bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vulnerable Plaques Producing an Acute Coronary Syndrome Exhibit a Different CT Phenotype than Those That Remain Silent
Authors: Licu Răzvan-Andrei , Blîndu Emanuel , Opincariu Diana , Benedek Theodora
Published: July 2020

Background: All plaques that trigger acute coronary syndromes (ACS) present various characteristics of vulnerability. However, not all vulnerable plaques (VP) lead to an ACS. This raises the question as to which of the established CT vulnerability features hold the highest probability of developing ACS.

Aim: To identify the distinct phenotype of VP that exposes the unstable atheromatous plaque to a higher risk of rupture.

Material and Methods: In total, 20 patients in whom cardiac computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) identified the presence of a vulnerable plaque and who developed an ACS within 6 months after CCTA examination were enrolled in the study, and compared to 20 age- and gender-matched subjects with VPs who did not develop an ACS. All included patients presented VPs at baseline, defined as the presence of minimum 50% degree of stenosis and at least one CT marker of vulnerability (low attenuation plaques [LAP], napkin-ring sign [NRS], positive remodeling [PR], spotty calcifications [SCs]).

Results: The two groups were not different in regards to age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors, and comorbidities. Patients who developed an ACS at six months presented higher volumes of lipid-rich (p = 0.01) and calcified plaques (p = 0.01), while subjects in the control group presented plaques with a larger fibrotic content (p = 0.0005). The most frequent vulnerability markers within VPs that had triggered ACS were LAPs (p <0.0001) and PR (p <0.0001). Multivariate analysis identified LAP as the strongest independent predictor of ACS at 6 months in our study population (OR 8.18 [1.23-95.08], p = 0.04).

Conclusions: VPs producing an ACS exhibit a different phenotype compared to VPs that remain silent. The CCTA profile of VPs producing an ACS includes the presence of low attenuation, positive remodeling, and lipid-rich atheroma. The presence of these features in VPs identifies very high-risk patients, who can benefit from adapted therapeutic strategies in order to prevent an ACS.
Co-author Weighting in Bibliometric Methodology and Subfields of a Scientific Discipline
Authors: Smolinsky Lawrence , Lercher Aaron J
Published: July 2020

Purpose

To give a theoretical framework to measure the relative impact of bibliometric methodology on the subfields of a scientific discipline, and how that impact depends on the method of evaluation used to credit individual scientists with citations and publications. The authors include a study of the discipline of physics to illustrate the method. Indicators are introduced to measure the proportion of a credit space awarded to a subfield or a set of authors.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical methodology introduces the notion of credit spaces for a discipline. These quantify the total citation or publication credit accumulated by the scientists in the discipline. One can then examine how the credit is divided among the subfields. The design of the physics study uses the American Physical Society print journals to assign subdiscipline classifications to articles and gather citation, publication, and author information. Credit spaces for the collection of Physical Review Journal articles are computed as a proxy for physics.

Findings

There is a substantial difference in the value or impact of a specific subfield depending on the credit system employed to credit individual authors.

Research limitations

Subfield classification information is difficult to obtain. In the illustrative physics study, subfields are treated in groups designated by the Physical Review journals. While this collection of articles represents a broad part of the physics literature, it is not all the literature nor a random sample.

Practical implications

The method of crediting individual scientists has consequences beyond the individual and affects the perceived impact of whole subfields and institutions.

Originality/value

The article reveals the consequences of bibliometric methodology on subfields of a disciple by introducing a systematic theoretical framework for measuring the consequences.
The Coronavirus Pandemic and Europe’s Undeclared Economy: Impacts and a Policy Proposal
Authors: Williams Colin C. , Kayaoglu Aysegul
Published: July 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a loss of revenues for enterprises and workers due to workplace closures and restrictions on movement to ‘flatten the curve’. In response, governments have made available temporary financial support to enterprises and workers affected. This paper evaluates a group currently excluded from this support, namely enterprises and workers in the undeclared economy, and a possible government policy response. To identify those involved, a 2019 Eurobarometer survey of undeclared work in Europe is reported. This reveals that one in every 132 European citizens relies wholly on undeclared earnings and the sectors and population groups involved. Given their reduced revenues and inability to access the temporary financial support, a voluntary disclosure initiative is recommended which brings undeclared enterprises and workers into the declared economy and onto the radar of state authorities by offering access to this temporary financial support if they disclose their previous undeclared work.
An Analysis of Critical Thinking Skills amongst Business Students in Kuwait
Authors: Goodpasture James , Speece Mark , Cripps Jeremy
Published: July 2020

Research Purpose. This article examined critical thinking skills amongst senior-level undergraduate students in a Middle East setting, Kuwait. In addition, the study investigated the gender differences.

