bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between early proteinuria and long term outcome of kidney transplanted patients from different decades of donor age
Authors: Diena Davide , Messina Maria , De Biase Consuelo , Fop Fabrizio , Scardino Edoardo , Rossetti Maura Maria , Barreca Antonella , Verri Aldo , Biancone Luigi
Published: August 2019

Background

Proteinuria after kidney transplantation portends a worse graft survival. However the magnitude of proteinuria related to patient and graft survival and its correlation with donor and recipient characteristics are poorly explored.

Methods

This study investigated the impact of post transplant proteinuria in the first year in 1127 kidney transplants analyzing the impact of different donor ages. Proteinuria cut off was set at 0.5 g/day.

Results

Transplants with proteinuria > 0.5 g/day correlated with poor graft and patient outcome in all donor age groups. In addition, 6-month-1-year proteinuria increase was significantly associated with graft outcome, especially with donors > 60 years old (p < 0.05; Odd Ratio 1.8). 1-year graft function (eGFR < or ≥44 ml/min) had similar impact to proteinuria (≥ 0.5 g/day) on graft failure (HR 2.77 vs HR 2.46). Low-grade proteinuria (0.2-0.5 g/day) demonstrated a trend for worse graft survival with increasing donor age. Also in kidney-paired analysis proteinuria ≥ 0.5 effect was more significant with donors >50 years old (OR 2.3).

Conclusions

Post-transplant proteinuria was increasingly harmful with older donor age. Proteinuria ≥ 0.5 g/day correlates with worse outcomes in all transplanted patients. Prognostic value of proteinuria and eGFR for graft and patient survival was comparable and these two variables remain significant risk factors even in a multivariate model that take into consideration the most important clinical variables (donor age, rejection, delayed graft function and cytomegalovirus viremia among others).
The Impact of Weeding Regime, Planting Density, and Growth Habits on Watermelon Yield in an Organic System
Authors: Stone Suzanne P. , Boyhan George E. , Johnson W. Carroll
Published: August 2019

The southeastern United States produces 50% of U.S. conventional watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) but only 7% of U.S. organic watermelon. Weeds are a major threat to watermelon yield in the southeastern United States, and organic weed control is estimated to cost 20-times more than conventional herbicide programs. The objectives of this study were to determine the optimal weed control regime to reduce hand-weeding costs while maintaining yield and to compare the weed suppression of two watermelon types with differing growth habits in an organic system. In 2014 and 2015, watermelon plots were randomly assigned to the following treatments in a factorial arrangement: vine or compact growth habit; 1.0- or 0.5-m in-row spacing; and weekly weed control (kept weed-free by hoeing and hand-pulling weeds) for 0, 4, or 8 weeks after transplanting (WAT). At the time of the watermelon harvest, not weeding resulted in average total weed densities of 86.6 and 87.0 weeds/m2, and weeding for 4 WAT resulted in average total weed densities of 26.4 and 7.0 weeds/m2 in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Nonetheless, weeding for 4 WAT resulted in watermelon yields and fruit counts comparable to those of weeding for 8 WAT during both years. This partial-season weeding regime resulted in 67% and 63% weeding cost reductions for vine and compact plants, respectively, in 2014, and a 43% reduction for both growth habit types in 2015. In 2015, a separate experiment that evaluated weeding regimes that lasted 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 WAT found that yields resulting from weeding for 3 WAT were greater than those resulting from weeding for 2 WAT. However, the yields did not differ when weeding was performed for 4 WAT and 8 WAT.
CONTROL AUTOMATION OF MARITIME UNMANNED COMPLEX WITH A GROUP OF AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLES
Authors: Blintsov Volodymyr , Aloba Leo Tosin
Published: August 2019

It is expedient to perform underwater search operations on large water areas using a group of autonomous self-propelled underwater vehicles. However, with a large distance to the search areas, the sea transition (from one point to the other) of the underwater vehicles requires high energy costs. This leads to the necessity to use heavy-duty underwater vehicles, which determines the high cost of the search operation. The transport of underwater vehicles is proposed to be carried out with an unmanned surface vessel, equipped with actuators for the automatic release of a group of vehicles under water and receiving on board after the end of the underwater mission. The maritime unmanned complex consisting of an unmanned surface vessel and a group of autonomous underwater vehicles on its board forms a new type of marine robotics, the complete automation of which is an actual scientific and technical task. For its implementation, the underlying (basic) automation technology of the marine search underwater mission has been developed as the theoretical basis for the development of the generalized structure of the complex automatic control system. Ten implementation stages of the underlying technology are formulated and the analysis of their automation features with the use of modern methods in the field of marine robotics is performed. Automation of the underlying technology stages involves the transfer of the vessel to a given water area, the automatic release (launch) of the group of underwater vehicles and their coordinated motion to the search area, the search operations and the return to the unmanned surface vessel, as well as the recovery of the vessel to the base. The generalized requirements for automatic control systems constituting the maritime unmanned complex at each stage of its functioning are provided. The spiral trajectory of waiting for the motion of the underwater vehicles at the group formation stages, for the search operation execution and after its completion, is proposed. For the spatial motion of the autonomous underwater vehicle as an agent of the group, the automatic control system was improved by introducing the blocks of the “Navigation Situation Model” and the “Navigation Threat Identifier, which make it impossible for emergency collision with the neighboring underwater vehicles of the group and disintegrate the group due to the data communication loss between them.
THE PRINCIPLES OF DEVELOPING A MANAGEMENT DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR SCIENTIFIC EMPLOYEES
Authors: Jabrayilova Zarifa
Published: August 2019

Employees engaged in mental work have become the most valuable assets of any organization in the 21st century. The satisfaction of those involved in mental work requires the provision of objectivity and transparency in their decision-making. This, in turn, entails the development of scientifically motivated decision making mechanisms and scientific-methodological approaches to evaluate their performance based on innovative technologies.

