bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacto del uso del fideicomiso como alternativa de financiamiento en la rentabilidad de las principales empresas agroexportadoras de Lima por el año 2018
Authors:   , Gomez Perez Michelle Valerie Romina , Orrego Ruiz José Manuel
Published: July 2021

La realización de la presente investigación tiene como principal finalidad definir y evaluar el impacto del uso del fideicomiso como herramienta financiera en las principales empresas del sector agroexportador durante el periodo del 2018. La investigación se basa en la búsqueda de una alternativa de financiamiento para las agroexportadoras. El financiamiento es un factor relevante para la expansión e inversión constante de cualquier tipo de negocio; sin embargo, con el fin de reducir el riesgo de cobranzas, las entidades financieras deciden realizar evaluaciones a sus solicitantes de los servicios de subvención de acuerdo con el monto pactado. La herramienta financiera más usual en Perú es el préstamo bancario tradicional y las tasas de interés son impuestas por los bancos después de evaluar al sector. En el caso de las agroexportadoras, considerando su producción estacional y la amplia cantidad de factores de riesgo inherentes al rubro, los bancos cobran una tasa más cara. El fideicomiso es una herramienta financiera muy poco conocida en el mercado; sin embargo, presenta tendencias de crecimiento de demanda en los últimos años. Consiste en ofrecer el mismo capital a una menor tasa con otras condiciones de cobranzas y una evaluación más específica para la entidad solicitante. En el siguiente trabajo realizaremos dicha evaluación y comparación entre el tipo de financiamiento más usual en Perú y el fideicomiso con el fin de demostrar la efectividad de este y la posibilidad de considerarlo como una alternativa financiera rentable. Como resultado de la investigación se validaron las hipótesis satisfactoriamente y se obtuvieron una conclusión acertada.
Optimización hidráulica de la planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales aprovechando la pendiente pronunciada del terreno en Vítor – Arequipa – Arequipa
Authors:   , Daviran Paucar Miguel Jhunior , Huamani Centeno Carmen Del Rosario
Published: July 2021

Hoy en día, la problemática ambiental en el Perú es la contaminación del agua, debido al vertimiento de aguas residuales domesticas de las poblaciones que no tienen un sistema de tratamiento adecuado que presentan un tratamiento deficiente. Mediante la presente investigación se demuestra los procesos de depuración a través de la aireación en el flujo del conducto, esto debido a las pendientes pronunciadas en la red de alcantarillado y sistemas de conducción. Para esto se realizó el diseño de la PTAR convencional en base a la Norma OS-090 para luego realizar los cálculos de aireación basados en la teoría de Naudascher y proceder a realizar el diseño de la PTAR Optimizada. Los resultados obtenidos teóricamente fueron validados a través de pruebas de laboratorio realizado en campo. Al finalizar la investigación se concluye y recomienda lo siguiente: La Norma OS-090 no considera la remoción de contaminantes en la red de alcantarillado y sistemas de conducción. En el proceso de diseño generalmente no se considera condiciones geográficas particulares, como la fuerte pendiente que representa una gran ventaja en zonas rurales. Luego de realizar los cálculos de la aireación en la fuerte pendiente basados en los conocimientos de la Hidráulica y validarlos a través de un muestreo de campo, se logra comprobar la hipótesis inicial, las pendientes pronunciadas del terreno nos permiten optimizar la PTAR a través de la remoción del DBO y SST en las redes de alcantarillado y sistemas de conducción, por ende, se logra reducir costos en la etapa de construcción, operación, mantenimiento, aumentar la eficiencia del proceso y generar el menor impacto ambiental. Se recomienda poder realizar más pruebas de laboratorio para la obtención de mayor cantidad de datos que aumenten el rango de precisión de la remoción del DBO para cada pendiente. Para futuros diseños de PTAR en zonas rurales con pendiente pronunciada se recomienda considerar los cálculos de aireación en el proceso de diseño.
Análisis sísmico del bloque A del hospital Luis Negreiros con y sin protección de disipadores de energía de fluido viscoso
Authors:   , Chavez Chavarria Luis Alfredo , Mamani Condori Hivet Jurieta
Published: July 2021

En la actualidad, existen muchas estructuras de gran importancia y funcionalidad (hospitales, colegios, entre otros) que albergan un gran número de personas y de las que se espera que ante un evento sísmico severo se mantengan operativas, sin embargo, muchas de estas edificaciones esenciales han sido construidas con códigos sísmicos antiguos, los cuales podrían no tener los requerimientos actuales de resistencia y rigidez. Por lo que podrían fallar o tener un comportamiento deficiente ante sismos moderados y/o severos. Entonces, es así como la investigación aborda como caso de estudio uno de los bloques del Hospital Luis Negreiros, en el que se desarrolla un análisis sísmico y se propone su reforzamiento con dispositivos de protección sísmica, en especial disipadores de fluido viscoso, los cuales absorben la energía de entrada del sismo y aumentan el amortiguamiento de la estructura, lo que permite lograr un buen comportamiento durante la acción de sismos leves o moderados. La investigación consta de 6 capítulos, en el primer capítulo se explica los antecedentes de la investigación, hipótesis y objetivos, en el segundo capítulo se desarrolla el marco teórico de la investigación, una compilación del estado del arte relacionado a protección sísmica, el tercer capítulo explica el modelo matemático de los dispositivos así como las configuraciones existentes, en el cuarto capítulo se desarrolla la metodología de la investigación, en el quinto capítulo se analiza el caso de estudio y se plantea una propuesta de reforzamiento. En el sexto y sétimo capítulo se desarrollan las conclusiones y recomendaciones, respectivamente.
Variasi Bahasa dalam Media Sosial Twitter
Authors: Afdhaliyah Rizkiyah , Haq Siti Chairunnisa
Published: July 2021

