bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mobile Learning sebagai Alternatif Pengembangan Keprofesian Berkelanjutan Guru Profesional
Authors: Effendi Hansi , Hendriyani Yeka
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this article is to discuss the use of information and communication technologies in the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for Teachers. CPD simply means learning to help someone fulfill its role in the present or the future more effective, to maintain standards of professional competence, and keep up-to-date with the increasingly competitive job market. This is a form of individual responsibility towards lifelong learning, increasing the level of employability and professional practices, identify and plan to acquire further skills required, planning a career change, and ensure that the professional work standards can be maintained. Mobile learning (m-learning) is a model of learning that utilize information and communication technologies that can be accessed at any time using information technology tools handheld and mobile, such as PDAs, mobile phones, laptops and tablet PCs, is expected to facilitate teachers in carrying out a series of reflective activities designed to increase knowledge, understanding and skills. The learning model is also expected to maintain, improve, and expand the knowledge and skills of teachers and develop their qualities required in their professional lives beyond what they get in basic training they received when they work for the first time. CPD is an absolute need to be done by each individual so that he can work optimally in the profession. In the end, it must also be supported by the institution where he/she works, because ideally CPD is an integral part of a person's work and the results will not only benefit the individuals themselves, but also beneficial to the institution where he/she worked. Furthermore, it need to considered about the application of this Agreement that both parties are aware of and try to think of effective ways to increase professionalism in the workplace.
Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cultural Differences and Similarities in Executive Functioning in the United States
Authors: Rea-Sandin Gianna , Korous Kevin Michael , Causadias José M.
Published: October 2018

Executive functioning has important implications for multiple developmental processes and outcomes. However, the degree to which executive functioning varies between and within racial/ethnic groups in the United States is less understood. To address this issue, we will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of overall executive functioning and its three core components: inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Our goals are to: 1) examine differences across these components between Whites and minorities, as well as differences between- (e.g., African-Americans, Latinos) and within- (e.g., Latinos: Mexican-Americans, Cuban-Americans) minority groups; and 2) test potential moderators of these differences (e.g., sex, age, measure). We will address the implications of these findings in terms of support for the cultural differences and similarities hypotheses.
Transformative Educational Research: Fleshing Out the Concepts
Authors: Luitel Bal Chandra , Wagley Shree Krishna
Published: October 2018

In reference to this special issue, the idea of transformative educational research (TER) brings into light the integrated meanings on ‘the what’, ‘the why’, ‘the how’, ‘the who’, and ‘what next’ of transformative research approach in education, bringing together the ideas shared in the conference, and existing theoretical referents in this area of knowledge/practice. This concept note, thus, primarily seeks to define transformative research approach in education, taking into consideration what an associated research and practitioner agenda might look like. So as to achieve this purpose, this paper frames TRE practices so far, and creates space to think on future directions for education, and educational research through different sub-headings: (1) TER as multidimensional approach, (2) TER as a response to paradigm shift, (3) TRE as arts-based multi-paradigmatic space, (4) TER for emerging leaders at various spheres of life-world, and (5) TER as imagining the world beyond the given.
Doing, Teaching, Learning and Thinking About Mathematics – On Becoming a Transformative Teacher
Authors: Pant Binod Prasad
Published: October 2018

I solved many mathematical problems till today - countless academic problems inside the classroom, and a few pragmatic problems outside. At the beginning of my teaching career, I spent significant time convincing my students that mathematics teaching is an algorithmic problem solving of routine mathematical items to get the correct answers. Afterwards, I slowly took a shift from doing mathematics to teaching mathematics, identifying lots of tricks, tips and techniques. I spent more than a decade to train myself with better techniques to become a better mathematics teacher seeking better achievements of students in written tests. Later on, I engaged myself as a math learner and sought the significance of the methods I employed to teach the mathematical concepts, relation, and logics. I am now at the crossroads of searching better alternatives that help students learn mathematics in a meaningful way. I frequently ask myself why I am teaching mathematics. What does a good mathematics teacher mean? What we do is largely guided by what we believe. Questioning on the widely accepted assumptions, examining the deep-rooted beliefs for the positive shift, and highlighting the epiphanies of my professional life could be very essential on becoming a transformative teacher. In this paper, I portray my narratives as a student and as a mathematics teacher to explain my shift towards becoming a transformative teacher. Through my verisimilitude narratives, I invite readers to examine their beliefs and practices on teaching mathematics, and envisage for better alternatives being aware of their limitations and contexts.
Attending an Academic Conference: Story of a First Time Attendee
Authors: Bhandari Binaya
Published: October 2018

