bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An overview of wind-energy-production prediction bias, losses, and uncertainties
Authors: Lee Joseph C. Y. , Fields M. Jason
Published: March 2021

Abstract. The financing of a wind farm directly relates to the preconstruction energy yield assessments which estimate the annual energy production for the farm. The accuracy and the precision of the preconstruction energy estimates can dictate the profitability of the wind project. Historically, the wind industry tended to overpredict the annual energy production of wind farms. Experts have been dedicated to eliminating such prediction errors in the past decade, and recently the reported average energy prediction bias is declining. Herein, we present a literature review of the energy yield assessment errors across the global wind energy industry. We identify a long-term trend of reduction in the overprediction bias, whereas the uncertainty associated with the prediction error is prominent. We also summarize the recent advancements of the wind resource assessment process that justify the bias reduction, including improvements in modeling and measurement techniques. Additionally, because the energy losses and uncertainties substantially influence the prediction error, we document and examine the estimated and observed loss and uncertainty values from the literature, according to the proposed framework in the International Electrotechnical Commission 61400-15 wind resource assessment standard. From our findings, we highlight opportunities for the industry to move forward, such as the validation and reduction of prediction uncertainty and the prevention of energy losses caused by wake effect and environmental events. Overall, this study provides a summary of how the wind energy industry has been quantifying and reducing prediction errors, energy losses, and production uncertainties. Finally, for this work to be as reproducible as possible, we include all of the data used in the analysis in appendices to the article.
Bitcoin Returns and the Frequency of Daily Abnormal Returns
Authors: Caporale Guglielmo Maria , Plastun Alex , Oliinyk Viktor
Published: March 2021

This paper investigates the relationship between Bitcoin returns and the frequency of daily abnormal returns over the period from June 2013 to February 2020 using a number of regression techniques and model specifications including standard OLS, weighted least squares (WLS), ARMA and ARMAX models, quantile regressions, Logit and Probit regressions, piecewise linear regressions, and non-linear regressions. Both the in sample and out-of-sample performance of the various models are compared by means of appropriate selection  criteria and statistical tests. These suggest that, on the whole, the piecewise linear models are the best, but in terms of forecasting accuracy they are outperformed by a model that combines the top five to produce “consensus” forecasts. The finding that there exist price patterns that can be exploited to predict future price movements and design profitable trading strategies is of interest both to academics (since it represents evidence against the EMH) and to practitioners (who can use this information for their investment decisions).
Intergenerational Transfers of Infant Mortality in 19th-Century Northern Sweden
Authors: Broström Göran , Edvinsson Sören , Engberg Elisabeth
Published: March 2021

This contribution is part of an international comparative initiative with the aim to assess the analytical power of the Intermediate Data Structure (IDS) in a study of possible intergenerational transmissions of death in infancy. An evaluation of the data in applied research will be useful for further development of the IDS structure and for its future use in comparative research. An additional methodological aim for this part of the study is to evaluate and compare different models for statistical analysis of intergenerational transfers. The analysis is based on a cohort of mothers born 1826-1854, whose experiences of infant mortality are compared to the ones of the previous generation, the grandmothers. Data are collected from Swedish parish records, available in the database POPUM at the Demographic Data Base in Umeå. The analysis shows a clear association between infant mortality among mothers and grandmothers. The probability of an infant death for a woman is increased if her mother also had experienced an infant death. Having tested for different approaches of analysis, we found that simple models with few restrictive assumptions gave similar results as more complicated models. Since it is easy to feel confident in the models with the weakest assumptions, we argue that such models are preferred for this type of analysis.
The Intergenerational Transfer of Infant Mortality in Northern Norway during the 19th and Early 20th Centuries
Authors: Sommerseth Hilde Leikny
Published: March 2021

This paper is one of a series of five studying the intergenerational transfer of infant mortality down the maternal line. All five studies share the same theoretical and methodological design, and use data derived from a standard database format: the Intermediate Data Structure (IDS). The data for the research reported in this paper were derived from a longitudinal dataset covering the 19th and 20th century population of the province of Troms in Northern Norway. Our results suggest that there was an element of intergenerational transmission in women’s risk of experiencing an infant death; the children of a woman whose mother had had a high number of infant deaths also had a greater risk of dying before their first birthday. The risk of an infant death occurring among the children of daughters from such ‘high risk’ families was at least 30 per cent higher than that amongst infants born to the daughters of mothers who had experienced zero infant deaths.
An Overview of the BALSAC Population Database. Past Developments, Current State and Future Prospects
Authors: Vézina Hélène , Bournival Jean-Sébastien
Published: March 2021