Language is a communication tool that is usually used by people to work together and interact. Language variation is closely related to language and society. This research on language variations that occur on Twitter social media aims to find out how the meaning of language variations in Twitter social media. There are two languages ​​studied, namely (1) slang whose data is taken from the @Ivanasha, @usaiusulhh, and @aldapstsr accounts, and (2) Javanese whose data is taken from the @nksthi account. This research uses a qualitative approach, with descriptive analysis method. This study collects non-interactively data. The source of the data is humans  who work as subjects or key informants. The research is sociolinguistic studies. This study was chosen because this study looks at the use of language that includes language variation.
Relationship between extrinsic factors and non-carious cervical lesions in patients of the National Hospital “Hipólito Unánue”
Authors: Delgado Rojas Percy Alfonso
Published: July 2021

Non-carious cervical lesions cause destructive dental disorders that actively contribute to the progressive loss of dental structure and the immediate need for dental treatment, due to their multiple symptoms and factors that produce them. Aim: The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between extrinsic factors and non-carious cervical lesions in patients of the National Hospital Hipólito Unánue. Methods: The research was of a descriptive correlative type. The sample consisted of male and female patients between 18 and 65 years old, who attended the carielogy service of this hospital. For data collection, 2 questionnaires were used to estimate the values of the extrinsic factors that allowed us to obtain the necessary information on the variables to be studied. Spearman’s Rho was applied to determine the relationship between the variable’s study. Results: According to Spearman’s Rho of 0.622, compared to p-0.000 <0.01. Between the variables studied; extrinsic factors and noncarious cervical lesions there is a moderate and significant positive correlation. Conclusion: Through this section it was possible to demonstrate the existing relationship between extrinsic variable factors and non-carious cervical lesions, therefore it was concluded that there is a moderate and significant positive correlation in the sample comprised by the patients of the Hospital in mention.
Quraish Shihab’s Quranic Exegesis on Interreligious Harmony and its Relevance to the Contemporary Western Hermeneutics
Authors: Fuadi Abdulloh
Published: July 2021

This paper discusses Quraish Shihab's Quranic Exegesis and its relevance to the hermeneutics framework of Martin Heidegger and Jurgen Habermas to trace Islamic moderation in Indonesia. The issue of interreligious harmony is the main theme of discussion. The type of library research is used in this research, where data is drawn from books, journal articles, and audio-video files. This paper is divided into three parts. The first part presents Quraish Shihab's qur’anic exegesis on inter-religious harmony, which was delivered at Lentera Hati and written in some of his works. The second part of the paper discusses Heidegger's facticital hermeneutics and Habermas's critical hermeneutics. The third part tries to integrate the qur’anic exegesis of Shihab with the hermeneutics concepts of Heidegger and Habermas. This effort of relevance is divided into two points of analysis. The first point juxtaposes Shihab and Heidegger in existentialist philosophical analysis. The second point juxtaposes Shihab and Habermas in intersubjective communication analysis. The paper shows the stringing network of meaning expressed by Quraish Shihab with contemporary western hermeneutics. Therefore, the paper argues that the religious thought of contemporary Indonesian exegete, M. Quraish Shihab, is relevant to the philosophical thoughts of contemporary philosophers, such as Heidegger and Habermas.
Композиція книги у видавничій комунікації
Authors: Ганжуров Юрій Семенович
Published: July 2021

Розглядаються роль й місце композиції у видавничій комунікації, основні форми структуризаціїї авторських оригіналів. Аналізуються особливості архітектоніки видання залежно від функціонального призначення та читацької адреси книги. Викладаються принципові засади організації фактичного матеріалу на рівні композиційної структуризації видавничих оригінал-макетів. Пропонується формула визначення інформаційної місткості тексту як основи оцінки релевантності контенту, його відповідності редакторським вимогам щодо якості фактичного матеріалу в частині його доцільності та повноти. Розкриваються фахова сутність композиції видання та її відмінності від композиції авторських оригіналів. Подано типологічні характеристики апарату книги як важливої складової композиції та видавничої комунікації.
Hierarchical Convolutional Neural Network for Infrared Image Super-Resolution
Authors: Yaroshenko Maksym Oleksandrovych , Varfolomieiev Anton Yuriiovych , Yaganov Petro Oleksiyovych
Published: July 2021

