bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impactos da adoção do IFRS 16 em uma empresa brasileira arrendatária
Authors: Campanha Renata Almeida , Santos Odilanei Morais dos
Published: October 2020

O IASB, em 2016, publicou o IFRS 16, nova norma sobre leasing que substitui a IAS 17. Nesse contexto, este estudo buscou identificar as principais mudanças normativas decorrentes da adoção do IFRS 16 e, utilizando-se as demonstrações contábeis da Petrobras como exemplo, apurar os principais impactos nas demonstrações contábeis e nos indicadores econômico-financeiros. Também são apresentados os comentários realizados pelo IASB e comunidade contábil referente a essas modificações. Os achados evidenciaram que a nova norma trará diversas mudanças que gerarão impactos, alguns pequenos e outros que podem ser expressivos. O IFRS 16 mudará alguns aspectos sobre a avaliação dos contratos de leasing, assim como o reconhecimento e divulgação. A principal, a de que os arrendamentos operacionais deixarão de ser informações off-balance, acarretando em aumento no ativo, passivo e das contas de despesa com depreciação e de despesa financeira no resultado, contas que anteriormente não eram afetadas por este tipo de operação. Como consequência dessas variações, foi identificado que os indicadores econômico-financeiros também sofrerão alterações. Indicadores de liquidez e de retorno sobre o ativo sofrerão reduções em seus valores, enquanto que índices como imobilização do Patrimônio Líquido, EBITDA e a relação de capital de terceiros sobre o capital próprio, apresentarão variações positivas. Assim, essas mudanças poderão exigir que as empresas reavaliem e renegociem as cláusulas relacionadas ao nível de endividamento (covenant), bem como os custos de empréstimos.
Associação entre uso do sistema de controle gerencial e desempenho organizacional
Authors: Cruz Ana Paula Capuano da , Quintana Alexandre Costa , Frare Anderson Betti , Pereira Thais Aparecida , Buchweitz Michele Josiane Rutz , D’Avila Lívia Castro
Published: October 2020

Este estudo foi desenvolvimento com a finalidade de analisar a influência do uso do sistema de controle gerencial no desempenho das Melhores e Maiores empresas brasileiras. Apoiando-se a literatura de controle gerencial, mais precisamente no modelo de Alavancas de Controle (sistemas de crenças, de restrições, diagnóstico e interativo) proposto por Simons (1994, 1995) e no constructo de desempenho organizacional (financeiro e não financeiro), desenvolveu-se um levantamento a partir de dados de 98 empresas. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário eletrônico e tratados com a técnica de modelagem de equações estruturais. Os achados comprovam que o sistema de controle interativo está positivamente associado ao sistema diagnóstico, o que sugere que o uso balanceado das alavancas de controle é relevante para promoção do controle gerencial nas organizações. Dessa forma, as empresas podem combinar o sistema de controle mais tradicional – diagnóstico – com o sistema interativo, como forma de promover a renovação estratégica. As hipóteses que propõem o sistema de controle diagnóstico e o sistema de restrições como variável interdependente não foram suportadas. Por fim, quanto ao sistema de crenças, encontrou-se evidência de sua associação positiva com os sistemas interativo e de restrições, bem como com o desempenho. Os achados desta investigação contribuem ao expandir o estudo das quatro alavancas de controle propostas por Simons (1994, 1995) em consonância ao desempenho, como havia sido feito parcialmente por Su, Baird e Schoch (2015) com o sistema interativo e o sistema diagnóstico.
Chemokine Signatures of Pathogen-Specific T Cells II: Memory T Cells in Acute and Chronic Infection
Authors: Davenport Bennett , Eberlein Jens , Nguyen Tom T. , Victorino Francisco , van der Heide Verena , Kuleshov Maxim , Ma’ayan Avi , Kedl Ross , Homann Dirk
Published: October 2020

Pathogen-specific memory T cells (TM) contribute to enhanced immune protection under conditions of reinfection, and their effective recruitment into a recall response relies, in part, on cues imparted by chemokines that coordinate their spatiotemporal positioning. An integrated perspective, however, needs to consider TM as a potentially relevant chemokine source themselves. In this study, we employed a comprehensive transcriptional/translational profiling strategy to delineate the identities, expression patterns, and dynamic regulation of chemokines produced by murine pathogen-specific TM. CD8+TM, and to a lesser extent CD4+TM, are a prodigious source for six select chemokines (CCL1/3/4/5, CCL9/10, and XCL1) that collectively constitute a prominent and largely invariant signature across acute and chronic infections. Notably, constitutive CCL5 expression by CD8+TM serves as a unique functional imprint of prior antigenic experience; induced CCL1 production identifies highly polyfunctional CD8+ and CD4+TM subsets; long-term CD8+TM maintenance is associated with a pronounced increase of XCL1 production capacity; chemokines dominate the earliest stages of the CD8+TM recall response because of expeditious synthesis/secretion kinetics (CCL3/4/5) and low activation thresholds (CCL1/3/4/5/XCL1); and TM chemokine profiles modulated by persisting viral Ags exhibit both discrete functional deficits and a notable surplus. Nevertheless, recall responses and partial virus control in chronic infection appear little affected by the absence of major TM chemokines. Although specific contributions of TM-derived chemokines to enhanced immune protection therefore remain to be elucidated in other experimental scenarios, the ready visualization of TM chemokine-expression patterns permits a detailed stratification of TM functionalities that may be correlated with differentiation status, protective capacities, and potential fates.
Prevalence of anxiety and depression in cancer patients during radiotherapy
Authors: Sharma Neelam , Purkayastha Abhishek
Published: October 2020

Objective:

This cross-sectional, quantitative epidemiological study was aimed at finding the prevalence of depression in cancer patients and correlation of anxiety and depression with various factors such as age, sex, and type of malignancy while coming for treatment to the radiotherapy department of a tertiary cancer hospital, at the onset, midway, and at the end of radiotherapy treatment using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Materials and Methods:

A total of 100 consecutive cancer patients referred for definitive radiotherapy were included. All patients were administered the HADS. The percentage of respondents with anxiety increased significantly after initiating RT and maximum scores were recorded at the end of treatment. The association between anxiety scores and various factors such as age, site, and sex during various phases of RT was found using Chi-square test.

