bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
KOMPENZATORNE STRATEGIJE U RAZVIJANJU JEZIČKE VEŠTINE SLUŠANJA U NASTAVI ENGLESKOG JEZIKA – KVALITATIVNO ISTRAŽIVANJE
Authors: Crnogorac Stanišljević Bojana R.
Published: December 2018

Jezička veština slušanja sa razumevanjem podrazumeva procese koji iziskuju veliki mentalni napor. Ipak, razvijanje ove veštine kod učenikâ olakšano je upotrebom strategija za učenje stranog jezika, naročito kompenzatornih strategija. Stoga, ciljevi kvalitativnog istraživanja su: utvrditi da li su učenici upoznati sa kompenzatornim strategijama i doći do saznanja da li i kako ih učenici koriste prilikom rešavanja konkretnih zadataka slušanja sa razumevanjem. Istraživanje je sprovedeno na uzorku od 7 učenika šestog razreda osnovne škole sa naprednim znanjem engleskog jezika. Za prikupljanje podataka korišćen je intervju i protokol razmišljanja naglas. Podaci istraživanja analizirani su metodom analize sadržaja. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da učenici sa naprednim znanjem engleskog jezika koriste kompenzatorne strategije, ali da nemaju svesti o njima niti znanje o tome koliko im one mogu pomoći u savladavanju veštine slušanja. Pedagoške implikacije ovog rada odnosile bi se na obuku učenika kompenzatornim strategijama kako bi razvili veštinu slušanja sa razumevanjem.
МЕТОДИЧКИ ПРИСТУП ТЕМИ СЛОВЕНСКОГ ЈЕЗИКА И ПИСМА У ХАЗАРСКОМ РЕЧНИКУ МИЛОРАДА ПАВИЋА НА ДОДАТНОЈ НАСТАВИ У СРЕДЊОЈ ШКОЛИ
Authors: Милосављевић Стефан Ж.
Published: December 2018

У раду је представљен методички модел за анализу теме језика и писма старих Словена (словенског језика и писма) у Хазарском речнику Милорада Павића на додатној настави у четвртом разреду средње школе. Реализација модела замишљена је кроз четири наставна часа. На првом часу тема словенског језика и писма пореди се са чињеницама у историји језика и књижевној традицији. На другом часу се, применом концептуалне анализе (користећи појмовне метафоре), разматра начин на који су словенски језик и писмо представљени у Хазарском речнику. Трећи и четврти час посвећени су интерпретацији уочених метафора у контексту композиције и поетике Хазарског речника и постмодернизма уопште. Кроз реализацију модела ученици се сусрећу са важним постмодернистичким појмовима и темама (текст, интертекстуалност, енциклопедичност, итд.), истовремено обнављајући постојећа знања из историје језика и књижевности.
ИСПИТИВАЊЕ ЧИТАЛАЧКИХ КОМПЕТЕНЦИЈА УЧЕНИКА НА СРЕДЊОВЕКОВНИМ ТЕКСТОВИМА
Authors: Миловановић Ксенија В.
Published: December 2018

Читање са разумевањем је комплексна вештина од које зависи разумевање градива сваког предмета. Стога постаје пракса да се не тестира шта ученици могу да запамте и репродукују, већ у којој мери су способни да примене своје читалачке вештине. За потребе овог истраживања спроведено је тестирање вештине читања у Првој београдској гимназији. Исти тест радили су ученици свих разреда, те је праћен развој компетенција на различитим узрастима. Тестирање је извршено пре него што су ученици првог разреда упознати са поетиком средњовековне књижевности. Стога је било погодно анализирати како познавање поетике стилске формације утиче на разумевање текстова који јој припадају. Очекивано је да ученици првог разреда остваре лошије резултате, јер се сусрећу са недовољно познатим семантичким и граматичким структурама. Анализом резултата указано је на занимљиве и неочекиване условљености између узраста, познавања поетичких одлика епохе и постигнућа на тесту. Раду је прикључен тест, спецификација са образовним стандардима и нивоима постигнућа, графички приказ постигнућа према узрасту, као и ученичка евалуација теста.
Southern Countries of the European Union in a Debt Trap: What Options Are on the Table?
Authors: Bednář Milan
Published: December 2018

This paper analyses the current debt situation of five Southern countries of the eurozone – Spain, France, Greece, Italy, and Portugal. By using values of key debt variables between 1996 and 2016, we show that all the countries, except Italy, are caught in a debt trap. Moreover, Greece and Portugal cannot solely rely on fiscal austerity because they would need to achieve unreasonably high budgetary surpluses in a period longer than 30 years to reduce the excessive debts. Moderate results were shown in the case of France and Spain. Nevertheless, the latter country is suffering from high real interest rates on the government debt which are currently higher than 10%. Moreover, we identified and analysed four main possibilities of dealing with the debts: debt monetization, fiscal consolidation, structural reforms, and sovereign default. The debt monetization as practised by the ECB is not an appropriate solution, its secondary effects are making the situation worse, while its primary effects are based on a short-term perspective. Appropriate fiscal consolidation seems to be based on cutting expenditures. However, the target is not achievable without structural reforms. Some authors claim, that the reforms should be mainly demand-driven, however, we show that this is not the case. Based on historical evidence, the GDP growth does not serve as the main factor of reducing indebtedness. In fact, it was significant in less than 40% of the time in the examined period. Finally, we claim that due to the political motivations, there is a lack of emphasis on real competitive advantages. A return to market principles in many cases is needed, which is in contrast with the usual growth-driven reforms. When there is an insufficient political will to carry out reforms, a proper and fully-executed sovereign default would accelerate functioning of correction mechanisms in the EMU/EU. Unfortunately, such action was not executed in the case of Greece, even though the country has de-facto bankrupted.
Causal Nexus between FDI, Exports, Unemployment and Economic Growth for the Old European Union Members. Evidence from Panel Data
Authors: Dritsakis Nikolaos , Stamatiou Pavlos
Published: December 2018

