bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency and Variety of Inpatient Pediatric Surgical Procedures in the United States
Authors: Sømme Stig , Bronsert Michael , Morrato Elaine , Ziegler Moritz
Published: November 2013

OBJECTIVE:

Pediatric surgical procedures are being performed in a variety of hospitals with large differences in surgical volume. We examined the frequency and variety of inpatient pediatric surgical procedures in the United States by hospital type and geographic region using a nationally representative sample.

METHODS:

The 2009 Kids’ Inpatient Database for patients <18 years old was used to calculate surgical frequencies by using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, (ICD-9-CM) codes. We performed stratified analysis by hospital type (free-standing children’s hospital, children’s unit within an adult hospital, and general hospital) and geographic region (South, West, Midwest, Northeast) to compare frequencies of surgical procedures.

RESULTS:

A total of 216 081 procedures were projected for 2009 with the top 20 procedures accounting for >90% of cases. As many as 40% of all pediatric inpatient surgical procedures are being performed in adult general hospitals. Infrequent complex low-volume neonatal surgical procedures (pullthrough for Hirschsprung disease, surgery for malrotation, esophageal atresia repair, and diaphragmatic hernia repair) were 6.8 to 16 times more likely to occur in a children's hospital. Significant regional variation in procedure frequency rates occurred for appendectomy and cholecystectomy.

CONCLUSIONS:

This report is the first to characterize pediatric surgical inpatient volume in the United States. Such data may influence the distribution of pediatric surgeons, number of trainees, and training curricula for pediatric surgeons, pediatricians, general surgeons and other surgical specialists who might operate on children. In addition, it raises the question of whether complex pediatric surgical procedures should preferably be performed at dedicated high volume children's hospitals.
Telemedicine Consultations and Medication Errors in Rural Emergency Departments
Authors: Dharmar Madan , Kuppermann Nathan , Romano Patrick S. , Yang Nikki H. , Nesbitt Thomas S. , Phan Jennifer , Nguyen Cynthia , Parsapour Kourosh , Marcin James P.
Published: November 2013

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the frequency of physician-related medication errors among seriously ill and injured children receiving telemedicine consultations, similar children receiving telephone consultations, and similar children receiving no consultations in rural emergency departments (EDs).

METHODS:

We conducted retrospective chart reviews on seriously ill and injured children presenting to 8 rural EDs with access to pediatric critical care physicians from an academic children’s hospital. Physician-related ED medication errors were independently identified by 2 pediatric pharmacists by using a previously published instrument. The unit of analysis was medication administered. The association of telemedicine consultations with ED medication errors was modeled by using hierarchical logistic regression adjusting for covariates (age, risk of admission, year of consultation, and hospital) and clustering at the patient level.

RESULTS:

Among the 234 patients in the study, 73 received telemedicine consultations, 85 received telephone consultations, and 76 received no specialist consultations. Medications for patients who received telemedicine consultations had significantly fewer physician-related errors than medications for patients who received telephone consultations or no consultations (3.4% vs 10.8% and 12.5%, respectively; P < .05). In hierarchical logistic regression analysis, medications for patients who received telemedicine consultations had a lower odds of physician-related errors than medications for patients who received telephone consultations (odds ratio: 0.19, P < .05) or no consultations (odds ratio: 0.13, P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Pediatric critical care telemedicine consultations were associated with a significantly reduced risk of physician-related ED medication errors among seriously ill and injured children in rural EDs.
Common Mental Disorders: socio-demographic and pharmacotherapy profile
Authors: Gomes Viviane Ferrari , Miguel Tatiana Longo Borges , Miasso Adriana Inocenti
Published: November 2013