The main goal of this article is in development of the scientific and methodological framework for the establishment of a decision support system to manage the employees engaged in mental work and operating in uncertainty. In this regard, initially, the question of evaluating the activities of scientific workers is examined, its characteristic features are determined, and the fuzzy relation model is proposed as a multi-criterion issue formed in uncertainty. Taking into consideration the hierarchical structure of the criteria that allows evaluating the activities of scientific workers, a phased solution method based on an additive aggregation method is proposed. In accordance with the methodology, a functional scheme of the decision support system to manage the scientific personnel is developed. The working principle of each block and the interaction of the blocks are described. The rules for the employees’ management decisions are shown by referring to the knowledge production model.

Based on the proposed methodological approach, the implementation phases of the decision support system for the management of the scientific workers of the Institute of Information Technology of ANAS are described. To evaluate the employees’ performance, the tools to collect initial information, evaluate the system of criteria, define their importance coefficients and mathematical descriptions are provided. Some results of the system software are presented. The opportunities of the system based on the proposed methodology to support enterprise mangers to make scientifically justified decisions are provided.
THE CURRENT STANDING AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN ETHIOPIA
Authors: Khurana Karan , Saraceno Matteo
Published: August 2019

This research article explores the current state of affairs of arts and culture sector in Ethiopia. An in-depth analysis of various dimensions of art and culture highlights where the country is presently lacking in governance and socio-economic progress in the sector.
A qualitative research was carried out to collect primary data. 52 respondents were chosen to be interviewed from Bahir Dar University by the method of quota sampling and the results were analyzed. Secondary data was also analyzed through academic literature from universities in Ethiopia, reports from government and development organizations. Survey results and existing academic literature have guided to single out major hindrances to this sector.
In this research it can be confirmed, that the arts and culture sector needs a major intervention in terms of governance and marketing. This research gives out a very structural strategy, based on cultural governance, cultural economics and strategies of new business development as it pillars to support the prosperity of this sector in Ethiopia.
The existing academic research provides data on different arts and culture and problems which are specific to a particular region of the country. Whereas this article goes a step further in enforcing the ordinance of cultural governance to the responsible government bodies both locally and nationally and simultaneously highlights how economic progress can be achieved through this sector. Cultural governance as a directive has never been implemented in transition economies and this article will serve as a directive for the future. This article shall be very beneficial for further research in this sector and structuring the work of government bodies, stake holders and the people involved in the sector within Ethiopia.
ON THE EVALUATIVE CONNOTATIONS OF PHRASEOLOGICAL ZOONYMS IN A CONTRASTIVE PERSPECTIVE (BASED ON FRENCH AND GEORGIAN PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS)
Authors: Surguladze Natalia
Published: August 2019

The article is devoted to the study of French and Georgian phraseological units with animal names/zoonyms that represent emotional attitude of the speaker towards a person or a phenomenon. We decided to study this problem on the basis of phraseological units as phraseology is the sphere which reveals each culture’s ethnic and psychological peculiarities, their customs and traditions, reflects their world vision.
The analysis revealed that each culture shows its attitude towards this or that phenomenon emotionally through phraseological units with zoonyms. Such kind of phraseological units intensify emotions and beautify the speech of the speakers. Besides behind each phraseological unit with zoonyms one can see customs, traditions, temperament of different cultures. In order to find similarities or differences between phraseological units of two unrelated languages, we have collected phraseological units with zoonyms and classified them into several groups. Using observational, descriptive, psycholinguistic and contrastive methods, we have found out seven types of zoonyms with evaluative connotations in French and nine types of zoonyms with evaluative connotations in Georgian. It seems that representatives of both cultures use phraseological units with zoonyms to show their emotions. The analysis also revealed that evaluative phraseological units with zoonyms mostly carry negative connotation in both languages.
LINGUOCULTURAL PECULIARITIES OF GERMAN AND GEORGIAN PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS – CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS
Authors: Stambolishvili Nana , Abuseridze Anzor
Published: August 2019

Knowledge about the world begins with gaining knowledge about the language. Language is a part of our national culture and plays one of the main roles in its formation. Unity of language, culture and thinking determines and forms not only national mentality, but national character as well. Specific features of the national identity are reflected in phraseological units.
Phraseological unit in German, as well as in Georgian language, is a complex verbal formation. Linguistic and extralinguistic factors play an importanat role in the formation and development of phraseological units. But there are still questions – how are these phraseological units created and which language is the source language and which one is the target one.
Our goal is to study the origin and structure of some German phraseological units (especially idiomatic phraseology)and to find their equivalents in Georgian. We also aim at enriching idiomatic phraseologisms with the examples of their actual use in current parlance, finding their Georgian equivalents.
The present work tries to contribute to broadening the scope of investigation and methodology of the previous contrastive German-Georgian phraseology research and fill research gaps in this field.
THE METHOD OF FORECASTING OF THE INDICATORS FOR DRUG REIMBURSEMENT TO PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN UKRAINE
Authors: Nemchenko Alla , Nazarkina Viktoriya , Kurylenko Yuliia
Published: August 2019

The aim of the study is to develop a method for forecasting the indicators for drug reimbursement to patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Ukraine within the framework of the government program “Available medicines”.

