bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of liposomal bupivacaine in the postoperative management of posterior spinal decompression
Authors: Grieff Anthony N. , Ghobrial George M. , Jallo Jack
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

The aim in this paper was to evaluate the efficacy of long-acting liposomal bupivacaine in comparison with bupivacaine hydrochloride for lowering postoperative analgesic usage in the management of posterior cervical and lumbar decompression and fusion.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort-matched chart review of 531 consecutive cases over 17 months (October 2013 to February 2015) for posterior cervical and lumbar spinal surgery procedures performed by a single surgeon (J.J.) was performed. Inclusion criteria for the analysis were limited to those patients who received posterior approach decompression and fusion for cervical or lumbar spondylolisthesis and/or stenosis. Patients from October 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013, received periincisional injections of bupivacaine hydrochloride, whereas after January 1, 2014, liposomal bupivacaine was solely administered to all patients undergoing posterior approach cervical and lumbar spinal surgery through the duration of treatment. Patients were separated into 2 groups for further analysis: posterior cervical and posterior lumbar spinal surgery.

RESULTS

One hundred sixteen patients were identified: 52 in the cervical cohort and 64 in the lumbar cohort. For both cervical and lumbar cases, patients who received bupivacaine hydrochloride required approximately twice the adjusted morphine milligram equivalent (MME) per day in comparison with the liposomal bupivacaine groups (5.7 vs 2.7 MME, p = 0.27 [cervical] and 17.3 vs 7.1 MME, p = 0.30 [lumbar]). The amounts of intravenous rescue analgesic requirements were greater for bupivacaine hydrochloride in comparison with liposomal bupivacaine in both the cervical (1.0 vs 0.39 MME, p = 0.31) and lumbar (1.0 vs 0.37 MME, p = 0.08) cohorts as well. None of these differences was found to be statistically significant. There were also no significant differences in lengths of stay, complication rates, or infection rates. A subgroup analysis of both cohorts of opiate-naive versus opiate-dependent patients found that those patients who were naive had no difference in opiate requirements. In chronic opiate users, there was a trend toward higher opiate requirements for the bupivacaine hydrochloride group than for the liposomal bupivacaine group; however, this trend did not achieve statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Liposomal bupivacaine did not appear to significantly decrease perioperative narcotic use or length of hospitalization, although there was a trend toward decreased narcotic use in comparison with bupivacaine hydrochloride. While the results of this study do not support the routine use of liposomal bupivacaine, there may be a benefit in the subgroup of patients who are chronic opiate users. Future prospective randomized controlled trials, ideally with dose-response parameters, must be performed to fully explore the efficacy of liposomal bupivacaine, as the prior literature suggests that clinically relevant effects require a minimum tissue concentration.
Die regionale Waldentwicklung mithilfe von Fotografien dokumentieren (Essay)
Authors: Hahn Peter
Published: March 2016

Documenting regional forest developments through photographs (essay)

By lucky chance, there exists in Entlebuch, in the canton of Lucerne, a rich collection of photographs valuable for forest history. Modern photos are presented opposite the historical images to show the development of forests over the last 100 years. Intensive study of these photos has led the author to interesting discoveries. For this reason, he encourages today's practising foresters to document their own experiences in connection with the forest, for example through photographs.
Forstbetrieblicher Kennzahlenvergleich Deutschland – Österreich – Schweiz
Authors: Bürgi Patric , Sekot Walter , Ermisch Nils , Pauli Bernhard , Möhring Bernhard , Toscani Philipp
Published: March 2016

Forest enterprise key figure comparison Germany – Austria – Switzerland

The forest enterprise networks in the so-called DACH region (Germany [D], Austria [A] and Switzerland [CH]) have a long tradition going back to the 1950s. Due to different concepts and definitions, however, the national results are not directly comparable. Therefore, the aim of the DACH initiative is to enhance the comparability of national data sets and to draw conclusions for the forestry sector from the comparison of key figures. In order to achieve this, differences between country- specific indicator definitions were first identified and then offset as much as possible. A subsequent key figure analysis showed that certain forestry key figures of the DACH forest enterprise network can be made comparable, revealing the effects of the partially different conditions in the countries. The comparison of key figures over the years 2008 to 2013 shows that the German and Austrian forest enterprises achieved continuous profits in forest management. In contrast, the Swiss forest enterprises were in deficit despite extensive subsidies and compensations. This is partly due to the significantly higher expenses for timber harvesting, silviculture and forest road infrastructure, resulting in part from higher labor costs and in particular a much higher operational personnel density.
Water management, transport, and the development of market towns in the Lake Tai region, eleventh-sixteenth centuries
Authors: Shi Xie
Published: March 2016

