bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What Determines Ginger’s Purchase Decision among Consumers in Tertiary Institutions in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria?
Authors: Akerele Dare , Umar Zainab Kulthum , Adetoye Ayoade Matthew 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
This study examined ginger consumption patterns and factors influencing ginger purchase decisions among consumers in tertiary institutions in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select respondents from whom data were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and probit regression were the tools for data analyses. The average age of the respondents was 29 years. Most (88.36 %) of them indicated they were aware of ginger’s medicinal benefits and approximately 66.14 % of the respondents indicated purchase of ginger products. On the average, respondents spent about ₦302.22 (0.83USD) per month on ginger. Most (86.77 %) of the respondents prefer to consume ginger with food or as herbal tea/drink (41.27 %). Awareness about the health benefits of ginger (P < 0.1), electronic media as source of information (P < 0.1), consumers’ concern for their health (P < 0.05) and previous gratifying experience from ginger’s consumption (P < 0.01) are factors substantially influenced ginger purchase decision. Income and demographic characteristics of the consumers are unlikely to induce decision to buy significantly. Thus, promoting awareness of the health benefits of ginger and, more especially through electronic media are suggested as important pathway for stimulating people’s decision to buy ginger in the studied population.
Performances of Shannon’s Entropy Statistic in Assessment of Distribution of Data
Authors: Jäntschi Lorentz , Bolboacă Sorana D. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractStatistical analysis starts with the assessment of the distribution of experimental data. Different statistics are used to test the null hypothesis (H0) stated as Data follow a certain/specified distribution. In this paper, a new test based on Shannon’s entropy (called Shannon’s entropy statistic, H1) is introduced as goodness-of-fit test. The performance of the Shannon’s entropy statistic was tested on simulated and/or experimental data with uniform and respectively four continuous distributions (as error function, generalized extreme value, lognormal, and normal). The experimental data used in the assessment were properties or activities of active chemical compounds. Five known goodness-of-fit tests namely Anderson-Darling, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Cramér-von Mises, Kuiper V, and Watson U2 were used to accompany and assess the performances of H1.
Cultural Identity Crisis inside Self-Same Culture as Reflected in György Lőrincz’s Novel Sounds of the Heart
Authors: Dani Erzsébet 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
After the decisive historical moment of December 1989, the “border” is open for Transylvanian Hungarians and, in the subsequent euphoria, an exodus to the mother country commences. But with the political freedom of crossing national borders, due to globalization (too), new kinds of border problems present themselves for the youth leaving their native land: border issues of small versus large community, of interpersonal relations; the gap between generations; borders between majority versus minority identity and national versus cultural identity as well. This paper is a literary analysis with special focus on contemporary social phenomena, which will examine - through discussing a relevant contemporary Székely-Hungarian novel - how cultural identity can be deformed, damaged, or at least temporarily distorted when a Hungarian from beyond the border, who arrives in mother-country Hungary, will have to redefine herself/himself within a culture which, in this case, is basically one and the same.1 Can the identity-code, which was formed by, and grew strong in, the minority existence of the native land, function when s/he enters a cultural vacuum which turns out or can turn out to be another cultural maze for her or him? Can we talk about assimilation in such cases? What happens when a “rebellious” young individual’s “I” identity, unsteady in the first place, is left without the conserving and protective “We” identity in the confrontation of mother-nation versus beyond-the-border cultures so that, eventually, the young woman’s “I” identity will be damaged by big-city underworld (sub)culture. Or, will cultural mimicry emerge in this situation too as a strategy to help the individual retain his/her identity? We will seek answers to these questions through discussing a novel - A szív hangjai [Sounds of the Heart] - by a fine representative of contemporary Székely-Hungarian literature, György Lőrincz.
