bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The challenges and opportunities of global neurosurgery in East Africa: the Neurosurgery Education and Development model
Authors: Leidinger Andreas , Extremera Pablo , Kim Eliana E. , Qureshi Mahmood M. , Young Paul H. , Piquer José
Published: October 2018

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to describe the experience of a volunteering neurosurgeon during an 18-week stay at the Neurosurgery Education and Development (NED) Institute and to report the general situation regarding the development of neurosurgery in Zanzibar, identifying the challenges and opportunities and explaining the NED Foundation’s model for safe practice and sustainability.

METHODS

The NED Foundation deployed the volunteer neurosurgeon coordinator (NC) for an 18-week stay at the NED Institute at the Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Stonetown, Zanzibar. The main roles of the NC were as follows: management of patients, reinforcement of weekly academic activities, coordination of international surgical camps, and identification of opportunities for improvement. The improvement opportunities were categorized as clinical, administrative, and sociocultural and were based on observations made by the NC as well as on interviews with local doctors, administrators, and government officials.

RESULTS

During the 18-week period, the NC visited 460 patients and performed 85 surgical procedures. Four surgical camps were coordinated on-site. Academic activities were conducted weekly. The most significant challenges encountered were an intense workload, deficient infrastructure, lack of self-confidence among local physicians, deficiencies in technical support and repairs of broken equipment, and lack of guidelines. Through a series of interviews, the sociocultural factors influencing the NED Foundation’s intervention were determined. Factors identified for success were the activity of neurosurgical societies in East Africa; structured pan-African neurosurgical training; the support of the Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery (FIENS) and the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA); motivated personnel; and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar’s willingness to collaborate with the NED Foundation.

CONCLUSIONS

International collaboration programs should balance local challenges and opportunities in order to effectively promote the development of neurosurgery in East Africa. Support and endorsement should be sought to harness shared resources and experience. Determining the caregiving and educational objectives within the logistic, administrative, social, and cultural framework of the target hospital is paramount to success.
Neurosurgical digital teaching in low-middle income countries: beyond the frontiers of traditional education
Authors: Nicolosi Federico , Rossini Zefferino , Zaed Ismail , Kolias Angelos G. , Fornari Maurizio , Servadei Franco
Published: October 2018

OBJECTIVE

Neurosurgical training is usually based on traditional sources of education, such as papers, books, direct surgical experience, and cadaveric hands-on courses. In low-middle income countries, standard education programs are often unavailable, mainly owing to the lack of human and economic resources. Introducing digital platforms in these settings could be an alternative solution for bridging the gap between Western and poor countries in neurosurgical knowledge.

METHODS

The authors identified from the Internet the main digital platforms that could easily be adopted in low-middle income countries. They selected free/low-cost mobile content with high educational impact.

RESULTS

The platforms that were identified as fulfilling the characteristics described above are WFNS Young Neurosurgeons Forum Stream, Brainbook, NeuroMind, UpSurgeOn, The Neurosurgical Atlas, Touch surgery, The 100 UCLA Subjects in Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Survival Guide, EANS (European Association of Neurosurgical Societies) Academy, Neurosurgical.TV, 3D Neuroanatomy, The Rhoton Collection, and Hinari. These platforms consist of webinars, 3D interactive neuroanatomy and neurosurgery content, videos, and e-learning programs supported by neurosurgical associations or journals.

CONCLUSIONS

Digital education is an emerging tool for contributing to the spread of information in the neurosurgical community. The continuous improvement in the quality of content will rapidly increase the scientific validity of digital programs. In conclusion, the fast and easy access to digital resources could contribute to promote neurosurgical education in countries with limited facilities.
Global neurosurgery: models for international surgical education and collaboration at one university
Authors: Almeida Joao Paulo , Velásquez Carlos , Karekezi Claire , Marigil Miguel , Hodaie Mojgan , Rutka James T. , Bernstein Mark
Published: October 2018

OBJECTIVE

International collaborations between high-income (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have been developed as an attempt to reduce the inequalities in surgical care around the world. In this paper the authors review different models for international surgical education and describe projects developed by the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto in this field.

METHODS

The authors conducted a review of models of international surgical education reported in the literature in the last 15 years. Previous publications on global neurosurgery reported by the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto were reviewed to exemplify the applications and challenges of international surgical collaborations.

RESULTS

The most common models for international surgical education and collaboration include international surgical missions, long-term international partnerships, fellowship training models, and online surgical education. Development of such collaborations involves different challenges, including limited time availability, scarce funding/resources, sociocultural barriers, ethical challenges, and lack of organizational support. Of note, evaluation of outcomes of international surgical projects remains limited, and the development and application of assessment tools, such as the recently proposed Framework for the Assessment of International Surgical Success (FAIRNeSS), is encouraged.