This study examines the causality relationships between foreign direct investments (FDI), exports, unemployment and economic growth in the fifteen old EU members using panel data covering the period 1970-2015. The Hausman test is applied for choosing between Fixed Effect and Random Effect approach in order to estimate the panel VAR equations for Granger causality tests. The results revealed three bidirectional causalities between economic growth and exports, exports and FDI, and exports and unemployment and three unidirectional causalities running from FDI to economic growth, FDI to unemployment and from economic growth to unemployment. Policy implications are then explored in the conclusions.
The Ethics of Tax Evasion: A Survey of Law and Economics Students in the Republic of Macedonia
Authors: McGee Robert , Shopovski Jovan
Published: December 2018

This paper examines the ethical perception of tax evasion in the Republic of Macedonia. A survey consisting of 18 statements was distributed to 120 students; 107 responses were received. The results show that, in general, Macedonian students are intolerant towards tax evasion, perceiving it as an unethical behavior. However, only 45.3 % of the students did not justify tax evasion in any of the 18 cases. Furthermore, male students were more tolerant towards tax evasion than their female colleagues. Law students were more supportive of tax evasion than their colleagues from the faculty of economics.
OPTIMAL LIFE-CYCLE INVESTMENT STRATEGY IN LITHUANIAN SECOND PENSION PILLAR
Authors: MEDAISKIS TEODORAS , GUDAITIS TADAS , MEČKOVSKI JAROSLAV
Published: December 2018

The proposition to introduce life-cycle investment strategy as a default option in second pension pillar in Lithuania is currently being intensely discussed as a measure to solve the problems of the irrational behaviour of pension fund participants. The latest analysis has shown that the majority of participants have selected an inappropriate pension fund (investment strategy and investment risk) while evaluating the accumulation period that they have left till the retirement. Moreover, most of them are not active and do not change the pension fund during accumulation period. The life-cycle investment strategy allows participants to switch automatically and gradually from one asset allocation to another as they get closer to retirement. Therefore, such dynamic asset allocation must have a strong analytical foundation. The goal of the study is to evaluate the optimal life-cycle investment strategy in the Lithuanian second pension pillar. In order to achieve this goal, the authors prepared a quantitatively calibrated model that closely follows such works as Cocco et al. (2005), Bagliano et al. (2009) and Blake et al. (2008). The model takes into account the specifics of the Lithuanian market such as contribution rates, the investment performance of pension funds, and participant’s labour income process. In this paper, the authors use the optimization problem, where participant’s utility is maximized only by the selected investment strategy (without consumption). The results show that from the beginning of accumulation period (the age of 20) till the age of approximately 42 years it is most rational to invest a high proportion of participant’s pension assets into equities. Then optimal asset allocation is gradually switching from equities to less risky assets (e.g. government bonds) as the retirement age (65) approaches, where only 19 per cent of assets are invested into equities. The paper consists of three main parts: literature review, the explanation of the model and calibrated parameters that were used to evaluate the optimal life-cycle investment strategy, and main simulation results, including benchmark and sensitivity analysis.
Skills heterogeneity and immigrant-native wage gap in the European countries
Authors: Tverdostup Maryna , Paas Tiiu
Published: December 2018

The paper analyses individual human capital, measured by the education, literacy and numeracy skills, and explores to what extent immigrants employ their cognitive skills at work. Based on the Program of International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) data for 15 European countries, we document that, on average, foreign-born respondents achieve substantially worse scores in literacy and numeracy test domains in majority of analysed countries. Only immigrants in the Nordic countries reveal skill improvement over immigration tenure. Once we account for both skill levels and use of skills at work in wage regressions, no statistically significant gap in earnings across immigrants and natives remains. Although, once immigrants attain comparable to natives’ skill use frequency, their pay disadvantage turns statistically insignificant in all countries, except Estonia and Ireland. The results are leading us to the conclusion that potential for development and utilization of immigrants’ skills in the European labour markets is still underused. Immigrants are not yet sufficiently well integrated in labour markets in most of the European countries.
Good Governance in Private University in Medan City
Authors: Sari Maya , Qorib Muhammad , Hanum Harahap Seprida , Jufrizen Jufrizen
Published: December 2018

