bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modern trends in the mathematical simulation of pressure-driven membrane processes
Authors: Huliienko S. V. , Korniienko Y. M. , Gatilov K. O.
Published: August 2020

The presented article is an attempt to evaluate the progress in the development of the mathematical simulation of the pressure-driven membrane processes. It was considered more than 170 articles devoted to the simulation of reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, and microfiltration and the others published between 2000 and 2010 years. Besides the conventional approaches, which include the irreversible thermodynamics, diffusion and pore flow (and models which consider the membrane surface charge for nanofiltration process), the application of the methods the computational fluid dynamics, artificial neural networks, optimization, and economic analysis have been considered. The main trends in this field have been pointed out, and the areas of using approaches under consideration have been determined. The technological problems which have been solved using the mentioned approaches have also been considered. Although the question of the concentration polarization has not been considered separately, it was defined that, in many cases, the sufficiently accurate model cannot be designed without considering this phenomenon. The findings allow evaluating more thoroughly the development of the simulation of pressure-driven membrane processes. Moreover, the review allows choosing the strategy of the simulation of the considered processes.

Keywords: membrane, simulation, model, reverse osmosis nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, microfiltration.
Investigation of Parameters Affecting Underwater Communication Channel
Authors: Onur T. O.
Published: August 2020

Underwater communication has become a widely studied area in recent years and showed great potential to be an area of research. Acoustic communication is often preferred in underwater communication due to its suitability for an underwater diffusion environment. However, in underwater communication, the physical and chemical properties of the water environment affect sound propagation. Therefore, determining and examining parameters affecting channel performance in underwater communication plays an essential role in inefficient communication. In this study, the effects of salinity, depth, noise, temperature, and frequency parameters for the underwater channel model are examined. By determining the effects of these parameters on spherical and cylindrical propagation, suitable propagation geometry and parameter values for an efficient channel are investigated. In light of the results obtained, in case of studying in a limited area, the path and absorption losses can be reduced by selecting cylindrical propagation as a geometrical propagation model, thereby an efficient channel model can be formed.

Keywords: cylindrical propagation, spherical propagation, underwater communication channel, acoustic communication, path loss, absorption loss.
Thermodynamic and Economic Evaluation of Gas Turbine Power Plants
Authors: Oyegoke T. , Akanji I. I. , Ajayi O. O. , Obajulu E. A. , Abemi A. O.
Published: August 2020

Thermodynamic analysis and economic feasibility of a gas turbine power plant using a theoretical approach are studied here. The operating conditions of Afam Gas Power Plant, Nigeria are utilized. A modern gas turbine power plant is composed of three key components which are the compressor, combustion chamber, and turbine. The plants were analyzed in different control volumes, and plant performance was estimated by component-wise modeling. Mass and energy conservation laws were applied to each component, and a complete energy balance conducted for each component. The lost energy was calculated for each control volume, and cumulative performance indices such as thermal efficiency and power output were also calculated. The profitability of the proposed project was analyzed using the Return on Investment (ROI), Net Present Worth (NPW), Payback Period (PBP), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). First law analysis reveals that 0.9 % of the energy supplied to the compressor was lost while 99.1 % was adequately utilized. 7.0 % energy was generated within the Combustion Chamber as a result of the combustion reaction, while 33.2 % of the energy input to the Gas Turbine was lost, and 66.8 % was adequately converted to shaft work which drives both compressor and electric generator. Second law analysis shows that the combustion chamber unit recorded lost work of 248.27 MW (56.1 % of the summation), and 77.33 MW (17.5 % of the summation) for Gas Turbine, while air compressor recorded 11.8 MW (2.7 %). Profitability analysis shows that the investment criteria are sensitive to change in the price of natural gas. Selling electricity at the current price set by the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) at zero subsidies and an exchange rate of 365 NGN/kWh is not profitable, as the analysis of the investment gave an infinite payback period. The investment becomes profitable only at a 45 % subsidy regime.

Keywords: energy conversion system, gas turbine, economic analysis, second law analysis, power plant.
Sustainable Low Carbon Urban Lighting Analysis: Case Study of Bandung City
Authors: Yusup G. S. B. , Melda R. J. , Maman I. , Li J.
Published: August 2020

Nowadays, lighting technology is in the transition period from conventional lighting to LED, which more environmentally friendly due to free of harmful substances such as mercury, lead, or other hazardous chemicals and gases. This low light pollution because directional light is carefully distributed precisely to the intended location. Performance of the lights also brighter than other lights. This research measuring the reduction of CO2 gas emissions before and after PJU (street lights) in Bandung is changed from the conventional to the LED, also mapping the CO2 gas emissions in six Development Areas (SWK). The basis for this research approach is a case study with before and after comparison, meaning that this approach only applies to one object that is the same as comparing the condition of the object before and after the treatment. In this study, the evaluation research method used is a causal method, which is a method that is more directed at impact evaluation research. Scientifically and objectively, PJU LED provides low CO2 emissions gas by up to 26 % in Bandung city.