Although recent studies of the Lake Tai region have tended to treat the area as homogenous, this paper will use a historical geography approach to explore some of the differences in development within the region over time. While the basic topographical difference between the highlands and the lowlands had a pro found influence on agricultural development, these physical characteristics are not enough to explain the specific history of the region. Instead, social and institutional processes played a key role. This paper looks at the period between the eleventh and sixteenth centuries, which saw extensive growth in the region, including the expansion of agriculture and maritime shipping, as well as the growth of market towns (shizhen市镇), a distinctive type of settlement characterised by extensive trade and commerce in an otherwise rural area. In order to trace these developments, the article will focus on changing water management systems (including land reclamation using polders, irrigation and dredging rivers to make them navigable) as well as the establishment of administrative units, which reveal the changing importance of various regions as well as the effects of extra-regional activities such as the transport of grain tribute.
Representation Theorems for Lattice-ordered Modal Algebras and their Axiomatic Extensions
Authors: Radzikowska Anna Maria
Published: March 2016

In this paper we present relational representation theorems for lattice-based modal algebras and their axiomatic extensions taking into account well-known schemas of modal logics. The underlying algebraic structures are bounded, not necessarily distributive lattices. Our approach is based on the Urquhart’s result for non-distributive lattices and Allwein and Dunn developments for algebras of liner logics.
X-ray propagation-based equally sloped tomography for mouse brain
Authors: Ren Yuqi , Wang Yudan , Zhou Guangzhao , He You , Xie Honglan , Du Guohao , Deng Biao , Lin Xiaojie , Yang Guo-yuan , Xiao Tiqiao
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND:

The outstanding functional importance of the brain implies a strong need for brain imaging modalities. However, the current imaging approaches that target the brain in rodents remain suboptimal.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS:

In this paper, X-ray propagation-based phase contrast imaging combined with equally sloped tomography (PPCI-EST) was employed to nondestructively investigate the mouse brain.

RESULTS:

The grey and white matters, which have extremely small differences in electron density, were clearly discriminated. The fine structures, including the corpus callosum (cc), the optic chiasma (ox) and the caudate putamen (CPu), were revealed. Compared to the filtered back projection reconstruction, the PPCI-EST significantly reduce projection number while maintaining sufficient image quality.

CONCLUSIONS:

It could be a potential tool for fast and low-dose phase-contrast imaging to biomedical specimens.
Cardiac CT: A system architecture study
Authors: FitzGerald Paul , Bennett James , Carr Jeffrey , Edic Peter M. , Entrikin Daniel , Gao Hewei , Iatrou Maria , Jin Yannan , Liu Baodong , Wang Ge , Wang Jiao , Yin Zhye , Yu Hengyong , Zeng Kai , De Man Bruno
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND:

We are interested in exploring dedicated, high-performance cardiac CT systems optimized to provide the best tradeoff between system cost, image quality, and radiation dose.

OBJECTIVE:

We sought to identify and evaluate a broad range of CT architectures that could provide an optimal, dedicated cardiac CT solution.

METHODS:

We identified and evaluated thirty candidate architectures using consistent design choices. We defined specific evaluation metrics related to cost and performance. We then scored the candidates versus the defined metrics. Lastly, we applied a weighting system to combine scores for all metrics into a single overall score for each architecture. CT experts with backgrounds in cardiovascular radiology, x-ray physics, CT hardware and CT algorithms performed the scoring and weighting.

RESULTS:

We found nearly a twofold difference between the most and the least promising candidate architectures. Architectures employed by contemporary commercial diagnostic CT systems were among the highest-scoring candidates. We identified six architectures that show sufficient promise to merit further in-depth analysis and comparison.

CONCLUSION:

Our results suggest that contemporary diagnostic CT system architectures outperform most other candidates that we evaluated, but the results for a few alternatives were relatively close. We selected six representative high-scoring candidates for more detailed design and further comparative evaluation.
Relativistic Ionization of Hydrogen Atoms by Positron Impact
Authors: Chahboune Amal , Manaut Bouzid , Hrour Elmostafa , Taj Souad
Published: March 2016

Relativistic triple differential cross-sections (TDCS) for ionization of hydrogen atoms by positron impact have been calculated in the symmetric coplanar geometry. We have used Dirac wave functions to describe free electron’s and positron’s sates. The relativistic formalism is examined by taking the non relativistic limit. Present results are compared with those for the corresponding electron-impact case. In the first Born approximation, we found that the TDCS for positron impact ionization exceeds that for electron impact for all energies in accordance with the result obtained by several other theories.
Does Trust Matter for Entrepreneurship: Evidence from a Cross-Section of Countries
Authors: Kodila-Tedika Oasis , Agbor Julius
Published: March 2016

Differences in trust levels between countries explain the observed discrepancies in entrepreneurial spirit amongst them. We test this hypothesis with a cross-section of 60 countries in 2010. Our findings suggest that about half of the variation in entrepreneurial spirit across countries in the world is driven by trust considerations. This result is robust to regional clustering, outliers and alternative conditioning variables. The findings of the study indicate that while formal incentives to nurture entrepreneurship must be maintained, policy makers should also seek to pay attention to the role of trust cultivated through informal networks.
A Biologically-Inspired Power Control Algorithm for Energy-Efficient Cellular Networks
Authors: Choi Hyun-Ho , Lee Jung-Ryun
Published: March 2016