CONCLUSIONS

Actions to reduce inequality in surgical care should be implemented around the world. Different models can be used for bilateral exchange of knowledge and improvement of surgical care delivery in regions where there is poor access to surgical care. Implementation of global neurosurgery initiatives faces multiple limitations that can be ameliorated if systematic changes occur, such as the development of academic positions in global surgery, careful selection of participant centers, governmental and nongovernmental financial support, and routine application of outcome evaluation for international surgical collaborations.
Ardahan ve İlçelerinden Toplanan Bal Örneklerinde Ağır Metal Kirliliğinin Belirlenmesi
Authors: EKİCİ Hüsamettin , YAZICI Kemal
Published: October 2018

Yapılan çalışmada, 2015 yılında Ardahan ilinin tüm ilçelerinden (Merkez, Hanak, Posof, Çıldır, Göle, Damal) arıcılık yapan bal
üreticilerinden temin edilen 180 adet bal numunesinde bazı element düzeyleri
araştırıldı. Bal numunelerinde Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na,
Ni, Pb, Sr ve Zn elementlerinin düzeyleri ICP-OES cihazı ile belirlendi. İl
merkezi ve ilçelerine göre ortalama element düzeyleri ile en alt ve en üst
değerler tespit edildi. Analizi yapılan numunelerin Cd, Co, Cr ve Pb
değerlerinin tümü tespit limitinin altında bulundu. Yapılan analiz sonucunda
balların element içeriği; Al 124,863± 313,44 ppb, Ca 1227,56± 892,22 ppb, Fe
67,352±34,636 ppb, K 6484,904±2078,892 ppb, Mg 302,551±323,329 ppb, Mn
4,636±3,943 ppb, Na 3118,69±835,149 ppb ve Sr 10,535±14,73 ppb olarak tespit
edildi. Bu çalışmada elde edilen sonuçların, bazı uluslararası limitlerle
karşılaştırıldığında da maksimum kalıntı limitlerinin oldukça altında olduğu
tespit edilmiştir. Analizi yapılan örneklerin insan sağlığı açısından herhangi
bir tehlike teşkil etmeyeceği sonucuna varılmıştır.
Preparing The Critically Ill Adult Patient for Transfer
Authors: Menzies David , Murphy Anna Marie
Published: October 2018

Background

The reorganisation of hospital services in Ireland, the development of hospital groups, centralisation of specialties and reconfiguring of smaller hospitals necessitates inter hospital transfer of patients requiring specialist care to an appropriate hospital that meets their clinical needs. In Ireland, in excess of 1000 adult critical care inter hospital transfers occur per annum(1). The ‘hub-and-spoke’ model is aligned with the hospital group structure and connectivity between hospitals is provided through agreed transport and retrieval services. These transfers are generally undertaken by local teams (usually an anaesthetic NCHD and a nurse) using an emergency ambulance and crew. Multidisciplinary team training is provided, by Critical Care Retrieval Services, using local resources in a framework enhancing safety and preparedness.

Aims

A critical care transfer checklist with a systematic approach provides a framework to address the elements of critical care, transport physiology changes and reduce potential adverse events when transferring critically ill patients (2). The use of transport specific adjuncts and packaging the patient systematically not only addresses transport issues e.g. temperature, but also facilitates emergency interventions en route.

Conclusion

Patient safety is a fundamental principle in healthcare and is the responsibility of healthcare practitioners to apply quality improvement methods to effect process and system improvements. The use of a systematic approach to patient management when transporting critically ill patients establishes a higher level of performance reduces cognitive dissonance and provides a framework for clinical teams and reduces the potential for human error (3).

 

 
EG~metropolitane Integration und die Krise linker Wirtschaftspolitik
Authors: Röttger Bernd
Published: October 2018

The prevailing process of European integration is based on a new compromise between globalization and regionalization, represented by competing social forces. This transnational compromise has produced a new model of policy in the EC, characterized by networks of interorganizational policy-making at the levels of supranational policy, the nation-state and the regional-state. The coordinated decision-making is creating a new form of political regulation of transnational accumulation. The contemporary strain between globalization and social fractionalization tends to undermine an alternative alliance of social groups. Left politics threatens to become an appendix of the dominating process of acumulation. An independed political project is, so far, out of sight.
Frauen in der Ökonomie
Authors: Redaktion Prokla
Published: October 2018

Editorial
Zum Spannungsverhältnis von Zuwanderung und Sozialstaat
Authors: Fischer Andrea
Published: October 2018

The current debate in Germany about migration and the welfare state focuses on the threat of mass-migration to the maintenance of social security. Not only is the danger of a mass-influx of people exaggerated, moreover there is no empirical evidence for a negative impact of migration on the welfare state in general. With reference to the impossibility of defining a quantitative limit of the capacity to include imigrants the author emphasises the political dimension of the discourse on migration. In discussing different concepts of inclusion the articel raises questions of defining and going beyond the borders of the welfare state.
Asynchronitäten der deutsch-deutschen Frauenbewegung
Authors: Young Brigitte
Published: October 2018

This article problematizes the much used cliche that Warnen are the main losers of German unification« and suggests that the »disempowerment« of warnen during and after Unification is due to two non-synchronization processes. First, the development of separate East and West German feminist identities has made it difficult for feminists to agree on common goals and strategies, and second, the state centered strategies of feminists fail to take into account the structural transformations of the German state.
Fundamentalismus und moderne Identität
Authors: Lohauß Peter
Published: October 2018

Als Protest gegen die sich modernisierende Gesellschaft ist der Fundamentalismus selbst Teil der Modeme. Da die Versachlichung von persönlichen sozialen Beziehungen ein beständig neu produzierter Konflikt moderner Sozialbeziehungen ist, wird im Anschluß an Riesebrodts klassische Untersuchung den Bedingungen nachgegangen, unter denen dieser Protest eine fundamentalistische Ausdrucksform annimmt. Die Thesen werden auf die aktuelle Renaissance des protestantischen Fundamentalismus in den USA bezogen.
Auf der Suche nach den wirtschaftlichen Sachzwängen der Weimarer Republik
Authors: Wellhöner Volker
Published: October 2018