Keywords: CO2 emission, the light emitted diode (LED), street lights.
Characteristics of Solidarity on Social Networks
Authors: Yudina E.N. , Alekseenko I.V.
Published: August 2020

The social networking influences all areas of society and stimulates the activity of the social networks communities. Later the importance of social networks revised the researches of the sociological aspects of social solidarity. Solidarity of modern society intensifies according to a sharp increase of possibilities to communicate with the help of the social networks that has become tools of forming the online communities. The authors suggest a new term for characteristics of a new solidarity at network communities – online solidarity. This term shows the connotation with the Internet; it also shows that online solidarity arises on micro level of the interpersonal relations. In the article authors analyze the term and characteristics of online solidarity in network communities and represent the results of the original research (questionnaire, 2019) “Students on Social Networks”. The authors come to conclusion that users with lots of “friends” at social networks feel more successful and socially demanded. Despite of its flexibility and lightness online-solidarity plays an important role in the society and has an influence on the macro level of society.
Social Dimensions of Communication in Project Activities of the Authorities
Authors: Kornilovich V.A.
Published: August 2020

The research is contingent on the interim results received by the Russian Chamber of accounts for strategic audit of national projects. Most experts have outlined the problem of achieving quantitative and qualitative indicators of national projects, and, as a result, the planned results of the country development. The author educes the reasons for the current problem in project management as follows: (1) the contradiction of the method and the tasks set; (2) the lack of mechanisms for implementing national projects in their relationship with Federal and regional projects. Besides, the author adds to this list (3) the issues of the social consequences of the project activities initiated by the public authorities in 2005-2009 and 2018-2020, such as the exclusion of the population from the implementation of projects. The author clarifies that the mobilization of public energy to achieve the planned socially significant results of the development of Russian society is only possible if the content of the projects corresponds to the values of the population towards the future. Based on empirical data, the author demonstrates the sensitivity of various social groups (supporters, opponents, medial group) to the actions / inaction of the authorities to solve the problems of society’s life. The article shows that purposeful problematization of certain areas of state policy leads to the formation of a new social group, which includes representatives of three groups at the same time. It proves that the organization of communication in the project activity of the public authorities, its forms and means are mediated by the characteristic of the medial group.
Pragmatic Character of USA Political Elite Communication Patterns
Authors: Panova Y.V.
Published: August 2020

The author regards pragmatism as the mental basis of American national character. The key concept of pragmatism is the Truth presented in its peculiar shape reflecting the essence of worldview and world perception of American nation. The main thesis of pragmatism is the statement: «The Truth is that I believe in». The author states that not only the ordinary American citizens but also the USA political elite are ruled by this principle, while the communication style bears the pragmatic character. The author’s content analysis of the foreign and local periodicals confirms the disagreements between the USA authorities and other representatives of international community who often misrepresent the actions of American political establishment. Using hermeneutic method in the analysis of scientific and fine literature the author has come to the following conclusion, that American pragmatism is based on the faith reflecting the mental views mainly occurring unconsciously. Conversely, turn pragmatic attitudes determine the Americans’ behavior that explains their aspiration for success as the primary goal and explicates the conducted external policy activities where pragmatism also occurs as the basis of communication patterns of political elite.
Media Platforms and Algorithms: content and social implications
Authors: Nazarov M.M.
Published: August 2020

The paper considers the new features of the digital media environment associated with the widespread introduction of platforms and algorithms in media practices and reveals the technological, business and social background of these innovations. The application of platforms and algorithms is a powerful tool for implementing the commercial imperative in the media. In general, this is a characteristic feature of the development of modern society – a trend towards comprehensive metrization. Along with the advantages, the use of predictive algorithms, personalization of content based on tracking of past communicative behavior has a number of negative social consequences. E.g., ‘filter bubbles’ contribute to the formation of closed information segments. The model of social behaviorism underlying the recommendation services contributes to the modification of people’s informational behavior. Algorithmization of media landscape strengthens the trends of content delivery to individual consumers, and not to citizens inclined to make joint decisions regarding the common interests of social life.
The Northern Neighbor: memes about people and power as a tool for shaping the image of Russia in Chinese digital space
Authors: Nadezhkina E.S. , Kirillina N.V.
Published: August 2020

The phenomenon of Internet meme is not often discussed in academic discourse, despite its active use in applied communication, e.g. public relations, marketing and political communications, and branding. The Internet has made the distribution of memes a daily practice, and this term (a) has become an integral part of a publicly accessible network language; (b) an element of modern network culture with a high potential for the formation of sustainable images and stereotypes. In this paper, based on an analysis of two common memes about Russia in the Chinese segment of the Internet, we attempt (1) to trace how the image of Russia is developing in the Chinese Internet segment, (2) to identify the most stable images and tropes, and (3) to evaluate the prospects for using the memes in professional communication, in our case limited to the development of country image and brands.
Seed Morphology of Some Selected Species of Fabaceae, Polygonaceae, Primulaceae, Violaceae, Rosaceae and Phyllanthaceae
Authors: PALABAŞ UZUN Seyran , UZUN Alper , ALICI Eda
Published: August 2020

Determination of some seed characteristics provides important distinctive taxonomic data for species identification. In this study, seed characteristics such as measurements, weights and surface morphology of some unstudied taxa belonging to Fabaceae, Polygonaceae, Primulaceae, Violaceae, Rosaceae and Phyllanthaceae families native in Turkey, were investigated. Length and width of the seeds were measured with digital calliper using stereo-microscope. Seed weights were measured with Dikomsan precision scale. In addition to stereo microscope data, the surface ornamentation of the seeds was identified using scanning electron microscope. Accordingly, the smallest seeds were determined in Anagallis foemina (0.74 mm long and 1.11 mm wide) from Primulaceae family, while the largest seeds were determined in Rosa boissieri (4.95 mm long and 2.99 mm wide) from Rosaceae family. The heaviest seeds were measured in Rosa boissieri (0.0095 g) from the Rosaceae family and the slightest seeds in Anagallis foemina (0.0002 g) from the Primulaceae family. Mainly six types of the ornamentation were observed in SEM study of the species. The most common one was the reticulate ornamentation.
Ağır Metal Varlığında Vimba vimba Bireylerindeki Genotoksik Hasarın Tespiti
Authors: KONTAŞ Seda , BOSTANCI Derya
Published: August 2020