Due to the high price of thermal imaging sensors, methods for high quality upscaling of infrared images, acquired from low-resolution inexpensive IR-cameras become in high demand. One of the very promising branches of such kinds of methods is base on super-resolution (SR) techniques that exploit convolutional neural networks (CNN), which are developed rapidly for the last decade. During the review of existing solutions, we found that most of the super-resolution neural networks are intended for the upscaling of images in the visible spectrum band. Among them, the BCLSR network has proven to be one of the best solutions that ensure a very high quality of image upscaling. Thus, we selected this network for further investigation in the current paper. Namely, in this research, we trained and tested the BCLSR network for upscaling of far-infrared (FIR) images for the first time. Moreover, inspired by the BCLSR architecture, we proposed our own neural network, which defers from the BCLSR by the absence of recursive and recurrent layers that were replaced by series-connected Residual- and parallel-connected Inception-like blocks correspondingly. During the tests, we found that the suggested modifications permit to increase the network inference speed almost twice and even improve the quality of upscaling by 0,063 dB compared to the basic BCLSR implementation. Networks were trained and tested using the CVC-14 dataset that contains FIR images acquired at the night. We used data augmentation with random dividing dataset images onto 100×100 pixel patches and with subsequent application random brightness, contrast, and mirroring to the obtained patches. The training procedure was performed in a single cycle with single increase and decrease of the learning rate and used the same parameters for the proposed and the BCLSR networks. We employed the Adam optimizer for the training of both networks. Nevertheless, the proposed model has more parameters (2,7 М) compared to the BCLSR (0,6 М), both of the networks can be considered as the small ones, and thus can be used in applications for conventional personal computers, as well as in embedded solutions. The direction of the further research can be focused on the improvements of the proposed network architecture by introducing new types of layers as well as on the modifying of hyperparameters of the used layers. The quality of the upscaling can be increased also by using other loss functions and by the change of learning rate-varying strategies.
Analysis of the libraries collections system of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Authors: Vikhreva G. М. , Podkorytova N. I. , Fedotova O. P.
Published: July 2021

The article elucidates directions of scientific-research work development in the field of forming and using library collections in SPSTL SB RAS. Within the frames of the Library scientific projects some problems of research activities – value, ideological, communicative and others – aimed at active practical reform and widening the professional field of scientific libraries system’ resource base are presented. The review of researches, done by the authors, includes the analysis of regularities and tendencies of the departmental and territorial system of libraries collections forming and preserving as well as approaches, forms and methods of studying documentary resources in the retrospective and at present – in the context of growing indicators of digital resources usage. The article exposes, on the one hand, the objective preconditions for libraries’ interaction and, on the other hand – negative tendencies such as growth of collections breaking up and non-coordination of document resources forming policy, further deepening of departmental and regional differences. The problem of territorial libraries cooperation with the aim of growing the joint territorial library stock effectiveness is actual. Scientific-research work (SRW) in the large modern library is an independent complex kind of activities, promoting its development as an open social system and its vital preservation in the environment of other information structures. Departmental, regional, national research programs determine libraries scientific research themes. The results of libraries scientific-research work are regarded as equal with other scientific-research establishments’ contribution into the solution of the large-scaled scientific-industrial problems.
Development of an authoritative file of subject headings
Authors: Mikheeva S. Yu.
Published: July 2021

At present, the formation of authoritative files system is an obligatory condition for organizing and managing electronic catalogues of large scientific libraries. SPSTL SB RAS is managing its own authoritative file of subject headings, the work on which began in 2008, and is actual until today.

The paper describes the results of creating and managing an authoritative file of subject headings of SPSTL SB RAS in the period of 2011 – 2020: the history of the file creation is mentioned; the importance of linguistic support of the electronic catalogue for conducting information search is marked; the necessity for analyzing the current state of affairs and evaluating the authoritative file quality is pointed out.

The analysis is based on the results of implementing the statement of work for creating the authoritative file; the program of step-by-step works is reproduced and the results of accomplishing each stage, the complexity of the tasks are evaluated.

The article indicates the need to edit subject headings in accordance with the requirements of the method of objectification; to pair information search languages: library and bibliographic indices of classification and subject headings. It also indicates the problem of filling the authoritative file with new subject headings, reveals the necessity of checking the vocabulary by alphabetical index. The conclusion forms the notion about the current state of the authoritative file, the terms of work on implementing the statement of work. The main problem of completing the creation of an authoritative file of subject headings of SPSTL SB RAS is indicated; ways to solve this problem are suggested.
Scientific libraries: future in the past
Authors: Tsukerblat D. M. , Zaitsev S. V.
Published: July 2021

The article considers the main problems and challenges facing scientific libraries in the context of the rapid development of information technologies. The article presents the discussion of library specialists who support various positions, the analysis of trends, and possible scenarios for the future existence of scientific libraries.