The BALSAC database, developed since 1971, contains data on the Quebec population from the beginnings of European settlement in the 17th century to the contemporary period. Today, BALSAC is a major research infrastructure used by researchers from Quebec and elsewhere, both in the social sciences and in the biomedical sciences. This paper presents the evolution and current state of the database and offers a perspective on forthcoming developments. BALSAC contains marriage certificates until 1965. Coverage is complete for Catholic records (80 to 100% of the population depending on the region and the period) and partial for the other denominations. Birth and death certificates from all Catholic parishes have been integrated for the period 1800–1849 and work in underway for 1850–1916. All the records entered in BALSAC are subject to a linkage process which, ultimately, allows the automatic reconstitution of genealogical links and family relationships. The basic principle has remained the same since the beginning, namely to match individuals based on the nominative information contained in the sources. The changes made in recent years and the resulting gains are mostly related to IT advances which now offer more flexibility and increased performance. Future perspectives rest on the diversification of the sources of population data entered or connected to the database and, as a corollary, by continuous optimization of data processing and linkage procedures. In the era of 'big data', BALSAC is gradually moving from a historical population database to a multifaceted infrastructure for interdisciplinary research on the Quebec population.
Low-Intensity Exercise as a Modifier of Depressive Symptoms and Self-Perceived Stress Level in Women with Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Morga Paulina , Cieślik Błażej , Sekułowicz Małgorzata , Bujnowska-Fedak Maria , Drower Iris , Szczepańska-Gieracha Joanna
Published: March 2021

The study aims to determine the impact of low-intensity exercise and psychoeducation on depressive symptoms and self-perceived stress in women with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Seventy-four women (mean age 69.35 ± 7.20) were included in the study. Participants were divided into two groups: those with MetS (n = 33) and those without MetS (n = 41). Subjects participated in low-intensity general-fitness exercise sessions combined with psychoeducation distributed regularly over a 12-week period. Participants completed the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS) and the Stress Level Questionnaire (SLQ) before and after the intervention. All investigated parameters significantly decreased for the participants with metabolic syndrome after the intervention. The level of GDS in this group decreased by approximately 37% (p < 0.01), and SLQ by around 23% (p < 0.01). Our results suggest, that low-intensity exercise combined with psychoeducation could lower depressive symptoms and stress level in women with MetS. However, the intervention does not lower anthropometric parameter scores.
Comparison between the Holt-Winters and SARIMA Models in the Prediction of NDVI in an Arid Region in Kenya using Pixel-wise NDVI Time Series
Authors:   Department of Policy and Management Informatics, Graduate School of Applied Informatics, University of Hyogo, Kobe, Japan, Omar Mwana Said , Kawamukai Hajime
Published: March 2021

Desertification is major issue in arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) with devastating environmental and socio-economic impacts. Time series analysis was applied on 19 years’ pixel-wise monthly mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data. The aim of this study was to identify a time series model that can be used to predict NDVI at the pixel level in an arid region in Kenya. The Holt-Winters and Seasonal Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) models were developed and statistical analysis was carried out using both models on the study area. We performed a grid search to optimise and determine the best hyper parameters for the models. Results from the grid search identified the Holt-Winters model as an additive model and a SARIMA model with a trend autoregressive (AR) order of 1, a trend moving average (MA) order of 1 and a seasonal MA order of 2, with both models having a seasonal period of 12 months. It was concluded that the Holt-Winters model showed the best performance for 600 ✕ 600 pixels (MAE = 0.0744, RMSE = 0.096) compared to the SARIMA model.
Hubungan Beban Kerja dan Stres Kerja dengan Kelelahan Kerja pada Perawat di Instalasi Bedah Sentral Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Kota Langsa Tahun 2019
Authors: Mirani Nanda , Sumardi
Published: March 2021

Setiap tahun jumlah pasien Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Kota Langsa mengalami peningkatan. Hal ini membuat beban kerja perawat semakin bertambah, jika tidak adanya keseimbangan beban kerja dengan kemampuan fisik akan dapat menyebabkan terjadinya kelelahan dan jika hal ini terus berlanjut akan terjadi penurunan produktivitas kerja dan dapat memicu terjadinya stres kerja. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan beban kerja dan stres kerja dengan kelelahan kerja pada perawat Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Kota Langsa. Jenis penelitian ini bersifat analitik dengan desain cross sectional study, penelitian ini menggunakan variabel independen yaitu beban kerja dan stres kerja serta menggunakan variabel dependen yaitu kelelahan kerja. Menggunakan data primer dan sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh petugas instalasi bedah sentral Rumah sakit Umum Daerah Kota Langsa yang berjumlah 27 responden menggunakan teknik sampling jenuh. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa adahubungan beban kerja dan stres kerja dengan kelelahan kerja pada perawat di instalasi bedah sentral Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Kota Langsa.Diperoleh nilai P-Value=0,000 (p<0,05), ada hubungan beban kerja dengan kelelahan kerja pada perawat di instalasi bedah sentral Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Kota Langsa. DiperolehnilaiP-Value = 0,001 (p<0,05), ada hubunganStres kerjadengan kelelahan kerja pada perawat di instalasi bedah sentral Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Kota Langsa.
O efeito dos desastres naturais no investimento estrangeiro direto dos países
Authors: Ramos Joseli Konig , Krug Juliano , Ferretti Paula Carolina , Kroenke Adriana
Published: March 2021

