bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PENGARUH PENGELOLAAN MODAL KERJA TERHADAP TINGKAT PROFITABILITAS (ROA) PADA PERUSAHAAN MAKANAN DAN MINUMAN YANG TERDAFTAR DI BEI PERIODE TAHUN 2013-2017
Authors: Zakaria Hamzah Zeze , Ayu Anggitya Rahma Dian
Published: November 2020

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menguji pengaruh pengelolaan modal kerja terhadap tingkat profitabilitas pada perusahaan makanan dan minuman yang terdaftar di BEI periode tahun 2013-2017. Jenis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian adalah kuantitatif kausalitas. Sampel data diambil menggunakan metode purposive sampling.  Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa variabel modal kerja yang terdiri dari rasio lancar, perputaran piutang, perputaran persediaan dan perputaran modal kerja  secara simultan (bersama-sama) berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap tingkat profitabilitas (ROA). Secara parsial rasio lancar berpengaruh terhadap (ROA) dengan nilai sig sebesar 0.045 < 0,05 dan nilai t hitung 2,097 > 2,042 dan perputaran piutang berpengaruh terhadap (ROA) dengan nilai sig sebesar 0.013 < 0,05 dan nilai t hitung 2,634> 2,042. Perputaran persedian dan perputaran modal kerja tidak berpengaruh terhadap profitabilitas (ROA). Kemudian dari hasil Standardized Coefficients Beta menunjukan bahwa variabel paling dominan adalah rasio lancar dengan nilai sebesar 0,468. Dari hasil regresi dalam penelitian ini pengaruh dari keempat variabel bebas adalah sebesar 32,7% sedangkan sisanya 67,3% dipengaruhi oleh faktor lain diluar penelitian ini.
Remote Black Box
Authors: Sriram Srinath
Published: November 2020

We have often read in the news paper about the black box of an aircraft being vital for analyzing the flight’s performance (non performance so to say!) and to understand the reasons for its failure, if any. When an aircraft has crashed, more often than not, an expensive search for the black-box is conducted which at times can be extremely costly and elusive, thus depriving of our ability to understand the causes of the crash. What great value will it be, if we could find a way to store the same flight data (or even better data) in a remote storage other than the in-flight black box and away from the aircraft? At worst at least, equip the black-box to transmit its location that can be detected by a GPS device to precisely identify its location so that costly searches can be avoided. Imagine, if we can also transmit flight data and pictures from inside of an aircraft using the same mechanism. During any hi-jacking or untoward incident, the in-flight happenings can be viewed pictorially by a control room (which, on demand can hook to the remote storage) such that the actors involved could easily be identified. This will immensely help one to frame negotiating positions or mount attempts to retrieve the control of the aircraft. The possibilities of extending its application to other areas are enormous with the availability of such a technology where one can perform online data analysis and views of inside or even outside the aircraft. For example, when an aircraft is in distress, it may be easier to understand what is causing a malfunctioning and be able to even prevent a major catastrophe.
Image Enhancement by Histogram Specification Using Multiple Target Images
Authors: P Pavithra , N Ramyashree , T.V Shruthi , Majumdar Dr. Jharna
Published: November 2020

Shape and characteristics of the histogram plays a major role in finding the quality of an image. Histogram Specification is an image enhancement technique, where the histogram of the input image is transformed to a pre-specified histogram derived from a high resolution image, called target image. In this paper, the classical histogram specification technique is extended by using a target image which is obtained by fusing multiple high resolution images. A set of Quality Metrics were identified to assess the quality of the output enhanced image. The paper addresses the following issues: a) Effect of varying the number of target images on the quality of the output enhanced image b) Role of using different methods of fusion on the quality of the output enhanced image c) Category of the target image on the quality of the output enhanced image. If the input image is from a forest, whether in order to obtain an enhanced image, all target images has to be selected from the forest category d) Effect of preprocessing of target image on the quality of the output enhanced image.
Enhancement of Aerial and Medical Image using Multi resolution pyramid
Authors: N Ramyashree , P Pavithra , T.V Shruthi , Majumdar Dr. Jharna
Published: November 2020

Image enhancement has been an area of active research for decades. Most of the studies are aimed at improving the quality of image for better visualization. An approach for contrast enhancement utilizing multi-scale analysis is introduced. To show the effects of image enhancement, quantitative measures should be introduced. In this paper, we examine the effect of global and local enhancement using multi resolution pyramids. We identify a set of quality metric parameters for comparative performance analysis and use it to assess the enhanced output image for a number of image enhancement algorithms using pyramids.
Pengaruh Kompetensi dan Pengembangan Karir terhadap Kinerja Karyawan pada PT. Berkah Cemerlang di Jakarta
Authors: Sunarsi Denok , Rizka Akbar Irfan , Prasada Dodi , Kristianti Lily Setyawati , Muliani Henita Sri , Anjayani Nidya Sri , Hendra Hendra
Published: November 2020