The relations of "letters" and "figures" changing against the background of general digitalization are shown, the possibilities and conditions of their effective interaction are analyzed. The conclusion is made about the expediency of combining the achievements of the past and the future in the knowledge transfer. It reflects the fundamental trends in the needs of users, changes in the services provided and the existing competencies of scientific libraries staff.

Attention is drawn to objective and subjective reasons that hinder the innovative development of the library sphere. The information and communication potential and the possibilities of integrating librarians into the process of scientific research are shown on the example of SPSTL SB RAS. The authors have identified and summarized the basic recommendations for optimizing the situation, taking into account the best domestic and foreign experience, with an emphasis on key problems.
The Effect of Learning Model and Creative Thinking Ability on Students' Recount Writing Skill
Authors: Anggaira Aria Septi , Rafli Zainal
Published: July 2021

The aim of the study is to find out the effect of learning model and creative thinking ability on students' recount writing skill. It was an experimental study with 2x2 factorial design and analysed using two-factor ANOVA at 0.05 significance level. The sample was 32 students and divided into two groups, namely experiment and control. The data were collected using recount writing test in English and creative thinking ability test. The research finding showed: (1) the students' recount writing skill taught by project-based learning model was higher than by genre-based learning model, (2) there was interaction between learning model and creative thinking ability on students' recount writing skill, (3) the students' recount writing skill with high creative thinking ability taught by project-based learning model was higher than those by genre-based learning model, and (4) the students' recount writing skill with low creative thinking ability taught by project-based learning model was lower than those by genre-based learning model.
Integrasi Nilai Filosofis Tari Topeng Sekura Pada Pembelajaran Sejarah Lokal
Authors: Arif Suparman , Lestari Nur Indah , Sumargono
Published: July 2021

Abstrak: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji nilai filosofis Tari Topeng Sekura, sehingga nilai tersebut dapat diintegrasikan dalam pembelajaran sejarah di SMA sebagai edukasi pelestarian hutan adat masyarakat Lampung Saibatin. Metode penelitian ini adalah kualitatif deskriptif, yaitu penelitian yang bertujuan untuk menggambarkan realita sosial. Realita sosial yang dipelajari adalah kearifan lokal masyarakat adat Kabupaten Lampung Barat dalam menjaga kelestarian hutan. Kearifan lokal tersebut tercermin dalam  Tari Topeng Sekura pada penampilan kostum sekura kamak. Kecerdasan lokal dalam menjaga kelestarian lingkungan tersebut perlu diintegrasikan pada pembelajaran sejarah. Pengintegrasisan nilai filosofis Tari Topeng Sekura dalam pembelajaran sejarah dapat dilakukan dengan berbagai cara diantaranya: pengembangan materi pelajaran yang memasukan unsur kearifan lokal nilai filosofis Tari Topeng Sekura, pengembangkan instrumen evaluasi, dan mendesain proses pembelajaran yang menerapkan model-model pembelajaran yang inovatif yang dapat memasukan unsur nilai filosofis Tari Topeng Sekura. Untuk mendesain pembelajaran yang memasukan nilai filosofis Tari Topeng Sekura dalam pembelajaran sejarah maka guru harus mampu memetakan materi pelajaran yang dapat mengintegrasikan nilai filosofis Tari Topeng Sekura. Kearifan lokal yang dikembangkan dalam pembelajaran sejarah mampu membentuk karakter pelestarian lingkungan hutan bagi peserta didik.
Kajian Filologi Kitab Al-Mashlahah Fi Al-Tasyri’ Al-Islamiy Wa Najmuddin Al-Thufiy Karya Dr. Mushthofa Zaid
Authors: Hamdani Ahmad
Published: July 2021

The main objective of this philological research is to determine the original text (autography), the text that is close to the original (archetypal) or authoritative (authoritative) text, the second is transliterating the text with the main task of maintaining the authenticity / special characteristics of word writing and translating the written text in the original language to the second language, the third is to edit the text as well as possible, the fourth is to describe the position and function of the text under study and clean the text from errors that occur during copying. Based on the description of the purpose of the above research can be formulated some problems namely: the first is in each text there is generally more than one manuscript, which is the original or authoritative manuscript, the second is the text written in characters and languages that are no longer commonly used now that the text is difficult to read and understand the meaning, the third text has not been well presented, no punctuation, paragraph structure and parts of the story so it will be difficult for the reader to understand, the fourth is the position and function of the text is not clear so it is difficult to place this text in the whole of one's thinking or the literature of the region concerned. In this paper will be studied in philological detail on Najmuddin Al-Thufi's text on mashlahah.
Existence of State as a Value Problem in Political Realism
Authors:   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Kucherenko Sergey A.
Published: July 2021

