bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
APPRAISING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA: A PHILOSOPHICAL VIEW
Authors: Muhammad Auwal , Kani Umar Mohammed
Published: May 2019

The paper attempted to provide an assessment of the value of quality education in Nigeria’s education. It also attempted to philosophically analyze the concept of quality education. Under this, meaning of the concept of quality has been explored despite the fact that it has been perceived as an elusive and indescribable concept. The paper trashed out why as administrators of educational institutions, curriculum planners or policy makers quality is needed and why worries about it in our education system because you may be having aforementioned questions in your mind. The rationale behind analyzing the concept of quality education has also been justified. The paper went further to explore the issues and challenges that are militating against the provision of the quality education. Also, issues and challenges that brought about the need for quality education in Nigeria have been identified. Lastly, the paper found out that education is under-funded, quality teachers and quality educational facilities are inadequate. Therefore, the researcher recommends that 26% or above of National annual budgetary allocation should be allocated to education sector. Adequate professional and qualified teachers should be recruited and employed, adequate quality educational facilities should be provided as precisely stated in NPE to enhance its provision theoretically and practically.
INFLUENCE OF PARENTS AND PEER-GROUP ON CHOICE OF BUSINESS EDUCATION PROGRAMME AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ZARIA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE
Authors: Ibrahim Adamu , Marcus Lilian B
Published: May 2019

This study investigated the Influence of parents and peer group on choice of business education programme among secondary school students in Zaria metropolis, Kaduna state. The study had four objectives. Four research questions were raised to guide the study while two null hypotheses were formulated and tested. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study was 8865 SS III students that registered for UTME in Zaria metropolis. Three hundred and eighty two students were used as sample for the study. The instrument used to collect information from the respondents was self- structured questionnaire, titled Students Choice of Business Education (SCBE).  Data were collected by researcher assisted by seven (7) research assistants using face to face method. Data collected were analyzed using mean score for answering the research questions and Pearson Product Moment Correlation for testing the two null hypotheses.   The study revealed among others that parents have influence on the choice of business education programme among secondary school students in Zaria metropolis. It was concluded that in a short run lesser number of students would be offering Business subjects in senior secondary schools level because most parents and peer group discourages students from opting for educational related course. The research recommended among others that secondary schools authority in Kaduna state should invite parents to create awareness to them on career day. This will enable parents to appreciate the importance of Business subjects
Synthesis and Photophysical and Electrochemical Properties of Pyridine-, Pyrazine- and Triazine-based (D-π-)2A Fluorescent Dyes
Authors: Imato Keiichi , Enoki Toshiaki , Uenaka Koji , Ooyama Yousuke
Published: May 2019

Donor–acceptor–π-conjugated (D–π–)2A fluorescent dyes OUY-2, OUK-2 and OUJ-2 with two (diphenylamino)carbazole-thiophene units as D (electron-donating group)–π (π-conjugated bridge) moiety and a pyridine, pyrazine or triazine ring as electron-withdrawing group (electron-accepting group; A) have been designed and developed and their photophysical and electrochemical properties were investigated based on the photoabsorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, Lippert–Mataga plots, cyclic voltammetry and density functional theory calculations. The photoabsorption maximum (λ
abs
max) and the fluorescence maximum (λ
fl
max) for the intramolecular charge-transfer characteristic band of the (D–π–)2A fluorescent dyes show bathochromic shift in the order of OUY-2 < OUK-2 < OUJ-2. Moreover, the photoabsorption spectra of the (D–π–)2A fluorescent dyes are nearly independent of solvent polarity, while their fluorescence maxima bathochromically shifted with increasing solvent polarity (i.e., positive fluorescence solvatochromism). The Lippert–Mataga plots for OUY-2, OUK-2 and OUJ-2 indicate that the Δμ (= μ
e ‒ μ
g) value, which is the difference in the dipole moment of the dye between the excited (μ
e) and the ground (μ
g) states, increases in the order of OUY-2 < OUK-2 < OUJ-2, that is, the fact explains our findings that OUJ-2 shows large bathochromic shifts in their fluorescence maxima in polar solvents and that the Stokes shift values for OUJ-2 in polar solvents are much larger than those in nonpolar solvents. The cyclic voltammetry of OUY-2, OUK-2 and OUJ-2 demonstrated that there is little difference in the HOMO energy level among the three dyes, but the LUMO energy levels decrease in the order of OUY-2 > OUK-2 > OUJ-2. Consequently, this work reveals that for the (D–π–)2A fluorescent dyes OUY-2, OUK-2 and OUJ-2 the bathochromic shifts of λ
abs
max and λ
fl
max and the lowering of the LUMO energy level are dependent on the electron-withdrawing ability of azine ring, which increases in the order of OUY-2 < OUK-2 < OUJ-2.
The Discovery of Quasi-stellar Objects behind M31 and M33
Authors: Massey Philip , Neugent Kathryn F. , Levesque Emily M.
Published: May 2019