This non-refereed contribution to the special issue of Journal of Education and Research portrays the reflective experiences of a novice researcher who attended the First International Conference on Transformative Education Research and Sustainable Development in Dhulikhel, Nepal, in October 2016. I begin by introducing my interest in participating in academic and scientific conferences, reflect upon the mentorship received during my Master of Philosophy study at Kathmandu University School of Education, examine my dual roles of a volunteer in conference organization and a poster presenter at the same conference, and share my impressions of the conference environment. I conclude with some final thoughts on how I could enlarge conference learning.
Making of a Good Teacher: Transformative Expressions of Inner Life in Education Narratives of Living, Being and Knowing Together
Authors: Ojha Gaurav
Published: October 2018

This research paper recollects transformative expressions of inner life in education using expressive language to reconstruct experiential narratives of educators following on with collaborative turn as encouraged in qualitative research. Similarly, this paper reflects on transformative expressions of inner life in education by putting together first person monologues of educators, generated through dialogues. This paper, in addition, reveals their lived pedagogical experiences, their stories, hopes, courage, convictions, creativity and struggles in an education system where educators are most often encouraged to suppress their inner self, somewhere clandestine rather than share the relational richness of their inner life with students. Besides, the paper argues that good teaching takes its reference from inner landscape of an educator. My research participants are aware that by making a difference in their inner life and by infusing transformative orientations of their inner life within their educational practices, they can also make a difference in the lives of their students. They are able to sustain transformative interpersonal relationships with their students, which encourage them to live a life of self-awareness, freedom, character, joy, appreciation, acceptance and creativity. Finally, the paper ends with a realisation that inner life of an educator, including his/her compassion, courage, concern and care, serves as a guiding force for a meaningful relationship that creates transformative possibilities in education.
Educators' Perspectives on Animal Welfare and Ethics in the Australian and New Zealand Veterinary Curricula
Authors: Tzioumis Vicky , Freire Rafael , Hood Jennifer , Johnson A. Jane , Lloyd Janice , Phillips Clive J.C. , McGreevy Paul D.
Published: October 2018

The current study was designed to explore the importance that veterinary science educators in Australian and New Zealand universities assign to animal welfare and ethics (AWE) topics as Day One/Initial Competences for new graduates. An online questionnaire was deployed in parallel with an equivalent study of veterinary science students at these educators' schools. Responses were received from 142 educators (51% females n=72 and 49% males n=70), representing an overall participation rate of 25%. Questions were clustered according to seven areas of veterinary employment: general practice, production animals, companion animals, wild animals, aquatic animals, animals kept for scientific purposes, and animals used in sport and recreation. The most highly rated topics for each of these clusters were: professional ethics in general practice, euthanasia in companion animals, strategies to address painful husbandry procedures in production animals, veterinarians' duties to wild animals in animals in the wild, aquatic animal health and welfare issues in aquatic animals; competence in the 3Rs (replacement, refinement and reduction) in animals kept for scientific purposes, and responsibilities of ownership in sport and recreation. Female educators rated many of the topics as significantly more important than did their male counterparts. Educators teaching one or more ethics-related subjects were less likely to rate neutering and euthanasia as important as those not teaching these subjects. The educators' focus on practical issues clashes with a perceived need for veterinarians to actively embrace animal ethics. Overall, the perspectives of these educators should be carefully considered as they are likely to influence student attitudes.
Assessing Differences in Understanding of Companion-Animal Preventive Care between a Veterinary Health Care Team and Pet Owners in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Authors: Corrigan Virginia K. , Nappier Michael T. , Bartl-Wilson Lara , Freeman Mark , Werre Stephen R. , Tempel Eric
Published: October 2018

Preventive health care visits to primary care veterinary practices in the United States have been on the decline over the past decade. One of the main factors that has been identified is a lack of understanding by pet owners regarding the importance of preventive care. The Partners for Healthy Pets Opportunity Survey was adapted for use in this study to determine whether there were differences in perceptions of a veterinary health care team between team members and clients, specifically regarding preventive care specifically within the Community Practice service of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Results of this cross-sectional study revealed that the clients and veterinary health care team tended to be aligned in most areas regarding companion-animal preventive care. There were some specific areas that differed, including a disconnect regarding components of feline wellness visits, reliable sources of medical information, and strength of recommendations from the veterinary health care team. The Partners for Healthy Pets Opportunity Survey could be adapted for use in other university-based companion-animal general-practice teaching environments to better understand differences between clients and the veterinary health care team regarding preventive care and thereby improve educational and service goals of primary care veterinary education. Efforts to better understand and mitigate potential communication gaps between pet owners and veterinary health care teams have the potential to improve preventive care not only in university-based practice but also in private clinical practice.
Am I Being Understood? Veterinary Students’ Perceptions of the Relationship between Their Language Background, Communication Ability, and Clinical Learning
Authors: King Eva , Henning Joerg , Green Wendy J. , Turpin Merrill J. , Schull Daniel N.
Published: October 2018

