion is made that under the current circumstances the concept of “entrepreneurial potential of a student”, which would reflect the peculiarities of student as a carrier of entrepreneurial potential, does not exist. Being a subject of educational activity, student is engaged in the process of formation of the own entrepreneurial potential. This defined the need to view student’s entrepreneurial potential inseparably from organizational-pedagogical conditions of the process of its formation as educational. The authors present an original definition of the concept of “entrepreneurial potential of a student” with consideration of the determined peculiarities, which can be used for the development of students’ entrepreneurial potential within the system of higher education.
Cognitive dissonance among students in the conditions of online communications of modern educational environment
Authors: Kozilova Lidiya Vasilievna
Published: June 2020

The subject of this research is the educational environment of a pedagogical university, in the conditions of which the educational process is realized through online communications and characterized by the presence of phenomena of cognitive dissonance within the system of intersubjective relations. The authors views the features and assessments of discomfort of cognitive dissonance impeding students’ inclusion into the educational process. The assessments of cognitive dissonance are analyzed depending on its causes among the students of Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree. Attention is paid to perception of cognitive dissonance by the students as a lack of freedom of choice of the individual communication strategies, which on the subjective level is accompanied by feeling of indifference to the need for fulfilling the set assignments. The main conclusion consists in the thesis that the shift of pedagogical paradigm is accompanied by the phenomena of cognitive dissonance depending on its causes among the Bachelor’s students mostly relate to the absence of interest to online communications, inertness of feedback, and failure to understand the logic of the communication process itself. Among the Master’s Degree students there were no evidence of cognitive dissonance of any critical quantitative values. In quantitative regards, all of these indicators were below average, except such factors as the lack of freedom in selection of individual communication strategies. The scientific novelty consist in identification of the key characteristics and assessments of discomfort of cognitive dissonance impeding students’ inclusion into the educational process of modern educational environment.
Golgi compartments enable controlled biomolecular assembly using promiscuous enzymes
Authors: Jaiman Anjali , Thattai Mukund
Published: June 2020

The synthesis of eukaryotic glycans – branched sugar oligomers attached to cell-surface proteins and lipids – is organized like a factory assembly line. Specific enzymes within successive compartments of the Golgi apparatus determine where new monomer building blocks are linked to the growing oligomer. These enzymes act promiscuously and stochastically, causing microheterogeneity (molecule-to-molecule variability) in the final oligomer products. However, this variability is tightly controlled: a given eukaryotic protein type is typically associated with a narrow, specific glycan oligomer profile. Here, we use ideas from the mathematical theory of self-assembly to enumerate the enzymatic causes of oligomer variability and show how to eliminate each cause. We rigorously demonstrate that cells can specifically synthesize a larger repertoire of glycan oligomers by partitioning promiscuous enzymes across multiple Golgi compartments. This places limits on biomolecular assembly: glycan microheterogeneity becomes unavoidable when the number of compartments is limited, or enzymes are excessively promiscuous.
Physiological assessment of 2 color strains of Crassiphycus corneus (J. Agardh) Gurgel, J.N. Norris et Fredericq (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta): Effects of temperature and irradiance
Authors: Jofre Jocelyn , Navarro Nelso Patricio , Plastino Estela María
Published: June 2020

Crassiphycus corneus (J.Agardh) Gurgel, J.N.Norris et Fredericq (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) is a species with high-quality and high yields of polysaccharides and is therefore an important agarophyte on the west coast of the Atlantic Ocean. On the northeastern coast of Brazil, the populations of this species are mostly composed of individuals of the wild red color strain and by some individuals of the green color strain, the latter being scarcely studied. This work characterizes and compares the physiological performance of the wild red strain and the green variant under different temperature and irradiance conditions in the laboratory. The results indicate that the green and red strains are similarly tolerant to low temperatures (18 ºC) but intolerant to high temperatures (35 ºC). Both strains exhibited the highest growth rate at 25 ºC and high irradiance (500 μmol photon·m–2·s–1). Under these conditions, photosynthetic rate and pigment content were similar in both color strains, but growth rates were higher in the red strain. Despite this difference, it is important to highlight that the green strain showed a growth rate of over 10%, which indicates that it could be used for cultures aiming to obtain products with added value.
Prevalence and Predictors of Elevated Pulmonary Artery Pressure in Nigerian Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia
Authors: Sani Usman Muhammad , Waziri Usman Muhammad , Jiya Nma M. , Ahmed Hamidu , Isezuo Khadijat Omeneke , Garba Bilkisu Ilah
Published: June 2020

Background: Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) is the most common inherited disorder in Nigeria. Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is a known complication of SCA that commences from childhood and progresses as they grow older.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and predictors of elevated pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in children with SCA.