Results:

At the beginning of Radiotherapy (RT), 61% of our patients reported abnormal scores while this percentage increased to almost 89% at the end of treatment, the comparison between the scores at the beginning and at the end reach a statistical significance (P < 0.0005) while the comparison between the scores at the start and midway led to (P < 0.011). According to the subsite, maximum prevalence of anxiety and depression was seen in patients having head and neck malignancies while older age again was a significant factor leading to the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Conclusion:

The diagnosis of cancer carries with it a significant amount of psychological morbidity, both subjectively experienced and objectively observed. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy further aggravate anxiety by becoming additional stressors.
Vitamin D Supplementation in the Prevention of Recurrent Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Children Aged <5 Years
Authors: Jadhav Sujata , Khanwelkar Chitra , Jadhav Abhay , Seshla S
Published: October 2020

Background:

Children with Vitamin D deficiency are at an increased risk for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). Till now, few studies have been conducted on the use of Vitamin D against ARTIs, but the findings are conflicting and not conclusive.

Aim:

The aim was to study the effect of Vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of recurrent ARTIs in under-five children.

Methods:

In this prospective study, a total of 310 children aged between 1 and 5 years diagnosed with ARTI were included. They were randomized into two groups: Group A (oral Vitamin D 120,000 IU with standard treatment; n = 155) and Group B (placebo with standard treatment only; n = 155). Follow-up of the patient was done every month for a period of 6 months to document the recurrence of acute attacks of ARTI. R version 3.6.0 software was employed to analyze the data.

Results:

Twelve children (3.9%) in Group B were unable to follow-up, and hence, 143 were considered for statistical analyses in that group. Among the 298 children, 63.7% were males and majority (25.5%) of them were in the age group of 11–20 months. Cough (96%), fever (93%), and rhinitis (85.2%) were the commonly encountered symptoms. On day 4th (after Vitamin D supplementation), majority in Group A (40%) had recovered completely compared to Group B (5.6%). Within 5 days, Group A patients were 7 times (odds ratio: 6.97, Confidence interval: 3.5–13.8; P < 0.0001) more likely to have a high recovery rate compared to Group B patients. The proportion of patients with minimal attacks (three or four) of ARTI was significantly less in Group A (7.7%) compared to Group B (32.4%; P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Children with Vitamin D supplementation had better and rapid recovery from ARTIs and reduced frequency of ARTI attacks.
Quantitative equidistribution of horocycle push-forwards of transverse arcs
Authors: Ravotti Davide
Published: October 2020

Let

M = \Gamma \backslash \mathrm {SL}(2,\mathbb R)

be a compact quotient of

\mathrm {SL}(2,\mathbb R)

equipped with the normalized Haar measure vol, and let

\{h_t\}_{t \in \mathbb R}

denote the horocycle flow on

M

. Given

p \in M

and

W \in \mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb R) \setminus \{0\}

not parallel to the generator of the horocycle flow, let

\gamma_{p}^W

denote the probability measure uniformly distributed along the arc

s \mapsto p \mathrm {exp}(sW)

for

0\leq s \leq 1

. We establish quantitative estimates for the rate of convergence of

[(h_t)_\ast \gamma_{p}^W](f)

to vol(

f

) for sufficiently smooth functions

f

. Our result is based on the work of Bufetov and Forni, together with a crucial geometric observation. As a corollary, we provide an alternative proof of Ratner's theorem on quantitative mixing for the horocycle flow.
Bounded cohomology of amenable covers via classifying spaces
Authors: Löh Clara , Sauer Roman
Published: October 2020

Gromov and Ivanov established an analogue of Leray’s theorem on cohomology of contractible covers for bounded cohomology of amenable covers. We present an alternative proof of this fact, using classifying spaces of families of subgroups.
Prime and coprime values of polynomials
Authors: Bodin Arnaud , Dèbes Pierre , Najib Salah
Published: October 2020

The Schinzel Hypothesis is a celebrated conjecture in number theory linking polynomial values and prime numbers. In the same vein we investigate the common divisors of values

P_1(n),\ldots, P_s(n)

of several polynomials. We deduce this coprime version of the Schinzel Hypothesis: under some natural assumption, coprime polynomials assume coprime values at infinitely many integers. Consequences include a version "modulo an integer" of the original Schinzel Hypothesis, with the Goldbach conjecture, again modulo an integer, as a special case.
A sharp necessary condition for rectifiable curves in metric spaces
Authors: David Guy C. , Schul Raanan
Published: October 2020

In his 1990 Inventiones paper, P. Jones characterized subsets of rectifiable curves in the plane, using a multiscale sum of what is now known as Jones

\beta

-numbers, numbers measuring flatness in a given scale and location. This work was generalized to

