bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intellectual Capital as a Competitive Advantage in Pan African Nigeria Limited, Abuja
Authors:   Nasarawa State University, Isaac Opusunju Michael Isaac , Ndalo Santeli Jiya ,   Nasarawa State University, Akyuz Murat ,   Nasarawa State University
Published: March 2021

The study examines the relationship between intellectual capital and competitive advantage in Pan African Nigeria Limited, Abuja. The study also sought to find out how intellectual capital (human capital, social capital, relational capital and structural capital) enhances competitive advantage in Pan African Nigeria Limited, Abuja. The population of 65 employees were used and the population was used as sample size. Point in time data were collected from primary source and Ordinary Least Square was adopted and finding reveals that the relationship between intellectual capital and competitive advantage in Pan African Nigeria Limited is significant. This shows that there is a significant relationship between human capital and competitive advantage in Pan African Nigeria Limited, Abuja. There is a significant relationship between relational capital and competitive advantage in Pan African Nigeria Limited, Abuja. There is a significant relationship between structural capital and competitive advantage in Pan African Nigeria Limited, Abuja. There is a significant relationship between social capital and competitive advantage in Pan African Nigeria Limited, Abuja. It is therefore recommended that Pan African Nigeria Limited should emphasis more on intellectual capital such as human capital, social capital, relational capital and structural capital since it help them to achieve competitive advantage over other firms within the industry.
Time items and translation: a case of mutually complementing narratives
Authors:   Bashkir State University, Khairullin Vladimir I.
Published: March 2021

The paper discusses the problem of how completely time items that denote holidays, festivity and traditional customs days are transferred in translation. The author introduces a notion of balancing, which implies that time items may enjoy both cultural and linguistic equilibrium when they are depicted by different language means. It is admitted that balance fails to be seen in all the cases of eventful notions description in Russian / English translations. It is argued that source and target language texts should be approached as mutually complementing narratives that clarify and explain time item losses in the target language.
Intertextual plan of the poem by Valery Pereleshin “Red leaves under the frost”
Authors:   Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University, Bogdanova Olga V.
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study is to examine the poetic text is the bright representative of the “Eastern branch” of Russian emigration (1920s–1940s) Valery Pereleshin, in his work associated with the perception of the image system “second Motherland”, China, and in the course of analysis to identify the uniqueness of the incarnation of the motives of the ancient Chinese pretext (in particular Du Mu) in a poem by Russian immigrant. The scientific novelty of the work consists in referring to the little-known texts of poets of the “Harbin-Shanghai” region, in an attempt to find ways to introduce Russian poets to the foreign cultural tradition. The results showed that the Russian poet-emigrant Pereleshin quite freely handles the Chinese pretext and departs from the imagery of a concise compressed narrative, characteristic of the Tang classic Du Mu. However, Russian literature brings rich imagery, additional poetic vividness, and an inner meaning close to the Russian mentality to Pereleshin’s original text.
Mother’s love in “Shakhnameh” by Ferdowsi and “Khamsa” by Nizami
Authors:   Abuabdullah Rudak Kulyab State University, Ashurova Nodira J.
Published: March 2021

The image of good-natured women mothers in medieval literature has always been in the center of attention of writers to express instructive thoughts and lofty humanistic ideas. In this regard, in order to give aesthetic significance to their works, writers with great professional creative skill in their works vividly depicted the images of women. Along with beauty, tenderness, restraint and courage, motherly love was the source of their power and strength in the writer's work. The article attempts to make a comparative analysis of the images of bold and beautiful women in “Shahnama” by Ferdowsi and “Khamsa” by Nizami. The novelty of the research comes down to the fact that the comparative aspect of the concept of a woman-mother is considered from the point of view of typological commonality and character differences. The images in the above-mentioned works are analyzed and the behavioral features, beauty, charm, knowledge and mind of women are characterized, the differences in images are determined.
Stress und Coping bei Eltern von einem Kind mit einem Down-Syndrom. Die Überprüfung eines theoretischen Modells
Authors: Gabriel Barbara , Zeender Nadine , Bodenmann Guy
Published: March 2021

Background: Several studies suggest high distress in parents of a child with Down syndrome. This study focused on the relationship between stress, individual, dyadic and social resources and different measures of well-being based on a theoretical stress model. Method: Path analyses separated for parental sex and functionality of coping were used to test the theoretical model using data collected from 75 couples. Results: Data supported the model with maternal emotional and paternal as well as maternal instrumental resources in the context of specific child related stress. Conclusion: The results underline the importance of the marital system for dealing with daily stress, but they also reveal that individual and social resources are needed.