Objective: This study aims to analyze the influence of natural disasters on countries' FDI.Method: We used data from 137 countries, considering the period from 2011 to 2017. The secondary data used to measure Foreign Direct Investment are from the UNCTAD - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development following the study by Alfaro et al. (2004). For data on natural disasters, the EM-DAT database - The International Disaster Database provided by CRED - Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters - was used, based on the studies by Toya Skidmore (2007) and Escaleras Register (2011). The analysis was performed through Linear Regression of panel data.Originality/Relevance: This study points to a direction of research for those interested in expanding the flows of Foreign Direct Investment in their countries, being significant in the field of business, government, public policy makers and the third sector.Results: The results show that when an economy suffers from natural disasters that cause deaths and, consequently, a reduction in human capital, foreign investors can negatively portray this fact. On the other hand, the number of occurrences and the loss in millions of dollars when analyzed individually do not discourage FDI and the presence of multinationals in the affected country. The variables: total of injured, total of affected, and total of homeless have no relation with FDI in the analyzed sample. It is indicated that, in the face of a natural disaster, countries create opportunities for the replacement and reconstruction of infrastructure and human capital.Theoretical contribution: We seek to contribute theoretically to the recent increase of studies that verify the relationship between natural disasters and FDI in the light of the institution-based view. We direct greater understanding to the premise that natural disasters affect a country's economy as they cause FDI reduction, and we provide the foundation for future studies. While previous studies are concerned with FDI determinants, being tax incentives and property rights, this study focuses specifically on the different variables that aggregate natural disasters. In addition, the study aims to expand the perception of decision makers, belonging to the government, private entities and the third sector, so that they can reduce and prevent the occurrence of natural disasters, thus attracting FDI flows in their countries.
The Evolutionary Origin of Elastin: Is Fibrillin the Lost Ancestor?
Authors: Rodriguez-Pascual Fernando
Published: March 2021

Elastin is the extracellular matrix protein providing large arteries, lung parenchyma and skin with the properties of extensibility and elastic recoil. Within these tissues, elastin is found as a polymer formed by tropoelastin monomers assembled and cross-linked. In addition to specific protein regions supporting the covalent cross-links, tropoelastin is featured by the presence of highly repetitive sequences rich in proline and glycine making up the so-called hydrophobic domains. These protein segments promote structural flexibility and disordered protein properties, a fundamental aspect to explain its elastomeric behavior. Unlike other matrix proteins such as collagens or laminins, elastin emerged relatively late in evolution, appearing at the divergence of jawed and jawless fishes, therefore present in all species from sharks to humans, but absent in lampreys and other lower chordates and invertebrates. In spite of an intense interrogation of the key aspects in the evolution of elastin, its origin remains still elusive and an ancestral protein that could give rise to a primordial elastin is not known. In this chapter, I review the main molecular features of tropoelastin and the available knowledge on its evolutionary history as well as establish hypotheses for its origin. Considering the remarkable similarities between the hydrophobic domains of the first recognizable elastin gene from the elasmobranch Callorhinchus milii with certain fibrillin regions from related fish species, I raise the possibility that fibrillins might have provided protein domains to an ancestral elastin that thereafter underwent significant evolutionary changes to give the elastin forms found today.
Breeding for Disease Resistance in Brassica Vegetables Using DNA Marker Selection
Authors: Arjina Akter Mst , Mehraj Hasan , Itabashi Takeru , Shindo Tomoe , Osaka Masaaki , Akter Ayasha , Miyaji Naomi , Chiba Naoki , Miyazaki Junji , Fujimoto Ryo
Published: March 2021

The Brassica genus comprises of agro-economically important vegetables. Disease causes great yield loss of Brassica vegetables worldwide. Different traditional methods such as crop rotation and chemical control have limited effect on different diseases of Brassica vegetables and cannot completely eradicate the pathogens by these methods. Development of disease resistant cultivars is one of the most effective, ecofriendly, and cheapest measure to control Brassica diseases. With the development of genomics, molecular biology techniques, and biological methods, it is possible to discover and introduce resistance (R) genes to efficiently control the plant diseases caused by pathogens. Some R genes of major diseases such as Fusarium wilt and clubroot in Brassica vegetables have been already identified. Therefore, we will focus to review the Fusarium wilt and clubroot resistance in Brassica vegetables and the methodologies for identification, mapping, and pyramiding of R genes/quantitative trait loci (QTLs) to develop disease resistant cultivars. These techniques will be helpful for sustainable crop production and to maintain global food security and contribute to ensure protection of food supply in the Asian country as well as throughout the world.
Temperament in the Early Elementary Classroom: Implications for Practice
Authors: Ann Sealy Martinique , Moritz Rudasill Kathleen , S. Barrett Jentry , Eum Jungwon , Adams Nicole , Hinrichs Angela , McClowry Sandee
Published: March 2021