\mathbb R^n

by Okikiolu, to Hilbert space by the second author, and has many variants in a variety of metric settings. Notably, in 2005, Hahlomaa gave a sufficient condition for a subset of a metric space to be contained in a rectifiable curve. We prove the sharpest possible converse to Hahlomaa’s theorem for doubling curves, and then deduce some corollaries for subsets of metric and Banach spaces, as well as the Heisenberg group.
Determination of Diffusion Capability of Oxygen through Brake Pads from the Surface towards the Interior
Authors: Macías Gabriela , Lorenzana Carlos , Fernandez Javier
Published: October 2020

The oxidation of raw materials, such as phenolic resin, in the pad during the braking depends on the temperature but also on the oxygen diffusion capability through the pad. Determination of oxygen diffusion is a key point in knowing how deep from the surface tribochemistry can take place. The diffusion of oxygen through the pad is a drawback because it induces the matrix decomposition that contributes to intra-stop CoF instability and consequently worsens NVH. This study is focused on determining the oxygen diffusion through brake pads using oxidized iron sulphide particles as indicator parameter. Iron sulphide has a rough microstructure when it becomes oxide that can be recognized easily, making it a good marker. The oxygen diffusion was determined through the pad characterization, after SAE J2522 and J2707 tests, with SEM and EPMA/WDS techniques. The results show that tribochemistry also takes place beneath the PAD surface during braking due to the oxygen presence and the high temperatures reached. Depending on the testing schedule the temperature profiles on the pad are different and so is the tribochemistry. In pads tested according to SAE J2707, the oxidized particles are found in deeper sections than in pads tested according to SAE J2522. The results of this research will contribute to understanding where the decomposition of the resin starts, and therefore, how reactive compounds such as iron sulphide that also react with oxygen helps to keep the integrity of the matrix by decreasing the decomposition and contributing to the stability of intra-stop CoF, and so NVH properties.
Anodization: Recent Advancements on Corrosion Protection of Brake Calipers
Authors: Bandiera Marco , Bonfanti Andrea , Bestetti Massimiliano , Bertasi Federico
Published: October 2020

Brake calipers for high-end cars are typically realized using Aluminum alloys, with Silicon as the most common alloying element. Despite the excellent castability and machinability of Aluminum-Silicon alloys (AlSix), anodization is often required in order to increase its corrosion resistance. This is particularly true in Chlorides-rich environments where Aluminum can easily corrode. Even if anodization process is known for almost 100 years, anodization of AlSix -based materials is particularly challenging due to the presence of eutectic Silicon precipitates. These show a poor electric conductivity and a slow oxidation kinetics, leading to inhomogeneous anodic layers. Continuous research and process optimization are required in order to develop anodic layers with enhanced morphological and electrochemical properties, targeting a prolonged resistance of brake calipers under endurance corrosive tests (e.g. >1000 hours Neutral Salt Spray (NSS) tests). In this manuscript a lab-scale anodization setup is used to investigate the interplay between process parameters, oxide layer morphology and corrosion protection capability. The influence of high anodization steps (AS) and low rest steps (RS) in pulsed anodization waveforms is investigated with respect to the homogeneity and compactness of the obtained oxide layers. In comparison with a conventional set of anodization parameters, which is taken as a standard, the following level of performance are achieved: 1) increase of the corrosion potential (Ecorr) of +98mV; 2) increase of the anodic breakdown potential (Ebp) of +362mV; 3) reduction of the corrosion rate of a factor six; and 4) a polarization resistance 1.5 times higher. This work identifies key parameters in the anodization of Aluminum-Silicon alloys and propose new electrochemical figures of merit in order to: a) extend the corrosion resistance of future braking systems; and b) evaluate ex-situ the anodic layer electrochemical performance.
Effect of agribusiness support services on choice of dairy cooperative market channel in Kenya
Authors: Okello D. , Owuor G. , Larochelle C. , Gathungu E.
Published: October 2020

Kenya is witnessing an immense increase in number of smallholder dairy agripreneurs sourcing income from the dairy sub-sector. Smallholder dairy agripreneurs who dominate the production sector are forced to sell milk to informal buyers such as middlemen/women, who exploit them by paying less than the market price. As a result of this, the Kenyan Government has made significant efforts to upgrade dairy cooperatives to link the dairy agripreneurs with consumers. In spite of this, milk marketing is still dominated by traditional informal outlets. This study sought to determine the effect of provision of agribusiness support services on choice of dairy cooperative market channel. Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of 682 respondents from Muranga County in Kenya, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results revealed that provision of business plan training, group marketing, pregnancy diagnosis and deworming support services had significant and positive effects on the choice of cooperative market channel. In contrast, access to vaccination services and supply of feeds had negative effectson the choice of cooperative market channel. This study recommends strong coordination among the agribusiness support service providers and the dairy cooperatives in order to increase adoption of the cooperative marketing channel. In addition, dairy cooperatives need to redesign their business models to ensure that their members not only receive agribusiness support services, but also get better prices and prompt payments to increase supply of milk to cooperatives by dairy agripreneurs.
Effect of indigenous micro-organism treatment of deep litter floor on nutrient content of pork
Authors: Kidega K. , Ndyomugyenyi E.K. , Okello-Uma I.
Published: October 2020

