bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance Analysis of Small Scale Sweet Potato Farms in Oyo State, Nigeria
Authors: Baruwa Olayinka Isiaka 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
This study carried out an analysis of the performance of sweet potato production among small holder farmers in Oyo State of Nigeria. A combination of purposive and a two-stage random sampling technique were used to obtain information from 65 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, stochastic frontier functions and budgetary technique. Results indicated that majority of the farmers were literate, aged 43.3 years on the average, full time in sweet potato production and with mean farm size of 1.0 hectare. The gross margin and net profit were ₦76, 884.8 and ₦67,292.8, respectively (₦, naira Nigerian Currency, ₦160 = 1$US) indicating that sweet potato production was profitable. The return to scale (RTS) for the production function revealed that farmers operated in the irrational zone (stage I) of the production surface. The stochastic production frontier analysis revealed that the technical efficiencies of farmers was found to be fairly high with a mean of 0.92% which suggest that the average sweet potato output falls 0.08% short of the maximum possible level but the efficiency can be increased by better use of available resources.
Technical Efficiency of Catfish Farming in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria: a Gender Perspective
Authors: Oyakhilomen Oyinbo , Murtala Mohammed Olajide , Abraham Falola , Kwagyang Saleh Mamman 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
This research was undertaken to examine the gender perspective of the technical efficiency of catfish farming in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. Primary data elicited from a sample size of 70 catfish farmers (38 male and 32 female catfish farmers) were employed in the study. Analysis of the data was done using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function. The maximum likelihood estimates of the stochastic frontier production function revealed that the mean technical efficiency of the male catfish farmers (86%) was higher than that of the female catfish farmers (20%) and this implies that the male and female catfish farmers have the scope of improving their efficiency by 14% and 80%, respectively, through the use of farming practices used by the most efficient male and female catfish farmers. The factors that were significant in influencing the technical efficiency of the female catfish farmers were farming experience and credit while in the case of the male catfish farmers, farming experience significantly influenced their technical efficiency. In the light of the low technical efficiency of the female catfish farmers relative to the male catfish farmers, it was recommended that gender equality infishery training, extension delivery, distribution of resources and access to supportive services should be encouraged in a bid to improve the technical efficiency of the catfish farmers especially that of the female catfish farmers.
Neue Wege der Kulturgutdigitalisierung in Thüringen
Authors: Mutschler Thomas 
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung
Die integrierte Digitalisierung von Kulturgütern aus Archiven, Bibliotheken und Museen stellt eine neue Herausforderung dar und eröffnet neue Wege der Zusammenarbeit. In diesem Sinne informiert der Beitrag über den Stand der Kulturgutdigitalisierung in Thüringen. Im Fokus stehen dabei die Initiativen der Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena beim Aufbau eines spartenübergreifenden Netzwerks der Kulturgutdigitalisierung. Es werden Inhalte, Sammlungen, Partnerschaften und die technisch-bibliothekarische Infrastruktur vorgestellt. Der Beitrag schließt mit einem kurzen Ausblick auf die politischen Rahmenbedingungen.
Biomechanical analysis of stiffness and fracture displacement after using PMMA-augmented sacroiliac screw fixation for sacrum fractures
Authors: Höch Andreas , Schimpf Richard , Hammer Niels , Schleifenbaum Stefan , Werner Michael , Josten Christoph , Böhme Jörg 
Published: March 2017

AbstractCement augmentation of pedicle screws is the gold standard for the stabilization of osteoporotic fractures of the spine. In-screw cement augmentation, in which cement is injected through the cannula, is another option for fracture stabilization of fragility fractures of the sacrum. However, biomechanical superiority of this technique compared to conventional sacroiliac screw fixation has not been tested. The present study compares the stability of cement-augmented and non-cement-augmented sacroiliac screw fixation in osteoporotic sacrum fractures under cyclic loading. Eight human donor pelvises with intact ligaments and 5
Biochemical testing in a laboratory tent and semi-intensive care of Ebola patients on-site in a remote part of Guinea: a paradigm shift based on a bleach-sensitive point-of-care device
Authors: Irenge Leonid M. , Dindart Jean-Michel , Gala Jean-Luc 
Published: March 2017