OBJECTIVE: this study reports an association between Common Mental Disorders and the socio-demographic and pharmacotherapy profiles of 106 patients cared for by a Primary Health Care unit in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil. METHOD: this is a cross-sectional descriptive exploratory study with a quantitative approach. Structured interviews and validated instruments were used to collect data. The Statistical Package for Social Science was used for analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of Common Mental Disorders was 50%. An association was found between Common Mental Disorders and the variables occupation, family income, number of prescribed medications and number of pills taken a day. Greater therapy non-adherence was observed among those who tested positive for Common Mental Disorders. CONCLUSION: this study's results show the importance of health professionals working in PHC to be able to detect needs of a psychological nature among their patients and to support the implementation of actions to prevent the worsening of Common Mental Disorders.
Second floor, please: the fish fauna of floating litter banks in Amazonian streams and rivers
Authors: Carvalho Lucelia Nobre , Fidelis Luana , Arruda Rafael , Galuch Andre , Zuanon Jansen
Published: November 2013

Floating litter banks are an ephemeral habitat consisting of branches, twigs, flowers, seeds, and fruits that are trapped on the stream water surface by a variety of retention mechanisms. These heterogeneous materials form a deep layer of dead plant matter that is colonized by a variety of organisms, including fish that forage on the aquatic macroinvertebrates found in this unique habitat. In this study, we aimed to characterize which fish species occupy the floating litter banks and their trophic characteristics, as well as determine if fish assemblage composition and species richness can be predicted by the size of the floating litter banks. Fish sampling was conducted in five rivers located in the Amazon basin. Of the 31 floating litter banks sampled that contained fish, 455 individuals were recorded and were distributed within 40 species, 15 families and five orders. Siluriformes were the most representative order among the samples and contained the largest number of families and species. The fish fauna sampled was mainly composed of carnivorous species that are typically found in submerged litter banks of Amazonian streams. The fish assemblage composition in the kinon can be predicted by the volume of the floating litter banks using both presence/absence and abundance data, but not its species richness. In conclusion, kinon banks harbor a rich fish assemblage that utilizes this habitat for shelter and feeding, and may function as a refuge for the fishes during the peak of the flooding season.
Industry Practices of Sour Gas Management by Reinjection: Benefits, Methodologies, Economic Evaluation and Case Studies
Authors: Siddiqui Muhammad Ibad , Baber Shahzaib , Saleem Waleed Anwar , Jafri Mohammad Osama , Hafeez Qaiser
Published: November 2013

Due to declining global demand for basic sulphur, the economics of extracting sulphur from sour natural gas has become unfavourable. Furthermore, air emission standards and regulation authorities are becoming increasingly strict, thereby increasing the economical strain on E&P companies producing natural acid gas. E&P companies are in search of environmentally-friendly and cost-effective methods for dealing with acid gases, which are produced in association with sour natural gas.

Acid gas re-injection is gaining attention due to its eco-friendly nature and lower cost. These benefits help this technique to overcome traditional H2S processing and the problems of handling the elemental sulphur product, particularly for very sour natural gas streams.

This paper discusses industry practices of acid gas injection with reference to their phase behaviour. Four stage acid gas injection is discussed along with graphical and diagrammatical representation. Acid gas is injected into the reservoir at a very high pressure; but can the toxic acid gases be safely handled at such a high injection pressure? This question is answered in this study, throwing light on some risk management aspects while performing this operation.

This paper also reviews comparative economic analysis of various H2S management options available to developing Middle East fields keeping in mind HSE, operating procedures, reduced costs, with injection method leading the rest.

Finally certain benefits of acid gas injection would be described some of which includes: Reduction of SO2 emissions.Permanent, reliable storage of toxic gases.Eliminating the cost for acid gas treatment plant.Very much efficient for EOR/IOR schemes as sweep efficiency of H2S is better than CO2.Eliminates the cost of storage of these gases.
Effective Exploitation of Tight Gas Reservoirs Using Integrated Asset Modelling (IAM) Approach
Authors: Taha M. , Khokhar S. Y. , Iqbal M. S. , Chughtai S. , Umair M. , Virk M. A.
Published: November 2013

As the global HC exploitation paradigm shifts to the unconventional (low-quality) reservoirs; the deep uncertainty in their production processes involved makes the operators, following the Specific Discipline Approach, vulnerable to adopt the trial-and- error methods which can detriment the whole development plan and assimilate irreparable loss upon the foul decisions. Since each engineering discipline may have a piece of puzzle to find the best solution for achieving optimized production rates and economics, we can only hope to achieve the better results if we use a total system (reservoir to sales approach).

