bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Institutional Factors in Marketing of Agricultural Products by Cooperative Farmers
Authors: Obiadi Adaobi J. , Nwankwo Frank O. , Ezeokafor Uche R. , Ekwere Gabriel E.
Published: April 2020

This study was carried out to examine the effect of institutional factors in marketing of agricultural products by cooperative farmers in Anambra State of Nigeria. Four specific objective The study focused on four specific objectives which were to; examine the socio-economic characteristicsof the cooperative farmers and its effect on market participation; determine the quantum and value of agricultural produce that had been marketed; identify the extent to which agricultural market participation of the framer is influenced by institutional factors such as market information, organizational support, use of grades and standards, and legal environment; and make recommendations based on the findings. Three hypotheses were also tested.  Descriptive survey design was used for the study where seven hundred and ten (710) was used as sample size. Findings revealed that market disposition of the member was not related to duration of membership which implied that cooperative experience do not have substantial influence on marketing decisions. Farmers affirmed institutional factors such as influence of tradition and cultural practices; legal environment relating to laws governing sale of agricultural products, land tenure system, organizational supports from the government, availability of market information; and use of grades and standards in agricultural marketing significantly influenced their marketing decisions. It was further revealed that institutional factors have no influence on market participation of the cooperative farmers. In conclusion institutional factors have significant influence on marketing decisions while socio-economic characteristics of members have no significant influence on market participation by the cooperative farmers. Based on the findings, it was further recommended that government should always create an enabling environment to encourage farmers to continue to participate in agricultural markets. They can do this by re-examining laws and regulation that appear to impact negatively on farm production and agricultural marketing. This may include abrogation of the land tenure Act that has over the years, hindered access to agricultural farmlands by individual farmers among others.
Kritische bestuurskunde
Authors: van Putten Robert , Dorren Lars , Trommel Willem
Published: April 2020

Critical Public Administraton: towards a reflexive perspective on public policy and governance

Over the past four decades of its existence, Dutch public administration has developed into a science which mainly produces knowledge that either caters to a very specific scientific niche or aims to optimize policy processes in an instrumental fashion. This type of knowledge is not well equipped to provide answers or improve understanding of the challenges of our time. We argue that public administration needs to shift its focus more towards producing reflexive knowledge in the form of what we would call critical public administration. Based on the contributions in this special issue, this article outlines what the contribution of such a critical public administration could be. The article shows that, even though it is theory driven, critical public administration is close to policy practice and can fuel a productive public debate by imagining alternative futures.
Kritisch bestuurskundig onderwijs
Authors: van Ostaijen Mark , Jhagroe Shivant
Published: April 2020

Critical Public Administration education A plea for productive subversion

By analysing the current self-presentation of educational programs, this article problematizes the dominating instrumental knowledge within Public Administration. By foregrounding ‘productive subversion’, the authors provide a perspective on more reflexive types of knowledge and methods, to re-value educational programs within Public Administration.
20 jaar Verantwoordingsdag: Inzicht voor Kamercommissies
Authors: Keulen Sjoerd
Published: April 2020

20 years of Accountability Day: Insight for parliamentary committees. How content analysis provides insight into Performance Data use by Members of Parliament

The 20th Accountability Day of the Netherlands House of Representatives is a fitting occasion to investigate whether Dutch Members of Parliament use performance information (PI). Performance information used by managers and politicians is a basic assumption for managing and guiding Performance-based Budgeting. Ironically, based on a literature review on performance use, we know that politicians and especially parliamentarians do not use performance information for decision making or scrutiny. This is specifically so when PI reports are long. Using the framework of accountability of Bovens (2007) and using content analysis of the questions, motions and debates of the Standing Committees on the annual reports, this article shows that MPs use performance information in all phases (informing, debating, sanctions). Contradicting earlier research on parliamentarians, we found that they use annual reports and reports of the Court of Audit as their main sources in the debates. This article shows that the use of PI in parliament is steadily rising. The growing importance of performance information for accountability is further illustrated by the strengthening of the accountability forum.
Phronetische bestuurskunde
Authors: La Grouw Yvonne
Published: April 2020

Phronetic public administration. An answer to public administration research lacking social relevance.

The discipline of public administration is critiqued for its lack of social relevance. Three issues prevent public administration scholars from social relevant research: (1) the assumption of universal knowledge; (2) the assumption of neutrality; and (3) distance from practice. These issues obscure the role of power processes in both the administrative practice under study and in conducting research, while paying attention to power processes is key to a more socially relevant public administration. I propose a phronetic research approach as an alternative to research that lacks social relevance. Phronetic public administration (1) acknowledges and deliberately uses the complexity of different perspectives of actors; (2) makes power processes visible; and (3) chooses a position in a dialogue about the problem under study by imagining alternative future scenarios. Phronetic research offers a promising, critical perspective on public administration by specifically aiming for a social contribution.
Diurnal-, Seasonal- and Site-Dependent Variability in Ground-level Total Non-Methane Hydrocarbon in Nagpur City of Central India
Authors: Majumdar Deepanjan , Gavane Ashok Gangadhar
Published: April 2020