Pork meat consumption and its products are constrained by high fat content, particularly high composition of saturated fatty acids. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of indigenous micro-organism (IMO) treatment of deep litter floor, on nutrient content in pork of pigs raised on IMO treated and untreated deep litter floor. Twenty four three-months old pigs (Large White x Landrace) were raised on deep litter floor; one floor type treated with IMO solution and the control not treated. Significant (P<0.05) differences were observed in the amount of saturated, mono-unsaturated, poly-unsaturated, cis, trans and omega-6, 7 and 9 fatty acids in pork of pigs raised on IMO treated and untreated deep litter floor; with more unsaturated fatty acids in pork of pigs raised on deep litter floor without IMO treatment (63%) than pigs kept on deep litter floor with IMO (37%). Therefore, deep litter floor treatment with IMO solution does not affect nutrient contents in pork, but enhances the composition of unsaturated fatty acids. Further research should be conducted on the mechanisms by which deep litter floor whether treated or untreated with IMO solution modifies fatty acids composition in pork.
Changes in carbohydrates associated with senescence of cut gladiolus spikes under pulsing and wet cold storage durations
Authors: Chore K.J. , Mwangi M. , Karori S.M. , Kibe A.M.
Published: October 2020

Several biochemical and metabolic changes are associated with senescence of cut gladioli, particularly in relation to quality characteristics, including dynamism of carbohydrates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pulsing and wet cold storage on the starch and sugar biomarkers on cut Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L. cv. Fado) vase quality. Pulsing treatments of 600-ppm 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate, plus 5% sucrose solution, versus distilled water, were administered prior to wet cold storage durations of 0 - 5 days, on the cut Gladiolus grown from corms. This was done in the open field at the Horticulture Research and Teaching Field, Egerton University in Kenya, during two successive seasons. There was a significant difference (P <0.01) in total soluble sugars (TSS) and total starch of spikes pulsed with 600 ppm 8 - HQS + 5% sucrose, compared with the control, during the third day in the vase life of the cut flowers. Prolonged vase life of cut spikes was associated with a decrease in total soluble sugars and increase in total starch, as influenced by pulsing and wet storage duration up to 4 days.
Antagonistic effects of biocontrol agents against Phytophthora infestans and growth stimulation in tomatoes
Authors: Kariuki W.G. , Mungai N.W. , Otaye D.O. , Thuita M. , Muema E. , Korir H. , Masso C.
Published: October 2020

Late blight disease is a major cause of economic losses in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) production in eastern Africa. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Trichoderma species in controlling late blight disease and their role on the growth of tomato. Trichoderma asperellum and T. harzianum were isolated from two commercial products containing the antagonistic species. Culture-based and molecular approaches, genomic DNA isolation and amplification, using ITS1 and ITS4 universal primers, and sequencing, were used to characterise the products. Trichoderma antagonistic effects against Phytophthora infestans (causative of tomato late blight) experiments were conducted in vitro and in the greenhouse. The greenhouse experiment had five treatments; namely, a negative control, Metalaxl-M, T. asperellum, T. harzanium and mixture of the two biocontrol agents, laid out in a randomised complete block design. The experiment was carried out for 12 weeks, with 3 weeks measurements intervals. Morphological and molecular characterisation confirmed the organism in most of the commercial products as T. harzianum and T. asperellum. An inhibiting action was observed on the P. Infestans mycelial growth, by the effect of T. asperellum (30.7%), and T. harzianum (36.9%).Trichoderma spp. suppressed late blight disease in the greenhouse experiment. These effects were specific to soil type, with the higher effectiveness realised in Ferralsols (27% disease severity) and least in Nitisols (36% disease severity). Trichoderma harzianum and T. asperellum resulted in higher above ground biomass of tomato of 31 and 19% increase over the control, respectively. There is potential of biocontrol agents in reducing P. infestans effects in tomatoes and in stimulating growth.
Evaluation of popular cassava varieties for yield and cyanide content under	ASAL conditions in Kenya
Authors: Wambua M. , Mulwa R.M.S. , Arama P.F. , Atieno S.A. , Ogendo J.O.
Published: October 2020

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple food crop grown by smallholder farmers in the marginal regions of western, coastal and eastern Kenya. The objective of this study was to evaluate popular cassava varieties for yield and cyanide content in the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya. The study was carried out at five sites located in three sub-counties of Nakuru county in Kenya. Treatments included a collection of 27 sweet cassava varieties obtained from Western Kenya. Results revealed significant variations among varieties in all sites, for all parameters measured. The highest yields were obtained at Subukia, with the variety MM99/0067 yielding up to 200 t ha-1. Cyanide content varied significant among the varieties and sites; and was high in most of the cultivars, with highest levels recorded in variety Rao Onyoni (17.3 mg100 g-1) grown at the Lare site. The highest dry matter content was recorded in variety Selele rabuor (60.5%), at the Solai III site. Participating farmers ranked the materials based on yield, taste and order of general preference as follows: Subukia site (MM96/0067, NyaTanga, Adhiambo Lera, KME-1 and MH95/0183); Lare site (Nyar AICAD, Nyar Maseno, NyaTanga, and MM96/2480); and Solai site (KME-1, Nyar AICAD, Adhiambo Lera, Karembo, and Obaro dak).
Effect of self-pollination with heat-treated pollen on parthenocarpy and homozygosity in cassava
Authors: Buttibwa M. , Kawuki R.S. , Baguma J.K. , Nalela P. , Eyokia M. , Oshaba B. , Ceballos H. , Lentini Z. , Baguma Y. , Tugume A.K.
Published: October 2020

