bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ASSESSMENT OF A PORTABLE TOF CAMERA AND COMPARISON WITH SMARTPHONE STEREO VISION
Authors: Masiero A. , Guarnieri A. , Vettore A.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. Nowadays time-of-flight (ToF) cameras and multiple RGB cameras are being embedded in an increasing number of high-end smartphones: despite their integration in mobile devices is mostly motivated by photographic applications, their availability can be exploited to enable 3D reconstructions directly on smartphones. Furthermore, even when a ToF camera is not embedded in a smartphone, low cost solutions are available on the market in order to easily provide standard mobile devices with a lightweight and extremely portable ToF camera. This work deals with the assessment of a low cost ToF camera, namely Pico Zense DCAM710, which perfectly fits with the above description. According to the results obtained in the considered tests, the ranging error (precision) of the DCAM710 camera increases linearly approximately up to the nominal maximum range in the considered working mode, up to approximately 1 cm. Despite the device allows to acquire measurements also at larger ranges, the measurement quality significantly worsen. After assessing the main characteristics of such ToF camera, this paper aims at comparing its 3D reconstruction ability with that of a smartphone stereo vision system. In particular, the comparison of a 3D reconstruction obtained with stereo vision from images acquired with an LG G6 shows that the stereo reconstruction leads to a much larger point cloud. However, points generated by the ToF camera are more homogeneously distributed, and they seem to slightly better describe the real geometry of the reconstructed object. The combination of such two technologies, which will be investigated in our future work, can potentially lead to a denser cloud with respect to the ToF camera, while preserving a reasonable accuracy.
DENOISING OF 3D POINT CLOUDS
Authors: Mugner E. , Seube N.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. A method to remove random errors from 3D point clouds is proposed. It is based on the estimation of a local geometric descriptor of each point. For mobile mapping LiDAR and airborne LiDAR, a combined standard mesurement uncertainty of the LiDAR system may supplement a geometric approach. Our method can be applied to any point cloud, acquired by a fixed, a mobile or an airborne LiDAR system. We present the principle of the method and some results from various LiDAR system mounted on UAVs. A comparison of a low-cost LiDAR system and a high-grade LiDAR system is performed on the same area, showing the benefits of applying our denoising algorithm to UAV LiDAR data. We also present the impact of denoising as a pre-processing tool for ground classification applications. Finaly, we also show some application of our denoising algorithm to dense point clouds produced by a photogrammetry software.
FISHEYE PHOTOGRAMMETRY TO GENERATE LOW-COST DTMS
Authors: Perfetti L. , Fassi F. , Rossi C.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. In the archaeological practice, Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) and Digital Surface Models (DSMs) may be used to represent spatial information about the site by conveying information such as differences in levels, morphology of the terrain and movements of volumes during the excavation. Nowadays DTMs and DSMs can be easily obtained by image-based matching using low altitude aerial dataset acquired from a digital camera by means of a lifting device. In recent years, the spread of commercial multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles and their decreasing cost made low-altitude aerial photography even easier than before, where balloons, kites and telescopic masts would have been used instead. However, the use of drones is often forbidden by law, especially in the archaeological areas, and therefore a more traditional approach must to be adopted instead.This paper presents two different approaches adopted on the field to acquire the DTM of an archaeological excavation: the use of a pole held by a chest harness to lift a camera up to 3.5 m height fitted with a 20 mm wide angle lens; and a second solution that exploits ground-based fisheye photogrammetry. In general, an image network acquired from ground level is challenging due to: i) the poor coverage that can be obtained on the ground, ii) the large number of images that are required to cover large areas and consequently iii) the longer elaboration time that is required to process the data. The fisheye approach, however, proved to be more effective thanks to the more robust image network resulting both from the wider field of view and from the possibility to handle large datasets by downsampling the images and still retrieving strong key points. The main difference with the first system is that the monotonous images acquired by the 20 mm lens, very plain in texture, require working at full resolution in order to distinguish valid features in the sand.The final product of the tests carried out along this line in 2019 at Saqqara (Egypt) is a comprehensive DSM of the entire archaeological site with an accuracy of ~3 cm.
STEREO VISION APPLYING OPENCV AND RASPBERRY PI
Authors: Pomaska G.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. This article points out the single board computer Raspberry Pi and the related camera modules for image acquisition. Particular attention is directed to stereoscopic image recording and post processing software applying OpenCV. A design of a camera network is created and applied to a field application. The OpenCV computer vision library and its Python binding provides some script samples to encourage users developing their own custom tailored scripts. Stereoscopic recording is intended for extended base lines without a mechanical bar. Image series will be taken in order to wipe out moving objects from the frames. And finally the NoIR camera made infrared photography possible with low effort. Computer, accupack and lens board are assembled in a 3D printed housing operated by a mobile device.
SEAMLESS CO-REGISTRATION OF IMAGES FROM MULTI-SENSOR MULTISPECTRAL CAMERAS
Authors: Shahbazi M. , Cortes C.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. Small-format, consumer-grade multi-camera multispectral systems have gained popularity in recent years. This is specifically due to the simplicity of their integration onboard platforms with limited payload capacity, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Commercially available photogrammetric software can process the image data collected by these cameras to create multispectral ortho-rectified mosaics. However, misalignments of several pixels between spectral bands have been observed to be a common issue when employing these solutions, which can undermine the spectral and geometric integrity of the data. Besides, in advanced processing workflows such as object detection and classification with deep learning algorithms, band-to-band co-registered images are needed rather than one mosaic. We propose a two-fold solution for seamless band-to-band registration of images captured by five cameras integrated into a miniature multispectral camera system. This approach consists of 1) a robust self-calibration of the multispectral camera system to accurately estimate the intrinsic calibration parameters and relative orientation parameters of all cameras; 2) a single capture, band-to-band co-registration method based on trifocal constraints. This approach differs from existing literature since it is fully automatic, does not make any assumptions about the scene, does not use any best-fit projective or similarity transformations, and does not attempt cross-spectral feature-point matching. Our experiments confirm that the proposed co-registration method can accurately fuse multispectral images from a miniature multi-camera system and is invariant to large depth-variations in the captured scene.
A SERVICE-ORIENTED INDOOR POINT CLOUD PROCESSING PIPELINE
Authors: Stojanovic V. , Trapp M. , Richter R. , Döllner J.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. Visualization of point clouds plays an important role in understanding the context of the digital representation of the built environment. Modern commodity mobile devices (e.g., smartphones and tablets), are capable of capturing representations in the form of 3D point clouds, with their depth-sensing and photogrammetry capabilities. Points clouds enable the encoding of important spatial and physical features of the built environment they represent. However, once captured, point clouds need to be processed before they can be used for further semantic enrichment and decision making. An integrated pipeline for such processes is crucial for use in larger and more complex enterprise systems and data analysis platforms, especially within the realm of Facility Management (FM) and Real Estate 4.0. We present and discuss a prototypical implementation for a service-oriented point cloud processing pipeline. The presented processing features focus on detecting and visualizing spatial deviations between as-is versus as-designed representations. We discuss the design and implementation of these processing features, and present experimental results. The presented approach can be used as a lightweight software component for processing indoor point clouds captured using commodity mobile devices, as well as primary deviation analysis, and also provides a processing link for further semantic enrichment of base-data for Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Digital Twin (DT) applications.
SFM PHOTOGRAMMETRY AS A TOOL FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF BOGOTÁ (COLOMBIA), WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE ADOPT A MONUMENT PROGRAM
Authors: Tavera L. D. , Páez A. , Rocha L. A. , Dallos L. A. , Gonzales J. D. , Upegui E.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. As stated by the UNESCO, cultural heritage is both a product and a process that provides societies with a wealth of resources that are inherited from the past, they are currently created present and transmitted to future generations for their benefit. According to its needs each country has regulated and taken actions aimed at preserving its heritage (UNESCO,2017). In the case of the city of Bogotá, different regulations have been enacted seeking to protect and preserve the cultural heritage. Recently, the Instituto Distrital de Patrimonio Cultural (IDPC) (District Institute of Cultural Heritage), with the Secretaria de Planeación Distrital and the Instituto de Desarrollo Urbano, began developing work of an inventory and valuation of the sculptures and monuments found in the public space of Bogotá. In this context, this project seeks to contribute, from the academy, in the virtualization of the cultural heritage of the city by using the Photogrammetry SfM. For this purpose, two emblematic monuments of the city have been selected in order to reconstruct them three-dimensionally and therefore contribute to their conservation as a heritage. The chosen monuments correspond to a replica of the sculpture of San Agustín No. 28 which represents the God of War of that culture and the Rebeca, first nude located in public place in Bogota. Several images were taken from each monument, using different device and software’s. The product obtained meets the initial expectation of three-dimensional reconstruction and establishes a workflow to be applied to other monuments in the city or anywhere.
THE COMBINATION OF TERRESTRIAL LIDAR AND UAV PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR INTERACTIVE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE VISUALIZATION USING UNITY 3D GAME ENGINE
Authors: Andaru R. , Cahyono B. K. , Riyadi G. ,   Istarno,   Djurdjani, Ramadhan G. R. , Tuntas S.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. The digital 3D documentation of architectural heritage using advanced 3D measurement technologies such as UAV photogrammetry and terrestrial LiDAR (TLS) becomes a potential and efficient method since it can produce 3D pointclouds in detail and high density of pointclouds levels. However, TLS is unable to scan the roof part of tall building, whereas UAV photogrammetry achieves high density of pointclouds at that area. In order to make a complete 3D pointclouds of heritage building, we merged and integrated the TLS and UAV pointclouds data by using Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithms into one reference system. In this study, we collected two architectural heritage building in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, i.e., "Vredeburg Fort Museum (VFM)" and "Kotagede Great Mosque (KGM)", the oldest mosque in Yogyakarta. For the data acquisition, we used Faro Focus X330 and GLS 2000 Laser Scanner. We produced three-dimensional point clouds from UAV imagery by using Structure from Motion and Multi View Stereo (SfM-MVS) technique through Photoscan software. In order to merging and integrating both of pointclouds data, Maptek I-Site Studio 6.1 with Educational License was used. Those data were successfully registered, and according to the registration report, we had observed 20.60 mm of RMS error. The 3D models and their textures in outdoor and indoor side were processed using Autodesk software. Modelling was carried out on the structure of building’s façade base on simple geometric primitive as planes, straight lines, circles, spheres and cylinder. For interactive visualization, a modern and widely accessible game engine technology (Unity3D) was used. The result was an interactive displaying 3D model of an architectural heritage building in LOD3 level with spatial function for measuring the size and dimension, as well as the area of object. Finally, we created the online version of interactive 3D viewer utilizing WebGL API and Mapbox Unity SDK.
UAV-BASED PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE SITE SURVEY AND 3D MODELING OF THE SARDUS PATER TEMPLE (ITALY)
Authors: Bagnolo V. , Paba N.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. Despite the high standard guaranteed by 3D scanning technology, image based modeling establishes the most widely used technique for surface reconstruction, being a cheaper and more portable approach. The strong increase in the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), is increasingly affirming and consolidating over the years. Being more cheap and portable than the active sensors approach, the combination of photogrammetry and drones is widely used for different applications both for large scale mapping and for documentation of architecture and archaeological heritage. UAV based photogrammetry allows for rapid accurate mapping and three-dimensional modelling. Over the last two decades, the study of archaeological sites have benefited from the constant evolution of sensor-based surveying techniques, finding effective application for purely visualization purposes or for the extraction of metric data. The Punic-Roman temple "Sardus Pater Babai" in southern Sardinia (Italy), has been the subject of a massive anastylosis. The close-range photogrammetry technique, exploiting the images produced by a UAV consumer and the GNSS system data, has allowed the creation of metrically correct 2D and 3D models useful also for an effective visualization of the information. A series of ortho-images has been extracted in order to represent plan, elevations and cross-sections of the monument.
A SEMANTIC 3D POINT CLOUD SEGMENTATION APPROACH BASED ON OPTIMAL VIEW SELECTION FOR 2D IMAGE FEATURE EXTRACTION
Authors: Adam A. , Grammatikopoulos L. , Karras G. , Protopapadakis E. , Karantzalos K.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. 3D semantic segmentation is the joint task of partitioning a point cloud into semantically consistent 3D regions and assigning them to a semantic class/label. While the traditional approaches for 3D semantic segmentation typically rely only on structural information of the objects (i.e. object geometry and shape), the last years many techniques combining both visual and geometric features have emerged, taking advantage of the progress in SfM/MVS algorithms that reconstruct point clouds from multiple overlapping images. Our work describes a hybrid methodology for 3D semantic segmentation, relying both on 2D and 3D space and aiming at exploring whether image selection is critical as regards the accuracy of 3D semantic segmentation of point clouds. Experimental results are demonstrated on a free online dataset depicting city blocks around Paris. The experimental procedure not only validates that hybrid features (geometric and visual) can achieve a more accurate semantic segmentation, but also demonstrates the importance of the most appropriate view for the 2D feature extraction.
3D LOW-COST ACQUISITION FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF CULTURAL HERITAGE: THE CASE STUDY OF THE BUST OF SAN NICOLA DA TOLENTINO
Authors: Cardaci A. , Versaci A. , Azzola P.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. The creation of three-dimensional models for the cataloguing and documentation of cultural heritage is today an emerging need in the cultural sphere and, above all, for museums. The cultural heritage is still catalogued and documented based on descriptive files assorted of photographic images which, however, fail to outline its spatial richness, possible only through the use of 3D artefacts. The essay aims to propose a methodology of digitalization by low-cost and easy-to-use systems, to be employed even by non-expert survey and photogrammetry’s operators. The case study of the statue of San Nicola da Tolentino, preserved at the Sant’Agostino complex in Bergamo, offered the possibility of a comparison between 3D models acquired with different digitalization tools (professional/action/amateur cameras and smartphone) and processed by several image-based 3D Reconstruction software and methods.
Differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar for tide modelling in Antarctic ice-shelf grounding zones
Authors: Wild Christian T. , Marsh Oliver J. , Rack Wolfgang
Published: November 2019