Kıranyağmur bölgesinden mevsimsel olarak örneklenen su, sediment ve Vimba vimba bireylerinin kas, solungaç ve karaciğer dokularında kadmiyum (Cd), kurşun (Pb), arsenik (As), alüminyum (Al), nikel (Ni), krom (Cr), demir (Fe), çinko (Zn), bakır (Cu), mangan (Mn), kobalt (Co) konsantrasyonları belirlenmiştir. Bu çalışmada, comet assay parametreleri ve mikronükleus (MN) testinden yararlanılarak varlığı belirlenen elementlerin genotoksik potansiyellerinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Suda Al, As, Fe ve balıkların kas dokusunda As, Pb, Mn bazı mevsimlerde yüksek bulunmuştur. Eritrositlerdeki MN frekansı yaz, kış, sonbahar ve ilkbahar mevsimlerinde sırasıyla ‰5.20, ‰1.80 ‰1.40 ve ‰1.10 olarak tespit edilmiştir (P<0.05). Comet assay parametrelerinin sonuçlarına göre, eritrosit hücrelerindeki DNA hasarına bağlı olarak oluşan kuyruk boyu değerleri yaz, ilkbahar, sonbahar ve kış mevsimlerinde sırasıyla 26.32 μm, 25.12 μm, 22.16 μm ve 17.78 μm olarak tespit edilmiştir. Yaz, ilkbahar ve sonbahar mevsimlerinde DNA hasarı kış mevsimine göre daha yüksektir (P<0.05). Baştaki %DNA ve kuyruktaki %DNA değerleri de kuyruk boyu değerlerini desteklemektedir (P<0.05). Bu çalışmada, Kıranyağmur bölgesinde yaşayan V. vimba türünde ilk kez bir genotoksisite değerlendirmesi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma bulguları, Kıranyağmur bölgesinin özellikle suyunun V. vimba türü üzerinde genotoksik bir potansiyele sahip olduğunu ortaya koymuştur.
Students’ Milk Consumption Patterns at Erzincan Binali Yildirim University
Authors: KUMBASAROĞLU Hediye , EREM KAYA Tuğba
Published: August 2020

The present study was conducted on 380 students studying at Erzincan Binali Yildirim University, 57.40% of whom are male and 42.60% female related to their consumption behavior of drinking milk. For analysis of the data, complementary statistics and chi-square test were used. The results of the survey suggest that 21.10% of the students regularly consume milk while 78.90% of the students irregularly drink milk. Among the reasons why the students dislike drinking milk are its taste (37.67%) with a high percentage and smell (30.66%) affecting the students? The percentage of those who do not drink milk for allergic reasons is 4.67%. A significant difference was also reported between the reasons for dislike drinking milk and gender (p<0.05). It was found that 27.89 % of the respondents paid attention to the expiry date during shopping and 39.21 % preferred one percent milk. 67.37% of the students reported that they preferred markets for buying milk. It was found that gender, nourishing property, fat level, price and milk consumption patterns in the market played role in the participants’ preference of milk consumption.
Farklı Depolama Ortamı ve Sıcaklıkların Kinoa (Chenopodium qinoa Willd.) Tohumlarında Çimlenme ve Sürme Oranı Üzerine Etkisi
Authors: GEREN Hakan , KAVUT Yaşar Tuncer
Published: August 2020

Farklı depolama ortamı ve sıcaklığı ile depolama sürelerinin kinoa tohumlarının canlılığı üzerindeki etkilerini belirlemek için bir deneme yapılmıştır. Olgunlaşmış tohumlar (Q-52 çeşidi) Ekim 2017’de İzmir’deki kinoa tarlasından toplanmıştır. Muamele olarak; beş depolama ortamı (pamuk torba, kâğıt torba, naylon torba, plastik tüp, vakum) ve dört depolama sıcaklığı (ortam, 16⁰C, 4⁰C, -24⁰C) ile altı depolama süresi (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 ay) kullanılarak faktöriyel tesadüf parselleri deneme desenine göre çimlenme ve sürme testleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. Başlangıç çimlenme ve sürme testi yapıldıktan sonra (hasattan 1 hafta sonra) farklı sıcaklıklarda depolanan tohum örnekleri her bir saklama ortamından rastgele alınmış ve tohum toplama zamanından itibaren her dört ayda bir çimlendirme testine tabi tutulmuştur. Sürme (çıkış) testi tohumların kum yatağına ekilmesiyle gerçekleştirilmiş, çimlenme ve sürme oranı verileri kaydedilmiştir. Kinoa tohumlarının çimlenme ve sürme oranları üzerine depolama ortamı, sıcaklık ve süresi ile interaksiyonları arasında istatistiksel olarak önemli farklar bulunmuştur. Ortam sıcaklığında depolanan tohumlarda çimlenme ve sürme oranları diğer sıcaklıklarda depolanan tohumlara göre daha düşük olmuştur. Bunun yanında depolama süresinin artması çimlenme ve sürme oranlarında kademeli olarak azalmaya neden olmuştur. En yüksek çimlenme ve sürme oranı -24⁰C altında ve plastik tüplerde saklanan tohumlarda saptanmış, onları aynı sıcaklıkta naylon torba ve vakum torbaları izlemiştir. Ortam sıcaklığında pamuk torbalarda saklanan tohumlarda minimum değerler kaydedilmiştir. Kinoa tohumlarının -24⁰C altındaki hava geçirimsiz plastik tüplerde 24 aydan fazla saklanmamasının tohum canlılığının korunmasında daha iyi olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır.
Ekim Zamanları ve Bor Uygulamalarının Çörekotu (Nigella sativa L.) Bitkisinin Agronomik ve Kalite Özellikleri Üzerine Etkileri
Authors: BEYZİ Erman , KARER Şafak
Published: August 2020