During clinical workplace learning, effective communication between veterinary students and clinical staff is of paramount importance to facilitating learning, assessment, and patient care. Although studies in health sciences education have indicated that students may experience communication difficulties as a result of linguistic, cultural, and other factors and that these difficulties can affect clinical learning and academic outcomes, this has not yet been explored in veterinary clinical educational contexts. In this study, the authors sought to identify whether final-year veterinary students perceived that their communication ability influenced their clinical learning and, if so, whether language background was of significance. Seventy-one students from a final-year cohort at an Australian veterinary school completed a student perception survey at the end of their clinical training. Exploratory factor analysis was used to investigate the extent to which learners perceived that their communication ability influenced their clinical learning. Two factors explained 72.3% of total variance. Factor 1 related to communication ability as a source of concern; Factor 2 related to comprehending and contributing to clinical conversations. Communication ability as a source of concern differed significantly ( p < .001) between students who did and did not have an English-speaking background, but there was no significant difference between these two student groups for Factor 2. Although language background was associated with self-perceived communication ability, evidence also emerged that students may experience communication challenges during clinical learning, irrespective of their language background.
Tracking Veterinary Students’ Acquisition of Communication Skills and Clinical Communication Confidence by Comparing Student Performance in the First and Twenty-Seventh Standardized Client Encounters
Authors: Englar Ryane E.
Published: October 2018

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education mandates that veterinary students graduate with competence in clinical communication. Communication competence facilitates the successful transition of students into clinical practice by improving veterinary client satisfaction and reducing the risk of litigation. Curricular experimentation with communications training has led to innovative approaches to this content area, including the adoption of standardized patients from human health care education. Although the use of standardized clients (SCs) is time and resource intensive, their use by veterinary educators has allowed students to work through authentic cases in a safe learning environment in which learner goals drive training. Despite the increasing popularity of SC-based communications curricula, outcomes assessment studies that track the resultant student growth are lacking. Ninety students in the inaugural class of 2018 at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine participated in 27 SC encounters over eight consecutive quarters. Students’ use of Calgary-Cambridge Guide communication skills was compared in the first and twenty-seventh encounters. On the basis of SC evaluations of student performance, students increased their use of all communication skills in the final encounter compared with baseline. Students were also more likely to take a comprehensive patient history, build rapport, and retain the client. Mean scores for pre- and post-encounter communication confidence, as self-reported by students, also increased. These findings support that a SC-rich curriculum facilitates student acquisition of communication skills and promotes confidence when students approach entry-level clinical tasks such as history taking.
Analysis Of Electrical Resistivity Data For The Delineation Of Ground Water Prospective Zones At Karchana Block Of Allahabad District. U. P. India
Authors: J.Ganvir Vinit , Singh Arjun , Kumar Pushpesh , Kr. Singh Amaresh , Kumar Vineet
Published: October 2018

Electrical resistivity of sounding of Karchana block was conducted to delineating the ground water feasibility and selection of sites for installation of bore wells. The reason for choosing this area have undergone stress for the natural resources like water is continuous declining of ground water due to urbanization and industrialization also it was dark block in 2008. 2 D resistivity imaging technique was utilized. The 2 D resistivity technique/electrical resistivity technique utilized the Schlumberger electrode array configuration because this array is moderately sensitive to both vertical and horizontal structures.Twenty (20) vertical electrical resistivity soundings were acquired with ABEM resistivity Terameter in Schlumberger configuration.
Life Satisfaction Of Elderly Aged People In Relation To Demographic Variable
Authors: Sarafat Md , Akter Shamima
Published: October 2018

The Study was conducted with a view to find out the relation of life satisfaction of elderly aged people with their gender, marital status, educational qualification, socioeconomic status and types of residence. The samples of the present study comprised of 197, their age ranges from 65 to 90 years recruited from two old home institutes and outside of the old home institute situated in the same area
Reverse Transfer Of L2 To L1: The Case Of Code-Switching
Authors: Ghobadi Shima , Reza Talebinejad Mohammad
Published: October 2018

Issues related to the learners’ use of the foreign language and the mother tongue (code-switching) in the foreign language classroom and their role in language teaching and learning processes have been a common area of research. This study aimed at investigating Reverse Transfer of L2 to L1.To this end, 50 Iranian intermediate EFL learners (25 males, 25 females) at Islamic Azad University, Shahreza Branch studies in the second semester of the academic year 2016-2017 were selected through the convenience sampling method. They were then assigned randomly to the experimental and control groups.
Investments in education – investments in the future
Authors: Danilchenko Sergei Leonidovich
Published: October 2018