Abstract:Background:During the West Africa Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, a Belgian laboratory was deployed for supporting the Ebola treatment unit (ETU) of N’Zerekore, Guinea. Besides diagnosis of EVD and malaria, biochemical parameters were tested and used to guide supportive treatment of EVD.Methods:To preserve analytes stability, lithium-heparin blood samples were analyzed using the i-STATResults:Providing the medical staff with real-time biochemical data modified their therapeutic attitude, shifting from empiric to a semi-intensive laboratory-guided treatment of hydro-electrolytic disturbances, metabolic acidosis and/or impaired kidney function. As illustrated with representative EVD cases (n=8), optimized supportive treatment with intravenous fluid therapy and electrolyte replacement often helped correct these abnormalities. However, the harsh operating conditions, especially the use of bleach decontamination inside the glovebox, caused several technical failures and the final breakdown of the POCT device.Conclusions:POCT availability resulted in a paradigm shift in laboratory practice and care delivery at the N’Zerekore ETU. We conclude that there is urgent need for novel well-designed and validated POCT devices usable by non-expert operators in high ambient temperature and limited space. These devices should withstand regular and thorough decontamination by the personnel working on-site with life-threatening pathogens and be compatible with high biosafety level procedures. Such specific users’ requirements need a European validation and standardization process of proposed solutions led by the EU Standardization Committee (CEN).
Assessment of real-time PCR method for detection of EGFR mutation using both supernatant and cell pellet of malignant pleural effusion samples from non-small-cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Shin Saeam , Kim Juwon , Kim Yoonjung , Cho Sun-Mi , Lee Kyung-A 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBackground:mutation is an emerging biomarker for treatment selection in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, optimal mutation detection is hindered by complications associated with the biopsy procedure, tumor heterogeneity and limited sensitivity of test methodology. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic utility of real-time PCR using malignant pleural effusion samples.Methods:A total of 77 pleural fluid samples from 77 NSCLC patients were tested using the cobas EGFR mutation test (Roche Molecular Systems). Pleural fluid was centrifuged, and separated cell pellets and supernatants were tested in parallel. Results were compared with Sanger sequencing and/or peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-mediated PCR clamping of matched tumor tissue or pleural fluid samples.Results:All samples showed valid real-time PCR results in one or more DNA samples extracted from cell pellets and supernatants. Compared with other molecular methods, the sensitivity of real-time PCR method was 100%. Concordance rate of real-time PCR and Sanger sequencing plus PNA-mediated PCR clamping was 98.7%.Conclusions:We have confirmed that real-time PCR using pleural fluid had a high concordance rate compared to conventional methods, with no failed samples. Our data demonstrated that the parallel real-time PCR testing using supernatant and cell pellet could offer reliable and robust surrogate strategy when tissue is not available.
Donaldson–Thomas invariants versus intersection cohomology of quiver moduli
Authors: Meinhardt Sven , Reineke Markus 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
The main result of this paper is the statement that the Hodge theoretic Donaldson–Thomas invariant for a quiver with zero potential and a generic stability condition agrees with the compactly supported intersection cohomology of the closure of the stable locus inside the associated coarse moduli space of semistable quiver representations. In fact, we prove an even stronger result relating the Donaldson–Thomas “function” to the intersection complex. The proof of our main result relies on a relative version of the integrality conjecture in Donaldson–Thomas theory. This will be the topic of the second part of the paper, where the relative integrality conjecture will be proven in the motivic context.
Towers of GL($r$)-type of modular curves
Authors: Gekeler Ernst-Ulrich 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
We construct Galois covers

X

r
,
k

⁢

(
N
)

{X^{r,k}(N)}

over

ℙ
1

/

𝔽
q

⁢

(
T
)