Abstract. Differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) is an essential tool for detecting ice-sheet motion near Antarctica's oceanic margin. These space-borne measurements have been used extensively in the past to map the location and retreat of ice-shelf grounding lines as an indicator for the onset of marine ice-sheet instability and to calculate the mass balance of ice sheets and individual catchments. The main difficulty in interpreting DInSAR is that images originate from a combination of several SAR images and do not indicate instantaneous ice deflection at the times of satellite data acquisitions. Here, we combine the sub-centimetre accuracy and spatial benefits of DInSAR with the temporal benefits of tide models to infer the spatio-temporal dynamics of ice–ocean interaction during the times of satellite overpasses. We demonstrate the potential of this synergy with TerraSAR-X data from the almost-stagnant southern McMurdo Ice Shelf (SMIS). We then validate our algorithm with GPS data from the fast-flowing Darwin Glacier, draining the Antarctic Plateau through the Transantarctic Mountains into the Ross Sea. We are able to reconstruct DInSAR-derived vertical displacements to 7 mm mean absolute residual error and generally improve traditional tide-model output by up to 39 % from 10.8 to 6.7 cm RMSE against GPS data from areas where ice is in local hydrostatic equilibrium with the ocean and by up to 74 % from 21.4 to 5.6 cm RMSE against GPS data in feature-rich coastal areas where tide models have not been applicable before. Numerical modelling then reveals Young's modulus of E=1.0±0.56 GPa and an ice viscosity of ν=10±3.65 TPa s when finite-element simulations of tidal flexure are matched to 16 d of tiltmeter data, supporting the hypothesis that strain-dependent anisotropy may significantly decrease effective viscosity compared to isotropic polycrystalline ice on large spatial scales. Applications of our method include the following: refining coarsely gridded tide models to resolve small-scale features at the spatial resolution and vertical accuracy of SAR imagery, separating elastic and viscoelastic contributions in the satellite-derived flexure measurement, and gaining information about large-scale ice heterogeneity in Antarctic ice-shelf grounding zones, the missing key to improving current ice-sheet flow models. The reconstruction of the individual components forming DInSAR images has the potential to become a standard remote-sensing method in polar tide modelling. Unlocking the algorithm's full potential to answer multi-disciplinary research questions is desired and demands collaboration within the scientific community.
Variabilidad genética de dos poblaciones de arroz permite la selección de plantas promisorias para la cosecha mecanizada
Authors: Flores del Castillo Eldo Yoel , Álvarez Paz Gladys Julia
Published: November 2019