Methodology. The subjects involved in this study comprised a convenience sample of 90 graduating seniors. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of two motivational factors on the development of critical thinking skills. The analysis used the specific subsection about critical thinking skills, which is part of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). One factor relates the sense of entitlement that can arise in a welfare state, which heavily subsidises a wide range of things for citizens, including education. We examined differences between citizens and non-citizens, who do not have access to welfare benefits.

Findings. The results supported the hypotheses that student groups have different levels of critical thinking skills. We found that expatriate students had more highly developed critical thinking skills than students who were Kuwaiti citizens. We also found that women had more highly developed critical thinking skills than men had.

Practical Implications. The welfare state measures undertaken by the government of Kuwait may be counterproductive. The guaranteed employment of its citizens and generous monetary support whilst in school may discourage the development of critical thinking skills. Future research could focus on ways to motivate particular groups (e.g. Kuwaiti men) to enhance their critical thinking skills.
Export Competitiveness Analysis of Creative Industries in the European Union
Authors: Krisiukėnienė Deimantė , Pilinkienė Vaida
Published: July 2020

Research purpose. The research purpose is to assess and compare the competitiveness of the EU creative industries’ export.

Design/Methodology/Approach. The article is organised as follows: Section 1 presents a short theoretical conception of creative industries; Section 2 presents the theoretical background of trade competitiveness indices; Section 3 introduces the research data set, method and variables; Section 4 discusses the results of the revealed comparative advantage index analysis; and the final section presents the conclusions of the research. It should be noted that the research does not cover all possible factors underlying the differences in the external sector performance and thus may need to be complemented with country-specific analysis as warranted. Methods of the research include theoretical review and analysis, evaluation of comparative advantage indices and clustering.

Findings. The analysis revealed that the EU countries may gain competitiveness because of the globalisation effects and the development of creative industries. The increase in the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) index during the period 2004–2017 shows rising EU international trade specialisation in creative industries. According to dynamic RCA index results, France, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain has competitive advantage in creative industries sectors and could be specified as ‘rising stars’ according to dynamic of their export.

Originality/Value/Practical implications. A creative industries analysis is becoming increasingly relevant in scientific research. Fast globalisation growth affects the processes in which closed economies together with their specific sectors are no longer competitive in the market because productivity of countries as well as particular economic sectors depends on international trade liberalisation, technology and innovation. Scientific literature, nevertheless, contains a gap in the area of international trade competitiveness research in creative industries sector.
Decision Factors behind Choosing Higher Education Institutions in Europe
Authors: Skvarciany Viktorija , Shina Inga , Sajjad Fawad bin
Published: July 2020

Research purpose. This article aims at distinguishing and weighting the educational factors that could have an impact on young people’s choice to study in European higher education institutions (HEIs).

Design/Methodology/Approach. To achieve the aim, previous research and scientific literature were studied and experts from student society and the higher education sector, who deal with international students, were interviewed. The developed questionnaire was based on pairwise comparison procedure, and the obtained data were processed using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method.

Findings. The findings revealed that the following factors are the most critical for students who want to study at European HEIs: provision of programmes that are taught in English, the existence of scholarship opportunities, provision of different facilities in the campus, and accreditation of the study programme and university.

Originality/Value/Practical implications. The current study focuses on a topic that has been studied fragmentally, that is, on which factors are crucial for an international student to choose HEI in Europe. The current research contributes to the existing scientific literature by identifying and systemising educational factors influencing young people’s choice to study in Europe. The obtained results could be useful for professionals who are responsible for strategic partnerships at European universities.
Chuvash ‘Paganism’ at the Turn of the 21st Century: Traditional Rituals in the Religious Practice of Volga–Urals Chuvash Groups
Authors: Iagafova Ekaterina , Bondareva Valeriia
Published: July 2020

Traditional rituals formed the basis of ethnic Chuvash culture, and are still relevant in today’s festive and ritual culture, primarily among Chuvash ‘pagan’ ethno-religious groups. Today among the unbaptised Chuvash there is, with varying degrees of preservation, a set of ideas about the spirits of nature and the patron deity of different fields of life, practice of ritual prayer and sacrifice, and festive culture. The focus of ritual practice is the cult of the Supreme God Tura (Tură) and the ancestors, who during the calendar year appear in a single complex and in strict sequence. Traditional rituals play an essential role in the funeral and memorial rites and customs of the Chuvash. Thus, ‘pagan’ elements are characteristic not only of the unbaptised Chuvash, but also of some local groups of Christians and Muslims, for example ritual mourning of the dead, weekly commemoration on Thursday evenings until the ritual of ‘seeing off the soul’, ritual singing, sacrificing and ‘feeding’ souls of the dead on remembrance days, and other rituals and their elements. These ‘pagan’ elements in the culture of the Orthodox Chuvash and Chuvash Muslims living in ethnically mixed villages with Russians, Mordovians and Tatars both constitute the basis of their ethnic and cultural identity as Chuvash and contribute to the preservation of their ethnicity. Chuvash ‘paganism’, despite centuries of influence from Russian Orthodox and Muslim Tatar traditions, has a moderating influence over contemporary modernisation and is an element in religious practices of Chuvash confessional communities that is an important resource for the formation and development of ethnic and cultural identity.
Effects of Pirfenidone on Echocardiographic Parameters of Left Ventricular Structure and Function in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Al-Ansari Shehab , Borowski Allen , Fuad Ali , Alawadhi Omar , Riaz Haris , Sharma Vikram , Khan Nauman , Southern Brian D. , Tang W.H. Wilson
Published: July 2020