{{\mathbb{P}}^{1}/{\mathbb{F}}_{q}(T)}

with Galois groups close to

GL
⁢

(
r
,

𝔽
q

⁢

[
T
]

/

(
N
)

)

{{\rm GL}(r,{\mathbb{F}}_{q}[T]/(N))}

(

r
≥
3

{r\geq 3}

) and rationality and ramification properties similar to those of
classical modular curves

X
⁢

(
N
)

{X(N)}

over

ℙ
1

/
ℚ

{{\mathbb{P}}^{1}/{\mathbb{Q}}}

. As application we find plenty of good
towers (with

lim sup
⁡

number of rational points
genus

>
0

\limsup{\frac{\text{number~{}of~{}rational~{}points}}{{\rm genus}}>0}

) of curves over
the field

𝔽

q
r

{{\mathbb{F}}_{q^{r}}}

with

q
r

{q^{r}}

elements.
Characterizations of bivariate conic, extreme value, and Archimax copulas
Authors: Saminger-Platz Susanne , De Jesús Arias-García José , Mesiar Radko , Klement Erich Peter 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Based on a general construction method by means of bivariate ultramodular copulas we construct, for particular settings, special bivariate conic, extreme value, and Archimax copulas. We also show that the sets of copulas obtained in this way are dense in the sets of all conic, extreme value, and Archimax copulas, respectively.
Overview and Characteristics of Tourism Seasonality in Ohrid
Authors: Trajkov Aleksandar , Biljan Jovanka , Andreeski Cvetko 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Tourism research has always been an imperative for the scientists and policy creators, so they can maximise its socioeconomic effects. In that order, all the factors that influence the tourism industry must be taken into consideration. One of the biggest characteristics of tourism and challenges for researchers is its seasonality. It is a temporary imbalance of tourism activities caused by many factors and can have many social, economic and environmental consequences. Seasonal component of tourism becomes more important with its development. This paper analyses tourism seasonality in Ohrid as the most popular tourist destination in Macedonia. Findings and conclusions are based on several research methods like: Descriptive statistics, Seasonality coefficient, Gini coefficient and Seasonal Indicator. Research results determine Ohrid as a tourist destination with a strong seasonality caused by natural factors. Paper outcomes can be useful for tourism policy creators and tourism practitioners for further planning and carrying of all tourism activities. Also, findings and presented methodologies can be used in further similar researches or in further analyses of overall tourism seasonality in the country.
The Transformation of The Serbian Labour Market from a Gender Perspective
Authors: Stanković Sunčica 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
In conditions of great social changes that have affected the entire world since the beginning of 1980, there is the emergence of new social risks such as difficult labour market entry, stable employment problem, the problem of outdated qualifications, affecting both women and men. In the competitive race for employment, differences between men and women in the market are conditioned by their starting position. The position of women is required by expectations which exist in regard to their gender role. Women are additionally burdened by establishing a balance between work and family responsibilities, especially childcare and with caring for elderly family members.Men are more often employed in areas that are better paid and socially valued, while women are mainly employed in the service sector. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the quality of labour force in the Republic of Serbia and changes in the gender wage gap during the observed period. The main indicators of gender inequality show significant differences in the status of women compared to men in the labour market. Analysis of labour market trends over the past decade has illustrated that the position of women is constantly deteriorating.
Baylisascaris procyonis roundworm infection patterns in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from Missouri and Arkansas, USA
Authors: Al-Warid H. S. , Belsare A. V. , Straka K. , Gompper M. E. 
Published: March 2017

