bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plenardebatten als Spiegel sich wandelnder Diskurskoalitionen: Die Positionierung der Bun- destagsfraktionen zum Verhältnis von Ökologie und Ökonomie seit 1977
Authors: von Steinsdorff Silvia , Gottmann Lennard , Hüggelmeyer Malte , Jeske Ines-Maria , Siebeking Johanna ,   Charlotte,   Onkelbach
Published: October 2021

Contrary to what is often assumed, members of the German Bundestag do not only use the plenary debates for issuing pre-fabricated statements or advertising party positions to an imaginary public but they also refer to each other and enter into a direct discourse on con­tent . In an innovative long-term study, this article examines all speech shares on ecological topics in the chancellor’s budget debates (EP 04) since the eighth legislative period . By com­bining quantitative and qualitative content-analytical methods, it shows how discourse coali­tions develop and change within and between parliamentary groups . Not only did the ecol­ogy issue continuously take up more space in the budget debates but content alliances developed across factional boundaries, with the CDU/CSU and the Greens in particular converging over time and partly taking up each other’s arguments . The second readings on EP 04 provide a very good basis for comparison in this regard as they depict the antagonism between government and opposition annually in a largely unchanged framework, which allows to control possible intervening variables .
Vierzig-Prozent-Regel für mit der Personenwahl verbundene Verhält- niswahlen: Empirische Überprüfung einer praktischen Hypothese
Authors: Bischof Wolfgang , Pukelsheim Friedrich , Stelz Maria
Published: October 2021

Based on empirical data from German elections after WW II, 765 test instances are con­structed to examine the forty-percent-rule . This rule states that all winners of single-seat­constituencies can be integrated into the proportional representation outcome provided the number of constituencies equals forty percent of the nominal size of parliament . While the traditional fifty percent share usually leads to overhang seats, a share of forty percent leads to overhang seats in only twenty-two of the 765 test instances .
Using Full-text Content of Academic Articles to Build a Methodology Taxonomy of Information Science in China
Authors: Zhang Heng , Zhang Chengzhi
Published: October 2021

Research on the construction of traditional information science methodology taxonomy is mostly conducted manually. From the limited corpus, researchers have attempted to summarize some of the research methodology entities into several abstract levels (generally three levels); however, they have been unable to provide a more granular hierarchy. Moreover, updating the methodology taxonomy is traditionally a slow process. In this study, we collected full-text academic papers related to information science. First, we constructed a basic methodology taxonomy with three levels by manual annotation. Then, the word vectors of the research methodology entities were trained using the full-text data. Accordingly, the research methodology entities were clustered and the basic methodology taxonomy was expanded using the clustering results to obtain a methodology taxonomy with more levels. This study provides new concepts for constructing a methodology taxonomy of information science. The proposed methodology taxonomy is semi-automated; it is more detailed than conventional schemes and the speed of taxonomy renewal has been enhanced.
Essential Characteristics and Content of the Concept of Contemporary Pop Vocal-Performing Thesaurus
Authors: Kulaha Tatiana , Segeda Natalia
Published: October 2021

The article is devoted to the problems of terminology in the contemporary pop vocal pedagogy field. In the course of the research, which has been conducted from the standpoint of the principle of cultural-conformity, we identified the essence of the concept “contemporary pop vocal-performing thesaurus”, highlighted its structure, and represented the thesaurus in the form of an ontology. The contemporary pop vocal-performing thesaurus as a form of personal activity has a cognitive and creative essence and constitutes an individual professional resource for a performer. As a pedagogical category it is a thematically organized and practically tested outcome of teaching a pop vocalist holistically, and is a renewable interaction of all its components. It consists of cognitive, vocal-technical, artistic-technological, communicative, interpretive, and artistic-figurative components. We note that the artistic-figurative and interpretive components are fully demonstrated in the co-connection of all other components, and reflect the specificity of our concept. We outline some characteristic features of contemporary pop music, the specific components of contemporary non-classical vocal techniques, and modes of presentation of musical information, which are used in the process of forming the contemporary pop vocal-performing thesaurus. We emphasize that the results of our research enable modification of the educational process in the context of contemporary pop vocal, by means of its updating and supplementing with unconventional approaches, principles and methods. Despite the fact that our study primarily concerns the problems of Ukrainian pedagogy we think that its main provisions can apply to the development of methods for teaching pop singing in any country of the world
Ontologies as Knowledge Organization Systems
Authors: Biagetti Maria Teresa
Published: October 2021

This contribution presents the principal features of ontologies, drawing special attention to the comparison between ontologies and the different kinds of know­ledge organization systems (KOS). The focus is on the semantic richness exhibited by ontologies, which allows the creation of a great number of relationships between terms. That establishes ontologies as the most evolved type of KOS. The concepts of “conceptualization” and “formalization” and the key components of ontologies are described and discussed, along with upper and domain ontologies and special typologies, such as bibliographical ontologies and biomedical ontologies. The use of ontologies in the digital libraries environment, where they have replaced thesauri for query expansion in searching, and the role they are playing in the Semantic Web, especially for semantic interoperability, are sketched.
Leistungsaustausch in der öffentlichen Verwaltung: Der FIT-Store als wesentliches Element der OZG-Umsetzung
Authors: Schulz Sönke E.
Published: October 2021