Temporal & spatial variations in ground-level total non-methane hydrocarbon (TNMHC) were studied in Nagpur urban agglomeration (UA) for a year over three seasons viz. post-monsoon (September-October), winter (January-February) and summer (May-June) in 2013–14. Ground-level TNMHC showed low to moderate spatial (over residential, commercial, traffic intersections, residential cum commercial sites) and temporal (at 7:00, 13:00; 18:00 and 23:00 h in all three seasons) variations. There was no specific increasing or decreasing trend with time, either within a day or a season. Daily mean concentration of TNMHC (averaged over concentrations at 7:00, 13:00; 18:00 and 23:00 h) ranged from 0.88–1.73 ppmV, 1.75–4.04 ppmV and 1.20–1.53 ppmV at residential sites; 2.99–6.47 ppmV, 1.52–7.38 ppmV and 0.98–1.63 ppmV at traffic site; 0.83–1.15 ppmV, 2.03–3.24 ppmV, 1.1–1.70 ppmV at residential cum commercial sites and 1.05–4.79 ppmV, 6.2–8.58 ppmV, 0.34–0.64 ppmV at the purely commercial site, during post-monsoon, winter and summer, respectively. Occasional spikes (TNMHC>10 to <13.6 ppmV) were observed on three occasions over two sites in winter but reasons thereof remained unidentified. During Diwali Festival (in post-monsoon) marked by large-scale firecrackers bursting, observed TNMHC concentrations hovered around 3–5 ppmV, which almost matched with 90th percentile of other post-monsoon concentrations. Highest mean seasonal TNMHC concentration was observed during winter, followed by means of post monsoon and summer seasons while mean ground-level TNMHC concentrations on weekdays were slightly higher (1.17–1.21 times) than weekends over all seasons.
Philosophy of marathon runs
Authors: Fajdek Piotr
Published: April 2020

The inquiry concerns the role of philosophy in the modern sport. It brings the heritage of great philosophers closer and emphasizes their relationships with people practicing running. It describes the mental zone of participants in marathon races, their motives and feelings, about the sport. The purpose of this study, was to investigate Does sport and philosophy may have something in common? Two totally different branches at first sight, gives us a chance to have a closer look on themselves. A wider perspective on sport by philosopher, on one hand and on the other, – chance to deep search in the mental zone of the athlete. Surprisingly running and philosophy have a lot in common. Both of branches are recognized as difficult, but results achieved may be very satisfying. In both disciplines patience and commitment is needed, and success comes very slowly. Every man is a philosopher, cause every one of us believes in natural law. We all as a mankind can conclude which kind of life is the best for us. Therefore, many of people decided to consciously engage in physical activity. As a way to enrich their personality, the way to discover their own self. As a way to response to the stresses of everyday life. Below we can find short comparison of two worlds – one which covers human mind, and other human body.
Analysis of physical education lessons in the aspect of its organization, teacher’s work and attitudes as well as attitudes of students on the example of participant observation
Authors: Madejski Eligiusz
Published: April 2020

Introduction: The lesson as the basic methodical unit is the most important link in the process of physical education. The aim of the research was to learn the organization and course of physical activities in early school teaching, teacher’s work and attitudes, and students’ attitudes  towards lessons. Material and methods: The research used focused, public participant observation, which covered 128 lesson units in 19 randomly selected primary schools in Krakow. To describe the obtained qualitative data, the statement of numbers and percentages and the percent chart were  used. Results: Most physical education lessons were held in the gym. A large part of physical activities were carried out contrary to the principles of building the lesson. There was also a lack of individualization of requirements for students, the use of praise and grades for correctly performed exercises, and the enforcement of instructions given to students. Almost half the lesson  was unattractive. During the classes very good treatment of students by teachers was visible. Conclusions: In addition to well-conducted preparatory activities before PE, a number of organizational and methodological errors were noted. Teachers’ attitudes towards tasks related to conducting physical activities were not satisfactory. The attitude of students to the duties related to participation in physical education lessons was positive.
Aulus Cornelius Celsus – a famous Roman encyclopedist
Authors: Supady Jerzy
Published: April 2020

The ancient Romans did not work as physicians, but they used the services of foreign doctors, mostly Greeks. During the times of the Roman Empire there emerged a class of well-educated patricians, who possessed knowledge in various field. Aulus Cornelius Celsus, the author of a voluminous work, was one of such patricians. Of the numerous volumes of his encyclopaedia only a fragment on medicine in extant. The piece which remains intact is a collection of medical knowledge of those times.
Threats related to accidental release of LPG in rail transport
Authors: Dmochowska Anna
Published: April 2020

