bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
TDMA-clustering-based approach to avoid the reader-to-tag collision problem during the stocktaking process
Authors: El Ouadaa Sara , Bah Slimane , Berrado Abdelaziz 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe reader-to-tag collision problem occurs when multiple readers try to access the same tag simultaneously. The traditional collision avoidance techniques such as RTS (request to send) and CTS (clear to send) are not applicable because a reader may communicate with multiple tags simultaneously. In this paper, we introduce a collaborative communication protocol to avoid reader-to-tag collisions using TDMA and clustering approaches. The protocol targets the RFID-WSN static systems arranged in a square grid topology, which we can find in different RFID applications such as warehouse stocktaking, parking cars, agricultural fields, and libraries. In such simple topologies, the other proposed reader collision solutions for general use of RFID systems are not efficient since they cannot avoid all possible collisions, and worse of that, some of them are not even detectable, which is intolerable for stocktaking applications. Moreover, they are complicated and heavy in resources, while read throughput is limited. Our protocol presents a simple solution for simple RFID systems with better performances. To validate the proposed protocol, we presented a model using the Process Meta Language (Promela), which is executed under the simple Promela interpreter (SPIN) model checker to verify the protocol properties as deadlocks and livelocks. Also as a proof of concept, we have done a first-step performance analysis using the java runtime.
Investigating the effect of lab bias on long-term stream chemistry data
Authors: Brown Cindi L. , Miniat Chelcy F. , Knoepp Jennifer D. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractLong-term (LT) stream chemistry studies are used to examine changes in and responses to the environment. Much of the data collected over long periods of time goes through changes in instrumentation, methods, and personnel potentially resulting in changing values. A data user must understand these measures of data quality through quality control (QC) results to know with certainty if trends are real or attributable to other factors. We used the Web of Science database search engine to search for LT stream chemistry studies. For each study, we then determined: record or study length; if QC was reported; and if QC was used. We found that 33% of papers reported QC in the method, and 12% presented the QC in the results. Next, we conducted a case study on 46 years of stream chemistry data to evaluate the data with and without the application of QC protocols from two watersheds (WS) at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory; WS 7; clear-cut in 1967–77 and adjacent WS 2 which serves as a reference. We focused on nitrogen and sulfur due to their importance in understanding the forest ecosystem response to disturbance (NO3) and acid deposition (SO4). We determined average annual dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) export (NH4 + NO3 = DIN) using three methods for censoring values below the method detection limit (mdl): (1) the found value, (2) the value of zero, and (3) one-half the mdl value. We found that DIN export for WS 2/WS 7 was (1) 66.9/831.4 (g ha−1 yr−1), (2) 45.4/808.0 (g ha−1 yr−1), and (3) 72.1/823.2 (g ha−1 yr−1) using the three censoring methods, and that the export estimate was significantly different for WS 2 but not for WS 7 (P = 0.001). We found that on average stream NH4 concentrations were below the mdl 58% of the time until an instrument change in 1994 resulted in improved mdls resulting in fewer data points below detection. We found increased bias for stream SO4 concentration following an instrumentation change from segmented flow analysis to ion chromatography. As a result, stream SO4 concentration data that were bias-corrected declined more rapidly in WS 2 compared with non-bias-corrected data, but not in WS 7. We conclude that including QC results with LT data is essential to verify data validity and give the data user a full understanding of the results.
Development of web enabled water resource information system using open source software for Patiala and SAS Nagar districts of Punjab, India
Authors: Singh Banjeet , Kaur Samanpreet , Litoria Pradeep Kumar , Das Susanta 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Over the globe, efforts are being made to collect data and develop an adequate water resource information system for optimising its use. India is the largest consumer of water, with an estimated usage of around 300 cubic kilometers per year. Punjab, a north-western state of India, is an example of severe crises aquifer depletion due to unconstrained consumption of groundwater, leading to degradation of its quantity as well as quality. Thus it is of great importance to compile up-to-date information about the water requirement for its appropriate and sustainable use. Remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) are the technologies that can provide efficient and effective information system to tackle the water quality & water supply planning parameters. Thus, under the present study, a web-enabled water resource information system has been developed in the GIS environment for the SAS (Sahibzada Ajit Singh) Nagar and Patiala districts of Punjab by using the open source software MS4W and pmapper. This system provides digital information of natural, such as drainage, and man-made features like roads, canals, and tube wells with their location and so on, and also provide information related to water level, water quality of wells, and well depth for the study area. Such an information system can be very helpful for the administrators and can serve as a decision support system for planners and policy makers so that the areas where problems related to water quality can be identified and focused upon. The system can provide an effective and meaningful direction for the planning and development of both districts.
Application of ZIF-67 as a crosslinker to prepare sulfonated polysulfone mixed-matrix membranes for enhanced water permeability and separation properties
Authors: Yin Jiulong , Tang Hai , Liu Di , Huang Tingting , Zhu Lei 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
High-performance sulfonated polysulfone (SPSf) mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) were fabricated via a nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method using zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-67 (ZIF-67) as a crosslinker. Acid-base crosslinking occurred between the sulfonic acid groups of SPSf and the tertiary amine groups of the embedded ZIF-67, which improved the dispersion of ZIF-67 and simultaneously improved the membrane strzcture and permselectivity. The dispersion of ZIF-67 in the MMMs and the acid-base crosslinking reaction were verified by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The pore structure analysis of MMMs indicated that filling ZIF-67 into SPSf enhanced the average surface pore sizes, surface porosities and more micropore in cross-sections. The crossflow filtrations showed the MMMs have higher pure water fluxes (57 to 111 L m−2 h−1) than the SPSf membrane (55 L m−2 h−1) but also higher bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection rate of 93.9–95.8%, a model protein foulant. The MMMs showed a higher water contact angle than the SPSf membrane due to the addition of hydrophobic ZIF-67 and acid-base crosslinking, and also maintained high thermal stability evidenced by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results. At the optimal ZIF-67 concentration of 0.3 wt%, the water flux of the SPSf-Z67-0.3 membrane was 82 L m−2 h−1 with a high BSA rejection rate of 95.3% at 0.1 MPa and better antifouling performance (FRR = 70%).
Bacillus sp. Bacteriocins: Natural Weapons against Bacterial Enemies
Authors: Vaca Jessica , Ortiz Aurelio , Sansinenea Estibaliz 
Published: May 2021