The purpose of this study was to create transparency, accountability, participation, effectiveness and consistency in private universities in the city of Medan. To obtain the data needed in this study, researchers used data collection techniques by means of surveys. Researchers do this by distributing questionnaires to lecturers and / or employees at Private Universities in Medan City. The results of the study showed that Good Governance has been running well at Private Universities in Medan City, and most respondents stated their agreement that aspects of transparency, participation, accountability, and effectiveness have gone well. This was supported by the results of research that good governance at private universities in Medan city 87% have applied the aspect of transparency, 90% have applied the aspect of Participation, 51% have implemented accountability, and 87% have applied the aspect of effectiveness.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEUROVASCULAR RELATIONSHIP AS A PROBABLE PREDICTOR OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA
Authors: Bakunovich A. V. , Sinitsyn V. E. , Mershina E. A.
Published: December 2018

Objective.To validate MR-criteria used for diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia (TN).Material and methods.Study population consisted of 133 patients: with trigeminal neuralgia (86, surgically (56) and clinically (30) verified; 55 ± 11 years) and control group (47; 51 ± 16 years). The data were obtained using the FIESTA sequence (slice thickness 0.5 mm) on 3T and 1.5T (Discovery 750w and Optima 450w, General Electric).Results.The diameters of the adjacent vessels on the symptomatic side were significantly bigger than the diameters on the asymptomatic side in patients with neuralgia (medians 1.2 and 1 mm, p<0.001). The shortest distances between nerves and vessels on the symptomatic side were significantly smaller than the distances on the asymptomatic side (medians 0 and 1.6 mm, p<0.001). The distances between points of closest neurovascular contact and pons on the symptomatic side were significantly smaller in comparison with the controls (medians 2.7 and 5.3 mm, p<0.001); the distances between the symptomatic and asymptomatic side were not statistically different (medians 2.7 and 3.9 mm, p=0.09) in this parameter. The lengths of closest neurovascular contact was bigger in patient with TN (medians 3 and 0 mm, p<0.05), as well as in comparison with the asymptomatic side (medians 3 and 0 mm, p<0.0001).Conclusion.Noninvasive MR-measurements of the posterior cranial fossa vessels show the differences between the symptomatic and asymptomatic side in the patients with TN as well as healthy individuals. This result may be used as a predictor of TN.
MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION AND NEUROTROPIC SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FEATURES IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION
Authors: Ansheles A. A. , Kuznetsova E. G. , Martynyuk T. V. , Sergienko V. B.
Published: December 2018

Objective.To compare cardiac123I-MIBG and99m Tc-MIBI single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) data in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH).

Material and methods.The study included 22 patients with confirmed diagnosis of PPH, with clinical status assessment, Holter ECG monitoring and rest cardiac ultrasound (US) data. All patients, as well as a group of healthy volunteers (n=20) underwent myocardial perfusion SPECT with99mTc-MIBI at rest and after treadmill exercise test, and myocardial neurotropic SPECT with123I-MIBG, performed in 15 min (early phase) and 4 hours (delayed phase) after MIBG administration. LV perfusion abnormalities were evaluated using standard SSS and SDS parameters, RV was assessed visually, RV/LV and IVS/LW uptake ratios were calculated. Global sympathetic activity (SA) was assessed with delayed heart/mediastinum ratio (H/Md) and MIBG Washout Rate in 4 hours (WR). Regional SA abnormalities were assessed using early Summed MIBG Score (SMSe). MIBG RV/LV and LV IVS/LW uptake ratios were calculated. All parameters were compared with normal database (n=20).

Results.The values of a number of myocardial SPECT parameters, both perfusion (SSS, RV/LVMIBI, IVS/LWMIBI) and neurotropic (H/Md, WR, SMSe, IVS/LWMIBG), were significantly worse in PPH patients compared to the control group (all p<0.05). Perfusion SPECT showed no significant (SDS>4) transient LV ischemia in all patients, but in 77% of cases IVS perfusion was stably impaired, causing overall SSS=7 (6–10), presumably due to IVS compression by dilated RV. MIBI RV/LV ratio was 0.61±0.02, indicating that RV was clearly visible, with inhomogeneous MIBI uptake in all cases, but without reliable perfusion defects. Values of H/Mdwere 1.84±0.18, WR: 27±8%, with no reliable correlations with perfusion parameters. Regional SA defects also were located in IVS predominately, causing SMSemean value of 8 (6–10) and IVS/LW of 0.69±0.09, both parameters correlated with SSS (r=0.44, p=0.04 and r=-0.48, p=0.02, respectively). All parameters, except RV/LVMIBG, had reliable correlations with systolic pulmonary artery pressure assessed by cardiac US, especially RV/LVMIBI(r=0.64, p<0.01), WR (r=0.55, p=0.01) and IVS/LWMIBG(r=-0.49, p=0.02).

Conclusion.Combination of myocardial neurotropic and perfusion SPECT has a certain diagnostic value in patients with PPH, since MIBG SPECT reflects SA downregulating, and MIBI SPECT reveals specific microcirculatory abnormalities in these patients, both possibly caused by myocardial pressure overload and responsible for angina-like symptoms.
A Trajectory-Based Method to Explore Reaction Mechanisms
Authors: Vázquez Saulo A. , Otero Xose L. , Martinez-Nunez Emilio
Published: December 2018