Bu çalışma çörekotu bitkisinde farklı ekim zamanı ve bor uygulamalarının agronomik ve kalite özellikleri üzerine etkilerini belirlemek amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Deneme, Erciyes Üniversitesi Tarımsal Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezi arazisinde bulunan deneme alanında 2019 yılında ‘’Tesadüf Bloklarında Bölünmüş Parseller Deneme Desenine’’ göre üç tekerrürlü olarak kurulmuştur. Çalışmada dört farklı ekim zamanı (25 Mart, 10 Nisan, 25 Nisan, 10 Mayıs) ve üç farklı bor dozu (Kontrol, 250, 500 ve 750 g da-1) denenmiştir. Hasat sonrası bitkide tarımsal özellikler olarak bitki boyu, bitkide kapsül sayısı, kapsülde tohum sayısı, bin tohum ağırlığı, tohum verimi, biyolojik verim ile kalite özellikleri olarak sabit yağ oran ve bileşenleri belirlenmiştir. Araştırma sonunda bitki boyu 33.13-56.60 cm, tohum verimi 57.03-103.73 kg da-1, sabit yağ oranı % 11.94-19.34 ve bin tohum ağırlığı ise 2.46-2.70 g arasında değişiklik göstermiştir. Ayrıca çörekotu bitkisinde 7 adet bileşen belirlenmiş olup, bunlardan linoleik asit major bileşen olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu bileşeni sırasıyla oleik ve palmitik asit izlemiştir. Çörekotu bitkisinde linoleik asit oranı % 56.83-60.82 arasında değişkenlik göstermiştir. Çalışma sonucunda en yüksek tohum veriminin elde edildiği 25 Nisan ekim tarihi Kayseri ekolojik koşullarında yazlık ekimlerde çörekotu yetiştiriciliği için uygun olduğu söylenebilir.
Dallı Darı (Panicum virgatum)’nın Kurşun, Kadmiyum, Krom Toleransı ve Akümülasyon Potansiyelinin Belirlenmesi
Authors: ALACABEY İdris , ZORER ÇELEBİ Şeyda
Published: August 2020

Bu araştırmada, kurşun (Pb), kadmiyum (Cd) ve krom (Cr) ağır metallerinin dallı darı (Panicum virgatum)’nın gelişimi üzerine etkileri ile dallı darının bu metalleri akümülasyon potansiyelinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Deneme tesadüf parselleri deneme desenine göre üç tekrarlamalı olarak iklim odasında saksılarda yürütülmüştür. Araştırmada dallı darının Trailblazer çeşidi Pb’nin 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 mg kg-1, Cd’nin 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg kg-1 ve Cr’nin 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 mg kg-1 uygulandığı yetiştirme ortamlarında büyütülmüş ve gelişimleri incelenmiştir. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre her üç ağır metalin uygulanan düşük konsantrasyonlarında bitki boyu, yaş ve kuru biomas kontrole göre çok az gerileme gözlenmiştir. Uygulanan en yüksek konsantrasyonlarda gelişme geriliği artmış ancak bitki ölümleri olmamıştır. Bitkinin ağır metal içerikleri artan konsantrasyonlara bağlı olarak artmıştır. Biyolojik alınabilirlik indeksi her üç ağır metalin bütün konsantrasyonlarında 1’in üzerinde bulunmuştur. Sonuç olarak Pb, Cd ve Cr ağır metalleri ile kirlenmiş toprakların temizlenmesinde dallı darının iyi bir aday bitki olduğu düşünülmektedir.
Bazı Anason (Pimpinella anisum L.) ve Tatlı Rezene (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. var. dulce) Populasyonlarının Uçucu Yağ Bileşenlerinin Belirlenmesi
Authors: DOĞAN Hülya
Published: August 2020