Background:
Currently antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria are emerging
as an important health problem worldwide. The search for new compounds with antibiotic
characteristics is the most promising alternative. Bacteriocins are natural compounds
that are inhibitory against pathogens, and Bacillus species are the major producers of these
compounds, showing antimicrobial activity against clinically important bacteria. These
peptides not only have potential in the pharmaceutical industry but also in food and
agricultural sectors.

Objective:
We provide an overview of the recent bacteriocins isolated from different species
of Bacillus including their applications and older bacteriocins.

Results:
In this review, we have revised some works about the improvements carried out
in the production of bacteriocins.

Conclusion:
These applications make bacteriocins very promising compounds that need
to study for industrial production.
Diversity of Woody Species and Biomass Carbon Stock in Response to Exclosure Age in Central Dry Lowlands of Ethiopia
Authors: Ibrahim Temima , Tesfay Fikrey , Geremew Bethel 
Published: May 2021

Objective:
Empirical evidence on the potential of area exclosure in the restoration of severely degraded lands is crucially important. Thus, a study was conducted to examine the influence of exclosure age on vegetation structure, diversity, and biomass carbon stock in the central dry lowland of Ethiopia.

Methods:
Exclosures of 5, 15, >20 years old, and adjacent open grazing land were selected. Data on vegetation were collected using 20 × 20 m sampling quadrats which were laid along parallel transect lines.