We report the discovery of 11 newly found quasars behind the stellar disks of the spiral galaxies M31 and M33 in the fields covered by the Local Group Galaxy Survey. Their redshifts range from 0.37 to 2.15. Most are X-ray, ultraviolet, and infrared sources. We also report the discovery of five normal background galaxies. Most of these objects were observed owing to their anomalous colors, as part of a program (reported elsewhere) to confirm spectroscopically candidate red supergiant plus B-star binaries; others were discovered as part of our identification of early-type massive stars based upon their optical colors. There are 15 previously known quasars in the same fields, for a grand total of 26, 15 behind M31 and 11 behind M33. Of these, only eight were discovered as part of surveys for quasars; the rest were found accidentally. The quasars are well distributed in the M31 and M33 fields, except for the inner regions, and have the potential for being good probes of the interstellar medium in these stellar disks, as well as serving as zero-point calibrators for Gaia parallaxes.
Are H0 and σ8 Tensions Generic to Present Cosmological Data?
Authors: Bhattacharyya Archita , Alam Ujjaini , Pandey Kanhaiya Lal , Das Subinoy , Pal Supratik
Published: May 2019

Yes, for a wide range of cosmological models (ΛCDM, non-interacting w

z
CDM, w

z
WDM, or a class of interacting DMDE). Recently there have been attempts to solve the tension between direct measurements of H
0 and

from respective low-redshift observables and indirect measurements of these quantities from observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). In this work we construct a quasi-model-independent framework that reduces to different classes of cosmological models under suitable choices of parameters. We test this parameterization against the latest Planck CMB data combined with recent measurements of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) and supernovae, and direct measurements of H
0. Our analysis reveals that a strong positive correlation between H
0 and σ
8 is more or less generic for most of the cosmological models. The present data slightly prefer a phantom equation of state for dark energy and a slightly negative effective equation of state for dark matter (a direct signature of interacting models), with a relatively high H
0 consistent with Planck+R16 data and simultaneously a consistent

. Thus, even though the tensions cannot be fully resolved, a class of interacting models with phantom w
DE get a slight edge over w

z
CDM for the present data. However, although they may resolve the tension between high-redshift CMB data and individual low-redshift data sets, these data sets have inconsistencies between them (e.g., between BAO and H
0, supernovae and BAO, and cluster counts and H
0).
3D Radiation Hydrodynamics of a Dynamical Torus
Authors: Williamson David , Hönig Sebastian , Venanzi Marta
Published: May 2019

We have developed a new dynamical model of the torus region in active galactic nuclei (AGNs), using a three-dimensional radiation hydrodynamics algorithm. These new simulations have the specific aim to explore the role of radiatively driven outflows, which is hotly debated in current literature as a possible explanation for the observed IR emission from the polar regions of AGNs. In this first paper, we only consider radiative effects induced by the primary radiation from the AGN. The simulations generate a disk and outflow structure that qualitatively agrees with observations, although the outflow is radial rather than polar, likely due to the lack of radiation pressure from hot dust. We find cutoffs between the wind and disk at gas temperatures of 1000 K and dust temperatures of 100 K, producing kinematic signatures that can be used for interpretation of high-resolution IR observations. We also produce line emission maps to aid in the interpretation of recent ALMA observations and future James Webb Space Telescope observations. We investigate a number of simulation parameters and find that the anisotropy of the radiation field is equally important to the Eddington factor, despite the anisotropy often being assumed to have a single, sometimes arbitrary form in many previous works. We also find that supernovae can have a small but significant impact, but only at extremely high star formation rates.
Nebular Hα Limits for Fast Declining SNe Ia
Authors: Sand D. J. , Amaro R. C. , Moe M. , Graham M. L. , Andrews J. E. , Burke J. , Cartier R. , Eweis Y. , Galbany L. , Hiramatsu D. , Howell D. A. , Jha S. W. , Lundquist M. , Matheson T. , McCully C. , Milne P. , Smith Nathan , Valenti S. , Wyatt S.
Published: May 2019

One clear observational prediction of the single-degenerate progenitor scenario as the origin of type Ia supernovae (SNe) is the presence of relatively narrow (≈1000 km s−1) Hα emission at nebular phases, although this feature is rarely seen. We present a compilation of nebular phase Hα limits for SN Ia in the literature and demonstrate that this heterogenous sample has been biased toward SN Ia with relatively high luminosities and slow decline rates, as parameterized by Δm
15(B), the difference in B-band magnitude between maximum light and 15 days afterward. Motivated by the need to explore the full parameter space of SN Ia and their subtypes, we present two new and six previously published nebular spectra of SN Ia with Δm
15(B) > 1.3 mag (including members of the transitional and SN1991bg-like subclasses) and measure nondetection limits of L
Hα
 < 0.85–9.9 × 1036 erg s−1, which we confirmed by implanting simulated Hα emission into our data. Based on the latest models of swept-up material stripped from a nondegenerate companion star, these L
Hα
values correspond to hydrogen mass limits of M
H ≲ 1–3 × 10−4
M
⊙, which are roughly three orders of magnitude below that expected for the systems modeled, although we note that no simulations of Hα nebular emission in such weak explosions have yet been performed. Despite the recent detection of strong Hα in ASASSN-18tb (SN 2018fhw; Δm
15(B) = 2.0 mag), we see no evidence that fast-declining systems are more likely to have late time Hα emission, although a larger sample is needed to confirm this result.
Systematic re-structure and new species of Sphaerodoridae (Annelida) after morphological revision and molecular phylogenetic analyses of the North East Atlantic fauna
Authors: Capa María , Nygren Arne , Parapar Julio , Bakken Torkild , Meißner Karin , Moreira Juan
Published: May 2019