In this article, the problem of quality education in general and the question of investing in education in particular are studied. Modern consumers invest in their education, seeing in these investments the opportunity to increase their attractiveness and value in the labor market, and large organizations, industries invest in training of personnel, considering this contribution as a guarantee of their own survival in the conditions of global competition. The author notes changes and updates of investment directions in the field of education, as well as promising areas of activity in the secondary vocational education of Sevastopol.
Organization of methodical work in pre-school educational institution at the current stage of education development
Authors: Kovtun Olga Aleksandrovna
Published: October 2018

In present article the main requirements to the organization of methodical work in the pre-school educational institution are considered. The author identified the problems associated with professionalism and interest of teachers in the work, as well as possible ways of solving these issues by introducing non-traditional methods and forms of interaction with the team. The work contains examples of the most modern ones of them: dispute, business game and team building. The article also examines the main criteria for assessing the effectiveness of methodical work in pre-school educational institution.
The surnames and the names of the parts of the characters in the novel of L.N. Tolstoy's «Anna Karenina»
Authors: Khodeev Fyodor Pavlovich
Published: October 2018

The article proposes an original version of the origin of the names of the main characters of the novel L.N. Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. The author of the article, exploring the novel and extensive materials on it, shows an amusing but systematic replacement of L.N. Tolstoy when working on the novel the names of the heroes of the novel from Greek to Jewish, and from Jewish to Greek. This and other facts of the famous novel indicate changes in the work of the great Russian writer, not noticed by other researchers. In addition, the article shows the account of Russian characters when choosing the names of the main characters.
Development of sports psychology: psychological methods of training of athletes
Authors: Voronov Nikolay Andreevich
Published: October 2018

In this article the characteristic of use of various psychological technologies in sport is given, the psychological methods used by sports psychologists for studying of relationship in team and drawing up individual psychological cards of the athlete are given. On the basis of the carried-out diagnostics and drawing up psychological cards of athletes selection of candidates in the course of the trainings can be made and also during competitions and preparation for them that allows to improve personal qualities of athletes.
The practice-analytical approach in the process of study of organic chemistry
Authors: Khromtsova Elena Viktorovna , Chekmareva Larisa Ivanovna
Published: October 2018

The article presents the experience of using the practice-analytical approach in the process of study of organic chemistry at the University. The conceptual base for the restructuring of the course was the extended interpretation of A. M. Butlerov's postulates. The practical-analytical approach consists in changing the order of studying organic compounds: from properties – to structure, in contrast to the traditional approach: from structure – to properties. The purpose of the restructuring of the course is the formation of the necessary competencies for a limited number of hours in the discipline and in the presence of a huge volume of information. The role of organic compounds in the world around us is emphasized.
Model of the constitutionalism in the development of modern Russian legal education
Authors: Sadykov Iskander Anvarovich
Published: October 2018

The article studies the development processes of Russian legal education, which should be based on the idea of implementing a model of constitutionalism. The attention of the author is paid to the problems of legal understanding, the construction of a state based on the rule of law, the goal of which should be the establishment of coordinated interaction between all subjects of legal relations – the state, society, personality, which need to be paid attention by modern law education. The paper notes that the assertion of a constitutionalism model in society as a general social value is connected with the authority of fair legislation.
The Impact of Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship Education on Student’s Motivation and Skills: A Case Study of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan
Authors: Ali Shah Pir Imad , Sultan Fahad
Published: October 2018

There is general agreement that attitudes towards the entrepreneurial activity, and its social function is determinant factors for university students to decide an entrepreneurial career. This study focuses on the impact of entrepreneurship education on student’s motivation and skills towards enterprise education in Mardan. The study was conducted to find out the attitude, motivation, and skills of young student’s towards starting a business. The aim of this study is to find out the impact of entrepreneurial education on students and their motivation and skills towards entrepreneurship in Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan. Data has been collected from a sample of 90 students of Management Sciences Department at AWKUM in Mardan through questionnaires. Data were collected only from Bachelors and Master’s Program Students of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan. The result reveals that entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education is having an impact on student’s motivation and skills.
Relationship Analysis of Islamic Banking between Malaysia and Pakistan
Authors: Faisal Jamal Khurram
Published: October 2018

Islamic banking is basically a system of financial intermediation, its primary objective is to avoid receipt and payment of interest. Islam does not only prohibit dealing with interest but also with liquor, pork, gambling, pornography and any other thing which are considered haram according to Shariah. The objectives of the research is to study and describe the Islamic financing techniques used by Islamic banking institutions in Malaysia and Pakistan. For this research seven variables Promotion, Product, Preference, Knowledge, Performance, Problem and Infrastructure was taken. Qualitative technique was used to answer the research objective. The findings of research indicate that lack of awareness of Islamic banking is very high in Pakistan as compared to Malaysia. A few promotions were used by Islamic banks in Pakistan while in Malaysia customers are knowledgeable about Islamic banking because banks promote them aggressively. There is a need of government and education sector support to promote Islamic banking in both countries. The study also found that Islamic banks in Malaysia have large range of products as compared to Pakistan. The practitioners from both countries are agreed at this point that BBA, Ijarah and Murabaha are more profitable and less risky than Musharaka and Mudaraba. The Islamic banking products are almost used for same purposes in both countries while some differences are also exists. 

