bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aplicación del proceso unificado en el desarrollo de un software que estima el inventario y el crecimiento-rendimiento maderable en plantaciones de eucalipto
Authors: García-Nieto Moisés , Martínez-Trinidad Tomás , De los Santos-Posadas Héctor , Lugo-Espinosa Oziel , Acosta-Mireles Miguel , Arjona-Suarez Enrique , Jiménez-Casas Marcos
Published: April 2017

Se desarrolló un software mediante el Proceso Unificado Racional para estimar el inventario y el crecimiento-rendimiento maderable en plantaciones comerciales del género Eucalyptus, establecidas en Las Choapas, Veracruz, México. El software permite estimar el inventario a través de los muestreos: aleatorio simple, aleatorio estratificado y razón-regresión; mientras que las existencias maderables son proyectadas con un sistema de ecuaciones de crecimiento y rendimiento. Los módulos que componen el sistema permiten agregar, consultar y eliminar datos, así como exportarlos a Microsoft Excel. La validación del programa se hizo con datos del inventario de 2012, con 976 sitios temporales y un total de 32 744 árboles, distribuidos en 5896 ha, indicando una consistencia entre los resultados calculados por la empresa y el software. Por otro lado, la prueba de calidad demostró que 55% de los factores presentan un nivel de calidad bueno y que 45% cumple con una calidad aceptable; mientras que 67% de los usuarios finales consideran que el software es de buena calidad y 33% piensan que tienen una calidad aceptable.
Transformed Pedagogical Environment: Humanoids for Social Skilling of Mentally Challenged Children
Authors: Hashim Rugayah , S. Ahmad Sabarinah , Aziz Amily Fikri , Hanapiah Fazah Akhtar
Published: April 2017

The purpose of the paper is to describe the transformed pedagogical environment in Malaysia with regards to mentally challenged children. Through interviews with teachers and parents of children schooled at the special, integrative classes in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, the results indicated non-readiness for the teachers and the parents to embrace the assistive technology, the humanoids. Besides the high cost of purchasing the humanoid for each child to be placed at home, social skilling these special children requires human touch. Cultural, and religious aspects abound that negates the progress of pedagogy using humanoids.© 2016 The Authors. Published by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.Keywords: pedagogy, children, humanoids, social skill
The Interface between the TOEFL ITP and Internationalization and Language Assessment in Brazil
Authors: Kawachi-Furlan Cláudia J. , Amorim Gabriel B. , Finardi Kyria Rebeca
Published: April 2017

The aim of this study is to analyze the results of a pedagogic intervention to aid participants’ performance on the TOEFL ITP test. In order to do that, tutoring sessions on test taking skills and specific language skills were provided to university students from a federal university in the Southeast of Brazil. The pedagogic intervention was carried out over a period of 17 weeks. Participants were also enrolled in a regular course at the university’s Language Center. The TOEFL ITP (Level 1) test was administered in the beginning and at the end of the course to measure and compare their performance. The study used a mixed methods design (Dornyei, 2007) to analyze the effect of instruction on participants’ performance. Overall results of the quantitative analysis suggest that the treatment was effective for there were statistically significant differences in participants’ performance on the test after the pedagogic intervention. The qualitative analysis suggests that participants were aware of their main linguistic difficulties. Based on these results it is suggested that more focused attention in the form of instruction should be dedicated to the development of academic contents and listening skills to TOELF ITP test takers.
eZoomBook Methodology and Template: A Case Study of Collective Authorship in the Classroom
Authors: Bellay Catrin , Marco Chris De , Evain Christine
Published: April 2017

This article reports on an innovative pedagogical methodology carried out in an executive education class. Participants were encouraged to link their classroom training and their professional activity using a methodology of collaborative note-taking and journal writing. The tool used for this activity was an eZoomBook, a multi-level tool incorporating different layers of content accessible by tabs in a menu. eZoomBooks include a zooming in and out function allowing readers to navigate between the different layers depending on interest and need. Participant testimony indicates that this student-centric approach to collaborative writing using the eZB methodology enhanced intrinsic motivation, teamwork skills, and learning. The executive education participants clearly indicated their satisfaction and their desire to continue using the methodology and tool in the workplace.
Predicting Self-Efficacy Based on Happiness among Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University Students, Iran
Authors: Tahmasbipour Najaf
Published: April 2017

The present study tries to predict self-efficacy based on happiness and the subscales of that. An analytic cross-sectional study, the population included male and female students studying at Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, during the educational year 2012-2011. 326 students (male=165, female=161) were selected through random and multistep cluster sampling. Sherer et al’s Self-Efficacy questionnaire (SGSES) was used to measure participants’ self-efficacy. Oxford Happiness questionnaire (OHS) was also used to measure participants’ happiness. The findings showed a positive and significant relationship between happiness and the subscales and self-efficacy. Happiness and its subscales also significantly predicted self-efficacy.
Reflexões e desafios da resolução de problemas nas aulas de Matemática: um ensaio teórico
Authors: Bueno Simone , Alencar Edvonete , Millones Teresa
Published: April 2017