Summary
Baylisascaris procyonis is a helminth parasite of raccoons Procyon lotor and represents a health concern in paratenic hosts, including humans and diverse domestic and wildlife species. In North America the helminth is expanding its geographic range. To better understand patterns of infection in the Ozark region of the USA, raccoons (n = 61) were collected in 2013-2014 from five counties in Missouri and Arkansas, USA and necropsied. We documented B. procyonis in all surveyed locations. The overall prevalence of B. procyonis was 44.3 % (95 % CI = 31.9 - 57.4) and was significantly higher in females than males. There were also significant differences in prevalence among raccoons sampled north and south of the Missouri River. Mean intensity was 9.9 (CI = 5.44 - 17.22), and parasites were highly aggregated among hosts such that approximately 20 % of hosts harbor 90 % of parasites. These levels of parasitism indicate that B. procyonis is common in the region and its impacts on paratenic hosts could be qualitatively similar to effects observed in other localities.
A comprehensive mathematical model of heat and moisture transfer for wood convective drying
Authors: Zhao Jingyao , Cai Yingchun 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
The focus of this study is the development of a specific drying model for the design and operation of drying systems for stacked lumber in drying chambers. Namely, a comprehensive three-dimensional (3D) mathematical model of heat and moisture transfer in stacked wood has been developed, where the wood was subjected to convective drying that accounts for the effect of the surrounding fluid flow. In developing the model, the characteristics of wood and fluid flow, i.e. velocity, pressure, temperature, relative humidity (RH) and moisture content (MC) are described by the conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy as well as thermodynamic relations. The model presented was solved numerically by means of the commercial software COMSOL Multiphysics. The simulation results were validated against experimental data under laboratory conditions. Air current circulation was found to be non-uniform during drying, which accounts for the different rates of temperature and MC in wood. At the initial stage of drying, this difference was relatively large but reduced gradually with the drying process. Meanwhile, the transient gathered phenomenon related to humidity around the stacked wood in the chamber was observed in response to air current circulation and evaporation rate of moisture. Finally, sources of error incurred in numerical calculations and actual detection were identified and discussed.
Male smokers with HLA-B27 positivity, SI joints inflammation have more radiological damages and higher prevalence of AS while females have higher BASDAI scores: observations from cluster analyses of a group of SpA patients
Authors: Chan Shirley Chiu Wai , Tsang Helen Hoi Lun , Lau Chak Sing , Chung Ho Yin 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

Objectives
To describe the clinical characteristics and the relations with disease activity, functional status, and syndesmophytes formation in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) by categorizing them into different groups.

Methods
One hundred and sixty three patients with AxSpA were recruited. Clinical and blood parameters were collected. Patients were asked to complete the self-assessment questionnaires, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI). Spinal mobility was measured according to Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI). Radiographs of cervical and lumbosacral spine were performed for modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS). Radiological sacroiliitis was scored for ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sacroiliac (SI) joints was performed for spondyloarthritis research consortium of Canada (SPARCC) MRI inflammation score. Two-way cluster analyses were performed to determine the relationships between the parameters.

Results
Two cluster models were built using SPARCC scores of different scorers. Results were similar. The group of patients with highest mSASSS (20.33 vs 20.33) and prevalence radiological AS (85% vs 86%) were male patients (75% vs 75%), positive for HLA-B27 (70.0% vs 66.7%), smokers (87.5% vs 97.2%), and higher SPARCC SI joints score (5.32 vs 3.17). Higher BASDAI was observed among female sex. BASMI varies little but the group with highest BASMI (3.60 vs 3.62) also had highest mSASSS (20.33 vs 20.33).

Conclusion
Our data showed that male smokers with HLA-B27 positivity and SI joints inflammation have more radiological damage and higher prevalence of AS, consistent with known poor prognosis factors.
Effect of Core Training on Male Handball Players’ Throwing Velocity
Authors: Manchado Carmen , García-Ruiz José , Cortell-Tormo Juan Manuel , Tortosa-Martínez Juan 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
In handball, throwing velocity is considered to be one of the essential factors in achieving the ultimate aim of scoring a goal. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effect of a core training program on throwing velocity in 30 handball players (age 18.7 ± 3.4 years, body height 179.3 ± 7.0 cm, body mass 78.9 ± 7.7 kg), 16 of whom were in the junior category and 14 of whom were in the senior category. The 30 players were randomly divided into two groups, the control group (n = 15) and the experimental group (n = 15). For a period of ten weeks, both groups attended their regular handball training sessions (four per week), but in addition, the experimental group participated in a program specifically aimed at progressively strengthening the lumbo-pelvic region and consisting of seven exercises performed after the general warm-up in each regular session. Pre- and post-tests were carried out to analyze each player’s throwing velocity from different throwing positions and thus assess the effects of this specific training program. Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in throwing velocity were observed between the experimental group, which presented a percentage improvement of 4.5%, and the control group, which did not show any improvement. The results seem to indicate that an increase in the strength and stability of the lumbo-pelvic region can contribute to an improvement in the kinetic chain of the specific movement of throwing in handball, thus, increasing throwing velocity.
Judging a tumor cell by its cover: a matter of mitochondrial contact sites
Authors: Lakshminarayanan Sowmya , Scorrano Luca 
Published: March 2017

