bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘An Unstoppable Force for Good’?: How Neoliberal Governance Facilitated the Growth of Australian Suburban-Based Pentecostal Megachurches
Authors: Shanahan Mairead
Published: November 2019

Hillsong Church has received significant scholarly attention, which has observed the church’s rapid local and global growth. Several other Australian-based Pentecostal churches demonstrate a similar growth trajectory to Hillsong Church, namely: C3 Church, Citipointe Church, Planetshakers, and Influencers Church. To further scholarly understanding of aspects of this rapid growth, this paper discusses the emergence of economic rationalist policies which led to the neoliberal governance context in Australia. The paper argues that the emergence of this policy context, which emphasises marketization and privatisation, provided opportunities for suburban-based Pentecostal churches to expand activities beyond conducting worship services. The paper analyses materials produced by Hillsong Church, C3 Church, Citipointe Church, Planetshakers, and Influencers Church and associated educational, charity, and financial organisations. Through this analysis, the paper finds that the emergence of a neoliberal governance context in Australia provided opportunities for these churches to expand activities beyond traditional worship ceremonies to include additional activities such as running schools, Bible colleges, community care organisations, charity ventures, and financial institutions. The paper shows how economic rationalism and neoliberalism assisted in providing a context within which Australian-based suburban Pentecostal churches were able to take opportunities to grow aspects of church organisation, which helped to develop a global megachurch status. In this way, these churches took up opportunities that changes in political circumstances in Australia provided, developing a theology of growth actualised in expanding church-branded activities around the globe.
Giovan Battista Codronchi’s De morbis Veneficis ac Veneficiis (1595). Medicine, Exorcism and Inquisition in Counter-Reformation Italy
Authors: Ambrosi Fabiana
Published: November 2019

The physician Giovan Battista Codronchi (1547–1628) is a key figure of sixteenth-century medicine. A study of his main work De morbis veneficis ac veneficiis (1595) and his letters sent to the Congregation of the Index in Rome (1597) can teach us much about the interrelation between medicine and religion in Counter-Reformation Italy. Using Codronchi as a prism, this article uncovers a complex picture in which themes such as the production of demonological texts at the height of the European witch-hunt, the related debate about the roles of physicians and exorcists, and the influence of physicians on the development of the Index of Forbidden Books are interrelated.
Intelligent Sensing Using Multiple Sensors for Material Characterization
Authors: Albishi Ali M. , Mirjahanmardi Seyed H. , Ali Abdulbaset M. , Nayyeri Vahid , Wasly Saud M. , Ramahi Omar M.
Published: November 2019

This paper presents a concept of an intelligent sensing technique based on modulating the frequency responses of microwave near-field sensors to characterize material parameters. The concept is based on the assumption that the physical parameters being extracted such as fluid concentration are constant over the range of frequency of the sensor. The modulation of the frequency response is based on the interactions between the material under test and multiple sensors. The concept is based on observing the responses of the sensors over a frequency wideband as vectors of many dimensions. The dimensions are then considered as the features for a neural network. With small datasets, the neural networks can produce highly accurate and generalized models. The concept is demonstrated by designing a microwave sensing system based on a two-port microstrip line exciting three-identical planar resonators. For experimental validation, the sensor is used to detect the concentration of a fluid material composed of two pure fluids. Very high accuracy is achieved.
Development of Magnetic Microwires for Magnetic Sensor Applications
Authors: Zhukova Valentina , Corte-Leon Paula , Ipatov Mihail , Blanco Juan Maria , Gonzalez-Legarreta Lorena , Zhukov Arcady
Published: November 2019

Thin magnetic wires can present excellent soft magnetic properties (with coercivities up to 4 A/m), Giant Magneto-impedance effect, GMI, or rectangular hysteresis loops combined with quite fast domain wall, DW, propagation. In this paper we overview the magnetic properties of thin magnetic wires and post-processing allowing optimization of their magnetic properties for magnetic sensor applications. We concluded that the GMI effect, magnetic softness or DW dynamics of microwires can be tailored by controlling the magnetoelastic anisotropy of as-prepared microwires or controlling their internal stresses and domain structure by appropriate thermal treatment.
Noncontact Detection of Respiration Rate Based on Forward Scatter Radar
Authors: Yang Fan , He Zhiming , Fu Yuanhua , Li Liang , Jiang Kui , Xie Fangyan
Published: November 2019

Bioradar-based noncontact breathing detection technology has been widely studied due to its superior detection performance. In this paper, a breath detection mechanism based on the change in radar cross section (RCS) is proposed by using a forward scatter radar and the deduction of the mathematical model of the received signal. Furthermore, we completed human breathing detection experiments in an anechoic chamber and in an ordinary chamber; we obtained the breathing rate through envelope detection in cases where the human orientation angle was 0, 30, 60, and 90°. The analysis of the measured data shows that the theoretical model fits well with the measured results. Compared with the existing single-base radar detection schemes, the proposed scheme can detect human respiratory rates in different orientations.
Increased Parasympathetic Activity by Foot Reflexology Massage after Repeated Sprint Test in Collegiate Football Players: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Chen Yung-Sheng , Lu Wan-An , Clemente Filipe Manuel , Bezerra José Pedro , Kuo Cheng-Deng
Published: November 2019