Detailed morphological study of more than 2600 North East Atlantic (NEA) sphaerodorids (SphaerodoridaeAnnelida) and phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences of representatives of several identified morphospecies enforced changing the current systematic classification within the family allowed the discovery of new species provided new information about the morphological and genetic characterisation of members of this group and increased the species occurrence data to better infer their geographic and bathymetric distribution ranges. Phylogenetic analyses of nuclear (18S rRNA and 28S rRNA) and mitochondrial sequences (COI and 16S rRNA) of NEA short-bodied sphaerodorids revealed outstanding results including paraphyly of the generaSphaerodoropsisSphaerodoridium, andSphaerephesia. The number of longitudinal and transverse rows of dorsal macrotubercles is proposed as potential synapomorphies for the main clades and are consequently herein used for the genera delimitation. The new classification proposed here implies nomenclatural changes and the erection of a new genusGeminofilumgen. n.to accommodate the species previously considered asSphaerodoropsiswith two transverse rows of dorsal macrotubercles per segment. Four species are being described herein:EuritmianordicaCapa & Bakkensp. n.SphaerephesiamultichaetaCapa Moreira & Paraparsp. n.SphaerephesiaponsiCapa Parapar & Moreirasp. n.andSphaerodoridiumceliaeMoreira Capa & Paraparsp. n.Characterisation of the other 21 species including updated iconography and an identification key to all NEA short-bodied sphaerodorids are provided.
L’utilisation de protocoles individuels expérimentaux et quasi-expérimentaux en psychologie : aspects théoriques et méthodologiques
Authors: Robert Christelle
Published: May 2019

Cet article présente les principes fondamentaux des protocoles individuels expérimentaux et quasi-expérimentaux, tels qu’ils peuvent être utilisés en psychologie, notamment pour évaluer de façon expérimentale l’efficacité d’une intervention auprès d’un seul individu. Après avoir introduit les fondements théoriques des plans de recherche à cas uniques, les caractéristiques méthodologiques des protocoles quasi-expérimentaux et expérimentaux sont décrites. Les particularités de chaque plan expérimental sont détaillées et illustrées par une étude. Enfin, les différentes méthodes d’évaluation des données issues de protocoles individuels sont présentées et discutées.This paper presents the basic principles of experimental and quasi-experimental single-case designs, as they can be used in psychology, in particular to evaluate experimentally the effectiveness of an intervention with a single individual. After reviewing the theoretical foundations of single-case research designs, the methodological requirements of quasi-experimental and experimental single-case designs are described. The primary features of each experimental design are detailed and illustrated by a study. Finally, different methods of evaluating data from single-case designs are presented and discussed.
Le mouvement LGBT tunisien : un effet de la révolution ?
Authors: Kréfa Abir
Published: May 2019

La Tunisie compte aujourd’hui six associations dites LGBT, toutes créées dans le sillage de la Révolution. À partir d’une enquête ethnographique, l’article reconstitue l’émergence dans la Tunisie (post) révolutionnaire du mouvement LGBT en inscrivant les effets de l’événement dans une histoire de longue durée. Loin d’avoir brusquement surgi avec la Révolution, le mouvement LGBT tunisien se fonde partiellement sur des réseaux et des apprentissages militants antérieurs. L’événement a cependant produit des effets propres. Les différentes mobilisations depuis décembre 2010 se sont en effet accompagnées d’une critique de l’ordre (hétéro) sexué. Elles ont permis des rencontres, décloisonné des réseaux et constitué un moment de socialisation politique majeur. L’article prend enfin en compte les circulations transnationales de ressources et de personnes, en particulier entre les pays du sud méditerranéen.
Ouvrières en lutte dans la révolution tunisienne : de la résistance au désenchantement
Authors: Barrières Sarah
Published: May 2019

Dans la Tunisie (post)révolutionnaire, caractérisée par l’ouverture de l’espace des possibles à la faveur de l’élargissement et du renouvellement des pratiques contestataires des femmes ainsi que des rencontres improbables en temps ordinaire, a émergé une lutte singulière de syndicalistes et d’ouvrières dans une filiale d’une multinationale française. à travers l’adoption de formes de protestations radicales, les ouvrières et les syndicalistes ont ostensiblement transgressé les normes de genre en se mobilisant. Si elles ont déplacé les frontières du genre dans leurs différentes sphères de vie, la fin de la lutte est marquée par un retour à l’ordre au foyer comme à l’usine. Certaines d’entre elles voient leurs conditions de travail se détériorer tandis que d’autres sont réassignées à l’espace domestique et voient leur autonomie durement acquise considérablement limitée.
Libération sexuelle ou « pression à soulager ces messieurs » ? Points de vue de femmes dans les années 68 en France
Authors: Ruault Lucile
Published: May 2019