Anason (Pimpinella anisum L.) ve tatlı rezene (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. var. dulce) ülkemizde yoğun olarak tarımı yapılan ve ekonomik önemi olan tıbbi ve aromatik bitkiler arasında yer almaktadır. Bu çalışmada farklı bölgelerden temin edilen anason ve tatlı rezene populayonlarına ait meyvelerin uçucu yağ oranları ile bileşenlerini belirlemek amaçlanmıştır. Hidro-distilasyon yöntemi kullanılarak uçucu yağ elde edilmiştir. GC / MS yöntemi ile de uçucu yağ bileşenleri belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre, uçucu yağ oranı anason meyvelerinde %3.24±0.03-3.48±0.04, tatlı rezene meyvelerinde ise %2.37±0.10-3.24±0.10 arasında bulunmuştur. Her iki türün uçucu yağ bileşenlerinde trans-anethol en yüksek oranda tespit edilmiştir. Trans-anethol oranı, anason populasyonlarında (%85.22±3.98-97.23±0.18), tatlı rezene (%81.63±3.79-92.64±1.90) populasyonlarına göre daha yüksek oranda bulunmuştur. Anason ve tatlı rezene uçucu yağında yüksek oranda bulunan trans-anetholden sonra en fazla görülen bileşenlerin estragol, L-fenkhon ve limonen olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bu dört ana bileşenle birlikte anason ve tatlı rezene uçucu yağında yedi oksijenli monoterpen ve sekiz monoterpen hidrokarbon olduğu tespit edilmiştir. En yüksek trans-anethol oranı tatlı rezenede Konya-1 (%92.64±1.90) populasyonundan, anason için ise Burdur (%97.23±0.18) populasyonundan elde edilmiştir. Anason ve rezenede yeni çeşit geliştirme amacıyla ıslah çalışmalarında bu populasyonlar başlangıç materyali olarak kullanılabilir.
Bazı Yemlik Pancar (Beta vulgaris var. rapacea) Çeşitlerinin Yumru Verimi ve Kalite Özellikleri
Authors: ÖZDEMİR Ayşe , KÖKTEN Kağan
Published: August 2020

Bu araştırma, Bingöl koşullarında 5 çeşit yemlik pancarın (Rota, Brigadier, Feldherr, Nedimbey, Rekord Poly) yumru verimi ve kalite özelliklerinin incelenmesi amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Araştırma, 2018 yılı yetiştirme döneminde Bingöl Üniversitesi Genç Meslek Yüksekokulu Uygulama ve Araştırma alanına ait deneme alanında kurulmuştur. Çalışma, tesadüf blokları deneme desenine göre dört tekerrürlü olarak yürütülmüştür. Araştırmada kullanılan yemlik pancar çeşitlerine ait yumru boyu, yumru çapı, yaş yumru verimi, kuru yumru verimi, ham kül oranı, ham protein oranı, ham protein verimi, asit deterjanda çözünmeyen lif (ADF), nötr deterjanda çözünmeyen lif (NDF), sindirilebilir kuru madde (SKM) oranı, kuru madde tüketimi (KMT) oranı ve nispi yem değeri (NYD) ile ilgili veriler incelenmiştir. Araştırmadan elde edilen sonuçlara göre; yumru boyu 16.50-23.08 cm, yumru çapı 7.08-8.50 cm, yaş yumru verimi 7106.0-10587.0 kg da-1, kuru yumru verimi 997.78-1330.80 kg da-1, ham kül oranı %1.48-1.95, ham protein oranı %4.87-6.03, ham protein verimi 50.35-65.29 kg da-1, ADF oranı %8.85-9.95, NDF oranı %13.88-15.80, SKM oranı %81.15-82.01, KMT oranı %7.65-8.69 ve NYD 481.45-552.19 arasında değişmiştir. En yüksek yaş yumru ve ham protein verimleri Brigadier ve Rekord Poly çeşitlerinden elde edilmiştir. Bu sonuçlara göre; Bingöl ve benzeri ekolojilerde bu iki çeşidin yetiştirilebileceği önerilmektedir.
The Effect of Peer Evaluations on Student Reports of Learning in a Team Environment: A Procedural Justice Perspective
Authors: Bowes-Sperry Lynn , Kidder Deborah L. , Foley Sharon
Published: August 2020

Student peer evaluations are a form of student voice. However, research has not determined if the positive outcomes associated with voice in other contexts (e.g., judicial system, workplace) are also present in the student team environment. We collected data from student teams in business schools in the United States and Hong Kong to examine the ways in which peer evaluation influences student teams. Our results indicate that for students working on team projects, peer evaluations have implications for their learning.
Jet-A-Way Inc.: Winning Despite the Odds
Authors: Betters-Reed Bonita L. , Moore Lynda L.
Published: August 2020

“This is the hand that God dealt me and I am going to play it”

Darlene Jeter, 1991.

Darlene Jeter, co-founder of Jet-A-Way Inc., a recycling and waste disposal company, became CEO in 1991 upon the death of her husband, Eddie Jeter. Despite a recent loss of almost 50% in their company’s revenue, Jeter decided to keep the cards she was dealt, playing for the longer run.

Today, Jet-A-Way is a seventeen million dollar company. A certified minority-owned business near downtown Boston, Jet-A-Way became known as a family-run company that gives back to the community in jobs and in service. Now Jeter and her team face new challenges—a volatile industry, production issues and the succession of her son Jesse Jeter as CEO while Darlene shifts her role to “Madame Chair.”
Mental Health Professional Consultations and the Prevalence of Mood and Anxiety Disorders Among Immigrants: Multilevel Analysis of the Canadian Community Health Survey
Authors: Nwoke Chinenye Nmanma , Okpalauwaekwe Udoka , Bwala Hauwa
Published: August 2020

Background

There is a significant body of evidence on the link between migration and mental health stressors. However, there has been very little research on the use of mental health services by immigrants in Canada. The prevalence of mental health professional consultations among immigrants, as well as its correlations, are not well understood and remain largely unknown.

Objective

This study aims to examine how specialist mental health visits (to a psychiatrist) differ from general mental health visits (to a family doctor or general practitioner) from immigrants, when compared to visits from those born in Canada, in a nationally representative sample of Canadian adults. This study also examines which group—immigrant or Canadian-born—suffers more from depression or anxiety, 2 of the more common mental health conditions.

