bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bespoke automation of medical workforce rostering using Google’s free cloud applications
Authors: Thomas Peter Benjamin Michael
Published: January 2018

Background: Providing safe and consistent care requires optimal deployment of medical staff. Ensuring this happens is a significant administrative burden due to complex working patterns.Objective: To describe a pilot feasibility study of the automation of medical duty rostering in a busy tertiary Ophthalmology department.Methods: A cloud based web application was created using Google’s free cloud services. Users access the system via a website which hosts live rosters, and use electronic forms to submit requests which are automatically handled by Google App Scripts.Results: Over a 2-year period (8/2014-6/2016), the system processed 563 leave requests and 300 on call swaps automatically. 3,300 emails and 1,000 forms were automatically generated. User satisfaction was 100% (n=24).Discussion: Many time consuming aspects of roster management were automated with significant time savings to all parties, allowing increased clinical time for doctors involved in administration. Planning for safe staffing levels was supported.
The Multimorbidity Cluster Analysis Tool: Identifying Combinations and Permutations of Multiple Chronic Diseases Using a Record-Level Computational Analysis
Authors: Nicholson Kathryn , Bauer Michael , Terry Amanda , Fortin Martin , Williamson Tyler , Thind Amardeep
Published: January 2018

Introduction: Multimorbidity, or the co-occurrence of multiple chronic health conditions within an individual, is an increasingly dominant presence and burden in modern health care systems.  To fully capture its complexity, further research is needed to uncover the patterns and consequences of these co-occurring health states.  As such, the Multimorbidity Cluster Analysis Tool and the accompanying Multimorbidity Cluster Analysis Toolkit have been created to allow researchers to identify distinct clusters that exist within a sample of participants or patients living with multimorbidity. Development: The Tool and Toolkit were developed at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada.  This open-access computational program (JAVA code and executable file) was developed and tested to support an analysis of thousands of individual records and up to 100 disease diagnoses or categories. Application: The computational program can be adapted to the methodological elements of a research project, including type of data, type of chronic disease reporting, measurement of multimorbidity, sample size and research setting.  The computational program will identify all existing, and mutually exclusive, combinations and permutations within the dataset.  An application of this computational program is provided as an example, in which more than 75,000 individual records and 20 chronic disease categories resulted in the detection of 10,411 unique combinations and 24,647 unique permutations among female and male patients. Discussion: The Tool and Toolkit are now available for use by researchers interested in exploring the complexities of multimorbidity.  Its careful use, and the comparison between results, will be valuable additions to the nuanced understanding of multimorbidity.
Quality of life in children with congenital heart disease after cardiac surgery
Authors: Atmadja Sindy , Tobing Tina Christina , Evalina Rita , Sofyani Sri , Ali Muhammad
Published: January 2018

Background Major achievements in congenital heart disease (CHD) treatment over the past 20 years have altered the course and prognosis of CHD. Improvement of quality of life (QoL) is now a major goal of CHD treatment.Objective To assess the QoL in children after cardiac surgery for CHD.Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in children aged 2 to 18 years. The case group had 20 children with a history of corrective heart surgery in the 12 months prior to the study. The control group had 20 healthy children, age-matched  to the case group. The QoL of both groups was assessed by Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Generic Core Scales. The same post-operative children were also assessed with the PedsQL Cardiac Module. Data were analyzed using T-test with P < 0.05 as the level of significance.Results This study recruited 40 subjects: 20 post-operative and 20 healthy children. PedsQL Generic Core Scales assessment showed significant differences between groups in the physical function parameter of QoL (P<0.05) in children aged 13-18 years, but there were no significant differences in the social, emotional, and school function parameters. In children aged 2-12 years, there were no significant differences in physical, social, emotional, or school parameters. The PedsQL Cardiac Module assessment revealed that 35% of post-operative children was at risk for physical appearance problems, 80% was at risk for anxiety problems, 40% was at risk for cognitive problems, and 80% was at risk for communication problems.Conclusion Thirteen to 18-year-old children with non complex CHD have poorer physical function than healthy children. Post operative children are at risk for physical appearance, anxiety, cognitive, and communication problems.
Risk factors of soil-transmitted helminth infection among elementary school students
Authors: Wiryadana Kadek Adit , Putra I Wayan Ardyan Sudharta , Rahayu Putu Diah Saraswati , Pradnyana Made Martha , Adelaida Made Lady , Sudarmaja I Made
Published: January 2018