Interlaboratory variability of urinary iodine measurements
Authors: Ittermann Till , Johner Simone , Below Harald , Leiterer Matthias , Thamm Michael , Remer Thomas , Völzke Henry 
Published: September 2017

Abstract

Background:
The iodine status of populations is usually assessed by median urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) in population-based studies, but it is unclear to which extent UIC are comparable across different laboratories. The aim of our study was to investigate the variability of UIC measurements across three well-established German laboratories with long-term clinical-chemical expertise in iodine measurements and to compare these results to the gold standard inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Methods:
UIC levels were measured from 303 urine samples derived from the “Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study” and from volunteers of the University Medicine Greifswald at four different German laboratories. Three of these laboratories used Sandell-Kolthoff reaction with different digestion methods for UIC measurement (Lab1–Lab3), whereas one laboratory used ICP-MS as gold standard.

Results:
Median UIC levels were significantly different across the four laboratories (ICP-MS: 77 μg/L; Lab1: 69 μg/L; Lab2: 73 μg/L; Lab3: 111 μg/L). Linear regressions associating UIC levels of Lab1–Lab3 with UIC levels of ICP-MS showed intercepts significantly different from 0 and slopes significantly different from 1. Intraclass correlations (ICC) in comparison to ICP-MS were 0.91 for Lab1, 0.98 for Lab2, and 0.69 for Lab3. Using the digestion method of Lab2 in Lab3 improved the comparison of UIC levels of Lab3 with those from the ICP-MS (ICC=0.89).

Conclusions:
We have demonstrated larger interlaboratory variations across high-quality laboratories with long-lasting experience in iodine measurements indicating a relevant non-comparability of UIC measurements in iodine monitoring studies. Therefore, standardization of UIC measurements has to be expedited.
Managing Capabilities for Supply Chain Resilience Through it Integration
Authors: Gružauskas Valentas , Vilkas Mantas 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
The trend for e-commerce, estimated population size to 11 billion by 2050, and an increase in urbanization level to 70 % is requiring to re-think the current supply chain. These trends changed the distribution process: delivery distances are decreasing, the product variety is increasing, and more products are being sold in smaller quantities. Therefore, the concept of supply chain resilience has gained more recognition in recent years. The scientific literature analysis conducted by the authors indicate several capabilities that influence supply chain resilience. Collaboration, flexibility, redundancy and integration are the most influential capabilities to supply chain resilience. However, the authors identify that the combination of these capabilities to supply chain resilience is under researched. The authors indicate that by combining these capabilities with the upcoming technologies of industry 4.0, supply chain resilience can be achieved. In the future, the authors are planning to conduct further research to identify the influence of these capabilities to supply chain resilience, to quantify supply chain resilience, and to provide further practices of industry 4.0 concept usage for supply chain resilience.
Common Cycles and Baltic-Nordic Economic Integration
Authors: Hegerty Scott William 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
For centuries, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have enjoyed historic and economic ties with their Nordic neighbors in the Baltic Sea region. While the period since 1991 has been one of increased integration with the European Union, trade linkages with Finland and Sweden are particularly strong for Estonia and Latvia, respectively. This study addresses these connections by applying time-series econometric techniques, with the goal of highlighting where regional connections are strongest. Strong Nordic-Baltic linkages, while providing evidence that historical factors are still important, might also suggest that integration with the rest of the EU is relatively weak. Using quarterly data from 1994 to 2014 for Baltic, Nordic, and other partner countries, business cycles are modeled for output, consumption, and investment. Common regional cycles are also extracted via Principal Components Analysis for the three Baltic countries and for the Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Cross-correlation functions are then generated for various cycle pairs to assess whether any are “synchronized.” One key finding is that the Nordic region has two possible consumption cycles that behave in very different ways, suggesting that this region does not behave as a coherent whole. Norway and Denmark drive one cycle, while Sweden and Finland drive the other. Another key result is that each Baltic country behaves differently from one another. While regional differences are quite large - making it harder to describe this as a single “region” at all - Estonia does show significant connections to Finland, its historic and linguistic neighbor.