Zusammenfassung

Theoretischer Hintergrund: Bestehende Befunde verweisen auf ein erhöhtes Belastungsniveau bei Eltern von einem Kind mit einem Down-Syndrom. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung sollte nun erstmals eine differenzierte Betrachtung der Zusammenhänge zwischen elterlichen Belastungen aufgrund des Kindes mit einem Down-Syndrom, individuellen, dyadischen sowie sozialen Ressourcen und Befindlichkeitsvariablen durch die empirische Überprüfung eines theoretischen Stressmodells erfolgen. Methode: Das Stressmodell wurde sowohl für das elterliche Geschlecht als auch die Copingfunktion getrennt mittels Pfadanalysen an den Angaben von 75 Elternpaaren berechnet. Ergebnisse: Das pfadanalytische Modell konnte mit den emotionalen mütterlichen und instrumentellen Ressourcen beider Elternteile belegt werden. Schlussfolgerung: Obwohl die Wichtigkeit der partnerschaftlichen Unterstützung bei der Bewältigung von kindbezogenen Belastungen bestätigt wurde, waren individuelle und soziale Ressourcen von Bedeutung.
Transfers between grandparents and grandchildren: The importance of taking a three-generation perspective
Authors: Hagestad Gunhild O.
Published: March 2021

The key argument in this article is that recent demographic change, with unprecedented duration of intergenerational ties and shifting balance between old and young in family lines necessitates three-generational views of transfers between grandparents and grandchildren. Much support from grandparents comes through continued parenting of the middle generation, the grandchildren’s parents. Using recent data from Norway, such indirect support is explored through three avenues: ideal role perceptions, actual help in parenting, support in difficult times and potential help. In most instances, there is considerable evidence that grandparents represent a “reserve army” for their children and grandchildren, especially grandmothers in the maternal line. Divorce may represent structural obstacles to the flow of support, especially in the paternal line. In designing and executing studies of modern grandparents, researchers need to be aware of asym¬metry as a potential problem and be very clear on where in vertical connections the research is anchored.

Zusammenfassung

Der demographische Wandel mit der beispiellos langen gemeinsamen Lebenszeit und der sich verschiebenden Balance zwischen Alt und Jung in der Familie erfordert in Hinblick auf Transfers zwischen Großeltern und Enkeln eine Drei-Generationen-Perspektive. Ein großer Teil der Hilfen von Großeltern besteht in ihrer fortwährenden Unterstützung für ihre erwachsenen Kinder, also die Eltern ihrer Enkelkinder. Mit aktuellen norwegischen Daten wird diese indirekte Unterstützung auf drei Ebenen untersucht: Wahrnehmung von Rollenmodellen, tatsächliche Hilfen bei dem elterlichen Aufgaben sowie Unterstützung in schwierigen Zeiten und potenzielle Hilfe. Dabei existieren deutliche Hinweise, dass die Großeltern eine „Reservearmee“ für ihre Kinder und Enkelkinder darstellen, und zwar insbesondere die Großmütter mütterlicherseits. Scheidungen weisen hingegen auf strukturelle Hindernisse für fortwährende Hilfeleistungen hin, insbesondere auf Seiten der Großeltern väterlicherseits. Beim Forschungsdesign und der Durchführung von Studien über heutige Großeltern muss man sich des potenziellen Asymmetrie-Problems bewusst sein und klare Entscheidungen darüber treffen, an welcher Stelle in der Generationenlinie die Untersuchung verankert wird.
Positionsbestimmung in der Paar- und Familienpsychologie
Authors: Bodenmann Guy
Published: March 2021

This article tries to resume some of the theoretical and empirical issues that attract currently high attention within the field of marital and family psychology. Although no exhausting overview can be given, some relevant topics are presented and discussed with regard to basic research in family psychology and their application in prevention and psychotherapy. Themes that merit more consideration in the future are also addressed.

Zusammenfassung

Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über gewisse Themen und Strömungen in der Paar- und Familienpsychologie, die aktuell besondere Aufmerksamkeit erfahren. Diese werden nach dem Gesichtspunkt der familienpsychologischen Grundlagenforschung versus der familienpsychologischen Anwendungsforschung unterschieden. Diese Zusammenstellung erhebt keinen Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit, sondern zeigt lediglich einige Tendenzen auf. Forschungsthemen, die künftig noch mehr Beachtung finden sollten, werden ebenfalls kurz gestreift.
Familienvorstellungen im Kulturkontakt: ein Vergleich italienischer, türkischer, koreanischer und deutscher junger Erwachsener in Deutschland
Authors: Röhr-Sendlmeier Una M. , Yun Jenny
Published: March 2021

Concepts of partnership, marriage and the family of a total of 215 young adults of different cultural backgrounds in Germany are compared. In an initial study, 115 German and Italian, Turkish and Korean young adults of the second migrant generation were interviewed; their achieved educational levels were representative for each group. The prerequisites for establishing a family and the anticipated role allocation within the family turned out to be very different. The Italian und Turkish adults showed a strong orientation towards family traditions and values, whereas the Korean and German participants emphasized individuality and rationality of the individual. In a second complementary study, 100 young adults of the same ethnic groups, who now all had an educational level of comprehensive secondary school, were recruited to investigate the family concepts in these specific groups. The young migrants had developed similar family concepts to those of their German peers. Especially Italian and Turkish women with comprehensive secondary school education revealed significantly different perceptions of the future in comparison to the concepts of the respectivegroups with mixed educational backgrounds.

