Consumer Willingness-To-Pay for Different Organic Certification Logos in Turkey

Using data from focus group discussions with consumers and a choice experimentconducted in some of Turkey’s major cities, this study investigates whetherTurkish consumers prefer certain organic labelling schemes over others attemptsand to elicit their willingness to pay (WTP) for different organic certificationlogos. Although the level of awareness regarding organic certification logos waslow, consumers’ perceptions of the logos were generally positive. The results ofthe random parameter logit models indicated a positive WTP for the presence ofone of the three tested certification body logos in addition to the mandatorygovernmental logo. Given the low level of certification logo awareness, theconclusion is that both purchasing decisions and perceptions regarding logoswere affected by subjective criteria. Both the government and certification bodiesshould develop measures to increase consumer awareness of their logos and formconsumer perceptions and attitudes regarding the quality of the certificationimplied by the logo

Factors influencing the perception of organic certification logos in Turkey

Consumers’ perceptions on organic certification logos and the factors influencing these perceptions were explored. Data from surveys conducted in major cities of Turkey revealed that organic food consumers had little knowledge about logos, although the declared level of trust in organic logos was high. According to ordered logit models, consumer’s perceptions on organic certification logos were influenced by purchasing frequency and weight of organic foods in total food consumption. Dummy variables representing additional private certification company logos as well were generally found to have a significant effect on logo perception. This result suggests that consumers’ attitudes towards these logos and towards the governmental logo are not the same. Female and older people were more sceptical about the trustworthiness of the logos. While the credibility of the logos and the standards and control systems underlying the logos increased as frequency of purchasing organic food increased, those consumers who prefer organic open markets for buying organic food were hesitant to trust the credibility of the organic certification logos. The mandatory governmental logo and the underlying standards are trusted more than the private company logos. However, the difference of the attitudes toward logos decreases when the control system is in question. When a comparison between perceptions towards labels including different additional certification companies’ logos is made, the additional logo was found to affect the stated preferences more negatively when the companies were foreign. Enhanced interest and trust in the organic certification logos among consumers would foment the development of the organic sector, and the findings of this paper serve as an input for the achievement of this aim

Naval architecture as a subject for the proposed marine engineering course at the University of Moratuwa