Nesta pesquisa temos por objetivo refletir sobre o papel da resolução de problemas nas aulas de Matemática, apresentando os diferentes tipos de problemas que podem ser propostos aos alunos. A realização deste trabalho ocorreu por meio da abordagem qualitativa, no qual foi considerado o conhecimento teórico acumulado, a partir de uma pesquisa bibliográfica, tendo como referencial os trabalhos de Vergnaud, Polya, Dante e Brousseau. Pesquisamos os estados da arte realizados nessa temática e buscamos o s autores mais utilizados nas pesquisas para formar nosso quadro teórico. Apresentamos as principais contribuições dos autores e como estes estudos teóricos podem contribuir com a prática em sala de aula. Além disso, apresentamos uma atividade em que anali samos cada autor de referência. De modo geral propusemos a reflexão sobre os caminhos para a resolução de um problema matemático e como as aulas podem se tornar mais significativas aos alunos.
Palavras-chave: Resolução de problemas. Construção do conhecimento. Educação Matemática.
Office-based Rhinologic Surgery: A Modern Experience with Operative Techniques under Local Anesthetic
Authors: Scott John R. , Sowerby Leigh J. , Rotenberg Brian W.
Published: April 2017

Background

Office-based rhinologic procedures have become popularized in recent years with the advent of several minimally invasive techniques. There is a paucity of literature, however, that supports more robust in-clinic procedures, e.g., true endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). There is a high volume of this work being done at our center, and the objective of this article was to review the safety and tolerability of in-clinic surgeries.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted. All the adult patients who underwent in-clinic sinonasal procedures and surgery with a minimum of 3 months of follow-up were included. Information regarding intra- and postoperative complications and revision procedures were recorded. For the ESS procedures, the indication, sinuses operated on, and type of revision were also collected.

Results

A total of 315 patients met the inclusion criteria. There were 166 turbinoplasties, 118 ESS, 35 septoplasties, 34 rhinoplasties, and 4 septorhinoplasties performed. For the ESS procedures, 74 (62.7%) were bilateral, and experience was had operating in all paranasal sinuses. All ESS work involved opening diseased ostia and was more than just polypectomies. The mean follow-up for the ESS cases was 13.4 months (range, 12-65 months). Complication rates and tolerability measures were comparable with those of other reported in-office sinonasal procedures performed with the patient under local anesthetic.

Conclusion

Office-based rhinologic surgery was safe and well tolerated by the patients. The need for revision ESS in our series was low when considering the extent of surgery that was performed. An in-clinic procedure may avoid a general anesthetic in the operating room for appropriately selected patients.
Indistinguishable NDM-producing Escherichia coli isolated from recreational waters, sewage, and a clinical specimen in Ireland, 2016 to 2017
Authors: Mahon Bláthnaid M , Brehony Carina , McGrath Elaine , Killeen James , Cormican Martin , Hickey Paul , Keane Shane , Hanahoe Belinda , Dolan Ann , Morris Dearbháile
Published: April 2017

In this study, New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM)-producing Enterobacteriaceae were identified in Irish recreational waters and sewage. Indistinguishable NDM-producing Escherichia coli by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis were isolated from sewage, a fresh water stream and a human source. NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from sewage and seawater in the same area were closely related to each other and to a human isolate. This raises concerns regarding the potential for sewage discharges to contribute to the spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.
Estimating the annual burden of tick-borne encephalitis to inform vaccination policy, Slovenia, 2009 to 2013
Authors: Fafangel Mario , Cassini Alessandro , Colzani Edoardo , Klavs Irena , Grgič Vitek Marta , Učakar Veronika , Muehlen Marion , Vudrag Marko , Kraigher Alenka
Published: April 2017

With an annual incidence between 8 and 15 per 100,000 population in the period from 2009 to 2013, Slovenia has one of the highest notified incidences of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Europe. TBE vaccination coverage remains at about 7.3%. To inform vaccination policy, we used surveillance data from 2009 to 2013 to calculate the overall and age- and sex-specific mean annual TBE incidence. We estimated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) with 95% uncertainty intervals (UI), using the Burden of Communicable Diseases in Europe approach from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The mean annual incidence was 11.6 per 100,000 population, peaking in older age groups (50–74 years: 18.5/100,000) while relatively lower among children (5–14 years: 10.2/100,000). We estimated an overall 10.95 DALYs per 100,000 population per year (95% UI: 10.25-11.65). In contrast to the TBE incidence, the disease burden in children aged 5–14 years was higher than in adults aged 50–74 years: 17.31 (95% UI: 14.58–20.08) and 11.58 (95% UI: 10.25–12.91) DALYs per 100,000 stratum-specific population, respectively. In a limited resource setting where prioritisation of TBE vaccination strategies is required, vaccination programmes targeting children may have a higher impact on disease burden.
Long-term reintegration and quality of life in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and a good neurological outcome: findings after more than 20 years
Authors: Sonesson Bengt , Kronvall Erik , Säveland Hans , Brandt Lennart , Nilsson Ola G.
Published: April 2017

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to examine long-term quality of life (QOL) and reintegration in patients with good neurological recovery after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and SAH of unknown cause (SAH NUD).