Background Helminth infection remains a health problem, especially in school-aged children. Mass eradication programs with a single dose of anti-helminthic drugs were employed by the local government in some endemic areas in Bali. However, the effectiveness of the programs has not been well evaluated.Objective To investigate prevalence and possible risk factors of helminth infection, including nutritional status, in elementary school students from endemic areas who participated in mass eradication programs.Methods This cross-sectional study involved 126 students from Elementary School No. 3 Gegelang, Karangasem, Bali, a location that had recently undergone a mass eradication program. Diagnoses were based on direct smear examination of fecal specimens. Information on suspected risk factors and nutritional status were collected by questionnaire and anthropometric measurement, respectively. Statistical analyses included Chi-square and odds ratio, using SPSS v21 software.Results The prevalence of helminth infection was 31.7% with etiologies of Trichuris trichuria (75%), Ascaris lumbricoides (17.5%), or both infections (7.5%). Habits of not using footwear [OR=4.88; 95%CI 1.15 to 20.65], not keeping nails trimmed [OR=3.33; 95%CI 1.07 to 10.37], and absence of a proper toilet [OR=4.31; 95%CI 1.93 to 9.64] were found to be significant risk factors for helminth infection. However, we found no significant association between helminth infection and nutritional status, although a considerable number of students had less than normal reference values, in terms of weight, height, and BMI for age.Conclusion The prevalence of helminth infection continues to be high, with personal hygiene and sanitation as significant risk factors. History of mass eradication programs did not confer an effective protection against helminth infection.
Maternal attitude and child interest in various play activities before and after mother-child play sessions
Authors: Soedjatmiko Soedjatmiko , Gunardi Hartono , Sekartini Rini , Medise Bernie Endyarni , Johnson Ikhsan , Wibowo Yulianti , Basrowi Ray Wagiu
Published: January 2018

Background Play stimulates children’s growth and development. When mothers and their children play, a positive attitude from the mother and adequate interest from the child is required. Little is known about the play activities that effectively stimulate such positive maternal attitude and child interest.Objective To assess for associations between various play activities with maternal attitude and child interest before and after mother-child play sessions.Methods Pre-post intervention questionnaires were distributed to mothers before and after playing with their children. Children were aged 1-5 years, from two play sites (in Surabaya and Makassar), and included using purposive sampling. Eight types of toys/play activities were provided. The allocated time for answering the 17-question survey was 15 minutes. Average scores before and after the mother-child play sessions were analyzed using paired T-test.Results We collected 264 valid questionnaires, 235 in Surabaya and 29 in Makassar. Improvement of maternal attitude after the mother-child play session was found in 132 mothers [mean diff. 0.07 (SD 0.42); 95%CI -0.117 to -0.015; P=0.011]. Play activities with significant improvements in maternal attitude were jigsaw puzzle [mean diff. 0.09 (SD 0.66); 95% CI 0.007 to 0.167;P= 0.033), Lego blocks (mean diff.-0.10 (SD 0.69); 95%CI -0.186 to -0.018; P=0.017), mini-gardening (mean diff. -0.15 (SD 0.75); 95%CI -0.238 to -0.057; P=0.002), sandbox [mean diff.-0.24 (SD 0.83); 95%CI -0.339 to – 0.138; P < 0.001], fishing [mean diff. -0.17 (SD 0.68); 95%CI -0.253 to -0.088; P < 0.001], and animal figurines [mean diff. -0.21 (SD 0.75); 95%CI -0.3 to -0.117;P <0.001]. Improvement of child interest was found in 161 children [mean diff. 0.20 (SD 0.52); 95%CI -0.264 to -0.116; P<0.001]. Play activities with significant improvements in child interest were jigsaw puzzle, Lego blocks, origami, mini-gardening, fishing, and animal figurines.Conclusion Some mother-child play activities, but not all, significantly improve both maternal attitude and child interest toward play.
Relationship between age at menarche and exposure to sexual content in audio-visual media and other factors in Islamic junior high school girls
Authors: Wulandari Tri , Deliana Melda , Sofyani Sri , Lubis Siska Mayasari
Published: January 2018

Background In recent decades, girls have experienced menarche at earlier ages, which may have negative effects on health. Exposure to audio-visual media and other factors may influence the age at menarche, although past studies have produced inconsistent results.Objective To assess for relationships between the age at menarche and audio-visual media exposure, socio-economic status, nutritional status, physical activity, and psychosocial dysfunction in adolescent girls.Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from August to October 2015 in students from two integrated Islamic junior high schools in Medan, North Sumatera. There were 216 students who met the inclusion criteria: aged 10-16 years and experienced menarche. They were asked to fill out questionnaires that had been previously validated, regarding their history of exposure to audio-visual media, physical activity, and psychosocial dysfunction. The data were analyzed by Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests in order to assess for relationships between audio-visual media exposure and other potential factors with the age at menarche.Results Of 261 female students at the two schools, 216 had undergone menarche, with a mean age at menarche of 11.6 (SD 1.13) years. There was no significant relationship between age at menarche and audio-visual media exposure (P=0.68). Also, there were no significant relationships between factors such as socio-economic and psychosocial status with age at menarche (P=0.64 and P=0.28, respectively). However, there were significant relationships between earlier age at menarche and overweight/obese nutritional status (P=0.02) as well as low physical activity (P=0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that low physical activity had the strongest influence on early menarche (RP=2.40; 95%CI 0.92 to 6.24).Conclusion Age at menarche is not significantly associated with sexual content of audio-visual media exposure. However, there were significant relationships between earlier age at menarche and obese/overweight nutritional status as well as low physical activity.
The prospect of pluripotent stem cells for diabetes mellitus treatment
Authors: Panova Alexandra V. , Goliudsova Daria V. , Kiselev Sergey L.
Published: January 2018

