bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PERAN KEPALA MADRASAH DALAM SUPERVISI PEMBELAJARAN GURU DI MADRASAH IBTIDAIYAH FATULMUBIN
Authors: Asia Boy Nur , Sengaji Asmawati  R. , Almuhtadi Billah Louay , Nizam Muhammad
Published: May 2022

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menjawab mengenai peran Kepala Madrasah dalam supervisi pembelajaran guru di MIS Fatulmubin. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan jenis penelitian deskriptif. Teknik yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini yaitu menggunakan teknik pengumpulan data observasi, wawancara, kuisioner dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian wawancara menunjukkan bahwa Supervisi yang dilakukan oleh Kepala Madrasah terhadap guru maupun pegawai dengan cara membuat pembinaan, mensosialisasikan, membuat jadwal pelaksanaan, menganalisis dan mengambil tindakan lanjut berjalan dengan baik serta peran Kepala Madrasah dalam supervisi mengunjungi kelas sangatlah penting karena untuk memperbaiki kinerja guru, yaitu pengajaran agar lebih baik lagi. Serta berguna untuk meningkatkan daya tarik bagi siswa untuk terciptanya kelas dalam kondisi yang menyenangkan dan nyaman untuk berjalannya proses belajar mengajar. Pelaksanaan supervisi pembelajaran oleh kepala madrasah diklaim sangat baik sebab hasil supervisi tersebut guru mampu mendapatkan pengetahuan serta pula guru mampu mengetahui kekurangan dan kelebihan mereka selama ini dalam melaksanakan tugas menjadi pendidik.
PENGARUH MODEL PEMBELAJARAN KOOPERATIF TIPE THINK TALK WRITE (TTW) TERHADAP KEMAMPUAN PEMECAHAN MASALAH MATEMATIKA SISWA KELAS V SD NEGERI 194 PEKANBARU
Authors: Lestari Eka , Syahrilfuddin  , Antosa Zariul
Published: May 2022

Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh pada saat proses pembelajaran matematika ditemukan kurangnya kemampuan siswa dalam memecahkan masalah matematika, sehingga hasil belajar mereka terbilang rendah dan tidak sesuai dengan KKM yang telah ditetapkan sekolah. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui dan mendeskripsikan pengaruh model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe think talk write terhadap kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematika siswa V. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuasi eksperimen. Bentuk kuasi design yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah non-equivalent control group design. Subjek dalam penelitian ini adalah siswa kelas V SD Negeri 194 Pekanbaru sebanyak 31 siswa kelas VA dan 31 siswa kelas VB. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat pengaruh model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe think talk write terhadap kemampuan pemecahan masalah siswa kelas V SD Negeri 194 Pekanbaru. Hal ini terlihat dari hasil post test, dimana banyaknya jumlah siswa pada kelas eksperimen yang dinyatakan dalam kriteria kemampuan sangat baik dan baik lebih banyak, yaitu 9 siswadan 12 siswa dibandingkan dengan kelas kontrol yang  hanya 3 siswa dengan kriteria sangat baik dan 12 siswa dalam kriteria baik. Selain itu, nilai rata-rata pada kedua kelas tersebut menunjukkan bahwa kelas eksperimen mencapai nilai lebih tinggi. Model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe think talk write memberikan pengaruh terhadap kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematika siswa kelas V SD Negeri 194 pekanbaru.
ANALISIS SIKAP TOLERANSI SISWA KELAS IV SDN 130 PEKANBARU
Authors: Armawinda Yeni , Noviana Eddy , Hermita Neni
Published: May 2022

Pendidikan dilakukan melalui proses pembelajaran yang dimana perkembangan dunia pendidikan dari tahun ketahun mengalami perubahan seperti bergesernya karakter anak bangsa. Banyak hal yang telah dilakukan untuk meningkatkan mutu pendidikan salah satunya perubahan kurikulum yang pada saat ini berlaku kurikulum 2013 yang menanamkan tentang pendidikan karakter. Terdapat 18 nilai karaker yang mengarahkan sikap siswa kepada perilaku yang baik. Dalam penelitian ini bertujuan untuk  mendeskripsikan salah satu nilai karakter yaitu sikap toleransi di kelas IV SDN 130 Pekanbaru. Metode yang digunakan adalah kuantitatif deskriptif. Teknik pengumpulan datanya melalui kuesioner dan wawancara dengan teknik analisis data berupa angka-angka statistik yang mengacu pada skala likert kemudian dideskripsikan. Hasil dari penelitian ini bahwa siswa memiliki sikap toleransi dengan kategori sangat tinggi dan konversi sangat toleransi. Penelitian ini bermanfaat untuk menambah pengetahuan dan memperluas wawasan peneliti dibidang pendidikan khususnya dalam sikap toleransi, dan sebagai bahan pertimbangan untuk peneliti yang akan datang.
PENGEMBANGAN BAHAN BACAAN PERMULAAN DENGAN METODE KATA LEMBAGA PADA SISWA KELAS I SEKOLAH DASAR
Authors: Wildasari Ayu
Published: May 2022

Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian pengembangan bahan bacaan permulaan dengan metode kata lembaga pada siswa kelas I sekolah dasar. Rumusan masalah dalam penelitian ini adalah: bagaimana pengembangan bahan bacaan permulaan dengan metode kata lembaga pada siswa kelas I sekolah dasar?. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah: mendeskripsikan pengembangan bahan bacaan permulaan dengan metode kata lembaga pada siswa kelas I. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian pengembangan menggunakan model ADDIE terdiri dari lima tahapan yaitu Analyse (analisis), Design (perencanaan), Development (pengembangan), Implementation (implementasi), Evaluasi (evaluasi). Pengeumpulan data dilakukan dengan menggunakan observasi dan angket, instrumen penelitian yang digunakan telah melalui proses validasi dengan validator.jenis data yang dihasilkan berupa anlisis deskriptif yang di anlisis menggunakan pedoman kriteria penilaian untuk menentukan kualitas produk.Hasil validasi dari para ahli menyatakan produk bahan bacaan permulaan dengan metode kata lembaga pada siswa kelas I Sekolah Dasar yang dikembangkan oleh penelitian sangat layak digunakan. Penilaian ahli media dengan persentase rata-rata skor 87,5% dengan kategori sangat layak, penilaian ahli materi dengan persentase rata-rata skor 93,7% dengan kategori sangat layak, penilaian ahli pengguna (media) dengan persentase rata-rata skor 87,5% dengan kategori sangat layak, dan penilaian ahli pengguna (materi) dengan persentase rata-rata skor 90,6% dengan kategori sangat layak.
Radical Equality in Ghanaian Market Fiction for Children
Authors: de Bruijn Esther
Published: May 2022

This article situates Ghana’s popular market fiction for children in relation to British colonial and official Ghanaian children’s literature and, following Rancière’s model of the ‘ignorant schoolmaster’, presses for an expectation of intelligence from the rowdy genre, toward ‘radical equality’. Joshua Kojo Sey’s Wonders Shall Never End (c. 2017) serves as a central case of how a text that may seem to lack control over its own abundance of ideas offers up vital imaginary constructs.
Turning the Corner to the Stalemate in Mental Science and Psychopathology
Authors: Jean-Claude Joseph
Published: May 2022

The cumulative sum of problems in Mental Science and Psychopathology are discomfortably many [14], not the least of which are different conceptions of mental abnormality between the subfields of Mental Science, laxed and faulty categorizations of mental disorders, lack of cultural discriminating in the definitions of disorders, overpathologizing, etc. This nearly decade-long crisis [6] reverberates at all orders of the science. Time for a remediation effort going back to the major theoretical problems haunting clinical development of Mental Science. That is the reason why I recently co-authored and published the monograph: FUNCTIONAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE HUMAN MENTAL – A Reference Psychophysics Treatise of Human Mentation and its Disorders. “Amazing work for which you deserve a good reward!” praised a highly authoritative voice in institutional Psychiatry. This writing aims at presenting the work, discussing the mentioned polemic discrepancies and deficits, and explaining how this research contributes to overcome this long-standing crisis.
Correlation of the Imbalance in the Circulating Lymphocyte Subsets With C-Reactive Protein and Cardio-Metabolic Conditions in Patients With COVID-19
Authors: Tyurin Anton V. , Salimgareeva Milyausha K. , Miniakhmetov Ildar R. , Khusainova Rita I. , Samorodov Alexandr , Pavlov Valentin N. , Kzhyshkowska Julia
Published: May 2022

The immune system is severely compromised in patients with COVID-19. The representative group of 43 patients were selected from the cohort of 342 patients with COVID-19 and pneumonia. This group of 43 patients was examined for the levels of C-reactive protein, biomarker of systemic inflammation, and for the subsets of adaptive immune cells. The immunological parameters were correlated with the metabolic parameters and cardiovascular pathology history. We identified that a decrease in the absolute number of T-lymphocytes, T-cytotoxic, T-activated and B-lymphocytes correlated with the higher levels of CRP. The absolute number of T-helpers and the absolute number of double positive T-lymphocytes positively correlated with the levels of iron in serum (Z= 0,310 and Z=0,394). The absolute numbers of T-activated lymphocytes positively correlated with serum levels of LDH (Z = 0,422), ferritin (Z = 0,407) and iron (Z = 0,418). When studying subpopulations of lymphocytes, depending on the combined pathology, we found that the absolute numbers of B-lymphocytes and double positive T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood were significantly reduced in patients with arterial hypertension (p=0,0074 and p=0,0227, correspondingly). The increased levels of NK cell were found in patients with a history of coronary heart disease (p=0,0108). In addition, we found that deficiencies in the adaptive immune system correlated with the deficiencies in iron metabolism. The cardiovascular pathology upsets the balance in the adaptive and innate immune system in the circulation of patient with severe COVID-19.
Effect of Physical Activity on Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Cerebrovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lin Huawei , Liu HuanHuan , Dai Yaling , Yin Xiaolong , Li Zuanfang , Yang Lei , Tao Jing , Liu Weilin , Chen Lidian
Published: May 2022

Background and Purpose

This study investigates the effect of physical activity (PA) on cognition in patients with cerebrovascular disease and explored the maximum benefit of different PA characteristics.

Methods

Databases, such as Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library, were searched from their inception to May 31, 2021. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to generate a forest plot. In addition, subgroup analysis, moderation analysis, and regression analysis were performed to explore the possible adjustment factors.