Aim: Pirfenidone is a novel anti-fibrotic agent utilized in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). It has been implicated in mitigating myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic dysfunction in animal models. However, its impact on LV mechanics in humans remains unknown. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effects of pirfenidone on echocardiographic parameters of LV function and structure in patients with IPF.

Methods: A total of 124 patients with IPF were included in this study: 64 patients treated with pirfenidone (treatment group) and 60 patients not taking pirfenidone (control group), who had serial pretreatment/baseline and posttreatment/follow-up echocardiograms done within a time frame of four years. Changes in the means of parameters of LV function (systolic, diastolic, and global longitudinal strain) and LV structure (mass and volume indices) were compared between the treatment and control groups. This was followed by a subgroup analysis that included only 88 patients (47 treated, 41 controls) with echocardiographic evidence of myocardial dysfunction at baseline (defined as an ejection fraction of ≤45, or diastolic dysfunction stage 1 or more) in addition to a known clinical diagnosis of congestive heart failure. To account for potential confounders, a secondary adjusted analysis by way of 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was carried out. This yielded a sample consisting of 62 patients with 56 patients in the subgroup cohort.

Results: Patients in the treatment group were significantly younger (69.4 vs. 77 years, p<0.001) and had relatively lower forced vital capacity (69.9% vs. 80.6%, p = 0.005) in comparison to the control group. However, after PSM, the age demographics were comparable between both groups (72.18 vs. 72.15, p = 0.9). In the primary unadjusted analysis, there was no statistically significant change in any of the mean parameters of LV function and structure after pirfenidone administration when compared to the control group. Furthermore, no significant differences were noted in the subgroup cohort. Such findings were re-demonstrated after a secondary analysis with PSM.

Conclusion: From an echocardiographic perspective, pirfenidone had no significant effects on LV structure and function in patients with IPF, even in patients with more overt cardiac dysfunction.
Malaria and HIV Infection among Febrile Patients in a Large Area of Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Oyeyemi Oyetunde T. , Etim Edet J.
Published: July 2020

Background: Malaria and HIV/AIDS are two major diseases that represent serious public health threats in Nigeria. They have been ascribed diseases of poverty, and therefore their distribution is expected to be overlapping.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria parasites and HIV among febrile patients in the Ikeja area of Lagos State, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 300 patients attending medical consultation and referred to blood screening for malaria parasites at Reddington Hospital, Lagos State. Malaria parasites were identified microscopically, and HIV screening was carried out using rapid diagnostic tests (RDT).

Results: The prevalence of malaria and HIV was 98.7% and 3.7%, respectively. All HIV-positive individuals were also infected by malaria parasites. Mean parasitemia was significantly higher in HIV-positive individuals (16,507.9 ± 2,280.7 P/μL) than in HIV-negative subjects (3,252.505 ± 236.3 P/μL) (p <0.05).

Conclusions: Our results suggest that HIV-infected individuals are more susceptible to infection with malaria parasites. Prompt HIV management is necessary in malaria-endemic areas to reduce disease severity in case of coinfection with HIV.
A Semantic Analysis of the Notion of Consultative Democracy: Xieshang Minzhu (协商民主) in the Chinese Official Political Discourses
Authors: Li Rongxin , Zhou Xiaofang
Published: July 2020

Chinese politics are characterized by the complex issues of a large population and centralized political powers, which offers a distinct political model from the Western models. However, the last two decades have witnessed a sharp collision between Chinese and Western political thinking. In response, domestic authors have increasingly focused on the indigenization (bentuhua 本土化) of Chinese political theories and, therefore, defend the concept of politics with Chinese characteristics. In this article, the authors focus on the discourse of “deliberative democracy” within the Chinese language, namely, Xieshang minzhu 协商 民主. In the current literature, almost no scholarly discussions have explored the semantics of the notion of Xieshang minzhu within Chinese politics. This article engages with this issue, both as a subject and a methodology, to better understand the political language that has been used in the official discourses in China