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kompetensi dan pengembangan karir terhadap kinerja karyawan pada PT. Berkah Cemerlang di Jakarta. Metode yang digunakan adalah explanatory research dengan teknik analisis menggunakan analisis statistik dengan pengujian regresi, korelasi, determinasi dan uji hipotesis. Hasil penelitian ini kompetensi berpengaruh signifikan terhadap kinerja karyawan sebesar 53,7%, uji hipotesis diperoleh t hitung > t tabel atau (7,616 > 2,009). Pengembangan karir berpengaruh signifikan terhadap kinerja karyawan sebesar 45,1%, uji  hipotesis diperoleh t hitung > t tabel atau (6,408 > 2,009). Kompetensi dan pengembangan karir secara simultan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap kinerja karyawan dengan persamaan regresi Y = 7,939 + 0,417X1 + 0,390X2 dan kontribusi pengaruh sebesar 63,4%, uji hipotesis diperoleh F hitung > F tabel atau (42,449 > 2,790).
Penanaman Nilai-nilai Toleransi Beragama pada Pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam (PAI)
Authors: Zulyadain Zulyadain
Published: November 2020

Being tolerant is allowing others to be themselves, respecting others, respecting their origin and background. Tolerance invites dialogue to communicate the existence of mutual recognition. This is the picture of tolerance in its solid form. This article aims to find out the cultivation of religious tolerance values in the learning of Islamic Education (PAI). The results of the study indicate that the following measures are: first, schools should establish and implement local laws, for example school laws that are specifically applied in a particular school. Second, to build a sense of understanding from an early age between students who have different religious beliefs, the school must play an active role in promoting religious dialogue or interfaith dialogue which must remain in the guidance of teachers in the school. Third, another importantthing in the application of the education of tolerance, the curriculum and textbooks used and applied in schools. Furthermore, the teaching model that can be an option for the cultivation of religious tolerance values in schools includes communicative teaching models and active teaching models.
Meningkatkan Motivasi Belajar Melalui Penerapan Model Belajar Jigsaw
Authors: Zarkasi Takiudin
Published: November 2020

This paper discusses the increasing students’ learning motivation using a new learning model known as jigsaw learning on the subject of the Quran Hadith. The results of this study shows that the jigsaw method can foster students' learning motivation by itself, because in this study it provides an opportunity for all students to be actively involved in the thinking process and learning activities. By providing many opportunities for students to actively learn the group in memorizing short letters to make the students' ability to read and memorize to be good because there is a process of brainstorming and complementary reading and memorizing students.
Rasionalitas Amil Zakat Komunitas
Authors: Subair Subair
Published: November 2020

The knowledge construction of community tithe is result from knowledge and power rezim overcome through objectivity, internalization and externalisation which go on as dialectic and simultaneous. The prosess involves synthesis of religion and local knowledge, and it is cuonstructed through tithe (zakat) knowledge to be basis of culture which based on the religion. Rationality Friction (rationality shift) is taken place (happened) in tradition be tithe and carried uot, organized. Later, Is found or met with rationality modification follow the tithe fenomenon which is built by tithe discourse. Rationality which is built from the grass knowledge system fuses, and even it always is defeated by building of knowledge rationality of community tithe
Comparative Antioxidant Activity and Volatile Oil Composition of Leaves and Fruits of Thuja orientalis Growing in Egypt
Authors: MOAWAD Abeer , AMIN Elham
Published: November 2020

Thuja orientalis L. (Cupressaceae) is an evergreen arbor that is distributed throughout Northeast Asia as a common ornamental plant. The volatile oil of leaves and fruits of T. orientalis growing in Egypt was prepared by hydro-distillation followed by GC-MS analysis in order to compare between their compositions. Results revealed that fruits are richer in monoterpenes (62.5 %) while leaves are richer in sesquiterpenes (57 %). The major components in leaf oil are; α-cedrol (15.8 %), β-caryophyllene (15 %), α-humulene (10.7 %), d-limonene (7.3 %), α-pinene (6.9 %), β-myrecene (5.9 %) and α-terpinolene (5.2 %). On the other hand, fruit oil contains α-pinene (11.3 %), α-cedrol (11.2 %), β-myrecene (9.6 %), geranyl acetate (9 %) and β-caryophyllene (8.9 %) in major amounts. Comparison between the oil content in the Egyptian conifer and other reported conifers worldwide is also discussed. Comparative determination of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and anti-oxidant activity of alcoholic extract of both leaves and fruits showed that fruits content of flavonoids (0.6267±0.026 mg RE /g) is double the content of the leaves (0.3069±0.019 mg RE /g). Similarly, fruits contain higher phenolic content (0.75±0.007 mg GE/g) compared to 0.51±0.007 mg GE/g in leaves. Also, fruits extract exhibited higher anti-oxidant activity (2.3516±0.0 mg AEAC/g) than leaves (1.2734±0.0022 mg AEAC/g). The extracts of T. orientalis could be a valuable material for pharmaceutical industry.
A Causal Model of Lifestyle Modification Behaviors in Thai Adults with Hypertension
Authors: TONGNUANG Patcharawadee , JITTANOON Piyanuch , BOONYASOPUN Umaporn , BALTHIP Karnsunaphat , LAUVER Diane Ruth
Published: November 2020