Results

In total, 22 studies that met the criteria were included, demonstrating data from 1,601 participants. The results indicated that PA produced a positive effect on the global cognition for patients with cerebrovascular disease (SMD: 0.20 [95% CI: 0.12–0.27]), at the same time, PA training prominently improved executive function (SMD: 0.09 [95% CI: 0.00–0.17]) and working memory (SMD: 0.25 [95% CI: 0.10–0.40]). Furthermore, patients with baseline cognitive impairment received the greater benefit of PA on cognition (SMD: 0.24 [95% CI: 0.14–0.34]) than those without cognitive impairment before intervention (SMD: 0.15 [95% CI: 0.04–0.26]). For patients in the acute stage (≤ 3 months), PA did not rescue impairment dysfunction significantly (SMD: 0.08 [95% CI: −0.04–0.21]) and remarkable cognitive gains were detected in the chronic stage of participants (>3 months) (SMD: 0.25 [95% CI: 0.16–0.35]). Moderate intensity PA showed a larger pooled effect size (SMD: 0.23 [95% CI: 0.11–0.36]) than low intensity (SMD: −0.01 [95% CI: −0.44–0.43]) and high intensity (SMD: 0.16 [95% CI: 0.03–0.29]). However, the different types, duration, and frequency of PA resulted in no differences in the improvement of cognitive function. Further regression analysis demonstrated that the beneficial effects of PA on cognition are negatively correlated with age (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

This study revealed that PA can prominently improve the cognitive ability in patients with cerebrovascular diseases and strengthened the evidence that PA held promise as a widely accessible and effective non-drug therapy for vascular cognitive impairment (VCI).
Periodontitis in First Degree-Relatives of Individuals With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Short Narrative Review
Authors: Zekeridou Alkisti , Gilbert Benoit , Finckh Axel , Giannopoulou Catherine
Published: May 2022

Periodontal disease (PD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are chronic inflammatory diseases with a bi-directional relationship. Both share common genetic and environmental risk factors and result in the progressive destruction of bone and connective tissue. First degree relatives of patients with RA (FDR-RA) are one of the at-risk populations for RA. The etiopathogenic mechanisms of their susceptibility are currently being explored, focusing mostly on the role of anti–cyclic citrullinated protein/ peptide antibodies (ACPA) in triggering RA. Oral microbiota and their relation with oral health has been suggested as a factor influencing the risk of the FDR-RA developing RA. In particular, compromised periodontal status often correlates with ACPA seropositivity in FDR-RA. The presence of periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, in oral microbiota has been proposed to increase the risk of developing RA through its uniquely expressed peptidyl arginine deiminase (PPAD), capable of citrullinating both host and bacterial peptides. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and its leukotoxin A (LtxA), also induces hypercitrullination in host neutrophils. Common risk factors of periodontitis and RA such as genetic predisposition, smoking, higher local and systemic inflammatory burden, are discussed in the literature. Based on those mechanisms periodontal disease seems to be presented as one of the factors triggering RA in FDR-RA. Larger studies evaluating all the potential mechanisms linking RA and periodontitis are needed in FDR-RA to confirm that periodontal disease should be considered in the screening of FDR-RA.
The Sustainable Prescription: Benefits of Green Roof Implementation for Urban Hospitals
Authors: O'Hara Aprelle C. , Miller Amelia Christine , Spinks Hailey , Seifert Alexandria , Mills Tirzah , Tuininga Amy R.
Published: May 2022

If worldwide healthcare was a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet. The increase in global temperatures, combined with the negative impacts of urbanization, has made it more important than ever to introduce green spaces where possible. With climate change worsening, human health, both physically and mentally is on decline, making the effects of climate change especially pressing to the stability of healthcare systems. In order to mitigate the lasting impacts of climate change on healthcare facilities, a holistic solution is needed. Access to green space in hospitals has been shown to reduce emotional distress, improve mental health, increase socialization and community connection, increase physical activity, decrease cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, decrease pain management needs and hospital stay lengths and increase both patients' and staffs' overall satisfaction at the facility. Beyond benefiting those interacting with the hospital, green roofs have the ability to reduce the urban heat island effect, improve stormwater mitigation, increase biodiversity, and absorb toxins and pollutants through air filtration. Additionally, green roofs can offer lower maintenance costs and higher energy savings than traditional roofs, and improve patient satisfaction, which can result in future funding opportunities. However, the upfront and upkeep costs of installing a green roof can vary and must be considered before implementation. In this review, we explore the symbiotic relationship between urban green roofs and hospital/patient wellness through the lens of sustainability, which includes environmental, societal, and economic impacts. We review scientific journal articles investigating benefits of green space and green roofs and highlight examples of green roofs on hospitals in the United States; together, these approaches display the environmental, societal, and economic benefits of green roofs installed on healthcare facilities. This review offers insight to hospitals, decision makers, and government systems on the importance of green roofs in urban areas and how these infrastructures can support the economic growth of the institute. Using our framework, decision makers and planners for urban hospitals can evaluate how the addition of green roofs to their healthcare facilities can contribute to increased environmental resiliency, community health, and patient satisfaction.
Characterizing an Air-Bearing Testbed for Simulating Spacecraft Dynamics and Control
Authors: Huang Zheng , Zhang Wei , Chen Ti , Wen Hao , Jin Dongping
Published: May 2022