Le rapport très ambivalent qu’entretiennent des femmes à certains préceptes des années 1968 en France invite à examiner comment une politique sexuelle et affective dite révolutionnaire a reconduit des normes androcentrées. Il s’agit ainsi de contribuer à l’étude des incidences de ce moment de crise sur les rapports sociaux de sexe, en explorant « par le bas » les implications ambiguës du bouleversement de l’ordre sexuel, c’est-à-dire à la fois l’ouverture de possibles et la restauration d’une domination. Cet article veille à analyser ces codes sexuels à la lumière des dispositions affectives des femmes.
La gêne olfactive comme processus collectif d’attachement
Authors: Daniel François-Joseph
Published: May 2019

L’article tente de décrire les processus perceptuels, cognitifs, attentionnels à travers lesquels le sentiment de gêne se diffuse sur un territoire de nuisances environnementales. En prenant l’exemple des nuisances olfactives d’origine industrielle, il montre que la gêne agit comme un processus réflexif d’attachement à un objet non désiré (les mauvaises odeurs). L’examen minutieux de ce processus montre que la relation d’attachement s’enracine dans une dynamique collective de transformation du régime d’attention portée à la nuisance : de l’indifférence à l’obsession. Cette dynamique socio-sensorielle aboutit à la constitution d’une véritable communauté d’affects dont le périmètre délimite le territoire de gêne.
Une mesure des effets de l’utilisation d’un outil numérique sur l’expérience de visite muséale
Authors: Jarrier Elodie , Bourgeon-Renault Dominique , Belvaux Bertrand
Published: May 2019

Une étude quantitative menée auprès de 916 visiteurs d’un musée français a permis de mesurer les bénéfices expérientiels retirés de l’usage d’un outil interactif dans un contexte muséal et de vérifier si le vécu diffère en fonction de l’utilisation ou non d’un outil numérique de médiation et de sa nature (mobile ou fixe), mais également en fonction de la prise en compte de dimensions fonctionnelle ou hédonique de l’expérience d’usage.
Pouvoir et résistance dans le processus du Renouvellement Stratégique
Authors: Batac Julien , Maymo Vincent
Published: May 2019

Le rôle des acteurs dans le renouvellement stratégique a été peu étudié (Schmitt et al. , 2016). Notre objectif est de comprendre comment les acteurs s’engagent ou résistent au sein de ce processus. L’étude de cas a permis d’en explorer la dimension interactive au sein une banque régionale. Nous montrons comment l’habilitation, la coordination et l’adhésion s’articulent pour relier les stratégies individuelles au renouvellement stratégique des organisations.
The Development of E-PAS Based on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) on Local History Materials
Authors: Sulistyo Wahyu Djoko , Nafi'ah Ulfatun , Idris Idris
Published: May 2019

This study aims to develop e-PAS based on MOOC as E-learning media of Local History in Malang. It provides alternative learning based on the development and the use of information technology in obtaining learning objectives. In the development of E-Pas, a research and development approach was used with the ADDIE model. This model is one of the interactive learning processes with the basic steps of effective, dynamic and efficient learning, which consists of Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. Based on the results of the research and some validations and implementation tests that have been carried out during the E-Pas development process, it was found that the E-Pas development product was considered feasible to be implemented into a learning product. The percentage of data obtained from the validator and the results of the implementation test to the students shows that the E-Pas is feasible to use. In other words, the product that has been tested and validated can be one of the products that can be applied in the process of learning history, especially the history of Malang.
Survey Paper on Tomato Crop Disease Detection and Pest Management
Authors: Gurle Abhijeet Somnath , Barathe Sankalp Nitin , Gangule Roshan Shankar , Jagtap Shubham Dipak , Patankar Tanuja
Published: May 2019

India is an agricultural country and most of peoples wherein about 70% depends on agriculture. So, disease detection is very important research topic. There are many species of tomato diseases and pests, the pathology of which is complex. Crop diseases are a major threat to crop production, but their identification remains difficult in many parts of India due to the lack of the necessary infrastructure. It is difficult and error-prone to simply rely on manual identification. Recent advances in computer vision made possible by deep learning has made the way for automatic disease detection. In this article, the authors have analysed a method of disease detection and pest management using a convolution neural networks (CNN), k-means clustering, and acoustic emission.
Design and Development of Secured Framework for Efficient Routing in Vehicular Ad-Hoc Network
Authors: Rath Mamata , Pati Bibudhendu , Pattanayak Binod Kumar
Published: May 2019