The transport of dangerous substances is potentially hazardous to people and the environment.
Failures of installations or equipment as well as errors of people who operate them may
contribute to uncontrolled release of a dangerous substance, creating a chemical threat as a
result of contamination, fire or explosion. The aim of the study was to analyse the extent and
scale of threats to residents and emergency services in the event of an accidental release of
LPG from a tank or a railway tank in built-up areas. The inspiration was a train disaster that
happened in in Italy the city of Viareggio in 2009. The Aloha program was used for needs of
the research. The presented hazard zones were generated on the basis of emergency scenarios
for the release of LPG. During the modelling of danger zones, parameters of emergency release
of 45 tons of gas from a railway tanker in the city were reproduced. Five scenarios were
devised that could occur during the uncontrolled release of LPG into the atmosphere. For
each of them, the effects are listed of failures that residents of the built-up area in which the
event occurred may potentially encounter. In the summary of the work, reference was made
to the discussed railway disaster and its effects, as well as to modelled emergency release
scenarios. An evaluation was made of the application used. It provides an example of using
a mathematical model. The application is developed by The Cameo Software Suite, in cooperation
with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental
Protection Agency.
The effect of heat treatment on
mechanical properties of 42CrMo4 steel
Authors: Çalık A. , Dokuzlar O. , Uçar N.
Published: April 2020

Purpose: In this study, the effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical
properties of 42CrMo4 steel were investigated.
Design/methodology/approach: The samples were annealed at 860°C for 120 min.
followed by oil quenching and then tempered at temperatures between 480 and 570°C
for 120 min. The microstructure of untreated 42CrMo4 steel mainly consists of pearlite
and ferrite whereas the microstructure was found to be as a martensitic structure with a
quenching process.
Findings: The results showed that there is an increase in yield stress, ultimate tensile
stress, hardness and impact energy, while elongation decreases at the end of the quenching
process. Conversely, yield stress, ultimate tensile stress and hardness decrease slightly with
the increasing of tempering temperature, while elongation and impact energy increase.
Research limitations/implications: Other types of steels can be heat treated in a wider
temperature range and the results can be compared.
Practical implications: It is a highly effective method for improving the mechanical
properties of heat treatment materials.
Originality/value: A relationship between the mechanical properties and the microstructure
of materials can be developed. The heat treatment is an effective method for this process.
DYNAMIC TESTS ON FLIGHT OVERLOADS OF THE NR-30 CANNON RAMMER SYSTEM
Authors: MODRZEJEWSKI Patryk
Published: April 2020

The paper presents test results on reliability of feeding and locking a cartridge for NR-30 gun at the first shot. The tests were aimed to check if jams of incomplete feeding or locking were caused by the wearing of a multiwire spring driving the breech. The tests examined if flying plane overloads have significant impacts into the kinematic motion characteristics for a system of rammer + breech, and by the same in what degree they may reduce the force of spring action at cartridge feeding and locking. The flight overloads were simulated by added masses fixed to the breech. The measurements were made for a spring with maximally spent service life and for three additional masses. The quasi-static characteristics was measured for the tested spring to propose a method checking the spring efficiency at the seasonal overhauls. The received results contribute essentially to the state of art of the physics of multiwire springs operating in the tested system, and to the evaluation of their efficiency, and to assisting the overhauling personnel in evaluation of reasons of jams occurring at flight.
Subjective Character, the Ego and De Se Representation
Authors: Sebastián Miguel Ángel ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: April 2020

There is a substantive disagreement with regard to the characterization of pre-reflective self-awareness despite the key role that is supposed to play for the distinction between conscious and unconscious states. One of the most prominent ones—between egological and non-egological views—is about the role that the subject of experience plays.I show that this disagreement falls short to capture the details of the debate, as it does not distinguish phenomenological and metaphysical disputes. Regarding the former, the contenders disagree on whether pre-reflective self-awareness concerns the subject of experience or the experience itself. I first argue that such an awareness has to be indexical—de se or de mentis respectively—, and then show that de se awareness can straightforwardly address classical objec­tions against egological views, whereas de mentis awareness fails to support epistemological arguments in favor of non-egological ones. The metaphysical commitments of a phenomenologically egological view depend on what the corresponding de se awareness demands from reality. I consider two alternatives, the structural and the representational approach and offer some consid­erations in favor of the later and its prima facie neutrality with regard to the metaphysical dispute.
Some Comments on Josh Weisberg’s ‘Higher-Order Theories of Consciousness and the Heidelberg Problem’
Authors: Preyer Gerhard ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: April 2020

Josh Weisberg discusses what he calls the “Heidelberg Problem” (named after Dieter Henrich’s Heidelberg School). However, he mischaracterizes this problem and believes he is able so resolve the problem, as mischaracterized, as well as meet the de se constraint, in the theoretical frame of reference of the Higher-Order Thought Monitoring theory of consciousness. This commentary highlights the fundamental flaw in his approach, while encouraging further philosophical exchange with our American philosophical colleagues about the “Heidelberg Problem”.
Self-Acquaintance and Three Regress Arguments
Authors: Williford Kenneth ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: April 2020