Study Design: This is an analytical cross-sectional study.

Methods: Three hundred subjects with SCA in steady state and 300 HbAA controls, aged 6 months – 15 years, were enrolled into the study. Children with SCA were recruited by simple random sampling, from the Paediatric Sickle Cell Clinic, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. All the children had clinical evaluation, echocardiography, full blood count and reticulocyte count. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) were determined by measurement of tricuspid regurgitant velocity (TRV) and mean gradient (MG) respectively. 

Results: Seventy-two children with SCA (24.0%) had elevated PAP (defined as TRV ≥ 2.5 m /s) while only 9 (3.0%) had pulmonary hypertension (defined as MPAP ≥ 25 mmHg). Older age (O.R = 1.03, p < 0.001), high systolic blood pressure (O.R = 1.2, p = 0.01), and high reticulocyte count (O.R = 1.33, p = 0.04) were weakly associated with increased likelihood of elevated PAP. Normal pulse oxygen saturation (SPO2 ≥ 95%, O.R = 0.4, p = 0.002) and normal heart sounds on auscultation (O.R = 0.2, p = 0.04) were associated with a reduced likelihood of elevated PAP. Presence of left parasternal heave (O.R = 8.4, p = 0.001) significantly predicted elevated PAP in children with SCA.

Conclusion: PH occurs as a complication in children with SCA and certain clinical and laboratory parameters do predict this complication in children.
Performance Evaluation of LiBr-H2O Vapours Absorption System for an Office Building Cooling
Authors: Ajay Abhishek , Gill R. S. , Singh Rupinder Pal
Published: June 2020

The aim of this paper is to assess the energy performance by simulation of a single effect LiBr-H2O vapour absorption system for office room cooling under Ludhiana (31°N) climate conditions. In an absorption cooling system, compressor which is using high grade energy, replaced by a combination of generator and absorber. The low grade heat is supplied to the generator which produces the cooling effect in the evaporator section. In the present work, lithium bromide is used as absorbent and water as refrigerant. A thermodynamic simulation of the cycle is carried out to investigate the effects of office room temperature and condenser temperature on the performance of the LiBr-H2O vapour absorption system. It was concluded that coefficient of performance (COP) increases from 0.55 to 0.75 as office room temperature increases from 22 to 30°C for fixed value of condenser temperature of 46°C. The maximum COP was observed when system runs on least value of condenser temperature.
Effects of Soil Fertility Status and Its Management on Productivity of Rice in Flood Plains of Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
Authors: Gani A. T. , Ali A. , Agber P. I. , Abagyeh S. O. I.
Published: June 2020

An experiment was carried out to determine the soil fertility status and productivity of rice on flood plain soils at different locations in Wukari LGA of Taraba State in the southern guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria. The treatments consisted of five locations (Gidan-Idi, Gindin-Dorowa, Tsokundi, Rafin-Kada and Nwuko) that was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The field was cleared, ploughed and harrowed, and marked into plots of 5 m x 5 m with an alley of 1 m between replications and 0.5 m between plots. Rice seeds (faro 44 (sipi 6920233)) were sown by dibbling at 25 cm×20 cm intra row. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied (at 3 to 4 weeks after planting as urea at the rate of 120 kgN ha-1) by top dressing method.  Phosphorus fertilizer was also applied at 5 to 8 weeks after planting in split doses at the rate of 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 as single super phosphate and Potassium oxide fertilizer was applied 10 to 12 weeks after planting at 40 kg K2O ha-1 by top dressing method. Soil and plant data were collected and analyzed using standard procedures. The results were subjected to analysis of variance and means separated using F-LSD test. Significant (P≤0.05) differences in plant height and grain yield were observed during 2016 and 2017. Rafin-Kada recorded the highest grain yield of 8.36 tons/ha while Nwuko recorded lowest grain yield of 7.43 tons/ha in 2016. Gidan-Idi recorded the highest grain yield of 8.33 tons/ha while Gindin-Dorowa recorded lowest grain yield of 7.41 tons/ha in 2017.
Ibn Hazm’s Views on Islamic Ethics with Special Reference to Kitab al-Akhlaq wa-al-Siyar
Authors: Zakariya Hafiz
Published: June 2020