Foot reflexology massage (FRM) has positive effects on cardiovascular and haemodynamic functions. However, information regarding the physiological changes after FRM post exercise-stress is limited. This study investigated the acute effects of FRM on heart rate variability (HRV) after the repeated sprint ability (RSA) test and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YY). Twenty-six collegiate male football players were randomly assigned to the FRM group (n = 14) or to the control group (n = 12). Electrocardiographic (ECG) signals were recorded for 15 min in supine position before and after the intervention/control period in the RSA test and the YY test. In comparison to the control group, the FRM group demonstrated higher values of root mean squared successive difference in the RR interval (RMSSD; p = 0.046, ES = 0.76) and in the proportion of differences of adjacent RR intervals >50 ms (pNN50; p = 0.031, ES = 0.87); and higher percent changes in mean RR interval (%MeanRR; p = 0.040, ES = 0.99), standard deviation of RR intervals (%SDNN; p = 0.008, ES = 1.10), normalised high-frequency power (%nHFP; p = 0.008, ES = 0.77), total power (%TP; p = 0.009, ES = 0.84) and standard deviation 1 and 2 (%SD1; p = 0.008, ES = 1.08, %SD2; p = 0.020, ES = 1.04) after the RSA test. The magnitude effect of post-exercise HRV was small after the FRM RSA protocol (ES = 0.32–0.57). Conversely, the results demonstrated a moderate and large magnitude effect of HRV in the RSA and YY protocols of the control group (ES: RSA = 1.07–2.00; YY = 0.81–1.61) and in the YY protocol of the FRM group (ES = 0.99–1.59). The FRM intervention resulted in beneficial effects on the cardiac parasympathetic reactivity and the sympatho-vagal balance after RSA performance.
Monitoring Traditional Rural Landscapes. The Case of Italy
Authors: Agnoletti Mauro , Emanueli Francesca , Corrieri Federica , Venturi Martina , Santoro Antonio
Published: November 2019

The importance of rural landscapes is recognized at both the international and national level. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has established a program called Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) and agricultural landscapes are also listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The World Bank and the Convention on Biological Diversity also have departments working on this topic, while landscape has been included in the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union 2020–2027. One of the most important tools for landscape management, conservation and valorization is the development of a monitoring system, suited to control not only dynamics, but also the effectiveness of the policies affecting rural landscape. A research project of the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies has identified 123 areas scattered in the entire Italian territory, with an average size of 1300 ha, in order to establish a national monitoring system for traditional rural landscapes. As a result of this national survey, the Ministry decided to establish the National Register of Historical Rural Landscapes, that is also the Italian list for potential application to GIAHS. These landscapes are characterized by a long history, presence of traditional practices, typical foods, complex landscape mosaics and high biocultural diversity. Detailed land use maps have been produced for each area, and among other data, the average number of land use types (19.6 ha) and the average patch size (2.7 ha) detected, confirm the fine grain of these landscapes characterized by high complexity and diversity of the landscape structure. A second survey was carried out five years later, in order to create a national monitoring system based on fixed study areas. The paper shows that in the last five years no major changes occurred, and even in the 33 areas where transformations are considered significant (i.e., >5% of the surface of the area), the characteristic features of the historical landscape are still well preserved. This confirms the resilience of these systems despite climatic and socioeconomic pressures.
Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach for Selecting Wind Energy Power Plant Locations
Authors: Rehman Ateekh Ur , Abidi Mustufa Haider , Umer Usama , Usmani Yusuf Siraj
Published: November 2019

In pursuit of green technology innovations, the energy industry is showing an interest in sustainable sources such as wind energy generation. The Saudi Arabian energy industry has a 2030 target to generate and transmit electricity to major customers nationwide and other neighboring Gulf countries. However, the selection of wind energy power plant locations is a concern because the decision process involves social, technological, economical, and environmental factors. The originality of this study lies in (1) proposing an integrated quantitative and qualitative multi-criteria decision making framework for selecting wind-energy power plant locations; (2) applying the proposed framework in the context of the energy industry in a gulf region country and investigating expert-based and entropy-based criterion weight assignments; (3) choosing five possible alternative wind energy power plant locations with 17 response criteria for each alternative to help decision makers identify the best possible alternative; and (4) establishing the superiority of one alternative over another (if it exists). The presented approach extends considerable support to the comparing and ranking of alternatives along with its validation and sensitivity analysis. Based on the proposed multi-criteria decision-making approach, an appropriate wind energy power plant location has been successfully selected among the five alternatives.
Measuring Sustainability Performance with Multi Criteria Model: A Case Study
Authors: Vivas Renato , Sant’anna Ângelo , Esquerre Karla , Freires Francisco
Published: November 2019