Cassava’s (Manihot esculenta Crantz) high heterozygosity complicates its genetic improvement via selective breeding. Double haploid (DH) technology can be used to improve the crop’s heterozygosity, thereby improving the capacity for genetic improvement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of self-pollination using heated pollen on pollen tube penetration, fruit set, seed and haploid embryo development in cassava genotypes for the production of haploid cassava. Pollen from two cassava genotypes, NASE3 and NASE14, was heated at 40, 50 and 60 oC for 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 hr each. The heated pollen was used in six rounds of self-pollinations. Pollen tube penetration was monitored by fluorescent microscopy, followed by early embryo rescue and ovule culture. Ploidy and zygosity were assessed using flow cytometry and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis, respectively. Pollen germinated on the stigma, grew within the style through the nucellar beak, but did not reach the embryo sac, thus achieving no fertilisation in all the 5756 self-pollinated flowers. There was a reduction in pollen germination (in vitro and in vivo), pollen tube penetration and fruit set with increasing temperature. Heat-treated pollen stimulated division of the egg cell and induced development of parthenocarpic fruits. Up to 6 embryoids per ovule were observed and all regenerated plantlets were diploid, with up to 93.0% increased homozygosity. For the first time, plant regeneration from ovules, pollinated with fresh pollen at 14 days after pollination, was achieved indicating improved speed in plant regeneration. The data generated are important for the development of protocols for cassava DH plant production.
‘Remember Sharpeville’: Radical Commemoration in the Poetry of the Exiled South African Poets, Dennis Brutus and Keorapetse Kgositsile
Authors: Berkman Karin
Published: October 2020

The Sharpeville Massacre of 1960 has been widely seen as a watershed moment, marking a fundamental shift in the nature of the resistance to apartheid. Its effect on cultural production was monumental: in the face of a massive government crackdown, almost every black writer and artist of note was forced into exile. The poets who write within the long shadow of the massacre must negotiate its legacy and the fraught question of its commemoration.This article takes as its point of focus two poems by Dennis Brutus and Keorapetse Kgositsile that address the place of Sharpeville in cultural memory. I consider the distinctiveness of the poetics of mourning and commemoration that they fashion in relation to South Africa’s most renowned elegy for the victims of Sharpeville, Ingrid Jonker’s “The Child.” I suggest that Brutus’ anti-poetic, subverted elegy “Sharpeville” re-stages commemoration as an act of resistance that is prospective rather than retrospective. In considering Kgositsile’s poem “When Brown is Black,” I examine Kgositsile’s transnational framing of Sharpeville and its location on a continuum of racial suffering, drawing attention to the significance of the links that Kgositsile forges between Malcolm X and “the brothers on Robben Island,” (42) and between Sharpeville and the Watts riots in Los Angeles in 1965. This paper suggests that for both Brutus and Kgositsile commemoration is framed as a mode of activism.

Keywords: Sharpeville, Ingrid Jonker, Dennis Brutus, Keorapetse Kgositsile, cultural memory, commemoration, elegy
Father, Daughter and ‘Estranged Belonging’: Anne Landsman’s The Rowing Lesson
Authors: Dimitriu Ileana
Published: October 2020

In this article, I analyse aspects of a father/daughter story that is emblematic of dislocation and a yearning to belong. It is a story of a deep-seated, recurrent condition of ‘estranged belonging’. Most critical responses to Anne Landsman’s prize-winning novel have focused on the narrator’s (the daughter’s) memory and nostalgia within the trope of an ‘elegy for a dying parent’. I embed such a trope, however, in the quite insistent – but hitherto largely ignored – societal dimension of the story. Accordingly, the expatriate daughter reconnects with her dying father not only by recollecting her affective memories of him and the ‘lessons’ learned. She also reconnects by entering imaginatively into the life of her father as the son of a poor, immigrant Lithuanian family. The reader enters, intimately, into the ‘estranged belonging’ of a country doctor, in the class marginalisation, hardship, fracture and resilience of small-town South Africa.

Key words: Anne Landsman, The Rowing Lesson, double dislocation, estranged belonging, father-daughter
Phytoplankton species composition and abundance in a freshwater ecotone, Akwa Ibom State, South-Eastern Nigeria
Authors: Ekpo I.E. , Joseph I.I.
Published: October 2020

Phytoplankton composition and abundance could be used to evaluate the health of any aquatic ecosystem. Phytoplankton species were quantitatively sampled for twelve calendar months from Abak River, Nigeria using standard methods. Data generated were pooled and subjected to appropriate statistical analysis including descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that 3,901 cells/l, 45 species, 36 genera and 4 phytoplankton taxonomic groups were identified. The dominant species in terms of number of cells/l was Phormidium valderiae (1,770 cells/l; 45.37%) while the least (1 cell/l; 0.02%) were Closteriopsis longissima and Netrium digitus. Order of significance in terms of number of species was: Chlorophyta (20 species; 44.45 %) > Bacillariophyta (15 species; 33.33%) > Cyanophyta (9 species; 20.00%) > Xanthophyta (1 species; 2.22%). Dominance of the phytoplankton cell counts were observed in the following trend: Cyanophyta (65.27%) > Bacillariophyta (20.06%) > Chlorophyta (13.30%) > Xanthophyta (1.38%). Low abundance of this flora accompanied by the high occurrence of Cyanophyta cells and species are indications of pollution of this important aquatic ecosystem. Hence, wastes generation and dumping without pretreatments into the river especially, organic and inorganic fertilizers should be discouraged.