Keywords: Islamic Finance, Comparative Study, Malaysia, Pakistan
Analisis Faktor-Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Perilaku Wajib Pajak Terhadap Penggunaan E-Filing
Authors: Herawan Lavenia , Waluyo Waluyo
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this research is to analyze the influence of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, security and privacy to the use of e-Filing. The object of this research is the individual taxpayer who uses e-Filing and registered in the Tax Office (KPP) Pratama Kosambi.. This research used primary data in the form of questionnaires were 117 pieces. The method used in this research is the causal study and the sampling technique that used is convenience sampling. The method that used is multiple regression analysis. The results of this study indicate that: (1) perceived usefulness has influence on the use of e-Filing, (2) perceived ease of use has influence on the use of e-Filing, (3) the security and privac has influence on the use of e-Filing, (4) perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, security and privacy have influence simultaneously on the use of e-Filing.

Keywords: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, security and privacy, the use of  Filing
Pengaruh Orientasi Pasar dan Perilaku Kewirausahaan Terhadap Kepekaan Perusahaan Dan Implikasinya Pada Kinerja Perusahaan: Studi pada Penyalur Sepeda Motor di Indonesia
Authors: Adinoto Adinoto
Published: October 2018

This research, test the impact of the market orientation and entrepreneurship behavior to organization responsiveness and implication to company’s performance by utilizing the data of AISI (Asosiasi Industry Sepeda Motor Indonesia) motorcycle dealers companies’ in Indonesia. Moreover, As the tools for this analysis are  using SPSS 16.0 and LISREL 8.8. There are few results from this research. Firstly, market orientation does not have significant impact towards entrepreneurship behavior. Secondly, market orientation does have positive and significant impact towards company’s responsiveness. Thirdly, entrepreneurship behavior does have positive and significant impact towards company’s responsiveness. Fourthly, the company’s responsiveness does have positive and significant impact towards company’s performance.

Keywords: Dealership, Market Orientation, Entrepreneurship, trust, responsiveness, Performance
Pengaruh Kualitas Layanan Terhadap Loyalitas Nasabah Dengan Intermediasi Kepuasan Nasabah Dan Nilai Yang Dirasakan Nasabah
Authors: Nursiana Adinoto
Published: October 2018

The bank’s customer service quality is one of the primary factor that can eﬀect customer’s loyality. This research examined the eﬀect of service quality on customer loyalty with the intermediation customer satisfaction and intermediation customer perceived value. As analycal tool in this research is using soware LISREL 8.80.Result from this research. ﬁrst, service quality has a positif and signiﬁcant impact on customer satisfaction. Second, service quality has a positif and signiﬁcant impact on customer perceived value. Third, customer satsfaction has a positif and signiﬁcant impact on customer loyalty. Fourth, customer perceived value has a negatif and does not have signiﬁcant impact on customer loyalty. So as to enhance customer loyalty, banks need to provide the best quality service that will improve customer stisfaction.

Keyword : Service quality, customer satisfaction, customer perceived value, customer loyalty.
Pengaruh Ilustrasi Dalam Novel Genre Fantasi Terhadap Nilai Jual
Authors: Megawati Shienny
Published: October 2018

Penggunaan elemen visual berupa ilustrasi novel bukanlah hal yang baru. Namunakhir-akhir ini makin banyak ditemui novel khususnya yang bergenre fantasi yang menyertakanilustrasi di dalamnya demi meningkatkan dan nilai jual novel. Penelitian ini dilakukanuntuk mengetahui pengaruh Ilustrasi dalam novel terhadap nilai jual
Model Pendidikan Agama Anak bagi Wanita Karir Keluarga Muslim di Kota Malang
Authors: Mahrus Mahrus
Published: October 2018

Peran wanita sebagai Ibu rumah tangga ataupun wanita yang berkarir memiliki kewajiban yang sama untuk memberikan pendidikan agama bagi anak. Setiap Ibu memiliki tujuan pendidikan mewujudkan yang ingin diraih oleh anaknya agar dapat menjadi pribadi yang baik. Berangkat dari keinginan ini para ibu yang juga berkarir sebagai pegawai pabrik rokok, pegawai bank dan guru tersebut melakukan berbagai upaya untuk memberikan pendidikan agama bagi anaknya sebagai pengganti ketiadaannya selama berkarir melalui beberapa kegiatan seperti TPQ, dititipkan pada tetangga dan di masukkan ke lembaga pedidikan yang memberikan porsil lebih pada aspek keagamaan seperti Playgroup Qurrotun Ayun, TK Permata Iman, TK Insan Amanah, TK Muslimat, MIN 1 Malang dan lain sebagainya. Hasil yang didapat dari berbagai upaya tersebut adalah anak terbiasa melakukan sholat 5 waktu sejak kecil, bersopan santun pada orang tua, berperilaku baik kepada tetangga dan lain sebagainya.
Non-Linear Langevin and Fractional Fokker–Planck Equations for Anomalous Diffusion by Lévy Stable Processes
Authors: Anderson Johan , Moradi Sara , Rafiq Tariq
Published: October 2018