Official propaganda mainly includes five of China’s most authoritative official media (newspapers): People’s Daily (Renmin ribao 人民 日报), Guangming Daily (Guangming ribao 光明 日报), Xinhua Daily(Xinhua ribao 新华 日报), China Comment (Banyutan 半月谈), Qiushi (Qiushi 求是, formerly known as Red Flag (Hongqi 红旗)), Xi Jinping’s series of important speech databases and official documents on the subject of Xieshang or Xieshang minzhu in the Party-Building Database.

by 1) establishing a textual corpus by collecting relevant data into the Chinese and English groups through keywords; 2) conducting a statistical analysis based on the Word Cloud and Diagram analyses; and 3) using Word2Vec to calculate the relationship among other sub-keywords. The purpose of this contribution is to differentiate Xieshang minzhu as adopted by Chinese official discourses embedded in the logic of political reforms from the Western discourses. The semantic analysis presented here also serves as a methodology that systematically develops a conceptual model of xieshang, which further clarifies the misconceptions and errors in the existing literature. The authors also provide an outline of the polysemic notion of deliberative democracy, which not only exists within an authoritarian regime but is also present in other forms and other languages (such as Chinese). This serves to further maintain the legitimacy of the “socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics.”
Electrode positioning to investigate the changes of the thoracic bioimpedance caused by aortic dissection – a simulation study
Authors: Badeli V. , Melito G. M. , Reinbacher-Köstinger A. , Bíró O. , Ellermann K.
Published: July 2020

Impedance cardiography (ICG) is a non-invasive method to evaluate several cardiodynamic parameters by measuring the cardiac-synchronous changes in the dynamic transthoracic electrical impedance. ICG allows us to identify and quantify conductivity changes inside the thorax by measuring the impedance on the thorax during a cardiac cycle. Pathologic changes in the aorta, like aortic dissection, will alter the aortic shape as well as the blood flow and consequently, the impedance cardiogram. This fact distorts the evaluated cardiodynamic parameters, but it could lead to the possibility to identify aortic pathology. A 3D numerical simulation model is used to compute the impedance changes on the thorax surface in case of the type B aortic dissection. A sensitivity analysis is applied using this simulation model to investigate the suitability of different electrode configurations considering several patient-specific cases. Results show that the remarkable pathological changes in the aorta caused by aortic dissection alters the impedance cardiogram significantly.
New decision systems in the VUCA world
Authors: Minciu Mihaela , Berar Florin-Aurel , Dobrea Razvan Catalin
Published: July 2020

In a turbulent economic environment, marked by multiple challenges and changes at every step, organizations must adapt their management system, in order to maintain or even increase their productivity, as well as their competitive advantage. All the activities carried out within an organization are based on a series of managerial decisions, dependent on each other, by which the objectives and the modalities of action are determined, ensuring the economic-financial balance. Frequently, the activities carried out within an organization are changing, as the circumstances and characteristics of the business environment increasingly suffers transformations, thus it is necessary that the decision-making processes be updated. Therefore, the employees of the companies must be prepared to organize their activity in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world - the VUCA world. Above the decision environment, are manifested a series of indirect and direct influences (interdependent variables, constraints and limit situations) that affect the result of the decisions adopted within the different levels of management in organizations. Thus, the present paper aims to determine and investigate the factors that influence the characteristics of the decision situations, regardless of the type of decisions adopted within an organization. The present study consists in analyzing the results obtained after applying an online questionnaire to researchers from Doctoral Schools and students of Project Management, from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, who work in different areas of activity. After the statistical processing of the results obtained regarding the decision systems in the VUCA world, this paper aims to highlight the most important changes that occur in decision-making processes representing a key element for organizations in which managers have to make decisions on a daily basis, in order to ensure the economic performance, despite all the disruptions that occur.
CSR and Financial Performance – Linked by Innovative Activities
Authors: Bastič Majda , Mulej Matjaž , Zore Mira
Published: July 2020

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationships between different dimensions of corporate social responsibility (CSR), as well as the mediating role of innovation between CSR dimensions and financial performance. Data was collected with questionnaires from 321 managers of Slovene companies to test a conceptual model with structural equation modeling (SEM). The field-research results were that CSR is the most relevant dimension for employees. It positively influences CSR to the natural environment, to customers, and to the local community. The mediating role of innovation between CSR and financial performance was confirmed. The results also showed that CSR to the natural environment and CSR to customers positively affect innovation, while CSR to the local community had a negative impact. In addition, the positive impact of innovation initiated by CSR on financial performance was confirmed. The principal limitation of this study was its focus on Slovenian firms and the fact that data was obtained from only one manager in each firm. Slovene companies should consider the global initiatives supportive of CSR as the way to create opportunities for innovation and differentiation from other companies and increase their financial performance. The conceptual model developed and tested on the data obtained by Slovene managers gives new perspective on the impacts of social responsibility, innovation and financial performance. It highlights the areas in which the theory of social responsibility needs more research.
Establishment versus Newcomers, Critical versus Administrative?: Sketching the structure of the Swedish field of media and communication studies
Authors: Lindell Johan
Published: July 2020