Materials and methods: materials of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine and medical records of patients with CVD, who were prescribed with medicines according to the government program, were used in the study.

Results: according to the method proposed for forecasting the volume of drug reimbursement to patients with CVD under the government program it has been found that Enalapril has the highest indicator – 10916.4 USD thousand in 2019 and 10736.8 USD thousand in 2020. Clopidogrel takes the second position – 12108.13 USD thousand and 11908.24 USD thousand, while Amlodipine occupies the third position – 9105.60 USD thousand and 8955.28 USD thousand.

Among the medicines not included in the government program, but prescribed rather frequently the largest forecasting amount required for reimbursement (in case of inclusion in the program) is 18910.55 USD thousand in 2019 and 18598.36 USD thousand in 2020 for Magnicor, and the least amount is 444.55 USD thousand and 437.22 USD thousand for Acetylsalicylic acid, respectively.

Conclusions. The government program to provide patients with effective and affordable medicines has a significant impact on reforming the healthcare system of Ukraine. The study conducted can be used to expand the government program in the process of formation and distribution of budget funds.
“Bitlis Hava Kirliliği Emisyon Envanteri ve Sağlık Etkilerinin Çoklu Lineer Regresyonla Tahmini (Doğal Afetler ve Çevre Dergisi, Ocak 2019, 5(1): 1-10)” Başlıklı Makale İçin Başlatılan Tartışmaya Cevap
Authors: TURP Sinan Mehmet
Published: August 2019

Bu çalışmada, “Bitlis Hava Kirliliği Emisyon Envanteri ve Sağlık Etkilerinin Çoklu Lineer Regresyonla Tahmini” isimli makaleye tartışma başlatılmış ve yazar, cevap olarak aşağıdaki bilgilere yer vermiştir. Yazar, makalenin yazım aşamasında sadece ithal kömür verilerine ulaşmış ve elde edilen verilere göre hesaplanmalarını ve regresyon analizini yapmıştır. Elde edilen yerli kömür verileri ile kirletici parametrelerden SOx, NOx, CO ve PM10 emisyon envanterleri ve regresyon analizi tartışma cevabı için tekrar hesaplanmıştır. Makalede birincil kirleticiler ölçülerek değil, hesaplanarak tespit edilmiştir. Bitlis İli Çevre Durum Raporundan alınan verilere göre 2015 yılında, Bitlis iline giriş yapan ithal kömür miktarı toplam 55118 ton ve yerli (Sosyal Yardımlaşma Vakfı) kömür 15000 ton olup, toplam kömür miktarı 70.118 ton’dur. 2015 yılında, yerli kömürden hava kirliliğindeki birincil kirleticilerden SOx, NOx, PM10 ve CO parametreleri sırasıyla, 538 kg, 48 kg, 57 kg ve 601 kg atmosfere deşarj edildiği hesaplanmıştır. 2015 yılına ait Bitlis Sağlık İl Müdürlüğü’nden alınan solunum ve akciğer hastalıklarından kaynaklı hastanelere başvuran hasta sayısı verileri elde edilmiştir. Bu verilere göre klasik çoklu lineer regresyon (ÇLR) yöntemi kullanılarak gelecek yıldaki hasta sayıları tahmin edilmiştir. Gerçek veriler ve tahmin verileri tekrar karşılaştırılarak R2=0,81 oranında uyum sağlanmıştır.
Constraining the timing and character of crustal melting in the Adirondack Mountains using multi-scale compositional mapping and in-situ monazite geochronology
Authors: Williams Michael L. , Grover Timothy , Jercinovic Michael J. , Regan Sean P. , Pless Claire R. , Suarez Kaitlyn A.
Published: August 2019