Treatment options are limited for many diseases including diabetes, cancer and neurological and, many patients do not receive adequate therapy. New chemical entities largely developed within the BioPharma industry are not sufficient to satisfy patient’s needs. New gene and modified cell constructs were developed in academia and are expected on the market recently. This review presents describes somatic cells reprogramming technology and its application for the new drug development. We then summarize the progress made in genome editing and its application to cure monogenic hereditary disorders of the endocrine system.
Analisis Penyebab Masyarakat Tetap Tinggal di Kawasan Rawan Bencana Gunung Merapi (Studi di Lereng Gunung Merapi Kecamatan Cangkringan, Kabupaten Sleman Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta)
Authors: Widodo Dwi Rustiono , Nugroho Sutopo Purwo , Asteria Donna
Published: January 2018

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memetakan faktor-faktor yang menyebabkan masyarakat tetap tinggal di Kawasan Rawan Bencana (KRB) III Gunung Merapi. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan pendekatan mixed method. Penentuan jumlah responden dengan rumus Slovin dengan batas toleransi 7 persen dan terpilih sebanyak 151 responden. Analisis yang digunakan untuk mengetahui faktor-faktor yang menyebabkan masyarakat tetap tinggal di daerah rawan bencana menggunakan analisis deskriptif statistik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sebesar 61,6 persen masyarakat merasa nyaman dan tenteram tetap tinggal di daerahnya meski daerahnya rawan bencana. Kenyamanan ini dikarenakan faktor lingkungan, ekonomi, dan sosial. Faktor lingkungan terutama kesuburan tanah, potensi pasir, kerikil dan batu. Sebanyak 56,9 persen penduduknya berpenghasilan lebih besar dari upah minimum regional kabupaten yang sebesar 1,4 juta rupiah per bulan. Sebanyak 92,7 persen mereka mempunyai kerabat yang masih tinggal di satu lokasi dan 95,4 persen aktif dan ikut serta dalam kegiatan kemasyarakatan seperti arisan, pengajian, dan perkumpulan lainnya.Kata kunci: Bencana, Erupsi, Kesiapsiagaan, Kawasan Rawan BencanaEnglish Title: Analysis the Causes That Make People Remain in Disaster Prone Area of Mount Merapi (Study in Mount Merapi Slope of Cangkringan Subdistrict, Sleman District, Yogyakarta Special RegionABSTRACTThis study aims to map the factors that cause people to stay in Disaster Prone Areas (KRB) III of Mount Merapi This research is conducted by mixed method approach. Determination the number of respondents carried out by Slovin formula with a tolerance limit of 7 percent and selected  151 respondents. Determination the factors that cause people to stay in disaster prone areas using descriptive analysis. The results showed that 61.6 percent of people feel comfortable and peaceful stay in their area despite the disaster-prone areas. This convenience is due to environmental, economic, and social factors. Environmental factors, especially soil fertility, the potential of sand, gravel, and stone. 56.9 percent of the population earns more than the district minimum wage of 1.4 million rupiahs per month. About  92.7 percent of them have relatives who still live in one location and 95.4 percent active and participate in community activities such as arisan, pengajian, and other associations.Keywords: Disaster, Eruption, Preparedness, Disaster prone areaCitation: Widodo, D.R., Nugroho, S.P, dan Asteria, D. (2017). Analisis Penyebab Masyarakat Tetap Tinggal di Kawasan Rawan Bencana Gunung Merapi (Studi di Lereng Gunung Merapi Kecamatan Cangkringan, Kabupaten Sleman Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta). Jurnal Ilmu Lingkungan, 15(2),135-142, doi:10.14710/jil.15.2.135-142
Study of Dendrimers by Topological Indices
Authors: Soleimani Najmeh , Bahnamiri Shila Banari , Nikmehr Mohammad Javad
Published: January 2018

In this paper, five degree based topological indices, the first Zagreb (M
1), second Zagreb (M
2), first multiple Zagreb (PM
1), second multiple Zagreb (PM
2), and the hyper Zagreb (HM) indices of two types of dendrimers are studied. In addition, two distance based topological indices, the total eccentricity (θ) and eccentric connectivity (ξc
) indices of these dendrimers are computed.
The analysis of the available technologies of exploiting and applying biohydrocarbons for fuel production Part II
Authors: Gielo-Klepacz Halina , Karp Grażyna , Dzięgielewski Wojciech
Published: January 2018

The article described the possibilities of using biohydrocarbons as self-ignition fuels, aircraft or automotive fuel components on the basis of the biotechnology implemented in the industry.
Use of a composite repair patches to repair the upper air intake flap for the MiG-29 aircraft engine
Authors: Sałaciński Michał , Stefaniuk Michał , Synaszko Piotr , Lisiecki Janusz
Published: January 2018

The Composite Patch Bonded Repair (CPBR) is one of the most cost-efficient types of aircraft structure repair. In the CPBR, the damaged structure is reinforced by applying a composite patch. The boron-epoxy composite (BFRP) is a popular choice for these types of repair. The BFRP was utilized to repair the cracked resistance welding joints in the upper flap of the MiG-29’s RD-33 engine intake. In the present paper, the numerical results are shown, along with the comparative tests of the undamaged inlet flap, the damaged inlet flap and of the CPBR repaired inlet flap.
The Boquillas Formation of the Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA, a reference Cenomanian through Santonian (Upper Cretaceous) carbonate succession at the southern end of the Western Interior Seaway
Authors: Cooper Dee Ann , Cooper Roger W. , Stevens James B. , Stevens M.S. , Cobban William A. , Walaszczyk Ireneusz
Published: January 2018