En la estación de investigaciones de granos Sur del Jíbaro, en la provincia Sancti Spíritus, durante la campaña húmeda 2016-2017, se evaluaron dos poblaciones de arroz para determinar la variabilidad genética en base a sus caracteres morfo-agronómicos. PIACuba-4 y PIACuba-5 son poblaciones portadoras del gen de androesterilidad, obtenidas por mejora poblacional a través de la selección recurrente. Fueron sembradas en parcelas mediante la tecnología de trasplante, en un área de 700 m2. Para evaluar las plantas de forma individual se adoptó un marco de siembra de 0.30 x 0.25 metros, los caracteres evaluados fueron: longitud del tallo, rendimiento por planta, cantidad de granos por panícula, longitud de las panículas, número de hijos por planta, longitud de los granos y peso de mil granos. Los datos se procesaron mediante una estadística descriptiva para datos agrupados por distribución de frecuencias; en ambas poblaciones se observó variabilidad genética y esta varió en dependencia de la población y el carácter evaluado. Se logró determinar la variabilidad genética de las poblaciones PIACuba-4 y PIACuba-5, los caracteres que mostraron mayor coefi ciente de variación fueron la longitud del tallo, el rendimiento por planta, el número de granos por panícula y el número de hijos por planta. Otros caracteres como la longitud de la panícula, longitud de los granos y peso de 1 000 granos mostraron coefi cientes de variación moderados. A partir de la evaluación morfo-agronómica de las poblaciones, se seleccionaron plantas promisorias con características apropiadas para la cosecha mecanizada y se colectaron semillas de 120 líneas seleccionadas, 66 originadas de la población PIACuba-4 y 54 derivadas de PIACuba-5.
Plaguicidas para el manejo del pulgón amarillo (Melanaphis sacchari, Zehnter), en sorgo (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), en Nicaragua
Authors: Jiménez-Martínez Edgardo , Reyes Canales Nelson , Rivas Espinoza Lenard
Published: November 2019