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive brain tumor constituted by glioma stem cell and differentiated cell populations with distinct susceptibility to cytotoxic T lymphocytes crucial for tumor immune surveillance. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Bassoy et al () show that the surface expression of certain glycans that favor recognition and killing by T cells depends on mitochondrial contacts with the endoplasmic reticulum, extending the function of this interface even to immune recognition.
Reactions of eosinophilic granulocytes in the sputum and peripheral blood of children suffering from bronchial asthma with signs of eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic inflammation of the bronchi
Authors: Koloskova O. K. , Bilous T. M. , Dikal M. V. , Lomakina U. V. , Kopchuk T. G. , Lobanova T. O. 
Published: March 2017

The aim of research was to improve the management of bronchial asthma in children by examining the peculiarities and diagnostic value of reaction markers of eosinophil granulocytes in the sputum and peripheral blood of patients with signs of eosinophil and non-eosinophil phenotypes of this disease. A cohort of 118 school-age children suffering from BA was examined during a period free from attacks. Group I (the main group ) included 61 schoolchildren with signs of eosinophil phenotype (EP) of asthma detected by the character of bronchial inflammation with eosinophil granulocytes present in the sputum at a level of >3%, group II (the comparison group) included 57 patients with a lower number of eosinophils in the sputum (non-eosinophil phenotype (NP) of BA). The average index of the relative content of eosinophils in the peripheral blood among the representatives of group I was 5.82 ± 0.63%, and in children with the signs of NPBA – 6.02 ± 0.74% (P > 0.05), and average indices in the groups of absolute eosinophil number in the blood were 0.37 ± 0.04 and 0.41 ± 0.05 respectively (P > 0.05). The negative reserve of NBT eosinophils in the sputum as a test to verify EPBA showed the following diagnostic values: specificity – 83.3%, predicted value of a positive result – 95.6%. IL-5 content in the blood serum of children with EPBA was 5.99 ± 1.74 ng/ml, in patients of group ІІ – only 1.99 ± 0.49 ng/ml (P < 0.05). Eosinophil cationic protein (ЕСР) in the sputum of patients of group I reached 2.72 ± 0.35 ng/ml, and in the comparison group – only 1.74 ± 0.34 ng/ml (P < 0.05), when the content of ECP in sputum was >1.0 ng/ml the risk of EPBA showed a statistically significant increase: OR = 4.13, RR = 2.02, and AR – 0.34. The efficacy of the standardized basic anti-inflammatory therapy in patients of clinical group I was higher as compared to the children with the signs of NPBA, which was illustrated by the reduced risk of inadequate control of the disease: the index of absolute risk decrease was 31.7%, relative risk – 57.1% with necessary minimal number of patients – 1.75.
The Role of Hydrogen for Disordered Silicon
Authors: Nickel N. H. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe properties of hydrogen in disordered silicon are of great interest due to its beneficial and deleterious aspects. This paper highlights some of the manifold properties of hydrogen in silicon. The influence of dopants on hydrogen diffusion in poly-Si, laser-induced dehydrogenation and crystallization of amorphous silicon, and hydrogen bonding in a-Si:H, poly-Si, and c-Si are reviewed.