METHODS

A long-term follow-up was performed in an original cohort of 113 individuals who had suffered SAH (93 with aSAH and 20 with SAH NUD) between 1977 and 1984. Self-reporting assessments, performed > 20 years after the bleeding episode, included the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS), Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) index, and Reintegration to Normal Living (RNL) index, along with information on sleep disturbances and work status.

RESULTS

Seventy-one survivors were identified. Questionnaires were returned by 67 individuals who had suffered SAH 20–28 years previously. The QOL was rated in the normal range for both the QOLS score (aSAH 90.3 vs SAH NUD 88.6) and the PGWB index (aSAH 105.9 vs SAH NUD 102.8). Ninety percent of patients had returned to their previous employment. Complete RNL was reported by 40% of patients with aSAH and by 46% of patients with SAH NUD; mild to moderate readjustment difficulties by 55% and 38%, respectively; and severe difficulties by 5% of patients with aSAH and 15% of patients with SAH NUD. Self-rated aspects of cognition, mood, and energy resources in addition resulted in a substantial drop in overall reintegration. Sleep disturbances were reported by 26%.

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of patients with SAH who had early good neurological recovery experienced reintegration difficulties after > 20 years. However, the general QOL was not adversely affected by this impairment. Inability to return to work after SAH was associated with lower QOLS scores. Sleep disturbances were associated with lower PGWB scores.
Post–spinal cord injury astrocyte-mediated functional recovery in rats after intraspinal injection of the recombinant adenoviral vectors Ad5-VEGF and Ad5-ANG
Authors: Povysheva Tatyana , Shmarov Maksim , Logunov Denis , Naroditsky Boris , Shulman Ilya , Ogurcov Sergey , Kolesnikov Pavel , Islamov Rustem , Chelyshev Yuri
Published: April 2017

OBJECTIVE

The most actively explored therapeutic strategy for overcoming spinal cord injury (SCI) is the delivery of genes encoding molecules that stimulate regeneration. In a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and in preliminary clinical trials in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the combined administration of recombinant adenoviral vectors (Ad5-VEGF+Ad5-ANG) encoding the neurotrophic/angiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenin (ANG) was found to slow the development of neurological deficits. These results suggest that there may be positive effects of this combination of genes in posttraumatic spinal cord regeneration. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of Ad5-VEGF+Ad5-ANG combination therapy on motor function recovery and reactivity of astrocytes in a rat model of SCI.

METHODS

Spinal cord injury was induced in adult Wistar rats by the weight-drop method. Rats (n = 51) were divided into 2 groups: the experimental group (Ad5-VEGF+Ad5-ANG) and the control group (Ad5-GFP [green fluorescent protein]). Recovery of motor function was assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scale. The duration and intensity of infectivity and gene expression from the injected vectors were assessed by immunofluorescent detection of GFP. Reactivity of glial cells was assessed by changes in the number of immunopositive cells expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), S100β, aquaporin 4 (AQP4), oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2, and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4. The level of S100β mRNA expression in the spinal cord was estimated by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Partial recovery of motor function was observed 30 days after surgery in both groups. However, Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores were 35.9% higher in the Ad5-VEGF+Ad5-ANG group compared with the control group. Specific GFP signal was observed at distances of up to 5 mm in the rostral and caudal directions from the points of injection. A 1.5 to 2.0–fold increase in the number of GFAP+, S100β+, and AQP4+ cells was observed in the white and gray matter at a distance of up to 5 mm from the center of the lesion site in the caudal and rostral directions. At 30 days after injury, a 2-fold increase in S100β transcripts was observed in the Ad5-VEGF+Ad5-ANG group compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraspinal injection of recombinant adenoviral vectors encoding VEGF and ANG stimulates functional recovery after traumatic SCI. The increased number of S100β+ astrocytes induced by this approach may be a beneficial factor for maintaining the survival and function of neurons. Therefore, gene therapy with Ad5-VEGF+Ad5-ANG vectors is an effective therapeutic method for SCI treatment.
Epilepsy surgery for epileptic encephalopathy as a sequela of herpes simplex encephalitis: case report
Authors: Taskin Birce Dilge , Tanji Kurenai , Feldstein Neil A. , McSwiggan-Hardin Maureen , Akman Cigdem I.
Published: April 2017