Most of the energy used to operate a cellular network is consumed by a base station (BS), and reducing the transmission power of a BS can therefore afford a substantial reduction in the amount of energy used in a network. In this paper, we propose a distributed transmit power control (TPC) algorithm inspired by bird flocking behavior as a means of improving the energy efficiency of a cellular network. Just as each bird in a flock attempts to match its velocity with the average velocity of adjacent birds, in the proposed algorithm, each mobile station (MS) in a cell matches its rate with the average rate of the co-channel MSs in adjacent cells by controlling the transmit power of its serving BS. We verify that this bio-inspired TPC algorithm using a local rate-average process achieves an exponential convergence and maximizes the minimum rate of the MSs concerned. Simulation results show that the proposed TPC algorithm follows the same convergence properties as the flocking algorithm and also effectively reduces the power consumption at the BSs while maintaining a low outage probability as the inter-cell interference increases; in so doing, it significantly improves the energy efficiency of a cellular network.
Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Vegetable Species Planted in Contaminated Soils and the Health Risk Assessment
Authors: Zhou Hang , Yang Wen-Tao , Zhou Xin , Liu Li , Gu Jiao-Feng , Wang Wen-Lei , Zou Jia-Ling , Tian Tao , Peng Pei-Qin , Liao Bo-Han
Published: March 2016

The objectives of the present study were to investigate heavy metal accumulation in 22 vegetable species and to assess the human health risks of vegetable consumption. Six vegetable types were cultivated on farmland contaminated with heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and As). The target hazard quotient (THQ) method was used to assess the human health risks posed by heavy metals through vegetable consumption. Clear differences were found in the concentrations of heavy metals in edible parts of the different vegetables. The concentrations of heavy metals decreased in the sequence as leafy vegetables > stalk vegetables/root vegetables/solanaceous vegetables > legume vegetables/melon vegetables. The ability of leafy vegetables to uptake and accumulate heavy metals was the highest, and that of melon vegetables was the lowest. This indicated that the low accumulators (melon vegetables) were suitable for being planted on contaminated soil, while the high accumulators (leafy vegetables) were unsuitable. In Shizhuyuan area, China, the total THQ values of adults and children through consumption of vegetables were 4.12 and 5.41, respectively, suggesting that the residents may be facing health risks due to vegetable consumption, and that children were vulnerable to the adverse effects of heavy metal ingestion.
Withaferin-A—A Natural Anticancer Agent with Pleitropic Mechanisms of Action
Authors: Lee In-Chul , Choi Bu
Published: March 2016

Cancer, being the second leading cause of mortality, exists as a formidable health challenge. In spite of our enormous efforts, the emerging complexities in the molecular nature of disease progression limit the real success in finding an effective cancer cure. It is now conceivable that cancer is, in fact, a progressive illness, and the morbidity and mortality from cancer can be reduced by interfering with various oncogenic signaling pathways. A wide variety of structurally diverse classes of bioactive phytochemicals have been shown to exert anticancer effects in a large number of preclinical studies. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that withaferin-A can prevent the development of cancers of various histotypes. Accumulating data from different rodent models and cell culture experiments have revealed that withaferin-A suppresses experimentally induced carcinogenesis, largely by virtue of its potent anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties. Moreover, withaferin-A sensitizes resistant cancer cells to existing chemotherapeutic agents. The purpose of this review is to highlight the mechanistic aspects underlying anticancer effects of withaferin-A.
Can a Patriarchal World Be Corrected by a Criminal Law? Feminist Struggles, Penal Justice and Legal Reform in France (1970–1980)
Authors: Bérard Jean
Published: March 2016

This article describes (1) the relationship between the demands made by feminist movements of the 1970s in cases of sexual violence and criticism of the criminal justice system by these movements and other groups, including the prisoners’ movement; and (2) the relationship between this debate and the legal process of reforming the definition and punishment of rape. Two periods are analyzed. In the early 1970s, the common cause of very different movements targeting the law was the priority given to the defense against forms of repression and disciplinary institutions. After 1975, the demands of feminist and prisoner movements diverged and even conflicted. One camp called for an offensive approach to changing the legal punishment of rape whereas the other camp fought against penal reforms imposed by the government and, more specifically, against long sentences.
Compressibility of 304 Stainless Steel Powder Metallurgy Materials Reinforced with 304 Short Stainless Steel Fibers
Authors: Yao Bibo , Zhou Zhaoyao , Duan Liuyang , Xiao Zhiyu
Published: March 2016

Powder metallurgy (P/M) technique is usually used for manufacturing porous metal materials. However, some P/M materials are limitedly used in engineering for their performance deficiency. A novel 304 stainless steel P/M material was produced by a solid-state sintering of 304 stainless steel powders and 304 short stainless steel fibers, which were alternately laid in layers according to mass ratio. In this paper, the compressive properties of the P/M materials were characterized by a series of uniaxial compression tests. The effects of fiber content, compaction pressure and high temperature nitriding on compressive properties were investigated. The results indicated that, without nitriding, the samples changed from cuboid to cydariform without damage in the process of compression. The compressive stress was enhanced with increasing fiber content ranging from 0 to 8 wt.%. For compaction pressure from 55 to 75 MPa, greater compaction pressure improved compressive stress. Moreover, high temperature nitriding was able to significantly improve the yield stress, but collapse failure eventually occurred.
Control of Magnetic Properties of NiMn2O4 by a Microwave Magnetic Field under Air
Authors: Goto Hiroshi , Fukushima Jun , Takizawa Hirotsugu
Published: March 2016