Das Onlinezugangsgesetz verlangt die Digitalisierung von 575 Verwaltungsleistungen bis Ende 2022. Bund und Länder verfolgen dabei das Prinzip „Einer-für-Alle“. Dies wird nur funktionieren, wenn die Nachnutzung der EfA-Dienste organisiert wird. Mit dem Konzept „FITStore“ bei der gemeinsamen Bund-Länder-Anstalt FITKO ist das Thema zwar auf der Agenda. Betrachtet man die vergabe rechtliche Konzeption des FIT-Stores aber näher, wird schnell deutlich, dass die kommunalen Gebietskörperschaften als diejenigen, die den größten Anteil der OZG-Leistun gen verantworten und vor Ort umsetzen müssen, nicht bedacht wurden. Um den Leistungsaustausch innerhalb der Verwaltung zu ermöglichen und zu befördern, ist es unerlässlich, einen organisatorischen und rechtlichen Rahmen zu schaffen, der Rechts- und Planungssicherheit, insbesondere für die umsetzende (Kommunal-)Ebene, schafft.
Nachhaltigkeitscontrolling im ÖPNV: Konzeption eines Steuerungssystems
Authors: Littkemann Jörn , Pfister Matthias , Fey Christoph
Published: October 2021

Eine steigende gesellschaftliche Mobilität stellt Kommunen mit deren öffentlichen Personennahverkehr (ÖPNV) sowohl vor ökologische als auch organisatorische Probleme. Ziel des Beitrags ist es deshalb zunächst, einen Überblick über eine nachhaltige Mobilitätsentwicklung im ÖPNV zu geben, um darauf aufbauend ein geeignetes Steuerungssystem dafür zu entwickeln. Die um Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte angepasste Sustainability Balanced Scorecard wird für den Fall des ÖPNV angewandt. Es wird aufgezeigt, dass eine gleichrangige Behandlung der finanziellen sowie sozialen und ökologischen Aspekte essenziell für eine nachhaltige Mobilitätsentwicklung in Kommunen ist. Es werden Ziele und Kennzahlen für die jeweiligen Perspektiven abgeleitet und deren Wirkungszusammenhänge über eine Strategy Map dargestellt. Im Ergebnis wird konstatiert, dass durch eine Implementierung von nachhaltigen Aspekten sowie eine strukturierte Verfolgung der festgelegten Ziele die nachhaltige Mobilitätsentwicklung in Kommunen vorangetrieben werden kann.
Ikonografien des sexuellen Kindesmissbrauchs: Symbolbilder in Presseartikeln und Präventionsmaterialien
Authors: Döring Nicola , Walter Roberto
Published: October 2021

Sexueller Kindesmissbrauch (SKM) ist in Deutschland und international recht weit verbreitet und hat oft schwerwiegende und langfristige Folgen für die Betroffenen. Wie Öffentlichkeit und Politik das gesellschaftliche Problem des sexuellen Kindesmissbrauchs wahrnehmen und welche Präventions- und Interventionsansätze verfolgt werden, hängt maßgeblich auch von der medialen Berichterstattung ab. Hier zeigt die bisherige kommunikationswissenschaftliche Forschung sowohl Stärken als auch Schwächen medialer SKM-Repräsentationen auf: Einerseits tragen Medien dazu bei, sexuellen Kindesmissbrauch aufzudecken, Betroffenen eine Stimme zu geben und die Öffentlichkeit zu sensibilisieren. Andererseits wird oft klischeehaft und reißerisch berichtet, zuweilen zum Schaden der Betroffenen. Die Forschung zu Inhalten und Qualitätsmerkmalen medialer Berichterstattung über sexuellen Kindesmissbrauch hat einen wichtigen Aspekt bislang völlig ausgeblendet, nämlich die Verwendung von Bildern. Dabei ist die Ikonografie (d. h. die Menge der typischen Bildmotive für ein Thema) ein wichtiges Element medialer Berichterstattung, sie generiert Aufmerksamkeit und Emotionen. Hier setzt die vorliegende Studie an. Sie beantwortet folgende Forschungsfragen: Wie oft werden in der Presseberichterstattung über sexuellen Kindesmissbrauch Symbolbilder genutzt und welche Bildmotive kommen dabei zum Einsatz? Ergänzend wird auch untersucht: Wie oft werden in Präventionsmaterialien von Fachberatungsstellen zu sexuellem Kindesmissbrauch Symbolbilder genutzt und mit welchen Bildmotiven wird dort gearbeitet? Um die jeweiligen Ikonografien des sexuellen Kindesmissbrauchs herauszuarbeiten, wurden eine Stichprobe von N = 1437 deutschsprachigen Online-Presseartikeln über SKM sowie eine Stichprobe von N = 230 deutschsprachigen SKM-Präventionsmaterialien gezogen und die dort enthaltenen Symbolbilder jeweils separat einer standardisierten Bildinhaltsanalyse unterzogen. Es zeigte sich, dass 29.2 % der Online-Presseartikel und 62.0 % der Präventionsmaterialien Symbolbilder nutzten. Die analysierten 419 SKM-Symbolbilder der Presse orientieren sich am Framing der Kriminalberichterstattung und visualisieren 1. Tatkontexte, 2. Tathergang und Beteiligte sowie 3. Tatfolgen für die Beteiligten. Für die Präventionsmaterialien war anhand von 450 Symbolbildern eine SKM-Ikonografie nachweisbar, die sich am Framing der Präventionsansätze orientiert und 1. Primärprävention, 2. Sekundärprävention und 3. Tertiärprävention abbildet. Der Beitrag vergleicht die beiden SKM-Ikonografien, diskutiert die Bildtypen kritisch im Hinblick auf Kriterien der Medienqualität und Medienethik und unterbreitet Verbesserungsvorschläge.
Einheitsbilder: Der mediale Diskurs in Südkorea und Deutschland über nationale Einheit. Eine Fallstudie zur Formation transnationaler Öffentlichkeiten
Authors: Rinsdorf Lars , Werner Petra , Lee Hwa-Haeng
Published: October 2021