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis can manifest with different clinical presentations, including acute monophasic illness and biphasic chronic granulomatous HSV encephalitis. Chronic encephalitis is much less common, and very rare late relapses are associated with intractable epilepsy and progressive neurological deficits with or without evidence of HSV in the cerebrospinal fluid. The authors report on an 8-year-old girl with a history of treated HSV-1 encephalitis when she was 13 months of age and focal epilepsy when she was 2 years old. Although free of clinical seizures, when she was 5, she experienced behavioral and academic dysfunction, which was later attributed to electrographic focal seizures and worsening electroencephalography (EEG) findings with electrical status epilepticus during slow-wave sleep (ESES). Following a right temporal lobectomy, chronic granulomatous encephalitis was diagnosed. The patient's clinical course improved with the resolution of seizures and EEG abnormalities.
Survival after Metastasectomy for Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Patel Vaibhav , Collazo Lorduy Ana , Stern Aaron , Fahmy Omar , Pinotti Rachel , Galsky Matthew D. , Gakis Georgios
Published: April 2017

Background: Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy is standard treatment for metastatic urothelial carcinoma; however, the vast majority of patients experience disease progression. As systemic therapy alone is rarely curative for the treatment of metastatic urothelial cancer, not only are new therapies needed but also refinement of general treatment principles. Herein, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the role of metastasectomy in metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature regarding local treatment for metastatic urothelial carcinoma. An online electronic search of the PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was performed to identify peer-reviewed articles. All procedures were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Information was then extracted including number of patients, gender, the site of the primary urothelial tumor, site of metastasis, chemotherapy before or after metastasectomy, overall survival (OS), and disease specific survival (DSS) after metastasectomy. A meta-analysis was performed with those studies with sufficient survival data to obtain pooled overall survival. The article quality was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook “risk of bias” tool.

Results: Seventeen out of 3963 articles were eligible for review between 1990–2015, including a total of 412 patients. The mean time to recurrence after metastasectomy was 14.25 months. The overall survival from time of metastasectomy ranged from 2 to 60 months. Pooled analyses of studies reported survival data revealed an improved overall survival for patients treated with metastasectomy compared with non-surgical treatment of metastatic lesions (HR 0.63; 95% CI, 0.49–0.81). All, except for three studies, were retrospective and non-randomized, leading to a high risk of bias associated with patient selection, patient attrition, and reporting. Such high potential of selection bias may lead to higher OS than expected. Additionally, treatment and outcome details reported across studies was highly variable.

Conclusions: Limited conclusions can be drawn from the available literature exploring the role of metastasectomy in the management of metastatic urothelial cancer due to lack of uniform reporting elements and multiple sources of bias particularly related to a lack of prospective randomized trials. As a subset of patients treated with metastasectomy achieve durable disease control, this approach may be considered for select patients.
Automatically finding execution scenarios to deploy security-sensitive workflows
Authors: dos Santos Daniel Ricardo , Ranise Silvio , Compagna Luca , Ponta Serena Elisa
Published: April 2017

We introduce a new class of analysis problems, called Scenario Finding Problems (SFPs), for security-sensitive business processes that – besides execution constraints on tasks – define access control policies (constraining which users can execute which tasks) and authorization constraints (such as Separation of Duty). The solutions to SFPs are concrete execution scenarios that assist customers in the reuse and deployment of security-sensitive workflows. We study the relationship of SFPs to well-known properties of security-sensitive processes such as Workflow Satisfiability and Resiliency together with their complexity. Finally, we present a symbolic approach to solving SFPs and describe our experience with a prototype implementation on real-world business process models taken from an on-line library.
Target Blood Pressure Level in the Management of Hypertension
Authors: Haque KMHS Sirajul
Published: April 2017

Abstract not availableBangladesh Heart Journal 2016; 31(2) : 50-51
A Lady with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Mitral Stenosis
Authors: Alam Muhammad Badrul , Hoque Sania , Khan Amiruzzaman , Hossain Md Zakir , Asaduzzaman Khondoker
Published: April 2017

Mitral stenosisis a valvular heart disease caused by a number of diseases. Chronic rheumatic fever is the most important cause. Among rare causes, some rheumatoid diseases like SLE may involve cardiovascular system causing libman- sacks endocarditis,pericardial diseases and other valvular lesions mostly associated with positive antiphospholipid and anticardiolipin antibody.Here, we presented a case of rheumatic mitral valvular heart disease having systemic lupus erythromatosus but negative antiphospholipid and anticardiolipin antibody.Bangladesh Heart Journal 2016; 31(2) : 109-112
Breaking Memory Modes: Anne Enright's and Tana French's Silent Interruptions
Authors: Dillane Fionnuala
Published: April 2017

Anne Enright's trauma novel, The Gathering (2007), and Tana French's crime novel, The Secret Place (2014), can be seen to operate purposefully within the familiar codes of their respective genres to a degree that draws attention to the processes of emotional and cognitive recognition that give such codified works their emotional power: repetitive, affective, recognisable framing patterns. Both authors, however, also deploy what I call, following Marianne Hirsch, an aesthetics of interruption: this is an affective, political resistance to the gratifying dispensations that characterise most memory modes and that feature in closure-driven detective fictions in particular. Both novelists exceed genre parameters to make us think about genre frames and what exceeds both the frame and its contained, comprehensible narrative. The aesthetic interruptions in both texts force us to think about the silences that obtain around community collusion in criminal actions and unrelenting structural oppression, and that produce, facilitate and sustain asymmetrical relations of power.
Molecular Science of Lubricant Additives
Authors: Minami Ichiro
Published: April 2017