NiMn2O4 prepared by conventional heating was irradiated with a microwave H-field using a single-mode cavity under air and magnetic properties of the microwave-irradiated material were investigated. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the phase and microstructure are not affected by H-field irradiation. Measurements of the magnetization as a function of temperature revealed that the antiferromagnetic sublattice disappeared and electron spin resonance showed the existence of Mn2+, suggesting that Mn3+ is partially reduced. Moreover, the magnetization of NiMn2O4 was controlled from 35.3 to 18.2 emu/g and the coercivity from 140 to 750 Oe by changing the sample temperature during microwave irradiation. The reduction reaction of NiMn2O4 is controlled by microwave H-field irradiation, resulting in control over the magnetic properties.
Processing-Induced Inhomogeneity of Yield Stress in Polycarbonate Product and Its Influence on the Impact Behavior
Authors: Xu Yingjie , Lu Huan , Gao Tenglong , Zhang Weihong
Published: March 2016

In this study, an integrated methodology for impact analysis of polycarbonate (PC) product is proposed which incorporates the processing-induced inhomogeneity of yield stress. A previously developed model is extended to predict the inhomogeneous yield stress distribution along the specimen by using the thermal history experienced during injection molding. A strain rate-dependent elastic-plastic model combining the processing-induced yield stress is applied to model the mechanical behavior of PC. Finite element simulation for notched Izod impact test is then conducted to analyze the impact behaviors of PC specimens with different thermal histories. Numerical results of the fracture energies are compared with experimental measurements.
Polylactide/Montmorillonite Hybrid Latex as a Barrier Coating for Paper Applications
Authors: Bandera Davide , Meyer Veronika , Prevost David , Zimmermann Tanja , Boesel Luciano
Published: March 2016

We developed a paper coating for the potential application in food packaging based on polylactide and montmorillonite. It is applied to the paper in the form of a stable, water-based latex with a solid content of 25–28 wt %. The latex is prepared from a commercially available polylactide, surfactants, montmorillonite, a plasticizer, chloroform (to be removed later) and water by an emulsion/solvent evaporation procedure. This coating formulation is applied to the paper substrate by bar-coating, followed by hot-pressing at 150 °C. The coated papers achieved up to an 85% improvement in water vapor transmission rates when compared to the pristine papers. The coating latex is prepared from inexpensive materials and can be used for a solvent-free coating process. In addition, the ingredients of the latex are non-toxic; thus, the coated papers can be safely used for food packaging.
A Digitalized Gyroscope System Based on a Modified Adaptive Control Method
Authors: Xia Dunzhu , Hu Yiwei , Ni Peizhen
Published: March 2016

In this work we investigate the possibility of applying the adaptive control algorithm to Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) gyroscopes. Through comparing the gyroscope working conditions with the reference model, the adaptive control method can provide online estimation of the key parameters and the proper control strategy for the system. The digital second-order oscillators in the reference model are substituted for two phase locked loops (PLLs) to achieve a more steady amplitude and frequency control. The adaptive law is modified to satisfy the condition of unequal coupling stiffness and coupling damping coefficient. The rotation mode of the gyroscope system is considered in our work and a rotation elimination section is added to the digitalized system. Before implementing the algorithm in the hardware platform, different simulations are conducted to ensure the algorithm can meet the requirement of the angular rate sensor, and some of the key adaptive law coefficients are optimized. The coupling components are detected and suppressed respectively and Lyapunov criterion is applied to prove the stability of the system. The modified adaptive control algorithm is verified in a set of digitalized gyroscope system, the control system is realized in digital domain, with the application of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Key structure parameters are measured and compared with the estimation results, which validated that the algorithm is feasible in the setup. Extra gyroscopes are used in repeated experiments to prove the commonality of the algorithm.
A Real-Time Interference Monitoring Technique for GNSS Based on a Twin Support Vector Machine Method
Authors: Li Wutao , Huang Zhigang , Lang Rongling , Qin Honglei , Zhou Kai , Cao Yongbin
Published: March 2016