Temperament is a contextual and biological trait that influences how an individual interacts with the environment. Although scholars have organized and prioritized different dimensions of temperament, in this chapter we focus on temperament dimensions that are most salient to—and how they are exhibited in—early childhood classrooms. Temperament continues to be an important topic in early childhood classrooms because it is both important for children learning to manage their social emotional competence, which relates to long-term academic success and positive mental health, and for teachers to develop classroom management skills that provide a positive climate for an array of children and temperament types. After introducing the notion of temperament, we describe how teachers may create environments and react to children in ways that support child temperament. Finally, INSIGHTS into Children’s Temperament, an empirically based social–emotional intervention, will be introduced. This intervention focuses on how children’s temperament unfolds in the classroom and how the adults in children’s lives can create “goodness-of-fit” for optimal outcomes.
Application of Deep Learning Methods for Detection and Tracking of Players
Authors: Ivasic-Kos Marina , Host Kristina , Pobar Miran
Published: March 2021

This chapter deals with the application of deep learning methods in sports scenes for the purpose of detecting and tracking the athletes and recognizing their activities. The scenes recorded during handball games and training activities will be used as an example. Handball is a team sport played with the ball with well-defined goals and rules, with a given number of players who can participate in the game as well as their roles. Athletes move quickly throughout the field during the game, change position and roles from defensive to offensive, use different techniques and actions, and very often are partially or completely occluded by another athlete. If artificial lighting and cluttered background are additionally taken into account, it is clear that these are very challenging tasks for object detectors and trackers. The chapter will present the results of various experiments that include player and ball detection using state-of-the-art deep convolutional neural networks such as YOLO v3 or Mask R-CNN, player tracking using Deep Sort, key player determination using activity measures, and action recognition using LSTM. In the conclusion, open issues and challenges in applying deep learning methods in such a dynamic sports environment will be discussed.
Principles of Membrane Surface Modification for Water Applications
Authors: Yurekli Yilmaz
Published: March 2021

Membrane technologies offer efficient and reliable solutions to separate components from aqueous media. Among them, pressure driven membrane separation processes namely microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) have been preferred in many industrial operations (food, pharmaceutical, chemical, drinking water, wastewater) due to the intrinsic advantages such as high selectivity, stability, ecocompatibility, scalability, flexibility, small footprint and low operational cost. This chapter will focus on the latest developments of surface modified polymeric membranes via the Layer-by-layer self-assembly approach and incorporation/decoration of nanomaterials. Variable parameters including size and charge of polyelectrolyte, ionic strength of the media, number of bilayers, and different types of nanomaterials on the bulk and surface property, water permeability, selectivity, antifouling, antibacterial, and adsorptive properties of the resultant composite membranes will be reviewed by comparison with the neat membranes. Membrane stability in terms of throughput and rejection characteristics during long-term filtrations will be addressed in this chapter.
Historical Evidence and Documentation of Remedial Flora of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)
Authors: Abasi Fozia , Shoaib Amjad Muhammad , Qureshi Huma
Published: March 2021

Determining the pharmacognostic specifications of medicinal plants used in several drugs is very necessary and actually crucial. Ethnobotany has significant role in understanding the active relations between the biological diversity and cultural systems. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is gifted with variety of medicinal plants. The theme of this chapter is to present information about wild medicinal plants in different areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Common woody species are Diospyros lotus, Taxus wallichiana, Viburnum cylindricum, and perennial herbs comprise Geranium nepalense, Oxalis acetosella and Androsace umbellata. Betula utilis, Berberis lycium, Cedrus deodara, Abies pindrow, Pinus wallichiana, Juglans regia and Salix species with large number of herbal diversity at elevations are common. Most of people use wild plants as traditional food and medicine. This ethnic flora not only plays important role in human health care but it is also an important source for present and future drug development. There is need for correct documentation, conservation of plants samples in herbarium of research institutes, and growing plants in gardens.
Rational Design and Advance Applications of Transition Metal Oxides
Authors: Ikram Muhammad , Raza Ali , Zeb Hassan Jahan , Ahmed Rafi Arslan , Rafiq Asma , Altaf Shehnila , Ashfaq Atif
Published: March 2021