Keywords: Phytoplankton group, abundance, species composition, cell counts
On pedagogy of the oppressed: An appraisal of Paulo Freire’s philosophy of education
Authors: Nweke Charles C. , Owoh Anthony T.
Published: October 2020

Education is critical to human development. Scholars have always been concerned with the appropriate method or pedagogy to adopt for education. Usually two parties are involved in any learning process- the teacher and the learner(s). The contention on pedagogy has always been whether learning ought to be teacher centered or student centered. While the proponents of traditional pedagogue in education emphasize the experience of the teacher; most modern and contemporary scholars like John Dewey and Paulo Freire emphasize the experience of the learner. Paulo Freire rejected the traditional education system tagging it a banking system because it tends to impose the experience of the teacher on the learner; undermining the experience and personal total development of the learner. He proposed a critical pedagogue as an ideal; a pedagogue that is problem-posing with emphasis laid on the experience of the learner. This article studies Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogue using the analytic method. It finds that Paulo Freire’s pedagogue is emancipatory because it promotes freedom of thought, encourages innovation and is capable of molding people into active citizens with the ability to hold their leaders responsible for bad governance. In this sense, the pedagogue can be handy for political participation and nation building. The article also finds that the pedagogue can lead to anarchy in the learning environment with its seeming overemphasis on the freedom of thought of the learners; it can give learners undue control or influence over their teachers.

Keywords: Education, Pedagogy, Experience.
Prejudice Obesity of Midwives and Nurses in the Primary Health Care
Authors: YILMAZ YAVUZ Ayten , BAYSAL Hasret
Published: October 2020

Objective: This study aims to determine the obesity prejudice of midwives and nurses working in institutions providing primary health care service. Methods: This descriptive study the universe's species, the two provinces located east of Turkey has created 287 midwives and nurses serving in primary care. The sample of the study was not chosen. 229 midwives and nurses who accepted to participate and who were working actively in primary health care constitutes the sample of the study. The questionnaire form consists of descriptive characteristics form and Obesity Prejudice Scale. The data of the study were assessed with SPSS package program by using descriptive statistics, t test, ANOVA test and correlation test. Before starting the research, written consent and Ethical Board approval were taken from the institution the study was conducted in. Care was taken for the participation to occur on a voluntary basis. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between the obesity prejudice scale average scores of the participants and their descriptive characteristics (p>0.05). In the study, the obesity prejudice scale average score of the health personnel was found as 78.57±11.31 and 56.3% were found to be inclined to prejudice, while 27.5% were found to have prejudice. Conclusion: It was found that more than half of the midwives and nurses working in institutions providing primary health care were inclined to have prejudice against obese individuals. This result shows that training interventions are a necessity. In line with these results, it can be recommended to train the health personnel providing service about this issue. According to these results; it may be suggested that healthcare personnel providing service take part in in-service training on this subject will be examined.
Artan Mobil Teknoloji Kullanımının Yol Açtığı Ağrı Sendromu: “Text Neck”
Authors: ÖZÜNLÜ PEKYAVAŞ Nihan , BASTUG YURUK Ozlem , SAYGILI Fettah
Published: October 2020

Akıllı telefon ve tabletler iletişim, ulaşım, eğlence, eğitim ve güvenlik gibi pek çok amaçla kullanılan ve giderek yaygınlaşan mobil teknolojik cihazlardır. Toplumun her kesimi tarafından kullanılmakla birlikte özellikle çocuklar ve gençlerin akıllı telefon ve tabletler ile çok uzun süre geçirdikleri gösterilmiştir. Mobil teknoloji kullanımın artması ile birlikte kas iskelet sistemi ağrıları, uykusuzluk, konsantrasyon güçlüğü ve yorgunluk gibi çeşitli semptomlar ortaya çıkmaktadır. “Text neck” tanımı ilk kez Dr. Dean L. Fishman tarafından uzun süre akıllı telefon ve tablet kullananlarda boyun, baş ve omuz ağrısı ve üst ekstremitelerde uyuşma problemi olarak tanımlanmıştır. Mobil cihazları kullanırken uzun süre baş ve kolların önde olduğu kifotik bu postürün erken artrit başlangıcı ve disk dejenerasyonu için potansiyel risk oluşturduğu düşünülmektedir. “Text neck”in boyun ağrısı, sırt ağrısı, omuz ağrısı, baş ağrısı, uykusuzluk, ellerde karıncalanma ve uyuşma gibi çeşitli semptomları bulunmaktadır. “Text neck” için belli tanı kriterleri olmamakla birlikte bazı araştırmacılar baş ve boyun postürünün değerlendirilmesi için görsel yöntemler geliştirmişlerdir. “Text neck” için öncelikle koruyucu fizyoterapi yaklaşımları önerilebilir. Semptomların varlığı durumunda ise tedavi edici fizyoterapi teknikleri uygulanabilir. Koruyucu ve tedaviye yönelik fizyoterapi yaklaşımları konusunda çok az sayıda çalışma bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmalarda postür eğitimi, farkındalığın artırılması, ergonomik düzenlemeler ve egzersiz programları ön plana çıkmaktadır. Bu derlemede “text neck” sendromuna neden olan faktörler, görülen semptomlar, değerlendirme yöntemleri ve tedavi yaklaşımları ele alınarak güncel literatür ile birlikte tartışılmıştır.
A Position Paper on the Implementation of Learning Technology Tools: Uncovering Faculty Perceptions
Authors: Elliston Zhanat Alma
Published: October 2020