Con el objetivo de evaluar insecticidas químicos, biológicos y botánicos para el manejo del pulgón amarillo del sorgo, se realizó un estudio en la fi nca “El Plantel” en el período comprendido de agosto a octubre del año 2017. Las alternativas evaluadas fueron: Engeo, Imidacloprid, Beauveria bassiana, Metharizium anisopliae y Chile+ajo+jabón en comparación con el Testigo que fue solamente aplicación de agua. Las variables evaluadas fueron: número de ninfas de M. sacchari por planta, de adultos de M. sacchari por planta, de alados de M. sacchari planta, además de algunas variables económicas como el rendimiento en kg ha-1 por tratamiento evaluado, análisis de presupuesto parcial, análisis de dominancia y tasa de retorno marginal. Los resultados obtenidos en el estudio determinan que los tratamientos Engeo e Imidacloprid fueron los que presentaron el mejor control de ninfas, adultos y alados de M. sacchari, los mejores rendimientos comerciales lo obtuvieron los tratamientos Engeo e Imidacloprid, las mejores tasas de retorno marginal fueron obtenidas en el tratamiento Imidacloprid.
Consideraciones de las dinámicas y procesos de cambio de población y del ambiente para el desarrollo territorial con un sistema alimentario y nutricional sostenible Centroamericano
Authors: Hurtado Díaz Adolfo Martín , Córdoba Salinas Mauricio Jesús
Published: November 2019