Zusammenfassung

In zwei Studien mit 215 Personen wurden die Vorstellungen zu Partnerschaft, Ehe und Familie von italienischen, türkischen und koreanischen jungen Erwachsenen der zweiten Migrantengeneration mit denen deutscher junger Erwachsener verglichen. In einer ersten Studie mit 115 Befragten der vier Ethnien, die repräsentativ nach dem Bildungsniveau zusammengesetzt waren, erwiesen sich die Voraussetzungen für eine Familiengründung und die antizipierte Rollenverteilung in der Familie als sehr unterschiedlich. So zeigten die italienischen und türkischen Erwachsenen eine starke Orientierung an familiären Traditionen und Werten, während die koreanischen und deutschen Teilnehmer die Individualität und die Rationalität des Einzelnen in den Vordergrund stellten. In einer zweiten Studie wurden weitere 100 Personen rekrutiert, um die Vorstellungen junger Erwachsener derselben ethnischen Gruppen mit Gymnasialbildung zu erhellen. Die Familienvorstellungen der jungen ausländischen Erwachsenen mit Abitur ähnelten denen der deutschen Untersuchungsteilnehmer. Vor allem italienische und türkische Frauen mit Gymnasialbildung zeigten signifikant andere Zukunftsvorstellungen als die entsprechenden Gruppen mit gemischten Bildungshintergründen.
Geogle Maps
Authors: Rezende Luiza Carneiro de , Vieira Ana Carolina Batista
Published: March 2021

As Geociências são uma área de conhecimento não muito aprofundada no ensino básico e, por isto, alguns equívocos ainda são feitos ao tentar explicar fenômenos relacionados a esta ciência. O projeto Geogle Maps foi criado com o intuito de incentivar o ensino e a popularização das Geociências utilizando um dispositivo acessível à maioria da população, o smartphone. Uma página no Instagram foi criada para mostrar exemplos de como os aplicativos Google Maps e Google Earth, compatíveis com quase todos os celulares, podem auxiliar no ensino de Geociências. As imagens de satélite permitem observar, por exemplo, limites de placas tectónicas. A visualização 3D permite caracterizar diferentes relevos. O Street View permite observar feições menores, como estruturas sedimentares, ígneas, rúpteis e dúcteis. São diversas as possibilidades e o projeto encoraja o leitor a buscar outras formas de utilizar os aplicativos no ensino de Geociências.
O retorno às aulas no pós-pandemia
Authors: Gabriel Nilson da Silva , Marçal Gustavo Acosta , Imbernon Rosely Aparecida Liguori , Pioker-Hara Fabiana Curtopassi
Published: March 2021

Nenhuma escola estava preparada para a educação em tempos de pandemia. Analisou-se o período de fechamento das escolas na cidade de São Paulo, empregando o Conhecimento Pedagógico do Contexto (CPC), na perspectiva de professores de escola pública municipal (E1) e escola privada (E2). O estudo de caso buscou levantar qualitativamente as questões motivadoras de E1 e E2 para o retorno pós-pandemia: Retomar os componentes curriculares e objetos de aprendizagem? Favorecer a socialização promovida pelo ambiente escolar? O acolhimento foi considerado no retorno? No período de isolamento social, com as escolas fechadas, E1 enfrentou problemas relacionados a aspectos socioeconômicos e realidades do contexto social em que se insere a escola, enquanto E2 adotou estratégias que permitiram avaliar individualmente os perfis de cada aluno. A distância social entre E1 e E2, com as escolas fechadas, caracterizou-se pela “fome”: E1 assumiu prover alimento aos alunos, por meio do cartão merenda, sem interromper o processo educativo.
Comunicação pública da ciência diante das coalizões em conflito sobre aquecimento global
Authors: Oliveira Maria José da Costa , Barbosa Ronaldo , Carneiro Celso Dal Ré , Nobre Heloiza Matos e
Published: March 2021

A formulação de políticas públicas de sustentabilidade apoia-se de maneira decisiva na comunicação pública da Ciência. Aplicando o modelo da Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) os autores deste artigo buscam iluminar as disputas sobre a questão do aquecimento global antropogênico e a controvérsia existente. Distintas coalizões em torno do tema “mudança climática” participam decisivamente das disputas e do conflito. Contudo, existem manipulações polêmicas e irresponsáveis, além de desleais, formadas sobretudo por fake news, que fragilizam a postura dos cidadãos e impedem a formação de uma consciência crítica sobre esse e outros temas polêmicos. Conclui-se que certos discursos frágeis, respaldados em notícias falsas, geram prejuízos à sociedade, ao meio ambiente e à própria qualidade da democracia.
Leveraging human resources management (HRM) practices toward congruence of values
Authors: Gelle-Jimenez Maureen , Aguiling Hector M.
Published: March 2021

Core values are critical to an organization’s identity, mission, strategy, and success.  Harmonizing personal values and the core values espoused by the organization addresses congruence gaps and ensures that the actions of employees are consistent and aligned with organizational strategies. This study aims to identify the HR management practices of a University in Manila, Philippines that promote the congruence between the personal values of employees and the core values of the organization.  The qualitative research methodology was utilized to identify practices in the areas of Recruitment and Selection, Performance Management System, and Training and Development that promote congruence of values.  Semi-structured interviews of key University officials were conducted using open-ended questions. A review of relevant and pertinent documents was also undertaken. The three identified HR functional areas are highlighted because these are critical in the selection, motivation, and retention of high-quality employees.  Leveraging HR management practices to promote congruence entails that the values of the organization are well-defined.  Employees must understand how these are translated into workplace behaviors and actions.  It must be clearly laid down how these relate to their performance and the impact these have on the achievement of the overall goals of the organization.
The effects of vitamins and trace minerals on chronic autoimmune thyroiditis
Authors: Włochal Małgorzata , Kucharski Marcin A. , Grzymisławski Marian
Published: March 2021