Effective integration of learning technology tools in classrooms is a key component of 21st century higher education classrooms. The goal of the position paper is to provide a discussion from the results of the research study and to uncover the faculty members’ views and perceptions about implementing learning technology tools. Insights from this study revealed that it is a teaching technique and style of the faculty members in the use of these learning technology tools that determined the nature of their perception of success rather than the learning tools themselves.
Towards Enhancing Service Delivery in Higher Education Institutions via Knowledge Management Technologies and Blended E-Learning
Authors: Abass Olalere A. , Arowolo Oluremi A. , Igwe Ebenezer N.
Published: October 2020

Higher education, as a service sector, offers various programs to develop the students which can add value to the society. People, knowledge and technology play vital roles in attaining high service delivery in higher education institutions (HEIs). Knowledge sharing (KS), which is an arm of knowledge management (KM), is a key factor in HEIs requires full usage of technology to disseminate knowledge from teaching and researches through e-learning. However, technology challenges are prevalent in Africa. Hence, this paper illustrates how e-learning system can be used to enhance KM in HEIs in Africa and provide the benefits of both. Characteristics of KM and e-learning system have been highlighted. The paper shows relationship among different types of KM, e-learning and blended e-learning (BEL). It has been enumerated that there is a meeting point between KM, e-learning and BEL towards enhanced service delivery in HEIs in Africa in the era of open distance learning for towards achieving mass education. Hence, African governments should step up their efforts in funding technology-enhanced training in HEIs and necessary policies to promote effective and efficient quality services in DL education using KM and BEL.
Access to Students and Parents and Levels of Preparedness of Educators during the COVID-19 Emergency Transition to e-Learning
Authors: ElSaheli-Elhage Rasha
Published: October 2020

In response to the COVID-19 school closures and the emergency transition to eLearning, faculty at Chicago State University organized a series of nine professional development webinars centered on the subject of eLearning. 3,428 educators attended the nine webinars. This study consisted of an exploratory research reporting on the participants’ answers to the polls questions administered during the webinars, in an attempt to identify levels of preparedness of educators during the COVID-19 Emergency Transition to eLearning and their access to students and parents. The study revealed low levels of preparedness in relation to teaching remotely in general, teaching students with disabilities in particular, and using technology tools. The study also revealed challenges of educators reaching students and parents. The study concludes with a number of recommendations to address these identified challenges.
Social Media: Online Modern Tool to Enhance Secondary Schools Students’ Academic Performance
Authors: Olowo Busuyi Francis , Alabi Festus Oluwole , Okotoni Comfort Abosede , Yusuf Musibau Adeoye
Published: October 2020

This paper reports a survey done that examined the relationship between the use of Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and YouTube on students’ academic performance in secondary schools. The study adopted the descriptive research design. The population of the study comprised all 7,767 teachers in secondary schools. The sample of 385 teachers was randomly selected. Two instruments were used. The data were analyzed using Pearson Product Movement Correlation Statistics (PPMCS) at 0.05 level of significant. The findings showed that the use of Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and YouTube were significantly related to students’ academic performance of secondary schools. The study concluded that that the use of Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and YouTube among teachers and students had positive contributions to students’ academic performance of secondary schools. The findings implicate that the teachers and students in secondary schools should admire the use of social medial such as Facebook WhatsApp, Twitter, and YouTube as an interactive forum for teaching-learning activities.
Caracterización pomológica y fisicoquímica de Tamarindus indica (tamarindo) en la Estación de Investigaciones en Horticultura Subtropical en Miami, Florida
Authors: Tomas Ayala-Silva  , Hamide Gubbuk  , Michael Winterstein  , Guiliana Mustiga
Published: October 2020

El tamarindo (Tamarindus indica L.) es un árbol perenne de tamaño grande que pertenece a la familia Fabaceae (Leguminosae). Sus frutos se consumen frescos, procesados en una pasta, que se utiliza como especia, hecho en una bebida, y se utilizan para el curtido de pieles. A pesar de que estas especies comercialmente importantes tienen una amplia distribución geográfica, la investigación sobre el tamarindo es escasa. Por lo tanto, el propósito de nuestra investigación fue caracterizar 13 genotipos de tamarindo en el Repositorio Nacional de Germoplasma (SHRS, por sus siglas en inglés) en Miami, Florida, EE.UU., y determinar si los rasgos físicos y pomológicos de esta colección, de hecho, reflejan la diversidad genética dentro de esta especie de árboles frutales. Este trabajo se realizó en SHRS en Miami, Florida. La diversidad pomológica de 13 genotipos de tamarindo se analizó basado en 18 rasgos cualitativos y cuantitativos. Análisis de componentes principales realizados en los rasgos cuantitativos mostraron un importante grado de variabilidad de alrededor del 72% para los tres primeros componentes principales. Se construyó un dendrograma basado en distancias medias. El análisis de conglomerados agrupa todos los genotipos de tamarindo en tres grupos principales ('A', 'B' y 'C'). El grupo 'B' incluye los genotipos predominantemente de color marrón con pulpa dulce y semidulce marrón oscuro y del Sudeste de Asia (Tailandia y Filipinas); los individuos del grupo B fueron entonces agrupados en subgrupos 'B1', B2', 'B3', y 'B4'. Genotipos semi-agrio se agruparon en el grupo 'A' y el genotipo agrio en el grupo C. El grupo 'B' contenía una colección de genotipos predominantemente caracterizados por pulpa dulce y oscura, y el tamaño de los frutos más pequeños. Mientras que los genotipos agrios se caracterizan por árboles de pulpa ácida y de otras regiones (Australia, Brasil, India y el Caribe). Detectamos la diversidad genética moderada entre estos genotipos de tamarindo. Esta información podría ser utilizada como base para la selección durante el mejoramiento genético de los genotipos de tamarindo.
A TRAP-SPLITTER UNIT FOR COUPLING PREPARATIVE GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMNS TO ANALYTICAL CAPILLARY COLUMNS
Authors: Heriberto Batiz  , Eduardo Rosado
Published: October 2020