Borchardt diagnostiziert eine »Krankheit« der Weimarer Wirtschaft, die in seiner Wahrnehmung bereits lange vor 1929 erkennbar war und den Handlungsspielraum der Akteure in der Weltwirtschaftskrise entscheidend einengte. Der Artikel rekonstruiert die impliziten methodischen Grundlagen der Borchardtschen Argumentation, die in der neoklassischen Wachstumstheorie wurzeln und zeigt, daß Borchardts Thesen zum Zusammenhang zwischen Löhnen, Profiten und Wachstum auf dieser methodischen Grundlage in Konsistenzprobleme geraten. Der Artikel endet mit der knappen Skizzierung einer methodischen Alternative bei der Suche nach den »ökonomischen Sachzwängen« der Weimarer Republik.
Akteure beim Hochseilakt mit Netz, ein Experiment
Authors: Redaktion Prokla
Published: October 2018

Editorial
Marktgesellschaft und die Veränderung von Politikmustern
Authors: Lechner Norbert
Published: October 2018

The article investigates the effects of extensive enforcement of the market society on the pattems of politics in the example of the Latin American countries. The institutionalized politics as well as the »political« (the symbolic representations of the collective order) undergo a transformation, during which the context and the meaning of democracy is changed. Instead of politics being trapped within the mere market logic and only reacting to challenges, a policy which tries toregulate social processes with the aim of a collective order for the collectivity is necessary.
Motivationen, Schwierigkeiten und Chancen der Nicht-Regierungs-Organisationen bei der Bildung von Netzwerken
Authors: Walk Heike
Published: October 2018

Due to the intensive collaboration of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at the parallel »summit« to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and due to the similarily positive experiences at the World Population Conference in Cairo and the World Bank/IMF Meeting in Madrid, the environmental and development NGOs are increasingly gaining influence. At the same time, this development is a challenge to the organization structures and action plans of these organisations. The formation of networks on regional, national and international levels and the linkage of environmental and development policy-action spheres in the »NGO community« are analysed critically in this context.
20. Jahrhundert mit beschränkter Haftung: Kapital, Arbeit und Bürokratie im Zeitalter des Nationalismus
Authors: O'Connor James
Published: October 2018

With the aid of three categories - which are not only meant geographically -"West" (Western Europe and North America), "East" (Eastern Europe) and "South" (the Third World), the main features of the transformation processes ofthe 20th century are analysed: the interrelations between capital, labor and community, the development and integration of the different oppositional movements, the rise of bureaucracy and the welfare state and their following decline, the importance of nationalism and national states and the transition to a global capitalism.
Wider die verhängnisvolle neue Bescheidenheit: Kapitalismus ohne Alternative
Authors: Narr Wolf-Dieter , Roth Roland
Published: October 2018

In critical distance to the "Zeitgeist", the attempt is made to strengthen systematical and topical reasons for the necessity of a socialist alternative. Whoever really wants human rights and democracy, according to the main thesis of the article, cannot ignore socialism.
Eine diskursanalytische Kritik der Regulationstheorie
Authors: Scherrer Christoph
Published: October 2018

The article confronts the Marxist variant of the French regulation theory and two recent, conflicting attempts to clarify the role of agency and of the state within the regulation approach, one that upholds claims to objectivity and one that stresses contingency, with the central theoretical insights of Laclau's and Mouffe's discourse analysis. lt argues that if the concept of mutual subversion between the contingent and the necessary is applied to the regulation theory, this theory canavoid the pitfalls of functionalism or of being rejected altogether.
Die italienischen Gewerkschaften - eine Bestandsaufnahme von den 70er Jahren bis heute
Authors: Rieser Vittorio
Published: October 2018

After the deconstruction of the Italian trade unions which took place in the eighties due to a political anti-trade-unions offensive by the state and enterprises, a careful renaissance of trade union politics has started since the early nineties. This revival is owing to the new production models, on the one hand, which are rediscovering the role of human labour and are therefore opting for a stronger cooperation; on the other hand it is an expression of the opposition against a repetition of the state's austerity policy which fosters the unity of the trade unions.
Pasolini und die italienische Krise
Authors: Kammerer Peter
Published: October 2018

Pasolini expressed his views on all questions of social and political changes in Italy from 1943 to1975. Thereby, he anticipated a Jot of today's problems. His heretical approaches can beuseful for analysing the contemporary crises and a new beginning of the Left.
Ökonomische und politische Transformationen in Osteuropa: Der aktuelle Stand
Authors: Przeworski Adam
Published: October 2018

The article examines the dilemma of the necessity to consolidate democratic structures by creating incentives for political forces to channel their interests into the democratic institutions, but the policy choices are tightly constrained by the economic crisis. The foreseeable future, however, does not offer the perspective of material improvements in Eastern Europe, despite all optimistic prognoses. Nevertheless, the democratic institutions already seem consolidated to an extent to which their existence is at least not threatened in short-term perspective.
Ist soziale Gerechtigkeit eine Illusion?
Authors: Barry Brian
Published: October 2018