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Fabian Calixto FraizDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Odontologia. Defesa : Curitiba, 30/09/2019Inclui referênciasResumo: Os SIGs (sistemas de informação geográfica) são ferramentas que permitem analisar as mudanças na organização espacial seja interligando informações populacionais com seu contexto social ou examinando a sua relação com o acesso à serviços de saúde. Apesar da prevalência de cárie dentária na infância ter diminuído ao longo dos anos, ainda se apresenta como um desafio para a saúde, já que pode causar grande impacto na qualidade de vida de crianças. Este estudo transversal de análise espacial avaliou a relação da experiência de cárie dentária com a acessibilidade geográfica entre a residência da criança e os serviços odontológicos. Realizado com amostra representativa e aleatória de pré-escolares dos Centros Municipais de Educação Infantil de São José dos Pinhais/PR envolvendo 526 crianças. Foi utilizada a prevalência de 50% para cárie dentária, adotou-se nível de confiança (1-?) de 95% e precisão requerida para estimativa de 5%. O cálculo amostral foi realizado a partir da fórmula de estimativa com proporção para a população finita que resultou em uma amostra mínima de 306 crianças que multiplicada por 1,2 para efeito do desenho e acrescida em 30% devido a estimativa de perda, resultou em uma amostra total de 526 crianças. Foram obtidos dados completos de 405 crianças de 18 a 36 meses de idade, independente do sexo, matriculadas nos CMEIS e examinadas para cárie dentária (ceo-d modificado). Os pontos georreferenciados das unidades básicas de saúde (US), clínicas particulares (CP) e residências (R) foram incluídos em dois sistemas de informação geográfica (SIG), o software ArcGIS e o aplicativo Distancetoclosest, criado especificamente para este estudo. Foram determinados o tempo para percorrer e as menores distância euclidiana, rota de carro e rota caminhando entre a residência e os serviços. As distâncias médias (em km) foram: euclidiana R-US de 1,31 (DP=0,70) e R-CP de 0,57 (DP=0,55), rota de carro R-US de 1,95 (DP=1,11) e R-CP de 0,90 (DP=0,96), rota caminhando R-US 1,80 (DP=1,06) e R-CP de 0,85 (DP=0,96). Os tempos médios (em minutos) foram: para rota de carro R-US 4,88 (DP=2,12) e R-CP 2,50 (DP=1,80) e caminhando R-US 22,49 (DP=13,18) e R-CP 10,62 (DP=11,78). A prevalência de cárie foi de 23% (IC95%: 19-27). As associações entre a experiência de cárie (ceo-d modificado ? 1) e as variáveis socioeconômicas foram analisadas através do Teste Qui-Quadrado de tendência linear (?=0,05). Todas as variáveis de acessibilidade geográfica foram categorizadas em tercil para a análise de associação com a experiência de cárie (ceo-d modificado ? 1) através de regressão de Poisson univariada com variância robusta. Para as variáveis de acessibilidade geográfica que na análise univariada apresentaram p<0,20 foram construídos modelos de regressão de Poisson mutivariado com variância robusta para a experiência de cárie dentária. Todos os modelos multivariados foram ajustados para escolaridade do responsável (escolaridade superior: sim e não) e renda familiar em salários mínimos (categorizada pelo tercil). A associação entre a acessibilidade geográfica e a experiência de cárie dentária foi observada apenas com relação aos serviços públicos. As crianças que residiam em locais com maior tempo caminhando até a US (p=0,03, RP:1,65; IC95%:1,04-2,64), maior distância caminhando entre a R-US (p=0,03, RP:1,64; IC95%:1,03-2,59) e maior distância euclidiana entre a R-US (p=0,04, RP:1,65; IC95%:1,01-2,69) apresentavam maior prevalência de cárie dentária. Conclui-se que acessibilidade geográfica aos serviços odontológicos públicos apresentou uma influência determinante na experiência de cárie na primeira infância independente dos fatores socioeconômicos. Palavras-chave: Sistemas de Informação Geográfica; Cárie Dentária; Saúde Pública; Criança; Acesso aos Serviços de Saúde.Abstract: GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is a tool for analyzing changes in spatial organization, either by linking population information with its social context or by examining its relationship with access to health services. Although the prevalence of childhood dental caries has decreased over the years, it is still a health challenge, as it can have a major impact on children's quality of life. This cross-sectional spatial analysis study evaluated the relationship between dental caries experience and geographical accessibility between the child's residence and dental services. Performed with a representative and random sample of preschool children from the Municipal Centers of Early Childhood Education of São José dos Pinhais / PR involving 526 children. A prevalence of 50% for dental caries was used, a confidence level (1-?) of 95% and precision required to estimate 5%. The sample size calculation was performed using the finite population proportion estimation formula that resulted in a minimum sample of 306 children that multiplied by 1.2 for the design effect and increased by 30% due to the loss estimate, resulting in a total sample of 526 children. Complete data were obtained from 405 children, aged 18 to 36 months, regardless of gender, enrolled in CMEIS and examined for dental caries (modified dmft). The georeferenced points of the basic health units (US), private clinics (CP) and residences (R) were included in two geographic information systems (GIS), the ArcGIS software and the Distancetoclosest application, created specifically for this study. The time to travel and the shortest Euclidean distance, car route and walking route between residence and services were determined. The average distances (in km) were: Euclidean R-US of 1.31 (SD = 0.70) and R-CP of 0.57 (SD = 0.55), R-US car route of 1.95 (SD = 1.11) and R-CP of 0.90 (SD = 0.96), walking route R-US 1.80 (SD = 1.06) and R-CP of 0.85 (SD = 0,96). The average times (in minutes) were: for driving route R-US 4.88 (SD = 2.12) and R-CP 2.50 (SD = 1.80) and walking R-US 22.49 (SD = 13.18) and R-CP 10.62 (SD = 11.78). The prevalence of caries was 23% (95% CI: 19-27). The associations between the caries experience (modified dmft ? 1) and the socioeconomic variables were analyzed using the chi-square linear trend test (? = 0.05). All geographic accessibility variables were categorized into tertile for the analysis of association with caries experience (modified ceo-d ? 1) by univariate Poisson regression with robust variance. For the geographical accessibility variables that presented p <0.20 in the univariate analysis, robust variance Poisson regression models were constructed for the dental caries experience. All multivariate models were adjusted for guardian's education (higher education: yes and no) and family income in minimum wages (categorized by tertile). The association between geographical accessibility and dental caries experience was observed only in relation to public services. Children who lived in places with longer time walking to US (p = 0.03, PR: 1.65; 95% IC: 1.04-2.64), longer walking distance between US (p = 0.03, RP: 1.64; 95% IC: 1.03-2.59) and greater Euclidean distance between US-R (p = 0.04, RP: 1.65; 95% IC: 1.01-2.69) had a higher prevalence of dental caries. It is concluded that geographical accessibility to public dental services had a determining influence on the experience of early childhood caries regardless of socioeconomic factors. Keywords: Geographic Information Systems; Dental Caries; Public Health; Child; Health Services Accessibilit