An attractive class of transition metal oxides (TMOs) have been freshly concerned with increasing research interest worldwide concerning stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric configurations as well, that usually exhibits a spinel structure. These TMOs will contribute substantial roles in the production of eco-friendly and low-cost energy conversion (storage) devices owing to their outstanding electrochemical properties. The current chapter involves the summary of the latest research and fundamental advances in the effectual synthesis and rational design of TMOs nanostructures with meticulous size, composition, shape, and micro as well as nanostructures. Also applications of TMOs such as effective photocatalyst, gas sensing, biomedical, and as an electrode material that can be utilized for lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic applications. Additionally, certain future tendencies and visions for the development of next-generation advanced TMOs for electrochemical energy storage methods are also displayed.
Ladders in the orchard: What’s next for OER?
Authors: Contrada Chelsea , Good-Schiff Kathryn
Published: March 2021

A movement to encourage and increase the creation and use of open educational resources (OER) in U.S. higher education has been growing for about 20 years. In Massachusetts, for example, 71 percent of public colleges are already using OER to some extent, although the total number of courses affected remains relatively small. The most common number of OER courses per school is between 11 and 20. Studies continue to show that the high cost of textbooks is a burden for students, to the point that many states have adopted legislation to reduce textbook costs or promote OER. However, in a study that surveyed faculty from the Virginia Community College System, Dr Braddlee and Amy VanScoy concluded that use of OER is still a “niche phenomenon, the province of innovators and early adopters.” Any change, no matter how potentially beneficial, takes both time and effort.
It’s all fun and games until someone loses an ‘I’ The imaginary in playful academic development
Authors: Carr Jenni , Cunningham Catriona , Mills Jennie , Taylor Natasha
Published: March 2021

'Once upon a time four very different women went into the Academy. They did not share a disciplinary homeland but forged new bonds closer than kinship and worked together for teaching to triumph over research. Things change, and scattered to the four corners of the realm they vowed to remain true to their playful hearts. Through missives, they storied, imagined, and strove to sing new worlds of wonderment into being.'This paper chronicles their quest, tells of the old ways and the new, tells tales of beings and becomings, of how we make stories and stories make us.  We share our experience of academic development as inherently playful. We suggest that reflective practice, narratives of teaching philosophy and exploration of teaching identity engage academics with an exploration of their possible teaching selves. This potentiality is inherently fictional – we invite academics to dwell in imagined worlds, to imagine the possible, to exist in uncertainty, and initiate uncanny encounters. By engaging colleagues playfully, we can support them in pushing the boundaries of self and practice. This paper will embody an uncanny encounter, as we interrogated our work through letters exchanged and remixed to create imagined worlds and imaginary friends. A spirit of play brought a willingness to accept and embrace constraints, to try something difficult where success was not guaranteed. Extending playfulness into our methodology brought risk, challenge, and failure as we lost ourselves in fictional flow, until reflection-in-action restored us. We propose that this union between playful fiction and reflection can promise a happily ever after. Reader should we marry them?  
The Well-Being of Play in Academia Inquiring the concept of agalma in Plato’s dialogues
Authors: Linde Bill Michael
Published: March 2021

This article examines the well from which learning, teaching, and research originate. It investigates how to perform these three aspects of academic practice well and to do it in a playful manner. Instead of repeating existing knowledge and scientific methods punctiliously, the playful academic experiences and presents knowledge in new or alternative ways. Playfulness more often results in discoveries and inventions that are otherwise unthinkable.Through an analysis of a selection of Plato’s myths, allegories, and imagery, the article demonstrates how very complicated subject matters can be illustrated in a playful, synecdochic form, hereby making the unfathomable easier to approach and understand.Examining Plato’s concept of ‘agalma’ – the beautiful ornament of wisdom – the article discusses how we can see academia as a jewellery box, or as a plaything. Agalma allows us to see learning, teaching, and research as an adventurous journey or as a playful labyrinth leading into all dimensions of being.
Problematizing Peer Review: Academic Librarians’ Pedagogical Approaches to Peer Review
Authors: Wood Lana Mariko , Keer Gr
Published: March 2021

INTRODUCTION This study is the first to consider how academic librarians’ understanding of and participation in the peer review process influences their information literacy pedagogy and practice. METHODS This mixed-methods study uses a modified sequential explanatory design, beginning with a survey of academic librarians in the United States and Canada, followed by interviews with interested study participants. RESULTS & DISCUSSION The researchers find that academic librarians frequently teach about peer review, but approaches vary widely, and though some have adapted the Framework to fit their instruction about peer review, there are no best practices. Instructor demands, the length of instructional sessions, and student level influence whether and how academic librarians contextualize the peer review process. While some academic librarians draw from their personal experience in the peer review process as authors, reviewers, and/or editors in their teaching, academic librarians do not consistently report their personal experience as an influence on their teaching of the peer review process to students. CONCLUSION This article argues that academic librarians should consider the place of peer review in information literacy instruction, including interrogating how scaffolding instruction about peer review may provide a disservice to students from an equity perspective. The authors urge academic librarians who have it to draw on personal experience to contextualize their instruction about peer review.
Testing the Efficiency of Capital Structure and Assets Structure in Bank
Authors: Roziq Ahmad , Marizca Ayang , Kustono Alwan Sri
Published: March 2021