Ground-based testbeds play a critical role in developing and testing different methods of spacecraft dynamics and control. To find the dynamic behavior in such an air-bearing testbed, a detailed characterization of the testbed must be provided via systematic testing approaches. This paper describes a planar air-bearing testbed to develop control methods in spacecraft on-orbit operations. This testbed has an almost frictionless surface and can be used to simulate two-dimensional motions in the microgravity environment, with one rotational and two translational degrees of freedom (DOF). The hardware and software architectures of the testbed are presented in detail and key parameters are characterized by a series of systematic test approaches. In addition, a new visual navigation method was designed as an alternative to the external visual system. Finally, two typical case studies are presented to demonstrate the performance of the developed testbed.
3D Component Segmentation Network and Dataset for Non-Cooperative Spacecraft
Authors: Zhao Guangyuan , Wan Xue , Tian Yaolin , Shao Yadong , Li Shengyang
Published: May 2022

Spacecraft component segmentation is one of the key technologies which enables autonomous navigation and manipulation for non-cooperative spacecraft in OOS (On-Orbit Service). While most of the studies on spacecraft component segmentation are based on 2D image segmentation, this paper proposes spacecraft component segmentation methods based on 3D point clouds. Firstly, we propose a multi-source 3D spacecraft component segmentation dataset, including point clouds from lidar and VisualSFM (Visual Structure From Motion). Then, an improved PointNet++ based 3D component segmentation network named 3DSatNet is proposed with a new geometrical-aware FE (Feature Extraction) layers and a new loss function to tackle the data imbalance problem which means the points number of different components differ greatly, and the density distribution of point cloud is not uniform. Moreover, when the partial prior point clouds of the target spacecraft are known, we propose a 3DSatNet-Reg network by adding a Teaser-based 3D point clouds registration module to 3DSatNet to obtain higher component segmentation accuracy. Experiments carried out on our proposed dataset demonstrate that the proposed 3DSatNet achieves 1.9% higher instance mIoU than PointNet++_SSG, and the highest IoU for antenna in both lidar point clouds and visual point clouds compared with the popular networks. Furthermore, our algorithm has been deployed on an embedded AI computing device Nvidia Jetson TX2 which has the potential to be used on orbit with a processing speed of 0.228 s per point cloud with 20,000 points.
Enzymatic Activity of Soil after Applications Distillery Stillage
Authors: Bartkowiak Agata , Lemanowicz Joanna , Rydlewska Magdalena , Drabińska Olga , Ewert Karol
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the fertilizing value of rye stillage used in the cultivation of winter triticale cv. ‘Grenado’. The research was performed in 2018 (autumn, before the application of the stillage), 2019, and 2020 (spring and autumn after stillage application) on Luvisoil at the depth levels of 0–20 and 20–40 cm. Each year, the basic soil parameters were analyzed, i.e., pH in 1M KCl, organic carbon (Corg), available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu). Enzymes were also accounted: alkaline phosphatase (AlP), acid phosphatase (AcP), and dehydrogenases (DEH). The use of stillage resulted in a significant increase in the content of P, K, and Mg and the activity of AlP, AcP, and DEH in the soil. It significantly increased the Corg content and did not have a significant effect on pH. The obtained results indicate that the response of the enzymatic activity to the distillery stillage depended on both the sampling season soil and the depth. However, it is necessary to systematically monitor the pH of the soil and at the same time to rationally apply mineral fertilization.
Evaluation of the Equations to Predict Net Energy Requirement for Lactation in the Cattle Feeding System: Based on the Literature Database
Authors: Jeon Seoyoung , Kang Hamin , Park Seongmin , Seo Seongwon
Published: May 2022

The net energy requirement for lactation (NEL) equals the milk energy, which is the sum of the energy content from the energy-yielding nutrients in milk. The specific nutrients and their calories, however, vary depending on the feeding system. The objective of this study was to evaluate NEL prediction equations used in cattle feeding systems. A total of 11 equations from 6 feeding systems were assessed. For evaluation, a database was constructed based on the literature, and data for three nutrients (lactose, fat, and protein) were used to evaluate the equations. The equations were classified into three tiers based on the variables: Tier 1 (all three nutrients), Tier 2 (fat and protein), and Tier 3 (fat). NEL predicted by the equations were comparatively evaluated based on a reference value computed using Tyrrell and Reid’s equation. All equations showed high predictivity (in order, Tier 1, 2, and 3). Tier 1 equations showed a nearly perfect fit; however, for accurately predicting NEL, at least Tier 2 equations are recommended. The predictivity of theoretically derived equations was as high, or higher, as the predictivity of empirical equations. Thus, empirical development of an accurate equation to predict NEL, which requires a large amount of data, can be avoided.
Prediction of the Irrigation Area Carrying Capacity in the Tarim River Basin under Climate Change
Authors: Liu Qi , Liu Yi , Niu Jie , Gui Dongwei , Hu Bill X.
Published: May 2022