The method tsscds, recently developed in our group, discovers chemical reaction mechanisms with minimal human intervention. It employs accelerated molecular dynamics, spectral graph theory, statistical rate theory and stochastic simulations to uncover chemical reaction paths and to solve the kinetics at the experimental conditions. In the present review, its application to solve mechanistic/kinetics problems in different research areas will be presented. Examples will be given of reactions involved in photodissociation dynamics, mass spectrometry, combustion chemistry and organometallic catalysis. Some planned improvements will also be described. The source code can be downloaded from: http://forge.cesga.es/wiki/g/tsscds/HomePage
An Exploration into the Opportunities for Blockchain in the Fresh Produce Supply Chain
Authors: Osei Ralph Kwadwo , Canavari Maurizio , Hingley Martin
Published: December 2018

Blockchain is a data management innovation that allows the linkage of successive records regarding a digital entity, and to store them into a shared, decentralized, distributed and retroactively unchangeable data structure. Each bit of information related to the recorded events contains the public key of the owner, therefore, the whole record is formed by a chain of transactions with blocks of information identifying where the transaction was generated from and its current destination (Nakamoto, 2008). Blockchain is the technology behind Bitcoin, an online currency that was first introduced in 2009. The technology makes it possible to conduct business between members within the network without relying on third parties as guarantors to prove transaction integrity, thus increasing speed and reducing cost of transaction. Moreover, the transparency posed by the technology makes it possible to trace goods and services through all stages, making the technology a unique tool that can be assimilated by, for example, the Agro-food supply chain systems. Specifically, Blockchain is being tested in a pilot project in the UK meat (Beef) industry by the FSA (Food Standards Agency) and the slaughterhouses, with IBM Blockchain platform to ensure full transparency and compliance with regulations, (Evenstad, 2018). However, the uptake of Blockchain in the fresh produce (fresh and fresh, short-life processed fruit, vegetables, salads) supply chain is lagging, in the United Kingdom, and remains untested and limited to literature, models and specific case studies in the United States of America and France. The study aims at understanding how prepared stakeholders are in adopting Blockchain for their operations. An inductive qualitative method was employed through non-structured interviews with three companies and one consumer focus group. The interviews were guided by seven (7) open-ended questions, which were unstructured. The collected data was analyzed with axial coding through constant comparative methods. Seven (7) themes were identified as factors influencing the adoption of Blockchain in the fresh produce supply chain in the UK. These are, novelty of the technology, complexity of the fresh produce supply chain in UK, level of product transformation, technological compatibility with operations, cost and value, Customer (retailer) push for adoption, and public/consumers opinion. The adaptation of Blockchain by the current fresh produce supply chain in the UK and the EU at large will come about when concerns on Novelty, and complexity of supply chain systems are fully addressed.
Representing Sums of Finite Products of Chebyshev Polynomials of the First Kind and Lucas Polynomials by Chebyshev Polynomials
Authors: Kim Taekyun , Kim Dae San , Dolgy Dmitry V. , Kwon Jongkyum
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we study sums of finite products of Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind and Lucas polynomials and represent each of them in terms of Chebyshev polynomials of all kinds. Here the coefficients involve terminating hypergeometric functions 2F1 and these representations are obtained by explicit computations.
Tornadoes in South Africa: An Overview with a Case Study
Authors: Kimambo Offoro
Published: December 2018

This paper contributes to the understating of tornadoes in South Africa using case study analysis. In South Africa tornadoes are the recurring phenomenon (the climatology) but they have received less attention. Damages from storms itself (tornadoes inclusive) are significant in South Africa relative to other weather-related disasters for example floods, heat waves, and droughts. Case study approach was adopted in the current study. Data were in the courtesy of the following, National Oceanic and Administration (NOOA), National Centers for Environmental Protections (NCEP), Eumetsat, and South African weather Service. The aim of the study was to provide an overview of the occurrence of tornadoes in South Africa using a case study. From the case study analysis, the tornadoes at Klerksdorp on March 4, 2007, was associated with the cold frontal systems and the cut-ff low (extratropical circulation) which were the dominant weather systems of the day. Case study approach may be the best way to study events of these nature for a more informed decision, for example, issuing an early warning system.  Case studies, for example, involving interaction between extratropical and tropical circulation may be also more informative.
Heat and Hydrothermal Treatment on the Microstructure Evolution of Plasma Sprayed Hydroxyapatite Coatings Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets
Authors: Ren Jia , Zhao Dong , Qi Fei , Wang Yongguang , Chen Yao
Published: December 2018

Recent advances and demands in clinical applications drive a large amount of research to hydroxyapatite (HA) composite coatings fabricated by plasma spray. However, lower degree of HA crystallinity related to high temperature exposure in plasma spray usually leads to rapid weakening and disintegration of HA coatings and often promotes inflammatory responses in the surrounding tissue. In this research, graphene nanosheet (GNS) reinforced HA coatings were fabricated using plasma spray and followed by heat and hydrothermal treatment (hereafter referred to as thermal treatment). The addition of GNSs resulted in competing phenomenon to influence HA crystallinity viz. increased portion of the partially melted/unmelted zones and higher cooling rate during splat formation, leading to slight increase in HA crystallinity (~46.0-51.3%) in the as-sprayed coating. XRD and FTIR results showed that thermal treatment was capable of inducing significant transformation of amorphous HA to the crystalline form and removing other foreign non-HA compounds through regaining OH- ion, and therefore HA coatings displayed ~45.5-47.1% improvements in HA crystallinity regardless of addition or not of the GNS nanofillers. Microstructure observations revealed that thermal treatment enabled microcrack propagation due to stresses caused by crystallisation and phase transformations, and the residual partially melted/unmelted zone of the thermally treated GNS/HA coating was significantly decreased in size. More importantly, the added GNSs contributed greatly to the significant increase in surface nanoroughness of the thermally treated HA coatings owing to the fact that much more structural defects along with the GNSs mainly induced by thermal treatment might act as nucleation sites to accelerate HA nanoparticle precipitation, which would be beneficial for the improved adhesion strength of the osteoblast cells on the coating surface.
Assessment of E-Bug Database Assisted Education of Class VII School Children on Antimicrobial Resistance Determinants: a Non-Randomized Education Study In a Cross-Section of Schools Around Manipal Town, Udupi, India
Authors: Fernandes Reona , Naik Swathi , Shetty Rashmi , Bhat Archana Gururaj , Hande Manjunatha H , Ghafur Abdul , Rao Mahadev , K Vijayanarayana , Pathiraj John Preshanth Kumar
Published: December 2018