Migmatites are common in the hinterland of orogenic belts. The timing and mechanism (in situ vs. external, P-T conditions, reactions, etc.) of melting are important for understanding crustal rheology, tectonic history, and orogenic processes. The Adirondack Highlands has been used as an analog for mid/deep crustal continental collisional tectonism. Migmatites are abundant, and previous workers have interpreted melting during several different events, but questions remain about the timing, tectonic setting, and even the number of melting events. We use multiscale compositional mapping combined with in situ geochronology and geochemistry of monazite to constrain the nature, timing, and character of melting reaction(s) in one locality from the eastern Adirondack Highlands. Three gray migmatitic gneisses, studied here, come from close proximity and are very similar in microscopic and macroscopic (outcrop) appearance. Each of the rocks is interpreted to have undergone biotite dehydration melting (i.e., Bt + Pl + Als + Qz = Grt + Kfs + melt). Full-section compositional maps show the location of reactants and products of the melting reaction, especially prograde and retrograde biotite, peritectic K-feldspar, and leucosome, in addition to all monazite and zircon in context. In addition, the maps provide constraints on kinematics during melting and a context for interpretation of accessory phase composition and geochronology. More so than zircon, monazite serves as a monitor of melting and melt loss. The growth of garnet during melting leaves monazite depleted in Y and HREEs while melt loss from the system leaves monazite depleted in U. Results show that in all three localities, partial melting occurred during at ca. 1160–1150 Ma (Shawinigan orogeny), but the samples show high variability in the location and degree of removal of the melt phase, from near complete to segregated into layers to dispersed. All three localities experienced a second high-T event at ca. 1050 Ma, but only the third (non-segregated) sample experienced further melting. Thus, in addition to bulk composition, the fertility for melting is an important function of the previous history and the degree of mobility of earlier melt and fluids. Monazite is also a sensitive monitor of retrogression; garnet breakdown leads to increased Y and HREE in monazite. Results here suggest that all three samples remained at depth between the two melting events but were rapidly exhumed after the second event.
The impact of fiscal decentralization on economic development
Authors: Pasichnyi Mykola , Kaneva Tetiana , Ruban Maksym , Nepytaliuk Anton
Published: August 2019

In this article, updated approach to assess the impact of fiscal decentralization on economic development is offered. The relationship between the proper level of fiscal decentralization and economic growth for 27 advanced and emerging economies in Europe from 1992 to 2017 was evaluated using panel data. In the EU members, Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine expenditures decentralization was more essential than revenue decentralization. The vast majority of the counties from Central and Eastern Europe have increased the level of fiscal decentralization since 1992. It was found that revenue decentralization was associated with lower growth rates, while expenditures decentralization could slightly encourage economic development. The overall decentralization indicator adversely affected the growth, but that interconnection was not robust. The empirical investigation showed significant role of demographic structure and sustainability to ensure economic development. The authors propose the statements for the local authorities to develop the methodical bases of the fiscal policy’s design. In the survey, a balanced approach to the tax and public spending policy’s preparation and planning is presented.
Synthesis and Cytotoxicity of New Mannich Bases of 6-[3-(3,4,5-Trimetoxyphenyl)-2- propenoyl]-2(3H)-Benzoxazolone
Authors: Petrov Ognyan Ivanov , Ivanova Yordanka Borisova , Gerova Mariana Stefanova , Momekov Georgi Tsvetanov
Published: August 2019

Background:

Chemotherapy is one of the mainstays of cancer treatment, despite the serious
side effects of the clinically available anticancer drugs. In recent years increasing attention has
been directed towards novel agents with improved efficacy and selectivity. Compounds with chalcone
backbone have been reported to possess various biological activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial,
anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, etc. It was reported that aminomethylation of
hydroxy chalcones to the corresponding Mannich bases increased their cytotoxicity. In this context,
our interest has been focused on the design and synthesis of the so-called multi-target molecules,
containing two or more pharmacophore fragments.

Methods:

A series of Mannich bases were synthesized by the reaction between 6-[3-(3,4,5-
trimethoxyphenyl)-2-propenoyl]-2(3Н)-benzoxazolone, formaldehyde, and a secondary amine. The
structures of the compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectra. The new
Mannich bases were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against a panel of human tumor cell
lines, including BV-173, SKW-3, K-562, HL-60, HD-MY-Z and MDA-MB-231. The effects of selected
compounds on the cellular levels of glutathione (GSH) were determined.

Results:

The new compounds 4a-e exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects at micromolar
concentrations in MTT-dye reduction assay against a panel of human tumor cell lines, similar to those of
starting chalcone 3. The tested agents led to concentration - dependent depletion of cellular GSH levels,
whereby the effects of the chalcone prototype 3 and its Mannich base-derivatives were comparable.

Conclusion:

The highest chemosensitivity to the tested compounds was observed in BV-
173followed by SKW-3 and HL-60 cell lines.
Receptor Binding Inhibitor Suppresses Carcinogenesis of Cervical Cancer by Depressing Levels of FSHR and ERβ in Mice
Authors: Gong Zhuandi , Shen Xiaoyun , Yang Juan , Lai Luju , Wei Suocheng
Published: August 2019

Background:

FSH Receptor Binding Inhibitor (FRBI) blocked the binding of FSH to FSHR. Our
initial study revealed FRBI reduced the maturation rate, enhanced the apoptosis of sheep Cumulus-Oocyte
Complex (COCs). Little is known about whether FRBI modulates ERβ and FSHR levels in the normal uterine
and cancerous tissues. The present study aimed to evaluate the FRBI effects on the expressions of Estrogen
Receptor-beta (ERβ) and FSH receptor (FSHR) in the uteri.

Methods:

Methods: 150 mice were assigned to FRBI+FSH (COM), FSH and control groups (CG). Mice of COM-1,
COM-2 and COM-3 groups were simultaneously intramuscularly injected with 500, 750 and 1000 µg FRBI with
10 IU FSH, respectively for five days. Western blotting and qPCR were utilized to determine the expression of
ERβ and FSHR.