Modeling of Graphene Planar Grating in the THz Range by the Method of Singular Integral Equations
Authors: Kaliberda Mstislav E. , Lytvynenko Leonid M. , Pogarsky Sergey A. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractDiffraction of the$H$- polarized electromagnetic wave by the planar graphene grating in the THz range is considered. The scattering and absorption characteristics are studied. The scattered field is represented in the spectral domain via unknown spectral function. The mathematical model is based on the graphene surface impedance and the method of singular integral equations. The numerical solution is obtained by the Nystrom-type method of discrete singularities.
Optimized AVHRR land surface temperature downscaling method for local scale observations: case study for the coastal area of the Gulf of Gdańsk
Authors: Chybicki Andrzej , Łubniewski Zbigniew 
Published: September 2017

AbstractSatellite imaging systems have known limitations regarding their spatial and temporal resolution. The approaches based on subpixel mapping of the Earth’s environment, which rely on combining the data retrieved from sensors of higher temporal and lower spatial resolution with the data characterized by lower temporal but higher spatial resolution, are of considerable interest. The paper presents the downscaling process of the land surface temperature (LST) derived from low resolution imagery acquired by the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), using the inverse technique. The effective emissivity derived from another data source is used as a quantity describing thermal properties of the terrain in higher resolution, and allows the downsampling of low spatial resolution LST images. The authors propose an optimized downscaling method formulated as the inverse problem and show that the proposed approach yields better results than the use of other downsampling methods. The proposed method aims to find estimation of high spatial resolution LST data by minimizing the global error of the downscaling. In particular, for the investigated region of the Gulf of Gdansk, the RMSE between the AVHRR image downscaled by the proposed method and the Landsat 8 LST reference image was 2.255°C with correlation coefficient R equal to 0.828 and Bias = 0.557°C. For comparison, using the PBIM method, it was obtained RMSE = 2.832°C, R = 0.775 and Bias = 0.997°C for the same satellite scene. It also has been shown that the obtained results are also good in local scale and can be used for areas much smaller than the entire satellite imagery scene, depicting diverse biophysical conditions. Specifically, for the analyzed set of small sub-datasets of the whole scene, the obtained RSME between the downscaled and reference image was smaller, by approx. 0.53°C on average, in the case of applying the proposed method than in the case of using the PBIM method.
New non-linear model of groundwater recharge: Inclusion of memory, heterogeneity and visco-elasticity
Authors: Spannenberg Jescica , Atangana Abdon , Vermeulen P.D. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractFractional differentiation has adequate use for investigating real world scenarios related to geological formations associated with elasticity, heterogeneity, viscoelasticity, and the memory effect. Since groundwater systems exist in these geological formations, modelling groundwater recharge as a real world scenario is a challenging task to do because existing recharge estimation methods are governed by linear equations which make use of constant field parameters. This is inadequate because in reality these parameters are a function of both space and time. This study therefore concentrates on modifying the recharge equation governing the EARTH model, by application of the Eton approach. Accordingly, this paper presents a modified equation which is non-linear, and accounts for parameters in a way that it is a function of both space and time. To be more specific, herein, recharge and drainage resistance which are parameters within the equation, became a function of both space and time. Additionally, the study entailed solving the non-linear equation using an iterative method as well as numerical solutions by means of the Crank-Nicolson scheme. The numerical solutions were used alongside the Riemann-Liouville, Caputo-Fabrizio, and Atangana-Baleanu derivatives, so that account was taken for elasticity, heterogeneity, viscoelasticity, and the memory effect. In essence, this paper presents a more adequate model for recharge estimation.