The proposal of this research is the development of a hybrid multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) model of sustainability performance. The model is applied to a Brazilian oil and gas company and is constructed from the MCDA associated with statistical analysis. The MCDA technique is a preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluation (PROMETHEE), with analysis of 20 indicators of the dimensions of sustainability. In the statistical analysis, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) are used. The results of PROMETHEE showed that the company’s best sustainability performance was in 2011 and 2010. The worst sustainability performance was in 2015 and 2016. The application of the PCA technique aims to eliminate the existing multicollinearity and capture the direction of variability of the indicators. The first PC with 53.2%, the second PC with 25.6%. An estimate based on the MLR equation was performed. The limitation of the paper is with data from the company’s sustainability reports as well as the choice and quantity of indicators. The analysis of the sustainability performance of the company through multi-criteria models is not new but their combination with mathematical models, comparing the sustainability reports per year, brings more complete results on the sustainability performance of the company.
Integrating UAV Technology in an Ecological Monitoring System for Community Wildlife Management Areas in Tanzania
Authors: Mangewa Lazaro J. , Ndakidemi Patrick A. , Munishi Linus K.
Published: November 2019

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have recently emerged as a new remote sensing aerial platform, and they are seemingly advancing real-time data generation. Nonetheless, considerable uncertainties remain in the extent to which wildlife managers can integrate UAVs into ecological monitoring systems for wildlife and their habitats. In this review, we discuss the recent progress and gaps in UAV use in wildlife conservation and management. The review notes that there is scanty information on UAV use in ecological monitoring of medium-to-large mammals found in groups in heterogeneous habitats. We also explore the need and extent to which the technology can be integrated into ecological monitoring systems for mammals in heterogeneous habitats and in topographically-challenging community wildlife-management areas, as a complementary platform to the traditional techniques. Based on its ability to provide high-resolution images in real-time, further experiments on its wider use in the ecological monitoring of wildlife on a spatiotemporal scale are important. The experimentation outputs will make the UAV a very reliable remote sensing platform that addresses the challenges facing conventional techniques.
Sustainable BIM-Based Construction Engineering Education Curriculum for Practice-Oriented Training
Authors: Lee Sanghyo , Lee Joosung , Ahn Yonghan
Published: November 2019

The latest IT technology integration movements, such as building information modeling (BIM), have engendered changes in the technology and participatory organizations in the construction industry, which have resulted in process innovations and productivity gains. BIM lays the foundation for using a variety of new information that is not applicable to traditional construction methods. Construction companies are applying such information to various analyses, simulations, and learning and education projects to stimulate innovation. In Korea, however, since BIM was introduced in 2008, it has been used in various ways across diverse fields, but its contribution remains minimal. This is due to the inadequate competence level of BIM managers, who emerge from a system incapable of adequately educating BIM managers. In other words, the curriculum has not been able to impart the BIM skills necessary to accommodate the requirements of the industry. Only the most basic BIM modeling course is offered, and even such a course is dependent on external instructors. This creates a gap with the existing construction engineering educational curriculum. This study proposes a BIM-based construction engineering educational curriculum that has not been attempted before to overcome these limitations and generate a BIM workforce to cater to the industry.
A Sustainable Development Perspective on Cooperative Culture, Knowledge Flow, and Innovation Network Governance Performance
Authors: Sun Yaya , Wang Tao , Gu Xin
Published: November 2019

The contemporary sustainable development imperative sees enterprises seeking competitive advantages in innovation networks, the distinguishing features of which are continuous interaction and knowledge flow between participants. As an informal governance mechanism, cooperative culture influences the stability and durability of the members’ interactions. Knowledge flow is a core network activity that is highly dependent on the cultural environment. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether innovation governance performance is affected by cooperative culture and knowledge flow. How do they play an influential role? We use structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the linear relationships among the three variables: cooperative culture, knowledge flow, and governance performance. The results suggest that knowledge flow has a mediating effect on the relationship between cooperative culture and governance performance. We also use fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore how cooperative culture and knowledge flow combined can influence governance performance. The results indicate that different combinations of cooperative culture and knowledge flow lead to different levels of governance performance, with two paths leading to high governance performance, which are fit creation-oriented and compatible sharing-oriented paths. These findings have significant implications for improving innovation governance performance and their sustainable development.
Methodologies of Economic Measurement and Vulnerability Assessment for Application in Landslide Risk Analysis in a Highway Domain Strip: A Case Study in the Serra Pelada Region (Brazil)
Authors: Felizardo Batista Ellen , De Brum Passini Larissa , Christopher Morales Kormann Alessander
Published: November 2019