The article is focused around ontological status of state in modern political real­ism. It seems that possibility of moral evaluation depends on the existence of the evaluated object. Only the real objects can be fully valuable. The article demon­strates that theoretical abstraction of social world can function as values only by being the ends that have to be fulfilled. The notion of state plays crucial role in re­alist theory, while states themselves are basic units of international system. This puts the state in an ambivalent position. On the one hand realists view state as a mere theoretical abstraction without proper existence. On the other hand state acts as a value in analysis of statesmen motives. The author claims that realism, be­ing an “understanding” social theory, is stuck between scientific and political value systems. This problem is possible to solve by splitting the concept of state (and re­lated notions), based on the context of its usage.
Predicting the Limit Void Ratios of Coarse-Grained Soils Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Erzin Yusuf , Tuskan Yeşim , Erzin Selin
Published: July 2021

In this study, the prediction performance of the artificial neural network (ANN) and multiple regression (MR) models in predicting the limit void ratios of coarse-grained soils was investigated and compared. The data available in the literature were collected and used to construct both two distinct ANN-1 and ANN-2 models and two distinct MR-1 and MR-2 models: ANN-1 and MR-1 for the prediction of minimum void ratio (emin) and ANN-2 and MR-2 for the prediction of maximum void ratio (emax) of coarse-grained soils. Two basic soil graining properties such as coefficient of uniformity (Cu) and mean grain size (D50) are utilized in the simulation of the feed forward ANN models with back propagation algorithm and the MR models.The emax and emin values predicted from both ANN and MR models were compared with the experimental values taken from the literature. Moreover, five performance indices i.e. the determination coefficient, variance account for, mean absolute error, root mean square error, and the scaled percent error were calculated to examine the prediction capacity of the ANN and MR models developed in this study. The performance indices calculated indicated that both ANN models showed better performance than both MR models. It has been demonstrated that both ANN models can be used satisfactorily to predict limit void ratio values of coarse-grained soils as a rapid inexpensive substitute for laboratory techniques.
Evaluation of Intravitreal Bevacizumab injection in treatment of diabetic macular edema in eyes with Good visual acuity
Authors: mosavi seyed aliasghar
Published: July 2021

Aims

To determine the effect of intravitreous Bevacizumab injection on reducing diabetic macular edema in patients with good vision.
Method

: This clinical trial was conducted on diabetic patients with centrally involved macular edema and good vision over a period of one and a half year. 22 eyes of 12 patients with a visual acuity of Snellen equivalent of 20/25 or better in the non-proliferative stage with the central macular thickness of more than 300 microns in optical coherence tomography (OCT) were evaluated. In the injection group 1.25 Mg of bevacizumab (Avastin) was injected intravitreally and the control group was followed up. Macular thickness and visual acuity were measured in two groups at first and sixth months after injection.
Results

Intravitreal bevacizumab was injected in 12 eyes (55%) and 10 patients were followed-up as a control group (45%). The mean central macular thickness was 319 µm at first visit and 301 µm at month six in the treatment group and in the control group it was 318 µm and 328 µm respectively. The mean macular thickness of the treatment group was significantly decreased (p = 0.031), but the difference was not statistically significant between two groups (p = 0.581). The mean visual acuity in the treatment group was 0.045 Log MAR at first visit and 0.033 Log MAR at the sixth month follow up, these values in the control group were 0.1 Log MAR and 0.045 Log MAR respectively and did not differ statistically between the two groups (p = 0.373)
Conclusion

Although the mean macular thickness was reduced in the treatment group with visual acuity of 20/25 or better but the difference was not significant during follow-up at least in a short period. Therefore, the role of underlying factors other than VEGF alone can be notable in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Impact-crater ejecta on Bennu indicate a surface with very low strength
Authors: Perry Mark , Barnouin Olivier , Daly Ronald , Bierhaus Edward , Ballouz Ronald-Louis , Walsh Kevin , Daly Michael , DellaGiustina Daniella , Nolan Michael , Emory Josh , Asad Manar Al , Johnson Catherine , Ernst Carolyn , Jawin Erica , Michel Patrick , Golish Dathon , Bottke William (Bill) , Seabrook Jeffrey , Lauretta Dante
Published: July 2021

A planetary surface’s resistance to change is generally described as its “strength” (units of stress). The surface strength of small, rubble-pile asteroids, which consist of fragments of larger bodies that were collisionally disrupted, is poorly constrained due to their wide departure from terrestrial analogs. Here, we report the observation of an ejecta deposit surrounding an impact crater that limits the maximum surface strength of the near-Earth rubble-pile asteroid (101955) Bennu. The presence of this deposit implies that ejecta were mobilized with velocities less than the escape velocity of Bennu, 20 cm/s. Because ejecta velocities increase with surface strength, the ejecta deposit can only be explained if the effective strength of the surface material near the crater is exceedingly low, ≤100 Pa. This is three orders of magnitude below values commonly used for asteroid surfaces, but is supported by previous observations of an artificial impact crater on a similar asteroid, Ryugu. Our findings indicate a mobile surface that has likely been renewed multiple times since Bennu’s initial assembly and have far-reaching implications for interpreting observations of Bennu and other rubble piles.
Simplified Magnetic Bead Based Viral RNA Extraction for Rapid Detection of COVID-19
Authors: Sharma Shashi , Pardasani Deepak , Yadav Pooja , Kumar Jyoti S , Dhankher Suman , Srivast Ambuj , Sharma Sushil K , Dubey Devendra Kumar , Dash Paban Kumar
Published: July 2021