The numerical solutions to a non-linear Fractional Fokker–Planck (FFP) equation are studied estimating the generalized diffusion coefficients. The aim is to model anomalous diffusion using an FFP description with fractional velocity derivatives and Langevin dynamics where Lévy fluctuations are introduced to model the effect of non-local transport due to fractional diffusion in velocity space. Distribution functions are found using numerical means for varying degrees of fractionality of the stable Lévy distribution as solutions to the FFP equation. The statistical properties of the distribution functions are assessed by a generalized normalized expectation measure and entropy and modified transport coefficient. The transport coefficient significantly increases with decreasing fractality which is corroborated by analysis of experimental data.
Adaptive Robust Optimization-Based Optimal Operation of Microgrids Considering Uncertainties in Arrival and Departure Times of Electric Vehicles
Authors: Choi Se-Hyeok , Hussain Akhtar , Kim Hak-Man
Published: October 2018

The optimal operation of microgrids is challenging due to the presence of various uncertain factors, i.e., renewable energy sources, loads, market price signals, and arrival and departure times of electric vehicles (EVs). In order to incorporate these uncertainties into the operation model of microgrids, an adaptive robust optimization-based operation method is proposed in this paper. In particular, the focus is on the uncertainties in arrival and departure times of EVs. The optimization problem is divided into inner and outer problems and is solved iteratively by introducing column and constraint cuts. The unit commitment status of dispatchable generators is determined in the outer problem. Then, the worst-case realizations of all the uncertain factors are determined in the inner problem. Based on the values of uncertain factors, the generation amount of dispatchable generators, the amount of power trading with the utility grid, and the charging/discharging amount of storage elements are determined. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated using three different cases, and sensitivity analysis is carried out by varying the number of EVs and the budget of uncertainty. The impact of the budget of uncertainty and number of EVs on the operation cost of the microgrid is also evaluated considering uncertainties in arrival and departure times of EVs.
Identification of Safety-Related Opinion Leaders among Construction Workers: Evidence from Scaffolders of Metro Construction in Wuhan, China
Authors: Xiong Chaohua , Liang Kongzheng , Luo HanBin , Fung Ivan W. H.
Published: October 2018

This study aimed to reveal opinion leaders who could impact their coworkers’ safety-related performance in Chinese construction teams. Questionnaires were distributed to 586 scaffolders in Wuhan to understand their opinions about influencing their coworkers, serving as the foundation for a social network analysis to identify the potential opinion leaders among workers. A further controlled trial with the identified workers was conducted to select real opinion leaders by comparing their influence on others’ safety-related behavior, followed by an association analysis to profile these opinion leaders. Two main sources of opinion leaders were identified: foremen and seasoned workers. Implementing interventions through opinion leaders resulted in better safety-related behavior performance. Furthermore, compared with education level, the association analysis results indicated that one’s practical skills and familiarity with respondents was more important in the formulation of opinion leaders. This research introduces the concept of opinion leaders into construction safety and proposes an approach to identify and validate opinion leaders within a crew, thus providing a tool to improve behavior promotion on sites, as well as a new perspective for viewing interactions among workers.
QSAR and Classification Study on Prediction of Acute Oral Toxicity of N-Nitroso Compounds
Authors: Fan Tengjiao , Sun Guohui , Zhao Lijiao , Cui Xin , Zhong Rugang
Published: October 2018