Landslides are one of the main causes of death caused by disasters in the world. In this study, methodologies to measure landslide costs and to assess vulnerability are presented, with the objective of applying them to landslide risk analyses. The methodologies were applied in a region of Serra do Mar, which is crossed by a highway. The analyses and mappings were implemented in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Through the application of the methodology that considers both direct and indirect costs in the composition of total cost, it was established how much an m2 of a landslide would cost. The composition of direct costs encompassed the damages related to restoration or construction of the highways, infrastructures, unpaved roads, residential and commercial buildings, vegetal cover and agricultural areas. In indirect costs, the economic losses by victims, highway interdiction, and agricultural area profitability were calculated. In the methodology for vulnerability assessment, bodily injuries, structural damages, and functional disturbances resulted from landslides were analyzed. The risk assessment was performed through the junction of the maps of total cost, vulnerability and susceptibility. The results indicate that indirect costs were predominant in cost composition, corresponding to 87% of total costs, in comparison to 13% of the direct costs, stressing the importance of considering indirect costs in economic measurement studies. As a result, it is possible to conclude that studying landslide consequences as economic parameters supports the increasing need of performing risk quantitative analyses. It is also prudent to add that these studies help decision makers in projects of disaster risk mitigation strategies, by allowing the identification of regions with greater economic impacts in case of landslide occurrence.
Sustainable Development under Belt and Road Initiative: A Case Study of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s Socio-Economic Impact on Pakistan
Authors: Menhas Rashid , Mahmood Shahid , Tanchangya Papel , Safdar Muhammad Nabeel , Hussain Safdar
Published: November 2019

The restoration of the ancient Silk Road intends to reconnect China with Africa, the Middle East, and Europe through a railway network, airports, roads, seaports, and an optical fiber system. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has three components. One Belt, One Road (OBOR) is based upon two parts of the BRI; the maritime Silk Road and the Silk Road economic belt. OBOR is based upon six economic corridors. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the smartest corridor under OBOR, which passes only through Pakistan, and after completion, will provide a safe and cheap route for China to import oil and energy. CPEC is a multidimensional project under which much infrastructure development initiative has been started to improve the infrastructure and economic development of Pakistan. Infrastructure development is an essential requirement in economic growth, one which further leads to industrialization and is helpful in economic development. The present study was conducted in Pakistan and explored how infrastructure development under the CPEC is useful for the sustainable development of Pakistan, as well as which kind of infrastructure development projects have been included in the CPEC to improve the socio-economic paradigm of Pakistan. A sample of 500 respondents was selected through a multistage sampling technique from the two-node cities. A questionnaire survey was used to collect primary data. The results of the study show that the CPEC is a catalyst for Pakistan to improve its socio-economic conditions and to achieve sustainable development. The participants of the survey agreed that CPEC will improve the socio-economic paradigm of Pakistan and will be helpful in the achievement of sustainable development goals.
Impact of the Perceived Authenticity of Heritage Sites on Subjective Well-Being: A Study of the Mediating Role of Place Attachment and Satisfaction
Authors: Wu Di , Shen Caiyun , Wang Enxu , Hou Yaoyao , Yang Jun
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study is to explore how tourists’ perceived authenticity influences their subjective well-being (SWB) in the context of heritage tourism via the mediating role of place attachment and satisfaction. Taking the tourists of the Palace Museum as an example, the results indicate that: (a) authenticity has a significant positive impact on place attachment and satisfaction; (b) place attachment can significantly enhance satisfaction, but different dimensions of place attachment have different effects on SWB; (c) place attachment and satisfaction play mediating roles in the relationship between authenticity and SWB. The conclusion of this study highlights the significance of authenticity in heritage tourism, and further discusses how to promote tourists’ SWB through the perception of authenticity.
Changing the Accounting System to Foster Universities’ Financial Sustainability: First Evidence from Italy
Authors: Di Carlo Ferdinando , Modugno Guido , Agasisti Tommaso , Catalano Giuseppe
Published: November 2019

According to the European University Association, nowadays financial sustainability is one of the key challenges for Higher Education Institutions. The financial sustainability of public universities is threatened by cutbacks in public funding and by society’s growing demand for improvements to the volume and quality of services provided. A recent reform in Italy has determined that universities are required to move to accrual accounting, starting from the assumption that this system responds more effectively to issues relating to financial stability control. This paper evaluates whether the new financial reporting system is better placed to represent the universities’ conditions of financial sustainability. Moreover, specific measures have been developed to investigate which financial strategies, if any, have been adopted in Italian universities to react to the new competitive context. Working in collaboration with practitioners from the HE sector, the research team developed a framework based on specific financial ratios to assess the financial sustainability of these institutions and to analyse their financial strategies. The findings reveal that, notwithstanding some common features, there are significant variations between Italian universities and they are addressing the new challenges with a range of different approaches.
Sustainable Growth Approaches: Quadruple Helix Approach for Turning Brașov into a Startup City
Authors: Bărbulescu Oana , Constantin Cristinel Petrişor
Published: November 2019