The Tarim River Basin (TRB) is one of the world’s largest cotton-producing areas, and its agricultural water use accounts for up to 95% of the total water consumption in the basin. Quantifying the future changes in the irrigation area carrying capacity under global warming is therefore essential in TRB. In this study, we analyzed the variation in the irrigation area in TRB over the last few decades, utilized the nonlinear autoregressive with an exogenous input neural network to simulate the future changes in the available water resources, and predicted the future irrigation area carrying capacity based on the water balance equation. The results showed that the present (1970–2020) irrigation area in TRB exhibited an increasing trend from 491 km2 in 1970s to 1382 km2 in 2020, as most of the natural vegetation was transformed into cropland. In the future (2022–2050), the available water resource will show an upward tendency while the irrigation area carrying capacity mainly ranges from 12×102–21×102 km2 and 17×102–30×102 km2 under scenarios SSP (shared socioeconomic pathway) 245 and SSP585, respectively. The simulated results will provide useful information for the allocation of water resources and the regional sustainable development of TRB.
Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Different Pastures Implemented as a Management Strategy for Climate Change
Authors: Alfaro Marta , Hube Sara , Salazar Francisco , Beltrán Ignacio , Rodriguez Marion , Ramírez Luis , Saggar Surinder
Published: May 2022

The increase in global average temperature has significant implications for food security and agriculture production. Grass species adapted to new climate scenarios are essential for the success of livestock production. The aim of this study was to evaluate different forage species, providing animal feed during critical dry periods as an adaptation strategy for livestock grazing systems, and its implications for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The field experiment was conducted during September 2015 to September 2017, with four treatments (n = 5, completely randomized block design), including two perennial forages, Bromus valdivianus (Bromus), Lotus corniculatus (Lotus), alone and in a mixture pasture (Br/L). As a control treatment, the forage species commonly seeded by the farmer was used (hybrid ryegrasses + Oat, Control). One-half of the plots was used for nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) measurements, and the remaining half for destructive soil and forage sampling. Gas fluxes were measured using the static chambers technique. Cumulative emissions of N–N2O, C–CH4 and CO2−eq were not affected by treatments, averaging 1.7 kg N–N2O ha−1, 3.2 kg C–CH4 ha−1 and 635.5 kg CO2 ha−1, respectively (p > 0.05). However, emission intensity tended to be lower for Br/L compared with other treatments (p = 0.06) during the second year, while pasture yield was greater for Br/L (p < 0.05). The control showed a greater average pasture yield (first and second years) compared to other treatments, with the highest metabolizable energy and the lowest crude protein content. Our results suggest that a mix pasture Br/L as a management strategy would promote farm adaptation, given that it favors pasture yield at critical dry periods during the year. This inclusion also reduces N–N2O emissions from grassland soils as well as favoring C–CH4 capture. Our study determined that N–N2O and C–CH4 emissions were regulated by soil variables, mainly soil moisture and soil temperature. Extension and knowledge transfer should be provided to farmers to account for potential adoption barriers, such as low short-term yield.
Assessment of Economic Efficiency of Water Use through a Household Farmer Survey in North China
Authors: Ma Lexin , Ren Dandan , Yang Yonghui , Sheng Zhuping , Yu Linfei , Han Shumin , Yang Yanmin , Hou Zhenjun
Published: May 2022

Water use efficiency (WUE) is one of the most widely used indicators in agricultural water management. Although this indicator has obvious advantages, it is limited to measuring the relationship between crop yield and corresponding water use. In recent years, many researchers have noted that understanding the economic efficiency of water use (EEWU) could have great water-saving potential, while it has been poorly investigated with respect to China’s agricultural water management. This paper assesses EEWU through a household farmer-level survey in the piedmont region of North China. First, EEWU of crops are estimated based on agricultural water consumption (including irrigation water and effective precipitation) and profit (including gross profit and net profit); Second, the impact of monthly price changes in 2019 and annual price changes in 2014–2019 on EEWU is analysed. Main conclusions are as follows: (1) EEWU values of cash crops such as apple and cauliflower are much higher than those of grain crops such as wheat and maize; (2) For different crops, the median economic efficiency of irrigation water (EEWiU) and total water (EEWtU) range from 31.71 to 99.54 ¥/m3 and 11.31 to 44.05 ¥/m3, respectively; (3) The multi-year average EEWiU and EEWtU ranged from 4.75 to 63.99 ¥/m3 and from 2.67 to 31.71 ¥/m3, respectively. Economic efficiency of water use shows a slightly downward trend in the period of study, which would contradict the trend towards the use of more water-efficient technologies and shows an even larger margin of improvement in the domain of agricultural water efficiency. The results provide a powerful reference for the management of agricultural water use through economic leverage.
Short-Term Responses of Soil Organic Carbon Pool and Crop Performance to Different Fertilizer Applications
Authors: Kim Young-Nam , Cho Young-Sang , Lee Ji-Hyun , Seo Han-Ryul , Kim Bo-Hyun , Lee Dan-Bi , Lee Yong Bok , Kim Kye-Hoon
Published: May 2022