Der Beitrag untersucht am Beispiel des Diskurses über nationale Einheit in Deutschland und Südkorea die Formation transnationaler Öffentlichkeiten entlang langwelliger politischer Streitthemen. Hierbei wird erforscht, inwieweit eine ähnliche politische Herausforderung zweier Staaten der Formation einer transnationalen Öffentlichkeit förderlich ist. Diskutiert werden die Befunde einer qualitativen Analyse von Frames in der Berichterstattung südkoreanischer und westdeutscher Leitmedien über den Prozess der deutschen Einheit von 1989 bis 1991. Hier zeigt sich eine hohe Kongruenz der Berichterstattung bezogen auf Themenaspekte, Diskursverlauf und Deutungsmuster. Sichtbar werden auch klare Einflüsse des jeweiligen Mediensystems, insbesondere im Hinblick auf einen stark ausgeprägten politischen Parallelismus in Südkorea.
Die Verfassungsentwicklung des Freistaates Mecklenburg-Schwerin in der Zwischenkriegszeit
Authors: Mertens Georg
Published: October 2021

The dissertation about the constitution of the state Mecklenburg-Schwerin analyzes the constitutional document of 1920, including the transitions as well as the destruction in the course of the Gleichschaltung. Three aspects in particular should be emphasized. First, the state constitution is one of the few documents that was not even acknowledged in a commentary during the interwar period. Secondly, in 1918 the state of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was literally on the verge of making the leap from the late Middle Ages to modern statehood. Thirdly, the constitution of Mecklenburg-Schwerin has a number of special features, especially the preamble to fundamental rights, which in many respects anticipates Article 1 para. 3 and Article 79 para. 3 of the German Constitution ("Grundgesetz").
Grundrechtskonflikte im Vertrag
Authors: Hensel Isabell
Published: October 2021

The book offers an interdisciplinary analysis of cooperation agreements between universities and business enterprises. The author develops proposals for the arrangement of the university constitution at the contact points between science and economy. Current concepts of university governance, which as a rule remain under-complex, are countered by a scientifically appropriate procedural contract law. Proposals for an institutional design of scientific organization and management as well as specific regulation prohibitions and requirements for cooperation agreements aim to guarantee scientific autonomy despite dominant economic exploitation interests.
Macht in einer globalisierten landwirtschaftlichen Produktion
Authors: Dobelmann Anna
Published: October 2021

By virtue of the soy boom Argentina, recovered faster from the economic crisis than any other country. But who has benefited from the abundance of this resource in such a globalised and hightech form of agriculture as that in Argentina? Addressing this question with qualitative research methods, this book analyses the power relations in Argentinian soy production and in conflicts related to it. The author uses concepts of global production networks and amplifies them with sociological perspectives on power. Her results show that global corporations are increasingly dominating soy production, which leads her to the conclusion that the soy boom is not suitable for generating wealth in Argentina in the long term.
Die Zweckmäßigkeit der arzneimittelrechtlichen Gefährdungshaftung
Authors: Rein Johannes
Published: October 2021

In this doctoral thesis, the medicinal product law strict liability from § 84 AMG is evaluated with regard to its expediency. First, the institute of strict liability is comprehensively explained. The focus of the work is the problem of proving causality.

It becomes clear in the work that even the presumption of causality from § 84 para. 2 AMG does not solve the problems of proof. The author argues for a lowering of the standard of proof and cites European law arguments for this. In the author's opinion, the presumption of causality from § 84 Para. 2 AMG contradicts the European Product Liability Directive, which, in the author's opinion, must guide medicinal product liability.
Prevalence of Dissociative Experiences and Dissociative Disorders in Methamphetamine Users in Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kerman
Authors: Fateminasab Mahboubeh Sadat , Raaii Farzaneh , Ghafarinejad Alireza , Pouya Fatemeh
Published: October 2021

Background: Dissociative symptoms have been reported to result from issues such as substance use. However, there is limited knowledge on the relationship between methamphetamine use and dissociative symptoms, and only a few studies have been conducted on this issue. Objectives: Given little knowledge on the relationship between methamphetamine use and dissociative symptoms, in particular dissociative disorders, the present study was done to investigate the prevalence of dissociative experiences and dissociative disorders in methamphetamine users in Shahid Beheshti hospital of Kerman City, Kerman Province, Iran. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, two groups of subjects, including methamphetamine users (N = 50) and controls (N = 51), were randomly selected from the individuals referring to Shahid-Beheshti Hospital, Kerman City, from September 2016 to March 2018. After validating the diagnosis of methamphetamine use via methamphetamine positive-urine test, the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and dissociative disorders interview schedule-DSM5 (DDIS) were employed to assess dissociative experiences and disorders, respectively. Next, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was utilized for the determination of positive and negative symptoms of psychosis in the case group. Finally, the chi-square test and t test were applied for comparing the study groups using SPSS version 20 software. Results: Our findings revealed that the mean score of dissociative symptoms was 15.3 in methamphetamine users. The mean score of depersonalization/derealization subscale of DES, as a dissociative experience, was higher in the case group (P < 0.01). The experience of possession, as a dissociative experience, was recorded in 17 methamphetamine users, while 18 (36%) methamphetamine users were diagnosed with dissociative disorder. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between the DES score and positive symptoms in methamphetamine users (P < 0.05). Conclusions: According to the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that methamphetamine induces dissociative psychosis in methamphetamine users.
Cyberspace as a Metaphor of Being Online or a Particular form of Space Organization?
Authors: Černý Michal
Published: October 2021