The three classic regress problems (the Extensive Regress of states, the Intensive Regress of contents, and the Fichte-Henrich-Shoemaker Regress of de se beliefs) related to the Self-Awareness Thesis (that one’s conscious states are the ones that one is aware of being in) can all be elegantly resolved by a self-acquaintance postulate. This resolution, however, entails that consciousness has an irreducibly circular structure and that self-acquaintance should not be conceived of in terms of an independent entity bearing an external or mediated relation to itself but rather in terms of a realized relation-instance relating to itself as well as to something other than itself. Consciousness, on this account, has a categorially curious status. It is like a relation-particular hybrid. This can be formalized in terms of the theory of hypersets, which in turn can be used to elucidate the problem of individuality, one source of the conceptual difficulty with adequately characterizing de se content.
From Metafact to Metaphysics in “the Heidelberg School”
Authors: Hart James G. ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: April 2020

The works of Dieter Henrich and Manfred Frank argue that consciousness is fundamentally a self-awareness antecedent to reflection. This essay picks up the suggestion that consciousness itself is a field or medium of manifestation. As such it is a “metafact,” the anonymity of which transcendental philosophy seeks to overcome. This is required because the “facts” of the light of the mind and the intelligibility of what the mind discloses elude philosophical investigation as long as the anonymity reigns. Clarifying self-consciousness illuminates what essentially must elude normal categorial and predicative investigation which presuppose the light of the mind and intelligibility. The seemingly esoteric issue of the discovery of the primacy of the pre- or non-reflective self-presence at the foundation of first-person reference may be said to found metaphysics in so far as this requires evidence for the inseparability of being from manifestation.
Reflecting on Pre-Reflective Self-Consciousness
Authors: Howell Robert J. ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: April 2020

Most philosophers in the phenomenological tradition hold that in addition to the explicit self-consciousness we might get in reflection, there is also a pre-reflective self-consciousness. Despite its popularity, it can be a little difficult to get a grasp on this notion. It can seem impossibly thin—such that it really amounts to little more than a restatement of the notion of consciousness—or problematically robust—such that it seems to conflict with the apparent transparency of consciousness. This paper argues for a notion of pre-reflective self consciousness that avoids these extremes. It is argued that though pre-reflective self-consciousness exists and is an important part of conscious ex­perience, it is not an intrinsic feature of first-order consciousness. Instead, it is constituted by an agent’s background awareness of her ability to reflect and thereby self-ascribe her experiences.
Varieties of Self-Apprehension
Authors: Giustina Anna ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: April 2020

The Brentanian idea that every state of consciousness involves a consciousness or awareness of itself (Brentano 1874), which has been a central tenet of the phenomenological school, is a current topic in contemporary philosophical debates about consciousness and subjectivity, both in the continental and the analytic tradition. Typically, the self-awareness that accompanies every state of consciousness is char­acterized as pre-reflective. Most theorists of pre-reflective self-awareness seem to converge on a negative characterization: pre-reflective self-awareness is not a kind of reflective awareness. Whereas reflective self-awareness is attentive and descriptive, pre-reflective self-awareness is non-attentive and non-descriptive.This paper aims to show that the reflective/pre-reflective dichotomy overlooks a finer-grained distinction. The first part is devoted to arguing that the typical use of the adjective ‘pre-reflective’ conflates two properties (non-attentiveness and non-descriptiveness), which are in fact separable. Accordingly, not only can there be non-descriptive and non-attentive self-consciousness (i.e. pre-reflective self-awareness), but also non-descriptive but attentive self-consciousness. I call the latter primitive introspection. The second part of the paper is devoted to arguing that, whereas both pre-reflective self-awareness and primitive introspection enable the subject to apprehend the phenomenology of their experience, the kind of apprehension each allows for is different. By analyzing the notion of apprehension in terms of information acquisition and personal-level availability of information, it is proposed that, although both pre-reflective self-awareness and primitive introspection allow for acquisition of the maximal amount of information about the experience, only primitive introspection makes all such information personal-level available.
From Non-Self-Representationalism to the Social Structure of Pre-Reflective Self-Consciousness
Authors: Musholt Kristina ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: April 2020

Why should we think that there is such a thing as pre-reflective self-awareness? And how is this kind of self-awareness to be characterized? This paper traces a theoretical and a phenomenological line of argument in favor of the notion of pre-reflective self-consciousness and explores how this notion can be further illuminated by appealing to recent work in the analytical philosophy of language and mind. In particular, it argues that the self is not represented in the (nonconceptual) content of experience, but is rather implicit in the mode. Further, it argues that pre-reflective self-consciousness is best understood as a form of knowledge-how. Finally, it will be argued that our sense of self is thoroughly social, even at the basic, pre-reflective level.
Now: The Metamorphosis of the Educational World
Authors: Stepp Zachary A.
Published: April 2020

“It's a YouTube World” (Schaffhauser, 2017), and educators are using digital tools to enhance student learning now more than ever before. The research question scholars need to explore is “what makes an effective instructional video?”.
Attitudes toward statistics among dentistry postgraduates
Authors: Costa Mariana Andrade , Bonafé Fernanda Salloume Sampaio , Dovigo Lívia Nordi , Campos Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini
Published: April 2020

Aim

To validate the Attitudes Toward Statistics Scale (EAE) and to investigate the perceptions and attitudes toward statistics among dentistry postgraduates students.