Los análisis de dinámicas y procesos de cambio territorial nos permiten interpretar y dar sentido a la articulación entre los diferentes elementos constitutivos de los ámbitos del desarrollo y cómo estos se han generado, integrando en los procesos una visión dinámica y prospectiva muy pertinente para abordajes integrales, incluyentes y sostenibles del desarrollo territorial. En el presente escrito se abordan los ámbitos de población y del ambiente desde una perspectiva regional.
Estrategias de aprendizaje de la gestión de riesgos a partir de los estilos de aprendizaje de estudiantes de la Facultad de Recursos Naturales y del Ambiente – UNA
Authors: Aguirre Jiménez César
Published: November 2019

El estudio se desarrolló con estudiantes de la Facultad de Recursos Naturales y del Ambiente (FARENA) - Universidad Nacional Agraria (UNA), bajo el supuesto que el conocimiento de los estilos de aprendizaje (EA) de la comunidad estudiantil permite identifi car estrategias para la mejora del aprendizaje de la gestión de riesgos. La metodología incluyó el análisis del contexto y el diagnóstico de los estilos de aprendizaje de estudiantes de FARENA, utilizando el Cuestionario Honey – Alonso de Estilos de Aprendizaje. Los resultados indican que las y los estudiantes tienden a utilizar los EA pragmático y teórico en una escala alto, y el refl exivo y el activo en una escala moderado; no obstante, se encontraron diferencias signifi cativas por edad, carrera y año académico. Los hallazgos dejan en evidencia que existe oportunidad de mejora del aprendizaje de la Gestión de Riesgo (GdR), mediante estrategias de enseñanza - aprendizaje que tomen en consideracion los estilos de aprendizaje de la comunidad estudiantil. Al profesorado le corresponde estructurar situaciones de aprendizaje de la GdR, que sean coherentes con los estilos preferentes de aprender de varones y mujeres de cada una de las Carreras de FARENA.
The Effects of Financial and Political Risks on Economic Risk in Southern European Countries: A Dynamic Panel Analysis
Authors: Kirikkaleli Dervis , Onyibor Kelvin
Published: November 2019

In this study, we investigate the effects of financial and political riskson the economic risk in Southern European countries. Quarterly data were employed, covering the period from 2000/Q1 to 2015/Q4. We performed the Pedroni Cointegration, Westerlund Cointegration, Common Correlated Estimated Mean Group (CCEMG), and Dynamic Common Correlated Estimated Mean Group technique (dynamic CCEMG). Our empirical findings suggest that (i) an improved financial environment is associated with less economic risk in the Southern European countries; (ii) political risk is harmful to economic stability.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Asian Social Science, Vol. 15, No. 12
Authors: Zhang Jenny
Published: November 2019

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Asian Social Science, Vol. 15, No. 12 2019.
Predicting the Defeatists Behavior Through Self-Esteem: Undergraduate Female Students Majoring in Kindergarten at Al-Hussein Bin Tala University
Authors: Almohtadi Reham , ALdarabah Intisar Turki , Jwaifell Mustafa , Shaarani Ruba Nasser Masri
Published: November 2019

The study aimed at predicting the defeatist behavior through determining self-esteem among undergraduate female students majoring in kindergarten at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University. The descriptive correlative method was used to accomplish the study’s findings. The study sample consisted of 41 female students of the academic year (2018/2019). For the purpose of collecting data, two scales were used: the first one is Rosenberg’s (1989) scale for self-esteem and the second is Kabatay’s (1999) scale to measure the students’ defeatist behavior. Results of the study showed that self-esteem among the female students is at a lower level, whereas their level of defeatist behavior is medium. The results also showed that there was an inverse correlation between self-esteem and the defeatist behavior.
A Suggested Approach to Overcoming Obstacles of Learning Chemistry for Ninth Grader Students in The Syrian Arab Republic-Idlib Suburb Refugee Camps as Perceived by Teachers and Students
Authors: Anber Anber M. , Al-Duais Safia Naji
Published: November 2019

This study aims to identify the obstacles of learning chemistry for ninth grade students in Syrian Arab Republic-Idlib Suburb Refugee camps and suggest solutions to overcome these obstacles. The study followed an analytical descriptive approach using two questionnaires of (58) items of questions for teachers and (18) for students.The population of the study included (27) teachers of chemistry and (91) ninth grade in schools in students in Idlib Refugee camps between 2016 and 2018. The SPSS program adopted for the analysis of data and the statistical study showed the following results: the obstacles identified by teachers included tools, materials, and structures of laboratories as the most significant, as well as the situation of schools and the education environment in the camps. Students also identified obstacles related to tools, materials, and the structure of laboratories, then difficulties with teachers, availability and content of chemistry textbooks, and finally personal or interpersonal difficulties. The results showed there are no statistically significant differences at the level (0.05) between the estimates of chemistry teachers or students regarding obstacles related to gender. Similarly there were no statistically significant differences at the level (0.05) between the estimates of chemistry teachers regarding the variable number of years of experience or degree of university qualification or variable number of schools in which teachers teach, and statistically significant difference at the level (0.01) due to variable number of schools in which teachers teach.
English Language Anxiety and Its Effect on Students’ Mathematics Achievement
Authors: Alghazo Yazan , Al-Wadi Hasan
Published: November 2019