Due to many challenging issues in vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs), such as high mobility and network instability, this has led to insecurity and vulnerability to attacks. Due to dynamic network topology changes and frequent network re-configuration, security is a major target in VANET research domains. VANETs have gained significant attention in the current wireless network scenario, due to their exclusive characteristics which are different from other wireless networks such as rapid link failure and high vehicle mobility. In this are, the authors present a Secured and Safety Protocol for VANET (STVAN), as an intelligent Ad-Hoc On Demand Distance Vector (AODV)-based routing mechanism that prevents the Denial of Service attack (DoS) and improves the quality of service for secured communications in a VANET. In order to build a STVAN, the authors have considered a smart traffic environment in a smart city and introduced the concept of load balancing over VANET vehicles in a best effort manner. Simulation results reveal that the proposed STVAN accomplishes enhanced performance when compared with other similar protocols in terms of reduced delay, better packet delivery ratio, reasonable energy efficiency, increased network throughput and decreased data drop compared to other similar approach.
Intelligent Language Tutoring System
Authors: Tafazoli Dara , María Elena Gómez , Abril Cristina A. Huertas
Published: May 2019

Intelligent computer-assisted language learning (ICALL) is a multidisciplinary area of research that combines natural language processing (NLP), intelligent tutoring system (ITS), second language acquisition (SLA), and foreign language teaching and learning (FLTL). Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) are able to provide a personalized approach to learning by assuming the role of a real teacher/expert who adapts and steers the learning process according to the specific needs of each learner. This article reviews and discusses the issues surrounding the development and use of ITSs for language learning and teaching. First, the authors look at ICALL history: its evolution from CALL. Second, issues in ICALL research and integration will be discussed. Third, they will explain how artificial intelligence (AI) techniques are being implemented in language education as ITS and intelligent language tutoring systems (ITLS). Finally, the successful integration and development of ITLS will be explained in detail.
Analytical Approach for Predicting Dropouts in Higher Education
Authors: Jaiswal Garima , Sharma Arun , Yadav Sumit Kumar
Published: May 2019

In the world of technology, tools and gadgets, a huge amount of data is produced every second in applications ranging from medical science, education, business, agriculture, economics, retail and telecom. Higher education institutes play an important role in the overall development of any nation. For the successful operation of these institutions, continuous monitoring for improving the quality of education and students is required, which is the subject of this article. A huge amount of data that education systems produce increases every year and it is difficult by traditional techniques to manage, predict and analyze this data. This challenge can be addressed through mining large amount of data. It enables the institutions to use their present reporting trends to unmask hidden patterns and identify data relationships. Through this, institutions easily predict which students are likely to dropout, and their performance. Present paper conducts a detailed and exhaustive study on techniques and approaches implemented in education mining for predicting dropouts.
An Open Source Software
Authors: Ghose Dipanjan , Naskar Sreejita , Shabbiruddin  , Roy Amit Kumar
Published: May 2019

Most of the issues regarding power supply occurs due to transmission of power through long distances over diverse and unsuitable landscapes. A solar power plant, if installed within the vicinity of the diverse recipient areas, cuts short the transmission related problems by great numbers and acts like an absolute boon to hilly terrains like Sikkim. The study presented here investigates the land suitability for medium-scale solar power installations in Sikkim by using open source software - Quantum-Geographic Information System (Q-GIS) combined with Multi-criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques. Six exclusion criteria are identified to avoid unsuitable areas for plant installation. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to rank the available areas according to their suitability, which have been further presented in a technology-aided suitability map. Such a study greatly reduces the feasibility related issues for investors in such projects to visit every site available for construction of the plant, saving time and money.
Two Stage Supply Chain Optimization for Perishable Products Under Fuzzy Environment
Authors: Makkar Sandhya
Published: May 2019

In the changing market scenario, supply chain management is getting phenomenal importance amongst researchers. Studies on supply chain management have emphasized the vitality of a long-term strategic relationship between the supplier, distributor and retailer. In this article, the authors have studied a two-stage supply chain coordination problem under uncertain costs and demand information when integrated procurement and distribution decisions of supply chain has to be employed. The model incorporates a single supplier transporting its products to multiple destinations of a retailer. This process becomes tedious, as when items have an inventory carrying cost incurred due to perishable nature of products. Different discount policies are offered to procure and transport goods from the one stage to other stage. Fuzzy set theory is applied to estimate the uncertainty associated with the input parameters and triangular fuzzy numbers are used to analyze the model. A case is presented to validate the procedure.
A geographically weighted regression approach to investigate air pollution effect on lung cancer: A case study in Portugal
Authors: Cardoso Diogo , Painho Marco , Roquette Rita
Published: May 2019

The risk of developing lung cancer might to a certain extent be attributed to tobacco. Nevertheless, the role of air pollution, both form urban and industrial sources, needs to be addressed. Numerous studies have concluded that long-term exposure to air pollution is an important environmental risk factor for lung cancer mortality. Still, there are only a few studies on air pollution and lung cancer in Portugal and none addressing its spatial dimension. The goal was to determine the influence of air pollution and urbanization rate on lung cancer mortality. A geographically weighted regression (GWR) model was performed to evaluate the relation between particle matter10 (PM10) emissions and lung cancer mortality relative risk (RR) for males and females in Portugal between 2007 and 2011. RR was computed with the BYM model. For a more in-depth analysis, the urbanization rate and the percentage of industrial area in each municipality were added. GWR efforts led to identifying three variables that were statistically significant in explaining lung cancer relative risk mortality, PM10 emissions, urbanization rate and the percentage of industrial area with an adjusted R2 of 0,63 for men and 0,59 for women. A small set of 8 municipalities with high correlation values was also identified (local R2 above 0,70). Stronger relationships were found in the north-western part of mainland Portugal. The local R2 tends to be higher when the emissions of PM10 are joined by urbanization and industrial areas. However, when assessing the industrial areas alone, it was noted that its impact was lower overall. As one of the first communications on this subject in Portugal, we have identified municipalities where possible impacts of air pollution on lung cancer mortality RR are higher thereby highlighting the role of geography and spatial analysis in explaining the associations between a disease and its determinants.
Socioeconomic status and deaths due to unintentional injury among children: A socio-spatial analysis in Taiwan
Authors: Chou An-Kuo , Chen Duan-Rung
Published: May 2019