The status of the field of media and communication studies has been debated globally and domestically. This study covers virtually all agents (N=254) in the Swedish field of media and communication studies and draws on Pierre Bourdieu's sociology of science to uncover the main hierarchies in the field. The study focuses on two main divisions. Like in most fields, the most prevalent division is found between the field's incumbents and the challengers/newcomers. A parallel, albeit less prevalent, division is an onto-epistemological one – a variant of the old cleavage between “critical” and “administrative” research. The field's power elite is almost exclusively male, and connected to the field's pioneering institutions.
Radon and thoron exhalation rate measurements from building materials used in Serbia
Authors: Čeliković Igor T. , Pantelić Gordana K. , Živanović Miloš Z. , Vukanac Ivana S. , Krneta Nikolić Jelena D. , Kandić Aleksandar B. , Lončar Boris B.
Published: July 2020

The second most important source of indoor radon, after soil beneath dwelling, is building material. With the increase in environmental awareness and new energy-saving policies, residents tend to replace the existing windows with tighter windows, which leads to a decrease in air exchange rate and consequently an increase in indoor radon concentration. In case of low exchange rates, dose caused by inhalation of radon and its progeny can exceed external dose originating from the radium content in the surrounding building material. In this paper, surface exhalation rates of radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) from typical building materials used for construction and interior decoration of houses in Serbia were investigated. Surface exhalation rate measurements were performed using the closed-chamber method, while concentrations of radon and thoron in the chamber were continuously measured using an active device, RTM1688-2, produced by SARAD® GmbH. Finally, the impact of the replacement of windows on the indoor radon concentration was estimated.
Radon soil-gas measurement campaign in Hessen: an approach to identifying areas with enhanced geogenic radon
Authors: Kuske Till , Kerker Steffen , Breckow Joachim , Lehné Rouwen , Laupenmühlen Tatjana , Jedmowski Lena
Published: July 2020

The new radiation protection law in Germany, which came into effect 2018, puts greater emphasis on the protection against naturally occurring radiation, especially radon as a known health hazard. The law requires the delineation of radon priority areas, where prevention and remediation of high indoor radon concentrations should be taken with priority. In Germany, radiation protection is the administrative responsibility of the federal states. The state of Hesse has early on decided to fully survey the state for radon priority areas. To identify radon priority areas, the geogenic radon potential has to be determined. To achieve that radon, soil-gas measurements combined with soil permeability are a necessity. The University of Applied Sciences (THM) in Giessen is responsible for the radon soil-gas measurement campaign in Hessen. To achieve a statistically sound survey of the state of Hessen with an achievable amount of different measurement locations, and in the given time-frame, a geology-based concept has been designed. Taking into account the known geological information about geological structures in combination with the administrative counties, a survey strategy has been established. Prior known information regarding soil thickness, moisture, digability, and other technical limitations are used to determine the exact measuring locations. At every location, the radon activity in soil gas is measured. The soil permeability is determined for every measurement as well. Three measurements are performed at each location. Having completed the first set of measurements, the design criteria of the campaign and the practical experiences will be presented.
Organisational culture of construction companies in Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: Alao T.O. , Aina O.O.
Published: July 2020

The study investigated the cultural features of construction companies in Lagos state and determined the organisational culture profile of the construction companies in the study area, with a view to providing information that could enhance the organisational performance of Nigeria construction firms. Primary data were sourced through the administration of 196 structured questionnaires to 98 construction companies (i.e., two questionnaires per company) represented by their construction professionals and administrative staff. The information elicited from the returned 140 questionnaires (71% return rate) included features of organisational culture and dominant characteristic element of organisational culture profile of the construction companies. Data collected for this study were analysed using percentages, factor analysis and mean score (MS). The result showed a dominant organisational cultural feature of strategic direction explaining 17.73% variance in respondent’s perception. However, communication (9.66%), adaptability (8.43%) and employee involvement (6.88%) were also relevant. The organisational culture profile showed a predominant market culture (MC) with focus on production and goal accomplishment (MS = 3.62), a hierarchy culture (HC) of a coordinator, organiser and efficiency expert (MS = 3.60) and an ad hoc culture with strategic emphasis on dynamics and readiness (MS = 3.56). The family type of culture is undermined within the companies (MS = 3.47). The study concluded that strategic direction being a MC feature corroborates a predominant MC revealed by assessing organisational culture of construction companies in Lagos state, Nigeria.
Unsuccessful bids: Coefficient of variation of bids as indicator of project risk
Authors: Kim Young Joo , Skibniewski Miroslaw J.
Published: July 2020