Method

A total of 115 postgraduates students (62 master's students, 80 women, age 26 ± 4 years) answered the items of the EAE and the Clinician Attitudes Toward Biostatistics (CATB). Information on academic training was collected. Confirmatory factor analysis (χ²/df, CFI, TLI and RMSEA) was conducted to estimate the validity of the instruments to sample. The standardized mean scores of CATB and EAE factors were estimated and compared (ANOVA).

Results

The EAE two-factor fit model exhibited adequate validity for the sample (χ²/df = 1.814, CFI = 0.979, TLI = 0.976, and RMSEA = 0.086). Individuals who received their first training earlier, reported better performance in mathematics and greater knowledge of statistics, also exhibition more positive attitudes toward statistics. Individuals who reported having a research career focus, and who evaluated their supervisors’ knowledge of statistics as very poor to intermediate, presented a greater awareness of the importance of statistics in research and scientific evidence.

Conclusion

The EAE was valid and reliable for the sample. Perceptions and attitudes toward biostatistics were associated with variables involving the participant's academic formation.
Analyser les changements des politiques publiques par des critères cognitifs et institutionnels
Authors: Lukic Melina de Souza Rocha
Published: April 2020

Cet article est basé sur une étude de cas des changements de la politique fiscale au Brésil. Dans ce pays, le paradigme du système fiscal a changé lors de la mise en oeuvre de la Constitution de 1988 et du processus de démocratisation. Toutefois, malgré ce changement initial de la politique, son paradigme s’est développé d’une manière différente de ce que la théorie cognitive a prescrit : pas comme un changement radical, mais plutôt d’une façon plus progressive. Ainsi, l’analyse du changement d’une politique publique qui s’appuie uniquement sur les critères cognitifs a montré des limites et n’explique pas le processus qui s’est produit dans le cas de la fiscalité au Brésil. Par ailleurs, les approches du néo-institutionnalisme ont proposé un modèle beaucoup plus raffiné pour expliquer le changement de politiques publiques en présentant un modèle basé sur des changements graduels. Cet article propose la notion de changement par « sédimentation cognitive » et défend une vision selon laquelle l’étude des changements de politiques publiques nécessite un lien entre les idées et les institutions, par la combinaison de l’approche cognitive et des théories du néo-institutionnalisme. En outre, la présente étude montre que dans le cas de la fiscalité au Brésil, des changements d’ordre cognitif ont par la suite entraîné des changements d’ordre institutionnel.
La décision budgétaire des collectivités locales en France
Authors: Leroy Marc
Published: April 2020

Cet article examine la décision budgétaire des collectivités locales françaises comme processus démocratique, face à la crise de la globalisation économique de 2008 qui s’est transformée en « crise » des finances publiques. La méthodologie croise l’analyse (néo)institutionnelle des réformes, l’analyse statistique des budgets locaux et une enquête par entretiens. Avec la participation des États, un « gouvernement » européen de la rigueur a été instauré par diverses réformes. Une typologie des choix budgétaires concrets montre que les modèles élitaires et technocratiques sont prédominants par rapport au modèle démocratique. Malgré la variété des jeux budgétaires des acteurs, la mutation de l’action publique locale est difficile en raison notamment de la culture traditionnelle de la dépense du système local français. Ces résultats mettent en question la légitimité politique de la décentralisation, de la performance gestionnaire et de la démocratie représentative de proximité.
Software-defined Architecture for Urban Regional Traffic Signal Control
Authors: Chen Songhang , Zhang Dan , Zhu Fenghua
Published: April 2020

Regional Traffic Signal Control (RTSC) is believed to be a promising approach to alleviate urban traffic congestion. However, the current ecology of RTSC platforms is too closed to meet the needs of urban development, which has also seriously affected their own development. Therefore, the paper proposes virtualizing the traffic signal control devices to create software-defined RTSC systems, which can provide a better innovation platform for coordinated control of urban transportation. The novel architecture for RTSC is presented in detail, and microscopic traffic simulation experiments are designed and conducted to verify the feasibility.
Using Constraints in Freight Volume to Identify Regional Needs for Roadway Infrastructure
Authors: Alina Jiri , McGrath Richard , Faltová Leitmanová Ivana , Petrách Filip
Published: April 2020