In Taiwan, unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among children <10 years old. Low socioeconomic status is a risk factor associated with a high prevalence of injuries and our study aimed to explore the geographic distribution of mortality due to unintentional injury in this age group assessing the association between this type of injury on the one hand and socioeconomic disadvantages and family structure on the other using cluster and spatial regression analyses. Using exploratory factor analysis, we assembled nine socioeconomic variables into four composite factors including area-level poverty, family burden, family fragility and unemployment. We found significant spatial clusters of childhood deaths due to unintentional injury and identified three major causes of death involved, i.e. traffic accidents, drowning and suffocation. Significant associations were found between death due to unintentional injury and area-level social disadvantages including poverty, family fragility, family economic burden and unemployment, while controlling for spatial autocorrelation. Our conclusion is that socioeconomic disadvantages need to be addressed to reduce the number of deaths due to childhood unintentional injury.
A Google Earth-based database management for schistosomiasis control in Zanzibar
Authors: He Ming-Zhen , Li Wei , Juma Saleh , Kabole Fatma , Xu Da-Cheng , Wang Xin-Yao , He Jian , Jiang Tao , Bergquist Robert , Yang Kun
Published: May 2019

Schistosomiasis remains a serious health problem in Africa. Although a strong, coordinated agenda for research on this disease has been in place for the last 50 years in Zanzibar, data storage, retrieval of survey data and management remain problem areas. We investigated the use of Google Earth (GE) in conjunction with a hand-held, global positioning system as a pilot project for managing schistosomiasis control. In this way, risk areas can be surveyed and followed up by visualizing both the distribution of human infections and that of the intermediate snail host together with environmental information. A platform with three spatial databases was created: i) Distribution of infected humans; ii) Distribution of the intermediate snail host in ponds (infected and not infected specimens); iii) Distribution of the intermediate snail host in streams (infected and non-infected specimens). The GE spatial database increased the efficiency of follow-up case treatment as well as snail control and contributed also to the discovery of previously unknown areas in need of snail control. We conclude that this platform is advantageous not only by being useful for management and visualization of spatial data, but also because it is easy to operate and available free of charge.
Towards improved, cost-effective surveillance of Ixodes ricinus ticks and associated pathogens using species distribution modelling
Authors: Signorini Manuela , Stensgaard Anna-Sofie , Drigo Michele , Simonato Giulia , Marcer Federica , Montarsi Fabrizio , Martini Marco , Cassini Rudi
Published: May 2019

Various ticks exist in the temperate hilly and pre-alpine areas of Northern Italy, where Ixodes ricinus is the more important. In this area different tick-borne pathogen monitoring projects have recently been implemented; we present here the results of a twoyear field survey of ticks and associated pathogens, conducted 2009-2010 in North-eastern Italy. The cost-effectiveness of different sampling strategies, hypothesized a posteriori based on two sub-sets of data, were compared and analysed. The same two subsets were also used to develop models of habitat suitability, using a maximum entropy algorithm based on remotely sensed data. Comparison of the two strategies (in terms of number of ticks collected, rates of pathogen detection and model accuracy) indicated that monitoring at many temporary sites was more cost-effective than monthly samplings at a few permanent sites. The two model predictions were similar and provided a greater understanding of ecological requirements of I. ricinus in the study area. Dense vegetation cover, as measured by the normalized difference vegetation index, was identified as a good predictor of tick presence, whereas high summer temperatures appeared to be a limiting factor. The study suggests that it is possible to obtain realistic results (in terms of pathogens detection and development of habitat suitability maps) with a relatively limited sampling effort and a wellplanned monitoring strategy.
Alcohol sale status and homicide victimization in Kentucky, 2005-2012: Is there a spatial association?
Authors: Khaleel Hanan Abdulghafoor , Brown Sabrina , Fleming Steven , Christian W. Jay
Published: May 2019