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is one of the most frequent types of inflammation of the thyroid gland. The prevalence of the overt HT is about 2% but it is believed that Hashimoto thyroiditis is more frequent than expected. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is characterized by dysfunction of the immune system, which leads to impaired tolerance of own tissues and increased production of autoantibodies against the thyroid cells. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg) and/or TSH receptors antibodies are the principal markers of the disease. The essential element of the treatment of HT is the supplementation of L-thyroxine. In Hashimoto’s disease, like in many other autoimmune diseases, researchers attempted to support pharmacological treatment by adequate nutrition. The aim of this paper was to review the existing literature on the levels of antioxidants (vitamin A, C, E, selenium, zinc) and vitamin D in patients with HT, as well as the influence of the nutritional supplementation of the above mentioned elements on the metabolism of the thyroid gland hormones and the level of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies.
Invertendo o enfoque das “crises migratórias” para as “migrações de crise”: uma revisão conceitual no campo das migrações
Authors: Bertino Moreira Julia , E Hadassa Oliveira Marques de Borba Janine
Published: March 2021

O presente artigo se propõe a debater um novo conceito no campo de estudos migratórios – as migrações de crise –, o qual traz à luz os processos, motivos e fatores vivenciados por populações afetadas por crises e que podem contribuir para processos migratórios de indivíduos, famílias e comunidades como um todo. Introduzindo diversas categorias correlatas – como a eventualidade, a imobilidade (ou enclausuramento) e a não escolha –, adota-se um direcionamento metodológico e conceitual que aponta para as crises como propulsoras das migrações. Dessa maneira, busca-se tensionar a ideia de que as migrações geram crises aos Estados-nação receptores de movimentos significativos de pessoas – a qual notavelmente se consolida peladisseminação do termo “crise migratória”, em especial, nos discursos políticos e midiáticos correntes. A delimitação do novo conceito proposto e da sua metodologia de estudo pautou-se pela revisão bibliográfica da literatura especializada na área, com foco em pesquisas recentes sobre as migrações de crise e suas implicações tanto na esfera local como na internacional. Ao final do texto, levantamos os desafios e as contribuições de tal conceito, envolvendo debates centrais no campo das migrações, inobstante questões teórico-metodológicas ainda não suficientemente superadas dentro deste.
Моделирование лучистого теплообмена в сверхзвуковых течениях плазмы с учетом доплеровского сдвига линий
Authors: Шильков Александр Викторович , Shilkov Aleksandr Viktorovich , Сиваков Никита Александрович , Sivakov Nikita Aleksandrovich
Published: March 2021

Изложен вариант метода лебеговского осреднения уравнения переноса излучения по энергии фотонов, учитывающий направленный доплеровский сдвиг линий. Метод предназначен для моделирования переноса тепла излучением в сверхзвуковых течениях плазмы с экстремально большими градиентами скорости и температуры. С целью оценки влияния эффекта Доплера на теплообмен проведены расчеты модельных тестовых задач.
The quality of buck semen after feed additive minoxvit administration
Authors: Hafid Anita , Sianturi Riasari Gail , Kusumaningrum Diana Andrianita , Widiawati Yeni , Anggraeni Anneke , Saputra Ferdy
Published: March 2021

Objective: Reproduction and nutritional status is closely related. Nutritional deficiency or insufficiency directly affects reproductive efficiency. Deficiency of nutrition could affect the sperm quality and the ability to fertilize. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feed additive (Minoxvit) on semen quality of buck.

Methods: This study used 6 sexually mature bucks, aged 1.5 years old. The bucks were fed daily with 3 kg of freshly chopped king grass, 1 kg of Legume (Calliandra sp.), and 500 g of concentrate. Three bucks were given Minoxvit by 1.25 g/day in the concentrate, while three other bucks were considered as control. Semen was evaluated once a week for 49 days. Semen was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. The macroscopic evaluation consisted of volume, color, and consistency of semen, while microscopic evaluation consisted of mass motility, sperm motility, viability, and sperm concentration. Data were analyzed using Completely Randomized Design with Tukey test.

Results: The result showed significantly different (P<0,05) in which bucks semen in Minoxvit addition group had higher semen volume (0.75 ml vs 0.54 ml), mass motility (3.32 vs 2.67), sperm motility (70% vs 58 %), sperm viability (86.67% vs 79.19%), and sperm consentration (2,6x109 mL vs 1,7x109 mL).

Conclusions: This study concludes that the addition of Minoxvit has a positive influence on the quality of buck sperms providing volume, mass motility, individual motility, viability, and concentration of the sperm.
Dynamic Brachial Artery Entrapment After Distal Biceps Repair
Authors: Ohliger Erin , Fei Timothy , Umpierrez Erica , Ohliger Andrew , Evans Peter
Published: March 2021

Case:

A 57-year-old man presented with paleness and coolness of the hand with elbow flexion 4 months after primary distal biceps repair. Diagnosis of dynamic brachial artery entrapment was confirmed with ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Angiography. During revision surgery, the brachial artery was identified traveling underneath the repaired distal biceps tendon. After revision surgery, the patient made a full recovery with no residual symptoms.