The upper lower Cenomanian through middle Santonian (Upper Cretaceous) of the Boquillas Formation in the Big Bend Region of Trans-Pecos Texas consists of a marine carbonate succession deposited at the southern end of the Western Interior Seaway. The Boquillas Formation, subdivided into the lower, c. 78 m thick limestone-shale Ernst Member, and the upper, c. 132 m thick limestone/chalk/marl San Vicente Member, was deposited in a shallow shelf open marine environment at the junction between the Western Interior Seaway and the western margins of the Tethys Basin. Biogeographically, the area was closely tied with the southern Western Interior Seaway. The richly fossiliferous upper Turonian, Coniacian and lower Santonian parts of the Boquillas Formation are particularly promising for multistratigraphic studies.
Migration and winter distribution of the Chestnutcollared Longspur
Authors: Ellison Kevin , McKinnon Emily , Zack Steve , Olimb Sarah , Sparks Robert , Strasser Erin
Published: January 2018

The Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) is one of five grassland songbirds, endemic within North America, with populations that have declined >65% since the 1960s. These species breed and winter in the northern and southern Great Plains, respectively. Identifying migration routes, wintering sites, and the timing of their habitat use is key for understanding the relative magnitude of threats across the annual cycle and effectively targeting habitats for conservation. We tracked migratory movements of seven Chestnut-collared Longspurs with light-level geolocators deployed in Canada. Individuals wintered up to 112-1,200km apart. All followed the Central Flyway, circumvented high-elevation terrain, and traveled east of the breeding location. Unlike most songbirds, the durations of spring and fall migrations were similar; on average 42 ± 7d and 41 ± 5d during fall and spring migrations, respectively, for an approximately 2,000km migration; this highlights the need to better understand habitat requirements during migration for grassland songbirds. Using geospatial habitat data, we assessed winter distribution overlap with four other endemic grassland songbirds; wintering range overlapped 63-99%. Future studies should use more precise devices (e.g., archival GPS units), programmed for data collection dates from this study, to identify specific migratory sites for better conserving this and associated grassland species.
Fracture Toughness Evaluation of a Ni2MnGa Alloy Through Micro Indentation Under Magneto-Mechanical Loading
Authors: Goanţă Viorel , Ciocanel Constantin
Published: January 2018

Ni2MnGa is a ferromagnetic alloy that exhibits the shape memory effect either induced by an externally applied magnetic field or mechanical stress. Due to the former, the alloy is commonly called magnetic shape memory alloy or MSMA. The microstructure of the MSMA consists of tetragonal martensite variants (three in the most general case) that are characterized by a magnetization vector which is aligned with the short side of the tetragonal unit cell. Exposing the MSMA to a magnetic field causes the magnetization vector to rotate and align with the external field, eventually leading to variant reorientation. The variant reorientation is observed macroscopically in the form of recoverable strain of up to 6% [1, 2]. As the magnetic field induced reorientation happens instantaneously [1, 3], MSMAs are suitable for fast actuation, sensing, or power harvesting applications. However, actuation applications are limited by the maximum actuation stress of the material that is about 3.5MPa at approximately 2 to 3% reorientation strain. During MSMA fatigue magneto-mechanical characterization studies [4, 5] it was observed that cracks nucleate and grow on the surface of material samples, after a relatively small number of cycles, leading to loss in material performance. This triggered the need for understanding the mechanisms that govern crack nucleation and growth in MSMAs, as well as the nature of the material, i.e. ductile or brittle. The experimental study reported in this paper was carried out to determine material’s fracture toughness, the predominant crack growth directions, and the orientation of the cracks relative to the mechanical loading direction and to the material’s microstructure. A fixture has been developed to allow Vickers micro indentation of 3mm by 3mm by 20mm Ni2MnGa samples exposed to different levels of magnetic field and/or mechanical stress. Using the measured characteristics of the impression generated during micro indentation, the lengths of propagated cracks, and appropriate equations (introduced in the paper), and the fracture toughness was evaluated as a function of the magneto-mechanical loading experienced by the material. The influence of the magneto-mechanical loading on the growth of already nucleated cracks has also been evaluated.
The distortionary effect of monetary policy: credit expansion vs. lump-sum transfers in the lab
Authors: Baeriswyl Romain , Cornand Camille
Published: January 2018

In an experimental monetary general equilibrium economy, we assess two processes of monetary injection: credit expansion vs. lump-sum monetary transfers. In theory, both processes are neutral and exert no real effect on allocation. In the experiment, however, credit expansion leads to substantial distortions of real allocation and relative prices, and exerts a redistributive effect across subjects. By contrast, an increase in money through lump-sum transfers does not distort real allocation.
Discourse functions of always progressives: Beyond complaining
Authors: Lindley Jori
Published: January 2018