Some intensive farmers tend to expect short-term beneficial effects by applying soil amendments, but inconsistent fertilization practices are often conducted, causing economic losses and environmental problems. This study aimed at investigating the short-term application effects of different soil amendments on soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, biogeochemical properties, and crop performance for finding the best land management approach using one-year field trial growing Chinese cabbages. This filed experiment was conducted in 2020 and included eight fertilizer treatments: control (w/o fertilizers), chemical fertilizer (CF), manure compost (MC), double MC amount (2MC), CF + MC, CF + rice husk (RH), MC + RH, and CF + MC + RH. As a result, the concentrations of recalcitrant to labile C forms, including Loss-On-Ignition C (LOIC), Walkley-Black C, permanganate oxidizable C (POXC), and microbial biomass C, were the highest in a mixture of MC and RH and 2MC. Additionally, the treatment with the largest difference from the control in key soil parameters was 2MC: bulk density (10%), total N (30%), available P (186%), and CO2 (433%) and N2O (825%) emissions, followed by MC + RH. Moreover, more than 20% higher fresh weight (FW) of cabbage was found in 2MC and MC + RH than in the control. Therefore, these two organic amendments appeared to benefit SOC storage and overall soil biogeochemical processes, contributing to higher biomass crop production. Moreover, LOIC significantly correlated to bulk density, available P and K, and FW, while POXC significantly correlated to N concentration in plants, indicating the short-term fertilization effects on the status of SOC fractions and the qualities of soil and plant by applying soil amendments. Overall, our findings suggest that applying MC + RH would be an alternative to replace the conventional farming practices for promoting soil quality and crop performance, but further studies to sustain the application effects of this amendment should be monitored for longer durations.
Effects of Long-Term Mowing on Biomass Composition in Pannonian Dry Grasslands
Authors: Házi Judit , Penksza Károly , Barczi András , Szentes Szilárd , Pápay Gergely
Published: May 2022

This study is focused on the vegetation of seminatural dry grasslands. These grasslands are valuable with large biodiversity; however, their long-term preservation requires regular conservation management. This report demonstrates the results of a 13-years mowing experiment, designed to suppress the spread of an unpalatable grass species, Calamagrostis epigejos. The study site was located in mid-successional grasslands, in the Western-Cserhát, near Rád, Northern Hungary. The experimental design consisted of eight permanent plots, where mowing was applied twice a year. The vegetation was sampled annually (from 2001 to 2013). The impacts of mowing were tested using repeated–measures analyses of variance (ANOVA). In 2001, Calamagrostis epigejos was the species with the highest cover in both the mown and control sites, with an average cover value of 63%. However, as a result of mowing, a significant difference was detected in the amount of litter and legumes species as well. The number of species showed an increase in both types of treatment, from 15 to 37 in the mowed plots, but also from 18 to 27 in the control plots. We concluded that mowing twice a year proved to be a useful measure for modifying botanical composition of a grassland. It was well suited for agricultural usage, in particular grazing, which can replace the expensive and time-consuming scythe. Mowing can also be a suitable management measure for controlling native invader species such as Calamagrostis epigejos, and can significantly increase the proportion of species with higher forage values.
Systemic Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Health in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hertiš Petek Tjaša , Petek Tadej , Močnik Mirjam , Marčun Varda Nataša
Published: May 2022

Recent studies indicate that cerebrovascular diseases and processes of atherosclerosis originate in the childhood era and are largely influenced by chronic inflammation. Some features of vascular dysfunction in adulthood may even be programmed prenatally via genetic influences and an unfavorable intrauterine milieu. Oxidative stress, defined by an imbalance between the production and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells and tissues and the capability of an organism to scavenge these molecules via antioxidant mechanisms, has been linked to adverse cardiovascular health in adults, yet has not been systematically reviewed in the pediatric population. We performed a systematic search as per the PRISMA guidelines in PubMed/Medline and Cochrane Reviews and detected, in total, 1228 potentially eligible pediatric articles on systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, antioxidant use, cardiovascular disease and endothelial dysfunction. The abstracts and full-text manuscripts of these were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a total of 160 articles were included. The results indicate that systemic inflammation and oxidative stress influence cardiovascular health in many chronic pediatric conditions, including hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2, chronic kidney disease, hyperlipidemia and obstructive sleep apnea. Exercise and diet may diminish ROS formation and enhance the total serum antioxidant capacity. Antioxidant supplementation may, in selected conditions, contribute to the diminution of the oxidative state and improve endothelial function; yet, in many areas, studies provide unsatisfactory results.
Methionine Cycle Rewiring by Targeting miR-873-5p Modulates Ammonia Metabolism to Protect the Liver from Acetaminophen
Authors: Rodríguez-Agudo Rubén , Goikoetxea-Usandizaga Naroa , Serrano-Maciá Marina , Fernández-Tussy Pablo , Fernández-Ramos David , Lachiondo-Ortega Sofía , González-Recio Irene , Gil-Pitarch Clàudia , Mercado-Gómez María , Morán Laura , Bizkarguenaga Maider , Lopitz-Otsoa Fernando , Petrov Petar , Bravo Miren , Van Liempd Sebastiaan Martijn , Falcon-Perez Juan Manuel , Zabala-Letona Amaia , Carracedo Arkaitz , Castell Jose Vicente , Jover Ramiro , Martínez-Cruz Luis Alfonso , Delgado Teresa Cardoso , Cubero Francisco Javier , Lucena María Isabel , Andrade Raúl Jesús , Mabe Jon , Simón Jorge , Martínez-Chantar María Luz
Published: May 2022