Thrombocytosis and CA125 as Predictor of Malignancy in Gynaecological Pelvic Mass

Background: Pelvic masses are common in women & can present at any age of woman life, it could be benign or malignant mass and may originate from gynecological organs like cervix, uterus, uterine adnexia, or from other pelvic organs like intestine, bladder, ureters, skeletal muscle, and bone. Objective: We attempted to determine the increasing of platelet counts(> 450.000 /micro liter) and CA125serum level (> 35 U/mL) as useful tools for predicting and confirming malignancy in gynecological pelvic mass. Patients and methods: A prospective unmatched hospital based case-control study carried out at Baghdad Teaching Hospital, about 126 women were enrolled in our study, divided into two groups 60 women were control group (free of gynecological pelvic mass). The other group includes 66 women above 15 years old with gynecological pelvic mass were all candidate for laparotomy. Results: Serum CA125 and blood platelets count were tested for validity when used as a test to predict a diagnosis of malignancy in gynecological pelvic mass differentiating it from benign gynecological pelvic mass. Both tests showed a very high validity in diagnosis, with serum CA125 showing a marginally higher validity. All studied subjects with a blood platelets count ≥ 385.000 and CA 125≥ 41.7were malignant, while everybody below this cut-off value was benign or healthy. Conclusion: Both blood platelet count (≥385 X 103microlitter) &serum level of CA125 (≥41.7 U/mL) are useful predictor tools to confirm malignancy in gynecological pelvic mass

Laplace Adomian Decomposition and Modify Laplace Adomian Decomposition Methods for Solving Linear Volterra Integro-Fractional Differential Equations with Constant Multi-Time Retarded Delay

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;في هذا العمل نقدم تحويلات لابلاس مع طريقة أدوميان التحليلية المتسلسلة و كما اننا نعدل طريقة أدوميان التحليلية للمرة الاولى لحل معادلات فولتيرا التفاضلية-التكاملية الخطيه للرتب الكسرية كما في مفهوم كابوتو مع التأخير الحدي المتضاعف الثابت. هذه الطريقة تعتمد على مزيج ممتاز من طريقة تحويلات لابلاس، طريقة تحديد المتسلسلات، طريقة متعددات الحدود لادوميان مع التعديلات. أن التقنية المستخدمة تحول التأخير الحدي للمعادلات التفاضلية ذات التكاملات الكسرية الى معادلات جبرية متكررة عندما تكون نواة الفروق من نوع المنحل البسيط. و أخيراَ أعطيت أمثلة لتوضيح فعالية و ديقة الطرق المقترحة.In this work, we present Laplace transform with series Adomian decomposition and modify Adomian decomposition methods for the first time to solve linear Volterra integro-differential equations of the fractional order in Caputo sense with constant multi-time Retarded delay. This method is primarily based on the elegant mixture of Laplace transform method, series expansion method and Adomian polynomial with modifications. The proposed technique will transform the multi-term delay integro-fractional differential equations into some iterative algebraic equations, and it is capable of reducing computational analytical works where the kernel of difference and simple degenerate types. Analytical examples are presented to illustrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed methods