Difficulties faced in learning a specific mathematical vocabulary are amplified through incomplete English knowledge among students who English Language Learners (ELLs). Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between English language anxiety and the mathematical achievement of EFL/ESL students who are using EMI. Mixed research method was employed to identify and understand this relationship between language anxiety and mathematics achievement in the math classroom. To collect quantitative data, a questionnaire was distributed to the students to measure their level of English language anxiety and mathematics achievement using their grades in their mathematics classes. The association between English language anxiety levels and ESL/EFL achievement in Mathematics was investigated through Pearson’s correlation test. The results showed medium levels English language anxiety among the EFL/ESL students with a mean of (2.15) and a standard deviation of (0.73). The results indicated no statistical difference in means of English language anxiety that can be attributed to the program type or graduation year (α≤ 0.05). The study concluded that English language anxiety was neutral as majority of students become nervous, when the teacher asks them unexpected questions.
On the Lack of Optimal Classical Stochastic Controls in a Capacity Expansion Problem
Authors: Chiarolla Maria B.
Published: November 2019

The stochastic control problem of a firm aiming to optimally expand the production capacity, through irreversible investment, in order to maximize the expected total profits on a finite time interval has been widely studied in the literature when the firm’s capacity is modeled as a controlled Itˆo process in which the control enters additively and it is a general nondecreasing stochastic process, possibly singular as a function of time, representing the cumulative investment up to time t. This note proves that there is no solution when the problem falls in the so-called classical control setting; that is, when the control enters the capacity process as the rate of real investment, and hence the cumulative investment up to time t is an absolutely continuous process (as a function of time). So, in a sense, this note explains the need for the larger class of nondecreasing control processes appearing in the literature.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Mathematics Research, Vol. 11, No. 6
Authors: Wang Sophia
Published: November 2019

Journal of Mathematics Research wishes to acknowledge the following individuals for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Their help and contributions in maintaining the quality of the journal is greatly appreciated.

Many authors, regardless of whether Journal of Mathematics Research publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers.

Reviewers for Volume 11, Number 6

 

Abimbola Abolarinwa, Landmark University, Nigeria

Cibele Cristina Trinca Watanabe, Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), Brazil

Denis Khleborodov, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia

Francisco Bulnes, Research Department in Mathematics and Engineering, TESCHA, Mexico

Gabriela Ciuperca, University Lyon 1, France

Gane Sam Lo, Universite Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis, Senegal

Gener Santiago Subia, Wesleyan University, Philippines

Jalal Hatem, Baghdad University, Iraq

Maria Alessandra Ragusa, University of Catania, Italy

Martin Anokye, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Mashadi Ali, Riau University, Indonesia

Meltem Erden Ege, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Turkey

Mohammad A. AlQudah, German Jordanian University, Jordan

Mohammad Sajid, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia

Mustapha El Moudden, Moulay Ismail University, Morocco

Omur Deveci, Kafkas University, Turkey

Özen ÖZER, Kirklareli University, Turkey

Philip Yordanoff Philipoff, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria

Rami Ahmad El-Nabulsi, Athens Institute for Education and Research, Greece

Rosalio G. Artes, Jr., Mindanao State University, Philippines

Sanjib Kumar Datta, University of Kalyani, India

Sergiy Koshkin, University of Houston Downtown, USA

Vishnu Narayan Mishra, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, India

Xinyun Zhu, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, USA

 

Sophia Wang

On behalf of,

The Editorial Board of Journal of Mathematics Research

Canadian Center of Science and Education
The Role of Past Experience with a Single Climate Physical Risk in Adaptation Response to Multiple Climate Physical Risks: A Multiple Case Study of Italian Companies
Authors: Gasbarro Federica , Daddi Tiberio , Iraldo Fabio
Published: November 2019

With the increasing occurrence and intensity of weather and climate extremes, adaptation to climate change has become an imperative for all the societal actors, including companies. Business adaptation behavior is influenced by specific internal and external conditions. Based on a multiple case study of Italian companies within the project Life IRIS (Improve Resilience of Industry Sector), the paper examines the interaction of multiple physical risk drivers and organizational factors that trigger a change in the adaptation behavior of companies to climate change, from a deferred behavior to a reactive one and, then, to a pre-emptive behavior over time. In particular, the study shows how past experience with a single climate event can trigger a comprehensive strategy to deal with multiple climate events. Implications for management practice and policymakers are discussed at the end of the paper.
The Outlooks of Using the European Populists Experience in the Development of Political Parties in the Post-Soviet Space
Authors: S. Amiantova Irina , V. Mikhaylova Natalia
Published: November 2019