The article discusses the implications of the conception of social justice in Hayek's writings. To approach distributional justice by means of moral theory is a hopeless undertaking in Hayek's eyes, because market processes generating distribution in modern societies function in an abstract way. Therefore, these processes are immune to moral assessments. In a detailed critique of this thesis, the author tries to show that moral criteria can indeed be applied to market processes.
MENGUATKAN PANCASILA, MENATA KEMAJEMUKAN BANGSA
Authors: Romli R. Cecep
Published: October 2018

Saat ini Indonesia tengah menatap secercah harapan akan pembangunan berkeadilan. Untuk pertama kalinya dalam dua tahun terakhir era reformasi, pembangunan infrastruktur (seperti jalan tol, rel kereta, pelabuhan, bandara dan pembangkit listrik) yang semula terpusat di Jawa digenjot secara merata di seluruh persada Nusantara. Targetnya, agar pertumbuhan ekonomi meningkat secara merata, sehingga menekan jurang ketimpangan. Seiring dengan itu, gini ratio (ketimpangan pengeluaran) pun mulai ada penurunan. Pada September 2016 gini ratio perkotaan tercatat 0,409, turun dari gini ratio Maret 2016 sebesar 0,410. Sedangkan gini ratio pedesaan turun dari 0, 327 pada Maret 2016 menjadi 0,316 pada September 2016, menandakan tingkat pemerataan di desa lebih baik dibanding di kota. Kendati masih sangat tipis, menurut Kepala BPS, Suhariyanto, turunnya gini ratio ini karena adanya perbaikan dalam pengeluaran di berbagai daerah dan perbaikan pemerataan pembangunan.
RUMAH IBADAH SEBAGAI MEDAN KONTESTASI BERAGAMA
Authors: Saprillah Saprillah
Published: October 2018

The house of worship become an interesting phenomena among the religion community, in recent years.  The minority tends very hard to build their houses of worship. This paper aims to describe that houses of worship become battle area among the reliogion community. Seven cases of houses of worship in East Kalimantan are best example for that symbolic battle. Not only between two different religion community but also the same religion community.This paper explains that houses of worship become battle area among the reliogion community was caused by; 1) houses of worship is well known as symbolic and artificial. Not just for pure worship for sure. 2). Syndrome of majority. The majority reject to live side by side in peace. 3). Those people are not ready to live together in multicultural area.
Simulation of electrical properties of quartz crystal microbalance using multi-resonance thickness-shear mode technique
Authors: Tran Thu Thi Minh , Tran Thong Huy , Duong Phuoc Tan , Ngo Thanh Vo Ke , Nguyen Giang Dang , Truong Ly Huu , Nguyen Viet Ngoc
Published: October 2018

The use of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in chemistry, biophysics, microbiology and electronics has grown tremendously in recent years. In this paper, the properties of a QCM sensor (a system include QCM device and viscoelastic medium) operating in the range of 5 MHz to 35 MHz of Multi-resonance Thickness-Shear Mode (MTSM, n = 1, 3, 5, 7) are described. We calculate the changes both in resonant frequencies and attenuation of the QCM. The penetration depth of the shear waves propagating from quartz into loaded thin film varies in different values due to the harmonics, from which we infer the properties of the loaded thin film. The multi-harmonic operation of QCM was presented to collect the information of the loaded thin film on QCM’s electrode. This enables a “virtual slicing technique” because a harmonic relates to a different penetration depth even with the same material. The theoretical analysis of MTSM has been developed to model and simulate the signature of the sensor responses at harmonic frequencies. The signatures of the evaporation- induced deposition processes were investigated by studying the effect of the thickness and stiffness of the medium.
Lipase B from Candida antarctica Immobilized on Epoxy-functionalized Hollow Silica Microspheres: Efficient Biocatalysts for Enantiomer Selective Acylation of Alcohols and Amines
Authors: Oláh Márk , Suba Szandra , Boros Zoltán , Kovács Péter , Gosselin Mathilde , Gaudreault Charles , Hornyánszky Gábor
Published: October 2018

Hollow silica microspheres with promising physical properties (MAT540TM) as support for enzyme immobilization and biocatalyst were investigated in this study. The amine-functionalized MAT540TM was activated by six bisepoxides inclosing different spacers and used as epoxy-functionalized carrier for immobilization of lipase B from Candida antarctica (CaLB). The novel, covalently fixed CaLB biocatalysts were compared in kinetic resolution (KR) of racemic 1-phenyethanol rac-1 and five racemic amines rac-3a-e using shaken flasks and continuous-flow packed-bed microreactors. Mechanic stability, re-usability and the effect of temperature (0–90 °C) on productivity and enantiomer selectivity of the covalently immobilized CaLB were investigated. The best performing CaLB biocatalyst showed good mechanic stability after 24 h operation time in continuous-flow mode at 60 °C and provided in KRs of racemic 1-phenyethanol rac-1 with vinyl acetate and of five racemic amines with isopropyl 2-ethoxyacetate as acylating agent the non-reacted (S)-alcohol [(S)-1] or (S)-amines [(S)-3a-e] and the forming (R)-ester [(R)-2] or (R)-amide [(R)-4a-e] in good yields with high enantiomeric excess (ee > 99 %, for all).
Alexander Morrison Stewart (1861–1948): noteworthy naturalist from Paisley, Scotland
Authors: Moore P. G.
Published: October 2018