This study aims to examine and analyze the effect of capital and asset structure on the risk of financing and profitability of Islamic banks in Indonesia. This type of research is explanatory research, namely research that explains the relationship of the influence of the independent variable on the influence of the dependent variable through a hypothesis test using path analysis. The data used in this study is secondary data on capital structure, asset structure, risk, and profitability in Islamic banks for the 2014-2018 period. The data collection method used in this research is the documentation method. The results of the study conclude that capital structure has a significant effect on risk but does not have a significant effect on profitability, asset structure has no significant effect on risk and profitability and risk has a significant effect on profitability. The results of analysis and discussion can be advised the management of Islamic banks to improve the performance of Islamic banks, so the management of Islamic banks must be able to establish an efficient capital structure, namely by using temporary syirkah funds that use an efficient profit-sharing system and loans with the wadiah system.
Silver Nanoparticle: Synthesized and Antimicrobial Activity on Target Plant Pathogens
Authors: Shantamma . , Rangaswamy K. T. , Prakash N. B. , Achari Raghavendra
Published: March 2021

The growth rate of agricultural production is reducing worldwide every year due to mainly biotic and abiotic stresses including plant diseases. Various organic and inorganic methods are being used to protect plants from disease causing pathogens. Among them, use of pesticides is the most prevalent one incurring millions of dollars on pesticides globally for control of plant diseases. In recent years, environmental hazards and ill effects caused by indiscriminate use of pesticides have been widely discussed. Therefore, agriculture scientists are finding an alternative antimicrobial compounds such as nanoparticles for the management of diseases with least adverse effect on nature and ecosystem. Herein we reviewed the synthesis, antimicrobial efficacy and compatibility of silver nanoparticles which could help to develop the novel technology for crop protection.
An Exploratory Study on Digital Transformation and Communication within the Moroccan Firms
Authors: Bassim Houda
Published: March 2021

Starting from the beginning of the third millennium, firms around the world in various economic sectors have been powerfully affected by the evolution process of digital technology and associated internet developments.

The use of Internet and new digital technologies has been considered as a great revolution that will allow companies to benefit from new opportunities, in order to extend their activities and profitability, specifically through decreases in costs. While some companies have been investing rapidly in this new filed with the aim to take advantages of new opportunities, others seem to fail in following such developmental pattern.

The main research question in the present paper is to understand perceptions of a sample of Moroccan firms operating in Casablanca, regarding the currently observed process of communication-based digital transformation worldwide. In this sense, our study turns to be exploratory, that is based on open interviews, within a focus group of professionals in the digital sector, rather than on collected data and effective orientations. Such exploratory analysis will be followed by upcoming empirical studies for a more comprehensive understanding of the profession.

Our research paper aspires thereby to better grasping the process of digitalization of communication channels among the firms’ professionals, as selected. The ultimate target is to know how well firms are evolving in utilizing newly integrated digital tools, with respect to innovation and trademarks.

To address this issue in an exploratory perspective, we have resorted to a focus group-based enquiry with six professionals of firms operating in Casablanca. The methodological framework relies upon qualitative data, as collected through the conducted interviews.     

The major research finding of the present paper is that the pattern of digital transformation and communication seems to follow the one observed worldwide. Nevertheless, in spite of strong customers’ expectations, some hesitations and inadequate fundraising allocations partially explain the relative slowness of the process. In terms of policy implications, a suitable public-private partnership is still needed so as Morocco can foster digital transformation for economic and social development as well as improvements in the population’s standards of life, especially through investment in human capital for better attractivity-generating progress.
What’s in the Kitchen: Conventional Household Practices during Minor Health Problems
Authors: Bhatt Yamini , Kulshrestha Kalpana
Published: March 2021

Objective: The Food habits of the people are the outcome of the general beliefs and are deep-rooted in the minds of the people of any community. Home remedies coming from the kitchen are the basis of treating commonly occurring illnesses for a long time. The present study was aimed to study the long-established household practices that are followed for the cure of minor health problems in North India (Uttarakhand) and assess their usage trends over three generations.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: The study was done in three districts of Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, namely Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal and Haridwar. The respondents were categorized in three age group range as- 20-34 years, 35-55 years and above 56 years. A structured diet recall interview schedule was prepared for the collection of data. The subjects were asked about the previous and current practices followed for the cure of minor health problems.

Results: A list of local food items used during various ailments like Cold/ Cough, Fever, Constipation, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Jaundice was prepared. A number of commonly used spices were used for the treatment along with few special recipe preparations. Among the age group above 56 years and 35-55 years, the percentage of respondents following traditional household practices during minor health problems and considering them better than medicine was more in rural areas while among 20-34 years of age group, the percentage was more for the urban population. It was noticed that the number of respondents following these practices slightly decreased through the generations, and are still practiced among the youngest age group interviewed (60.53% of rural and 66.67% of urban subjects).