Interactive Videos in IPTV using Hypervideo Links

[EN] One of the main advantages of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is the capability of full duplex communication between the Television (TV) provider and the clients which permits the interactivity of both. From this interactivity, TV providers can obtain extra information from clients. Moreover, clients can even take profit from this type of communication that allows them surfing between videos. However, this feature cannot be used in Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). This paper shows the design and development of an interactive video for IPTV services that contains hypervideo links with additional information and content that is very useful for viewers. Furthermore, we detail the protocol used to maintain the service between the TV provider and the clients to maintain the service. Finally, the system is tested in a real scenario and the resulting measurements are provided in order to evaluate the network performance needed to offer an adequate service to each client because according to results shows, the use of hypervideo links does not imply an important increase in the ratio of packets per second.This work has been partially supported by the Postdoctoral Scholarship Contratos Postdoctorales UPV 2014 (PAID-10-14) of the Universitat Politècnica de València , by the Programa para la Formación de Personal Investigador (FPI-2015-S2-884) of the Universitat Politècnica de València .Jimenez, JM.; Lloret, J.; Abdullah, MT.; Sendra, S. (2017). Interactive Videos in IPTV using Hypervideo Links. Network Protocols and Algorithms. 9(3-4):77-93. https://doi.org/10.5296/npa.v9i3-4.12540S779393-

Intelligent Algorithm for Enhancing MPEG-DASH QoE in eMBMS

[EN] Multimedia streaming is the most demanding and bandwidth hungry application in today¿s world of Internet. MPEG-DASH as a video technology standard is designed for delivering live or on-demand streams in Internet to deliver best quality content with the fewest dropouts and least possible buffering. Hybrid architecture of DASH and eMBMS has attracted a great attention from the telecommunication industry and multimedia services. It is deployed in response to the immense demand in multimedia traffic. However, handover and limited available resources of the system affected on dropping segments of the adaptive video streaming in eMBMS and it creates an adverse impact on Quality of Experience (QoE), which is creating trouble for service providers and network providers towards delivering the service. In this paper, we derive a case study in eMBMS to approach to provide test measures evaluating MPEG-DASH QoE, by defining the metrics are influenced on QoE in eMBMS such as bandwidth and packet loss then we observe the objective metrics like stalling (number, duration and place), buffer length and accumulative video time. Moreover, we build a smart algorithm to predict rate of segments are lost in multicast adaptive video streaming. The algorithm deploys an estimation decision regards how to recover the lost segments. According to the obtained results based on our proposal algorithm, rate of lost segments is highly decreased by comparing to the traditional approach of MPEG-DASH multicast and unicast for high number of users.This work has been partially supported by the Postdoctoral Scholarship Contratos Postdoctorales UPV 2014 (PAID-10-14) of the Universitat Politècnica de València , by the Programa para la Formación de Personal Investigador (FPI-2015-S2-884) of the Universitat Politècnica de València , by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad , through the Convocatoria 2014. Proyectos I+D - Programa Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica de Excelencia in the Subprograma Estatal de Generación de Conocimiento , project TIN2014-57991-C3-1-P and through the Convocatoria 2017 - Proyectos I+D+I - Programa Estatal de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación, convocatoria excelencia (Project TIN2017-84802-C2-1-P).Abdullah, MT.; Jimenez, JM.; Canovas Solbes, A.; Lloret, J. (2017). Intelligent Algorithm for Enhancing MPEG-DASH QoE in eMBMS. Network Protocols and Algorithms. 9(3-4):94-114. https://doi.org/10.5296/npa.v9i3-4.12573S9411493-

Wireless Technologies for IoT in Smart Cities

[EN] As cities continue to grow, numerous initiatives for Smart Cities are being conducted. The concept of Smart City encompasses several concepts being governance, economy, management, infrastructure, technology and people. This means that a Smart City can have different communication needs. Wireless technologies such as WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth, WiMax, 4G or LTE (Long Term Evolution) have presented themselves as solutions to the communication needs of Smart City initiatives. However, as most of them employ unlicensed bands, interference and coexistence problems are increasing. In this paper, the wireless technologies available nowadays for IoT (Internet of Things) in Smart Cities are presented. Our contribution is a review of wireless technologies, their comparison and the problems that difficult coexistence among them. In order to do so, the characteristics and adequacy of wireless technologies to each domain are considered. The problems derived of over-crowded unlicensed spectrum and coexistence difficulties among each technology are discussed as well. Finally, power consumption concerns are addressed.García-García, L.; Jimenez, JM.; Abdullah, MTA.; Lloret, J. (2018). Wireless Technologies for IoT in Smart Cities. Network Protocols and Algorithms. 10(1):23-64. doi:10.5296/npa.v10i1.12798S236410