Cyberspace gradually becomes a place (state, space) in which more and more interactions between users take place. The boundaries between online and offline are progressively being washed away, and it will be increasingly important to be able to work with it adequately for research in pedagogy and historiography. I aimed to create an empirical probe into how the term “cyberspace” works by students of the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University in Brno, or how they perceive it. For the research, I used the study of metaphors.
Historical and Paradigmatic Development of Educational Processes in Ukraine: Author’s Substantiation
Authors: Demyanenko Natalia
Published: October 2021

The process of higher education development in Ukraine of the 19 – beginning of 21 century in the unity of academic, professionally oriented, vocationally-technological and humanitarian paradigmatic directions is founded. Major trends and characteristics of each of them are identified. It is proved that modern humanitarian pedagogical paradigm does not cancel the previous paradigms but ensures their implementation on a qualitatively new level. The development of higher education doesn’t occur in terms of leveling and replacement of existing paradigmatic direction by another one, but in the context of their coexistence, and in the condition of each next paradigm dominance on a new stage of society development.
Pandemie nemoci covid-19, nouzový stav a rozsudek trestního kolegia Nejvyššího soudu ze dne 16. 3. 2021
Authors: Kotlán Pavel
Published: October 2021

Článek se zabývá nedávným rozsudkem Nejvyššího soudu ze dne 16. 3. 2021, sp. zn. 15 Tdo 110/2021, který má zásadní význam pro aplikační praxi. Rozsudek se týká velmi aktuálního problému vztahu nouzového stavu a naplnění znaku kvalifikované skutkové podstaty „za… události vážně ohrožující život nebo zdraví lidí, veřejný pořádek nebo majetek“ v případě pandemie nemoci covid-19. Hlavním cílem pojednání je zhodnocení tohoto rozsudku a prezentace správné interpretace oné „ohrožující události“ aplikací příslušných metod nalézání práva. Řešení problému je spojeno s návrhy de lege ferenda, které jsou rovněž součástí práce.
Medzinárodné právo, umelá inteligencia a vice versa
Authors: Klučka Ján
Published: October 2021

Globálny rozvoj umelej inteligencie charakterizovaný jej rýchlym rastom a diverzifikáciou prostriedkov praktickej aplikácie nie je v súčasnosti sprevádzaný vznikom pravidiel medzinárodného práva ako jedným z možných prostriedkov jej úpravy. Dôvody sú viaceré, a to na jednej strane absencia právnej definície umelej inteligencie a na druhej strane špecifiká tvorby pravidiel medzinárodného práva. Okrem obsahových nejasností možnej úpravy umelej inteligencie je tvorba pravidiel medzinárodného práva časovo náročná, a preto nemôže adekvátne reagovať na rýchly rozvoj technológií umelej inteligencie. Túto legislatívnu medzeru v súčasnom období vypĺňajú pravidlá soft law a medzinárodné štandardy, tvorba ktorých je rýchlejšia a schopná primeranejšie reagovať na nové výzvy umelej inteligencie. Tieto pravidlá môžu súčasne predstavovať inšpiráciu aj pre tvorbu nových právnych pravidiel. Doterajšie skúsenosti signalizujú, že úloha medzinárodného práva zrejme (aspoň v dohľadnej dobe) nebude dominantná, ale že pôjde o viaczložkovú úpravu, na ktorej sa budú podieľať aj pravidlá soft law a medzinárodné štandardy, pričom ich vzájomné vzťahy a význam sa môžu v budúcnosti meniť. Vo vzťahu k umelej inteligencii však možno aplikovať aj právne pravidlá súčasného medzinárodné práva, pokiaľ to ich výklad dovolí. Ak tomu tak nie je, prichádza do úvahy vznik novej medzinárodnej zmluvy. Umelá inteligencia má vplyv aj na procesné pravidlá medzinárodného práva, napríklad na monitorovanie a kontrolu plnenia medzinárodných záväzkov, proces prípravy medzinárodnej zmluvy, proces rokovania o medzinárodnej zmluve, identifikáciu procesu vzniku obyčajového pravidla, výpočtovú analýzu textu medzinárodnej zmluvy a pod.
Náhrada majetkové a nemajetkové újmy v agenturním zaměstnávání
Authors: Jirásko Vojtěch
Published: October 2021