The study features prospects for the implementation of European experience in the development of political parties in the post-Soviet states. The methodology of the study is based on a combination of descriptive analysis with case study. The article shed light on the fact that the experience of European populists can be successfully employed in the post-Soviet countries, but to a limited degree. First, a favorable environment for its application is present in states where there is no vertical power structure that help elites to integrate, and establishment groups have a substantial resource potential and can politically challenge respective opponents’ control over key political institutions. Accordingly, it can be employed at the regional level, in depressed areas that are not essential to the stability of the political system and have long been governed ineffectively. Bearing in mind ways and means of the European populists, it can be concluded that in order to avoid sanctions their experience can be successfully applied by those groups within the non-mainstream opposition that are exploited by the factions of the ruling establishment to organize attacks on competitors.
Jordanian Foreign Policy in Confrontation with Extremism and Terrorism: The International Alliance Is a Model
Authors: Al-Majali Radwan Mahmoud , Alkhalaileh Al-Motasem Ahmad A.
Published: November 2019

The study aims at researching in the Jordanian foreign Policy in confrontation with extremism and terrorism through concentration on factors and determinates that pushed Jordan to enter the International Alliance in fighting terrorism, especially fighting Da’ish organization. Corresponding to that significance of the study appears through discussing the role of the foreign policy and its instruments in limiting the phenomenon of extremism and terrorism and the most important strategies that the states should follow in light of the internal and external environmental impacts in confronting extremism and terrorism within the preventive procedures and terrorist crises management.

The study employed the method of decision making in achieving objectives of study and its questions where the main question emerged: what are the most important determinants of the Jordanian Foreign Policy in joining the International Alliance against the terrorism, especially fighting the organization of the Islamic State “Da’ish”?

The study deduced a number of results from the most important of them is that: Jordan could take a group of procedures and arrangements at the level of the foreign policy through the period (2011-2017) in confronting extremism ant terrorism within activation of military, diplomatic and media instruments, where the economic instrument appeared from the weakest instruments of the foreign policy and a negative factor in the process of decision-making. The study proved that the joining of Jordan to the International Alliance to fight Dai’sh Organization as a result of great impact of the geographic determinant, and availability of the organization at geographic territories forming a strategic danger on Jordan. The study also recommended with the necessity of treating the social and economic problems as an important side and supporter in enhancing the instruments of the Jordanian Foreign Policy.
Some Bounds on the Sensitivity of Human Population Dynamics to the Effects of Greenhouse-Gas Reduction of Land Productivity
Authors: Horner Jack K.
Published: November 2019

The 7 August 2019 IPCC special report on land and climate change predicts that the average global temperature will rise more than 1.5 C if human production of greenhouse gases (GHGs) continues at the 2019 rate to 2030, significantly compromising land productivity and the world food supply. Given a relationship between GHGs and land productivity, the World3 simulator can help to bound estimates of the sensitivity of human population dynamics to GHG reduction of land productivity. World3 projects that in the worst case the peak size of the human population could be reduced by 4% - 37% by GHG reduction of land productivity, compared to World3’s “benchmark scenarios”, during calendar years 1900-2100. In particular, World3’s “business-as-usual” (BAU) scenario implies that in the worst case the peak size of the human population would be reduced by ~20% by reduction of land productivity. This BAU-specific result is consistent, to within a factor of two, with GHG/wheat-productivity relations described in the literature.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 12, No. 6
Authors: Sun Sherry
Published: November 2019

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 12, No. 6, 2019
Socio-Cultural Conservation Strategies and Sustainability of Community Based Tourism Projects in Kenya: A Case of Maasai Mara Conservancies
Authors: Tubey Winnie Chebet , Kyalo Dorothy Ndunge , Mulwa Angeline
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this study was to determine how social cultural conservation strategies influence the sustainability of community based tourism projects in Kenya. The objective of the study was to assess the extent to which social-cultural conservation strategies influence sustainability of community based tourism projects in Kenya. The study used descriptive survey research design and adopt a mixed methods approach anchored on pragmatism as its philosophical underpinning. The study was conducted in two conservancies in Maasai Mara; Naboisho conservancy and Olare Motorongi conservancy. The study made use of questionnaires, interviews, participant observation as well as document analysis to collect data. Qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis while quantitative data used multiple regression analysis to test the nature and strength of the relationship between variables based on observed data and to predict the value of the dependent variable based on the value of the independent variable. With r = 0.891, r2 = 0.794, F (1, 204) = 787.02, p = 0.001 < 0.05] it was concluded that social cultural conservation strategies had a significant influence on the sustainability of community based tourism projects. The study recommends that since the culture of the Maasai community has been a tourist attraction, the older members of the community should teach and ingrain the cultural values of their community to their children. When this is done properly, there will be less danger of the younger members adopting other cultures at the expense of their rich culture.
Understanding Livelihood Diversification Patterns among Smallholder Farm Households in Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Melketo Tagesse A. , Geta Endrias , Sieber Stefan
Published: November 2019