To better understand the mechanism of in vivo toxicity of N-nitroso compounds (NNCs), the toxicity data of 80 NNCs related to their rat acute oral toxicity data (50% lethal dose concentration, LD50) were used to establish quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) and classification models. Quantum chemistry methods calculated descriptors and Dragon descriptors were combined to describe the molecular information of all compounds. Genetic algorithm (GA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) analyses were combined to develop QSAR models. Fingerprints and machine learning methods were used to establish classification models. The quality and predictive performance of all established models were evaluated by internal and external validation techniques. The best GA-MLR-based QSAR model containing eight molecular descriptors was obtained with Q2loo = 0.7533, R2 = 0.8071, Q2ext = 0.7041 and R2ext = 0.7195. The results derived from QSAR studies showed that the acute oral toxicity of NNCs mainly depends on three factors, namely, the polarizability, the ionization potential (IP) and the presence/absence and frequency of C–O bond. For classification studies, the best model was obtained using the MACCS keys fingerprint combined with artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm. The classification models suggested that several representative substructures, including nitrile, hetero N nonbasic, alkylchloride and amine-containing fragments are main contributors for the high toxicity of NNCs. Overall, the developed QSAR and classification models of the rat acute oral toxicity of NNCs showed satisfying predictive abilities. The results provide an insight into the understanding of the toxicity mechanism of NNCs in vivo, which might be used for a preliminary assessment of NNCs toxicity to mammals.
Effect of Ivabradine on a Hypertensive Heart and the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System in L-NAME-Induced Hypertension
Authors: Simko Fedor , Baka Tomas , Poglitsch Marko , Repova Kristina , Aziriova Silvia , Krajcirovicova Kristina , Zorad Stefan , Adamcova Michaela , Paulis Ludovit
Published: October 2018

Ivabradine, the selective inhibitor of the If current in the sinoatrial node, exerts cardiovascular protection by its bradycardic effect and potentially pleiotropic actions. However, there is a shortage of data regarding ivabradine’s interaction with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). This study investigated whether ivabradine is able to protect a hypertensive heart in the model of L-NAME-induced hypertension and to interfere with the RAAS. Four groups (n = 10/group) of adult male Wistar rats were treated as follows for four weeks: control, ivabradine (10 mg/kg/day), L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day), and L-NAME plus ivabradine. L-NAME administration increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) and left ventricular (LV) weight, enhanced hydroxyproline concentration in the LV, and deteriorated the systolic and diastolic LV function. Ivabradine reduced heart rate (HR) and SBP, and improved the LV function. The serum concentrations of angiotensin Ang 1–8 (Ang II), Ang 1–5, Ang 1–7, Ang 1–10, Ang 2–8, and Ang 3–8 were decreased in the L-NAME group and ivabradine did not modify them. The serum concentration of aldosterone and the aldosterone/Ang II ratio were enhanced by L-NAME and ivabradine reduced these changes. We conclude that ivabradine improved the LV function of the hypertensive heart in L-NAME-induced hypertension. The protective effect of ivabradine might have been associated with the reduction of the aldosterone level.
Review of the Electrical Characterization of Metallic Nanowires on DNA Templates
Authors: Bayrak Türkan , Jagtap Nagesh S. , Erbe Artur
Published: October 2018

The use of self-assembly techniques may open new possibilities in scaling down electronic circuits to their ultimate limits. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nanotechnology has already demonstrated that it can provide valuable tools for the creation of nanostructures of arbitrary shape, therefore presenting an ideal platform for the development of nanoelectronic circuits. So far, however, the electronic properties of DNA nanostructures are mostly insulating, thus limiting the use of the nanostructures in electronic circuits. Therefore, methods have been investigated that use the DNA nanostructures as templates for the deposition of electrically conducting materials along the DNA strands. The most simple such structure is given by metallic nanowires formed by deposition of metals along the DNA nanostructures. Here, we review the fabrication and the characterization of the electronic properties of nanowires, which were created using these methods.
Identification of a Novel PPAR-γ Agonist through a Scaffold Tuning Approach
Authors: Gim Hyo , Choi Yong-Sung , Li Hua , Kim Yoon-Jung , Ryu Jae-Ha , Jeon Raok
Published: October 2018

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are important targets in metabolic diseases including obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Recently, they have been highlighted as attractive targets for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and chronic myeloid leukemia. The PPAR agonist structure is consists of a polar head, a hydrophobic tail, and a linker. Each part interacts with PPARs through hydrogen bonds or hydrophobic interactions to stabilize target protein conformation, thus increasing its activity. Acidic head is essential for PPAR agonist activity. The aromatic linker plays an important role in making hydrophobic interactions with PPAR as well as adjusting the head-to-tail distance and conformation of the whole molecule. By tuning the scaffold of compound, the whole molecule could fit into the ligand-binding domain to achieve proper binding mode. We modified indol-3-ylacetic acid scaffold to (indol-1-ylmethyl)benzoic acid, whereas 2,4-dichloroanilide was fixed as the hydrophobic tail. We designed, synthesized, and assayed the in vitro activity of novel indole compounds with (indol-1-ylmethyl)benzoic acid scaffold. Compound 12 was a more potent PPAR-γ agonist than pioglitazone and our previous hit compound. Molecular docking studies may suggest the binding between compound 12 and PPAR-γ, rationalizing its high activity.
Green’s Function of the Linearized Logarithmic Keller–Segel–Fisher/KPP System
Authors: Rugamba Jean , Zeng Yanni
Published: October 2018