Conclusion: Documentation and validation of these household remedies is required so that they can be used for the low-cost treatment of many common ailments.
Yield Attributes and Yields of Hybrid Maize (Zea mays L.) and Lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus L.) in Sequence as Influenced by Seed Priming under Rainfed Situation
Authors: Banerjee Subhajit , Jana Kalyan , Mondal Ramyajit , Mondal Krishnendu , Mondal Awindrila
Published: March 2021

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most versatile crop grown throughout the tropical as well as temperate regions of the world. On the other hand, the lathyrus or grass pea or chickling pea is also called ‘khesari’ and is a very hardy crop that thrives well under adverse climatic conditions. It can fix biological nitrogen in their roots through symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium leguminoseram. The field experiment was conducted on seed priming of hybrid maize and lathyrus at Central Research Farm, BCKV, Nadia under new alluvial zone of West Bengal, India in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications during kharif season of 2016 and 2017 and rabi season of 2016-17 and 2017-18. Experimental results reveal that seed priming methods significantly influenced the germination, growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of hybrid maize-lathyrus grown in sequence under rainfed situation. Seed priming with ZnSO4 @ 0.5% for 12 hours recorded the highest number of grains per cob (319.9) and highest plant height (262.10 cm) at harvest of hybrid maize. Grain yield and stover yield of hybrid maize showed positive and highly significant (P = 0.01) with each other (r = 0.945). The maximum number of pods per plant (50.28) was observed in seed priming with ZnSO4 @ 0.5% for 12 hours and was statistically at par with seed priming with KNO3 @ 0.5% for 12 hours (48.33) in case of lathyrus. Number of pods/ plants showed positive and highly significant (P = 0.01) correlation with grain yield (r = 0.986) of lathyrus. On the basis of pooled values of 2 years of experimentation, seed priming with ZnSO4 @ 0.5% for 12 hours could be recommended due to higher yield (7.94 t ha-1 of kharif hybrid maize and 1682 kg ha-1 of lathyrus) and higher net return (Rs.69,904/-ha-1 for maize, Rs.40,327/- ha-1 for lathyrus) as well as highest B:C ratio (2.74 of kharif hybrid maize and 2.94 of lathyrus) for maize-lathyrus in sequence under rainfed situation.
Adolescents’ Perception, Practice and Coping Strategies during COVID-19 Pandemic in Rivers State, Nigeria
Authors: Ogubuike Chigozirm
Published: March 2021

COVID-19 is perceived as a major threat to public health and a danger to the economy globally, affecting people’s lives by influencing their everyday behaviour and causing feelings of panic anxiety, depression, and often triggering intense fear. The study was aimed at determining the perception, practice and coping strategies of adolescents in Rivers state, Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adolescent via an online Google doc questionnaire administered through WhatsApp instant messaging and about 200 responses were received within two month. About (45%) were middle adolescent (14-16 years), 52% were females, 74% in secondary school and 64% from monogamous family. Majority (66%) believed in the existence COVID-19, 36% of the adolescents perceived it was a deadly disease, 17% said it was a pandemic, 18% reported is a deadly virus that kills people fast and 6% said is a disease that ruined the whole world. About 54% were worried and perceived they might be infected with coronavirus.  Majority (94%) practiced one or more forms of COVID-19 preventive practices. Following the coping strategies, majority of the adolescents used more of emotion-focused way of coping than problem-focused way of coping. The male gender used more of problem focused way of coping than the female gender. Findings of this research are useful to better understand the coping strategies utilized by adolescents and help formulate intervention strategies to tackle various psychosocial problems during COVID-19 among adolescents.
Governance and the New Corona Virus (COVID-19) Outbreak in the World: Empirical Evidence
Authors: Ghislain Melingui Bate Adalbert Abraham , Messsono Omang Ombolo , Homère Nsoga Nsoga Mermoz , Blaise Tsomb Tsomb Etienne Inédit
Published: March 2021

Aims: This paper aims to analyze the effect of public governance on the spread and mortality of the new corona virus. It focuses on the effects of differences observed in government’s responsiveness on the spread and mortality of this pandemic around the world.

Sample: Our study is based on a sample of 129 countries from December, 8th 2019 to May 5th, 2020.

Methods: The Ordinary Least Squares method is applied to cross-sectional data. We also proceed by descriptive statistics and scatter analyses to access the effect of public governance on the spread and the mortality of the Covid-19.