Policy decisions on the allocation of funds among sub-national regions for transportation infrastructure, specifically for motorways, face budgetary constraints and problems of geographical allocation. The purpose of this research is to assist the policymakers in efficiently allocating resources. The objective of this research is to test the ability of a limited model to identify regions whose freight transport capacity is constrained by lack of motorway infrastructure. This paper conducts an analysis of the relationship between freight transport volume, indicators of the demand for goods, indicators of congestion, and the availability of motorways and class one roadways across regions to determine if a model based on available data may inform the policymakers to effectively use limited funds and avoid unnecessary construction. The NUTS3 regions in the Czech Republic are used to estimate a preliminary model that may be generalized for the use across countries. The analysis finds sufficient variability across regions in the marginal effect of motorways on freight transport to assist the policymakers in determining which regions face the most economically severe constraints, and to separate the effects of population density from the lack of infrastructure. Although the Czech Republic is a developed country, there is significant emphasis, due to the increasing volumes of transportation flows, on the analysis of transportation in relation with the land use.
Vehicle Speed Influence on Ground-borne Vibrations Caused by Road Transport when Passing Vertical Traffic Calming Measures
Authors: Astrauskas Tomas , Januševičius Tomas , Grubliauskas Raimondas
Published: April 2020

Traffic calming is the combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behaviour and improve conditions for non-motorized street users. Vibration measurements were performed by the authors of this paper near the roads with traffic calming devices. The measurements were taken throughout two seasons: in the winter and in the summer in order to evaluate the influence of soil freezing on traffic-induced vibrations. The only car measured was Fiat Doblo (weight 1,405 kg), and its driving speed when passing a speed bump or a speed table was controlled (20 km/h; 30 km/h; 40 km/h). The results show that the Peak Particle Acceleration (PPA) values were higher in the winter season compared with the summer. The vehicles passing over the speed tables induce lower PPA values than those passing over the speed bumps.
The Influence of Minority Stress on Level of Depression among Thai LGBT Adults
Authors: Kittiteerasack Priyoth , Steffen Alana , Matthews Alicia
Published: April 2020

In the US, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals report higher rates of depression compared with heterosexual and cisgender persons. To date, little is known about the mental health of LGBT adults in Thailand. Here, we examined rates and correlates of depression among a volunteer sample of Thai LGBTs. Data were collected as part of a larger cross-sectional survey study. Standardized measures of sexual orientation and gender identity, stress, coping style, and minority stressors were completed. Of the 411 participants, 40.3% met the criteria for depression. In multivariate analyses, the combined influences of sociodemographic factors, general stress, coping strategies, and minority-specific stress variables explained 47.2% of the variance in depression scores (F[16,367]= 20.48, p<.001). Correlates of depression included coping strategies and minority-specific stressors, including experiences of victimization, discrimination, and level of identity concealment. Study findings have implications for psychiatric nursing practice and the development of intervention research. Abstrak Di AS, individu lesbian, gay, biseksual, dan transgender (LGBT) melaporkan tingkat depresi yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan orang heteroseksual dan cisgender. Saat ini, sedikit yang diketahui tentang kesehatan mental pada orang dewasa dengan LGBT di Thailand. Di sini, kami meneliti tingkat dan korelasi depresi di antara sampel sukarelawan LGBT Thailand. Data dikumpulkan sebagai bagian dari studi survei cross-sectional yang lebih besar. Pengukuran terstandar terhadap orientasi seksual dan identitas gender, stres, koping, dan stresor minoritas telah selesai. Dari 411 peserta, 40,3% memenuhi kriteria untuk depresi. Dalam analisis multivariat, pengaruh gabungan faktor sosiodemografi, stres umum, strategi koping, dan variabel stres spesifik-minoritas menjelaskan 47,2% dari varians dalam skor depresi (F [16,367]= 20,48, p< 0,001). Korelasi depresi termasuk strategi koping dan stres spesifik-minoritas, termasuk pengalaman viktimisasi, diskriminasi, dan tingkat penyembunyian identitas. Temuan penelitian memiliki implikasi untuk praktik keperawatan psikiatris dan pengembangan penelitian intervensi. Kata kunci: depresi, LGBT, minoritas seksual dan gender; stres minoritas, Thailand
Development of vocal emotion recognition in school-age children: The EmoHI test for hearing-impaired populations
Authors: Nagels Leanne , Gaudrain Etienne , Vickers Deborah , Matos Lopes Marta , Hendriks Petra , Başkent Deniz
Published: April 2020