Ibn Hazm is one of the most profound thinkers the Muslim ummah ever produced. Despite his pre-eminence, he has been comparatively neglected in the mainstream scholarship. Ibn Hazm is a multi-talented scholar whose influence transcends knowledge boundaries. In fact, he is a renowned traditionist, historian of religion, theologian, philosopher, great theoretician of the Zahiri School and so forth. Further, he is claimed to have written four hundred volumes on various disciplines. This article provides a historical analysis of the life and times of Ibn Hazm. It discusses the biography, religio-intellectual milieus of al-Andalus during Ibn Hazm’s lifetime, the salient aspects of Ibn Hazm’s ideas and his views on ethics. Ibn Hazm’s views on ethics reject the use of analogical reasoning as a source of religious truth and denial of inspiration (Ilham) as a legitimate means of the ethical knowledge. Ibn Hazm strongly believes in the autonomy of God as the sole source of value judgment, against the rationalist approach of the Mu’tazilah. This study primarily adopts the methods of textual analysis. As ideas do not develop in isolation from the larger contexts, the textual analysis method is aided by the method of historical research.
Constraints in Coconut Value Chain – A Framework for Analysis Using Response Priority Index
Authors: Kalidas K. , Mahendran K. , Akila K.
Published: June 2020

Coconut, a versatile crop with multifaceted uses of its products, hence it is eulogized as “Kalpavriksha” (Tree of Heaven). Coconut is one of the most important commercial crops in many tropical countries and contributes significantly to its economy. India, with the rich biodiversity of coconut, is the largest producer with 33.02 percent share or 22167 million nuts of the world's production. Even though it leads in area, production and productivity, farmers were facing many problems in production and marketing of coconut. Hence a clear understanding on problems from production to marketing with the involvement of various stakeholders (farmers, harvest contractors, commission agents, exporters, processors, wholesalers, retailers) in coconut value chain to help the policy makers for better decision making. Constraints faced by the various stakeholders in coconut production and marketing were elicited and analyzed to find out the significance and priority of the constraints using responses priority index. It was evident that in coconut production, yield decrease due to pest and disease occurrence ranked first with a response priority index value of 2.69. Interventions are required from the state department of agriculture and agricultural university on the management of pests and diseases. In marketing, high fluctuation in coconut prices ranked first with RPI score of 2.39. Daily price fluctuation resulted from an unstable market was the major problem regarding coconut marketing. It is the need of hour to set up an institutional body which would foresee the price movements and availability of coconut and bridges the gap between demand and supply and develop innovative models for upgrading the technology and market information. So, the above suggestions can be generalized to other parts of the country to reap maximum production and systematic marketing of coconut which will surely benefit to coconut growers and also to India’s economy.
Prevalence of Using Aromatic and Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tract Diseases in Al-Taif City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Wuthaynani Fatimah S. Al- , Salmi Ahlam O. Al- , Shehri Amjaad K. Al- , Talhi Eman H. Al- , Farag Salwa F.
Published: June 2020

Background: In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of herbal drugs to treat Gastrointestinal Tract Diseases (GIT) diseases which widely spread in Saudi Arabia due to their efficacy and minimal side effect. Therefore, it is reasonable and timely to assess the validity of phytotherapeutics products as an adjuvant treatment for GIT problems.

Objectives: The current study aims to estimate the frequency of using aromatic and medicinal plants and identify the commonly used plants in the treatment of some GIT diseases in Al-Taif city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(KSA).

Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out among 655 citizens and residents of people who live in Al-Taif city from different age groups and educational levels. The data will be collected using the self-questionnaire paper and analyzed using SPSS software.

Results: The study included 655 participants, (48.7%) of them aged from 20-29, (54.6%) were female and (92.8%) were Saudi. Most of the participants (74.6%) used aromatic and medicinal plants. Plants were effective in treating gastrointestinal diseases (97.3%) of the participants by consulting their friends and family or through social media. Diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, nausea, abdominal bloating and irritable bowel syndrome were the most common gastrointestinal diseases among the population of Al-Taif city. Cinnamon, fennel, senna, and turmeric were the most used plants and had positive results in treatment and minor side effects.