Conclusion:

Adverse vascular events have been rarely reported in distal biceps repairs. Before and immediately after repair, the path of the tendon should be critically evaluated to ensure neurovascular structures were not placed under the repaired tendon.
Evolving Surgical Management for Early-Onset Scoliosis in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 Given Improvements in Survival
Authors: Drain Joseph P. , Iobst Christopher A. , Chambers Reid , Seilhamer Crystal , Beebe Allan C. , Klamar Jan E.
Published: March 2021

Case:

We present a case of an 18-month-old child with early-onset scoliosis in the setting of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 whose rapidly progressive scoliosis is successfully managed with magnetic growing rods, the youngest age of implantation in a patient with SMA we are currently aware of. Technical challenges, complications, and outcome are described in this case presentation.

Conclusion:

Patients with SMA type 1 and early-onset scoliosis can be managed with growing-rod constructs given dramatic improvements in medical care that have expanded life expectancy.
Challenging Diagnosis of Stickler Syndrome in a Patient with Premature Osteoarthritis
Authors: Yousef Mohamed A. , Ayers David C.
Published: March 2021

Case:

A 53-year-old male patient, subsequently diagnosed with type I Stickler syndrome, presented with severe premature osteoarthritis associated with bilateral hip dysplasia and knee epiphyseal dysplasia. Despite the presence of the typical manifestations of orofacial defects, hearing, ocular, and musculoskeletal abnormalities, the patient had never been diagnosed with the syndrome.

Conclusion:

Stickler syndrome can present with a wide spectrum of musculoskeletal abnormalities without previous diagnosis. It is often underrecognized if the manifestations of other systems are not appreciated. Stickler syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with unexplained musculoskeletal abnormality particularly in the presence of other system manifestations.
Power Efficient Model of PWM Generator for Green Computing and Communication on High Performance FPGAs
Authors: Kumar Keshav , Pandey Bishwajeet
Published: March 2021

PWM generator is one of the core modules of a communication model. Its main function is to control the amplitude of signal and used for reducing average power of the pulses and signals. The PWM generator can also be used in promoting the green computing and green communication other than data and wireless communication if it is made power and energy efficient. In this work we are using different Stub Series Terminated Logic (SSTL) IO with three distinguished FPGAs of different Nano meter (nm) gate size that are 28 nm SPARTAN-7, 20 nm KINTEX-7 Ultra scale, and 16 nm ZYNQ Ultra scale+. The model has been synthesized and implemented on VIVADO ISE tool. From the power analysis it is observed that 16 nm ZYNQ Ultra scale+ requires the highest amount of power for operation with SSTL18_I IO and 28 nm SPARTAN-7 uses least amount of power for the operation with SSTL135 IO, while the 20 nm KINTEX-7 Ultra scale lies in mid of both of these devices.
Performance Analysis of Linearly arranged Concentric Circular Antenna Array with Low Sidelobe Level and Beamwidth Using Robust Tapering Technique.
Authors: Rahaman Imteaz , Reza Md. Farhamdur , Hossain Md. Selim , Sarkar Pallab Kumar , Rashid Md. Mamunur , Ali Md. Yeakub , Ali Md. Firoj
Published: March 2021

In this research, a novel antenna array named Linearly arranged Concentric Circular Antenna Array (LCCAA) is proposed concerning lower beamwidth, lower sidelobe level, sharp ability to detect the false signal, and impressive SINR performance. The performance of the proposed LCCAA beamformer is compared with geometrically identical existing beamformers using the conventional technique where the LCCAA beamformer shows the lowest beamwidth and sidelobe level(SLL) of 12.50°and -15.17 dB in equal element accordingly. However, the performance gets degraded due to looking direction error, and robust techniques- fixed diagonal loading (FDL), optimal diagonal loading (ODL), and variable diagonal loading (VDL) are applied to all the potential arrays to minimize this problem. Furthermore, the LCCAA beamformer is further simulated to reduce the sidelobe applying tapering techniques where the hamming window shows the best performance having 17.097 dB less sidelobe level compared to the uniform window. The proposed structure is also analyzed under a robust tapered (VDL-hamming) method which reduces around 69.92 dB and 48.39 dB more sidelobe level compared to conventional and robust techniques. Analyzing all the performances, it is clear that the proposed LCCAA beamformer is superior and provides the best performance with the proposed robust tapered (VDL-hamming) technique.
A Relay Selection Algorithm Based on User Trust Degree for D2D Communications
Authors: Li Xiaobin , Liu Haoran
Published: March 2021

The emergence of 5G has promoted the rapid development of the Internet of Things(IOT), the dramatic increasing of mobile equipment has led to the increasing shortage of spectrum resources, D2D(Device-to-Device) communication technology is widely concerned for its ability to improve the utilization of spectrum resources. In order to expand the communication scope, relay nodes are introduced into D2D communications, as the third party of D2D relay communication, the quality of relay nodes directly affects the quality of communication process. In order to make more users willing to participate in relay communication, social relationship is introduced into D2D relay communication, However, as an explicit relationship between people, the function of social relationship in D2D communication is limited by the mobility of users and the variability of communication scenarios. In order to find a more reli­able relay node and upgrade the connection success rate of D2D relay communication, implicit social relationship between the users need to be mined. Aiming at that, user trust degree (UTD) is established in this paper. By combining the explicit relationship which is called the social connectivity degree with the implicit social relationship called the interest similarity degree, and considering the user’s movement, a relay selection algorithm is presented to help sender find a relay node with a deeper user trust, which can increase the user’s willingness to participate in D2D relay communication and upgrade the success rate of communication connection, so this algorithm can ensure the security of the relay node and can improve the throughput performance. Simulation results show that this algorithm can increase the success rate of connection, improve the overall throughput of the system and improve the user's communication expe­rience.
Visual Speech Recognition using VGG16 Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: R Shashidhar , Patilkulkarni S , Murthy Nishanth S
Published: March 2021