Rapid and large-scale diagnosis has helped in mitigation the recent ongoing pandemic of corona virus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). The pandemic had a devastating effect on global economy. The molecular detection system has evolved over last two decades and is rapidly replacing the conventional confirmatory techniques in diagnostic virology. However the major limitation in implementation of available molecular detection assays is the non availability of field deployable nucleic acid isolation platform. The standard laboratory diagnosis rely on confirmation of presence of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in respiratory specimens of suspected patients. Preparation of viral nucleic acid is a critical step involved followed by downstream molecular diagnostic platforms. For good quality of viral RNA extraction many commercial extraction kits, are available. These are developed in a surge of pandemic scenario keeping in view the large demand for testing. The commercial RNA extraction kits available on either column based or magnetic extraction are limited and, alternative, non-commercial protocols are rapidly required. Here, we have standardized an in-house magnetic bead RNA extraction method which utilises simple in-house reagents and manual extraction method that doesn’t require any high-end equipments. The in-house assay was evaluated against the commercial available silica column and magnetic extraction kits using a panel of 100 throat /nasal swab samples. A high correlation in viral RNA detection with TaqMan qRT-PCR was observed with excellent sensitivity and specificity. Interestingly, the developed method is very simple, cost effective, rapid and can be quickly add up any downstream amplification platform for SARS-CoV-2 detection.
Symmetric Key and Polynomial Based Key Generation Mechanism for Secured Data Communications in 5G Networks
Authors: Suthanthiramani Pradeep , Sannasy Muthurajkumar , Ganapathy Sannasi , Kannan Arputharaj
Published: July 2021

Fifth Generation (5G) networks provide data communications through various latest technologies including Software Defined Network (SDN), Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Cloud Computing. In 5G, secure data communication is a challenging issue due to the presence of enormous volume of users including malicious users communicating with latest technologies and also based their own requirements. In such a scenario, fuzzy rules and cryptographic techniques can play a major role in providing security to the data which are either communicated through the network or stored in network based databases including distributed databases and cloud databases with cloud networks. Therefore, new and efficient mechanisms for generation and exchange of keys are necessary since they are the most important component of cryptographic methods. Since most of the existing key generation techniques are focusing on 3G and 4G networks, new key generation methods that can be generalized to n-th order polynomials are necessary to suit the security requirements of 5G networks which is smart by using rules from Artificial Intelligence. This paper proposes a new key generation and encryption/decryption mechanism which is based on both symmetric key cryptography and polynomial operations for providing effective security on data communication in 5G networks. In this work, we introduce the usage of fuzzy rules and Binomial Theorem (Pascal triangle) technique for performing the data encryption process more efficiently since it is not used in any of the existing cryptographic algorithms. Moreover, two different polynomial equations, one of degree three and another of degree two are used in the proposed work for effective key generation. Here, we have applied differential calculus for finding the second-degree polynomial. In the decryption part of the proposed mechanism, nth root operation is applied which is able to reduce the number of steps used in a single mode operation. The experimental results of the proposed work proved that the proposed security model with fuzzy rule-based approach is better than other related systems that are available in the literature in terms of reduction in computational complexity and increase in security.
Modeling the Pulse Rate, Respiratory Rate, and Weight of Congestive Heart Failure Patients: A Case Study at Wachemo University Nigist Eleni Mohammed Memorial Referral Hospital
Authors: Sultan Mohammed , Abdo Ritbano Ahmed
Published: July 2021

Background: The linear mixed model is one of the common models used to analyze the longitudinal data; it may comprise of Separate (Univariate), joint Bivariate or joint multivariate linear mixed model, which is predicated on the number of response variables incorporated in the analysis. Adjusting for correlation matrix and covariance matrix between and within subjects is one reason why modern longitudinal data analysis techniques are deemed more appropriate than some of the previous methods of analysis. Some studies assume that the correlation between observations is zero. However, it is unlikely that repeated measurements on the same individual will actually be independent. To that end, comparing the different linear mixed models and identifying the appropriate model demonstrates the evolution of patients with CHF.Methods: In this study the separate, bivariate and multivariate linear mixed models were analyzed with different covariance and correlation structures. The parameters in the models were estimated by maximum likelihood estimation and restricted maximum likelihood estimation techniques. The models were compared by AIC, BIC, and Log-likelihood ratio test. Results: The models with unstructured covariance structure for random effects and autoregressive order one for serial correlation structure had small AIC, BIC and -2LL and standard errors. Separate models had high AIC, BIC and -2LL and standard errors than bivariate and multivariate had small AIC, BIC and -2LL and standard errors than all models. Conclusions: Finally, a multivariate linear mixed model with autoregressive order one correlation structure and unstructured covariance structure for random effects, to consider within and between patients’ variations, was considered as the best model to depict the evolution of patients with congestive heart failure.
Comparative Study on Sensing Characteristics of Optical Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors Using A Single LHM-Dielectric Interface: A Theoretical Study
Authors: bouhafs benamar , CHERIFI Abdellatif
Published: July 2021