Results:
The result showed that 17 woody species which represent 9 families were recorded at exclosures and open grazing lands. Shannon-Wiener (H') diversity index ranged from 0.74 (open grazing land) to 2.12 (middle age exclosure). Shannon evenness (E) index was higher in the middle age exclosure (0.80). Woody species basal area and tree density significantly (p < 0.05) increased with increasing exclosure age. The Aboveground woody biomass significantly (p < 0.05) varied from 12.60 (open grazing land) to 68.61 Mg ha-1 (middle age exclosure). Similarly, the aboveground biomass (AGB) carbon stocked was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the middle (32 Mg ha-1) and old age exclosures (31 Mg ha-1).

Conclusion:
This study indicated that exclusion can restore the degraded vegetation and sequester and stock more atmospheric carbon dioxide in the aboveground biomass. Therefore, open degraded grazing land of the lowland areas can be restored into a promising stage through area exclosure land use management.
Alih Teknologi Pemanfaatan Pelepah Kelapa Sawit sebagai Media Tanam Jamur Tiram Putih (Pleurotus Ostreatus) pada Masyarakat Perkebunan
Authors: Mardiana Siti , Panggabean Ellen Lumisar , Umroh Bobby 
Published: May 2021

Pelatihan penerapan teknologi pemanfaatan limbah pelepah kelapa sawit sebagai media tanam jamur tiram pada masyarakat Desa Sampali merupakan salah satu metode transfer/alih teknologi tepat guna yang diterapkan oleh Universitas Medan Area. Tujuan pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah membantu masyarakat untuk meningkatkan pendapatan, meningkatkan gizi, memperbaiki lingkungan dengan mengurangi limbah organik, dan memberikan kesempatan kerja kepada pemuda setempat. Metode yang digunakan adalah pelatihan dan pendampingan teknis pada kelompok masyarakat Sampali dengan transfer teknologi berupa pembuatan kumbung (rumah jamur), pencincangan pelepah kelapa sawit menjadi serbuk berukuran 10 mes, pembuatan baglog, dan pembuatan demplot budi daya jamur tiram dengan media serbuk pelepah sawit. Hasil dari program pelatihan ini adalah (a) pemanfaatan pelepah sawit yang awalnya limbah menjadi media tanam alternatif untuk tanaman jamur tiram dan (b) bertambahnya pengetahuan masyarakat perihal budi daya jamur menggunakan media selain serbuk kayu yang semakin sulit diperoleh. Pelatihan dan pendampingan ini diharapkan dapat meningkatkan gizi masyarakat dengan pemanfaatan limbah pelepah sawit sebagai media tanam jamur tiram dan meningkatkan perekonomian masyarakat.
Validity of comorbidity adjustment scores in estimating in-hospital mortality in individual subgroups of race/ethnicity
Authors: Tangel Virginia E , Lui Briana , Halawani Aladdin Dima El , Pryor Kane O , White Robert S 
Published: May 2021

Aim:
To examine the validity of race/ethnicity-specific comorbidity adjustment scores in estimating in-hospital mortality.
Materials & methods:
Using 2007–2014 data from the State Inpatient Databases (SID), we compared the performance of derived race/ethnicity-specific composite scores to the existing scores and binary Elixhauser comorbidity measures at estimating in-hospital mortality.
Results:
In the overall validation sample (N = 9,564,277), our index (c = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.79–0.80) discriminated better than the van Walraven score (c = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.79–0.79), SID 29 (c = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.78–0.79) and SID 30 (c = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.78–0.78), but was not superior to the binary indicators (c = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.80–0.80). Similar findings were observed in individual populations of White and Black patients. All models showed weak calibration.
Conclusion:
Race/ethnicity-specific indexes discriminated slightly better than existing composite measures at modeling in-hospital mortality in individual subgroups of race/ethnicity.
Does Mandatory IFRS Adoption Affect Audit Hours and the Effectiveness to Constrain Earnings Management? Evidence from Italy
Authors: Azzali Stefano , Mazza Tatiana , Reichelt Kenneth J. , Wang Dechun 
Published: May 2021