Abstract Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a recognised public health threat today globally. Though many active and passive stewardship strategies are employed to counter AMR clinically, educating school going children on AMR could be a futuristic cost-effective measure to minimize AMR development. We hypothesised NICE’s e-bug module to class VII school students on AMR determinants. Methodology: A prospective non-randomized intervention study on 327 students belonging to 9 schools of class VII around Manipal town, Udupi district, Karnataka state, India were included for the study. 10 questions on AMR determinants extracted from NICE’s e-bug program were quizzed in written as pre-test followed by an education intervention on the same questions followed by a post-test to end the session. Descriptive statistics to estimate epidemiological characteristics, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied to analyse statistical significance of pre/post-test performance scores for the 10 questions and between schools respectively Results: Students had inadequate knowledge on 7 AMR determinants (antimicrobial indication, its course, hand hygiene, fermentation, spread of infection, microbial multiplication and characteristics of microbe) when analysed for post-test performance (p<0.05). Comparison of post-test performance of 9 participating schools revealed statistical significance (p<0.05) for 3 questions (definition on antimicrobial, cover while cough/sneezing and microbial characteristics) Conclusion: Although students exhibited sub-optimal knowledge on few AMR determinants, they showed keenness to learn exhibited by their performance. Our findings and previous similar studies from Europe are suggestive of early pedagogic interventions on AMR through inclusion of such education modules in the curriculum could be potential tool for AMR prevention for future generations.
“Drug-Likeness” versus “Natural Product-Likeness”
Authors: Ntie-Kang Fidele , Nyongbela Kennedy D. , Ayimele Godfred A. , Shekfeh Suhaib
Published: December 2018

We discuss further details on the concepts of “drug-likeness”, “lead-likeness”, and “natural product-likeness”. The discussion will first focus on natural products as drugs, then a discussion of previous studies in which the complexities of the scaffolds and chemical space of naturally occurring compounds have been compared with synthetic, semi-synthetic compounds and FDA-approved drugs. This is followed by guiding principles for designing “drug-like” natural product libraries for lead compound discovery purposes. We end up by presenting a tool for measuring “natural product-likeness” of compounds and a brief presentation of machine learning approaches and a binary quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) for classifying drugs from non-drugs and natural compounds from non-natural ones, respectively.
RNA Back and Forth: Looking Through Ribozyme and Viroid Motifs
Authors: Maurel Marie-Christine , Leclerc Fabrice , Vergne Jacques , Zaccai Giuseppe
Published: December 2018

Current cellular facts allow us to follow the link from chemical to biochemical metabolites, from the ancient to the modern world. In this context, the "RNA world" hypothesis proposes that early in the evolution of life, the ribozyme was responsible for the storage and transfer of genetic information and for the catalysis of biochemical reactions. Accordingly, the hammerhead ribozyme (HHR) and the hairpin ribozyme, belong to a family of endonucleolytic RNAs performing self-cleavage that might occur during replication. Furthermore, regarding the ultraconserved occurrence of HHR in several genomes of modern organisms (from mammals to small parasites and elsewhere), these small ribozymes have been regarded as living fossils of a primitive RNA world. They fold into 3D structures that generally require long-range intramolecular interactions to adopt the catalytically active conformation under specific physicochemical conditions. By studying viroids as plausible remains of ancient RNA, we recently demonstrated that they replicate in non-specific hosts, emphasizing their adaptability to different environments, which enhanced their survival probability over the ages. All these results exemplify ubiquitously features of life. Those are the versatility and efficiency of small RNAs, viroids and ribozymes, as well as their diversity and adaptability to various extreme conditions. All these traits must have originated in early life to generate novel RNA populations.
Digital Image Enhancement in Matlab: An Overview on Histogram Equalization and Specification
Authors: Arif Rezoana Bente , Khan Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman , Siddique Md. Abu Bakr
Published: December 2018