Green synthesis and stabilization of earthworm-like gold nanostructure and quasi-spherical shape using Caesalpinia sappan Linn. extract
Authors: Chartarrayawadee Widsanusan , Too Chee O. , Ross Sukunya , Ross Gareth M. , Jumpatong Kanlaya , Noimou Araya , Settha Apinya 
Published: September 2017

AbstractGreen synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has received much attention due to biocompatibility and being facile and eco-friendly.Caesalpinia sappanLinn. (CS) is a plant found in Southeast Asia and is commonly known as sappan wood. In this research, we are the first to successfully use CS extract as reducing and stabilizing agents for the green synthesis of gold NPs (AuNPs). Colloidal solutions of AuNPs after reduction show natural red-wine and dark purple color depending on the size of AuNPs, without the interference of the orange/reddish-orange color from the CS extract. The concentration of CS was investigated for the formation and stabilization of AuNPs in colloidal solution (i.e. morphology, size and zeta potential). It was found that the optimized concentration of the reducing agent for the green synthesis of AuNPs was in the range of 0.004–0.04 wt% of CS. As the concentration of CS was increased, the sizes of AuNPs decreased due to the adsorption and stabilizing effect of CS. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed differences in size and shape of the NPs with earthworm and quasi-spherical characteristics. The zeta potential of AuNPs synthesized in the presence of CS was approximately in the range of −10 mV to −20 mV, indicating the stability of AuNPs synthesized by CS.
Mass-Transfer Model for Steel, Slag, and Inclusions during Ladle-Furnace Refining
Authors: Zhu Liguang , Jia Yanan , Liu Zengxun , Zhang Caijun , Wang Xingjuan , Xiao Pengcheng 
Published: September 2017

AbstractPrecise control of inclusion and molten steel compositions during ladle-furnace refining is important to obtain high-quality steel. Mass-transfer behavior affects these compositions. A model was developed to investigate the mass transfer occurring between molten steel, slag, inclusions, and the refractory during ladle-furnace refining, using two-film theory to describe the reactions. A coupled-reaction model based on the CaO–Al2O3–MgO–SiO2–FeO–P2O5 slag and Mn–Si–Al–Ca–Mg–P–S–O steel systems was applied to describe the reactions between molten steel and slag; the reactions between the refractory lining and slag or steel were described using average industrial erosion rate data. The model was used to calculate changes in the compositions of molten steel and slag, oxygen activity at the slag–molten steel interface, and composition of the inclusions. The calculated results agreed with operational results for a 100 t ladle furnace at the Tangsteel plant in China.
Numerical Simulation on Superheated Steam Fluidized Bed Drying at Different Operating Pressures
Authors: Zhifeng Xiao , Fan Zhang , Lei Xu , Jianhong Wang , Nanxing Wu 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
During superheated steam fluidized bed drying process, the operating pressure has an important influence on heat and mass transfer characteristics and the vapor-solid two-phase flow characteristics. Based on the two-dimensional unsteady model of rapeseeds drying process, the influence of operating pressure on the superheated steam fluidized bed drying kinetics was revealed by computer numerical simulation. The quantitative analysis of relationship between operating pressure and maximum drying rate was conducted under negative pressure, near atmospheric pressure and high pressure environment, respectively. The optimum operating pressure values for superheated steam fluidized bed drying were obtained with the imported superheated steam temperature and superficial velocity. The simulation results provide a theoretical reference for superheated steam fluidized bed drying technology applying to agro-processing projects.
Predicting Storage Conditions for Rice Seed with Thermodynamic Analysis
Authors: Wang Pan , Fu Nan , Li Dong , Wang Li-jun 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
The desorption isotherms of japonica and indica rice seeds were determined at 15, 25, 35, 45 °C within the water activity range from 0.12 to 0.92 and it was observed that GAB model could accurately describe the desorption behaviors with low values of mean relative error (MRE). The thermodynamic properties of rice seeds were obtained by water desorption isotherms. The moisture content with the minimum integral entropy was considered as the best storage condition where the strongest energetic interaction between water molecular and solid occurred and the optimum seed moisture for storage at 35 °C occurred at 6.02 g water per 100 g of dry matter (ɑw
of 0.12) for japonica rice seed and 5.28 g water per 100 g of dry matter (ɑw
of 0.08) for indica rice seed, respectively. The mechanisms of desorption process were determined with integral enthalpy–entropy compensation theory and it was observed that the at low moisture content the desorption process of rice seed was controlled by changes of entropy, whereas the desorption process was considered to be controlled by enthalpy mechanism at high moisture content. It was found that the indica rice seed exhibited a wider water activity range in the minimum integral entropy zone, indicating that indica rice seed was more stable to withstand the different storage conditions compared with japonica rice seed.