Although unsuccessful bids are usually discarded once the bids are opened under the typical lowest-price sealed-bid project award auction environment, considering efforts and resources expended by responsive and responsible bidders, it is likely that not only a successful bid but also unsuccessful bids can convey important information about the project at hand. This article documents an effort to answer the question that whether projects that receive more dispersed estimates at the bidding stage are more likely to experience greater project cost changes. Taking collective intelligence as the theoretical framework, a total of 210 projects conducted by the Ohio Department of Transportation between 2008 and 2018 were analyzed to investigate the relationship between the coefficients of variation of bids and project final costs. It was found that large projects with above-average coefficients of variation of bids showed greater deviations from original award amounts than large projects with below-average coefficients of variation. The finding enables project owners to study the projects before execution by recouping valuable insights from the community of bidders on the possibility of greater project cost changes faced by the planned projects without complex and mathematically rigorous models.
Factors directing individuals to computer games in the process of evaluating recreational activities
Authors: Yıldız Kadir , Güzel Pınar , Esentaş Melike
Published: July 2020

This study aims to examine the motivational factors that direct individuals to computer games in the process of evaluating leisure activities. The study is designed in descriptive and relational survey models, which are among the quantitative research patterns. A total of 1677 individuals participated in the study. A personal information form and the Computer Gaming Motivation Scale were used. An independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation test were used to analyze the data. According to the results, there were significant differences in the concentration, entertainment, escape, learning, and socialization sub-dimensions of the participants in favor of the groups playing in Internet cafes. The findings indicate that when more time is spent with information and communication technologies, there is a decrease in concentration and an increase in entertainment and escape. Furthermore, when the relationship between the sub-dimensions of the scale was examined, positively moderate and high correlations were found among concentration, entertainment, escape, learning, and socialization. As a result, rapid technological changes and developments provide many opportunities for individuals. It is thought that individuals’ busy work lives and monotonous daily routines cause them to prefer easily accessible activities during their leisure time.
The Deposition Temperature Dependence on the Crystallite Size of NiO Thin Films
Authors: Benramache Said , Chabane Foued , Arif Ali
Published: July 2020

In this article, we have investigated a fitting proposal model for calculating the crystallite size of pure NiO thin films by varying the structural parameters, such as full width at half-maximum β, lattice parameter a and differences in a − a
0. The experimental data of NiO thin films were prepared at several deposition temperatures in the range of 380–460°C. All estimated values of crystallite sizes are proportional to the experimental data. Thus, the measurement of the crystallite size values by this proposed model is compatible with practical measurements qualitative.
Design and Manufacturing of a Turning Table for Polishing Tanks in Beer Industry
Authors: Buciuman Catalin , Adam Aurelian , Galatan Laurentiu
Published: July 2020

The main objective of this paper was to design and manufacture a turning table for fixing conical and tori spherical heads used for tanks in beer industry, to polish the surfaces and to obtain better quality and roughness. The turning table is an indispensable fixture device in the polishing process for vessel heads, where the accuracy and the roughness of the surface is an important factor because it can influence the quality of the beer. If the surface is smooth, the microbes and bacteria cannot be deposited on the tanks’ surfaces and also a good quality of the tanks’ walls prevent contamination in the beer composition. The research were made in Inotec Company, Romania. The new proposed design for the turning table improved the actual technology and reduced the manufacturing time. The tests made on the obtained manufactured products using the rotary table showed that the surface quality was improved too.
Logistics Models in E-Commerce
Authors: Witkowski Krzysztof , Koralewska Monika , Huk Katarzyna
Published: July 2020

The rapid development of digital technology and its applications in almost all business areas has resulted in the emergence of new terms such as e-supply, e-administration, e-CRM, e-sport, m-commerce etc. This paper describes one of the logistics models in e-commerce based on outsourcing of logistics services, i.e. dropshipping. Presented are logistics processes in e-commerce, various logistic models, applied IT technologies and innovations, as well as principles of functioning and determining marketing methods for this type of trade. The research was conducted on the example of an online store selling toys and children’s articles, which operated on the market based on the dropshipping model. A comparative analysis of the dropshipping warehouse offer was the main part of the research.
An Analysis of Field Preferences of an Educational System
Authors: Ćwiąkała-Małys Anna , Mościbrodzka Monika
Published: July 2020

It is the labour market that decides about the popularity of a field of studies. The area where the highest number of job offers appears is reflected in the offers of universities. However, it is very often mentioned in many media that future students decide to choose social and humane studies whose market chances are evaluated on a relatively low level.