This paper has two major parts. In the first part histogram equalization for the image enhancement was implemented without using the built-in function in MATLAB. Here, at first, a color image of a rat was chosen and the image was transformed into a grayscale image. After this conversion, histogram equalization was implemented on the grayscale image. Later on, in the same image for each RGB channel, histogram equalization was implemented to observe the effect of histogram equalization on each channel. In the end, the histogram equalization was implemented to this specific color image of a rat. In the second part, for the grayscale image in part 1, the desired histogram of another colored image of a rat was introduced and histogram specification was implemented on the original colored image.
Digital Image Restoration in Matlab: A Case Study on Inverse and Wiener Filtering
Authors: Khan Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman , Sakib Shadman , Arif Rezoana Bente , Siddique Md. Abu Bakr
Published: December 2018

In this paper, at first, a color image of a car is taken. Then the image is transformed into a grayscale image. After that, the motion blurring effect is applied to that image according to the image degradation model described in equation 3. The blurring effect can be controlled by a and b components of the model. Then random noise is added in the image via Matlab programming. Many methods can restore the noisy and motion blurred image; particularly in this paper Inverse filtering as well as Wiener filtering are implemented for the restoration purpose. Consequently, both motion blurred and noisy motion blurred images are restored via Inverse filtering as well as Wiener filtering techniques and the comparison is made among them.
From Renewable to Marine Energies Sources for Sustainable Development and Energy Transition in Morocco: Current Status and Scenario
Authors: Tarfaoui Mostapha , Nachtane Mourad , Amry Youssef , El Moumen Ahmed
Published: December 2018

The current energy policy recommends the idea of energy efficiency over fossil energy as a primary matter for the coming years. The kingdom of Morocco requires restructuring of its power equipment by increasing the percentage of renewable energy supplies, optimizing their systems and power storage. Therefore, increasing energy efficiency is an as important obligation as reducing the overall energy consumption. The purpose of this research is to present the energy transition in Morocco towards renewable energies and to assess the diversity of available marine natural resources. Recent research in conversion of ocean thermal energy, wave energy, tidal energy, offshore wind energy, and osmotic energy into power supply has started to encourage different technologies. This research has led to commercial deployment in some cases such as our 550 km long Mediterranean coast and 3000 km long Atlantic. This does not only result in fossil energies independency but also provides advantages like less cost and no pollution.
Revisiting Prostate Cancer in India
Authors: Perera Prameesha , Gupta Ayam , Shukla Nidhi , Nehra Mamta , Sharma Mukesh , Mishra Sneha , Chauhan Vikram Singh , Vijay Maneesh Kumar , Medicherla Krishna Mohan , Mathur Praveen , Sharma Devendra , Suravajhala Prashanth
Published: December 2018

In the recent past, there has been a rise in Prostate Cancer (PCa) in Asia, particularly India.  Although systematic reviews on PCa have dealt on the genetics, genomics and the environmental influence in causation of PCa, no predictive analytics in comparing the PCa from Caucasian, American to Asian population was attempted. In this review article, we have attempted to elaborate this aspect of PCa and discuss challenges related to next generation sequencing methods of PCa’s manifestation when compared to the west.
Growth of the Entire or Meromorphic Solutions of Differential-Difference Equations
Authors: Dhar Rajshree
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we study the entire or meromorphic solutions for differential-difference equations in f(z) , its shifts, its derivatives and derivatives of its shifts. and study some Hayman's results for differential-difference polynomials.
Activity Landscape and Molecular Modeling to Explore the SAR of Dual Epigenetic Inhibitors: A Focus on G9a and DNMT1
Authors: López-López Edgar , Prieto-Martínez Fernando D. , Medina-Franco José L.
Published: December 2018

In this work we discuss the insights from activity landscape, docking and molecular dynamics towards the understanding of the structure-activity relationships of dual inhibitors of major epigenetic targets: lysine metiltransferase (G9a) and DNA metiltranferase 1 (DNMT1). The study was based on a novel data set of 50 published compounds with reported experimental activity for both targets. The activity landscape analysis revealed the presence of activity cliffs, e.g., pairs of compounds with high structure similarity but large activity difference. Activity cliffs were further rationalized at the molecular level by means of molecular docking and dynamics simulations that led to the identification of interactions with key residues involved in the dual activity or selectivity with the epigenetic targets.
Body Satisfaction, Performance Perception, and Weight Loss Behavior in Young Female Dancers
Authors: Gearhart Marina G , Sugimoto Dai , Meehan William P , Stracciolini Andrea
Published: December 2018

OBJECTIVE: To understand the impact of body satisfaction and performance perception on intentional weight loss behavior and body mass index (BMI) in young female dancers. METHODS: Young female dancers who visited an injury prevention center were provided a questionnaire including three
questions designed to elicit their body satisfaction, perception of weight toward performance, and any intentional weight loss behavior. Binary responses (yes/no) were compared between the three questions using chi-square analysis. Also, a binary logistic regression was performed to find an
indicator for intentional weight loss behaviors. Finally, BMI was compared among subgroups. RESULTS: Data from 43 young female dancers, aged 12-23 yrs, were analyzed. Dancers who were not happy with their weight were more likely to engage with intentional weight loss activity than dancers
who were happy with their weight (p=0.002). Those who did not believe that their athletic activities were influenced by their weight were less likely engage with intentional weight loss and more likely to be happy with their weight than dancers who believed that athletic activities were influenced
by their weight (p=0.049 and 0.015, respectively). Binary logistic regression indicated female dancers who were not happy with their body weight had nearly 9 times greater odds of intentional weight loss activity (p=0.029). There were no BMI differences among the three subgroups. CONCLUSION:
Intentional weight loss behavior is heavily influenced by body satisfaction in young female dancers regardless of their current BMI.
Removing Boundaries to Enhance Communication Between People
Authors: Bronner Shaw
Published: December 2018