Methods

We used data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) between the years 2015 and 2016. The outcome variables included consultation with any mental health professional, consultation with a specialist (psychiatrist), and the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders. The independent variable was immigrant status. Other variables of interest were adjusted for in the analyses. Multilevel regression models were developed, and all analyses were performed with Stata IC statistical software (version 13.0, StataCorp).

Results

The prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders was significantly lower among immigrants compared with individuals born in Canada; the prevalence of mood disorders was 5.24% (389,164/7,422,773) for immigrants vs. 9.15% (2,001,829/21,885,625) for individuals born in Canada, and the prevalence of anxiety disorders was 4.47% (330,937/7,410,437) for immigrants vs. 9.51% (2,083,155/21,898,839) for individuals born in Canada. It is expected that individuals with a lower prevalence of mood or anxiety disorders would use mental health services less frequently. However, results show that immigrants, while less likely to consult with any mental health professional (OR=0.80, 95% CI 0.72-0.88, P<.001), were more likely to consult with a psychiatrist (OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.04-1.48, P=.02) for their mental health visits when compared to individuals born in Canada.

Conclusions

The results of this study reveal an unusual discord between the likelihood of mental health professional consultations with any mental health professional and mental health visits with psychiatrists among immigrants compared to nonimmigrants in Canada. Mental health initiatives need to be cognizant of the differences in the associated characteristics of consultations for immigrants to better tailor mental health services to be responsive to the unique needs of immigrant populations in Canada.
Real-Time Forecasting of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Chinese Provinces: Machine Learning Approach Using Novel Digital Data and Estimates From Mechanistic Models (Preprint)
Authors: Poirier Canelle , Liu Dianbo , Clemente Leonardo , Ding Xiyu , Chinazzi Matteo , Davis Jessica , Vespignani Alessandro , Santillana Mauricio
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

The inherent difficulty of identifying and monitoring emerging outbreaks caused by novel pathogens can lead to their rapid spread; and if left unchecked, they may become major public health threats to the planet. The ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, which has infected over 2,300,000 individuals and caused over 150,000 deaths, is an example of one of these catastrophic events.

OBJECTIVE

We present a timely and novel methodology that combines disease estimates from mechanistic models and digital traces, via interpretable machine learning methodologies, to reliably forecast COVID-19 activity in Chinese provinces in real time.

METHODS

Our method uses the following as inputs: (a) official health reports, (b) COVID-19–related internet search activity, (c) news media activity, and (d) daily forecasts of COVID-19 activity from a metapopulation mechanistic model. Our machine learning methodology uses a clustering technique that enables the exploitation of geospatial synchronicities of COVID-19 activity across Chinese provinces and a data augmentation technique to deal with the small number of historical disease observations characteristic of emerging outbreaks.

RESULTS

Our model is able to produce stable and accurate forecasts 2 days ahead of the current time and outperforms a collection of baseline models in 27 out of 32 Chinese provinces.

CONCLUSIONS

Our methodology could be easily extended to other geographies currently affected by COVID-19 to aid decision makers with monitoring and possibly prevention.
A Depth Camera–Based, Task-Specific Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Game for Patients With Stroke: Pilot Usability Study (Preprint)
Authors: Xu Yangfan , Tong Meiqinzi , Ming Wai-Kit , Lin Yangyang , Mai Wangxiang , Huang Weixin , Chen Zhuoming
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

The use of virtual reality is popular in clinical rehabilitation, but the effects of using commercial virtual reality games in patients with stroke have been mixed.

OBJECTIVE

We developed a depth camera–based, task-specific virtual reality game, Stomp Joy, for poststroke rehabilitation of the lower extremities. This study aims to assess its feasibility and clinical efficacy.

METHODS

We carried out a feasibility test for Stomp Joy within representative user groups. Then, a clinical efficacy experiment was performed with a randomized controlled trial, in which 22 patients with stroke received 10 sessions (2 weeks) of conventional physical therapy only (control group) or conventional physical therapy plus 30 minutes of the Stomp Joy intervention (experimental group) in the clinic. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Lower Extremity (FMA-LE), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score, single-leg stance (SLS) time, dropout rate, and adverse effects were recorded.

RESULTS

This feasibility test showed that Stomp Joy improved interest, pressure, perceived competence, value, and effort using the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory. The clinical efficacy trial showed a significant time-group interaction effect for the FMA-LE (P=.006), MBI (P=.001), BBS (P=.004), and SLS time (P=.001). A significant time effect was found for the FMA-LE (P=.001), MBI (P<.001), BBS (P<.001), and SLS time (P=.03). These indicated an improvement in lower extremity motor ability, basic activities of daily living, balance ability, and single-leg stance time in both groups after 2 weeks of the intervention. However, no significant group effects were found for the FMA-LE (P=.06), MBI (P=.76), and BBS (P=.38), while a significant group interaction was detected for SLS time (P<.001). These results indicated that the experimental group significantly improved more in SLS time than did the control group. During the study, 2 dropouts, including 1 participant who fell, were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Stomp Joy is an effective depth camera–based virtual reality game for replacing part of conventional physiotherapy, achieving equally effective improvement in lower extremity function among stroke survivors. High-powered randomized controlled studies are now needed before recommending the routine use of Stomp Joy in order to confirm these findings by recruiting a large sample size.
The Need for Ethnoracial Equity in Artificial Intelligence for Diabetes Management: Review and Recommendations (Preprint)
Authors: Pham Quynh , Gamble Anissa , Hearn Jason , Cafazzo Joseph A
Published: August 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