Lifestyle modification behaviors are a key strategy for controlling hypertension. Understanding the causal model of lifestyle modification behaviors would shape the behaviors which are necessary for controlling blood pressure levels among Thai adults with hypertension. The purpose of this study was to examine the proposed relationships between psychosocial variables, such as desire, attitude, perceived behavioral control (PBC), intention, trying, social support, illness identity, self-efficacy, and lifestyle modification behaviors (LMB). This study was a path analytic study using a self-administered questionnaire which was responded to by 240 selected Thai adults with hypertension at the out-patient clinic in 5 hospitals throughout Thailand. A set of questionnaires was used for collecting data and the internal consistency was between 0.75 - 0.95. Data were analyzed by path analysis. The results found that PBC and social support had positive and direct influences on LMB (β = 0.31, p < 0.001; β = 0.36, p < 0.001, respectively). Desire and PBC had positive and direct influences on intention (β = 0.55, p < 0.001; β = 0.19, p < 0.01, respectively). Self-efficacy, intention, and PBC had positive and direct influences on trying (β = 0.46, p < 0.001; β = 0.19, p < 0.01; β = 0.15, p < 0.05, respectively). The revised model accounted for 47, 30, and 39 % of the variance in intention, trying, and lifestyle modification behaviors, respectively. Knowledge about the factors influencing lifestyle modification behaviors in Thai adults with HTN will assist a nurse in developing interventions/programs to promote lifestyle modification behaviors in this population.
Remaining Useful Life Prediction Using Enhanced Convolutional Neural Network on Multivariate Time Series Sensor Data
Authors: SANAYHA Manassakan , VATEEKUL Peerapon
Published: November 2020

All machines in power plants need high reliability and to be continuous run at all times in the production process. The Remaining Useful Life (RUL) prediction of machines is an estimation for planning maintenance activities in advance to save the cost of corrective and preventive maintenance. Most existing models analyze sensor data separately. This univariate analysis never considers the relationship between sensors and time simultaneously. In this paper, we applied a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), which considered both dimensions of and sensors; a multivariate time series analysis. Furthermore, we applied many techniques to enhance the framework of deep learning, including dropout, L2 Regularization, and the Adaptive Gradient Descent (AdaGrad). For the experiment, we conducted our method and showed the performance in term of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) on a standard benchmark and for real-case datasets.
Enhancement of the Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Activities of Cultured Sauropus androgynus L. Merr. Shoots Treated with UV-C Irradiation
Authors: PETCHANG Ratchanee
Published: November 2020

The stimulation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities of Sauropus androgynus L. Merr. shoot cultures treated with UV-C irradiation was investigated. The shoots were first cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 1 mg/L 6-benzyladenine (BA) for 6 weeks. Multiple shoot formations were then treated with UV-C irradiation for 0 min (control group), 5, 10 min (experimental groups), and cultivated field. After 3 weeks of culture the shoots were extracted with methanol and analyzed for enzymatic antioxidant activities (with superoxide dismutase; SOD and glutathione peroxidase; GPX) and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities (with DPPH, ABTS and FRP assays) and total phenolic and flavonoid compound contents. The result indicate that the shoot treated with UV-C irradiation for 5 min exhibited the highest enzymatic antioxidant activities (SOD and GPX values of 2.26, 2.37 unit/mg soluble proteins, respectively). Non-enzymatic antioxidant activities determined by using DPPH, ABTS and FRP assays were found to be IC50 values of 10.13 mg/mL, 166.48 mg TEAC/100 g fresh weight (FW), and 22.72 mM FeSO4 /100 g FW, respectively. Total phenolic and flavonoid compound contents had values at 15.54 mg GAE/100 g FW and 63.64 mg QE/100 g FW, respectively. Antioxidant activities revealed a positive moderate high correlation (r2 = 0.729 - 0.980).
Spatial Temperature Profile in a Magnetised Capacitively Coupled Discharge
Authors: BINWAL Shikha , JOSHI Jay K , KARKARI Shantanu Kumar , KAW Predhiman Krishan , NAIR Lekha , LEGGATE Huw , SOMERS Aoife , TURNER Miles M
Published: November 2020

A floating emissive probe has been used to obtain the spatial electron temperature (Te) profile in a 13.56 MHz parallel plate capacitive coupled plasma. The effect of an external transverse magnetic field and pressure on the electron temperature profile has been discussed. In the un-magnetised case, the bulk region of the plasma has a uniform Te. Upon application of the magnetic field, the Te profile becomes non-uniform and skewed.  With increase in pressure, there is an overall reduction in electron temperature. The regions adjacent to the electrodes witnessed a higher temperature than the bulk for both cases. The emissive probe results have also been compared with particle-in-cell simulation results for the un-magnetised case.
Processing and Characterization of Antibacterial Hydrogel Sheet Dressings Composed of Poly(vinyl alcohol) and Silk Fibroin for Wound Healing Application
Authors: UTTAYARAT Pimpon , CHIANGNOON Rattanakorn , EAMSIRI Jarurattana , SENAWONGSE Wongwit
Published: November 2020