Interferences can severely degrade the performance of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers. As the first step of GNSS any anti-interference measures, interference monitoring for GNSS is extremely essential and necessary. Since interference monitoring can be considered as a classification problem, a real-time interference monitoring technique based on Twin Support Vector Machine (TWSVM) is proposed in this paper. A TWSVM model is established, and TWSVM is solved by the Least Squares Twin Support Vector Machine (LSTWSVM) algorithm. The interference monitoring indicators are analyzed to extract features from the interfered GNSS signals. The experimental results show that the chosen observations can be used as the interference monitoring indicators. The interference monitoring performance of the proposed method is verified by using GPS L1 C/A code signal and being compared with that of standard SVM. The experimental results indicate that the TWSVM-based interference monitoring is much faster than the conventional SVM. Furthermore, the training time of TWSVM is on millisecond (ms) level and the monitoring time is on microsecond (μs) level, which make the proposed approach usable in practical interference monitoring applications.
Online Kinematic and Dynamic-State Estimation for Constrained Multibody Systems Based on IMUs
Authors: Torres-Moreno José , Blanco-Claraco José , Giménez-Fernández Antonio , Sanjurjo Emilio , Naya Miguel
Published: March 2016

This article addresses the problems of online estimations of kinematic and dynamic states of a mechanism from a sequence of noisy measurements. In particular, we focus on a planar four-bar linkage equipped with inertial measurement units (IMUs). Firstly, we describe how the position, velocity, and acceleration of all parts of the mechanism can be derived from IMU signals by means of multibody kinematics. Next, we propose the novel idea of integrating the generic multibody dynamic equations into two variants of Kalman filtering, i.e., the extended Kalman filter (EKF) and the unscented Kalman filter (UKF), in a way that enables us to handle closed-loop, constrained mechanisms, whose state space variables are not independent and would normally prevent the direct use of such estimators. The proposal in this work is to apply those estimators over the manifolds of allowed positions and velocities, by means of estimating a subset of independent coordinates only. The proposed techniques are experimentally validated on a testbed equipped with encoders as a means of establishing the ground-truth. Estimators are run online in real-time, a feature not matched by any previous procedure of those reported in the literature on multibody dynamics.
Spatio-Temporal Patterns and Source Identification of Water Pollution in Lake Taihu (China)
Authors: Chen Yan , Zhao Kangping , Wu Yueying , Gao Shuoshuo , Cao Wei , Bo Yan , Shang Ziyin , Wu Jing , Zhou Feng
Published: March 2016

Various multivariate methods were used to analyze datasets of river water quality for 11 variables measured at 20 different sites surrounding Lake Taihu from 2006 to 2010 (13,200 observations), to determine temporal and spatial variations in river water quality and to identify potential pollution sources. Hierarchical cluster analysis (CA) grouped the 12 months into two periods (May to November, December to the next April) and the 20 sampling sites into two groups (A and B) based on similarities in river water quality characteristics. Discriminant analysis (DA) was important in data reduction because it used only three variables (water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO) and five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5)) to correctly assign about 94% of the cases and five variables (petroleum, volatile phenol, dissolved oxygen, ammonium nitrogen and total phosphorus) to correctly assign >88.6% of the cases. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) identified four potential pollution sources for Clusters A and B: industrial source (chemical-related, petroleum-related or N-related), domestic source, combination of point and non-point sources and natural source. The Cluster A area received more industrial and domestic pollution-related agricultural runoff, whereas Cluster B was mainly influenced by the combination of point and non-point sources. The results imply that comprehensive analysis by using multiple methods could be more effective for facilitating effective management for the Lake Taihu Watershed in the future.
Recidivism Rates After Smoking Cessation Before Spinal Fusion
Authors: Carlson Brandon B. , Burton Douglas C. , Jackson R. Sean , Robinson Stephanie
Published: March 2016

Tobacco use has documented negative effects on perioperative complications and clinical outcomes. Smoking cessation before spinal surgery may improve clinical outcomes. The goal of this study was to determine the recidivism rate after smoking cessation before spinal fusion. A prospective observational study was performed at the University of Kansas Medical Center between 2006 and 2011. All patients with serum-confirmed nicotine cessation before spinal fusion surgery were eligible. Smoking status was determined with questionnaires at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. All reported nonsmokers had confirmatory serum nicotine and cotinine tests. Two-tailed Pearson chi-square and independent
t
tests were conducted, and significance was set at α=0.05. A total of 42 subjects (21 women, 21 men) with confirmed preoperative serum-negative test results were prospectively enrolled over a period of 3.9 years. Of these patients, 1 opted out at 6 months and 1 died of unknown cause. The findings showed a recidivism rate (response rate) of 60% (40 of 41) at 3 months, 61% (33 of 41) at 6 months, and 68% (25 of 40) at 1 year. One case of asymptomatic pseudarthrosis occurred 1 year postoperatively in a confirmed nonsmoker. No correlation was found between smoking status at 3 months and sex, primary vs revision surgery, or complications (
P
>.05). Smokers who relapsed at 3 months were older than nonsmokers (55.2 vs 44.2 years, respectively;
P
=.03). Some patients are willing to cease smoking before spinal fusion for optimal clinical outcomes; however, the rate of recidivism is high (60%) within the first 3 months post-operatively. [
Orthopedics.
2016; 39(2):e318–e322.]
Socially Responsible Practices in Hotels
Authors: Sánchez-Fernández María Dolores , Vaca-Acosta Rosa María , Vargas-Sánchez Alfonso
Published: March 2016