To date, the association between the alcohol sale status of decedents’ residence and alcohol-related homicide victimization have not been studied as far as we know. The current study aims to: i) determine whether homicide victims who were residents of wet counties had higher odds of testing positive for alcohol than their counterparts in moist or dry counties after adjusting for confounders; ii) determine whether homicides and alcohol-related homicides tend to cluster spatially; iii) determine whether the aforementioned associations exist only in highly-populated counties. A multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the data on homicide victims in the Kentucky Violent Death Reporting System from 2005 to 2012. Spatial statistics were used to determine the spatial autocorrelation in rates of homicides and alcohol-related homicides. Overall, 944 homicide victims were included. The male to female ratio was 3:1. About 32.8% of homicide victims tested positive for alcohol. About 33.0% of homicide decedents who were residents in wet counties tested positive for alcohol compared to 32.5% of their counterparts in moist/dry counties. Residence in wet counties was associated with a statistically insignificant increase in the unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of alcohol-related homicide victimization (OR=1.20, 95% CI=0.81-1.77) as well as the adjusted odds (aOR=1.33, 95% CI=0.83-2.12). There was no association between population size and alcohol-related homicide rate.
The world in your hands: GeoHealth then and now
Authors: Bergquist Robert , Manda Samuel
Published: May 2019

Infectious diseases transmitted by vectors/intermediate hosts constitute a major part of the economic burden related to public health in the endemic countries of the tropics, which challenges local welfare and hinders development. The World Health Organization, in partnership with pharmaceutical companies, major donors, endemic countries and non-governmental organizations, aims to eliminate the majority of these infections in the near future. To succeed, the ecological requirements and real-time distributions of the causative agents (bacteria, parasites and viruses) and their vectors must not only be known to a high degree of accuracy, but the data must also be updated more rapidly than has so far been the case. Current approaches include data collection through terrestrial capture on site and satellite-generated information. This article provides an update of currently available sources of remotely-sensed data, including specific information on satellite-borne sensors, and how such data can be handled by Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Computers, when equipped with GIS software based on common spatial denominators, can connect remotely-sensed environmental records with terrestrial-captured data and apply spatial statistics in ways uniquely suited to manage control activities in areas where vector-borne infections dominate.
Risk Factors for Initial and Subsequent Core or Lower Extremity Sprain or Strain Among Collegiate Football Players
Authors: McDonald Alexandra A. , Wilkerson Gary B. , McDermott Brendon P. , Bonacci Jeffrey A.
Published: May 2019

Context

Exposure to game conditions and previous injury are known to increase the risk of injury, but little available evidence pertains to modifiable factors that may mediate dynamic control of body segments, such as core muscle endurance and neurocognitive capabilities.

Objective

To identify potentially modifiable factors associated with the occurrence of a core or lower extremity sprain or strain during participation in football.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football program.

Patients or Other Participants

All team members who participated for the duration of 1 season or both of 2 consecutive seasons (n = 142).

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Predictors of injury occurrence were derived from analysis of preparticipation data that included the results of front plank hold (FPH) and neurocognitive tests. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to establish binary classifications of injury risk. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to build multivariable injury-prediction models for optimal discriminatory power.

Results

Exceptionally good discrimination between injured and noninjured participants was provided by models that included the results of the FPH and ImPACT neurocognitive tests. A high level of exposure to game conditions and injury during the preceding year magnified the effects of other risk factors. A model for identifying players with an elevated risk for injury occurrence during both of 2 consecutive seasons included FPH ≤120 seconds, verbal memory score ≤87, composite reaction time ≥560 milliseconds, and starter status. Having ≥2 of the 4 risk factors demonstrated 44% sensitivity and 91% specificity, with an odds ratio = 8.40.

Conclusions

Core muscle endurance and neurocognitive processes may both play important roles in generating anticipatory muscle stiffness during participation in collegiate football. These factors may be particularly important for players who sustained an injury during the previous year and those who have a high level of game exposure.
A cognitive analysis of Proverbs 1:20–33
Authors: Venter Pieter M.
Published: May 2019

This article uses cognitive linguistics and an embodied cognitive approach to analyse the passage of Proverbs 1:20–33. The poem, presented as a prophetic threat, uses metaphoric language to depict the dialogue between personified wisdom and metaphorised human beings. The analysis indicates that there is a coherence of metaphors in the target domain shared by both metaphorised source domains of wisdom and the hearers. Using bodily metaphors it stresses the need of wisdom to be internalised by men.
Collision tumor of the urinary bladder comprising Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gandhi Jatin Sundersham , Pasricha Sunil , Gupta Gurudutt
Published: May 2019

Large cell neuroendocrine tumors of the bladder are rare tumors. Their co-association with adenocarcinoma is even rarer. We present a third undisputed case of collision tumor comprising large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder in a 73-year-old gentleman with a revisit to its origin and histogenesis.
Stability of order and type under perturbation of the spectral measure
Authors: Baranov Anton D. , Woracek Harald
Published: May 2019

It is known that the type of a measure is stable under perturbations consisting of exponentially small redistribution of mass and exponentially small additive summands. This fact can be seen as stability of de Branges chains in the corresponding

L^2

-spaces.

We investigate stability of de Branges chains in

L^2

-spaces under perturbations having the same form, but allow other magnitudes for the error. The admissible size of a perturbation is connected with the maximal growth of functions in the chain and is measured by means of a growth function

\lambda

. The main result is a fast growth theorem. It states that an alternative takes place when passing to a perturbed measure: either the original de Branges chain remains dense, or its closure must contain functions with faster growth than

\lambda

. For the growth function

\lambda(r)=r

, i.e., exponentially small perturbations, the afore mentioned known fact is reobtained.