Hydrogels are soft materials that contain high water content within their 3-dimensional structure. Such extremely hydrated environment allows hydrogels to recapitulate the structure of many native tissues inside the body. In biomedical application, hydrogels have been extensively used as biocompatible materials, drug delivery systems, and tissue-engineered scaffolds that can be designed to possess either permanent or slow-degradation properties. In this research, we applied gamma irradiation to develop transparent and conformal hydrogel sheets with sufficient mechanical strength from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and further modified the based PVA matrix with naturally-derived silk fibroin (SF) protein and silver nitrate (AgNO3) for wound healing purpose. The physical and mechanical properties of based PVA hydrogels formed at varied irradiation doses from 10 - 80 kGy were first characterized. The dose of 60 kGy was found to be optimal to process flexible and elastic PVA sheets with equilibrium degree of swelling of 1000 %, gel fraction of 90 %, and tensile strength of 19 kPa. To further enhance water absorption capacity, 10 - 40 % (w/w) silk fibroin was added to the based PVA matrix. Based on water absorption and gel fraction data, hydrogel sheets with 8PVA:2SF formulation was selected for antibacterial test. Disc diffusion assay showed that the incorporation of 0.4 mM AgNO3 in 8PVA:2SF hydrogel sheets could inhibit the growth of Staphyllococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These results demonstrated that a prototypic, antibacterial hydrogel sheet dressing composed of both synthetic and natural polymers could be developed within a single-step by gamma irradiation technique.
Another look at Syntactic Analysis of Hausa Verbs from Wallace Chafe’s Semantic Structure Form Perspective
Authors: Bedu Ahmed Mohammed
Published: November 2020

For several decades, linguists have arrived at the conclusion that semantic structure is the area in which the well-formedness of sentence is determined in all natural languages. Over these years, the issue of semantic structure in syntactic analysis of Hausa verbs takes a back-seat in the Hausa language research despite the centrality of verb as category that determines the organization of the rest categories of the sentence. The present paper employs Wallace Chafe’s semantic structure theory to analyze Hausa sentences that were generated from the Parsonian seven grades of Hausa verbs to justify their structural consideration within semantic structure theory which specifies verb semantically in term of their semantic units that include states, processes and actions. The findings of paper indicate that the semantic formation rules govern the configuration of the basic semantic element in well-formed ‘semantic structure’ underlying the sentence of the language in which verbs dictate the selection of accompanying nouns and of the relations which such nouns bear to verbs.
Perceptions of Type 2 Diabetes Patients Towards Diabetes Management Visits at Public Primary Health Care Centers with Diverse Opinions Towards Nurse-led Clinics in Muscat, Oman: A Pilot Qualitative Study
Authors: Al-Alawi Kamila , Al-Mandhari Ahmed
Published: November 2020

Objectives: The literature has described several positive outcomes related to diabetes management via nurse-led clinics. This is especially true where a shortage of physicians is recorded within a team-based approach. We sought to explore the perceptions of patients with type 2 diabetes towards the current diabetes management visits at public primary health care centers in Muscat, Oman and their opinions towards nurse-led diabetes management clinics. Methods: This pilot qualitative study included seven semi-structured interviews with type 2 diabetes patients from four purposely selected public primary health care centers in Muscat. Qualitative thematic analysis was applied. Results: Patients with type 2 diabetes expressed their satisfaction with the present diabetes management visits at public primary health care. Their opinions towards nurse-led clinic were diverse and divided patients into three categories: those who totally refused the nurse-led clinics, those who accepted the clinics but with reservations, and patients that totally accepted the nurse-led clinics. The patients’ main concern was the nurses’ abilities to handle and understand the disease and its management. Conclusions: Our pilot study revealed type 2 diabetes patients’ satisfaction with the current diabetes management clinics. However, transformation to nurse-led clinics within team-based approach requires further studies with a bigger sample size. Further studies on requirements related to the Omani health care system and a better understanding of patients’ worries and their readiness to accept the concept of nurse-led clinics and their outcomes are also recommended.
Comparing interannual variability in three regional single-model initial-condition large ensembles (SMILEs) over Europe
Authors: von Trentini Fabian , Aalbers Emma E. , Fischer Erich M. , Ludwig Ralf
Published: November 2020