It is widely assumed that the frequency adverbalwayscombined with the progressive aspect is typically used in negative evaluations expressing irritation, i.e., complaints. Adopting a cognitive-functional approach, I test this claim across six genres of Present Day English.Alwaysprogressives were coded according to their functions: Describe (neutral), Complain (negative), Lament (negative), or Praise (positive). Neutral, rather than negative, functions predominated in all genres, although negative functions outnumbered positive functions. I relate the former finding to the propensity ofalwaysprogressives to act similarly to the simple aspect and the latter to a cognitive phenomenon called the negativity bias.
The flux homomorphism on closed hyperbolic surfaces and Anti-de Sitter three-dimensional geometry
Authors: Seppi Andrea
Published: January 2018

Given a smooth spacelike surface ∑ of negative curvature in Anti-de Sitter space of dimension 3, invariant by a representation p: π1 (S) → PSL2ℝ x PSL2ℝ where S is a closed oriented surface of genus ≥ 2, a canonical construction associates to ∑ a diffeomorphism φ∑ of S. It turns out that φ∑ is a symplectomorphism for the area forms of the two hyperbolic metrics h and h' on S induced by the action of p on ℍ2 x ℍ2. Using an algebraic construction related to the flux homomorphism, we give a new proof of the fact that φ∑ is the composition of a Hamiltonian symplectomorphism of (S, h) and the unique minimal Lagrangian diffeomorphism from (S, h) to (S, h’).
Learning from the Past for the Future: How to Make Adult Education Sustainable
Authors: Franzenburg Geert
Published: January 2018

When compared to education with children, adolescents and students, adult education has particular opportunities and challenges, depending on stronger biographical influences: adults have developed their own learning style and learning competence and apart from more formal learning opportunities facilitated through digital learning and/or learning in schools/universities, there are many opportunities for informal learning, often influenced by experiences of education as a child. In this regard, biographical learning offers opportunities for transformational, organic, remembrance and experiences. The study, therefore, focuses on such kinds of adult education as a core element, particularly of Protestant adult education.

This paper presents a multidimensional concept of Protestant adult education, which integrates existing concepts into a memory oriented educational framework. Therefore, the theoretical considerations explain the phenomenological background of this particular concept. In a second step, this concept will be contextualized within the historical context of Protestant adult education. The summary emphasizes the particular aspect of educational coping with past, current and future experiences and situations.
Measuring herd behavior: properties and pitfalls
Authors: Lee Woojoo , Ahn Jae Youn
Published: January 2018

Herd behavior is an important economic phenomenon, especially in the context of the recent financial crises. Prior studies propose several measures to quantify herd behavior. In this paper, we show that these measures reflect different perspectives on this behavior, and hence, their interpretation requires great care. Taking a critical attitude toward existing herd behavior measures, we study their properties and pitfalls in detail.
Estimates and Determinants of Armington Elasticities for the U.S. Food Industry
Authors: Lopez Elena , Pagoulatos Emilio
Published: January 2018

This paper provides estimates of elasticities of substitution between domestic and imported goods for 40 4-digit S.I.C. food manufacturing industries and explains the inter-industry differences among these coefficients in terms of industry sectoral characteristics. The results show that there is a wide range of variation among such elasticities and that the intensity of each industry’s percentage of output sold to final consumers, foreign direct investment, expenditures on advertising and the existence of import quotas affect the degree of substitutability between domestic and foreign goods in the face of a relative price change.
Supply Chain Liability: Pushing the Boundaries of the Common Law?
Authors: Terwindt Carolijn , Leader Sheldon , Yilmaz-Vastardis Anil , Wright Jane
Published: January 2018

On 29 August 2016, in a claim by Pakistani survivors and legal heirs against German retailer KiK for injuries and deaths during a fire at a factory supplying jeans in Karachi, German judges accepted jurisdiction and granted legal aid to the Pakistani claimants to cover the legal fees. The case pending before the German court thus poses the question of supply chain liability. Taking the lawsuit by the Pakistani plaintiffs against KiK in Germany as a case study, this article provides an analysis of the available legal grounds for such liability. Economic changes have ushered in linkages between purchasers and suppliers that call for strong principles of liability – principles that are already embedded in the law but which need fresh articulation and application. English courts have only recently recognised that under certain circumstances, liability might attach to a parent company under the tort of negligence for damage to third parties ostensibly caused by its subsidiary. The KiK case is testing the extension of such liability to certain supply chain relationships. Beyond that, the case is also testing the application of the rules on non-delegable duties and vicarious liability in the supply chain context. Even if the court disagrees with the claimants’ position, the novel arguments advanced in this case are likely to be the starting point for an important debate about the proper fit between traditional tort law and the fast changing commercial and employment relationships of the 21st century.
Liability for Damage Caused by Autonomous Vehicles: A Belgian Perspective
Authors: De Bruyne Jan , Tanghe Jochen
Published: January 2018