Článek přináší analýzu problematiky náhrady majetkové a nemajetkové újmy v agenturním zaměstnávání. Rozebrány jsou jednak jednotlivé občanskoprávní a pracovněprávní principy a zásady, jednak jednotlivé vztahy v rámci agenturního zaměstnávání. Zvláštní pozornost je věnována nárokům jednotlivých subjektů a jejich provázanosti. Zkoumány jsou vztahy mezi agenturou práce a zaměstnancem agentury práce, mezi agenturou práce a uživatelem a posledně též vztahy mezi zaměstnancem agentury práce a uživatelem. Důraz je kladen na zevrubný rozbor posledně uvedeného faktického vztahu mezi agenturním zaměstnancem a uživatelem. V této oblasti byl navržen koncept de lege ferenda, dle kterého by bylo možné uvažovat, že se nad rámec odpovědnostního vztahu mezi zaměstnancem a zaměstnavatelem (tj. zaměstnancem agentury práce a agenturou práce) sjedná zvláštní, smlouvou založená, odpovědnost uživatele. Komplexně je následně přistoupeno k ustanovení § 309 odst. 7 zák. č. 262/2006 Sb., zákoníku práce, ze kterého vyplývá možnost sjednat mezi agenturním zaměstnancem a uživatelem opatření k vyšší ochraně majetku uživatele. Dané ustanovení již po určitý čas vzbuzuje diskusi mezi odbornou veřejností, a proto je nezbytné odpovědět na otázky, na které prozatím nebylo dostatečně reagováno. Zásadní je v rovině jednotlivých opatření primárně jejich výhodnost, která nesmí být nižší u dočasně přidělených zaměstnanců agentury práce, než jak je tomu u kmenových zaměstnanců. Článek směřuje k poskytnutí uceleného náhledu na odpovědnostní vztahy v agenturním zaměstnávání s přihlédnutím k určitým specifikům, která z této koncepce (agenturního zaměstnávání) vyplývají.
Pojmové znaky podvodu na DPH v judikatuře Soudního dvora Evropské unie
Authors: Brychta Karel , Kupčík Petr , Procházka Vojtěch
Published: October 2021

Tento příspěvek prezentuje systematizované závěry z vybraných klíčových rozhodnutí SDEU týkající se odnětí nároku na odpočet DPH (se zaměřením zejména na identifikaci skutkových okolností, které mohou svědčit pro naplnění znaků daňového podvodu/úniku na DPH a identifikaci pravidel a mantinelů pro hodnocení objektivních okolností a existence dobré víry na straně daňových subjektů). Z provedeného výzkumu vyplynulo, že SDEU nepodává explicitní a taxativní definici daňového podvodu (úniku) – vymezuje však znaky a okolnosti, které pro existenci daňového podvodu (úniku) svědčí. Z judikatury přiléhavé ke kladené výzkumné otázce je evidentní, že daňový únik je možné spojovat s širokou množinou skutečností. Judikatura SDEU etablovala rovněž testy (nástroje), které brání nadměrně extenzivnímu výkladu znaků podvodného jednání. Judikatura SDEU rovněž nelimituje teritoriální rozsah daňového podvodu (relevance i ve vztahu k třetím zemím). Dovození účasti daňového subjektu na daňovém podvodu je založena na bázi úmyslu a nedbalosti – jinými slovy SDEU vylučuje systém odpovědnosti bez zavinění. Z judikatury SDEU rovněž plyne značná míra diskrece daná tuzemským správním orgánům při správě daně a dokazování relevantních skutkových okolností. Ačkoli v judikatuře SDEU nejsou předmětné objektivní skutečnosti podrobněji popsány, lze prostřednictvím základní logiky dojít k závěru, že pokud cílem vědomostního testu je učinit závěr o vědomosti určitého subjektu o podvodném jednání, tak jednotlivé objektivní skutečnosti musí být okolnosti ve sféře vlivu dotčeného subjektu, tudíž se v zásadě bude jednat o okolnosti vyplývající z obchodních vztahů s přímým dodavatelem či odběratelem.
Baudelaire's Creole Gothic : A Postcolonial Afterlife for Les Fleurs du mal
Authors: Gallagher Mary
Published: October 2021

Baudelaire’s verse poetry is informed by a pervasive Creole Gothic resonance. Two separate but related topoi, the Undead and the Living Dead, lie at the heart of the collection’s necrological imaginary of slave and zombie labour. It is this Gothic double-trope of death-in-life/life-in-death
that activates the Gothic Creole strain running through Les Fleurs du mal. Ironically, those poems that seem to evoke most directly the Creole world that Baudelaire encountered in 1841, firstly in Mauritius and then in Réunion, avoid all evocation of plantation slavery. Conversely,
the city poems associate modern metropolitan life with the idea of slavery, representing it as a living death and death as a merely temporary and reversible escape. The collection’s representation of this ‘living death’ foreshadows the construction (by Orlando Patterson,
most notably) of transatlantic chattel slavery as ‘social death’. As for the poetic representation of the ‘Undead’, this centres on the figure of the zombie. The zombie is essentially a slave for whom death has proved no guarantee against an endless ‘living death’
of hard labour. If the Creole inflection of Baudelaire’s imagery relates primarily to the realities of industrialized plantation labour and to the chattel slavery on which it was based, it is further reinforced by indices of tropical localisation and of racial difference, more specifically
pigmentation. However subliminal its resonance, this Creole Gothic strain guarantees for Baudelaire’s Fleurs du mal a vivid postcolonial afterlife.
400-W single-mode single-frequency laser output from homemade tapered fiber
Authors: An Yi , Pan Zhi-Yong , Yang Huan , Huang Liang-Jin , Ma Peng-Fei , Yan Zhi-Ping , Jiang Zong-Fu , Zhou Pu ,   College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China
Published: October 2021