Regardless of your view of national or global politics, we are living through an era of toxic partisan rhetoric. From belligerent tweets on Twitter to “fake news” on Facebook and Instagram, where is this taking us? It is so easy to misunderstand a text and even an email.
I’ve been thinking about the artists we work with and what we do in our professional lives. Performance is a form of communication between the artist and audience. The artist on stage can feel the unspoken response by the audience (even before there is or isn’t applause or boos).
There is an energy, a connection.
Balance in Theatrical Dance Performance: A Systematic Review
Authors: Clarke Frances , Koutedakis Yiannis , Wilson Margaret , Wyon Matthew
Published: December 2018

AIM: Due to movement complexity and the use of interdisciplinary styles, all theatrical dance genres require dancers to have excellent balance skills to meet choreographic demands. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the experimental evidence for the relationship between
balance and dance performance, including balance testing, balance training, and balance performance. The key focus was on balance and theatrical styles of dance, involving adult participants who were either in full-time dance training or professional dancers. METHODS: The databases MEDLINE,
PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health (CINAHL), SPORTDiscus, Cochrane, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched using MeSH terms “postural balance,” “balance, postural,” “musculoskeletal equilibrium,” and “postural equilibrium,”
and used in combination with “dance,” between 1980 and 2016. PRISMA recommendations were applied in modifications to the search terms. RESULTS: The initial search revealed 1,140 published articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 47 articles were judged to be relevant
for further assessment using the GRADE system. Results revealed only 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT); the remaining articles were experimental without randomisation or pre-experimental, thus achieving low scores. A total of 39 articles focused on balance ability, including postural sway
and control; 5 were related to multi-joint coordination; and 3 investigated laterality and balance. Female ballet dancers were the most studied population, while a wide range of measurement tools and balance tasks were employed. CONCLUSION: The available material on balance and dance performance
is of rather low quality. There is a need for more RCTs and intervention balance studies.
ALGILANAN İŞ STRESİ, PSİKOLOJİK DAYANIKLILIK, BAŞA ÇIKMA STİLLERİ VE ÖZ-DUYARLILIĞIN TÜKENMİŞLİK DÜZEYİNİ YORDAYICI ETKİSİ
Authors: ERSEZGİN Reyhan , SEVİ TOK Emine Sevinç
Published: December 2018

Bu çalışmanın amacı, algılanan iş stresi düzeyi,
psikolojik dayanıklılık seviyesi, kullanılan başa çıkma stilleri ve
öz-duyarlılık değişkenlerinin tükenmişlik düzeyini yordama gücünün
araştırılmasıdır. Çalışmanın ikincil amacı ise, algılanan iş stresi ile
tükenmişlik düzeyi arasındaki ilişkide psikolojik dayanıklılık, stresle başa
çıkma stilleri ve öz-duyarlılığın aracılık rollerinin incelenmesidir. Araştırmanın
örneklemi, İzmir ilinde görev yapan toplam 130 özel güvenlik görevlisinden
oluşmuştur. Veri toplama araçları olarak, Demografik Bilgi Formu, Algılanan İş
Stresi Ölçeği, Maslach Tükenmişlik Ölçeği, Yetişkinler İçin Psikolojik
Dayanıklılık Ölçeği, Baş Etme Stilleri Ölçeği ve Öz-Duyarlılık Ölçeği
kullanılmıştır. Yapılan analizlerin sonucunda, algılanan iş stresi düzeyi,
problem odaklı başa çıkma stili, duygu odaklı başa çıkma stili, öz-duyarlılık
ve psikolojik dayanıklılığın alt boyutu olan sosyal yeterliliğin tükenmişlik
düzeyi varyansının % 55’ini açıkladığı saptanmıştır. Ek olarak, problem odaklı
başa çıkma stratejisi, öz-duyarlılık ve sosyal yeterlilik değişkenlerinin her
birinin algılanan iş stresi ile tükenmişlik düzeyi arasındaki ilişkide kısmi
aracılık rollerinin olduğu gözlenmiştir.
Modal analysis of liquid-filled pipeline under fluid-structure interaction by simulation and experiment methods
Authors: Jiang Yu , Zhu Lei
Published: December 2018

Aiming at the modal problem of fluid-filled pipeline under fluid-structure interaction. At first, from the view of simulation, the modal characteristics of the simplified U-shaped pipeline structure under fluid-structure interaction were analyzed by ANSYS Workbench software. Then, from the view of experimental, the experimental modal analysis of the liquid-filled pipeline was carried out by means of frequency sweeping and hammering. Finally, the simulation model was modified based on the results of the experiment. The experimental results verified that the modified simulation model and the boundary conditions were correct. It provides a basis for the dynamic simulation and experimental analysis of the liquid-filled pipeline under fluid-structure interaction.
Wind-induced vibration control for buildings equipped with non-linear fluid viscous dampers
Authors: Santos-Santiago Marco A. , Ruiz Sonia E. , Valenzuela-Beltrán Federico
Published: December 2018