The aims of this study are to identify large companies’ role in stimulating local entrepreneurship, and higher education institutions’ contribution of fostering entrepreneurial activity in order to achieve an innovative ecosystem and turning Brasov into a startup city. To address the research questions, exploratory research was conducted among 18 representatives of companies and public institutions active in Brasov city, Romania. The findings confirm that large companies engage startups by collaborative models being also available to outsource a series of activities to entrust the startups with. These collaborations bring many opportunities to startups to scale up faster by using large companies’ resources and the routes to the markets on which they operate. Furthermore, this research reveals the need for a better synergy between education, research, and practice and, consequently, an improvement of the academic curriculum. It also exemplifies the need for joined theory and practice to influence policymakers in developing policies to create a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem. The empirical results have implications for both the entrepreneurship literature and entrepreneurship policies.
Time Variant Multi-Objective Interval-Valued Transportation Problem in Sustainable Development
Authors: Maity Gurupada , Roy Sankar Kumar , Verdegay Jose Luis
Published: November 2019

Sustainable development is treated as the achievement of continued economic development without detriment to environmental and natural resources. Now-a-days, in a competitive market scenario, most of us are willing to pay less and to gain more in quickly without considering negative externalities for the environment and quality of life for future generations. Recalling this fact, this paper explores the study of time variant multi-objective transportation problem (MOTP) with consideration of minimizing pollution. Time of transportation is of utmost importance in reality; based on this consideration, we formulate a MOTP, where we optimize transportation time as well as the cost function. The parameters of MOTP are interval-valued, so this form of MOTP is termed as a multi-objective interval transportation problem (MOITP). A procedure is taken into consideration for converting MOITP into deterministic form and then for solving it. Goal programming is applied to solve the converted transportation problem. A case study is conducted to justify the methodology by utilizing the environmental impact. At last, conclusions and future research directions are included regarding our study.
Common Fixed Points Results on Non-Archimedean Metric Modular Spaces
Authors: Kassab Wissam
Published: November 2019

This paper introduces two new contractive conditions in the setting of non-Archimedean modular spaces, via a C-class function, an altering distance function, and a control function. A non-Archimedean metric modular is shaped as a parameterized family of classical metrics; therefore, for each value of the parameter, the positivity, the symmetry, the triangle inequality, or the continuity is ensured. The main outcomes provide sufficient conditions for the existence of common fixed points for four mappings. Examples are provided in order to prove the usability of the theoretical approach. Moreover, these examples use a non-Archimedean metric modular, which is not convex, making the study of nonconvex modulars more appealing.
A Robust and High Capacity Data Hiding Method for H.265/HEVC Compressed Videos with Block Roughness Measure and Error Correcting Techniques
Authors: Biswas Kusan
Published: November 2019

Recently, the H.265/HEVC video coding has been standardised by the ITU-T VCEG and the ISO/IEC MPEG. The improvements in H.265/HEVC video coding structure (CTU, motion compensation, inter- and intra-prediction, etc.) open up new possibilities to realise better data hiding algorithms in terms of capacity and robustness. In this paper, we propose a new data hiding method for HEVC videos. The proposed method embeds data in 4 × 4 and some selected larger transform units. As theory of Human Visual System suggests that human vision is less sensitive to change in uneven areas, relatively coarser blocks among the 8 × 8 and 16 × 16 blocks are selected as embedding destinations based on the proposed Jensen-Shannon Divergence and Second Moment (JSD-SM) block coarseness measure. In addition, the SME(1,3,7) embedding technique is able to embed three bits of message by modifying only one coefficient and therefore exhibits superior distortion performance. Furthermore, to achieve better robustness against re-compression attacks, BCH and Turbo error correcting codes have been used. Comparative studies of BCH and Turbo codes show the effectiveness of Turbo codes. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves greater payload capacity and robustness than many existing state-of-the-art techniques without compromising on the visual quality.
Bounds for the Coefficient of Faber Polynomial of Meromorphic Starlike and Convex Functions
Authors: Kwon Oh Sang , Khan Shahid , Sim Young Jae , Hussain Saqib
Published: November 2019

Let Σ be the class of meromorphic functions f of the form f ( ζ ) = ζ + ∑ n = 0 ∞ a n ζ − n which are analytic in Δ : = { ζ ∈ C : | ζ | > 1 } . For n ∈ N 0 : = N ∪ { 0 } , the nth Faber polynomial Φ n ( w ) of f ∈ Σ is a monic polynomial of degree n that is generated by a function ζ f ′ ( ζ ) / ( f ( ζ ) − w ) . For given f ∈ Σ , by F n , i ( f ) , we denote the ith coefficient of Φ n ( w ) . For given 0 ≤ α < 1 and 0 < β ≤ 1 , let us consider domains H α and S β ⊂ C defined by H α = { w ∈ C : Re ( w ) > α } and S β = { w ∈ C : | arg ( w ) | < β } , which are symmetric with respect to the real axis. A function f ∈ Σ is called meromorphic starlike of order α if ζ f ′ ( ζ ) / f ( ζ ) ∈ H α for all ζ ∈ Δ . Another function f ∈ Σ is called meromorphic strongly starlike of order β if ζ f ′ ( ζ ) / f ( ζ ) ∈ S β for all ζ ∈ Δ . In this paper we investigate the sharp bounds of F n , n − i ( f ) , n ∈ N 0 , i ∈ { 2 , 3 , 4 } , for meromorphic starlike functions of order α and meromorphic strongly starlike of order β . Similar estimates for meromorphic convex functions of order α ( 0 ≤ α < 1 ) and meromorphic strongly convex of order β ( 0 < β ≤ 1 ) are also discussed.
Total Dietary Intake and Health Risks Associated with Exposure to Aflatoxin B1, Ochratoxin A and Fuminisins of Children in Lao Cai Province, Vietnam
Authors: Huong Bui Thi Mai , Tuyen Le Danh , Madsen Henry , Brimer Leon , Friis Henrik , Dalsgaard Anders
Published: November 2019