Traditionally, emotion recognition research has primarily used pictures and videos, while audio test materials are not always readily available or are not of good quality, which may be particularly important for studies with hearing-impaired listeners. Here we present a vocal emotion recognition test with pseudospeech productions from multiple speakers expressing three core emotions (happy, angry, and sad): the EmoHI test. The high sound quality recordings make the test suitable for use with populations of children and adults with normal or impaired hearing. Here we present normative data for vocal emotion recognition development in normal-hearing (NH) school-age children using the EmoHI test. Furthermore, we investigated cross-language effects by testing NH Dutch and English children, and the suitability of the EmoHI test for hearing-impaired populations, specifically for prelingually deaf Dutch children with cochlear implants (CIs). Our results show that NH children’s performance improved significantly with age from the youngest age group onwards (4–6 years: 48.9%, on average). However, NH children’s performance did not reach adult-like values (adults: 94.1%) even for the oldest age group tested (10–12 years: 81.1%). Additionally, the effect of age on NH children’s development did not differ across languages. All except one CI child performed at or above chance-level showing the suitability of the EmoHI test. In addition, seven out of 14 CI children performed within the NH age-appropriate range, and nine out of 14 CI children did so when performance was adjusted for hearing age, measured from their age at CI implantation. However, CI children showed great variability in their performance, ranging from ceiling (97.2%) to below chance-level performance (27.8%), which could not be explained by chronological age alone. The strong and consistent development in performance with age, the lack of significant differences across the tested languages for NH children, and the above-chance performance of most CI children affirm the usability and versatility of the EmoHI test.
Study on the characteristics of work‐unit type in spaces for individual learning of pupils and students: A case study on the work‐unit type school buildings in Sweden
Authors: Kakino Yoshinori
Published: April 2020

The aim of this paper is to clarify the spatial characteristics of work‐units comprising advanced school buildings in Sweden based on the learning activities of pupils and students. The results of this study are as follows.

A work‐unit is composed of seven to nine types of rooms and two types of partitions.

Work‐units include four types of learning of the same content together, and three types of learning in small groups or by individuals.

The rooms in a work‐unit are separated by doors and removable partitions. This enables students to set the spaces for learning by themselves, by opening/closing the doors or rearranging the partitions.

In higher grades, students can be provided the opportunity to choose their own spaces and content for learning.
CARES Act eliminates most of 42 CFR Part 2
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: April 2020

It's been more than 10 years of patients fighting for 42 CFR Part 2, but overnight the regulation lost to COVID‐19. The CARES Act revises 42 CFR Part 2 (confidentiality of substance use disorder [SUD] patient records), eliminating consent except for the first time only, after which the information is up for grabs.
AMA COVID‐19 recommendations: MAT, pain and harm reduction
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: April 2020

Last month, the American Medical Association (AMA) made recommendations to help guide policymakers in reducing the stress experienced by patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and pain, and urges the support of harm reduction.
Solidification Effect on the Microstructure and Mechanism of Laser‐Solid‐Forming‐Produced Flame‐Resistant Ti–35V–15Cr Alloy
Authors: Tan Hua , Hu Tengteng , Wang Yongxia , Zhang Fengying , Qiu Ying , Liu Tong , Fan Wei , Zhang Lai-Chang
Published: April 2020

Ti–35V–15Cr alloy has become an indispensable material in aerospace industry due to its excellent flame‐resistance properties. Herein, the block and thin‐wall Ti–35V–15Cr samples are built by laser solid forming (LSF) under the same processing parameters, and the evolution of solidification microstructure is investigated. This work focused on the effect of molten pool solidification parameters and complex thermal cycling conditions on the morphology of β grains and the substructure in the grains. The microstructure of LSF‐produced Ti–35V–15Cr block sample mainly consists of epitaxial columnar dendritic grains, whereas that of the deposited thin‐wall sample is mainly composed of near‐equiaxed grains together with subgrains formed in the near‐equiaxed grains. Such different microstructure results from extremely sensitive thermal behavior condition in LSF process. The simulated thermal behavior characteristics using finite element method illustrate that the thermal cycles during block deposition are very complex and the temperature gradient at the last solidification in block deposition is much higher than that in the deposition of thin‐wall samples, resulting in significantly different solidification microstructure between thin‐wall and block samples.
FRST: A national soil testing database to improve fertility recommendations
Authors: Lyons Sarah E. , Osmond Deanna L. , Slaton Nathan A. , Spargo John T. , Kleinman Peter J. A. , Arthur Dan K. , McGrath Joshua M.
Published: April 2020

Soil testing is an important practice for nutrient management in agricultural production systems. In the United States, soil‐test methods and interpretations vary across state lines, making institutional collaborations challenging and crop fertilization guidelines inconsistent. Uniformity and transparency in P and K soil fertility testing and fertilizer recommendations are needed to enhance end‐user adoption. The Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool (FRST) project is developing a comprehensive database of P and K correlation–calibration results that can be accessed through an online tool for use in research and fertilizer recommendation development. This collaborative project, which includes over 30 land‐grant universities, the USDA‐ARS, the USDA‐NRCS, and several not‐for‐profit organizations, contains a national survey describing the current status of soil testing, minimum requirements for correlation–calibration data inclusion, and database population and creating FRST as a user‐friendly online decision support tool. The FRST project will provide more consistent, transparent, and science‐based information for crop nutrient recommendations across the United States.
Tricuspid regurgitation velocity and other biomarkers of mortality in children, adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease in the United States: The PUSH study
Authors: Nouraie Mehdi , Darbari Deepika S. , Rana Sohail , Minniti Caterina P. , Castro Oswaldo L. , Luchtman‐Jones Lori , Sable Craig , Dham Niti , Kato Gregory J. , Gladwin Mark T. , Ensing Gregory , Arteta Manuel , Campbell Andrew , Taylor James G. , Nekhai Sergei , Gordeuk Victor R.
Published: April 2020