Communication is all about expressing one’s thoughts to another person through speech and facial expressions. But for people with hearing impairment, it is difficult to communicate without any assistance. In most of these cases Visual speech recognition (VSR) systems simplify the tasks by using Machine Learning algorithms and assisting them to understand speech and socialize without depending on the auditory perception. Thus, one can visualize VSR system as a lifeline for people with hearing impairment which helps them in providing a way to understand the words that are being tried to convey to them through speech. In this work we used VGG16 convolutional neural network architecture for Kannada and English datasets. We used custom dataset for the research work and got the accuracy of 90.10% for English database and 91.90% for Kannada database.
Cryptographic Engineering on COVID-19 Telemedicine: An Intelligent Transmission Through Recurrent Relation Based Session Key
Authors: DEY JOYDEEP , BHOWMIK ANIRBAN , SARKAR ARINDAM , KARFORMA SUNIL , CHOWDHURY BAPPADITYA
Published: March 2021

Constraints imposed due to the cameo of the novel coronavirus has abruptly changed the operative mode of medical sciences. Most of the hospitals have migrated towards the telemedicine mode of services of the non-invasive and non-emergency patients during the COVID-19 time. The advent of telemedicine services has remotely rendered health services to different types of patients from their quarantines. Here, the patients’ medical data has to be transmitted to different physicians / doctors. Such data are to be secured with a view to restore its privacy clause. Cardio vascular diseases (CVDs) are a kind of cardiac disease related to blockage of arteries and veins. This paper presents an intelligent and secured transmission of cardiac reports of the patients through recurrence relation based session key. Such reports were made through the following confusion matrix operations. The beauty of this technique is that confusion matrices are transferred to specified number of cardiologists with further secret shares encapsulation. The case of robustness checking, transparency and cryptographic engineering has been tested under different inputs. Different types of result and its analysis proves the efficiency of the proposed technique. It will provide more security in medical data transmission, especially in the needy hours of COVID-19 pandemic.
Measurement Engineering to Design a Truncated Ground Plane Compact Circular Ring Monopole Patch Antenna for Ultra Wideband Applications
Authors: Ali syed zeeshan , Khuda Ikrame E , Raza Kamran , Ebrahim Mansoor
Published: March 2021

In this paper, using in-depth simulations and measurements, a simple and compact design is engineered for making a circular ring microstrip patch antenna radiating element which is suitable for different ultra wide band(UWB) applications. This design approach is different because it has not utilized the usual method of using a set of electromagnetic equations and calculations to make the radiating antenna. Measurements and simulations were performed on Microwave CST. Using this measurement engineering approach, novelty of proposed antenna structure is obtained by making the required changes in the ground plane. The measurements showed that truncating the ground plane by a square shape structure of 2.5mm by 2.5mm size at the feed point was practically significant to provide an impedance bandwidth (\({S}_{11}cript>\)) ranging from 2.75 GHz to 32.035 GHz with a VSWR which is less than 2. For this entire bandwidth the directivity has shown a variation from 0.8 dBi to 7.9 dBi. The compact size (33mm x28mm x1.57mm), low design complexity, very high bandwidth, good directivity and satisfying VSWR has made this antenna unique among all previously presented UWB antennas.
Gold-Like Activity, Copper-Like Selectivity of Heteroatomic Transition Metal Carbides (M2C) for Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction Reaction
Authors: Esmaeilirad Mohammadreza , Baskin Artem , Kondori Alireza , Matias Ana Sanz , Qian Jin , Song Boao , Saray Mahmoud Tamadoni , Kucuk Kamil , Belmonte Andres Ruiz , Delgado Pablo Navarro Munoz , Park Junwon , Azari Rahman , Segre Carlo , Shahbazian-Yassar Reza , Prendergast David , Asadi Mohammad
Published: March 2021

An overarching challenge of the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (eCO2RR) is finding an earth-abundant, highly active catalyst that selectively produces hydrocarbons at relatively low overpotentials. Here, we have studied the two-dimensional transition metal carbide (TMC) class of materials and found that di-tungsten carbide (W2C) nanoflakes exhibit maximum methane (CH4) current density of -421.63 mA/cm2 and a CH4 faradic efficiency of 82.7%±2% in a hybrid electrolyte of 3 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) and 2 M choline-chloride (CC). Powered by a triple junction photovoltaic cell, we have demonstrated a flow electrolyzer that uses humidified CO2 to produce CH4 in a 700-hours process under one sun illumination with a CO2RR energy efficiency of about 62.3% and a solar-to-fuel efficiency of 20.7%. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that dissociation of water, chemisorption of CO2 and cleavage of the C-O bond – the most energy consuming elementary steps in other catalysts such as copper – become nearly spontaneous at the W2C surface. This results in instantaneous formation of adsorbed CO – an important reaction intermediate – and an unlimited source of protons near the tungsten surface sites that are the main reasons for the observed superior activity, selectivity, and small potential.
Probabilistic Modeling for Manufacturing of Automotive Electric Equipment
Authors: Kozlovsky Vladimir , Klochkov Yury
Published: March 2021