Results:

In comparison with FSH group, uterine lumen and glands of COM groups became narrow. The uterine
wall and endometrial epithelium were thinned, and uterine lumen became narrow. Epithelial cells were decreased.
Uterine wall thicknesses of COM-1, COM-2 and COM-3 groups were reduced by 6.49%, 14.89% and
15.69% on day 30 as compared with FSH group. Uterine perimetrium thicknesses of COM-1, COM-2 and
COM-3 groups were reduced by 16.17%, 17.93% and 19.92% on day 20 in comparison with FSH group. Levels
of FSHR mRNAs and proteins of COM-1, COM-2 and COM-3 groups were less than FSH group on days 20
and 30 (P<0.05). ERβ protein of COM-3 group was less than FSH group. Serum estradiol (E2) and FSH concentrations
of COM-2 and COM-3 were lower than that of FSH group on day 30.

Conclusion:

FRBI could decrease UWT and UPT, also block the uterine development, decline expression levels
of ERβ and FSHR protein. Additionally, FRBI reduced the secretion of secretion of FSH and E2. Downregulating
expression of FSHR and ERβ may be a potential treatment regimen for cervical cancer patients.
Investigation on the Polymer Drawing Model of the Centrifugal Spinning
Authors: Liu Jia-Jia , Wu Li-Li , Chen Ting
Published: August 2019

Background and Objective:

Some patents have reported the centrifugal spinning method
which utilizes the centrifugal force produced by a high speed rotating device to fabricate fibers from
polymer melts or solutions. Recently, with the development of technologies, centrifugal spinning was
employed to produce ultrafine fibers and nanofibers. In order to improve the equipment and technology
of centrifugal spinning and obtain finer fibers, it is important to model the polymer drawing of the
centrifugal spinning.

Methods:

The polymer drawing in the centrifugal spinning is modeled and simulated. The force balance
equation and heat transfer balance equation are established after analyzing the motion and heat
transfer of the polymer melts. These nonlinear equations are solved based on the least square method
to obtain the radius of excircle and the shape of streamline. A fourth order Runge-Kutta method is utilized
to obtain the diameter and temperature of the threadline because there are initial value problems
of first order ordinary differential equations. Streamlines and diameter of polymer melts at different
viscoelasticities and different spinning temperatures are obtained. The simulation results are compared
with the measured results to verify the polymer drawing model.

Results:

The viscoelastic force in the centrifugal spinning changes constantly at a fixed rotation speed
of the rotating spinneret. As the spinneret is rotating, the radius of excircle R1 increases slowly when
the time passes, which means the viscoelastic force decreases slowly. The change of the viscoelastic
force accelerates the increase of the radius vector. The simulation results show that the threadline diameter
under the condition of changing viscoelastic forces is smaller than that under the condition of
fixed visoelastic forces. The temperature of the polymer melts decreases faster under the condition of
changing viscoelastic forces than that under the condition of fixed visoelastic forces. The threadline diameter
decreases with the increase of the rotation speed. Higher initial polymer temperatures yield
smaller fiber diameters.

Conclusion:

The polymer drawing in the centrifugal spinning is modeled and simulated. The simulation
results tally with the measured results confirming the effectiveness of the polymer drawing model.
The simulation results show that the change of the viscoelastic force is favorable to the polymer drawing
and both larger rotation speeds and higher initial polymer temperatures can produce finer fibers,
which lays a good foundation for the computer-assisted design of the centrifugal spinning.
A Design Guide-line of Auditory Display for Electric Appliance
Authors: Komatsu Takanori , Hayashi Eiji
Published: August 2019

The auditory channel is important for communication between computers and users because of its properties, such eye-free communication and strong attention grabbing properties. However, interpreting the meanings of sounds is not a trivial task. Users have to learn and memorize the mapping between sounds and their meanings for each device. Therefore, as the number of devices increases, this becomes challenging for users. To mitigate the challenge, it is desirable to use sounds that users can understand intuitively. Thus, investigating the intuitiveness of sounds is of significant interest. In this work, we investigated 2,012 sounds consisting of 48 earcons, 80 auditory icons, and 1,884 beep sequences through a series of user studies using Amazon Mechanical Turk as well as a lab study that validated the results of the Mechanical Turk studies. The results provided a guideline for designing sounds that users might understand more intuitively.
‘Music of the People’: Music From Data as Social Commentary
Authors: King Rob
Published: August 2019

Data-music reflects the ubiquity of data in modern society. Composers have not engaged widely with the opportunities opened up by this, despite the chance to overcome a gulf between academic art music and social engagement. Their reluctance might be traced to the challenge of reconciling abstract data and concrete sound, in political implications, and in technological barriers in computer music. The present paper argues that socially relevant music composition for the 21st century can adopt a programme of sonification grounded in politically acute data. As examples of such practice, two compositions are discussed founded upon US and UK social data sets, and realised via the SuperCollider programming language. The consequences for the composer of new music are further discussed from political and musicological angles, with the ‘purpose’ of writing such music analysed from the perspective of various commentators.
Soundscape Clock: Soundscape Compositions That Display the Time of Day
Authors: Ismailogullari Abdullah , Ziemer Tim
Published: August 2019