This work addresses a theoretical analysis on optical planar surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors. The proposed plasmonic system consists of an active left-handed material (LHM) stacked between a glass-prism and a sensing environment. To evaluate the limits of the surface sensitivity related to SPR excitation, two arrangements between previous media are separately investigated for comparison. Employing the transfer matrix method (TMM), angular TM-reflectance calculations and intrinsic sensing characteristics of previous arrangements, have been investigated with the impact of thicknesses and refractive index (RI) of the media involved. We found the suitable prism material RI, and the preferential arrangement between LHM and sensing environment allowing, thus the increase of the detection sensitivity of SPR excitation. The results of TM-reflectance obtained by varying the sensing environment RI, indicate the ability of the configuration to support an surface plasmon (SP) mode, with a tunable Q-factor from 72 to 748. In addition, distinct optical functionalities achieved with the proposed mono-layer LHM system exhibiting a single SPR mode, and multiple resonant oscillations, are highlighted on both the effects of RI and structure ‘thicknesses. Finally, the relationships between characteristics of TM-reflectance spectra versus the performance parameters are analytically derived.
Feature and Instance Selection Through Discriminant Analysis Criteria
Authors: Dornaika Fadi , Moujahid Abdelmalik
Published: July 2021

Feature selection and instance selection are two data preprocessing methods widely used in data mining and pattern recognition. The main goal is to reduce the computational cost of many learning tasks. Recently, joint feature and instance selection has been approached by solving some global optimization problems using meta-heuristics. This approach is not only computationally expensive, but also does not exploit the fact that the data usually has a structured manifold implicitly hidden in the data and its labels. In this paper, we address joint feature and instance selection using scores derived from discriminant analysis theory. We present three approaches for joint feature and instance selection. The first scheme is a wrapper technique, while the other two schemes are filtering techniques. In the filtering approaches, the search process uses a genetic algorithm where the evaluation criterion is mainly given by the discriminant analysis score. This score depends simultaneously on the feature subset candidate and the best corresponding subset of instances. Thus, the best feature subset and the best instances are determined by finding the best score. The performance of the proposed approaches is quantified and studied using image classification with Nearest Neighbor and Support Vector Machine Classifiers. Experiments are conducted on five public image datasets. We compare the performance of our proposed methods with several state-of-the-art methods. The experiments performed show the superiority of the proposed methods over several baseline methods.
Multiple Drivers of Biomass Change in Subtropical Natural Forests
Authors: Wu Anchi , Tang Xuli , Li Andi , Xiong Xin , Liu Juxiu , He Xinhua , Zhang Qianmei , Chen Hongfeng
Published: July 2021

Forest ecosystems play an important role in regulating the global carbon, a substantial portion of terrestrial carbon pool which is stored in biomass stocks. However, how multiple biotic (i.e. topography) and abiotic (biodiversity, stand structure, and functional traits) influence forest biomass in natural forests, the relative important of these factors determine biomass is still controversial for subtropical natural forests. We used forest inventory data from nine 1-ha plots at different altitude gradients in China’s subtropical forests. We used multiple analyse to quantify the relative importance of multiple facets of diversity, key functional traits, stand structural attributes, and topography variables in determining forest biomass. We found that multiple facets of diversity and stand structure variables enhances biomass. Specifically, large-diameter trees had a strong positive effect on biomass and were the most important factor in determining biomass. Plant functional traits were closely related to biomass. Community-weighted mean value (CWM) of maximum height positively correlated with biomass, but CWM of wood density negatively correlated biomass. Topographic factors including elevation and slope, had a positive effect on biomass. Moreover, among the aforementioned four types of variables, stand structure had the greatest impact on biomass and is linked to diversity-biomass relationship. Topography mainly indirectly affected biomass by altering multiple diversity and stand structure. Functional traits also directly and indirectly affected biomass. Overall, these results support niche complementarity effect and mass-ratio hypothesis. Our results indicate that biodiversity is essential for maintaining ecosystem functions of species-rich subtropical natural forests. Further, adjusting stand structure may be an effective forest management approach to increase forest carbon storage.
Synergistic Effect of El Niño And The North Pacific Oscillation On Wintertime Precipitation Over Southeastern China And The East China Sea Kuroshio Area
Authors: Sun Yue , Li Jianping
Published: July 2021