A generalized quality criterion is proposed for the processes of designing and manufacturing electrical equipment. The relationship between the parameters of the technological process of manufacturing electrical equipment and the ones of statistical plans acceptance quality control is taking into account for the calculation of the criterion. This creates the prerequisites for effective management of design and manufacturing processes to achieve the desired level of quality.
Freeze–thaw combined with activated carbon improves electrochemical dewaterability of sludge: Analysis of sludge floc structure and dewatering mechanism
Authors: Hui Kai , Song Lei , Yin Zhenzhou , Song Hongwei , Wang Zehao , Gao Wenjian , Xuan Lili
Published: March 2021

Freeze–thaw (F/T) and electrochemistry are environment-friendly and efficient sludge treatment technologies. In this study, F/T and electrochemistry were combined in the pretreatment of sludge dewatering in the laboratory, and activated carbon (AC) was added to improve the electrochemical dewatering performance of sludge. During the experiment, the effect of F/T on the floc structure was analyzed by a laser particle analyzer and scanning electron microscope. F/T treatment not only improved the dewatering performance of sludge, but also promoted the aggregation of sludge flocs into larger particles. The median diameter (D50) increased from 45.27 µm to 128.94 µm. Then, the intracellular polymer of large-particle sludge was analyzed by three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix (3D-EEM). The tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances (TB-EPS) still contained a large amount of protein substances, which hindered the improvement of sludge dewatering performance. AC was added to the thawed sludge solution before electrochemical treatment (EP). The conductivity of AC enhanced the effect of EP, thereby cracking the sludge flocs. Thus, the light intensity of TB-EPS in the 3D-EEM fluorescence spectroscopy was decreased, and the D50 was also reduced to 105.3 µm. The final specific resistance of filtration and water content were reduced by 96.39% and 32.17%, respectively. Element analysis of the sludge cake after dehydration showed that the addition of AC significantly improved the combustion efficiency of the sludge cake. Moreover, preliminary economic analysis showed that the cost of this research was low, which indicated the potential application value of combined treatment.
A population-based study of neonatal deaths in Indonesia based on the Indonesian demographic health survey: what determinants play an essential role?
Authors: Sampurna Mahendra Tri Arif , Mapindra Muhammad Pradhika , Mahindra Muhammad Pradhiki , Efendi Ferry , Etika Risa , Utomo Martono Tri , Angelika Dina , Handayani Kartika Darma , Harianto Agus
Published: March 2021

Background

Neonatal mortality appears to be one of the most concerning problems to fulfill Sustainable Developmental Goals globally. Indonesia, as a developing country with uneven distribution of standardized health facilities over the archipelago, has been reported to be the country with the highest fatality cases of the newborn in Southeast Asia. To address this problem, we evaluate how substantive the socioeconomic spectrum and proximate determinants as a substantial predictor of the neonatal mortality rate in advance to maximize the health policies’ quality in reducing the rate of newborn death.
Method

The analysis was conducted using the data source of the 2017 Indonesia Demographic Health Survey from 11.965 live-born infants born from singleton pregnancy in the year of 2017. By using a hierarchical approach and logistic regression, the multilevel analysis was carried out to assess the possible contributing factors including socioeconomic, household, and proximate factors to neonatal mortality.
Results

At socioeconomic determinants, the odds of newborn death was significantly higher for those who born from mothers with poor education level (OR = 1.72, p = 0.03), insufficient antenatal visits (OR = 3.98, p = 0.01), and not being involved to postnatal care (OR = 6.60, p = 0.01). Regarding community factors, the variable of traditional birth attendants was significantly higher for the odds of newborn death (OR = 2.06, p = 0.01) as well as the delivery in government public hospitals (OR = 1.89, p = 0.01). In terms of proximate determinants, the odds of newborn death found to be higher for male infants (OR = 1.43, p = 0.03) and low birth (< 2.5 kg) weight infants (OR = 4.15, p = 0.01). After the adjustment of these covariates, the newborn death were associated to mothers with insufficient antenatal care (OR = 2.58, p = 0.01), not participating in postnatal care (OR = 5.66, p = 0.01), assisted by traditional birth attendants (OR = 1.46, p = 0.03), and neonatal factors such as male gender (OR = 5.66, p = 0.01 and low birth weight (OR = 4.37, p = 0.01).
Conclusion

In reducing neonatal death, public health interventions should be targeted to individual and community-level factors of socioeconomic determinants. Improving the quality and coverage of perinatal health services such as the utilization of either antenatal care or postnatal care, the availability of trained birth attendants, and the optimization in public hospitals’ services have a significant meaning for better infants’ lives.
Understanding Parents’ Views Toward the Newly Enacted HPV Vaccine School Entry: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Colón-López Vivian , Medina-Laabes Diana T. , Abreu Roxana Soto , Miranda Olga L. Díaz , Ortiz Ana P. , Fernández María , Hull Pamela C.
Published: March 2021