Autonomous vehicles are no longer a mere futuristic fantasy. They will be commercialised one day. According to recent predictions, fully autonomous or ‘driverless’ vehicles could already be available within five to twenty years. Although traffic will become much safer with autonomous vehicles, accidents will not suddenly disappear. Autonomous vehicles will probably share the road with ‘regular’ non-autonomous cars during a considerably long transition period. This interaction between humans and software will inevitably lead to accidents. Recent accidents show that the technology used in autonomous vehicles is not entirely flawless either. Against this background, this article examines the potential liability of users and producers under Belgian tort law for damage caused by autonomous vehicles. The article proposes a number of solutions to overcome some of the detected hurdles. Although we take a Belgian perspective, most of the article’s findings also apply to other legal systems as they face similar challenges.
Reproachatives and imperatives
Authors: Van Olmen Daniël
Published: January 2018

This paper studies constructions dedicated to the expression of an after the fact reprimand to a second person in the languages of Europe. Taking a usage-based perspective, it argues against earlier analyses of these reproachatives as imperatives, optatives or conditionals, which fail to capture their idiosyncrasies and overpredict both their cross-linguistic frequency and the grammaticality of types of imperative in a language. Based on a closer examination of Dutch, the paper assumes a middle position between the existing views in that it argues for an account of the Dutch reproachative as the hybrid outcome of the interaction of the aforementioned constructions and of processes such as analogy, conventionalization and insubordination. It explores to what extent such an analysis applies to the other European languages featuring a reproachative and what its implications are for our understanding of imperative semantics.
The efficacy of control environment as fraud deterrence in local government
Authors: Nuswantara Dian Anita , Maulidi Ach ,   Pujiono
Published: January 2018

In a globalised scenario, the topic of an enormous increase of malfeasance in the local governments, posing catastrophic threats which come from vicious bureaucratic apparatus, becomes a global phenomenon. This current study uses case study material on the risk management control system specially the control environment in Indonesia local governments to extend existing theory by developing a contingency theory for the public sector. Within local government, contingency theory has emerged as a lens for exploring the links between public sector initiatives to improve risk mitigation and the structure of the control system. The case illustrates that the discretion of control environment - the encouragement of a local government’s control environment - is considered as a springboard for fraud deterrence and might be the loopholes in the government control systems.
Exploring the Leadership Skill and Challenge in Responding Natural Disaster: Lesson Learning from Leaders Involved in Emergency Response of Bangladesh
Authors: Bahauddin Khalid Md. , Iftakhar Nayma
Published: January 2018

Bangladesh is widely known as a land of natural disasters and remains classified as one the most vulnerable countries in the world. Over the last thirty years, Bangladesh has experienced nearly 200 natural disasters accounted for damage of asset, property and, livelihoods and over thousands of death toll. In this connection, effective leadership is critical in order to make disaster response system operative in an effective and efficient manner. This study explores the disaster leadership with a view of identifying the essential leadership skills that are needed by leaders to effectively respond in the aftermath of disaster. It also intends to explore challenges that these leaders face, with a view of improving disaster response leadership. This study revealed that some key essential leadership skills such as intuitiveness, decisiveness, communication, networking, accountability, and learning are required to respond disasters effectively. Findings from this study provided not only an overview of leadership skills needed to face challenges, but also the challenges that these leaders face, with a view of equating the challenges with appropriate skill needed to respond in the context of Bangladesh.
Every Move You Make: Exploring Practical Issues in Smartphone Motion Sensor Fingerprinting and Countermeasures
Authors: Das Anupam , Borisov Nikita , Chou Edward
Published: January 2018

The ability to track users’ activities across different websites and visits is a key tool in advertising and surveillance. The HTML5 DeviceMotion interface creates a new opportunity for such tracking via fingerprinting of smartphone motion sensors. We study the feasibility of carrying out such fingerprinting under real-world constraints and on a large scale. In particular, we collect measurements from several hundred users under realistic scenarios and show that the state-of-the-art techniques provide very low accuracy in these settings. We then improve fingerprinting accuracy by changing the classifier as well as incorporating auxiliary information. We also show how to perform fingerprinting in an open-world scenario where one must distinguish between known and previously unseen users.

We next consider the problem of developing fingerprinting countermeasures; we evaluate the usability of a previously proposed obfuscation technique and a newly developed quantization technique via a large-scale user study. We find that both techniques are able to drastically reduce fingerprinting accuracy without significantly impacting the utility of the sensors in web applications.
Martin Luther’s Reformation Reflected in the Orthodox Theology
Authors: Benga Daniel
Published: January 2018

This article presents an evaluation of Martin Luther’s reformatory theology from the point of view of orthodox theology. To this day there are only a few orthodox theologians who have undertaken systematic analyzes of Luther’s theology. Although their attitude to Lutheran theology was critical, they underlined that Martin Luther did not want to form a new denomination. They viewed Martin Luther’s Reformation not as a renewal of ecclesial life, but as an innovation within Christianity. The ecumenical dialogues have brought about a change in the understanding of Lutheran theology, in the sense that there are some orthodox theologians who have worked out convergent Lutheran doctrines with orthodox theology.
Cluster analysis and subgrouping to investigate inter-individual variability to non-invasive brain stimulation: a systematic review
Authors: Pellegrini Michael , Zoghi Maryam , Jaberzadeh Shapour
Published: January 2018