The health burden of foodborne mycotoxins is considerable, but particularly for children due to their lower detoxification capacity, rapid growth and high intake of food in proportion to their weight. Through a Total Dietary Study approach, the objective was to estimate the dietary exposure and health risk caused by mycotoxins for children under 5 years living in the Lao Cai province in northern Vietnam. A total of 40 composite food samples representing 1008 individual food samples were processed and analyzed by ELISA for aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A and fumonisins. Results showed that dietary exposure to aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A and total fumonisins were 118.7 ng/kgbw/day, 52.6 ng/kg bw/day and 1250.0 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. Using a prevalence of hepatitis of 1%, the risk of liver cancer related to exposure of aflatoxin B1 was 12.1 cases/100,000 individual/year. Age-adjusted margin of exposure (MOE) of renal cancer associated with ochratoxin A was 127, while MOE of liver cancer associated with fumonisins was 542. Antropometric data show that 50.4% (60/119) of children were stunted, i.e. height/length for age z-scores (HAZ) below –2, and 3.4% (4/119) of children were classified as wasted, i.e. weight for height z-scores (WHZ) below –2. A significant negative relationship between dietary exposure to individual or mixture of mycotoxins and growth of children was observed indicating that the high mycotoxin intake contributed to stunning in the children studied.
Co-Occurrence and Combinatory Effects of Alternaria Mycotoxins and Other Xenobiotics of Food Origin: Current Scenario and Future Perspectives
Authors: Crudo Francesco , Varga Elisabeth , Aichinger Georg , Galaverna Gianni , Marko Doris , Dall’Asta Chiara , Dellafiora Luca
Published: November 2019

Mycotoxins are low-molecular weight compounds produced by diverse genera of molds that may contaminate food and feed threatening the health of humans and animals. Recent findings underline the importance of studying the combined occurrence of multiple mycotoxins and the relevance of assessing the toxicity their simultaneous exposure may cause in living organisms. In this context, for the first time, this work has critically reviewed the most relevant data concerning the occurrence and toxicity of mycotoxins produced by Alternaria spp., which are among the most important emerging risks to be assessed in food safety, alone or in combination with other mycotoxins and bioactive food constituents. According to the literature covered, multiple Alternaria mycotoxins may often occur simultaneously in contaminated food, along with several other mycotoxins and food bioactives inherently present in the studied matrices. Although the toxicity of combinations naturally found in food has been rarely assessed experimentally, the data collected so far, clearly point out that chemical mixtures may differ in their toxicity compared to the effect of toxins tested individually. The data presented here may provide a solid foothold to better support the risk assessment of Alternaria mycotoxins highlighting the actual role of chemical mixtures on influencing their toxicity.
Immunization Status against Measles of Health-Care Workers Operating at Three Sicilian University Hospitals: An Observational Study
Authors: Costantino Claudio , Ledda Caterina , Genovese Cristina , Contrino Eleonora , Vitale Ermanno , Maida Carmelo Massimo , Squeri Raffaele , Vitale Francesco , Rapisarda Venerando
Published: November 2019

Measles is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) that also commonly affects health-care workers (HCWs). Measles immunization of HCWs was strongly recommended by international health authorities, in order to limit the spreading of the illness to susceptible patients and colleagues. An observational study, evaluating the immunization and vaccination status against measles of HCWs working at three Sicilian university hospitals, was conducted. All subjects not completely immune (vaccinated with only one dose in their lifetime), not immune (not vaccinated or not naturally immunized), and with an unknown immunization status were considered not immunized. Among HCWs operating in the three Sicilian university hospitals, 54.6% were not immune against measles. The average age of not immune HCWs was 51.3 (SD ± 9.8), ranging between 25 and 71 years old. In particular, 46.9% of HCWs not immunized worked in “at-risk” hospital units, based on medical conditions of patients which increases the probability of contracting an infection. Vaccination coverage rates observed against measles are considerably lower than other European countries and inadequate. It is therefore crucial to tackle vaccine hesitancy among HCWs, promoting strategies targeted to evaluate immunization status against VPDs and to significantly increase vaccine coverages, such as tailored training and vaccination offer or compulsory vaccination programs.
Is Flood Irrigation a Potential Driver of River-Groundwater Interactions and Diffuse Nitrate Pollution in Agricultural Watersheds?
Authors: Racchetti Erica , Salmaso Francesca , Pinardi Monica , Quadroni Silvia , Soana Elisa , Sacchi Elisa , Severini Edoardo , Celico Fulvio , Viaroli Pierluigi , Bartoli Marco
Published: November 2019