Background: Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) is an important tool for prevention of HPV- related cancers. In Puerto Rico, the Secretary of Health established a school entry requirement of at least 1 dose of HPV vaccination in girls and boys aged 11 and 12 years taking effect in August 2018. Our study aims to examine parents’ views and opinions of the process of implementing the new HPV vaccination school entry policy in Puerto Rico, and understand barriers and facilitators related to this HPV immunization policy. Methods: Three focus group (n=12) and eight in-depth semi-structured interviews were performed, along with a survey. The interviews were recorded and transcript by our staff members. Through a thematic analysis were identified emergent themes. Results: Lack of information in relation to the policy were the theme most mentioned in the interviews. Moreover, participants expressed that previous negative experiences, from friends or family member, adverse effect and the lack of communication from school and healthcare providers deter them from the decision of vaccinated their kids. Barriers in the process of soliciting an exemption was discussed. Conclusion: Most barriers mentioned by participants who express hesitation about vaccinating their kids with the HPV vaccine, are modifiable providing parents information about the mandate’s implementation, and educational materials that address their concerns related to the vaccine’s side effects. Implementation of this efforts, however, need to consider impacting the school (teachers, principal directors, and administrative staff), the government and parents. This multilevel approach will help to improve the dissemination of information about HPV vaccination in order to clarify doubts and misinformation among hesitant parents.
Evaluation of a Limited-area Energy Budget Cycle of an Extratropical Storm Under Lagrangian and Eulerian Frameworks
Authors: Rougerie-durocher Sébastien , Laprise René , Nikiéma Oumarou
Published: March 2021

To conceptualize the uncertainties regarding the mechanisms of extratropical cyclones (EC), a study of their energy cycle can provide key information of their fundamental structure. This study applies a set of equations built from earlier works for a limited-area energy decomposed into temporal mean and deviations. It compares the results obtained with a reference frame that tracks an EC through its eddy kinetic energy with those obtained with a larger but fixed frame. A specific storm that occurred throughout the period of December 10-18th 2004 and simulated by the Canadian Regional Climate Model (CRCM – version 5) was studied. Results support the notion that the moving reference results in larger amplitudes for all temporal deviation components of the cycle than for the fixed reference. A time tendency analysis of the energetic reservoirs reveals noteworthy phases in the storm’s energy, with an increase and decrease occurring during the periods of 10-14 December and 14-18 December, respectively. The energy budget is overall fairly well balanced, with the exception of a lateral boundary term, hkTV , with considerable negative values; this term exhibits a spatially larger scale than the other contributions in the EC. An evaluation of the sensibility of the tracking scheme related to its size and positioning was also performed to determine its influence on the boundary term hkTV.
Temporarily double-pin external fixator fixation following unstable ankle fracture
Authors: Yuan Yusong , Lu Hao , Kou Yuhui , Lv Haorun , Li Guicheng , Feng Shuo , Xu Hailin
Published: March 2021

This study designed a new type of double-pin external fixator for temporary fixation of unstable ankle fractures, and the safety and effectiveness of this fixation method were explored. Cases were included in patients with ankle fractures treated in the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics at Peking University People's Hospital from February 2016 to February 2020. Two groups of cases were obtained (cast group, n=19; double-pin external fixator group, n=21). All cases received the same postoperative care, and the VAS score before and after temporary fixation, the maintenance of fracture reduction, the complications of temporary fixation and the interval time were recorded. All patients completed follow-ups. There were 4 cases and 0 cases of complications in the cast and double-pin external fixator groups respectively. 6 cases and 1 case each had a loss of reduction in the cast and double-pin external fixator groups respectively. There was no difference in interval time for final open reduction with internal fixation between the two groups. The post-fixation VAS score of the double-pin external fixator group was significantly lower than that of the cast group. This technique is a simple, safe, and effective treatment for the temporary reduction of unstable ankle fractures with double-pin external fixator which can relieve patients' pain, effectively maintain the length of the lateral malleolus, and create good soft tissue conditions for elective surgery under the state of grasping the indications strictly.
Multifractal analysis of ZnO thin films doped with Mg deposited by sol-gel spin coating on a glass substrate
Authors: Ţălu Ştefan , Boudour Samah , Bouchama Idris , Astinchap Bandar , Ghanbaripour Hamta
Published: March 2021

A multifractal analysis has been performed on the three-dimensional surface microtexture of the ZnO thin films doped with Mg deposited by sol-gel spin coating on glass substrates. The effects of Mg doping element with amounts of 0, 2, 4, and 5 % on structural and morphological properties of the coated films were investigated. From the X-ray diffraction pattern analysis, it was found that the obtained thin films had a polycrystalline hexagonal wurtzite structure with preferential c-axis orientation and increased grain size with increasing the Mg doping. From scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, it can be concluded that the surface of coated thin films had dense and uniformly distributed grains of nanoscale without any cracks over all surfaces of coated firms. From atomic force microscope (AFM) analysis, it can be also concluded that the surface of coated thin films had a dense columnar grain growth uniformly distributed over the entire 1 µm ⋅ 1 µm - scanned area. The surface microtexture was characterized in terms of multifractal analysis.