Assessing in Vitro Acaricidal Effect and Joint Action of a Binary Mixture Between Essential Oil Compounds (Thymol, Phellandrene, Eucalyptol, Cinnamaldehyde, Myrcene, Carvacrol) Over Ectoparasitic Mite Varroa Destructor (Acari: Varroidae)
Authors: Brasesco Constanza , Gende Liesel , Negri Pedro , Szawarski Nicolás , Iglesias Azucena , Eguaras Martín , Ruffinengo Sergio , Maggi Matías 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
Varroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman, 2000) causes the most important parasitosis of beekeeping in the world. For this reason, prevention is needed to avoid colony death. The most typical treatments involve synthetic acaricides. However, the use of these acaricides results in the emergence of resistant populations of mites to these products and in the appearances of drug residues in products of the hives. Compounds of essential oils have emerged as an alternative to traditional acaricides; however the toxicity produced by these mixtures is currently poorly explored. The aim of this work was to assess, by means of in vitro tests with adult bees, how acaricidal action and toxic interactions in a binary mixture of essential oil compounds (Thymol, Phellandrene, Eucalyptol, Cinnamaldehyde, Myrcene, and Carvacrol) affect V. destructor. Calculations of LC50 ’s of the individual compounds on A. mellifera and V. destructor made clear that the toxic effect of each compound is different for both species. Thymol and Phellandrene turned out to be lethal for mites at lower concentrations than for bees. The binary mixture of these two substances presented a different toxicity than one produced by each pure compound, as it was highly selective for mites in bioassays at 24 hours through complete exposure to both A. mellifera and V. destructor. These results make such formulations optimal substances to be considered as alternative controls for the parasitosis.
First Detection of Nosema Ceranae and Nosema Apis in Greater Wax Moth Galleria Mellonella
Authors: Ozgor Erkay , Celebier Irem , Ulusoy Meltem , Keskin Nevin 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
The greater wax moth Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), one of the pests of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies, has spread almost all over the world. Although the G. mellonella is often reported to infest weak honey bee colonies that are exposed to pesticides and diseases, it is also a threat for healthy colonies. Therefore, there is a fairly high probability of transmission of both microflora-specific bacteria and pathogen microorganisms, especially Nosema species, between these organisms (Moth and bees). The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Nosema species in greater wax moth G. mellonella collected from apiaries as well as grown in laboratory conditions. Adults and late instar larva of wax moth were used for detecting Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. Real-time PCR amplification studies were performed and specific ITS regions were targeted to distinguish Nosema species. Real-time PCR results showed that N. apis and N. ceranae were found in both phases of G. mellonella. This is the first study to confirm that N. apis and N. ceranae are present in greater wax moth collected from apiaries and grown at laboratories in Turkey.
K Obrazu Medzinárodnej JazYkovej Komunikácie V Európskej Únii
Authors: Košecký Stanislav 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
This paper is a reaction to the study of A. Lejsková that appeared in the number 2/2015 of this journal. Its aim is to put the mentioned issue into a wider picture from a historical point of view as well as to complete it. The problem of international linguistic communication in the EU is in practice often neglected and remains at the level of unfulfilled declarations. As a result, international negotiations are dominated by English, which is changing itself in its function of interlinguistic communication tool, with a minority use of other “strong” languages such as German, Spanish and sometimes Italian. It is shown that the principle of equality of the languages of the member states is not fulfilled from the points of view of both technical and financial possibilities of the EU. We reach the conclusion that the best solution to the language problem of the EU would be the introduction of a neutral international language (especially Esperanto is considered), which also presents serious problems from the point of view of the preparation of its application.