The objective of this study is to analyze the influence of institutional pressures (normative, coercive and mimetic) according to gender in the implementation of social responsibility in hotels. The object of this study is three, four and five-star hotels located in the Euro region (Galicia and North of Portugal). To achieve these objectives a quantitative study is carried out. The proposed model of research; the Technical Partial Least Square (PLS), methodology based on Structural Equations Models (SEM) using the software Visual-PLS has been applied. A questionnaire consisting of existing validated scales was drawn up and used for the collation of data.
Dimensions of CSR in Tourism Industry in India
Authors: Kaur Prabhjot
Published: March 2016

Tourism in India should be developed in such a way that it accommodates and entertains visitors in a way that is minimally intrusive or destructive to the environment and sustains and supports the native cultures in the locations it is operation in. Moreover, since tourism is a multi-dimensional activity, and basically a service industry, it would be necessary that all wings of the Central and State governments, private sector and voluntary organizations become active partners in the Endeavour to attain sustainable growth in tourism if India is to become a world player in the tourism industry. The study is based on the secondary data and the main objective of this study is to study the Indian government policies and programmes of CSR and to analyze the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities undertaken by the tourism industry. India is the first country in the world which made CSR compulsory for business houses as per Companies Act -2013. In the Indian economy for promoting the community development, the corporate sector in India has to share responsibility with government.
Preoperative and Intraoperative Spatial Reasoning Support with 3D Organ and Vascular Models
Authors: Oliveira João Fradinho , Moyano-Cuevas José Luis , Pagador J. Blas , Capote Hugo , Margallo Francisco Miguel Sánchez
Published: March 2016