Results: The results obtained show that government response time favors the speed of spread, level of infection, and mortality related to the Covid-19. The results indicate that countries in which governments have reacted early have lower levels of contamination and deaths than those that reacted late. Finally, our results suggest that the stringency of early government measures is a capital factor explaining the spread and mortality of this virus. Our results are robust to regional specificities, which distinguish relatively more resilient developing countries from developed countries with higher levels of contagion and mortality. Then, we recommend for all categories of countries a greater speed and rigour in government responsiveness in the management of pandemic diseases.
Detection of Unspecified Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis via Metabolite Analysis and Machine Learning
Authors: Kim Elliot , Kouznetsova Valentina L. , Tsigelny Igor F.
Published: March 2021

The current standard of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially, Crohn’s disease (CD), diagnosis is set through an invasive endoscopy procedure. However, serum metabolites hold potential as useful biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis and treatment of IBDs. The goal of this research was to elucidate the biomarkers including metabolites and genes related to IBDs, to show their distinguishing and common features, and to create a machine-learning (ML) model for recognition of each disease. We explored metabolic pathways and gene–metabolite networks related to unspecified-IBD (uIBD), Crohn’s diseaseand ulcerative colitis (UC). P38 MAPK, ERK1/2, AMPK, and proinsulin were found to be closely related to the pathology of IBDs. The best performing ML model, trained on filtered disease-specific metabolite datasets, was able to predict metabolite class with 92.17% accuracy. Through examination of IBD-related serum, significant relationships between the inputted metabolites and certain metabolic and signaling pathways were found, which can be pinpointed and used to increase accuracy of disease diagnoses. Development of a ML model including metabolites and their chemical descriptors made it possible to achieve considerable accuracy of prediction of the IBDs. Our results elucidate a large variety of metabolites, genes, and pathways that could be used for better understanding of IBDs’ molecular mechanisms.
Study of Cardiovascular Diseases Risk in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Can Be Comparable with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Abdalla Reham M. , Elsawy Abdallah A. , Alshafi Mohamed H. , Eissa Abdelmoteleb T.
Published: March 2021

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease. Cardiovascular manifestations are common in SLE, which may have a wide range of severity and one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common metabolic diseases. One of the major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases is DM, which is the most common cause of death among diabetic patients.

Aim of the Work:  evaluation of subclinical atherosclerosis as a predictor for CVD in patients with SLE and DM.

Methods: 50 SLE patients, 50 T2DM patients, 50 diabetic SLE patients and 50 healthy controlled subjects were enrolled in this study. They were undergone to Doppler examination of the extra-cranial portion of the carotid and femoral arteries measuring the intima-media thickness.

Result: In SLE the subclinical atherosclerosis was present in 22% of patients and was significantly associated with older age (p˂0,001), high blood pressure (p=0,023), overweight (p=0,004), proteinuria (p˂0,001), total cholesterol (p=0,004), active disease (p=0,007), high SLEDAI score (p˂0,001) and long duration of SLE (p˂0,001); whereas in diabetic patients the subclinical atherosclerosis was documented in 24% and was significantly associated with older age (p˂0,001), overweight (p˂0,001), proteinuria (p˂0,001), low hemoglobin (p=0,041), total cholesterol (p=0,001), LDL (p˂0,001), uncontrolled diabetes (p=0,005) and long duration of diabetes (p=0,001) but in SLE diabetic patients the subclinical atherosclerosis was documented in 44% of patients.

Conclusion: Subclinical atherosclerosis is frequent in patients with SLE and increases with increased disease activity. Subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE diabetic patients was significantly more than that in SLE or diabetic patients.
Molecular Docking Evaluation of the Desert Truffles as Potent Antifungal Inhibitors
Authors: Al-Mazaideh Ghassab M. , Al-Swailmi Farhan K. , Parrey Mujeeb Ur Rehman
Published: March 2021

The research investigated the possible antifungal behavior of forty-four truffles bioactive compounds conducted to investigate the interaction modes of these inhibitors against three different types of the fungal proteins: Candida albicans, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Ganoderma microsporum. The applied method in contrast to ketoconazole and griseofulvin revealed the possible anti-fungal agents ergosterol, Catechin gallate and rutin. With respect to Candida Albicans, the maximum possible binding energy was ergosterol (-11.75 Kcal/mol), followed then by catechin gallate (-11.46 Kcal/mol) then rutin (-9.90 Kcal/mol). Compared to Blastomyces, Ganoderma microsporum fungal protein with most negative binding energy among other components of the truffle is found to be of a relatively similar behavior for the same compounds. Ergosterol demonstrated the highest binding capacity for dermatitidis, while rutin scored the lowest against Ganoderma microsporum. The possible anti-fungal components of desert truffle have yet to be studied in vitro in the future.
Counselor Education and Supervision: 2019 Annual Review
Authors: La Guardia Amanda C.
Published: March 2021

A total of 139 articles on counselor education and supervision published in professional counseling journals during 2019 were reviewed. A variety of methods were used, providing perspectives on current supervision issues, the training of counselors, curriculum developments, and associated professional issues. Implications include a need for continued research on online teaching and school counselor supervision and exploration of inclusion and advocacy efforts.