A TRAP-SPLITTER UNIT FOR COUPLING PREPARATIVE GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMNS TO ANALYTICAL CAPILLARY COLUMNS
Título en español.
Authors: Guillermo Colom-Covas
Published: October 2020

Un estudio del efecto de la densidad de plantación sobre el desarrollo, tanto de las plantas como del fruto y el rendimiento del papayo, se realizó entre el ll de noviembre de 1968 y el 31 de diciembre de 1969 en The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad. El diseño experimental usado fue uno de los diseños sistemáticos de Neider. La distancia entre plantas en los arcos correspondientes varió de 0.602 a 3.046 m. Para el estudio se usó el cultivar Sunrise Solo. Como a cada planta se le aplicaron 340.2 g. de un abono 13-13-20, la fertilización varió de 3.66 a 90.89 qm./ha. La altura de las plantas, el diámetro del tallo y la longitud del pecíolo se midieron varias veces durante el período de crecimiento. La altura aumentó de 268 cm. a 309 cm. a medida que la distancia aumentó de 0.602 a 0.715 m., pero disminuyó a cerca de 200 cm. cuando la distancia aumentó hasta 1.363 m. El diámetro del tallo, tornado a una altura de 5.08 cm. del suelo, aumentó de un mínimo de 16.5 cm. en las plantas sembradas a 0.602 m. de separación a un máximo de 30.0 cm. en las sembradas entre 2.206 y 3.046 m. de separación. Ni la densidad de plantación ni la cantidad de abono afectaron la longitud del pecíolo. Las frutas se cosecharon de agosto a diciembre de 1969. El rendimiento aumentó de 58.38 qm./ha. en plantas a 0.602 m. y 93.89 qm. de abono por hectárea a 328.86 qm./ha. en plantas a 0.987 m. y abonadas con 34.78 qm./ha. El crecimiento mermó a alrededor de 70 qm./ha. al aumentar la distancia a 3.046 m. y disminuir la fertilización a 3.68 qm./ha. Una ecuación cuártica aplicada a los datos experimentales explicó el 51 por 100 de la variación en rendimiento como variable dependiente de la densidad de plantación.
Título en español.
Authors: Javier O. Domenech  , Gerardo Mangual-Crespo
Published: October 2020

Doce siembras mensuales de maíz dulce se establecieron en la Subestación Experimental Agrícola de Isabela con el propósito de determinar el efecto de la época de siembra en los rendimientos comerciales. En el estudio se incluyeron las variedades 118 Gold Cup, PR 50, Stowell Evergreen, Iobelle, Illinichief Super Sweet, Victory Golden, USDA 34 , AA8 y los hibridos Hawaiian Hybrid y Hawaii 68. El híbrido Hawaii 68 fue el de mejor rendimiento comercial por acre, con un promedio de 15,928 mazorcas. Le siguieron el híbrido Hawaiian Hybrid y las variedades PR 50 y USDA 34, con 11,976, 11,873 y 11,694 mazorcas comerciales por acre,  respectivamente. Hawaii 68 y Iobelle produjeron las mazorcas más largas, seguidas por PR 50 y Stowell Evergreen; pero las mazorcas de mayor peso correspondieron a Hawaii 68, Iobelle, Stowell Evergreen, PR 50 y USDA 34, en ese mismo orden. Los datos indican que en siembras de invierno (diciembre, enero y febrero) pueden obtenerse los rendimientos más altos.
Título en español.
Authors: A. Vélez-Ramos  , L. Standifer
Published: October 2020

El efecto de la adición de harina de alfalfa y del aumento en la humedad del suelo sobre el crecimiento y la concentración de manganeso en el tejido de plántulas de habichuelas soya se investigó en invernadero. La germinación disminuyó significativamente cuando el suelo se mezcló con 2 y 4% de harina de alfalfa. Aumentos en la concentración de la harina ocasionaron una disminución progresiva en el crecimiento de las plántulas, (excepto en el suelo Convent) y fue más marcado en el suelo inundado. Se sugiere que este efecto es causado por una disminución en la respiración de las semillas como consecuencia de un empobrecimiento en el suministro de oxigeno al aumentar la demanda del mismo por la flora microbiana del suelo. Otra posibilidad es que el desarrollo de substancias tóxicas en el suelo producidas por la descomposición de la materia orgánica, puedan inhibir la germinación de las semillas. La concentración de manganeso en el tejido de las plántulas aumentó considerablemente al inundar el suelo. Las plántulas sembradas en el suelo Olivier arrojaron el más alto contenido en manganeso, las sembradas en los suelos Sharkey y Commerce acusaron uno intermedio y las sembradas en el suelo Convent el contenido más bajo.
PSEUDOSTEM DIAMETER AS AN INDEX OF RELATIVE BUNCH WEIGHT IN PLANTAINS
Authors: Heber Irizarry  , José J. Green
Published: October 2020

PSEUDOSTEM DIAMETER AS AN INDEX OF RELATIVE BUNCH WEIGHT IN PLANTAINS