This review aims at introducing an engineering field of lubrication to researchers who are not familiar with tribology, thereby emphasizing the importance of lubricant chemistry in applied science. It provides initial guidance regarding additive chemistry in lubrication systems for researchers with different backgrounds. The readers will be introduced to molecular sciences underlying lubrication engineering. Currently, lubricant chemistry, especially “additive technology”, looks like a very complicated field. It seems that scientific information is not always shared by researchers. The cause of this is that lubrication engineering is based on empirical methods and focuses on market requirements. In this regard, engineering knowhow is held by individuals and is not being disclosed to scientific communities. Under these circumstances, a bird’s-eye view of lubricant chemistry in scientific words is necessary. The novelty of this review is to concisely explain the whole picture of additive technology in chemical terms. The roles and functions of additives as the leading actors in lubrication systems are highlighted within the scope of molecular science. First, I give an overview of the fundamental lubrication model and the role of lubricants in machine operations. The existing additives are categorized by the role and work mechanism in lubrication system. Examples of additives are shown with representative molecular structure. The second half of this review explains the scientific background of the lubrication engineering. It includes interactions of different components in lubrication systems. Finally, this review predicts the technical trends in lubricant chemistry and requirements in molecular science. This review does not aim to be a comprehensive chart or present manufacturing knowhow in lubrication engineering. References were carefully selected and cited to extract “the most common opinion” in lubricant chemistry and therefore many engineering articles were omitted for conciseness.
Failure to CAPTCHA Attention: Null Results from an Honesty Priming Experiment in Guatemala
Authors: Kettle Stewart , Hernandez Marco , Sanders Michael , Hauser Oliver , Ruda Simon
Published: April 2017

We report results from a large online randomised tax experiment in Guatemala. The trial involves short messages and choices presented to taxpayers as part of a CAPTCHA pop-up window immediately before they file a tax return, with the aim of priming honest declarations. In total our sample includes 627,242 taxpayers and 3,232,430 tax declarations made over four months. Treatments include: honesty declaration; information about public goods; information about penalties for dishonesty, questions allowing a taxpayer to choose which public good they think tax money should be spent on; or questions allowing a taxpayer to state a view on the penalty for not declaring honestly. We find no impact of any of these treatments on the average amount of tax declared. We discuss potential causes for this null effect and implications for ‘online nudges’ around honesty priming.
Topology and Holonomy in Discrete-time Quantum Walks
Authors: Puentes Graciana
Published: April 2017

We present a research article which formulates the milestones for the understanding and characterization of holonomy and topology of a discrete-time quantum walk architecture, consisting of a unitary step given by a sequence of two non-commuting rotations in parameter space. Unlike other similar systems recently studied in detail in the literature, this system does not present continous 1D topological boundaries, it only presents a discrete number of Dirac points where the quasi-energy gap closes. At these discrete points, the topological winding number is not defined. Therefore, such discrete points represent topological boundaries of dimension zero, and they endow the system with a non-trivial topology. We illustrate the non-trivial character of the system by calculating the Zak phase. We discuss the prospects of this system, we propose a suitable experimental scheme to implement these ideas, and we present preliminary experimental data.
Study of Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries: Recent Progress and New Challenges
Authors: Schipper Florian , Nayak Prasant , Erickson Evan , Amalraj S. , Srur-Lavi Onit , Penki Tirupathi , Talianker Michael , Grinblat Judith , Sclar Hadar , Breuer Ortal , Julien Christian , Munichandraiah Nookala , Kovacheva Daniela , Dixit Mudit , Major Dan , Markovsky Boris , Aurbach Doron
Published: April 2017

Amongst a number of different cathode materials, the layered nickel-rich LiNiyCoxMn1−y−xO2 and the integrated lithium-rich xLi2MnO3·(1 − x)Li[NiaCobMnc]O2 (a + b + c = 1) have received considerable attention over the last decade due to their high capacities of ~195 and ~250 mAh·g−1, respectively. Both materials are believed to play a vital role in the development of future electric vehicles, which makes them highly attractive for researchers from academia and industry alike. The review at hand deals with both cathode materials and highlights recent achievements to enhance capacity stability, voltage stability, and rate capability, etc. The focus of this paper is on novel strategies and established methods such as coatings and dopings.
Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Road Networks and Urban Expansion
Authors: Zhao Guoliang , Zheng Xinqi , Yuan Zhiyuan , Zhang Lulu
Published: April 2017