We propose a notion of order of a measure and show stability and monotonicity properties of this notion. The cases of exponential type (order 1) and very slow growth (logarithmic order

\leq 2

) turn out to be particular.
Case Report: Paragonimiasis Presenting with Pericardial Tamponade
Authors: Sah Ranjit , Gupta Neha , Chatterji Poulomi , Krishan Sonal , Aggarwal Monika , Sood Nitin , Neupane Samikshya , Sah Sanjit , Sah Ranjana , Poppert Sven , Ruf Marie-Therese , Nickel Beatrice , Neumayr Andreas
Published: May 2019

We report an unusual case of paragonimiasis in a Nepali patient presenting with massive pericardial effusion and pericardial tamponade. The patient reported neither the consumption of crabs or crayfish nor the consumption of wild animal meat, which are the usual sources of infection. It is suspected that the source of infection was instead the ingestion of raw live slugs as part of a traditional medicine treatment.
Atmospheric pollution from ships and its impact on local air quality at a port site in Shanghai
Authors: Wang Xinning , Shen Yin , Lin Yanfen , Pan Jun , Zhang Yan , Louie Peter K. K. , Li Mei , Fu Qingyan
Published: May 2019

Abstract. Growing shipping activities in port areas have generated negative impacts on climate, air
quality and human health. To better evaluate the environmental impact of ship
emissions, an experimental characterization of air pollution from ships was
conducted in Shanghai Port in the summer of 2016. The ambient concentrations
of gaseous NO, NO2, SO2 and O3 in addition to
fine particulate matter concentrations (PM2.5), particle size
distributions and the chemical composition of individual particles from ship
emission were continuously monitored for 3 months. Ship emission plumes were
visible at the port site in terms of clear peaks in the gaseous species and
particulate matter concentrations. The SO2 and vanadium particle
numbers were found to correlate best with ship emissions in Shanghai Port.
Single-particle data showed that ship emission particles at the port site
mainly concentrated in a smaller size range (<0.4 µm), where
their number contributions were more important than their mass contributions
to ambient particulate matter. The composition of ship emission particles at
the port site suggested that they were mostly freshly emitted particles:
their mass spectra were dominated by peaks of sulfate, elemental carbon (EC),
and trace metals such as V, Ni, Fe and Ca, in addition to displaying very low
nitrate signals. The gaseous NOx composition in some cases of
plumes showed evidence of atmospheric transformation by ambient O3,
which subsequently resulted in O3 depletion in the area.
Quantitative estimations in this study showed that ship emissions contributed
36.4 % to SO2, 0.7 % to NO, 5.1 % to NO2,
−0.9 % to O3, 5.9 % to PM2.5 and 49.5 % to
vanadium particles in the port region if land-based emissions were included,
and 57.2 % to SO2, 71.9 % to NO, 30.4 % to
NO2, −16.6 % to O3, 27.6 % to PM2.5 and
77.0 % to vanadium particles if land-based emissions were excluded.
Photomineralization mechanism changes the ability of dissolved organic matter to activate cloud droplets and to nucleate ice crystals
Authors: Borduas-Dedekind Nadine , Ossola Rachele , David Robert O. , Boynton Lin S. , Weichlinger Vera , Kanji Zamin A. , McNeill Kristopher
Published: May 2019

Abstract. An organic aerosol particle has a lifetime of approximately one week in the atmosphere during which it will be exposed to sunlight. Yet, the effect of photochemistry on the propensity of organic matter to participate in the initial cloud-forming steps is difficult to predict. In this study, we quantify on a molecular scale the effect of photochemical exposure of naturally occurring dissolved organic matter (DOM) and of a fulvic acid standard on its ability to form mixed-phase clouds, by acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and by acting as ice nucleating particles (INPs). We find that photochemical processing, equivalent to 4.6 days in the atmosphere, of DOM increases its ability to form cloud droplets by up to a factor of 2.5 but decreases its ability to form ice crystals at a loss rate of −0.04°CT50 h−1 of sunlight at ground level. In other words, the ice nucleation activity of photooxidized DOM can require up to 4 degrees colder temperatures for 50 % of the droplets to activate as ice crystals under immersion freezing conditions. This temperature change could impact the ratio of ice to water droplets within a mixed phase cloud by delaying the onset of glaciation and by increasing the supercooled liquid fraction of the cloud, thereby modifying the radiative properties and the lifetime of the cloud. Concurrently, a photomineralization mechanism was quantified by monitoring the loss of organic carbon and the simultaneous production of organic acids, such as formic, acetic, oxalic and pyruvic acids, CO and CO2. This mechanism explains and predicts the observed increase in CCN and decrease in INP efficiencies. Indeed, we show that photochemical processing can be a dominant atmospheric aging process, impacting CCN and INP efficiencies and concentrations. Photomineralization can thus alter the aerosol-cloud radiative effects of organic matter by modifying the supercooled liquid water-to-ice crystal ratio in mixed-phase clouds with implications for cloud lifetime, precipitation patterns and the hydrological cycle.