Attention is drawn to the contribution made by Alexander Morrison Stewart to the natural history of the Paisley area in the early part of the twentieth century. From humble beginnings and while working on Paisley pattern textiles designs, Stewart rose to prominence as a naturalist in Renfrewshire, primarily from his interest in entomology. He founded the Paisley Naturalists' Society and held several positions within its ranks. Despite being a prolific writer of articles in local newspapers and the author of five books on insects and general natural history, he remains little-known nowadays. He networked with other local naturalists, notably the Reverend Charles A. Hall, to whose “Peeps at nature” series he contributed two lepidopteran titles. He donated a substantial butterfly collection to the Paisley Museum and was an advocate of the so-called “Paisley Method” of setting butterflies. An accomplished artist, he was much attached to the Firth of Clyde islands of Arran and Cumbrae, visiting them often for holidays spent sketching and collecting.
William Smyth (1838–1913), a commercial taxidermist of Dunedin, New Zealand
Authors: Crane Rosi , GILL B. J.
Published: October 2018

William Smyth, unable to get work in a New Zealand museum, ran a commercial taxidermy business at Caversham, Dunedin, from about 1873 to 1911 or 1912. His two decades of correspondence with Thomas Frederic Cheeseman at the Auckland Museum provide a case study of Smyth's professional interaction with one of New Zealand's main museums. We have used this and other sources to paint a picture of Smyth's activities and achievements during a time when there was great interest in New Zealand birds but few local taxidermists to preserve their bodies. Besides the Auckland Museum, Smyth supplied specimens to various people with museum connections, including Georg Thilenius (Germany) and Walter Lawry Buller (New Zealand). Smyth was probably self-taught, and his standards of preparation and labelling were variable, but he left a legacy for the historical documentation of New Zealand ornithology by the large number of his bird specimens that now reside in public museum collections in New Zealand and elsewhere.
Political participation and social exclusion in later life: What politically active seniors can teach us about barriers to inclusion and retention
Authors: Serrat Rodrigo , Warburton Jeni , Petriwskyj Andrea , Villar Feliciano
Published: October 2018

Addressing older people’s social exclusion is a major challenge for contemporary societies. However, policies designed to address it have tended to focus on poverty and unemployment. This paper explores the relationship between social exclusion and political participation from the perspective of those already holding responsible roles within seniors’ organisations. We aim to highlight the impact of later-life social exclusion in relation to politically active older individuals from two diverse socio-political contexts, Australia and Spain. Participants perceived a range of potential barriers for the inclusion of new members and their own continued involvement. These related to practical and resource ssues, beliefs and attitudes towards participation, and organisational and contextual issues. Members’ views of retention of existing members as well as the recruitment of new members highlight the complexity associated with building the diversity and representativeness that organisations need if they are to represent seniors’ views in the policy process.
Contribution à l'étude du gîte de vanadinite d'Herival
Authors: Durand Georges
Published: October 2018

Le gîte de vanadinite d'Herival est étudié dans le but d'en déterminer le mode de formation.

La présence de montmorillonite et de galène conduit à imaginer le processus suivant : la galène s'altère et libère des ions (Pb++) qui /sont adsorbés par la montmorillonite, les eaux de ruissellement apportent le (Cl-) ainsi que des colloïdes humiques ayant eux-mêmes adsorbé des anions vanadiques : la vanadinite se forme au sein de l'argile. La synthèse de ce minerai a été ensuite réalisée à froid par ce processus et la méthode peut être généralisée pour la synthèse d'autres minéraux.
MODERNIZUOTŲ DAUGIABUČIŲ NAMŲ MIKROKLIMATO RODIKLIŲ IR ATITVARŲ ŠILUMINIŲ CHARAKTERISTIKŲ TYRIMAS / ANALYSIS OF MICROCLIMATE INDICATORS AND THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ENVELOPE OF RESIDENTIAL MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS
Authors: Bielskus Juozas , Šiupšinskas Giedrius
Published: October 2018

The purpose of the study was to analyse the thermal characteristics of the microclimate parameters and envelope of the renovated 12 residential multi-storey buildings by assessing their impact on heat savings. The relevance of this work is related to a significant discrepancy between the theoretically simulated / estimated heat savings after the renovation and the actual measured values of heat meters. After the statistical analysis of the accumulated data, the average indoor temperature of the premises, relative humidity, and CO2 concentration were determined, and the distribution of frequency was assessed. The heat transfer coefficients of the walls, window glasses and window frames, measured according to the manufacturer’s recommended methodology, are reviewed in this work. The results are compared with the current requirements for microclimate. The results revealed that in the investigated buildings after the renovation the weighted average temperature of the premises was higher than the temperature under standard conditions, but the air quality (CO2 concentration) was insufficient. The air quality improvement measures increase heat demand and reduce the expected heat savings.