This paper presents an ambient auditory display that communicates the time of day. Four soundscapes represent different quadrants of the clock. Auditory icons divide the quadrants into three parts that represent hours, and four partitions that represent every quarter of an hour. The auditory display is little intrusive and only informative to those who are privy to its principles. Suitable application areas are ofﬁces where staff can derive the time from the soundscape, while customers stay unaware and may only enjoy the calm, auditory nature scene. To experience the calm ambient character of the auditory display we suggest you to play the demo while reading the paper: https://tinyurl.com/y4yd8zkh.
The Alchemy of Chaos: A Sound Art Sonification of a Year of Tourette’s Episodes
Authors: Mitchell Thomas J. , Thom Jess , Pountney Matthew , Hyde Joseph
Published: August 2019

Touretteshero is the name of a organisation that aims to raise awareness of Touette’s syndrome by sharing and celebrating the creativity and humour of the involuntary vocal and movement tics that characterise the condition. This paper documents the development of a Touretteshero project called The Alchemy of Chaos, a sound art piece that translates a year of intensive ticcing episodes (or ‘ticcing ﬁts’) into a six minute soniﬁcation. The work emphasises both the faithful representation of data and the aesthetic sound quality, drawing techniques and ideas from sound design for ﬁlm, which is often used to convey information about a visual scene in ways that can be used for sonﬁcation. Speciﬁcally, the work uses Chion’s elements of auditory setting: short punctual sounds that can express locations with minimal sonic references. Sound parameters are also classiﬁed into groups that have ‘data signiﬁcance’ and those that do not, with aesthetic interventions limited to those parameters that do not impact on data transparency. The resulting piece was included within a keynote talk at the Royal Albert Hall in the UK and the paper includes a qual-itative reﬂection on the work and the potential value that sound design techniques for film can bring to the auditory display community.
Sonification Workstation
Authors: Phillips Sean , Cabrera Andrés
Published: August 2019

Sonification Workstation is an open-source application for general sonification tasks, designed with ease-of-use and wide applicability in mind. Intended to foster adoption of sonification across disciplines, and increase experimentation with sonification by non-specialists, Sonification Workstation distills tasks useful in sonification and encapsulates them in a single software envi-ronment. The novel interface combines familiar modes of navigation from Digital Audio Workstations, with a highly simplified patcher interface for creating the sonification scheme. Further, the software associates methods of sonification with the data they sonify, in session files, which will make sharing and reproducing sonifications easier. It is posited that facilitating experimentation by non-specialists will increase the potential growth of sonification into fresh territory, encourage discussion of sonification techniques and uses, and create a larger pool of ideas to draw from in advancing the field of sonification. Source code is available at https://github.com/Cherdyakov/sonification-workstation. Binaries for macOS and Windows, as well as sample content, are available at http://sonificationworkstation.org.
Interactive Real-time Concatenative Synthesis in Virtual Reality
Authors: Moore Carl , Brent William
Published: August 2019

This paper presents a new platform for interactive concatenative synthesis designed for virtual reality and proposes further applications for immersive audio tools and instruments. TimbreSpace VR is an extension of William Brent’s TimbreSpace software using the timbreID library for Pure Data. Design and implementation of the application are discussed, as well as its live performance aspects. Finally, future work is laid out for the project, proposing versatile audio manipulation software specifically for XR platforms.
Exploring the Interface Effect in Distant Sonification
Authors: Emsley Iain
Published: August 2019

I introduce ongoing research into the method that I am calling distant sonification as a response to understanding abstractions created through computational reading. My aim is to explore the interface effect and situate it in sonification and media theory. Discussing existing prototypes, I contextualise the visible interfaces within the wider design models, such as patterns, and computational materiality. Reflecting on experiments in media specific analysis, I suggest that there are different models with their own specificities that are brought together to create the interface. They might exist separately or are combined to create a wider effect that I explore through models and grammars. I suggest that there are different models with their own specificities that are brought together by humans and machines through layers.
Reconocimiento semiautomático de depresiones kársticas mediante análisis de agregados en sus distribuciones morfométricas. Aplicación al karst del Estado de Yucatán, México
Authors: Paredes Carlos , Matos Hector , De la Vega Rogelio , Pardo Eulogio
Published: August 2019