In the past 10 years, because of the decrease in the birth rate, the number of Polish students at various universities declined to about 700,000 people. In these years, it was observed that the number of studying men and women declined (to almost 30%). The lowest decrease in the number of students was observed at technical universities because of the fact that, at that time, the number of female students increased there. The group of female students constitutes the one that has increased in numbers in the past 10 years.

The authors of this article, using a multidimensional comparative analysis method, conducted a research on studying field preferences of female students, which is a dominant group of people studying at Polish universities.
The Essentials of Georgia's Economic Transformation
Authors: Iashvili Tsotne
Published: July 2020

The aim of this article is to examine Georgia's economic transformation and try to answer the question: Why Georgia is not able to have a stable and high economic growth? In this article, it will be an attempt to answer this question by taking into account the weak private sector in Georgia, as one of the main burdens of economic growth. The article attempts to analyse the economic transformation in Georgia. The reasons for its failure and consequences, also to estimate its possible impact on the nowadays economic situation in Georgia. The latter will be examined from the perspective of Institutional Theory. The article will try to answer the above-mentioned question and problems, taking into account the institutional changes in Georgia. The article explains the unsuccessful path of transformation and tries to connect its results to the current economic situation in Georgia.
Prevalence of dysmenorrhoeal pain and its impact on school performance: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Magar Ashmita Thapa , Alam Nazmul
Published: July 2020

BangladeshABSTRACTMenstruation is normal biological phenomena for girls and women. During menstruation, girls and women feel a certain degree of pain (dysmenorrhea) that can be minor to severe resulting obstacles in carrying daily life activities including school. This study was conducted to determine how dysmenorrheal pain has affected the students’school as well as daily life along with prevailing social and cultural norms during menstruation. Following a cross-sectional design, this study took place among 366 students of Kathmandu (66.1%) and Dhading (33.9%) in Nepal of aged from 13 to 20 years. Of all the samples, 89% of the students complained of having dysmenorrhea where moderate degree of pain had the highest frequency of 49.7%. Nonetheless of the degree of pain, 45.1% missed school because of it. Besides missing classes, 81% didn’t participate in sports activities during their period. 38% students regularly followed restrictions applied during period while 34% followed them sometimes only. 83% complained about school administration failing to address periodic problems. I would recommend the school administration to have an infirmary where the students can take rest and continue their classes after that. Adding on to it, the administration should be able to provide emergency sanitary pads and heat pads, so that the students dont have to go back home and miss their classes.
Penyusunan Kalender Masa Tanam Untuk Optimasi Produk Sayuran Organik Dalam Mendukung Program Diversifikasi Olahan Pangan B2SA Kelompok Wanita Tani Kreatif Permata
Authors: Prasetiyowati Sri Suryani
Published: July 2020

Seiring dengan berkurangnya lahan terbuka di desa Lengkong karena program pengembangan kawasan perumahan, maka program Kawasan Rumah Pangan Lestari (KRPL) yang telah dicanangkan oleh pemerintah menjadi sulit untuk diimplementasikan. Sehingga dengan program pemberdayaan wanita di desa lengkong dan optimalisasi lahan terbuka dan lahan pekarangan yng ada, terbentuklah Kelompok Wanita Tani Kreatif Permata di desa Lengkong Setelah berjalan 10 bulan, KWT Kreatif mulai dapat meningkatkan produksinya, dan mulai dapat memenuhi warga masyarakat sekitar dalam bentuk konsumsi sayur dan ikan, selain mentah juga diolah menjadi beragam produk makanan inovatif. Olahan pangan tersebut diharapkan dapat memperhatikan aspek Bergizi, Berimbang, Sehat dan Aman (B2SA). Salah satu hal mendasar selain untuk ketahanan pangan, perlu adanya olahan pangan di KWT Kreatif adalah produksi sayuran yang berlebih, dan kadang-kadang proporsinya belum seimbang. Tetapi saat ini, program tersebut belum dijalankan oleh KWT Kreatif, karena keterbatasan pengetahuan, peralatan dan pendanaan untuk menuju olahan pangan berbasis B2SA. Oleh karena itu perlu suatu metode untuk optimasi volume produksi sayurannya melalui penyusunan kalender masa tanam sayuran organik KWT Kreatif Permata.
Challenges in the setting of coronavirus 2019: A review of disease and experience from delta state university teaching hospital
Authors: Akpo Emmanuel Esaba , Uchendu Jude O. , Otene Cletus I. , Ikubor Joyce E. , Orugbo Peter V. , Odion-Obomhense Helen K. , Oriakhi Steve-Nation N.
Published: July 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified in December 2019 and declared a pandemic in March 2020 by the World Health Organization. Countries with advanced technology and huge financial base are finding it difficult to curtail the COVID-19 spread and its attendant morbidity and mortality. Spread of the disease to the African Sub-Region became fearful because poor health-care facilities and manpower needs due to the majorly dilapidated health-care infrastructure, considering the mortality tables from other more advanced nations. To adequately prepare the manpower and avoid strain on the workforce before the incidence of disease peaks, there was a massive re-training of health-care personnel and the workforce routine schedule re-designed. This paper reviews the disease and highlights the challenges in our setting toward combating the coronavirus 2019 disease.
ENGINEERING METHOD FOR CALCULATING STEEL-REINFORCED CONCRETE ELEMENTS WITH FLEXIBILITY
Authors: Yefimenko Olena
Published: July 2020