Urban expansion has become a widespread trend in developing countries. Road networks are an extremely important factor driving the expansion of urban land and require further study. To investigate the relationship between road networks and urban expansion, we selected Beijing, New York, London, and Chicago as study areas. First, we obtained urban land use vector data through image interpretation using a remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) platform and then used overlay analysis to extract information on urban expansion. A road network density map was generated using the density analysis tool. Finally, we conducted a spatial statistical analysis between road networks and urban expansion and then systematically analyzed their distribution features. In addition, the Urban Expansion-Road Network Density Model was established based on regression analysis. The results indicate that (1) the road network density thresholds of Beijing, New York, London, and Chicago are 18.9 km/km2, 37.8 km/km2, 57.0 km/km2, and 64.7 km/km2, respectively, and urban expansion has an inverted U-curve relationship with road networks when the road network density does not exceed the threshold; (2) the calculated turning points for urban expansion indicate that urban expansion initially accelerates with increasing road network density but then decreases after the turning point is reached; and (3) when the road density exceeds the threshold, urban areas cease to expand. The correlation between urban expansion and road network features provides an important reference for the future development of global cities. Understanding road network density offers some predictive capabilities for urban land expansion, facilitates the avoidance of irregular expansion, and provides new ideas for addressing the inefficient utilization of land.
Chemical/Structural Modification of Canola Oil and Canola Biodiesel: Kinetic Studies and Biodegradability of the Alkoxides
Authors: Borugadda Venu , Somidi Asish , Dalai Ajay
Published: April 2017

Canola oil and canola biodiesel derived alkoxides are prepared in the present investigation through a series of structural modifications. Epoxidation of canola oil and canola biodiesel were carried out by hydrogen peroxide using IR-120 as an acidic catalyst. The alkoxylation of epoxidized feedstocks was promoted using 2-propanol and tert-Butyl alcohol in the presence of montmorillonite catalyst and optimum reaction conditions were obtained for complete epoxide conversion to alkoxylated products as follows: reaction temperature of 90 °C, epoxide to alcohol molar ratio of 1:6, and reaction time between 6 and 8 h. The products were identified with one- and two-dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques, and the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the alkoxylation reactions were also investigated. The thermo-oxidative stability, rheology, biodegradability and lubricity properties of the prepared alkoxides were determined using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS) standard methods. Structural modification of the feedstocks enhanced the significant properties for lubrication and exhibited their potential application as gear and engine oils.
Synthesis and Thermochromic Properties of Cr-Doped Al2O3 for a Reversible Thermochromic Sensor
Authors: Nguyen Duy , Lee Heesoo , Kim In-Tae
Published: April 2017

An inorganic thermochromic material based on Cr-doped Al2O3 is synthesized using a solid-state method. The crystal structure, chemical composition, and morphology of the synthesized material are analyzed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The color performances of the synthesized material are analyzed using a UV-VIS spectrometer. Finally, the thermochromism exhibited by the powdered samples at high temperatures is investigated. The material exhibits exceptional thermochromic property, transitioning from pink to gray or green in a temperature range of 25–600 °C. The change in color is reversible and is dependent on the surrounding temperature and chromium concentration; however, it is independent of the exposure time. This novel property of Cr-doped Al2O3 can be potentially employed in reversible thermochromic sensors that could be used not only for warning users of damage due to overheating when the environmental temperature exceeds certain limits, but also for detecting and monitoring the temperature of various devices, such as aeronautical engine components, hotplates, and furnaces.
Bioresponsive Materials for Drug Delivery Based on Carboxymethyl Chitosan/Poly(γ-Glutamic Acid) Composite Microparticles
Authors: Yan Xiaoting , Tong Zongrui , Chen Yu , Mo Yanghe , Feng Huaiyu , Li Peng , Qu Xiaosai , Jin Shaohua
Published: April 2017

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) microparticles are a potential candidate for hemostatic wound dressing. However, its low swelling property limits its hemostatic performance. Poly(γ-glutamic acid) (PGA) is a natural polymer with excellent hydrophilicity. In the current study, a novel CMCS/PGA composite microparticles with a dual-network structure was prepared by the emulsification/internal gelation method. The structure and thermal stability of the composite were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effects of preparation conditions on the swelling behavior of the composite were investigated. The results indicate that the swelling property of CMCS/PGA composite microparticles is pH sensitive. Levofloxacin (LFX) was immobilized in the composite microparticles as a model drug to evaluate the drug delivery performance of the composite. The release kinetics of LFX from the composite microparticles with different structures was determined. The results suggest that the CMCS/PGA composite microparticles are an excellent candidate carrier for drug delivery.
Green Synthesis of Ag/Ag2O Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Leaf Extract of Eupatorium odoratum and Its Antimicrobial and Mosquito Larvicidal Activities
Authors: Elemike Elias , Onwudiwe Damian , Ekennia Anthony , Sonde Christopher , Ehiri Richard
Published: April 2017