Abstract. For sectors like agriculture, hydrology and ecology, increasing interannual
variability (IAV) can have larger impacts than changes in the mean state,
whereas decreasing IAV in winter implies that the coldest seasons warm more
than the mean. IAV is difficult to reliably quantify in single realizations
of climate (observations and single-model realizations) as they are too
short, and represent a combination of external forcing and IAV. Single-model initial-condition large ensembles (SMILEs) are powerful tools to overcome
this problem, as they provide many realizations of past and future climate
and thus a larger sample size to robustly evaluate and quantify changes in
IAV. We use three SMILE-based regional climate models (CanESM-CRCM,
ECEARTH-RACMO and CESM-CCLM) to investigate downscaled changes in IAV of
summer and winter temperature and precipitation, the number of heat waves, and
the maximum length of dry periods over Europe. An evaluation against the
observational data set E-OBS reveals that all models reproduce observational
IAV reasonably well, although both under- and overestimation of
observational IAV occur in all models in a few cases. We further demonstrate
that SMILEs are essential to robustly quantify changes in IAV since some
individual realizations show significant IAV changes, whereas others do not.
Thus, a large sample size, i.e., information from all members of SMILEs,
is needed to robustly quantify the significance of IAV changes. Projected
IAV changes in temperature over Europe are in line with existing literature:
increasing variability in summer and stable to decreasing variability in
winter. Here, we further show that summer and winter precipitation, as well
as the two summer extreme indicators mostly also show these seasonal
changes.
An update of IPCC climate reference regions for subcontinental analysis of climate model data: definition and aggregated datasets
Authors: Iturbide Maialen , Gutiérrez José M. , Alves Lincoln M. , Bedia Joaquín , Cerezo-Mota Ruth , Cimadevilla Ezequiel , Cofiño Antonio S. , Di Luca Alejandro , Faria Sergio Henrique , Gorodetskaya Irina V. , Hauser Mathias , Herrera Sixto , Hennessy Kevin , Hewitt Helene T. , Jones Richard G. , Krakovska Svitlana , Manzanas Rodrigo , Martínez-Castro Daniel , Narisma Gemma T. , Nurhati Intan S. , Pinto Izidine , Seneviratne Sonia I. , van den Hurk Bart , Vera Carolina S.
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Several sets of reference regions have been used in the literature
for the regional synthesis of observed and modelled climate and climate
change information. A popular example is the series of reference regions
used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report
on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate
Adaptation (SREX). The SREX regions were slightly modified for the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC and used for reporting subcontinental
observed and projected changes over a reduced number (33) of
climatologically consistent regions encompassing a representative number of
grid boxes. These regions are intended to allow analysis of atmospheric data
over broad land or ocean regions and have been used as the basis for several
popular spatially aggregated datasets, such as the Seasonal Mean Temperature
and Precipitation in IPCC Regions for CMIP5 dataset. We present an updated version of the reference regions for the analysis of
new observed and simulated datasets (including CMIP6) which offer an
opportunity for refinement due to the higher atmospheric model resolution.
As a result, the number of land and ocean regions is increased to 46 and 15,
respectively, better representing consistent regional climate features. The
paper describes the rationale for the definition of the new regions and
analyses their homogeneity. The regions are defined as polygons and are
provided as coordinates and a shapefile together with companion R and Python
notebooks to illustrate their use in practical problems (e.g. calculating
regional averages). We also describe the generation of a new dataset with
monthly temperature and precipitation, spatially aggregated in the new
regions, currently for CMIP5 and CMIP6, to be extended to other datasets in
the future (including observations). The use of these reference regions,
dataset and code is illustrated through a worked example using scatter plots
to offer guidance on the likely range of future climate change at the scale
of the reference regions. The regions, datasets and code (R and Python
notebooks) are freely available at the ATLAS GitHub repository:
https://github.com/SantanderMetGroup/ATLAS (last access: 24 August 2020),
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3998463 (Iturbide et al., 2020).
TECHNOLOGY AND RESILIENCE IN THE RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS. A CASE STUDY
Authors: Rotilio M.
Published: November 2020

Abstract. In every field concerning post-disaster reconstruction, not only in engineering, technology plays a leading role and, just as resilience, it has become the goal that every action should achieve. In light of what has been claimed, this paper intends to critically illustrate one of the most interesting elements of technological innovation underway in the city of L'Aquila hit by the 2009 earthquake. The reference is the so-called "smart tunnel", a system of functional and management rationalization of the underground services of the city. The work was divided into two portions called "Excerpts" where the first one is currently 93% completed and highlighted the presence of intrinsic criticalities in the work and in the context. In order to avoid irrational and random conditions that could inevitably lead to a safety lack, related to the excerpts II a methodology is being developed, based on District Information Modeling. It is configured as a control and management tool for the whole system which will allow the interference management inspired by principles of rationality and safety. The smart tunnel system is part of a series of other public and private initiatives, aimed at a widespread experimentation of advanced technologies that deals with the renewal of infrastructures, services and mobility, telecommunications. These innovations mainly concern the L’Aquila historical centre but also the outskirts and follow the principles of the smart city and related to the resilience development.
Evaluation of Blood Lead Levels and Their Effects on Hematological Parameters and Renal Function in Iranian Lead Mine Workers
Authors: Rahimpoor Razzagh , Rostami Maryam , Assari Mohammad Javad , Mirzaei Ahmad , Zare Mohammad Reza
Published: November 2020