Different imaging modalities (MRI/CT) are used to analyse/plan complex surgical procedures in order to minimize risks and complications. Although there are numerous computer tools for preoperative assistance (VR/AR simulators, 3D printed implants), intraoperative systems are less common, specifically for soft tissue related interventions. For this reason, this paper is focused on 3D reconstruction. The proposed reconstruction combines a surface approach for organs and a block approach for vascular networks. Layered closed surface(s) represent an organ and stacks of extruded individual contour blocks represent the vascular networks. The authors use IGSTK to show that their approach improves shape and transparency results when compared with other modelling methods and to communicate with trackers. With their method polygon contour correspondence/branching between slices is implicit/automatic, saving time; they show that traditional tiling problems become visually negligible. The authors' novel file format allows polygons segmented by other tools to be reconstructed in their contour annotation tool which uses VTK.
Estimates of free-tropospheric NO2 and HCHO mixing ratios derived from high-altitude mountain MAX-DOAS observations at midlatitudes and in the tropics
Authors: Schreier Stefan F. , Richter Andreas , Wittrock Folkard , Burrows John P.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. In this study, mixing ratios of NO2 (XNO2) and HCHO (XHCHO) in the free troposphere are derived from two multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) data sets collected at Zugspitze (2650 m a.s.l., Germany) and Pico Espejo (4765 m a.s.l., Venezuela). The estimation of NO2 and HCHO mixing ratios is based on the modified geometrical approach, which assumes a single-scattering geometry and a scattering point altitude close to the instrument altitude. Firstly, the horizontal optical path length (hOPL) is obtained from O4 differential slant column densities (DSCDs) in the horizontal (0°) and vertical (90°) viewing directions. Secondly, XNO2 and XHCHO are estimated from the NO2 and HCHO DSCDs at the 0° and 90° viewing directions and averaged along the obtained hOPLs. As the MAX-DOAS instrument was performing measurements in the ultraviolet region, wavelength ranges of 346–372 and 338–357 nm are selected for the DOAS analysis to retrieve NO2 and HCHO DSCDs, respectively. In order to compare the measured O4 DSCDs and moreover to perform some sensitivity tests, the radiative transfer model SCIATRAN with adapted altitude settings for mountainous terrain is operated to simulate synthetic spectra, on which the DOAS analysis is also applied. The overall agreement between measured and synthetic O4 DSCDs is better for the higher Pico Espejo station than for Zugspitze. Further sensitivity analysis shows that a change in surface albedo (from 0.05 to 0.7) can influence the O4 DSCDs, with a larger absolute difference observed for the horizontal viewing direction. Consequently, the hOPL can vary by about 5 % throughout the season, for example when winter snow cover fully disappears in summer. Typical values of hOPLs during clear-sky conditions are 19 km (14 km) at Zugspitze and 34 km (26.5 km) at Pico Espejo when using the 346–372 (338–357 nm) fitting window. The estimated monthly values of XNO2 (XHCHO), averaged over these hOPLs during clear-sky conditions, are in the range of 60–100 ppt (500–950 ppt) at Zugspitze and 8.5–15.5 ppt (255–385 ppt) at Pico Espejo. Interestingly, multi-year-averaged monthly means of XNO2 and XHCHO increase towards the end of the dry season at the Pico Espejo site, suggesting that both trace gases are frequently lifted above the boundary layer as a result of South American biomass burning.
IEOOS: the Spanish Institute of Oceanography Observing System
Authors: Tel Elena , Balbin Rosa , Cabanas Jose-Manuel , Garcia Maria-Jesus , Garcia-Martinez M. Carmen , Gonzalez-Pola Cesar , Lavin Alicia , Lopez-Jurado Jose-Luis , Rodriguez Carmen , Ruiz-Villarreal Manuel , Sánchez-Leal Ricardo F. , Vargas-Yáñez Manuel , Vélez-Belchí Pedro
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Since its foundation, 100 years ago, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) has been observing and measuring the ocean characteristics. Here is a summary of the initiatives of the IEO in the field of the operational oceanography. Some systems like the tide gauges network has been working for more than 70 years. The standard sections began at different moments depending on the local projects, and nowadays there are more than 180 coastal stations and deep-sea ones that are systematically sampled, obtaining physical and biochemical measurements. At this moment, the Observing System includes six permanent moorings equipped with current meters, an open-sea ocean-meteorological buoy offshore Santander and a sea-surface temperature satellite image station. It also supports the Spanish contribution to the Argo international programme with 47 deployed profilers, and continuous monitoring thermosalinometers, meteorological stations and vessel-mounted acoustic Doppler current profilers on the research vessel fleet. The system is completed with the contribution to the Northwest Iberian peninsula and Gibraltar observatories, and the development of regional prediction models. All these systematic measurements allow the IEO to give responses to ocean research activities, official agencies requirements and industrial and main society demands such as navigation, resource management, risks management, recreation, as well as for management development pollution-related economic activities or marine ecosystems. All these networks are linked to international initiatives, framed largely in supranational programmes of Earth observation sponsored by the United Nations or the European Union. The synchronic observation system permits a spatio-temporal description of some events, such as new deep water formation in the Mediterranean Sea and the injection of heat to intermediate waters in the Bay of Biscay after some colder northern storms in winter 2005.
3-D visualisation of palaeoseismic trench stratigraphy and trench logging using terrestrial remote sensing and GPR – a multiparametric interpretation
Authors: Schneiderwind Sascha , Mason Jack , Wiatr Thomas , Papanikolaou Ioannis , Reicherter Klaus
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Two normal faults on the island of Crete and mainland Greece were studied to test an innovative workflow with the goal of obtaining a more objective palaeoseismic trench log, and a 3-D view of the sedimentary architecture within the trench walls. Sedimentary feature geometries in palaeoseismic trenches are related to palaeoearthquake magnitudes which are used in seismic hazard assessments. If the geometry of these sedimentary features can be more representatively measured, seismic hazard assessments can be improved. In this study more representative measurements of sedimentary features are achieved by combining classical palaeoseismic trenching techniques with multispectral approaches. A conventional trench log was firstly compared to results of ISO (iterative self-organising) cluster analysis of a true colour photomosaic representing the spectrum of visible light. Photomosaic acquisition disadvantages (e.g. illumination) were addressed by complementing the data set with active near-infrared backscatter signal image from t-LiDAR measurements. The multispectral analysis shows that distinct layers can be identified and it compares well with the conventional trench log. According to this, a distinction of adjacent stratigraphic units was enabled by their particular multispectral composition signature. Based on the trench log, a 3-D interpretation of attached 2-D ground-penetrating radar (GPR) profiles collected on the vertical trench wall was then possible. This is highly beneficial for measuring representative layer thicknesses, displacements, and geometries at depth within the trench wall. Thus, misinterpretation due to cutting effects is minimised. This manuscript combines multiparametric approaches and shows (i) how a 3-D visualisation of palaeoseismic trench stratigraphy and logging can be accomplished by combining t-LiDAR and GPR techniques, and (ii) how a multispectral digital analysis can offer additional advantages to interpret palaeoseismic and stratigraphic data. The multispectral data sets are stored allowing unbiased input for future (re)investigations.
Using a fixed-wing UAS to map snow depth distribution: an evaluation at peak accumulation
Authors: De Michele Carlo , Avanzi Francesco , Passoni Daniele , Barzaghi Riccardo , Pinto Livio , Dosso Paolo , Ghezzi Antonio , Gianatti Roberto , Della Vedova Giacomo
Published: March 2016

Abstract. We investigate snow depth distribution at peak accumulation over a small Alpine area ( ∼  0.3 km2) using photogrammetry-based surveys with a fixed-wing unmanned aerial system (UAS). These devices are growing in popularity as inexpensive alternatives to existing techniques within the field of remote sensing, but the assessment of their performance in Alpine areas to map snow depth distribution is still an open issue. Moreover, several existing attempts to map snow depth using UASs have used multi-rotor systems, since they guarantee higher stability than fixed-wing systems. We designed two field campaigns: during the first survey, performed at the beginning of the accumulation season, the digital elevation model of the ground was obtained. A second survey, at peak accumulation, enabled us to estimate the snow depth distribution as a difference with respect to the previous aerial survey. Moreover, the spatial integration of UAS snow depth measurements enabled us to estimate the snow volume accumulated over the area. On the same day, we collected 12 probe measurements of snow depth at random positions within the case study to perform a preliminary evaluation of UAS-based snow depth. Results reveal that UAS estimations of point snow depth present an average difference with reference to manual measurements equal to −0.073 m and a RMSE equal to 0.14 m. We have also explored how some basic snow depth statistics (e.g., mean, standard deviation, minima and maxima) change with sampling resolution (from 5 cm up to  ∼  100 m): for this case study, snow depth standard deviation (hence coefficient of variation) increases with decreasing cell size, but it stabilizes for resolutions smaller than 1 m. This provides a possible indication of sampling resolution in similar conditions.
Othello, Stranger in a Strange Land
Authors: Cacicedo Alberto
Published: March 2016