The health challenges associated with pathogens and ectoparasites highlight the need for effective control approaches. Metal nanoparticles have been proposed as highly effective tools towards combatting different microbial organisms and parasites. The present work reports the antimicrobial and larvicidal potential of biosynthesized Ag/Ag2O nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extract of Eupatorium odoratum (EO). The constituents of the leaf extract act as both reducing and stabilizing agents. The UV-VIS spectra of the nanoparticles showed surface plasmon resonance. The particle size and shape of the nanoparticles was analysed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The larvicidal study was carried out using third and fourth instar Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. The mosquito larvae were exposed to varying concentrations of plant extract (EO) and the synthesized nanoparticles, and their percentage of mortality was accounted for at different time intervals of 12 h and 24 h periods of exposure. The nanoparticles were more lethal against third and fourth instars of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae at the 24 h period of exposure with lower lethal concentration values (LC50 = 95.9 ppm; LC90 = 337.5 ppm) and (LC50 = 166.4 ppm; LC90 = 438.7 ppm) compared to the plant extract (LC50 = 396.8 ppm; LC90 = 716.8 ppm and LC50 = 448.3 ppm; LC90 = 803.9 ppm, respectively). The antimicrobial properties of the nanoparticles were established against different clinically-isolated microbial strains and compared to that of the plant extract (EO) and standard antimicrobial drugs. The nanoparticles were generally more active than the plant extract against the selected microbial organisms. The Gram-negative bacterial strains Escheerichua coli and Salmonella typhi were more susceptible towards the nanoparticles compared to the Gram-positive strains and the fungal organism.
Evaluation of Rational Drug Use for Acute Pharyngitis Associated with the Incidence and Prevalence of the Disease at Two Community Health Centers in Indonesia
Authors: Yuniar Cindra T. , Anggadiredja Kusnandar , Islamiyah Alfi N.
Published: April 2017

According to Indonesia’s Result of Basic Health Research of 2013, prevalence of acute respiratory infection in 2007 and 2013 were not significantly different (25.5% and 25.0%, respectively). Identifying the cause of acute pharyngitis is a key point in determining the optimal treatment. The main purpose is to evaluate the rational use of drugs and its irrational impact as well as the correlation of the drug use with the incidence and prevalence of acute pharyngitis. This study was a descriptive and observational study, carried out retrospectively and concurrently at two community health centers located in Bandung and Cimahi, Indonesia. There was overprescription of antibiotics in 80.01% of prescription cases, with a total of 8.98% being non-treatment option, and 62.43% being irrational use of corticosteroids. The incidence and prevalence of acute pharyngitis at one health center in Bandung were 2.45% and 2.31%, respectively, with an irrationality rate of 83.82%. Those recorded at one health center in Cimahi were 2.11% incidence and 2.00% prevalence with an irrational rate of 91.29%. It can be concluded that there is still an irrational use of medicines in the treatment of acute pharyngitis in community health centers. The higher incidence and prevalence might indicate the declining quality of health services.
Measuring Network-Based Public Transit Performance Using Fuzzy Measures and Fuzzy Integrals
Authors: Shiau Tzay-An , Lee Ching-Shuan
Published: April 2017

This paper proposes an indicator integration model to measure network-based public transit performance. Coverage, directness, and connectivity indicators were used to measure network-based public transit performances individually. The three indicators exist preferential dependence problem in eliciting indicator weights. The value judgments by 40 representatives were collected by using fuzzy measures. Subsequently, fuzzy integrals were applied to integrate the three indicators considering their preferential dependence. The major contributions are twofold: one contribution is providing a comprehensive performance measurement for multimodal transit networks and the other is resolving preferential dependence between the three indicators. A case study of Taipei City was also discussed to demonstrate the application of the integration model. Five major results were derived from the study: (1) according to the decision group preferences, coverage was preferred to directness, and directness was preferred to connectivity; (2) the districts of Taipei City in the central business district (CBD) generally feature high transit coverage compared with the districts in the surrounding areas; (3) the districts in the surrounding areas generally exhibit high transit connectivity compared with the districts in the CBD; (4) the 12 districts of Taipei City do not differ substantially in transit directness performance; and (5) most of the districts of Taipei City in the CBD exhibit relatively better comprehensive transit performance than the districts in the surrounding areas.
Data Requirements for the Correct Identification of Medication Errors and Adverse Drug Events in Patients Presenting at an Emergency Department
Authors: Plank-Kiegele Bettina , Bürkle Thomas , Müller Fabian , Patapovas Andrius , Sonst Anja , Pfistermeister Barbara , Dormann Harald , Maas Renke
Published: April 2017

Background: Adverse drug events (ADE) involving or not involving medication errors (ME) are common, but frequently remain undetected as such. Presently, the majority of available clinical decision support systems (CDSS) relies mostly on coded medication data for the generation of drug alerts. It was the aim of our study to identify the key types of data required for the adequate detection and classification of adverse drug events (ADE) and medication errors (ME) in patients presenting at an emergency department (ED).

Methods: As part of a prospective study, ADE and ME were identified in 1510 patients presenting at the ED of an university teaching hospital by an interdisciplinary panel of specialists in emergency medicine, clinical pharmacology and pharmacy. For each ADE and ME the required different clinical data sources (i.e. information items such as acute clinical symptoms, underlying diseases, laboratory values or ECG) for the detection and correct classification were evaluated.