Wintertime precipitation in China is most pronounced over the southeastern area, and the Kuroshio in the East China Sea anchors a prominent precipitation band over the warm side of the sea surface temperature front. Previous studies have suggested that many factors contribute to the interannual variation of the precipitation over southeastern China (SC), whereas less attention has been paid to precipitation variability over the East China Sea Kuroshio (ECSK) area. This study focuses on the interannual variation of wintertime precipitation over the SC and ECSK areas. Empirical orthogonal function analysis reveals a spatially uniform pattern from SC to the ECSK area. Composite analysis shows that an El Niño event intensifies wintertime precipitation over our target region, and this effect is tripled when an El Niño follows a positive North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) event in the previous winter. The positive NPO event in the previous winter intensifies the El Niño event via the Victoria mode ocean bridge and the subsequent Bjerknes feedback. In comparison with single-factor El Niño events, a much weaker Walker cell induced by the joint event induces a much weaker regional Hadley cell through anomalous descending motion over the western tropical Pacific. The weakened regional Hadley circulation over the western Pacific directly enhances the precipitation over the SC and ECSK area. In this study, the synergistic effect of an El Niño event and a positive NPO event indicates that the influence of the El Niño event can be amplified by the positive NPO event in the previous winter.
Short-Term Effects of Kinesio Taping Combined With Cervical Muscles Multi-angle Isometric Training in Patients With Cervical Spondylosis
Authors: Xiong Jian , Zhang Zhe , Zhang Zhichao , Ma Yan , Li Zuhong , Chen Yongjin , Liu Qi , Liao Weijing
Published: July 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Kinesio taping (KT) combined with multi-angle isometric resistance training for cervical spondylosis. Methods: Sixty-one patients were divided into two groups by random number table method. Both groups were given multi-angle isometric training, the patients in the observation group were supplemented with Kinesio taping. Before and after treatment, the symptoms of cervical spine function were evaluated in two groups by visual analogue scale (VAS), cervical dysfunction index (NDI), cervical range of motion and muscle stiffness.Results: After 3 weeks of treatment, VAS, NDI scores and the cervical range of motion were significantly better than before (P<0.05). The range of anterior flexion and extension was significantly larger than the control group (P<0.05), but the range of other motions were not certain. The muscle stiffness in KT group were significantly lower than the control group.Conclusion: KT combined with multi-angle isometric resistance training can further alleviate the clinical symptoms and correct the neck abnormal posture. But its effects on the range of cervical motion remain uncertain.
UV-light Mediated Green Synthesis of Silver Nanowires and Their Catalytic Degradation Potential Against Methyl Orange
Authors: Ali Faisal , Ali Zahid , Mooinuddin Ghulam , Younas Umer , Parvaiz Muhammad , Hassan Faiza , Yasir Hafiz Muhammad , Ashraf Adnan , Ishaq Muhammad Waqas
Published: July 2021

In the present study, a simple and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of silver nanowires (Ag-NWs) has been reported. Psidium guajava seed extract was used as a reducing agent for silver nitrate solution at 70 °C temperature under continues UV-irradiation, for the production of Ag-NWs. Silver nanowires were initially characterized by using UV-visible and FTIR spectrophotometer. Synthesis of nanowires and involvement of functional groups was confirmed by FT-IR spectra. The morphology and particle size of synthesized Ag-NWs was determined using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD results revealed cubic phase morphology of Ag-NWs. Nanowires were found having 12-8 μm length and 300-500 nm diameter. In addition, catalytic potential of the sample for degradation of methyl orange dye (MO) was tracked spectrophotometrically. The results exposed that; bio-synthesized silver nanowires were found having excellent morphological features as well as impressive catalytic potential.
Comparison of the Statistics and Item Analysis of Multiple-Choice Questions of Medical and Dental Students' Tests Between Free Admission and Tuition-Paying Admission.
Authors: Hosseini S. Mehran , Rahmati Reza , Sepehry Hamid , Habibi-koolaee Mahdi
Published: July 2021

Background: The type of student admission may affect their educational performance. The purpose of this pilot was to compare the multiple-choice test statistics of medical and dental students' tests between free admission and tuition-paying admission under maximum matched conditions.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted at Golestan University of Medical Sciences in Iran in 2020. The study population included students of medicine and dentistry. A total of 56 tests were selected in two student groups of free admission and tuition-paying admission in basic sciences stages in the physiology course. The matched factors included test features consist of the number of questions, date of the test, test time, the volume of content, topics, and resources, and the instructors. The results of quantitative evaluation of tests were used as the data of this study. There were 21 items for each test including difficulty index, discrimination index, the degree of difficulty, score variance, and Kuder-Richardson correlation coefficient. Results: There were 16 medical and 14 dentistry tests with 437 and 330 questions respectively. The number of medical students participating in the free-tuition and paying-tuition admissions was 1336 and 1076, and for dental students, these numbers were 395 and 235 respectively. There were no significant differences in normalized adjusted test scores between two admission groups in both medical and dentistry tests. The discrimination index of tests was fair or good, and there were no cases of the negative or poor index. The mean of discrimination index in the free-tuition group was higher than in the paying-tuition group (p = 0.048). The interaction between the type of admission and the field was significant for the discrimination index (p = 0.0001). This difference was more in tuition-free dental students than tuition-free medical students and tuition-paying dental students. The mean difficulty index and the Kuder-Richardson correlation coefficient had no differences in the two groups. Conclusions: The type of student admission has no significant effect on students’ assessments in multiple choice tests in matched educational conditions.