Conclusion: This study showed that the use of aromatic and medicinal plants in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases is widespread in Al-Taif city and had a positive effect on the treatment of GIT diseases. The source of information is gained from friends, kindred and social media. Therefore, the media should have a great role in the interest and dissemination of correct and accurate information about medicinal plants.
Conspiracist beliefs, intuitive thinking, and schizotypal facets: A further evaluation
Authors: Denovan Andrew , Dagnall Neil , Drinkwater Ken , Parker Andrew , Neave Nick
Published: June 2020

This study examined whether thinking style mediated relationships between belief in conspiracy and schizotypy facets. A UK‐based sample of 421 respondents completed the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS), Oxford‐Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences Short (O‐Life), and measures indexing preferential thinking style (proneness to reality testing deficits and Need for Cognition). Path analysis revealed direct and indirect relationships between Conspiracy Beliefs and schizotypy facets. Unusual Experiences had a direct effect on Conspiracy Beliefs and predicted Reality Testing and Need for Cognition. Preferential thinking style mediated the schizotypy‐belief in conspiracy relationship. This pattern of results (higher experiential‐based processing and lower Need for Cognition) was consistent with intuitive thinking. Introverted Anhedonia and Impulsive Nonconformity predicted Reality Testing and had indirect effects on Conspiracy Beliefs. Finally, Reality Testing predicted Conspiracy Beliefs, whereas Need for Cognition did not. These results confirm that cognitive processes related to thinking style mediate the schizotypy‐conspiracist beliefs relationship.
Assessing Current‐Carrying Capacity of Aerosol Jet Printed Conductors
Authors: Alhendi Mohammed , Sivasubramony Rajesh S. , Weerawarne Darshana L. , Iannotti Joseph , Borgesen Peter , Poliks Mark D.
Published: June 2020

Printed conductors are the main building blocks of printed flexible electronic circuits. With the advancement and growing demand for printed and flexible electronics, researchers are focused on assessing the mechanical reliability of interconnects. Even more important is, often, the electrical performance or the current‐carrying capacity of the interconnects. A mechanically reliable interconnect has limited use if it cannot meet the current‐carrying requirements. However, current‐carrying capacity curves and circuit design guidelines such as those available for conventional copper conductors have not yet been established for printed interconnects, i.e., there is a technological gap in this domain. The present work focuses on assessing the maximum allowed current through an aerosol jet printed silver nanoparticle‐based conductor on a 75 μm thick polyimide substrate. The temperature coefficient of resistance for the printed ink is experimentally determined. The effect of printed ink microstructure on the temperature coefficient of resistance is also investigated. Standard curves are generated that would guide designers to determine the trace width required for an allowed temperature increase. Furthermore, the effect of sintering temperature on the current‐carrying capability is evaluated.
Ionic Liquids and Deep Eutectic Solvents for Enhanced Delivery of Antibodies in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Angsantikul Pavimol , Peng Kevin , Curreri Alexander M. , Chua Ye , Chen Kevin Z. , Ehondor Jessica , Mitragotri Samir
Published: June 2020

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are currently used for the treatment of numerous conditions including cancer, psoriasis, arthritis, and atopic dermatitis, among others. All mAbs are currently administered by either intravenous or subcutaneous injections. Herein, the use of a novel ionic liquid and deep eutectic solvent, choline and glycolate (CGLY), as a platform for gastrointestinal administration of therapeutic antibodies is reported. CGLY maintains the stability and structure of TNFα antibody. CGLY significantly enhances paracellular transport of TNFα antibody in vitro. CGLY also reduces the viscosity of the intestinal mucus, another key barrier for antibody transport. In vivo results in rats demonstrate that CGLY effectively delivers TNFα antibody into the intestinal mucosa as well as systemic circulation. One week repeat dose study followed by histology and serum biochemistry analysis indicates that CGLY is well tolerated by rats. Overall, this work illustrates the promise of using choline‐based ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents as an oral delivery platform for local as well as systemic delivery of therapeutic antibodies.
A Graphdiyne Oxide‐Based Iron Sponge with Photothermally Enhanced Tumor‐Specific Fenton Chemistry
Authors: Min Huan , Qi Yingqiu , Zhang Yinlong , Han Xuexiang , Cheng Keman , Liu Ying , Liu Huibiao , Hu Jianshe , Nie Guangjun , Li Yiye
Published: June 2020

Fenton reaction‐mediated oncotherapy is an emerging strategy which uses iron ions to catalytically convert endogenous hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl radicals, the most reactive oxygen species found in biology, for efficient cancer therapy. However, Fenton reaction efficiency in tumor tissue is typically limited due to restrictive conditions. One strategy to overcome this obstacle is to increase the temperature specifically at the tumor site. Herein, a tumor‐targeting iron sponge (TTIS) nanocomposite based on graphdiyne oxide, which has a high affinity for iron is described. TTIS can accumulate in tumor tissue by decoration with a tumor‐targeting polymer to enable tumor photoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging. With its excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (37.5%), TTIS is an efficient photothermal therapy (PTT) agent. Moreover, the heat produced in the process of PTT can accelerate the release of iron ions from TTIS and simultaneously enhance the efficiency of the Fenton reaction, thus achieving a combined PTT and Fenton reaction‐mediated cancer therapy. This work introduces a graphdiyne oxide‐based iron sponge that exerts an enhanced antitumor effect through PTT and Fenton chemistry.
Highly Efficient Persistent Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence from Heavy Atom‐Free Molecules Triggered by Hidden Long Phosphorescent Antenna
Authors: Bhattacharjee Indranil , Hirata Shuzo
Published: June 2020