La Península del Yucatán, una de las cinco regiones en las que fisiográficamente se divide la República de México, se encuentra principalmente constituida por rocas carbonatadas de origen sedimentario, por lo que, debido a sus condiciones geológico estructurales, climáticas e hidrogeológicas, acoge importantes procesos de disolución, lo que da lugar a un paisaje en el que predominan las formaciones endo- y exo-kársticas. Entre estas segundas, las depresiones en forma de cenotes, dolinas, uvalas y poljes, han sido objeto de numerosos estudios, al tratarse de zonas de importancia tanto hidrogeológica como histórico sociocultural, muy sensibles a la alteración medioambiental. Actualmente hay unas 3000 depresiones catalogadas el Estado de Yucatán (EY), sin embargo, la cobertura vegetal dificulta su localización y clasificación, mermando la completitud del inventario. En este trabajo se presenta el procedimiento utilizado para construir y ampliar el catálogo de depresiones en el EY, agrupado por tipologías, mediante un sistema de clasificación semiautomática de tipo k-medias, utilizando los parámetros morfométricos más relevantes de las depresiones, identificados mediante una agrupación jerárquica. Los inventarios utilizados de cenotes (SEDUMA), cuerpos de agua (INEGI), y curvas de nivel hipsométricas a 1:50 000 (INEGI) han sido complementados con las depresiones obtenidas, sobre el modelo digital de elevaciones con 15 m de resolución (CEM 3.0, INEGI), mediante dos algoritmos (llenado y jerárquico) en ArcGis. Para cada inventario se han calculado los parámetros morfométricos: área, perímetro, circularidad, forma, ancho, largo, elongación y alargamiento, siendo los dos primeros (transformados logarítmicamente) y los tercero y cuarto, los que han resultado ser más relevantes, tras el análisis jerárquico de sus distribuciones. La agrupación k-medias ha permitido discriminar en estos inventarios: 6587 pequeñas depresiones, cenotes y dolinas secas, muy condicionadas a la estructura de impacto Chicxulub, 4428 uvalas, 406 poljes, 89 grandes depresiones, más allá del borde exterior de Chicxulub , y 5176 dolinas tipo cockpit concentradas sobre la Sierra de Ticul y diseminadas en zonas de lomerios. Finalmente, se han establecido las distribuciones de sus parámetros morfométricos más relevantes, característicos de cada una de estas agrupaciones.
Identification of jarosite and other major mineral Fe phases in acidic environments affected by mining-metallurgy using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy: With special emphasis on the August 2014 Cananea acid spill
Authors: Escobar-Quiroz Ingrid Nayeli , Villalobos-Peñalosa Mario , Pi-Puig Teresa , Romero Francisco Martín , Aguilar-Carrillo de Albornoz Javier
Published: August 2019

The sulfuric acid spill into the Sonora river, enriched in iron and copper ions from the Buenavista del Cobre mine (Cananea), gave way to the formation of various solid iron (Fe) phases. In this study, the mineral phases were identified by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and bulk powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and chemically through acid digestions for multielemental quantification, as well as a 3-step selective sequential extraction (SSE) to quantify the types of Fe oxide phases and the contribution of the associated elements. Jarosite was the only Fe mineral identified by XRD, but XAS allowed identification of jarosite with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) incorporated in its structure, making these elements less prone to leaching. In addition, very poorly crystalline phases such as schwertmannite and ferrihydrite were identified in several samples through XAS, which was confirmed by SSE. These phases are probably associated with PTEs. Other possible adsorbent Fe(III) minerals were also identified by XAS, such as maghemite and goethite; as well as mixed Fe(II)-Fe(III) minerals, such as green rust. It was possible to infer the influence of the acid spill on the different sampled areas through various Fe phases identified and/or the presence of gypsum. The influence was detected to be lower where the mineralogy was not associated to low pH and high sulfate concentrations. All precipitated Fe(III) phases downriver from the acid spill are known for their high retention capacities of PTEs either from incorporation into their structures and/or from surface adsorption, thus, contributing to the immobilization of the initial metal(loid) pollution caused by the acid spill. In addition, several other samples of mining-metallurgical wastes were analyzed by the same three techniques, suggesting many of the findings from the secondary Fe mineralogy of the Buenavista del Cobre mine acid spill as common processes occurring in mining-affected environments.
A POLÍTICA FISCAL EXPANSIONISTA QUE CONTRAI!
Authors: Costa Júnior Celso José , Fantinatti Amanda Miranda , Teles Vladimir Kuhl
Published: August 2019

No presente trabalho, analisamos a desoneração do imposto sobre o consumo de bens duráveis com o objetivo de fornecer contribuições em duas direções: a) estimar e calibrar um modelo dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) de pequena escala que incorpore esse aspecto; e b) analisar o impacto específico dessa política nas principais variáveis macroeconômicas à luz do modelo. Os resultados sugerem que a redução da alíquota do imposto sobre produtos industrializados (IPI) sobre bens duráveis não foi a política mais adequada para estimular a atividade econômica, pois contrai em vez de expandir o produto total. Melhor seria uma redução da alíquota do imposto indireto para toda a economia.
The Debt-Equity Choice When Regulatory Thresholds are Based on Equity Values: Evidence from SOX 404
Authors: Weber David P. , Yang Yanhua Sunny
Published: August 2019

When larger market values of equity result in being subject to costly regulation, firms have incentives to shift their sources of financing toward debt and away from equity. We use the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) as a setting to provide evidence of such incentives. Smaller firms were granted several reprieves and eventually exempted from the internal control audit requirements of SOX Section 404, which many consider the most costly and onerous aspect of SOX. Using a difference-in-differences design, we show that relative to control firms, firms just below the regulatory threshold have increased propensities to issue debt, decreased propensities to issue equity, and increased leverage levels in the post-SOX period. These results are consistent with firms altering their financing choices to maintain their exempt status and demonstrate an economic consequence of regulatory regimes that are tiered by equity values.
Online Kanal Yöneticisiyle Otel Oda Fiyatlandırmada Verim Yönetimi
Authors: Yurtlu Murat , Ateş Alpaslan
Published: August 2019