In the article presents an engineering method for calculating compressed flexible reinforced concrete elements with sheet reinforcement over a steel cross section. The results of the calculation are compared with the experimental data. Calculation ofload-bearing capacity of reinforced concrete flexible elements with sheet reinforcement is based on the method of boundarystates. The work of specimens under load and the nature of the load-bearing capacity depending on the height and eccentricity of the effort were investigated. The proposed method of calculating compressed elements with sheet reinforcement on asteel-cross-section allows to take into account their flexibility in both axial and out-of-center application of load.
INCREASE IN FLUID EXTRACTION, WHICH IS AT THE FINAL STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT DUE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF EQUIPMENT INTENSIFICATION
Authors: Rubel Victoria , Petruniak Marina
Published: July 2020

It has been established that the fluid reserves, which are at the final stage of development, are difficult to extractable andwatered. The methods of intensification are analyzed and it is established that it will be rational in this case to pump carbondioxide into the reservoir. Its influence on a bundle of oil and water is determined. The results of the statistical processing ofthe change of the debit before and after injection of carbon dioxide, the influence of the volume of gas injected into the wellfrom the seperate permeability of the reservoir, as well as the expected rate of wellbore after injection, are presented.
Detection of bacterial populations colonizing the genital tracts of jennies and their changes during the oestrous cycle
Authors: Punčochářová Eliška , Mráčková Miroslava , Krisová Šárka , Andrlová Petra , Masaříková Martina , Sedlinská Markéta
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study was to help improve the management of assisted reproduction of donkeys and to extend the existing information on the fertility of donkeys by qualitative and quantitative assessment of bacterial contamination of the jennies’ genital tract in connection with the perineum formation and oestrous cycle phases. Ten female donkeys were included in the study and were repeatedly rectally palpated and sonographically examined during the oestrous cycle. Samples were taken from the fossa clitoridis and around the cervix for microbiological examination. Each jenny was sampled twice, always at different stages of the cycle, both in the oestrus and in the dioestrus. In addition, samples from the endometrium were taken in oestrus for both microbiological and cytological examination. After collection, the samples were examined in a microbiological laboratory. There were 62 different species of microorganisms found belonging to 19 different bacterial genera. The presence of agents of mares’ infectious metritis Taylorella equigenitalis was not found in any of the samples. The outcome of our study is an initial mapping of the microbial colonization of the endometrium and the genital tract in jennies with correct formation of the perineal region. The hypothesis that the level of bacterial contamination was related to the oestrous cycle was not confirmed. The practical significance of the study lies mainly in the description of the composition, amount and changes of microbiota in healthy individuals during their oestrous cycle, which allows the evaluation of the risk of developing infection during the active oestrous cycle in connection with mating.
Using a Diabetes Discussion Forum and Wikipedia to Detect the Alignment of Public Interests and the Research Literature
Authors: Didegah Fereshteh , Ghaseminik Zahra , Alperin Juan Pablo
Published: July 2020

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is therefore unsurprising that there is a high volume of public discussions, resources, and research tackling various aspects of the disease. This study describes a new method for identifying areas of public interest in issues like diabetes and compares them to the topics being discussed in research. We tested our method by using posts from a popular diabetes discussion forum (DiabeticConnect), pages (articles) about diabetes published on Wikipedia, and the titles and abstracts of research articles about diabetes from the Scopus database. Tags assigned to each post in the discussion forum were used along with the post itself to compute a Labeled Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LLDA) model, which was then used to classify the Wikipedia pages and research articles. The resulting classifications were then used to compare the prevalence of the topics found in the discussion forum with that in the other two sources. The results show that the public interest in diabetes is not necessarily addressed by researchers. More importantly, the alignment and misalignment in the changes in relative interest over the various topics are evidence that LLDA modeling can be useful for comparing a public corpus, like a diabetes forum, and an academic one, like research article titles and abstracts. The success of using LLDA to classify research articles based on the tags assigned to posts in a public discussion forum shows that this a promising method for better understanding how the scientific community responds to public interests and needs.