In recent years, the high-power single-frequency fiber lasers have developed rapidly, and they have been used in nonlinear frequency conversion and gravitational wave detection. The main factors limiting the output power of single-frequency fiber lasers are the nonlinear effect and transverse mode instability (TMI) effect. In general, large-core fibers can mitigate nonlinear effects while small-core fibers help to suppress the TMI effect. Owing to the core diameter varying in the longitudinal direction, tapered double clad fiber (T-DCF) is a promising solution to simultaneously suppress the nonlinearity and TMI effects. In the present study, we have fabricated a piece of 2.2-m-long Ytterbium-doped T-DCF. The core diameter and the cladding diameter of this fiber vary gradually from 30.3 μm to 49.3 μm and from 245 μm to 404 μm, respectively. Using this homemade fiber, we constructe an all-fiberized single-frequency master oscillator power amplifier system, which is pumped by laser diodes with a central wavelength of 976 nm. The seed of the system has a central wavelength of 1064 nm, and output power of 30 mW. The T-DCF is coiled on a piece of cooling plate, whose output end is cleaved at a 8° angle. The laser is output to free space and collimated by a free-space collimator. After the collimator, dichroic mirror is utilized to strip out the residual pump power for measuring power, spectrum, time-domain signal and beam quality. The output power increases linearly with the pumping power increasing. When the pumping power is 502 W, the output power reaches 400 W. And there is no stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) nor TMI under the power level. The corresponding slope efficiency is 81.7% while the M2 is measured to be 1.29, exhibiting the single-mode output characteristic of the system. When the output power is further increased to 418 W, the TMI effect is observed, which limits further the power scaling of the single-mode output. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest output power of single-frequency fiber laser based on home-made gain fibers. The results indicate that T-DCFs can simultaneously suppress the nonlinearity and TMI, thus providing a useful reference for further power scaling of single-frequency fiber lasers. Higher output power is expected by optimizing the parameters of T-DCF and the structure of system.
Analysis of how the spatial and temporal patterns of fire and their bioclimatic and anthropogenic drivers vary across the Amazon rainforest in El Niño and non-El Niño years
Authors: Singh Minerva , Zhu Xiaoxiang
Published: October 2021

In the past two decades, Amazon rainforest countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Venezuela) have experienced a substantial increase in fire frequency due to the changes in the patterns of different anthropogenic and climatic drivers. This study examines how both fire dynamics and bioclimatic factors varied based on the season (wet season and dry season) El Niño years across the different countries and ecosystems within the Amazon rainforest. Data from publicly available databases on forest fires (Global Fire Atlas) and bioclimatic, topographic and anthropogenic variables were employed in the analysis. Linear mixed-effect models discovered that year type (El Niño vs. non-El Niño), seasonality (dry vs. wet), land cover and forest strata (in terms of canopy cover and intactness) and their interactions varied across the Amazonian countries (and the different ecosystems) under consideration. A machine learning model, Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline (MARS), was utilized to determine the relative importance of climatic, topographic, forest structure and human modification variables on fire dynamics across wet and dry seasons, both in El Niño and non-El Niño years. The findings of this study make clear that declining precipitation and increased temperatures have strong impact on fire dynamics (size, duration, expansion and speed) for El Niño years. El Niño years also saw greater fire sizes and speeds as compared to non-El Niño years. Dense and relatively undisturbed forests were found to have the lowest fire activity and increased human impact on a landscape was associated with exacerbated fire dynamics, especially in the El Niño years. Additionally, the presence of grass-dominated ecosystems such as grasslands also acted as a driver of fire in both El Niño and non-El Niño years. Hence, from a conservation perspective, increased interventions during the El Niño periods should be considered.
ONLINE SHOPPING BEHAVIOR IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF MARTIN HEIDEGGER'S TECHNOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY
Authors: ANAM Rifqi Khairul , MUNIR Misnal , HADI Protasius Hardono
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this study examined online shopping behavior in Surabaya by using a technological philosophical point of view. The research contributes on critical thinking about human life in the era of technology, especially in online shopping. Methodology: This research approach was qualitative, with the phenomenological method from Martin Heidegger. Research informants were obtained using a key person who already knew the living conditions around the analyzed location. The data collection method used systematic interviews. Findings: The results show that the nature of online shopping behavior is a form of framing shopping as it is. Moreover, the result of this study are expected to contribute critical thinking related to human life in the world of technology.
MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE CONTEXT OF SMES
Authors: CHEGRI Meryem , RIGALMA Hamza , TORRA Mohamed
Published: October 2021

Several researchers have been concerned with management control, others have analyzed the specificities of SMEs, but research relating to management control in SMEs is still scarce.

Management control is one of the foundations of company management and performance, it provides the visibility necessary to coordinate, plan and judge the actions of company stakeholders. Stemming from industrial accounting, it now appears as a means of controlling the complexity of organizations and mobilizing skills. Thus, the purpose of management control systems, in particular, is to present managers with methods and tools enabling them to provide them with useful information for decision-making.

The objective of this work is twofolded: – identify the specific features of SMEs which may have an influence on their management system and therefore on their management control practices; – draw up an overview of the different management control tools and practices adapted to SMEs to finally confirm that management control in SMEs exists.
Determinants of Adaptation Strategies of Agricultural Farmers to Climate Change Vulnerability in Odisha
Authors: Das Manoj Kumar
Published: October 2021

Climate change poses severe threat to agriculture sector in terms of welfare losses especially for marginal & smallholder farmers whose main source of livelihood derives from agriculture. It is required to neutralize the potential adverse effects of climate change if welfare losses to this vulnerable segment of the society are to be avoided. So this study aims to assess the agricultural farmers’ vulnerability and determine quantitatively the factors that contribute in adaptation strategies. To accomplish the stated objective, primary surveys of agricultural farmers are designed and data are collected to analyse the results using probit regression model. The study is conducted in the Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha, India. For the study, a total of 197 farmers’ households were surveyed and to assess the vulnerability of farmers’ household to climate change, IPCC-LVI approach is used. Then to identify the determinants of adaptation strategies, a regression model is run using probit model. The results reveal that farmers are moderately vulnerable to climate change in the study area. Further, marginal & small farmers are relatively more vulnerable than medium and large farmers to climate change. It is observed that size of the farm, income level, access to credit facilities, extension training and access to climate & weather information are important determinants of adaptation strategies of farmers. Therefore, the study concludes that better credit facilities, extension training facilities and dissemination of climate information may be done through policy intervention for more adaptation strategies by farmers.
An Overview of the Ethnobotanic, Ethnopharmacological and Medicinal Importance of Edible Wild Root Tuber Orchids in Cameroon
Authors: Fonmboh Dobgima John , Fokunang Tembe Estella , Ndasi Ngwasiri Pride , Ngangmou Noumo Thierry , Herve Bayaga , Tita Bengyella Louis , Nubia Kaba Christian , Awah Tita Margaret , Aba Ejoh Richard , Fokunang Charles Ntungwen
Published: October 2021