The dynamic of early versus late twentieth-century perspectives on Othello is a signal instance of what anthropologists call ethnocentrism, defined by Berry and his colleagues (1992) as follows: “us better—them worse” (8). For the early twentieth-century scholars, Europe was self-evidently better, and clearly the non-European was worse; for the late twentieth century, the European was worse, and clearly the non-European, absent the imposition of European hegemony, was infinitely better. In practice, the earlier critics assume that Iago is right in denigrating Othello, while the later critics assert that Shakespeare himself, with or without volition, in effect takes Iago's perspective as well. In the cross chatter between those two poles, critical discourse ceases to be about the play and instead turns to arguing for an ethnocentric point of view. In this paper, then, I pay attention to Othello himself and to his insertion into Venice. To frame him and his activities, I deploy ideas derived from the field of cross-cultural psychology. My thesis is that Othello is undone, not by some grand hegemonic discourse of early European colonialism, but by the dynamic of immigrant acculturation.
Corpus do conhecimento em Educação Especial: discursos e acontecimentos
Authors: Osório Antônio Carlos Do Nascimento
Published: March 2016

Este artigo trata de reflexões sobre a disciplina Educação, na temática Educação Especial – Inclusão Escolar, tendo como subsídios teóricos e metodológicos parte dos escritos nos referenciais de Michel Foucault, dando conotação, ao itinerário em torno de subsídios sobre as relações entre saber e poder em suas complexidades e diferentes dimensões. As abrangências de cada disciplina vinculam-se de acordo com a forma e as dimensões de interesses de um ou mais grupos de pesquisadores, buscando entrelaçamentos de linguagens; as expressões utilizadas que constituem glossários prototípicos e ferramentas de proposições, refletindo compreensões das teorias e dos pressupostos filosóficos, salvaguardados por metalinguagens, entre seus temas, temática/conteúdos, objetos e sujeitos, representando outras relações de saberes. Por intermédio de consulta eletrônica, no Banco de Teses, alojado no portal da Coordenadoria Aperfeiçoamento do Pessoal do Ensino Superior (CAPES), possibilitou um delineando do corpus, compreendido como uma coletânea de textos naturais (naturally occurring), autênticos e disponíveis, permitindo aproximações de um estado ou identificação de uma variedade de linguagens. Posteriormente, foram utilizados relatórios de dissertações e teses, da mesma temática, disponibilizados, também eletronicamente por oito programas de pós-graduação em Educação. A definição dessas escolhas de cunho metodológico permite traçar algumas pistas sobre o andamento das condições a que o tema/conteúdo Educação Especial vem sendo submetida às concepções de inclusão escolar, marcadas pelas lutas, pelos confrontos, pelos comportamentos, decisões e estratégias, assumindo características de peculiaridades sobre as observações relacionadas à produção de discursos técnicos e dos seus resultados, nas relações inerentes ao paradoxo, demarcando especificidades.
A produção de sujeitos inclusivos na contemporaneidade: um olhar para a história (recente) das práticas escolares
Authors: Menezes Eliana Da Costa Pereira de
Published: March 2016

A discussão aqui proposta busca conhecer práticas escolares postas em operação para a produção de sujeitos úteis a uma sociedade que se pretende inclusiva. Produzido na esteira das discussões pós-estruturalistas e, ancorado metodologicamente em duas ferramentas advindas das teorizações foucaultianas – governamentalidade e subjetivação, o texto analisa registros de práticas escolares (de diferentes décadas) arquivados em um acervo de uma escola pública que possui mais de um século de existência. Ao trabalhar nos materiais foi possível perceber recorrências discursivas implicadas na produção de relações de governamento de si e dos outros − a defesa gradativamente crescente da necessidade de desenvolvimento da autonomia escolar e dos sujeitos escolares; o estímulo à centralização das práticas não apenas nos conteúdos a serem aprendidos, mas também nas competências e habilidades a serem desenvolvidas; a necessidade de autogestão para a conquista de melhores condições de vida, entre outras coisas − para a fabricação de determinadas subjetividades, cujos efeitos entende-se que sejam de mobilização para a inclusão nos dias de hoje. Tais questões foram lidas como deslocamentos que anunciam a emergência da governamentalidade neoliberal, a partir da qual o significado do termo inclusão ganha novos contornos, podendo ser lido como um princípio de Estado mobilizado para a organização da vida da população na contemporaneidade.