Cluster analysis and other subgrouping techniques have risen in popularity in recent years in non-invasive brain stimulation research in the attempt to investigate the issue of inter-individual variability – the issue of why some individuals respond, as traditionally expected, to non-invasive brain stimulation protocols and others do not. Cluster analysis and subgrouping techniques have been used to categorise individuals, based on their response patterns, as responder or non-responders. There is, however, a lack of consensus and consistency on the most appropriate technique to use. This systematic review aimed to provide a systematic summary of the cluster analysis and subgrouping techniques used to date and suggest recommendations moving forward. Twenty studies were included that utilised subgrouping techniques, while seven of these additionally utilised cluster analysis techniques. The results of this systematic review appear to indicate that statistical cluster analysis techniques are effective in identifying subgroups of individuals based on response patterns to non-invasive brain stimulation. This systematic review also reports a lack of consensus amongst researchers on the most effective subgrouping technique and the criteria used to determine whether an individual is categorised as a responder or a non-responder. This systematic review provides a step-by-step guide to carrying out statistical cluster analyses and subgrouping techniques to provide a framework for analysis when developing further insights into the contributing factors of inter-individual variability in response to non-invasive brain stimulation.
La conexión conceptual entre Estado de Derecho, derechos fundamentales y democracia. Entrevista a Francisco Javier Ansuátegui Roig
Authors: Mora Sifuentes Francisco M.
Published: January 2018

Francisco Javier Ansuátegui Roig (Madrid, 1965) es Catedrático de Filosofía del Derecho de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Ha sido Director del Instituto de Derechos Humanos “Bartolomé de las Casas”, Presidente de la Sociedad Española de Filosofía Jurídica y Política y Director de la revista “Derechos y Libertades”. En años recientes el profesor Ansuátegui ha realizado contribuciones de primer orden para comprender las peculiaridades del fenómeno jurídico en el Estado constitucional, abocándose a desentrañar las consecuencias que se siguen de la “rematerialización” del Derecho. Es uno de los editores responsables de la monumental Historia de los derechos fundamentales–siglo XX, (Dykinson, 2014). De su obra destacamos: Rivendicando i diritti sociali, (Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane 2014); Razón y voluntad en el Estado de Derecho. Un enfoque filosófico-jurídico (Dykinson, 2013); El Positivismo Jurídico Neoinstitucionalista. Una aproximación, (Dykinson, 1996); Orígenes doctrinales de la libertad de expresión (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid-BOE, 1994) entre otros.
A Novel Neuroprotective Mechanism for Lithium That Prevents Association of the p75NTR-Sortilin Receptor Complex and Attenuates proNGF-Induced Neuronal DeathIn VitroandIn Vivo
Authors: Greenwood Shayri G. , Montroull Laura , Volosin Marta , Scharfman Helen E. , Teng Kenneth K. , Light Matthew , Torkin Risa , Maxfield Fredrick , Hempstead Barbara L. , Friedman Wilma J.
Published: January 2018

Neurotrophins play critical roles in the survival, maintenance and death of neurons. In particular, proneurotrophins have been shown to mediate cell death following brain injury induced by status epilepticus (SE) in rats. Previous studies have shown that pilocarpine-induced seizures lead to increased levels of proNGF, which binds to the p75NTR-sortilin receptor complex to elicit apoptosis. A screen to identify compounds that block proNGF binding and uptake into cells expressing p75 and sortilin identified lithium citrate as a potential inhibitor of proNGF and p75NTR-mediated cell death. In this study, we demonstrate that low, submicromolar doses of lithium citrate effectively inhibited proNGF-induced cell death in cultured neurons and protected hippocampal neurons following pilocarpine-induced SEin vivo. We analyzed specific mechanisms by which lithium citrate afforded neuroprotection and determined that lithium citrate prevented the association and internalization of the p75NTR-sortilin receptor complex. Our results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which low-dose treatments of lithium citrate are effective in attenuating p75NTR-mediated cell deathin vitroandin vivo.
The Meaning of “Intoxication” in Australian Criminal Cases
Authors: Quilter Julia , McNamara Luke
Published: January 2018

Although alcohol and drug use features prominently in many areas of criminal offending, there has been limited investigation of how the effects of alcohol and other drugs are treated by criminal laws and the criminal justice system. This article examines the framing of judicial inquiries about “intoxication” in criminal cases in Australia. It illustrates the diverse types of evidence that may (or may not) be available to judges and juries when faced with the task of determining whether a person was relevantly “intoxicated.” It shows that in the absence of legislative guidance on how the task should be approached, courts tend to assign only a relatively marginal role to medical and scientific expert evidence, and frame the question as one that can be answered by applying common knowledge about the effects of alcohol and other drugs. The article examines the adequacy of this approach, given the weak foundation for assuming that the relationship between intoxication and the complex cognitive processes on which tribunals of fact are often required to reach conclusions (such as intent formation) is within the lay knowledge held by jurors and judges.
Inflammation and PD-L1 expression in pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Kasajima Atsuko , Ishikawa Yuichi , Iwata Ayaka , Steiger Katja , Oka Naomi , Ishida Hirotaka , Sakurada Akira , Suzuki Hiroyoshi , Kameya Toru , Konukiewitz Björn , Klöppel Günter , Okada Yoshinori , Sasano Hironobu , Weichert Wilko
Published: January 2018