There is clear evidence to suggest that diabetes does not affect all populations equally. Among adults living with diabetes, those from ethnoracial minority communities—foreign-born, immigrant, refugee, and culturally marginalized—are at increased risk of poor health outcomes. Artificial intelligence (AI) is actively being researched as a means of improving diabetes management and care; however, several factors may predispose AI to ethnoracial bias. To better understand whether diabetes AI interventions are being designed in an ethnoracially equitable manner, we conducted a secondary analysis of 141 articles included in a 2018 review by Contreras and Vehi entitled “Artificial Intelligence for Diabetes Management and Decision Support: Literature Review.” Two members of our research team independently reviewed each article and selected those reporting ethnoracial data for further analysis. Only 10 articles (7.1%) were ultimately selected for secondary analysis in our case study. Of the 131 excluded articles, 118 (90.1%) failed to mention participants’ ethnic or racial backgrounds. The included articles reported ethnoracial data under various categories, including race (n=6), ethnicity (n=2), race/ethnicity (n=3), and percentage of Caucasian participants (n=1). Among articles specifically reporting race, the average distribution was 69.5% White, 17.1% Black, and 3.7% Asian. Only 2 articles reported inclusion of Native American participants. Given the clear ethnic and racial differences in diabetes biomarkers, prevalence, and outcomes, the inclusion of ethnoracial training data is likely to improve the accuracy of predictive models. Such considerations are imperative in AI-based tools, which are predisposed to negative biases due to their black-box nature and proneness to distributional shift. Based on our findings, we propose a short questionnaire to assess ethnoracial equity in research describing AI-based diabetes interventions. At this unprecedented time in history, AI can either mitigate or exacerbate disparities in health care. Future accounts of the infancy of diabetes AI must reflect our early and decisive action to confront ethnoracial inequities before they are coded into our systems and perpetuate the very biases we aim to eliminate. If we take deliberate and meaningful steps now toward training our algorithms to be ethnoracially inclusive, we can architect innovations in diabetes care that are bound by the diverse fabric of our society.
Effectiveness of WeChat for Improving Exclusive Breastfeeding in Huzhu County China: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Wu Qiong , Huang Yiwen , Liao Zijun , van Velthoven Michelle Helena , Wang Wei , Zhang Yanfeng
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

The benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers have been well recognized. However, the exclusive breastfeeding rate in China is low and decreasing. Mobile technologies have rapidly developed; communication apps such as WeChat (one of the largest social networking platforms in China) are widely used and have the potential to conveniently improve health behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of using WeChat to improve breastfeeding practices.

METHODS

This 2-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted among pregnant women from May 2019 to April 2020 in Huzhu County, Qinghai Province, China. Pregnant women were eligible to participate if they were aged 18 years or older, were 11 to 37 weeks pregnant with a singleton fetus, had no known illness that could limit breastfeeding after childbirth, used WeChat through their smartphone, and had access to the internet. A total of 344 pregnant women were recruited at baseline, with 170 in the intervention group and 174 in the control group. Women in the intervention group received breastfeeding knowledge and promotion information weekly through a WeChat official account from their third month of pregnancy to 6 months postpartum. The primary outcome of exclusive and predominant breastfeeding rate was measured 0-1 month, 2-3 months, and 4-5 months postpartum.

RESULTS

At 0-1 month postpartum, the exclusive breastfeeding rate was significantly higher in the intervention group than that in the control group (81.1% vs 63.3%; odds ratio [OR] 2.75, 95% CI 1.58-4.78; P<.001). Similarly, mothers in the intervention group were more likely to provide predominantly breast milk (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.55-4.96; P<.001) and less likely to give dairy products to their children (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.21-0.75; P=.005). There was no statistically significant difference for exclusive breastfeeding rate 2-3 months (P=.09) and 4-5 months postpartum (P=.27), though more children in the intervention group were exclusively breastfed than those in the control group 2-3 months postpartum (intervention: 111/152, 73.0%; control: 96/152, 63.2%) and 4-5 months postpartum(intervention: 50/108, 46.3%; control: 46/109, 42.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first effort to promote exclusive breastfeeding through WeChat in China, which proved to be an effective method of promoting exclusive breastfeeding in early life. WeChat health education can be used in addition to local breastfeeding promotion programs.

CLINICALTRIAL

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800017364; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=29325

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

RR2-10.1186/s12889-019-7676-2
Economic Value of Data and Analytics for Health Care Providers: Hermeneutic Systematic Literature Review (Preprint)
Authors: von Wedel Philip , Hagist Christian
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

The benefits of data and analytics for health care systems and single providers is an increasingly investigated field in digital health literature. Electronic health records (EHR), for example, can improve quality of care. Emerging analytics tools based on artificial intelligence show the potential to assist physicians in day-to-day workflows. Yet, single health care providers also need information regarding the economic impact when deciding on potential adoption of these tools.

OBJECTIVE

This paper examines the question of whether data and analytics provide economic advantages or disadvantages for health care providers. The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview including a variety of technologies beyond computer-based patient records. Ultimately, findings are also intended to determine whether economic barriers for adoption by providers could exist.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of the PubMed and Google Scholar online databases was conducted, following the hermeneutic methodology that encourages iterative search and interpretation cycles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria to 165 initially identified studies, 50 were included for qualitative synthesis and topic-based clustering.