Santrauka

Tyrimo tikslas buvo atlikti modernizuotų 12 daugiabučių namų mikroklimato rodiklių ir atitvarų šiluminių charakteristikų analizę įvertinant jų įtaką sutaupytam šilumos kiekiui. Darbo aktualumas susijęs su pastebimu neatitikimu tarp teoriškai sumodeliuoto ar apskaičiuoto sutaupyto šilumos kiekio po modernizavimo ir faktinių užfiksuotų skaitiklių reikšmių. Darbe atlikus sukauptų duomenų statistinę analizę buvo nustatyta vidutinė patalpų vidaus temperatūra, santykinis drėgnis, CO2 koncentracija bei įvertintas reikšmių pasiskirstymo dažnis. Aptarti pagal gamintojų rekomenduojamą metodiką matuotų sienų, lango paketo ir lango rėmo šilumos perdavimo koeficientai. Gauti rezultatai palyginti su šiuo metu galiojančiais mikroklimatui keliamais reikalavimais. Rezultatai atskleidė, kad tirtuose pastatuose po modernizavimo patalpų svorinė vidutinė temperatūra buvo aukštesnė nei norminė, tačiau oro kokybė yra nepakankama. Oro kokybės gerinimo priemonės didina šilumos poreikį ir mažina tikėtiną sutaupytos šilumos kiekį.
GEORADARO TAIKYMAS ASFALTO DANGŲ ĮRENGIMO KOKYBEI ĮVERTINTI / EVALUATION OF THE USE OF GPR IN QUALITY CONTROL OF ASPHALT PAVEMENT LAYERS
Authors: Baltrušaitis Andrius , Vaitkus Audrius
Published: October 2018

The optimum density and air-voids content of asphalt pavement layers are among the main indicators of the durability of asphalt road pavement. The asphalt pavement with insufficient density is less resistant to traffic loading and the damaging effects caused by water. Air-voids ensure the durability of asphalt pavement and the accumulation of free bitumen during a period of hot weather. At present, the main ways to control the quality of compaction and the content of air-voids is to drill core specimens and test them in the laboratory. This method is expensive, it damages the road surface, and the quality of asphalt pavement is verified only at several points. With the rapid development of new technologies, it is necessary to evaluate and to apply innovative non-destructive methods, allowing us to determine the qualitative characteristics of asphalt pavement across the entire length of the road without causing the damage to the road surface and at lower costs. This article describes the use of Ground Penetrating Radar to determine asphalt pavement density and air-voids content provides an overview of global practices and feasibility analysis on the application of Ground Penetrating Radar on the roads of Lithuanian.

Santrauka

Asfalto dangos sluoksnių optimalus tankis ir oro tuštymių kiekis yra vieni iš pagrindinių dangos ilgaamžiškumo rodiklių. Nepakankamo tankio danga yra mažiau atspari automobilių eismo apkrovoms ir žalingam vandens poveikiui. Oro tuštymės užtikrina dangos ilgaamžiškumą ir laisvojo bitumo akumuliavimą karštuoju metų laikotarpiu. Šiuo metu pagrindinis būdas kontroliuoti sutankinimą ir oro tuštymių kiekį yra gręžti kernus ir juos bandyti laboratorijoje. Šis metodas yra brangus, gadinama kelio danga ir asfalto dangos kokybė patikrinama tik keliuose taškuose. Sparčiai vystantis technologijoms būtina įvertinti ir taikyti inovatyvius neardančiuosius metodus, leidžiančius kokybinius asfalto dangos rodiklius nustatyti neardant dangos, išilgai viso kelio ir mažesnėmis sąnaudomis. Šiame straipsnyje pateikta georadaro (angl. Ground Penetrating Radar) taikymo asfalto dangai sutankinti ir oro tuštymių kiekiui nustatyti pasaulinės praktikos apžvalga ir panaudojimo Lietuvos automobilių keliuose galimybių analizė.
Inferring the Composition of Disintegrating Planet Interiors from Dust Tails with Future James Webb Space Telescope Observations
Authors: Bodman Eva H. L. , Wright Jason T. , Desch Steven J. , Lisse Carey M.
Published: October 2018

Disintegrating planets allow for the unique opportunity to study the composition of the interiors of small, hot, rocky exoplanets because the interior is evaporating and that material is condensing into dust, which is being blown away and then transiting the star. Their transit signal is dominated by dusty effluents forming a comet-like tail trailing the host planet (or leading it, in the case of K2-22b), making these good candidates for transmission spectroscopy. To assess the ability of such observations to diagnose the dust composition, we simulate the transmission spectra from 5 to 14 μm for the planet tail assuming an optically thin dust cloud comprising a single dust species with a constant column density scaled to yield a chosen visible transit depth. We find that silicate resonant features near 10 μm can produce transit depths that are at least as large as those in the visible. For the average transit depth of 0.55% in the Kepler band for K2-22b, the features in the transmission spectra can be as large as 1%, which is detectable with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) MIRI low-resolution spectrograph in a single transit. The detectability of compositional features is easier with an average grain size of 1 μm despite features being more prominent with smaller grain sizes. We find most features are still detectable for transit depths of ∼0.3% in the visible range. If more disintegrating planets are found with future missions such as the space telescope TESS, follow-up observations with JWST can explore the range of planetary compositions.
Cepheid Abundances: Multiphase Results and Spatial Gradients
Authors: Luck R. Earle
Published: October 2018