In the Po plain, northern Italy, rivers within agricultural basins display steep summer increases in nitrate (NO3−) concentrations. Flood irrigation in overfertilized, permeable soils may drive such diffuse pollution, facilitating interactions between NO3−-rich groundwater and surface waters. We discuss multiple, indirect evidence of this mechanism in the Adda, Oglio, and Mincio rivers. These rivers drain agricultural soils with elevated nitrogen (N) surpluses, averaging 139, 193, and 136 kg ha−1 in the Adda, Oglio, and Mincio watersheds, respectively. The three rivers cross a transitional area between highly permeable and impermeable soils, where summer NO3− concentrations may increase by one order of magnitude over short distances (8–20 km). Upstream of this transitional area, a major fraction of the river flow is diverted for flood irrigation, a traditional and widespread irrigation technique for permeable soils. We speculate that diverted water solubilizes soil N excess, recharges the aquifer, and transfers soil N surplus into groundwater, resulting in NO3− pollution. Groundwater–river interactions were estimated experimentally, via water and NO3− budgets in 0.3 to 1 m3 s−1 km−1 and in 1500 to 5400 kg NO3−–N day−1. The data suggest a pronounced east–west gradient of groundwater to river diffuse water inputs among the three adjacent basins, reflecting the soil permeability and the width of the river–groundwater interaction zone. Given the large stock of NO3− in groundwater, management interventions performed at the basin scale and aimed at decreasing N excess will not produce an immediate decrease in river NO3− pollution.
Geomechanical and Acoustic Properties of Intact Granite Subjected to Freeze–Thaw Cycles during Water-Ice Phase Transformation in Beizhan’s Open Pit Mine Slope, Xinjiang, China
Authors: Wang Yu , Feng Wenkai , Wang Huajian , Han Jianqiang , Li Changhong
Published: November 2019

The deterioration of rock geomechanical behaviors subjected to freeze–thaw (F–T) action is a determining factor for rock engineering and rock structures in cold regions. In this work, taking six groups of granite obtained from an open pit mine as the research object, F–T cycle treatment, in-situ AE (acoustic emission) monitoring and ultrasonic detection techniques were performed to experimentally reveal the effects of F–T fatigue damage on the mechanical and acoustic properties of granite. The results indicate that the F–T action impacts the rock’s mesoscopic structure, deformation, strength, P and S-wave velocities, AE pattern and energy release. The accumulated AE counts and accumulated AE energy show a decreasing trend as the F–T cycle increases. The frequency spectrum revealed that the width of the low frequency band decreases and the high frequency band increases with increasing F–T cycles, indicating that there is an increase in large-scale cracks for a sample with high F–T treatment. In addition, energy balance analysis further illustrates the energy dissipation and release mechanism. The energy proportion used to drive the crack propagation is relatively small with high F–T treatment, and the final released energy becomes the minimum. The energy evolution characteristics analyzed by the energy balance approach is in good agreement with AE results. It is suggested that the F–T fatigue damage influences the rock energy storage and release characteristics and the instability of rock in the cold regions.
DETEKSI FENOTIPIK Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) PADA SAMPEL MAKANAN DI SIDOARJO
Authors: Prasetya Yulianto Ade
Published: November 2019

Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus (MRSA) is an isolate that is resistant to the antibiotic methicillin and beta lactam group. The incidence of MRSA associated with nosocomial infections in various parts of the world is very high, but research on its spread in community infections is rarely reported. This study aims to detect the presence of phenotypic MRSA in food samples in Sidoarjo. The food samples (cilok, fried foods and tempura) collected were then weighed, diluted, and cultured in a selective medium and differential namely Manitol Salt agar. The yellow-colored colonies were then continued with microscopic testing and biochemical tests to distinguish between Staphylococcus species. Thirty eight collected Staphyloccus aureus isolates were then screened using Oxacillin 1 µg and there were eight (8) isolates that were positive for MRSA according to the criteria of the Clinical Laboratory Standart Institutre (CLSI). Eight of the isolates were tested for antibiotic sensitivity with the Kirby-Bauer method with Chloramphenicol 30 µg and Cotrimoxazole 25 µg. Eight MRSA (21%) isolates were resistant to Chloramphenicol and only four isolates were resistant to Cotrimoxazole. The presence of MRSA isolates in community infections needs to be watched out for considering these genes can be transmitted and spread between bacterial species
Peningkatan Hasil Belajar Menggunakan Metode Discovery Learning Pada Siswa Kelas X SMA Negeri 5 Cimahi
Authors: Rahayu Yanti Hermawati Puji
Published: November 2019

Classroom Action Research (PTK) titled "Improving Learning Outcomes Using the Discovery Learning Method of Class X High School Students 5 Cimahi" maximizes the use of computers connected to the internet as the main learning media that aims to find out the improvement of student learning outcomes, especially in the material and work processes computer. The research subjects were students of class X IPA 7 of SMA Negeri 5 Cimahi. The instrument used in this study was a multiple choice objective test and description. The results showed that there was a significant increase in student learning outcomes after participating in learning by using the Discovery Learning method in BTIK subjects, especially in the function material and computer work processes.