Orchids are well known for their beautiful exotic flowers, and food-flavoring products which make them a resource of great economic importance in the global horticultural and food industries. In Cameroon, orchids are particularly important for their tubers which are used for food and traditional medicine. Orchids are therefore of considerable economic importance, traded within and across the regions and out of the country. Few research works have reported for these orchids in Cameroon exploring mostly identification and taxonomy. It is therefore the responsibility and duty of the local population to valorize the tubers for national use based on their awareness of the hidden potentials for food and medicine. Many people will have eaten orchids without realizing, due to the countless products in international trade that contain the seeds of artificially propagated Vanilla orchids. However, this legal trade is only one example of orchids being used as ingredients in food and drink. One example is the trade in chikanda, a cake made from the ground tubers of terrestrial orchids and consumed in several countries in Central and East Africa. Another product made from the ground tubers of terrestrial species is salep, which is used as an ingredient in hot drinks and ice cream and consumed mainly in Turkey and neighboring countries.

The high exploitation with no biodiversity and conservation strategic plan by indigenes is a call for concern about the sustainability as future existence of these wild edible orchids is highly threatened; reason why orchids are on the international red list. This paper reviews the ethnobotanical and medicinal uses of orchid roots and tubers with a focus on Cameroon. The review highlights some of the areas that require more focus in terms of research and policy interventions, namely identification of all edible orchids, domestication of edible orchids, and trade controls. Focusing on Cameroon, this paper reviews and examines the edible root and tuber orchids developments based on information from some of the work that has been done in Cameroon, the ethnobotanic, ethnopharmacological and medicinal uses of these orchids.
Gamma Radiation Levels of Some Selected Government Farms in Rivers State Nigeria
Authors: Abayiga A. Nwii , Avwiri G. O. , Ononugbo C. P.
Published: October 2021

Human are exposed to Background Ionizing radiation (BIR) due to the consumption of crops from fertilized farms within the study area.an in-situ measurement of BIR exposure rate in six fertilized farms and the unfertilized farm aws carried out using a well calibrated portable nuclear radiation detector (Digilert 200). and Geographical positioning system (GPS) for measuring the geographical location. The BIR of the selected local government area varies from 0.012 mR/hr to 0.022 mR / hr and the higher BIR value recorded in Khana, Obio / Akpor, Ahuoda east and Emuoha Local Government area (0.015 mR/hr, 0.015 mR / hr , 0.014 mR/hr , 0.014 mR / hr . While the mean value of Eleme and Gokana were within the permissible limit of 0.013 mR/hr and the BIR of the unfertilized farm was lower than the standard value of 0.013 mR/hr.the mean of absorbed dose varies from 1131 nGy / hr to 122.1nGy/hr which was higher than the recommended safe limit of 84.0 nGy / hr UNSCEAR 2008.The mean of ELCR varies from 0.63 to 0.72x10-3 which is higher than the world average value. The AEDE varies from 0.14 to 0.33 mSv / yr which are below the recommended permissible limit of 1.0 mSv / yr for general public. The effective dose to different body organs are below the recommended limit of 1.0 mSv / yr. The study shows that fertilized farms are contaminated due consistence application of fertilizers during cultivation, but the contamination does not have any direction health effect on individual who consumed crops from fertilized farms but there is the potential for long term health hazards in future such as Cancer due to consistence consumption of crops from fertilized farms.
Down-regulation of BMP8A, SMADs 1/5/8 and BAX Proteins Following Methotrexate-treatment in Testicular Tissue of Swiss Albino Mice
Authors: Ojo Olajumoke Omolara , Ajayi Oluwadamilare Oluwaseun , Ogunbiyi Babafemi Tosin
Published: October 2021

Several studies on the adverse effects of methotrexate have been reported, especially its implication in the degeneration of spermatogenesis, reduced sperm count and ultimate male infertility. As an antagonist, methotrexate (MTX) uses folic acid to obstruct the production of some biomolecules involved in synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein. It is used in the treatment of cancer and other diseases such as psoriasis, and rheumatism. Reports have also revealed that the expression of Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP8a) promotes spermatogenesis and fertility through the induction and activation of signaling sets of transcription factors, SMAD1/5/8. Hence, the expressions of these proteins and role of apoptosis are crucial to understand the mechanism involved in Methotrexate-induced infertility. In view of this, albino mice (Swiss strain) were randomly sorted to four groups. Group I served as control while groups II, III & IV (n=5) were treated with 5, 10 and 20mg/kg/day of Methotrexate (IP) respectively. Expressions of BMP8A and SMADs 1/ 5/ 8 were done by PCR and Western blotting techniques. Germ cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry techniques. Ultrastructural changes were assessed in leydig cells as well as sertoli cells. The results of this study reveal a down-regulation of BMP8A and SMAD1/5/8 proteins in a dose-dependent pattern. Induction of apoptosis was also confirmed by the expression of primary apoptotic Bax antibody. The sertoli cells which play their major roles of nourishing and protecting the development of sperm cells were severely impaired too. These findings suggest that the function of BMP8A and SMAD1/5/8 proteins in promoting proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonia was severely disrupted following methotrexate exposure. Caution should therefore be taken when administering this drug.
Susceptibility of Medical Fungal Isolates to Commonly used Antifungal Agents
Authors: Robinson V. K. , Samuel-Penu B. , Minimah S. O.
Published: October 2021