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) development is commonly associated with acetaminophen (APAP) overdose, where glutathione scavenging leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and hepatocyte death. DILI is a severe disorder without effective late-stage treatment, since N-acetyl cysteine must be administered 8 h after overdose to be efficient. Ammonia homeostasis is altered during liver diseases and, during DILI, it is accompanied by decreased glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) expression and S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) levels that suggest a reduced methionine cycle. Anti-miR-873-5p treatment prevents cell death in primary hepatocytes and the appearance of necrotic areas in liver from APAP-administered mice. In our study, we demonstrate a GNMT and methionine cycle activity restoration by the anti-miR-873-5p that reduces mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. The lack of hyperammoniemia caused by the therapy results in a decreased urea cycle, enhancing the synthesis of polyamines from ornithine and AdoMet and thus impacting the observed recovery of mitochondria and hepatocyte proliferation for regeneration. In summary, anti-miR-873-5p appears to be an effective therapy against APAP-induced liver injury, where the restoration of GNMT and the methionine cycle may prevent mitochondrial dysfunction while activating hepatocyte proliferative response.
Styrylpyrones from Phellinus linteus Mycelia Alleviate Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver by Modulating Lipid and Glucose Metabolic Homeostasis in High-Fat and High-Fructose Diet-Fed Mice
Authors: Chiu Chun-Hung , Chang Chun-Chao , Lin Jia-Jing , Chen Chin-Chu , Chyau Charng-Cherng , Peng Robert Y.
Published: May 2022

Phellinus linteus (PL), an edible and medicinal mushroom containing a diversity of styrylpyrone-type polyphenols, has been shown to have a broad spectrum of bioactivities. In this study, the submerged liquid culture in a 1600-L working volume of fermentor was used for the large-scale production of PL mycelia. Whether PL mycelia extract is effective against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is still unclear. In the high fat/high fructose diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD C57BL/6 mice study, the dietary supplementation of ethyl acetate fraction from PL mycelia (PL-EA) for four weeks significantly attenuated an increase in body weight, hepatic lipid accumulation and fasting glucose levels. Mechanistically, PL-EA markedly upregulated the pgc-1α, sirt1 genes and adiponectin, downregulated gck and srebp-1c; upregulated proteins PPARγ, pAMPK, and PGC-1α, and downregulated SREBP-1 and NF-κB in the liver of HFD-fed mice. Furthermore, the major purified compounds of hispidin and hypholomine B in PL-EA significantly reduced the level of oleic and palmitic acids (O/P)-induced lipid accumulation through the inhibition of up-regulated lipogenesis and the energy-metabolism related genes, ampk and pgc-1α, in the HepG2 cells. Consequently, these findings suggest that the application of PL-EA is deserving of further investigation for treating NAFLD.
Multivariate Network Layout Using Force-Directed Method with Attribute Constraints
Authors: Xu Zhuang , Mao Tingyun , Xu Guangluan , Wang Yang , Lin Daoyu
Published: May 2022

Graph visualization with proper layout is widely applied to understand the relationship between entities in a complex system and the topological structure information is mainly used. Real-world graphs often have the community structures property which is ignored in many existing graph layout methods. Thus, we propose a multivariate network layout method using the force-directed method with attribute constraints. This method can effectively take into account the hierarchical structure, connection strength, and quantitative comparison between communities. First, the layout of community centers is generated by a force-directed algorithm in which node count of the community is taken as constraints to enable area balance of community; Second, community force based on node attribute is added in the force-directed algorithm to maintain the community clarity. A visualization system is also developed to allow users to interactively generate community structure-aware layout results. qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the results verifies the usability and effectiveness of the proposed method by comparing it with other methods.
Multi-View 3D Transesophageal Echocardiography Registration and Volume Compounding for Mitral Valve Procedure Planning
Authors: Carnahan Patrick , Moore John , Bainbridge Daniel , Chen Elvis C. S. , Peters Terry M.
Published: May 2022

Three-dimensional ultrasound mosaicing can increase image quality and expand the field of view. However, limited work has been done applying these compounded approaches for cardiac procedures focused on the mitral valve. For procedures targeting the mitral valve, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the primary imaging modality used as it provides clear 3D images of the valve and surrounding tissues. However, TEE suffers from image artefacts and signal dropout, particularly for structures lying below the valve, including chordae tendineae, making it necessary to acquire alternative echo views to visualize these structures. Due to the limited field of view obtainable, the entire ventricle cannot be directly visualized in sufficient detail from a single image acquisition in 3D. We propose applying an image compounding technique to TEE volumes acquired from a mid-esophageal position and several transgastric positions in order to reconstruct a high-detail volume of the mitral valve and sub-valvular structures. This compounding technique utilizes both fully and semi-simultaneous group-wise registration to align the multiple 3D volumes, followed by a weighted intensity compounding step based on the monogenic signal. This compounding technique is validated using images acquired from two excised porcine mitral valve units and three patient data sets. We demonstrate that this compounding technique accurately captures the physical structures present, including the mitral valve, chordae tendineae and papillary muscles. The chordae length measurement error between the compounded ultrasound and ground-truth CT for two porcine valves is reported as 0.7 ± 0.6 mm and 0.6 ± 0.6 mm.
Methodology to Implement a Microgrid in a University Campus
Authors: Garcia Yuly V. , Garzon Oscar , Andrade Fabio , Irizarry Agustin , Rodriguez-Martinez Omar F.
Published: May 2022