Keywords: Discovery Learning model, learning outcomes
"Eu fui sempre contrário à publicação d'uma edição brasileira deste meu livro"
Authors: Ribeiro Anderson dos Santos , Melo Marco Paulo Moraes e
Published: November 2019

Produto da iniciativa do grupo PET-História da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, este artigo traz a descrição do dossiê Charles R. Boxer, um dos dossiês componentes do acervo da Companhia Editora Nacional (CEN), atualmente custodiado pelo Centro de Memória e Pesquisa Histórica (CMPH) da Unifesp. O dossiê é composto de vasta documentação a respeito da trajetória das obras de Boxer publicadas pela CEN, assim como de uma volumosa correspondência trocada entre Boxer e os editores da CEN. Além disso, nas páginas que se seguem há a transcrição de uma seleta de tal correspondência, em especial àquela onde que remetem a tratativas para a publicação de uma edição brasileira de The Golden Age of Brazil (1962).
La cinétique de dissolution à 20 °C du calcaire oolithique du Dogger. Dissolution rate at 20 °C of oolitic limestone (Dogger)
Authors: Massard Pierre , Desplan Alain
Published: November 2019

The study of a geothermal doubleton working at present near Melun (basin of Paris) gives rise to the problem of the evolution of the enclosing rock, Dogger oolitic limestone, round the cold reinjection hole. From theoretical and experimental simulations, the Thermodynamics of Irreversible Processes, in the linear field, allows the estimation of the kinetical specific constant of the calcite dissolution. At 20 °C and 1 atm of CO₂ pressure, the proposed value is :

k₀ = 10⁻⁶ mole².K/cal.cm².h.
Courbes d'avancement de la dissolution d'une lépidolite dans HCl 0,6N
Authors: Maurel Pierre , Levillain Christian
Published: November 2019

On étudie la dissolution, à 83 °C, dans une solution de HCl 0,6 N, saturée ou non en silice, d'une lépidolite de granulométrie comprise entre 200 et 250 µm. Dans tous les cas la solubilisation est congruente, mais la saturation initiale en silice ralentit la vitesse de dissolution du minéral. Différents modèles d'attaque ont été testés : c'est une loi de la forme α = (m₀ — m)/m₀ = 1 — exp(—kt) qui rend le mieux compte des faits expérimentaux. Des observations directes, effectuées au M.E.B., montrent que la dissolution s'exerce dans la masse même des particules.
Varieties of order and disorder in layer silicates
Authors: Brindley George William
Published: November 2019

L'ordre et le désordre dans les silicates lamellaires sont liés (1) aux substitutions ioniques dans la structure de la couche, (2) à l'empilement des couches et (3) à l'organisation intercouche. La catégorie (2) peut être divisée en (a) structures contenant un seul type de couche et (b) structures contenant au moins deux types de couches. Les déterminations d'ordre et désordre de substitution ionique nécessitent des analyses de structure affinées reposant sur un choix approprié du groupe spatial. Si les remplacements ioniques sont répartis au hasard quand la structure a été affinée dans un groupe spatial idéal, on doit poursuivre l'affinement dans un sous-groupe et/ou on doit penser à une structure en domaines. De nombreuses formes polytypiques régulières peuvent être déterminées théoriquement en considérant seulement des mécanismes d'empilement à courte période et des structures lamellaires idéales. Pour comprendre un nombre relativement faible de polytypes réguliers, on a besoin de faire intervenir les forces ioniques à longue distance et les configurations lamellaires réelles. Les interstratifications régulières de deux types de couches ne peuvent plus être considérées comme des structures exotiques. Les expériences hydrothermales ont montré que de nombreuses interstratifications régulières du type — ABAB — se forment comme états intermédiaires dans l'altération d'une structure lamellaire A en une structure lamellaire B. Des alternances régulières ont également été montrées dans de nombreuses réactions d'altération chimique et de déshydratation et dans des transformations thermiques de silicates lamellaires. On envisage les différents mécanismes susceptibles de produire des structures alternées.
Exemple d'ordre-désordre par rotation de feuillets dans la montmorillonite potassique
Authors: Besson Gérard , Tchoubar Cyril
Published: November 2019

La montmorillonite à l'état naturel (sodique ou calcique) présente une structure bidimensionnelle. La substitution des cations interfoliaires Na⁺ ou Ca²⁺ par le potassium, suivie d'une série de cycles d'humectation-dessiccation, conduit à une réorganisation dans l'empilement des feuillets : les diagrammes de diffraction X montrent l'apparition de maxima secondaires dans le profil de certaines bandes (hk).

Un examen de la montmorillonite˗K avant et après traitement en microdiffraction électronique conduit à envisager un modèle d'empilement comportant des fautes par rotations de feuillets adjacents de ± n 2π/6.

La comparaison des profils expérimentaux des bandes (hk) avec les profils calculés confirme le modèle proposé.