SUMMARY
We examine the effect IFRS adoption has had on audit effort and the effectiveness of greater audit effort on constraining earnings management. We find that following Italy's adoption of IFRS, audit hours (but not the hourly rate) increased, suggesting that audit effort (in audit hours) increased following IFRS adoption. We then examine whether more audit hours are associated with improved audit quality in the IFRS regime. Consistent with prior literature (Caramanis and Lennox 2008), we find that more audit effort is associated with lower abnormal accruals in the period before IFRS adoption. Interestingly, after Italy adopted IFRS, abnormal accruals are lower, but audit hours were less associated with lower abnormal accruals, implying that more audit hours are needed to constrain earnings management. Collectively, our empirical analysis suggests that while audit effort increased with mandatory IFRS adoption, the effectiveness of audit effort to constrain earnings management decreased.
Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts: Collaborating for Diversity
Authors: Dey R. Mithu , Lim Lucy , Ross Frank , Walker Tracey , Bouyer Ken 
Published: May 2021

SUMMARY
The Center for Accounting Education at Howard University partnered with public accounting firms, professional accounting associations, state CPA societies, and accounting academics to formulate recommendations to improve the advancement and retention of Black accounting professionals. Black accountants make up 9 percent of all U.S. accountants and auditors, but in public accounting firms they account for only 4 percent of professional staff and a mere 1 percent of partners (U.S. BLS 2019; AICPA 2019). An important indicator of the collaboration's success is that public accounting firm leaders sought out its findings and are implementing its recommendations. This paper presents the formation, operation, and outcomes of the collaboration. It also describes the value each group gained from collaborating and provides recommendations for managing collaborations. Our descriptions are offered as a model for others to translate the results of academic research into industry action.
Data Availability: Survey results are available in summary form from the CAE.
JEL Classifications: I2; J4; M4.
Firm Use of Cybersecurity Risk Disclosures
Authors: Jiang Wanying , Legoria Joseph , Reichelt Kenneth J. , Walton Stephanie 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACT
Increasingly, firms are subject to rising cybersecurity risks. One way that firms can communicate cybersecurity uncertainty and reduce information asymmetry with external stakeholders is through cybersecurity risk disclosures. SEC (2011, 2018) guidance encourages the disclosure of significant cybersecurity risk factors. However, not all firms provide informative or quality disclosures following a cybersecurity breach event. In this study, we examine firms' use of cybersecurity risk disclosures after a cybersecurity breach. We find that not all breached firms alter their cybersecurity disclosure behavior similarly following a breach. Rather, firm prior breach experience and breach-related market reactions impact the provision of additional cybersecurity disclosures. Our study provides initial evidence on when firms provide additional cybersecurity disclosures post-breach and informs regulators and policymakers on how firms utilize cybersecurity risk disclosures as a response behavior.
Incentivizing Irreversible Investment
Authors: Livdan Dmitry , Nezlobin Alexander 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACT
Existing dynamic investment models that show that a manager can be incentivized to implement the optimal investment policy rely on the assumption that the firm is operating in an ever-expanding product market. This paper presents an analytically tractable, discrete-time, neoclassical model with irreversible investment and the possibility of unfavorable demand events. We show that even when the principal is uninformed about changes in demand for the firm's output, there exists a performance measurement system that leads to goal congruent investment incentives for the manager. If the principal can observe the unfavorable demand events, then goal congruence can be achieved using very simple accrual accounting rules, such as straight-line depreciation.
JEL Classifications: G31; M41; M52.
Estimation of the Shoulder Joint Angle using Brainwaves
Authors: Sasaki Minoru , Iida Takaaki , Muguro Joseph , Njeri Waweru , Laksono Pringgo Widyo , Bin Suhaimi Muhammad Syaiful Amri , Rusydi Muhammad Ilhamdi 
Published: May 2021

This paper presents the angle of the shoulder joint as basic research for developing a machine interface using EEG. The raw EEG voltage signals and power density spectrum of the voltage value were used as the learning feature. Hebbian learning was used on a multilayer perceptron network for pattern classification for the estimation of joint angles 0o, 90o and 180o of the shoulder joint. Experimental results showed that it was possible to correctly classify up to 63.3% of motion using voltage values of the raw EEG signal with the neural network. Further, with selected electrodes and power density spectrum features, accuracy rose to 93.3% with more stable motion estimation.
Extrapolating DFT Towards the Complete Basis Set Limit: Lessons from the PBE Family of Functionals
Authors: Kraus Peter 
Published: May 2021