Smallholder farm households face an increasing need of looking for alternative income sources to supplement their small scale on-farm incomes. However, livelihood diversification is a complex phenomenon and it involves different forms. This study, therefore, delves to realize the patterns of livelihood diversification strategies adopted by the smallholder farmers at Kembata-Tembaro zone, Southern Ethiopia. The study was based on cross-sectional survey data from 384 farm households that were selected through a combination of three-stages: cluster, simple random, and proportional to the size of population sampling techniques. A mix of instruments including interview- schedule, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and field observations were used to acquire primary data. Descriptive statistics in combination with multidimensional approaches involving cluster analysis were used to analyze the quantitative data. The qualitative data were analyzed using word descriptions and verbatim discussions. It was found that the diversification patterns of the smallholder farm households in the study area took different forms involving alteration of land use patterns, intensification of crops and livestock productions, and non/off-farm activities. Superiority order of livelihood strategies in terms of the average annual cash income obtained by the households was set. Accordingly, commercial crop stands first followed by livestock rearing and subsistence crop production as second and third, respectively. It was suggested that livelihood diversification can only be a viable strategy to achieve sustainable rural livelihoods if the farmers are capacitated so that they can choose the right remunerative livelihood strategy among the existing options.
Violência doméstica contra a mulher e os profissionais da APS
Authors: Leite Alessandra de Cássia , Fontanella Bruno José Barcellos
Published: November 2019

Introdução: As notificações de casos de violência doméstica contra a mulher são essenciais para o dimensionamento epidemiológico dessa questão. As unidades de saúde brasileiras devem realizá-las, embora essas notificações compulsórias tenham sido repetidamente apontadas pela literatura da área da saúde como não efetivadas ou realizadas com muitas incompletudes. Objetivos: Contribuir para compreender as dificuldades subjetivas de notificar a violência doméstica contra a mulher por profissionais da atenção primária à saúde no Brasil. Métodos: Uma amostra intencional de 14 profissionais da atenção primária à saúde foi entrevistada; eles tinham diferentes formações educacionais e trabalhavam em uma cidade do interior do estado de São Paulo, Brasil. As transcrições das entrevistas semiestruturadas, com questões abertas, foram submetidas a uma análise de conteúdo. Resultados: A análise resultou em seis categorias temáticas: falta de conhecimento dos meios de notificação; serviços de saúde “apropriados” para notificar; boletim de ocorrência policial como principal instrumento de notificação; a notificação seria opcional; o papel da notificação para a prevenção; e a burocracia excessiva. Discussão: Levanta-se a hipótese de uma oposição entre uma disposição atitudinal positiva para atender as mulheres vítimas de violência e aprender como relatar essas situações e, por outro lado, a falta de preparação profissional para realizar as notificações; a oposição entre notificar e denunciar também é discutida, dada a ambiguidade dos termos utilizados na ficha de notificação e no próprio Código Penal brasileiro. Discute-se também se a violência contra a mulher é considerada pelos entrevistados como uma questão de atenção básica à saúde.
Wer ist schuld am Rechtspopulismus? Zur Vereinnahmung der Vereinnahmungsdiagnose: eine Kritik
Authors: Dyk Silke van , Graefe Stefanie
Published: November 2019

Angesichts des weltweiten Erstarkens rechter Bewegungen und Parteien ist die Frage nach den Ursachen dieser Entwicklung derzeit Gegenstand vieler und kontrovers geführter Debatten. Viele Autor*innen haben in diesem Zusammenhang die fehlende Abgrenzung von linken Bewegungen und Kräften vom Neoliberalismus als wesentlichen Grund ausgemacht. Dieses Argument greift die vieldiskutierte Diagnose der Vereinnahmung (linker) Kritik im Neoliberalismus auf, wie sie prominent in den 2000er Jahren von Luc Boltanski und Ève Chiapello vertreten wurde. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird die aktuelle Renaissance und Umarbeitung dieser Diagnose kritisch in den Blick genommen und argumentiert, dass sie wesentlich dazu beiträgt, rassistische, nationalistische und chauvinistische Entwicklungen in der Gegenwartsgesellschaft zu entproblematisieren.
Die Individualisierung des Attentats. Charakteristika der terroristischen Gewaltstrategie des »Islamischen Staates« in Westeuropa
Authors: Schneckener Ulrich
Published: November 2019

Auf der Basis von 45 Anschlägen, die von Mai 2014 bis Ende 2018 in acht westeuropäischen Staaten stattfanden, wird in diesem Beitrag die terroristische Gewaltstrategie des »Islamischen Staates« (IS) näher charakterisiert. Besondere Beachtung findet dabei, dass 37 der ausgewerteten Anschläge von Einzeltätern durchgeführt wurden, zumeist mit einfachsten technischen Mitteln. Im Mittelpunkt der Analyse steht diese Individualisierung des Attentats, die bereits früher in der dschihadistischen Bewegung propagiert wurde. Zum einen wird auf das Spektrum unterschiedlicher Einzeltäter-Typen hingewiesen, bei denen der Bezug zum IS und zu dessen radikalem Umfeld stark variiert. Zum anderen werden Vor- und Nachteile dieser Vorgehensweise für Terrororganisationen sowie Herausforderungen für staatliche Sicherheitsbehörden erörtert. Gleichzeitig lässt das Vorgehen des IS Rückschlüsse auf seine organisatorischen und operativen Fähigkeiten zu.