Otelcilik sektöründe
pazarlama dağıtım kanallarında teknoloji kullanımı her geçen gün hızla artmaktadır.
Verim yönetimiyle gelirleri artırmaya yönelik teknolojik uygulamalardan birisi
de kanal yöneticisi yazılımlarıdır. Kanal yöneticisi yazılımlarının otellere
avantaj sağlayıp sağlamadığının incelendiği bu çalışmada, sektörün pazarlama
dağıtım yapısında çevrimiçi karmaşık yapısını etkin kontrol ile sağlayarak,
zaman kazandırıcı özelliğinin operasyonel faaliyetlerine ve gelirlerine katkısı
araştırılmıştır. İşletmeler kritik ve etkin dinamik fiyatlamalar yaparak,
mevcut kapasitelerinde tam verimli bir doluluğa ulaşabilmektedir. Otellerin
zaman zaman çevrimiçi pazarlama dağıtım kanallarında olumsuz durumlarla
karşılaştıkları görülmektedir. Bu amaçla nitel araştırma yöntemi kullanılmış
olup ikincil veriler ve sektörden örnek olaylar literatür tarama yapılarak ele
alınmış ve işletme faaliyetlerine olabilecek etkileri belirlenmiştir.
Çalışmanın sonucunda kanal yöneticisi yazılımlarının otel satış dağıtım
sisteminde yararlı olabileceği saptanmıştır.
Finansal Başarısızlık Riski Taşıyan ile Taşımayan İşletmelerin Finansal Oranlarının Karşılaştırmalı Analizi: Borsa İstanbul Turizm İşletmelerinde Bir Araştırma
Authors: Karadeniz Erdinç , Öcek Cemile
Published: August 2019

Bu araştırmanın amacı, Borsa İstanbul’da hisseleri
işlem gören turizm işletmeleri içinde finansal başarısızlık riski taşıyanlar
ile taşımayanların finansal oranları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir
farklılık olup olmadığının belirlenmesidir. Bu bağlamda öncelikle 2012-2017
yılları arasında turizm işletmelerinin finansal başarısızlık riskleri Altman Z
Skor modeline göre belirlenmiştir. Daha sonra finansal başarısızlık riski
taşıyan ve taşımayan işletmelerin finansal oranları arasında farklılık olup
olmadığı Mann Whitney U Testi ile saptanmaya çalışılmıştır. Analiz sonucunda
finansal başarısızlık riski taşıyan işletmeler ile finansal başarısızlık riski
taşımayan işletmeler arasında cari oran, asit-test oranı, nakit oran, kaldıraç
oranı, aktif karlılığı, öz sermaye karlılığı, net kar marjı ve fiyat/kazanç
oranı bağlamında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık olduğu saptanmıştır
Pengaruh Beban Kerja Dan Mutasi Terhadap Semangat Kerja Dengan Kompetensi Sebagai Variabel Intervening Pada Ditreskrimum Polda Riau
Authors: Novemaril Novemaril , Hendriani Susi , Efni Yulia
Published: August 2019

Semangat kerja merupakan hal yang penting bekerja. Beberapa penelitian menunukkan bahwa semangat kerja dapat dipengaruhi oleh beban kerja, mutasi dan kompetensi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh beban kerja dan mutasi terhadap semangat kerja dengan kompetensi sebagai variabel intervening. Pengumpulan data penelitian dengan menggunakan kuestioner. Responden penelitian sebanyak 134 orang Personil ditreskrimum Polda Riau. Analisis data dengan menggunakan pendekatan Deskriptif dan Partial Least Square. Hasil penelitian menemukan bahwa beban kerja tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap semangat kerja secara langsung, namun akan berpengaruh apabila disertai kompetensi sebagai variabel intervening. Hasil Penelitian juga menunjukkan bahwa mutasi kerja berpengaruh signifikan terhadap semangat kerja baik secara langsung maupun dengan variabel kompetensi sebagai variabel intervening. kesimpulan penelitian adalah bahwa beban keja, mutasi dan kompetensi berperan dalam meningkatkan atau menurunkan semangat kerja anggota polisi bagian ditreskrimum Polda Riau. Kata Kunci : Beban Kerja, Mutasi, Semangat Kerja, Kompetensi,
Students’ Perspectives on Concepts, Factors, and Models Related to the Attainment of Achievement
Authors: Kristiyani Titik , Faturochman Faturochman
Published: August 2019

This study aimed to explore concepts, factors affecting, and achievement models, from the perspective of tertiary students in Yogyakarta. Respondents (N = 533) were students of a private university in Yogyakarta. Data was collected through an open-ended questionnaire for all respondents, and in-depth interviews with 23 of these. Data were analyzed using content analysis techniques for responses to the answers provided. The results show that the concept of achievement, according to the perspective of the students, is differentiated between into definitions of achievement, and the criteria of what may to be considered to be achievements. The definition of achievement, according to the students, is something which is unique to this finding, with the emergence of non-academic achievement and excellence in competition with others. The criteria discovered, for a person to be considered to be an achiever, include compliance with goals (both personal and social) and the presence of the element of development. The presence of the suitability of social goals, is another unique thing found in this study. Factors which influence achievement include ‘input’ (personal capacities), and ‘process’ (the learning process)’. The external conditions which emerged in this finding took the form of other unique matters, found in the local culture. The dynamics of reaching achievement begin with ‘input’ (cognitive capacity, personal skills, motivation), and external conditions (which give rise to academic learning behaviors with the support of self-efficacy), for future learning achievements which are more optimal, with the attainment of personal and social goals.