The susceptibility of fungal isolates associated with indoor air of medical institutions to commonly used antifungal agents were investigated using the open plate technique on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar plates. The well in agar diffusion technique was used in determining the antifungal susceptibility. The antifungal agents used were fluconazole and ketoconazole and these drugs were prepared into four concentrations. Result showed reduced antifungal activity as the concentration decreased. Results of fluconazole against the fungal isolates showed that Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Candida sp, and Mucor sp were all sensitive at 5 mg/ml, 2.5 mg/ml, and 1.25 mg/ml while Rhizopus sp was only sensitive at the 5mg/ml concentration. Antifungal activity of ketoconazole showed that Aspergillus flavus, Candida sp, Mucor sp and Rhizopus sp were all sensitive at the 5, 2.5, 1.25 and 0.63 mg/ml concentrations while A. niger was susceptible to ketoconazole at 5 and 2.5 mg/ml concentrations. The MIC of Ketoconazole against Candida sp, Aspergillus flavus, Mucor sp and Rhizopus sp was 0.63 mg/ml. while the MIC of Aspergillus niger was at 2.5 mg/ml. There was highly significant difference (P≤0.05) in the response of the fungal isolates to fluconazole and ketoconazole in all concentrations of the drugs. Result also showed that both drugs were more effective against Candida sp and because of the effectiveness of ketoconazole on other isolates, it is recommended for use in treating mycoses caused by these fungi from this site.
Microbial Assessment and Health Risks of Consumption of Uncooked Smoked Horse Mackerel Fish (Trachurus trachurus) Sold in Open Markets in Owerri Metropolis, South Eastern Nigeria
Authors: Nwogwugwu N. U. , Chinakwe E. C. , Ihejirika C. E. , Ezenweani E. C. , Ngumah C. C. , Anosike E. E. Mike-
Published: October 2021

Aim: To assess the microbiological quality of uncooked smoked horse mackerel fish (Trachurus trachurus) sold in Owerri and ascertain the presence and prevalence of microorganisms of public health importance.

Study Design: Random sampling was done.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri; from October, 2019 to April, 2020.

Methodology: Smoked fish samples (n=20) were purchased randomly from retailers in Relief, Naze, Eziobodo and Obinze markets and taken to the laboratory for isolation and identification of microorganisms. Standard microbiological methods were employed to analyze for viable heterotrophic bacterial and fungal counts on nutrient agar and potato dextrose agar respectively, using the spread and streak plate techniques. Coliform counts were done on MacConkey agar. Biochemical characterization of the microorganisms was adopted for their identification.

Results: Bacteria identified included Staphylococcus, Escherichia, Proteus, Salmonella and Micrococcus species. Total heterotrophic bacterial counts and coliform counts ranged from 2.8 x 106 cfu/g to 1.6 x 108 cfu/g and 2.7 x 104 cfu/g to 5.3 x 105 cfu/g respectively. Fungal species identified were Penicillium, Rhizopus, Mucor, Aspergillus and Fusarium spp and fungal counts as high as 4.5 x 105 cfu/g were recorded.

Conclusion: The high level of microbial contamination of the samples and the presence of organisms of public health importance signifies an obvious danger to human health. Eating smoked fish without proper cooking should be discouraged by the relevant authorities. Also, food safety authorities should intensify their monitoring efforts towards controlling such contaminations and averting possible outbreaks of diseases.
Left Paraduodenal Hernia Treated With Single-Incision Laparoscopic Surgery: Report of a Case
Authors: Osawa Hideki , Nishimura Junichi , Motoki Yoshiyuki , Miyo Masaaki , Suzuki Yozo , Uemura Mamoru , Haraguchi Naotsugu , Hata Taishi , Mizushima Tsunekazu , Takemasa Ichiro , Yamamoto Hirofumi , Doki Yuichiro , Mori Masaki
Published: October 2021

Paraduodenal hernia is traditionally repaired via conventional laparotomy. Recently, several reports described the repair of paraduodenal hernia via laparoscopic surgery with multiple ports. Due to development of the technique and devices for laparoscopic surgery, single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) has been applied to various operations, including cholecystectomy, appendectomy, and procedures for colorectal cancer. Here, we report treatment of a left paraduodenal hernia via SILS. A 23-year-old man presented with abrupt onset of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Computed tomography revealed a mass of intestinal loops enveloped by a thin capsule on the left of the abdominal cavity. Blood circulation in the jejunal loops was preserved, and no dilatation of the jejunum was observed. Physical and radiographic examination indicated the possibility of left paraduodenal hernia; we performed paraduodenal hernia repair using SILS. After we confirmed that there was no strangulation or gangrenous change in the bowel on laparoscopic examination, we reduced the incarcerated jejunum loops via an atraumatic method. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 8 days after the operation. This disease affects relatively young patients, rendering this operation attractive from the viewpoint of cosmetic benefits and minimal invasion. Paraduodenal hernia repair via SILS is feasible, safe, and may constitute an alternative method for paraduodenal hernia without necrotic change.