In the US, mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD) increases after age 18‐20 years. Biomarkers of mortality risk can identify patients who need intensive follow‐up and early or novel interventions. We prospectively enrolled 510 SCD patients aged 3‐20 years into an observational study in 2006‐2010 and followed 497 patients for a median of 88 months (range 1‐105). We hypothesized that elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure as reflected in tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) would be associated with mortality. Estimated survival to 18 years was 99% and to 25 years, 94%. Causes of death were known in seven of 10 patients: stroke in four (hemorrhagic two, infarctive one, unspecified one), multiorgan failure one, parvovirus B19 infection one, sudden death one. Baseline TRV ≥2.7 m/second (>2 SD above the mean in age‐matched and gender‐matched non‐SCD controls) was observed in 20.0% of patients who died vs 4.6% of those who survived (P = .012 by the log rank test for equality of survival). The baseline variable most strongly associated with an elevated TRV was a high hemolytic rate. Additional biomarkers associated with mortality were ferritin ≥2000 μg/L (observed in 60% of patients who died vs 7.8% of survivors, P < .001), forced expiratory volume in 1 minute to forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC) <0.80 (71.4% of patients who died vs 18.8% of survivors, P < .001), and neutrophil count ≥10x109/L (30.0% of patients who died vs 7.9% of survivors, P = .018). In SCD children, adolescents and young adults, steady‐state elevations of TRV, ferritin and neutrophils and a low FEV1/FVC ratio may be biomarkers associated with increased risk of death.
Ultrastable Crystalline Semiconducting Hydrogenated Borophene
Authors: Hou Chuang , Tai Guoan , Hao Jinqian , Sheng Lihang , Liu Bo , Wu Zitong
Published: April 2020

Borophene sheets have been synthesized in recent experiments, but the metallic nature and structural instability of the sheets seriously prevent emerging applications. Hydrogenated borophene has been predicted as an ideal material for nanoelectronic applications due to its high stability as well as excellent electronic and mechanical properties. However, the fabrication of hydrogenated borophene is still a great challenge. Here, we demonstrate that hydrogenated borophenes in large quantities can be prepared without any metal substrates by a stepwise in‐situ thermal decomposition of sodium borohydride under hydrogen as the carrier gas. The borophenes with good crystallinity exhibit superior stability in strong acid or base solvents. The structure of the grown borophene is in good agreement with the predicted semiconducting α‐boron sheet. A fabricated borophene‐based memory device shows a high ON/OFF‐current ratio of 3×103 and a low operating voltage of less than 0.35 V as well as good stability.
Sequence‐Based Prediction of Promiscuous Acyltransferase Activity in Hydrolases
Authors: Müller Henrik , Becker Ann‐Kristin , Palm Gottfried J. , Berndt Leona , Badenhorst Christoffel P. S. , Godehard Simon P. , Reisky Lukas , Lammers Michael , Bornscheuer Uwe T.
Published: April 2020

Certain hydrolases preferentially catalyze acyl transfer over hydrolysis in an aqueous environment. However, the molecular and structural reasons for this phenomenon are still unclear. Herein, we provide evidence that acyltransferase activity in esterases highly correlates with the hydrophobicity of the substrate‐binding pocket. A hydrophobicity scoring system developed in this work allows accurate prediction of promiscuous acyltransferase activity solely from the amino acid sequence of the cap domain. This concept was experimentally verified by systematic investigation of several homologous esterases, leading to the discovery of five novel promiscuous acyltransferases. We also developed a simple yet versatile colorimetric assay for rapid characterization of novel acyltransferases. This study demonstrates that promiscuous acyltransferase activity is not as rare as previously thought and provides access to a vast number of novel acyltransferases with diverse substrate specificity and potential applications.
Revealing Silylation of C(sp2)/C(sp3)–H Bonds in Arylphosphines by Ruthenium Catalysis
Authors: Wen Jian , Dong Ben , Zhu Jinjun , Zhao Yue , Shi Zhuangzhi
Published: April 2020

The first aromatic C−H silylation between arylphosphines and hydrosilanes enabled by a ruthenium complex has been developed. The excellent ortho‐selectivity results from a four‐membered metallacyclic intermediate involving phosphorus chelation. The developed system can be extended to the benzylic C−H silylation of arylphosphines. Diverse silylated arylphosphines are produced, exhibiting broad functional group compatibility. Further functionalization of the products under mild conditions renders the formed compounds useful building blocks.