Background: Lead toxicity has become a growing health concern in countries such as Iran. However, little information is available on the assessment and evaluation of the health effects of lead exposure in mine workers. Objectives: The present study assessed the occupational exposure to lead and examine the association of blood lead (PbB) levels with hematological and kidney function parameters in mine workers. Methods: In this matched case-control study, the level of PbB was measured in 100 workers (70 exposed and 30 non-exposed), and then its relationship was evaluated with complete blood count (CBC) parameters, zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP), urea, blood creatinine levels, urinary δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), coproporphyrin, and creatinine levels. Results: The results showed a linear and significant relationship between the PbB level and B-ZPP, U-ALA, U-coproporphyrin, and U-creatinine levels in states of PbB levels > 20 μg/dL in a time and dose-dependent manner. A significant relationship was observed between the PbB level and the years of occupational exposure to lead and the B-urea level (P-value < 0.03). Conclusions: Chronic occupational exposure to lead decreased hematocrit, RDW-CV, MCV, MCH, and HGB values but did not significantly change RBC counts. Therefore, a regular assessment of routine blood parameters (such as CBC and ZPP) and renal function indices can be effectively used to monitor the toxic effects of lead exposure.
Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 Existence in Blood, Urine, and Rectal Swab in Positive Patients with Different Virus Titers
Authors: Mondanizadeh Mahdieh , Hrahimi Ensiye , Sarmadian Hossein , Jamalian Mohammad , Khansarinejad Behzad
Published: November 2020

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Understanding the spreading routes of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for patient management and defining biosafety strategies for public and health care workers. Objectives: In the current study, the virus shedding in the upper respiratory as well as blood, stool, and urine specimens of infected patients, was examined using quantitative real-time PCR assay (qRT-PCR). Methods: The samples of 50 positive patients with high, moderate, and low virus titers in their respiratory specimens were collected. All specimens were subjected to RNA extraction and RT-qPCR assay using two different internally-controlled test systems. Results: The results indicated that no positive results were observed in the urine samples of all patients. The viral genome was diagnosed in 5% of blood and 3.3% of rectal swab samples. The Cq (Cycle of quantification)-values of positive results on the stool and blood samples were always higher than the Cq-value of the respiratory specimen of the same patient. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 is mainly detected in the respiratory samples, and the virus is not detectable in the urine. The importance of viremia and the existence of the virus in feces in virus spread in the human population needs further investigation.
Medical Students' Perception of the Educational Environment in a Gender-Segregated Undergraduate Program
Authors: Atwa Hani , Alkhadragy Rania , Abdelaziz Adel
Published: November 2020

Background: The environment where education takes place is essential for students’ engagement and motivation. This study aimed at assessing students’ perception of their educational environment at a private medical college and the influence of gender, among other factors, on it. Objectives: The study assessed the students’ perception of their learning environment, determined the gender effect on environment perception, and examined the correlation between different study variables. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study on 340 undergraduate medical students at a private college with gender-segregated programs. The Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) was used to determine the students' perception of their learning environment. This was correlated with a set of variables, including gender and educational achievement as indicated by students' GPA. Results: The overall DREEM score was ‘more positive than negative’ (114.39/200). The scores of subscales were towards the positive side. This was evident in the perception of learning (26.64/48), perception of teaching (26.36/44), perception of the atmosphere (26.51/48), academic self-perception (19.54/32), and social self-perception (15.33/28). Conclusions: There were statistically significant differences between the perceptions of males and females in both the overall DREEM scale (females: 117.59/200 and males: 111.18/200) and three of the subscales. Female students perceived their learning environment more positively. Moreover, satisfaction with the learning environment was correlated with scholastic achievement. In addition, the more positively perceived learning environment could explain higher scholastic achievement in female students than in male students.
Drinking among friends: The role of personality in links between online exposure to peer drinking and adolescent alcohol use
Authors: Scott Riley A. , Barber Bonnie L
Published: November 2020

The roles of conscientiousness and excitement seeking were investigated in the relationship between exposure to peer alcohol use online and adolescent alcohol consumption. It was hypothesized that higher levels of perceived peer alcohol use online would be associated with reports of higher adolescent alcohol consumption. Additionally, it was proposed that the relationship between perceived levels of peer alcohol use online and individual alcohol consumption would be stronger for adolescents lower in conscientiousness, and higher in excitement seeking, than it was in more conscientious, and less excitement-seeking students. Control variables included gender, pubertal timing, frequency of social networking site use, social networking site investment, and in-person peer alcohol norms. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey from a sample of 1,018 students (M = 16.45 years old, SD = 0.32 years). Higher levels of in-person peer drinking norms and social networking site alcohol exposure were associated with higher adolescent drinking. Furthermore, excitement seeking significantly moderated the relationship between social networking site alcohol exposure and alcohol use. Participants reporting higher excitement seeking appeared more susceptible to online alcohol exposure than those reporting lower excitement seeking. The current study contributes to understandings of adolescent drinking by demonstrating personality differences in adolescent susceptibility to online alcohol consumption norms.
Hiérarchisation de la valeur de préservationdes oiseaux nicheurs à enjeux : application d’un indice intégrateur pour le département d’Ille-et-Vilaine
Authors: YSNEL Frédéric , MOREL Loïs , DEVOGEL Pierre , ALTHERR Thomas , DUGRAVOT Sébastien , MOREL Régis , LEBAS Jean-François
Published: November 2020