This paper presents the method we followed to design a microgrid at a university campus based on available resources. Due to introduction of renewable resources to produce energy, a methodology that allows design a microgrid in a university campus is very useful. Hence, we present a series of steps that must be carried out to estimate the resource to be used, the installation, area needed, and the capacity of the systems needed are also described. In addition, the models of the distributed resources that constitutes the microgrid are presented and explained. To validate the proposed methodology, simulations were performed using Opal-RT-LAb. As a test scenario we selected the Mayagüez campus of the University of Puerto Rico where we conducted analysis of the available resource and capacity of the systems is needed to satisfy demand of critical loads, considering a predetermined number of days of austerity. Our study results in determination of dimensions, cost and effectiveness of the microgrid. Simulations results also show that the proposed microgrid satisfy demand with the same reliability, or better, than the traditional electrical network. Additionally, the best options for this purpose are photovoltaic, batteries, and combined heat and power, if the technological advances and availability of resources to the date for Puerto Rico are considered.
Can a 3D Virtual Imaging Model Predict Eagle Syndrome?
Authors: Nastro Siniscalchi Enrico , Mormina Enricomaria , Cicchiello Samuele , Granata Francesca , Vinci Sergio Lucio , Galletta Karol , Catalfamo Luciano , De Ponte Francesco Saverio
Published: May 2022

Eagle Syndrome is an underestimated syndrome with broad and often unspecific signs and symptoms. Both the neuropathic and vascular patterns need a thorough investigation in terms of all their clinical and radiological aspects. A positional/dynamic study is mandatory in the case of suspicion of Eagle Syndrome due to the strong influence of head and neck positions. This work aims to propose a new virtual technique able to predict conflicts between the styloid process and neck vascular structures.
Measurement-While-Drilling Based Estimation of Dynamic Penetrometer Values Using Decision Trees and Random Forests
Authors: García Eduardo Martínez , Alberti Marcos García , Arcos Álvarez Antonio Alfonso
Published: May 2022

Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) that consists of the application of various algorithms to obtain information from large data sets. These algorithms are especially useful to solve nonlinear problems that appear frequently in some engineering fields. Geotechnical engineering presents situations with complex relationships of multiple variables, making it an ideal field for the application of machine learning techniques. Thus, these techniques have already been applied with a certain degree of success to determine such things as soil parameters, admissible load, settlement, or slope stability. Moreover, dynamic penetrometers are a very common type of test in geotechnical studies, and, in many cases, they are used to design the foundation solution. In addition, its continuous nature allows us to know the variations of the terrain profile. The objective of this study was to correlate the drilling parameters of deep foundation machinery (Measurement-While-Drilling, MWD) with the number of blows of the dynamic penetrometer test. Therefore, the drilling logs could be equated with said tests, providing information that can be easily interpreted by a geotechnical engineer and that would allow the validation of the design hypotheses. Decision trees and random forest algorithms have been used for this purpose. The ability of these algorithms to replicate the complex relationships between drilling parameters and terrain characteristics has allowed obtaining a reliable reproduction of the penetrometric profile of the traversed soil.
An Approach to Aid Decision-Making by Solving Complex Optimization Problems Using SQL Queries
Authors: Torres-Jimenez Jose , Rangel-Valdez Nelson , De-la-Torre Miguel , Avila-George Himer
Published: May 2022

In combinatorial optimization, the more complex a problem is, the more challenging it becomes, usually causing most research to focus on creating solvers for larger cases. However, real-life situations also contain small-sized instances that deserve a researcher’s attention. For example, within a web development context, a developer might face small combinatorial optimization cases that fall in the following situations to solve them: (1) the development of an ad hoc specialized strategy is not justified; (2) the developer could lack the time, or skills, to create the solution; (3) the efficiency of naive brute force strategies might be compromised due to the programming paradigm use. Similar situations in this context, combined with a recent increasing interest in optimization information from databases, open a research area to develop easy-to-implement strategies that compete with those naive approaches and do not require specialized knowledge. Therefore, this work revises Structured Query Language (SQL) approaches and proposes new methods to tackle combinatorial optimization problems such as the Portfolio Selection Problem, Maximum Clique Problem, and Graph Coloring Problem. The performance of the resulting queries is compared against naive approaches; its potential to extend to other optimization problems is studied. The presented examples demonstrate the simplicity and versatility of using a SQL approach to solve small optimization problem instances.
Measures and Methods for the Evaluation of ATO Algorithms
Authors: Bochmann Patrick , Jaekel Birgit
Published: May 2022

There is increasing interest in automating train operations of mainline services, e.g., to increase network capacity. Automatic train operation (ATO) is already achieved by several pilot projects, but is still not implemented on a large scale. Functional, interoperability and performance tests are necessary before ATO can be introduced generally. Virtual preliminary analysis will contribute to the validation process to ensure a safe and successful implementation. This paper aims to present an approach that applies to the performance testing of ATO systems. Therefore, methods and test standards for technologies enabling automatic operation in other transport sectors are reviewed. The main findings have been adapted, transformed and combined to be used as a general strategy for virtual performance testing in the railway sector. Specifically, universal performance indicators commonly used in the railway sector, namely punctuality, accuracy, energy consumption, safety and comfort, are presented. They are refined by adding sub-indicators specific to the performance evaluation of ATO algorithms. A layer model for scenario description is adapted from the automotive sector, as well as the definition of different scenario types. Lastly, factors that can influence the performance of an ATO algorithm are identified. For demonstration purposes, a simple case study is conducted. Thereby we exemplarily show-cased the approach for ATO performance testing using a microscopic train simulator in combination with an ATO algorithm.