In this work, I derive a set of formulas for calculating extrapolation parameters based on the percentage of HF exchange and PT correlation within the functional recipe. I use a set of CBS energies from finite element calculations, calculated with PBE and related functionals, to do so.The obtained extrapolation parameters perform better than previous, empirically-derived values. They are shown to be transferrable to non-PBE functionals, and the [2,3]-zeta extrapolations work well in cases with non-covalent character.
Fotoactivismo, empatía y política de los afectos.
Authors: Allaltuni Zaira Sabrina , Contursi Ana 
Published: May 2021

Esta entrevista se produce a partir del diálogo con SADO, colectivo fotográfico de la Ciudad de la Plata. La práctica y producción de este grupo de fotógrafes argentines da cuenta de los modos inéditos en los que la fotografía contemporánea se inscribe en la compleja realidad actual. A través de la constitución de prácticas que cruzan lo documental, lo poético, la horizontalidad, la autogestión, lo afectivo y lo social, sus producciones y acciones se instalan en la frontera entre el arte, el activismo y el fotoperiodismo. La decisión de enunciarse colectivamente en pos potenciar las voces, miradas y organización colaborativa es una de sus apuestas más significativas. El interés por los temas macro políticos convive con una fuerte inscripción en las problemáticas regionales, articulando las exigencias de la inmediatez, la calle y las historias de vida. Sus imágenes abordan desde diferentes perspectivas temas como trabajo, género, sexopolítica, territorio, memoria y ddhh, migración y agroecología, entre otros.
Issues of Human Resource Management Practices on Organization Performance: A Case Study of Nepal Telecom
Authors: Khanal Kapil 
Published: May 2021

Objective: To identify and evaluate the impact of human resource practices on organization performance in service sector.
Methods and Materials: Two main sources of data namely primary and secondary were used in the study. The primary data were collected through mail questionnaire method from 132 employees of Nepal Telecom organization for the study. The secondary source was through journals, textbooks and annual reports of Nepal Telecom.
After collecting responses from 132 respondents, the data were analyzed through SPSS. The value of Cronbach’s Alpha (α) of overall questionnaire is 0.84, which suggests the reliability of primary data. Descriptive as well as explorative research designs were used to analyze the primary and secondary data.
Results and Conclusion: The coefficient of determination between human resource practices and organization performance is 70.89%. There is strong correlation among all independent and dependent variables. All three independent variables are significant positive impact on dependent variable. The study concluded that there is a positive relationship between human resource practices and organization performance of Nepal Telecom organization.
Una città dai mille volti. L’immagine di Napoli nelle opere di Zygmunt Krasiński [Miasto o wielu twarzach. Obraz Neapolu w twórczości Zygmunta Krasińskiego]
Authors: De Carlo Andrea F. 
Published: May 2021

Już wielu badaczy zauważało, że choć Krasiński był przywiązany do Włoch, to jego związek z italską ziemią nie zawsze miał jednakowe natężenie i podlegał on wielu wahaniom i zmianom. Artykuł ma na celu pokazanie tego złożonego związku, pogłębiając szczególnie rozumienie niejednoznacznej relacji poety z Włochami, a zwłaszcza z Neapolem – miastem o wielu twarzach, gdzie mieszkała jego ukochana Delfina Potocka. Ten trudny „związek z miastem” uwidacznia się w korespondencji i twórczości Krasińskiego. Neapol pozostawał emblematyczny, bo to miasto, które z jednej strony jawiło się jako tło rajskiego, idealnego do życia i tworzenia miejsca, pozwalającego odczuwać miłość do ukochanej kobiety, z drugiej zaś strony było miejscem nie do zniesienia, w którym poeta niechętnie przebywał. Najprawdopodobniej na ten dualistyczny obraz Włoch wpłynęły ówczesne problemy społeczno-polityczne miasta, ale przede wszystkim kwestie osobiste – wewnętrzne uczucia i nastroje samego Krasińskiego.