A study regarding the effectiveness of non-linear fluid viscous dampers in controlling the wind-induced vibration on buildings is presented. For this purpose, a 28-story building with a large area exposed to wind is designed in two different ways: a) conventionally (without supplemental damping), and b) using non-linear fluid viscous dissipating devices. The building is subjected to 10 groups of simulated wind velocities, where each group is composed of 28 wind signals, which are correlated on the building’s height. Results show that the damping system reduces the floor acceleration by 6.5 and 10.3 times with respect to that of the conventional building, for wind speeds associated with return periods of 10-years and 50-years, respectively. For the case of the building with energy dissipating devices, the floor accelerations result lower than the perception thresholds specified in the literature.
Optimal design of carbon fiber collapsible hinge for space application
Authors: Hua Haitao , Sun Beibei
Published: December 2018

In order to design the optimal size of carbon fiber collapsible hinge for space engineering application, the modal and folding analysis of carbon fiber collapsible hinge is carried out in this paper. Natural frequencies and mode shapes are investigated through finite element model. The result is also verified by modal experiments. The maximum stress during folding process of the hinge is obtained by quasi-static simulation analysis. In order to increase the stiffness and stability of this collapsible structure, the fundamental frequency and maximum stress are optimized with respect to the hinge size. A co-simulation optimal design method is proposed in this paper. The optimal hinge size is obtained through non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm based on radial basis function neural network surrogate model. The fundamental frequency is increased by 12 %, while the maximum stress is decreased by 13 % after optimal design.
Development of an automatic pulling mechanism of probe plug in marine eXpendable BathyThermograph launching system
Authors: Guangyuan Chen , Zhuo Lei , Haijing He
Published: December 2018

Marine eXpendable Bathythermograph (XBT) launching system is used to launch detecting probes into the ocean quickly and efficiently and has been researched for many years. The probes will measure the ocean parameters of depth and temperature during droppings which make the device with the merits of real-time, fast and wide spreading. The automatic pulling mechanism of probe plug is an important part of XBT automatic launching system which improves the shortcoming of hand-held launch method of XBT probe. This development mentioned a kind of automatic extraction mechanism for probe’s plug fixed the probe. The lever is adopted here to magnify the tensile force in order to draw out the plug in limited stroke. That will make sure the full-automatic launching of expendable probes. In tests, the successful dropping rate is over 95 % and save time over 50 % more than hand-held method which prove the automatic extraction mechanism effect and reliable. The mechanism also can be used into various automatic launchers of expendable probes through a little configuration adjust. Its broad application prospect is viewed.
An analytical study – dynamic behavior of the human hand to hold mechanical handle with and without coating
Authors: Benedict Jain A. R. Tony , Masilamany Santha Alphin
Published: December 2018

The primary objective of the study is analytically predicting the anti-vibration coating on the handles and to evaluate the vibration isolation effectiveness. The ISO 10068:2012 two-point driving human physical models are coated with Foam-A material, Foam-B material, and Gel material. The coated ISO models are applied to predict the effectiveness of three different anti-vibrations coating in terms of vibration transmitted to the finger, palm, and the shoulder. The results are obtained as a vibration transmissibility magnitude in the three orthogonal directions (xh, yh, zh) and the results are also compared with uncoated models. A significant level of vibration reductions was found. The proposed model may also be useful for further analysis of anti-vibration coating materials and help designers to develop better handles for vibrating tools.
Torque sensors calibration of electromechanical complexes shafts
Authors: Dmitriev Sergei , Daryenkov Andrey , German Leonid , Gordeev Boris , Okhulkov Sergei , Serebryakov Alexander
Published: December 2018

Noncontacting torquemeters calibration is one of the acute tasks currently. Such sensors are widely used in measuring torques and torsional oscillations of elastic shafts of industrial plants and electromechanical systems. Noncontacting torquemeters must be properly calibrated before they are used to measure torque and torsional oscillations of rotating shafts. The paper describes a new approach to solving the task of calibration of noncontacting torquemeters and torsional oscillations meters of elastic shafts. The approach is based on the finite elements method as well as realized in the measuring device – torquemeter. The torquemeter allows to measure little torques and torsional oscillations of elastic shafts of electromechanical complexes.
Vibration monitoring of rotor bearing system using MFS-lite
Authors: Ansari Abdul Khaliq , Khan Zain Ahmad , Khan Ahmad Ali
Published: December 2018

Vibrations in rotating machinery are commonly the result of mechanical faults including mass unbalance, coupling misalignment, mechanical looseness etc. Rotating machinery with overhung rotors is very common in industries. Unbalanced rotor and misaligned shafts usually cause excessive machine vibration, generates large forces on bearings and thus reduces the machine life span and may lead to property loss and even loss of human life. Two-plane balancing of overhung rotors is one of the most challenging problem that maintenance engineers may encounter. As a prerequisite, successful diagnosis of unbalanced overhung rotor system must be performed. The vibration signatures of unbalanced overhung rotors with unknown initial conditions are different from those of the systems with centre hung rotors that has been studied in the present work. Experiments were carried out on a Machinery Fault Simulator-Lite (MFS-Lite) for both balanced and unbalanced rotor systems. The data were analysed using the Balance Quest software and efforts were focused on identifying the system characteristic signatures. Further, the results were verified through analytical methods and the results were found to be satisfactory.