We consider a Keller–Segel type chemotaxis model with logarithmic sensitivity and logistic growth. The logarithmic singularity in the system is removed via the inverse Hopf–Cole transformation. We then linearize the system around a constant equilibrium state, and obtain a detailed, pointwise description of the Green’s function. The result provides a complete solution picture for the linear problem. It also helps to shed light on small solutions of the nonlinear system.
Advances in Magnetic Nanoparticles-Supported Palladium Complexes for Coupling Reactions
Authors: Nasrollahzadeh Mahmoud
Published: October 2018

Carbon‒carbon (C‒C) and carbon‒heteroatom (C‒X) bonds that form via transition-metal-catalyzed processes have been extensively used in the organic synthesis and preparation of natural products and important compounds such as heterocycles, biologically active molecules, and dendrimers. Among the most significant catalysts, magnetic nanoparticles-supported palladium complexes are very effective, versatile, and heterogeneous catalysts for a wide range of C‒C and C‒X coupling reactions due to their reusability, thermal stability, and excellent catalytic performance. In this review, recent advances to develop magnetic nanoparticles supported palladium complexes, including their preparation, characterization, catalytic application, and reusability in the formation of both C‒C and C‒X bonds, by authors such as Sonogashira, Heck, Suzuki‒Miyaura, and Stille, and a few examples concerning N-arylation, S-arylation, and Csp2-P coupling reactions are discussed.
BMCGM: A Behavior Economics-Based Message Transmission Cooperation Guarantee Mechanism in Vehicular Ad-hoc NETworks
Authors: Liu Jiaqi , Zhong Nan , Li Deng , Liu Hui
Published: October 2018

Vehicular Ad-hoc NETwork (VANET) is a special mobile ad hoc network that composed of facilities such as vehicle nodes and roadside units. Message transfer among vehicle nodes has been a great challenge due to the network’s highly variable topology and the selfish nature of vehicle nodes. Thus, it is very necessary to propose a mechanism to improve the cooperation among vehicle nodes to guarantee the effective message transmission. Currently, incentive-based cooperation mechanisms are commonly used to encourage nodes to participate in message transmission. Those mechanisms are based on traditional economics and generally assume that the decision-making behavior of nodes is completely independent. Also, the cooperation of nodes depends on whether the cooperation behavior can obtain the higher utility. But researches in behavioral economics have shown that due to the existence of altruistic reciprocity, the behavior of nodes is affected by not only their utility but also the behavioral motives of other nodes, so as to obtain different results from traditional incentive-based mechanisms. Therefore, the paper introduces the reciprocal altruistic from behavioral economics and proposes the reciprocal altruistic factor to reconstruct the utility function of nodes. The reconstructed utility function reflects the interaction of behavioral motives among nodes, which promotes the node’s cooperative behavior. Also, since the Network Formation Game (NFG) is a common mathematical model for studying the interaction and communication links formation among network nodes, hence the paper regards NFG in traditional economics as the research object. A Behavior Economics-based Message Transmission Cooperation Guarantee Mechanism named BMCGM is proposed, which motivates nodes to participate in the message transmission to reduce the transmission delay ratio. The simulation results show that the BMCGM reduces message transmission delay by at least 30.3% compared with the recent representative cooperation transmission mechanism.
Experimental Study on the Icing Dielectric Constant for the Capacitive Icing Sensor
Authors: Zhu Yongcan , Huang Xinbo , Tian Yi , Ji Chao , Cao Wen , Zhao Long
Published: October 2018

The capacitive method is considered to be a suitable icing-detection technology, but the lack of fundamental parameters restricts the development of icing-detection sensors. In this paper, an artificial icing laboratory, a capacitive sensor, and some simulation conductors have been designed for obtaining the artificial icing samples. Subsequently, the same characteristic values of artificial icing have been measured by an LCR device, under a selected frequency. This research found that the value of the icing dielectric constant closely correlated with its density, internal sublayer, and the test temperature. Finally, a fitting formula has been presented for calculating the relative dielectric constant, which may provide some important reference value for the design of icing-detection sensors.
Gait Type Analysis Using Dynamic Bayesian Networks
Authors: Kozlow Patrick , Abid Noor , Yanushkevich Svetlana
Published: October 2018

This paper focuses on gait abnormality type identification—specifically, recognizing antalgic gait. Through experimentation, we demonstrate that detecting an individual’s gait type is a viable biometric that can be used along with other common biometrics for applications such as forensics. To classify gait, the gait data is represented by coordinates that reflect the body joint coordinates obtained using a Microsoft Kinect v2 system. Features such as cadence, stride length, and other various joint angles are extracted from the input data. Using approaches such as the dynamic Bayesian network, the obtained features are used to model as well as perform gait type classification. The proposed approach is compared with other classification techniques and experimental results reveal that it is capable of obtaining a 88.68% recognition rate. The results illustrate the potential of using a dynamic Bayesian network for gait abnormality classification.