Parameters and abundances have been derived for 435 Cepheids based on an analysis of 1127 spectra. Results from five or more phases are available for 52 of the program stars. The latter set of stars span periods between 1.5 and 68 days. The parameters and abundances show excellent consistency across phase. For iron, the average range in the determined abundance is 0.11 from these 52 stars. For 163 stars with more than one phase available the average range is 0.07. The variation in effective temperature tracks well with phase, as does the total broadening velocity. The gravity and microturbulent velocity follow phase, but with less variation and regularity. Abundance gradients have been derived using Gaia DR2 parallax data, as well as Bayesian distance estimates based upon Gaia DR2 from Bailer-Jones et al. The abundance gradient derived for iron is d[Fe/H]/dR = −0.05 dex kpc−1, similar to gradients derived in previous studies.
Radial Velocity Comparison of Gaia DR2 and RAVE DR5 Survey: A Systematic Offset in Radial Velocities among a Group of Highly Accurate Radial Velocity Stars
Authors: Deepak  , Reddy Bacham E.
Published: October 2018

Here, we report a comparative study of radial velocity (RV) data of two major surveys: Gaia Data Release 2 and RAVE Data Release 5. We restricted the sample to stars with relatively accurate RVs (

km s−1 or ≤2%, and

km s−1 or ≤2%). The difference between RV
Gaia
and RVRAVE for a majority of the sample follows a normal distribution with mean = 0.28 km s−1 and σ = 1.49 km s−1. However, we found a very small group of stars (≈0.08% of the total) for which the difference in RVs between the two surveys is significantly larger with an offset of −104.50 km s−1 with σ = 4.92 km s−1. Kinematics based on RV
Gaia
suggest that most of the group members belong to the Galactic thin disk, which agrees with the group’s metallicity range of −1.2 to +0.5 dex suggesting the offset in RV is probably due to RAVE velocity data for this particular group.
Aerosols and Water Ice in Jupiter’s Stratosphere from UV-NIR Ground-based Observations
Authors: López-Puertas Manuel , Montañés-Rodríguez Pilar , Pallé E. , Höpfner M. , Sánchez-López A. , García-Comas M. , Funke B.
Published: October 2018

Jupiter’s atmosphere has been sounded in transmission from the UV to the IR, as if it were a transiting exoplanet, by observing Ganymede while passing through Jupiter’s shadow. The spectra show strong extinction due to the presence of aerosols and haze in Jupiter’s atmosphere and strong absorption features of methane. Here, we report a new detailed analysis of these observations, with special emphasis on the retrievals of the vertical distribution of the aerosols and their sizes, and the properties and distribution of the stratospheric water ice. Our analysis suggests the presence of aerosols near the equator in the altitude range of 100 hPa up to at least 0.01 hPa, with a layer of small particles (mean radius of 0.1 μm) in the upper part (above 0.1 hPa), an intermediate layer of aerosols with a radius of 0.3 μm, extending between ∼10 and 0.01 hPa, and a layer with larger sizes of ∼0.6 μm at approximately 100–1 hPa. The corresponding loads for each layer are ∼2 × 10−7 g cm−2, ∼3.4 × 10−7 g cm−2, and ∼1.5 × 10−6 g cm−2, respectively, with a total load of ∼2.0 × 10−6 g cm−2. The lower and middle layers agree well with previous measurements; but the finer particles of 0.1 μm above 0.01 hPa have not been reported before. The spectra also show two broad features near 1.5 and 2.0 μm, which we attribute to a layer of very small (∼10 nm) H2O crystalline ice in Jupiter’s lower stratosphere (∼0.5 hPa). While these spectral signatures seem to be unequivocally attributable to crystalline water ice, they require a large amount of water ice to explain the strong absorption features.
The R-Process Alliance: A Comprehensive Abundance Analysis of HD 222925, a Metal-poor Star with an Extreme R-process Enhancement of [Eu/H] = −0.14*
Authors: Roederer Ian U. , Sakari Charli M. , Placco Vinicius M. , Beers Timothy C. , Ezzeddine Rana , Frebel Anna , Hansen Terese T.
Published: October 2018

We present a detailed abundance analysis of the bright (V = 9.02), metal-poor ([Fe/H] = −1.47 ± 0.08) field red horizontal-branch star HD 222925, which was observed as part of an ongoing survey by the R-Process Alliance. We calculate stellar parameters and derive abundances for 46 elements based on 901 lines examined in a high-resolution optical spectrum obtained using the Magellan Inamori Kyocera Echelle spectrograph. We detect 28 elements with 38 ≤ Z ≤ 90; their abundance pattern is a close match to the solar r-process component. The distinguishing characteristic of HD 222925 is an extreme enhancement of r-process elements ([Eu/Fe] = +1.33 ± 0.08, [Ba/Eu] = −0.78 ± 0.10) in a moderately metal-poor star, so the abundance of r-process elements is the highest ([Eu/H] = −0.14 ± 0.09) in any known r-process-enhanced star. The abundance ratios among lighter (Z ≤ 30) elements are typical for metal-poor stars, indicating that production of these elements was dominated by normal Type II supernovae, with no discernible contributions from Type Ia supernovae or asymptotic giant branch stars. The chemical and kinematic properties of HD 222925 suggest it formed in a low-mass dwarf galaxy, which was enriched by a high-yield r-process event before being disrupted by interaction with the Milky Way.
The VLA Nascent Disk and Multiplicity Survey of Perseus Protostars (VANDAM). IV. Free–Free Emission from Protostars: Links to Infrared Properties, Outflow Tracers, and Protostellar Disk Masses
Authors: Tychoniec Łukasz , Tobin John J. , Karska Agata , Chandler Claire , Dunham Michael M. , Harris Robert J. , Kratter Kaitlin M. , Li Zhi-Yun , Looney Leslie W. , Melis Carl , Pérez Laura M. , Sadavoy Sarah I. , Segura-Cox Dominique , van Dishoeck Ewine F.
Published: October 2018