In the light of novel cancer immune therapies, the status of antitumor inflammatory response and its regulation has gained much attention in patients with lung cancer. Ample datasets exist for non-small-cell lung cancer, but those for pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors are scarce and controversial. Here, tumor-associated inflammation, CD8+ cell infiltration and PD-L1 status were evaluated in a cohort of 57 resected carcinoids and 185 resected neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung (58 large cell carcinomas and 127 small cell carcinomas). Data were correlated with clinicopathological factors and survival. Moderate or high tumor-associated inflammation was detected in 4 carcinoids (7%) and in 37 neuroendocrine carcinomas (20%). PD-L1 immunoreactivity was seen in immune cells of 73 (39%) neuroendocrine carcinomas, while tumor cells were labeled in 21 (11%) cases. Inflammatory cells and tumor cells in carcinoids lacked any PD-L1 expression. In neuroendocrine carcinomas, PD-L1 positivity in immune cells, but not in tumor cells, was associated with intratumoral CD8+ cell infiltration (P < 0.001), as well as with the severity of tumor-associated inflammation (P < 0.001). In neuroendocrine carcinomas, tumor-associated inflammation and PD-L1 positivity in immune cells correlated with prolonged survival and the latter factor was also an independent prognosticator (P < 0.01, hazard ratio 0.4 for overall survival,P < 0.001 hazard ratio 0.4 for disease-free survival). Taken together, in neuroendocrine tumors, antitumor inflammatory response and PD-L1 expression are largely restricted to neuroendocrine carcinomas, and in this tumor entity, PD-L1 expression in inflammatory cells is positively correlated to patient survival.
Developmental Disability at School Age and Difficulty Obtaining Follow-up Data
Authors: Doyle Lex W. , Anderson Peter J. , Burnett Alice , Callanan Catherine , McDonald Marion , Hayes Marie , Opie Gillian , Carse Elizabeth , Cheong Jeanie L.Y. ,   for the Victorian Infant Collaborative Study (VICS) Group
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND:

The relationship of developmental disability rates with difficulty obtaining follow-up data is unclear. With this study, we aimed to determine if children who attended research follow-up assessments with more difficulty had more disability at school age, compared with those who attended with less difficulty, and to establish the relationship between follow-up and disability rates.

METHODS:

Two groups, comprising 219 consecutive survivors born at <28 weeks’ gestation or at <1000 g birth weight in the state of Victoria, Australia, in 2005, and 218 term-born, normal birth weight controls were assessed at 8 years of age for neurodevelopmental disability (any of IQ <−1 SD, cerebral palsy, blindness, or deafness). Children were classified as either more or less difficult to get to attend by research nurses involved in the study.

RESULTS:

The follow-up rate was 87% for both groups. Overall, children who attended with more difficulty had higher rates of neurodevelopmental disability (42%; 19 of 45) than those who attended with less difficulty (20%; 66 of 328) (odds ratio: 3.09, 95% confidence interval: 1.58 to 6.01; P = .001). As the follow-up rate rose among the 3 individual hospitals involved in the assessments, so did the rate of neurodevelopmental disability (P = .025).

CONCLUSIONS:

Children who attend with more difficulty have higher rates of neurodevelopmental disability at school age than those who attend with less difficulty, and disability rates rise with higher follow-up rates. Rates of neurodevelopmental disability will be underestimated if researchers are not persistent enough to obtain high follow-up rates.
Studi Komposisi Rasio Isotop 13C Air Hujan di Wilayah Lebak Bulus, Jakarta Selatan
Authors: Pratikno Bungkus , Nurfadhlini Nurfadhlini
Published: January 2018

Telah dilakukan pengukuran komposisi isotop 13C/12C (d 13C) dari contoh air hujan wilayah Lebak Bulus, Jakarta Selatan. Studi ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui dampak emisi gas buang antrofogenik terhadap kualitas udara di atmosfir Jakarta. Pengamatan dilakukan berdasarkan sampel air hujan yang jatuh khususnya di wilayah PAIR-BATAN, Lebak Bulus, Jakarta Selatan pada September 2009 sampai dengan Juni 2010. Penelitian menggunakan metode pengukuran komposisi rasio isotop 13C dari karbon inorganik terlarut (Dissolverd Inorganic Carbon, DIC) dalam air hujan. Pengukuran komposisi rasio isotop 13C (d13C) menggunakan spektrometer massa rasio isotop SIRA-9 VG ISOGAS. Dari hasil sepuluh bulan pengukuran d13C air hujan didapat d13C bulan Februari 2010 sebesar -10,710/00 dan merupakan nilai yang paling rendah (depleted) dibanding dengan pengukuran sembilan bulan lainnya, sedangkan hasil pengukuran yang tinggi (enrich) didapat pada bulan Desember 2009 sebesar -8,52 0/00. Dari hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa komposisi rasio isotop d13C dari gas CO2 atmosfir Lebak Bulus, Jakarta Selatan lebih depleted dibandingkan dengan atmosfir daerah udara bersih yang hanya sebesar -8,1 0/00. Perbedaan ini mengindikasikan bahwa ada penambahan gas buang CO2 hasil kegiatan antropogenik.