Une méthode standardisée et flexible permettant de hiérarchiser et de synthétiser la valeur de préservation des espèces est développée et appliquée pour les oiseaux nicheurs (131 espèces) à l’échelle du département d’Ille-et-Vilaine (35). La méthodologie se base sur trois critères couramment utilisés pour l’évaluation de la valeur de préservation : la vulnérabilité des espèces, la rareté et l’originalité biologique (distinctivité phylogénétique et fonctionnelle). Ces critères sont décrits par neuf indicateurs complémentaires (renseignés en variables continues ou discrètes). Le principe calculatoire de l’indice est basé sur la méthode de score qui réparti les valeurs des indicateurs de chaque critère en cinq catégories croissantes de scores. La moyenne pondérée des valeurs de chaque indicateur permet d’attribuer un score global pour chaque espèce, évaluant la valeur de préservation de manière continue. Des spécificités départementales sont mises en évidence par rapport aux espèces à enjeux évaluées au niveau régional. L’Indice de Valeur de Préservation (IVP) constitue un indice d’intégration multicritère borné et flexible, qui peut être applicable pour d’autres taxons quelle que soit la méthode d’évaluation développée pour les indicateurs et quels que soient les indicateurs choisis. Il peut être utilisé en routine pour des mises à jour rapides et pour standardiser des comparaisons sur différents territoires administratifs à plusieurs échelles dont des niveaux infranationaux et infrarégionaux.
Adoption of the sign language with deaf and hard of hearing preschool children
Authors: Kovačević Tamara , Isaković Ljubica
Published: November 2020

This study analyses the process of adopting of the sign language with deaf and hard of hearing preschool children in the context of the result of linguistic and psycholinguistic research. The importance of the sign language is emphasized and its historical development is analyzed. It is pointed to the significance of the critical period for the adoption and the learning of the sign and spoken language with deaf and hard of hearing preschool children. The sign language is natural and primary linguistic expression of deaf children. Deaf and hard of hearing children are exposed to the sign and spoken language, they have better understanding and linguistic production than the children who are only exposed to the spoken language. Bilingualism involves the knowledge and the regular use of the sign language, which is used by the deaf community, and of the spoken language, which is used by the hearing majority. Children at the preschool age should be enabled to continue to adopt the language they started to adopt within the family (the sign language or the spoken language). Children will adopt the best both linguistic modalities through the interaction with other fluent speakers (the adults and children).
Basic principles in the enforcement procedure in the Law of Republic of Srpska
Authors: Božić Darko
Published: November 2020

This paper presents an analysis of the basic principles on the law on enforcement procedure in the Republic of Srpska. In this context, the paper contains the following principles: principle constitutionality and legality, principle of disposition and official proceeding, principle of urgency and efficiency, right to be heard, principle of protection of the debtor, principle of formal legality, principle of time priority, principle of availability of data of the property of the debtor, principle of written form, principle of orality, principle of immediacy, principle of publicity. The aim of the paper is to show through the basic principles that there are significant differences in the range of solutions in relation to the previous legislation.
The Rate of Progress of Pupils in Arithmetic in the Elementary School
Authors: Grover C. C.
Published: November 2020

The doctrine of individual differences is now generally accepted by educators and its implications are considered in the development of instructional programs in most schools. This doctrine assumes that there is wide variation in abilities, needs, and interests among pupils; that these differences become greater as pupils progress through the grades; and that such differences in ability and interests necessarily result in wide variations in achievement in the various school subjects.
What Is Going on in Your School?
Authors: Mayor John R.
Published: November 2020

Section A of a study on trends in teaching mathematics was published in the November, 1950 number of The Mathematics Teacher. A summary of replies to the questions in Section A, which was concerned with mathematics enrollments, will be reported in the April issue. This question-answer department is on an experimental basis. It is hoped that this plan will yield information on trends in teaching mathematics useful in study and research in teaching problems. Such a procedure was used with considerable success by the Commission on Post-War Plans. The title given to this section was first used by Raleigh Schorling in reporting on a similar kind of study made by the Commission in the April, 1948 number of The Mathematics Teacher. The success of this project depends on the cooperation of the readers of The Mathematics Teacher.
What Is Going On In Your School?
Authors: Mayor John R. , Weisel Paul M.
Published: November 2020

A Table summary of the 15 replies to the questions on Mathematics Enrollments, published in this section in the November, 1950, number of The Mathematics Teacher is given below. Since the small number of replies does not provide sufficient informa tion on whi ch to base general conclusions on what is going on in our schools, this first set of questions is repeated with the hope that additional replies can be had.
Aids to Teaching
Authors: Syer Henry W. , Johnson Donovan A.
Published: November 2020

Readers of this department are invited to send information about new or recent “Aids to Teaching” either to Dr. Syer or to Dr. Johnson. Information about items which have not been reviewed to date is especially welcome but suggestions on other available items are needed also. If possible, include name and address of distributor or publisher, cost, grade level at which material might be used, and any comments as to the effectiveness of this material when used in the classroom.
The President's Page: Meet Our Executive Secretary
Authors: Charlesworth H. W.
Published: November 2020

Last May the Board of Directors of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics appointed Mr. M. H. Ahrendt as our new Executive Secretary. Mr. Ahrendt assumed his duties at our headquarters office at 1201 Sixteenth Street, N. W., Washington G, D. C., on July 1, 1951. Prior to this date, this position had been filled temporarily by your President, during our first year as a Department of the National Education Association.
Notes On the History of Mathematics: The Problem of Pursuit
Authors: Sanford Vera
Published: November 2020