Emission from protostars at centimeter radio wavelengths has been shown to trace the free–free emission arising from ionizing shocks as a result of jets and outflows driven by protostars. Therefore, measuring properties of protostars at radio frequencies can provide valuable insights into the nature of their outflows and jets. We present a C-band (4.1 and 6.4 cm) survey of all known protostars (Class 0 and Class I) in Perseus as part of the VLA Nascent Disk and Multiplicity (VANDAM) Survey. We examine the known correlations between radio flux density and protostellar parameters, such as bolometric luminosity and outflow force, for our sample. We also investigate the relationship between radio flux density and far-infrared line luminosities from Herschel. We show that free–free emission most likely originates from J-type shocks; however, the large scatter indicates that those two types of emission probe different time and spatial scales. Using C-band fluxes, we removed an estimation of free–free contamination from the corresponding Ka-band (9 mm) flux densities that primarily probe dust emission from embedded disks. We find that the compact (<1″) dust emission is lower for Class I sources (median dust mass 96 M
⊕) relative to Class 0 (248 M
⊕), but several times higher than in Class II (5–15 M
⊕). If this compact dust emission is tracing primarily the embedded disk, as is likely for many sources, this result provides evidence of decreasing disk masses with protostellar evolution, with sufficient mass for forming giant planet cores primarily at early times.
Hydroxychloroquine Levels throughout Pregnancies Complicated by Rheumatic Disease: Implications for Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes
Authors: Balevic Stephen J. , Cohen-Wolkowiez Michael , Eudy Amanda M. , Green Thomas P. , Schanberg Laura E. , Clowse Megan E.B.
Published: October 2018

Objective.

Pregnancies in women with active rheumatic disease often result in poor neonatal outcomes. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) reduces disease activity and flares; however, pregnancy causes significant physiologic changes that may alter HCQ levels and lead to therapeutic failure. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate HCQ concentrations during pregnancy and relate levels to outcomes.

Methods.

We performed an observational study of pregnant patients with rheumatic disease who were taking HCQ from a single center during 2013–2016. Serum samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Primary HCQ exposure was categorized as nontherapeutic (≤ 100 ng/ml) or therapeutic (> 100 ng/ml). Categorical outcomes were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test and continuous outcomes using linear regression models, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Kruskal-Wallis test, t test, and ANOVA.

Results.

We analyzed 145 samples from 50 patients with rheumatic disease, 56% of whom had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). HCQ concentration varied widely among individuals at each trimester. Mean physician’s global assessment scores in patients with SLE were significantly higher in those with average drug levels ≤ 100 ng/ml compared to > 100 ng/ml (0.93 vs 0.32, p = 0.01). Of patients with SLE, 83% with average drug levels ≤ 100 ng/ml delivered prematurely (n = 6), compared to only 21% with average levels > 100 ng/ml (n = 19; p = 0.01). HCQ levels were not associated with prematurity or disease activity in non-SLE patients.

Conclusion.

With both high and low HCQ levels associated with preterm birth and disease activity in SLE, further study is necessary to understand HCQ disposition throughout pregnancy and to clarify the relationship between drug levels and outcomes.
Biologic and Glucocorticoid Use after Methotrexate Initiation in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: George Michael D. , Sauer Brian C. , Teng Chia-Chen , Cannon Grant W. , England Bryant R. , Kerr Gail S. , Mikuls Ted R. , Baker Joshua F.
Published: October 2018

Objective.

Biologic therapies can improve disease control for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but may be both overused and underused. We aimed to identify predictors of greater use of biologic therapies and to identify factors associated with persistent glucocorticoid use.

Methods.

Using national US Veteran’s Affairs databases 2005–2016, we identified patients with RA receiving a first-ever prescription of methotrexate (MTX), requiring ≥ 6 months of baseline data. We evaluated predictors of biologic therapy initiation within 2 years of starting MTX and factors associated with baseline and persistent glucocorticoid use at 6–12 months using multivariable models.

Results.

Among 17,415 patients starting MTX, 3263 patients received biologic therapy within 2 years (20.6% 2-yr incidence). In adjusted analyses, biologic use was substantially lower in older patients [e.g., aHR 0.20 (95% CI 0.16, 0.26) for patients ≥ 80 vs < 50] and patients with more comorbidities [aHR 0.79 (95% CI 0.72, 0.87) for Charlson score ≥ 3 vs < 3]. Patients with heart failure [aHR 0.68 (95% CI 0.54, 0.84)], cancer [aHR 0.78 (95% CI 0.66, 0.92)], or who were nonwhite [aHR 0.79 (95% CI 0.72, 0.87)] were also less likely to receive a biologic. In contrast, baseline and persistent glucocorticoid use was similar across age groups and more common in patients with greater comorbidity.

Conclusion.

Biologic therapy is initiated less frequently in patients with RA who are older, have more comorbidities, and who are nonwhite. While biologics may be avoided in older and sicker patients because of safety concerns, glucocorticoid use is similar regardless of age and is more frequent in patients with comorbidities, with implications for patient outcomes.