Results: Of all 739 ADE identified 387 (52.4%), 298 (40.3%), 54 (7.3%), respectively, required one, two, or three, more information items to be detected and correctly classified. Only 68 (10.2%) of the ME were simple drug-drug interactions that could be identified based on medication data alone while 381 (57.5%), 181 (27.3%) and 33 (5.0%) of the ME required one, two or three additional information items, respectively, for detection and clinical classification.

Conclusions: Only 10% of all ME observed in emergency patients could be identified on the basis of medication data alone. Focusing electronic decisions support on more easily available drug data alone may lead to an under-detection of clinically relevant ADE and ME.
Distance to the Low-velocity Cloud in the Direction of the High-velocity Compact Cloud CO–0.40–0.22
Authors: Iwata Yuhei , Kato Haruka , Sakai Daisuke , Oka Tomoharu
Published: April 2017

CO–0.40–0.22 is a peculiar molecular cloud that is compact and has an extraordinary broad velocity width. It is found in the central molecular zone (CMZ) of our Galaxy. In this direction, there is another cloud with an H2O maser spot at a lower velocity. A collision with this low-velocity cloud could be responsible for the broad velocity width of CO–0.40–0.22. We performed phase-referencing very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) astrometry with VERA and detected the annual parallax of the H2O maser spot in the low-velocity cloud to be 0.33 ± 0.14 mas, which corresponds to a distance of

from the Sun. This implies that the low-velocity cloud is located in the Galactic disk on the near side of the CMZ.
Accompagner le quotidien des familles
Authors: Dufour Cécile
Published: April 2017

Intervenir en camsp , c’est intervenir précocement et très souvent à un moment de bouleversement, de remaniement pour les familles et les enfants qui font l’objet de notre soin. Familles et thérapeutes sont donc amenés à confronter leurs points de vue, leurs manières de faire, à la recherche d’une même visée, celle de la progression et du développement de l’enfant. En tant qu’ergothérapeute, la finalité d’une intervention porte essentiellement sur les préoccupations du quotidien au travers d’approches thérapeutiques diverses. Bien qu’essentielles à l’intervention, ces approches ne peuvent suffire à résoudre les problématiques rencontrées. Il convient alors de comprendre les bases sur lesquelles va pouvoir s’organiser cette rencontre avec les familles. Quelles logiques mobilisent chacun pour espérer converger vers ce mieux-être ? Quels atouts, quelles qualités mais aussi quelles difficultés va rencontrer l’ergothérapeute dans la réalisation de ses actions ? Nous essayerons, dans une lecture ergothérapique, de comprendre l’attention portée et la nature de l’accompagnement proposé pour permettre aux familles et à l’enfant d’avancer vers une vision partagée de ce quotidien.
Pourquoi les aides à domicile sont-elles davantage rémunérées dans certains départements ?
Authors: Devetter François-Xavier , Dussuet Annie , Puissant Emmanuelle
Published: April 2017

Depuis vingt ans, la politique de prise en charge des personnes âgées a largement privilégié l’aide à domicile. Les politiques publiques ont cherché à la fois à solvabiliser la demande et à structurer l’offre de service. Relevant d’une politique nationale mise en œuvre par les conseils départementaux, le secteur s’est cependant développé de manière hétérogène selon les territoires. Cet article vise dans un premier temps, en s’appuyant sur les données Dads , à décrire cette diversité en en soulignant les impacts en matière de structuration et de rémunération. Dans un second temps il cherche à mieux comprendre les mécanismes qui conduisent à des écarts si importants en soulignant le rôle des différents types d’employeurs et des politiques départementales.
Aumento de la producción de cemento y mejora simultánea de la calidad (conclusion)
Authors: Calleja Carrete J.
Published: April 2017

Not available
Factors Supporting an Information Technology Management : Teachers in Primary Schools in Thailand
Authors: Raso Daoprakai , Tungkunanan Pariyaporn , Anukulwech Abhichat
Published: April 2017

The objectives of this research were (1) to study the authentic situation of the Information Technology Management of Teachers in Primary Schools in Thailand (2) to study the factors supporting the Information Technology Management of Teachers in Primary Schools in Thailand .

The sample group consisted of 165 teachers, teaching in primary schools under the office of the basic education commission (OBEC) in Thailand in 2016. By using multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected by using questionnaire include 101 questions from 6 factors in which the questionnaires were approved content validity from experts at level of 0.95 and 0.97, respectively. The statistics were used to analyse the data as follows: mean (M), standard deviation (S.D),and Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis. The study revealed that (1) the authentic situation of the Information Technology Management was found at “very often” level for the operation of the information technology management x ̅ = 4.09 and S.D.= 0.47 and (2) the factors that support the Information Technology Management consisting of the hardware factors and the people factor. The percentage was 28.80 and 32.70 consecutively, and shown the raw score and standard score was found from this formula Ý = 1.989 + .322(X1) + .178(X6) Ź = .363(X1) + .262(X6).