Persistent (lifetime > 100 ms) room‐temperature phosphorescence (pRTP) is important for state‐of‐the‐art security and bioimaging applications. An unclear relationship between chromophores and physical parameters relating to pRTP has prevented obtaining an RTP yield of over 50% and a lifetime over 1 s. Here highly efficient pRTP is reported under ambient conditions from heavy atom‐free chromophores. A heavy atom‐free aromatic core substituted with a long‐conjugated amino group considerably accelerates the phosphorescence rate independent of the intramolecular vibration‐based nonradiative rate from the lowest excited triplet state. One of the designed heavy atom‐free dopant chromophores presents an RTP yield of 50% with a lifetime of 1 s under ambient conditions. The afterglow brightness under strong excitation is at least 104 times stronger than that of conventional long‐persistent luminescence emitters. Here it is shown that highly efficient pRTP materials allow for high‐resolution gated emission with a size of the diffraction limit using small‐scale and low‐cost photodetectors.
Gradient‐Concentration Design of Stable Core–Shell Nanostructure for Acidic Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis
Authors: Lyu Xiao , Jia Yi , Mao Xin , Li Daohao , Li Gen , Zhuang Linzhou , Wang Xin , Yang Dongjiang , Wang Qiang , Du Aijun , Yao Xiangdong
Published: June 2020

Manipulating the surface structure of electrocatalysts at the atomic level is of primary importance to simultaneously achieve the activity and stability dual‐criteria in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Here, a durable acidic ORR electrocatalyst with the “defective‐armored” structure of Pt shell and Pt–Ni core nanoparticle decorated on graphene (Pt–Ni@PtD/G) using a facile and controllable galvanic replacement reaction to generate gradient distribution of Pt–Ni composition from surface to interior, followed by a partial dealloying approach, leaching the minor nickel atoms on the surface to generate defective Pt skeleton shell, is reported. The Pt–Ni@PtD/G catalyst shows impressive performance for ORR in acidic (0.1 m HClO4) electrolyte, with a high mass activity of threefold higher than that of Pt/C catalyst owing to the tuned electronic structure of locally concave Pt surface sites through synergetic contributions of Pt–Ni core and defective Pt shell. More importantly, the electrochemically active surface areas still retain 96% after 20 000 potential cycles, attributing to the Pt atomic shell acting as the protective “armor” to prevent interior Ni atoms from further dissolution during the long‐term operation.
Self‐Assembled Graphene Hydrogel Composites for Selective Dye Removal
Authors: Al Subhi Azza , Valizadeh Kiamahalleh Mohammad , Firouzi Maryam , Yousefi Fereshteh , Kyaw Htet Htet , Al Abri Mohammed , Firouzi Amin , Valizadeh Kiamahalleh Meisam
Published: June 2020

Graphene‐based hydrogels are known as promising amphiphilic agents for water uptake and selective organic contaminant removal. However, it is a challenge to prevent graphene sheet restacking during the gelation as this factor significantly influences the adsorption behavior of organic contaminant. A porous reduced graphene oxide‐starch hydrogel (rGOSH) with enhanced pore size is produced by a simple one‐step method through starch‐directed self‐assembly of graphene sheets. This hydrogel demonstrated to be a promising candidate for the selective removal of organic dye molecules, where positive and neutral dyes are adsorbed, and the negative one is repelled. In particular, the hydrogel prepared with incorporation of starch between the graphene sheets, adsorbs positively charged dye ≈75% more than reduced graphene oxide hydrogel, due to better diffusion into larger pore size and strong electrostatic interaction with negatively charged oxygen groups. Furthermore, the Langmuir isotherm model and kinetic studies for dyes adsorption onto rGOSH reveal that the adsorption mechanisms are dominantly chemisorption within the porous hydrogel structure since the experimental data can be well fitted to the pseudo‐second‐order dynamic equation with the highest adsorption capacity (1106.950 µg g−1) and kinetic (1.957E‐05 g µg−1 min−0.5) toward the positively charged dye.