Among The problems of frequent occurrence in textbooks in arithmetic and algebra are those which deal with the length of time needed for one traveler to overtake another when the velocity of each is known and when the difference in the starting time of each is given. It is possible that these had the it origin in the use of pace-scales in the ancient world but this is a matter of conjecture. it is common observation, however, that if a person walks at a uniform rate for a given time, the distance can readily be computed. For the purpose of making a problem, uniform rates were assigned in somewhat unlikely situations and time intervals were stated even when the author of the problem was unable to determine the interval with the desired precision. For examples of this, consider the problem of the hare and the hound. The first of these examples is from the collection attributed to Alcuin (c. 775) and the second is from the work of the Italian Carel an (1539).
References for Teachers
Authors: Schaaf William L.
Published: November 2020

It is a far cry from Pascal and Leibnitz to the giant “mechanical brains” of today whose dramatic development during the past decade has been literally phenomenal. Time and again, newspapers and magazines have hailed them enthusiastically. When highly technical equipment for solving differential equations becomes front-page news, then mathematics indeed belongs to the celebrated man in the street.
Critical Thinking as an Aim in Mathematics Courses for General Education
Authors: Zant James H.
Published: November 2020

Since this paper deals with critical thinking I want to he particularly careful to make the thinking represented by material discussed here also critical. Hence, the paper will begin with certain definitions or assumptions as to the meanings of such terms as General Education, Mathematics for General Education and Critical Thinking. It is too much to expect in a brief paper that concise definitions of such general terms are possible; it is less likely to expect unanimous agreement on the definitions that will be stated. However, to think clearly about such a topic as critical thinking as an aim in mathematics for general education it is necessary that the terms be defined.
Mathematical Miscellanea
Authors: Jones Phillip S.
Published: November 2020

While browsing through the earliest French treatise on logarithms—Traicté des logarithmes (Paris, 1626) by Denis Henrion (c.1590-1640), Professor of Mathematics at Paris, my attention was caught by the method he adopted for the logarithmic solution of an oblique triangle when the three sides are given.
Number Forms: A Common Type of Synesthesia
Authors: Baldwin William E.
Published: November 2020

Any teacher who has from thirty to forty pupils in her classroom can reasonably expect that at least one of them will possess the type of synesthesia known as number forms. The frequency of occurrence is not definitely known, due to conflicting investigations, but it appears to be more prevalent in girls than in boys and to be somewhat associated with an imaginative approach to life's problems.
An English College Course Based on the Function Concept
Authors: Norris E. T.
Published: November 2020

I have just recently read with great interest the article in The Mathematics Teacher entitled “What Mathematics Shall We Teach in the Fourth Year of High School?”* If my understanding of the terms is correct, it is concerned with the mathematics course immediately prior to college, and would correspond in some ways to what is taught in the sixth forms of our English grammar schools.
Leonardo da Vinci and the Center of Gravity of a Tetrahedron
Authors: Satterly John
Published: November 2020

We are all celebrating this year (1952) the quincentenary of the birth of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), the great Italian artist, physicist, engineer and anatomist. One problem which he was the first to solve may be of interest to our younger mathematicians.
Mathematics in the Junior High School: The aspirations of this department
Authors: Kinney Lucien B.
Published: November 2020

The mathematics program in the junior high school has the same major purposes as at any other level.
The use of puzzles in teaching mathematics
Authors: Parker Jean
Published: November 2020

Puzzles always intrigue high school classes and, hence, form an excellent means of motivating the study of mathematics. Here is an excellent collection of usable puzzles for the high school classroom.
Common errors made in general mathematics by high school students of Louisiana
Authors: Randall Rogers E.
Published: November 2020

Evidence continues to accumulate that our high school graduates do not know how to compute; however, in striving to improve computation, care should be taken that this does not overshadow the more important mathematical goals in our high school mathematics classes.
Devices for the Mathematics Classroom: Teaching aid for developing (a + b) (a - b)
Authors: Uth Carl
Published: November 2020

The purpose of the procedure outlined in this article is to help students develop an understanding of the concept embodied in the following relation:
What is Going on in Your School?: Special preparation for general mathematics teachers
Authors: Boyer Lee E.
Published: November 2020

The widespread recognition of two “tracks” in secondary school mathematics education leads to the issue implied in the title. The matter is particularly noteworthy because in the near future the schools of our country will be offering more classes of “general” (“basic,” in Pennsylvania and California; “functional,” in Florida) mathematics than of “traditional” (“specialized,” in Pennsylvania; “traditional,” in Florida; “college preparatory,” in California) mathematics.
Some concepts of logic and their application in elementary mathematics
Authors: Rosskopf Myron F. , Exner Robert M.
Published: November 2020

Many mathematicians think that a more modern mathematics must be introduced into the high schools and colleges. This means that some consideration must be given to basic principles.
Where the mathematics teacher is king
Authors: Neureiter Paul R.
Published: November 2020

This note about teaching in the Netherlands supplies information enabling readers to make some interesting comparisons with the work they are doing in mathematics.