RESULTS

The review identified 5 major technology categories, namely EHRs (n=30), computerized clinical decision support (n=8), advanced analytics (n=5), business analytics (n=5), and telemedicine (n=2). Overall, 62% (31/50) of the reviewed studies indicated a positive economic impact for providers either via direct cost or revenue effects or via indirect efficiency or productivity improvements. When differentiating between categories, however, an ambiguous picture emerged for EHR, whereas analytics technologies like computerized clinical decision support and advanced analytics predominantly showed economic benefits.

CONCLUSIONS

The research question of whether data and analytics create economic benefits for health care providers cannot be answered uniformly. The results indicate ambiguous effects for EHRs, here representing data, and mainly positive effects for the significantly less studied analytics field. The mixed results regarding EHRs can create an economic barrier for adoption by providers. This barrier can translate into a bottleneck to positive economic effects of analytics technologies relying on EHR data. Ultimately, more research on economic effects of technologies other than EHRs is needed to generate a more reliable evidence base.
A Novel Convolutional Neural Network for the Diagnosis and Classification of Rosacea: Usability Study (Preprint)
Authors: Zhao Zhixiang , Wu Che-Ming , Zhang Shuping , He Fanping , Liu Fangfen , Wang Ben , Huang Yingxue , Shi Wei , Jian Dan , Xie Hongfu , Yeh Chao-Yuan , Li Ji
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease with variable clinical presentations, including transient flushing, fixed erythema, papules, pustules, and phymatous changes on the central face. Owing to the diversity in the clinical manifestations of rosacea, the lack of objective biochemical examinations, and nonspecificity in histopathological findings, accurate identification of rosacea is a big challenge. Artificial intelligence has emerged as a potential tool in the identification and evaluation of some skin diseases such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study was to utilize a convolutional neural network (CNN) to differentiate the clinical photos of patients with rosacea (taken from 3 different angles) from those of patients with other skin diseases such as acne, seborrheic dermatitis, and eczema that could be easily confused with rosacea.

METHODS

In this study, 24,736 photos comprising of 18,647 photos of patients with rosacea and 6089 photos of patients with other skin diseases such as acne, facial seborrheic dermatitis, and eczema were included and analyzed by our CNN model based on ResNet-50.

RESULTS

The CNN in our study achieved an overall accuracy and precision of 0.914 and 0.898, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.972 for the detection of rosacea. The accuracy of classifying 3 subtypes of rosacea, that is, erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, papulopustular rosacea, and phymatous rosacea was 83.9%, 74.3%, and 80.0%, respectively. Moreover, the accuracy and precision of our CNN to distinguish rosacea from acne reached 0.931 and 0.893, respectively. For the differentiation between rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, and eczema, the overall accuracy of our CNN was 0.757 and the precision was 0.667. Finally, by comparing the CNN diagnosis with the diagnoses by dermatologists of different expertise levels, we found that our CNN system is capable of identifying rosacea with a performance superior to that of resident doctors or attending physicians and comparable to that of experienced dermatologists.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of our study showed that by assessing clinical images, the CNN system in our study could identify rosacea with accuracy and precision comparable to that of an experienced dermatologist.
A Mental Health–Informed Physical Activity Intervention for First Responders and Their Partners Delivered Using Facebook: Mixed Methods Pilot Study (Preprint)
Authors: McKeon Grace , Steel Zachary , Wells Ruth , Newby Jill , Hadzi-Pavlovic Dusan , Vancampfort Davy , Rosenbaum Simon
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

First responders (eg, police, firefighters, and paramedics) are at high risk of experiencing poor mental health. Physical activity interventions can help reduce symptoms and improve mental health in this group. More research is needed to evaluate accessible, low-cost methods of delivering programs. Social media may be a potential platform for delivering group-based physical activity interventions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the feasibility and acceptability of delivering a mental health–informed physical activity program for first responders and their self-nominated support partners. This study also aims to assess the feasibility of applying a novel multiple time series design and to explore the impact of the intervention on mental health symptoms, sleep quality, quality of life, and physical activity levels.

METHODS

We co-designed a 10-week web-based physical activity program delivered via a private Facebook group. We provided education and motivation around different topics weekly (eg, goal setting, overcoming barriers to exercise, and reducing sedentary behavior) and provided participants with a Fitbit. A multiple time series design was applied to assess psychological distress levels, with participants acting as their own control before the intervention.

RESULTS

In total, 24 participants (12 first responders and 12 nominated support partners) were recruited, and 21 (88%) completed the postassessment questionnaires. High acceptability was observed in the qualitative interviews. Exploratory analyses revealed significant reductions in psychological distress during the intervention. Preintervention and postintervention analysis showed significant improvements in quality of life (P=.001; Cohen d=0.60); total depression, anxiety, and stress scores (P=.047; Cohen d=0.35); and minutes of walking (P=.04; Cohen d=0.55). Changes in perceived social support from family (P=.07; Cohen d=0.37), friends (P=.10; Cohen d=0.38), and sleep quality (P=.28; Cohen d=0.19) were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide preliminary support for the use of social media and a multiple time series design to deliver mental health–informed physical activity interventions for first responders and their support partners. Therefore, an adequately powered trial is required.

CLINICALTRIAL

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN): 12618001267246; https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12618001267246.