Pakistan is facing the severe energy crisis, due to which the effective and sensible exploitation of the tight gas reserves has become inevitable. Integrated Asset Modelling (IAM) constructs a thorough way out by increasing communication and literally gets all disciplines "on the same page" by using a common model.

The paper is based on designing a full field development plan of a tight gas reservoir (TGRs). It involves developing an integrated reservoir model and evaluating its performance for various reservoir and production scenarios, along with the economic analysis, to come up with an optimum gas field development plan. The methodology is carried out with two approaches (i) Integrated Tank Model (ii) Numerical 3D Model.

The paper presents the usefulness of IAM and its systematic approach in production maintenance and optimization, crossfunctional collaboration and in effective field management of tight gas reservoirs. It will present detailed discussion on the economics, process cycle, modelling, optimization, game-changers and exploitation of TGRs along with case studies and intends to give valuable insight to the implementation of this integrated technique to the prevalent energy crisis of the country.
Development of a Scratching Cell for Predicting Near Wellbore Rock Strength
Authors: Ali Imtiaz , Al-Awad Musaed N.
Published: November 2013

The mechanical properties of rocks are of high importance for oil and gas wells drilling, production, and future development. Rock mechanical properties are needed for maintaining borehole stability during drilling and completion stages in oil and gas wells. Additionally, these properties are needed to select the optimum production rate especially in soft formations.

The evaluation of such properties requires a number of cores as well as sophisticated testing equipment. When there is a lack of core samples or testing equipment, rock mechanical properties can be predicted using indirect tests or correlations.

In this study, a simple scratching cell was developed and data generated using this cell was used to develop a universal correlation for predicting the unconfined compressive strength (UCS).

We hope that this paper will be a useful addition to rock mechanics and petroleum engineering disciplines, and we expect further developments after finishing the remaining phases of this study.
Application of Electronic Pressure Pulse Operated Firing Head for Perforating Solution in Low Pressure Constraint Job
Authors: Aslam Muhammad Asif , Rana Muhammad Arif , Butt Muhammad Sohaib , Raja Hassan Nazir
Published: November 2013

MOL Pakistan planned to perforate Lockhart Limestone using TCP shoot and pull technique. The lower section of casing was previously perforated for squeeze cementing during remedial job. The conventional hydraulic firing system requires comparatively high surface applied pressures that might jeopardize integrity of squeeze perforations. This could have potentially caused extra cost, time loss and further squeeze jobs. In addition, using high pressure in an already tested well could have resulted in well damage and associated operational risks. Due to this hazard, applied pressure for successful TCP perforation system was limited to less than 1000 psi.

Schlumberger experts collaborated with MOL Pakistan team and considered the unique challenges of the well before recommending an optimized method of perforating. To ensure maximum safety during the operation, the eFire*, electronic pressure pulse operated firing head system with 4-pulse command, was selected as the primary firing head to provide effective low-pressure perforation while saving costs by eliminating the need for a Slickline intervention.

The proposed system provided the flexibility to ensure job execution with a pressure of less than 1000 psi. The job was performed successfully with eFire* playing the key role in safe and accurate manner, by providing the option of low pressure activation.
Translating human right to water and sanitation into reality: a practical framework for analysis
Authors: Singh Nandita
Published: November 2013

The human right to water and sanitation has been most commonly approached from the perspective of legal machinery and mechanisms for its implementation. Perhaps an underlying assumption among human rights practitioners is that once action for implementing the right is undertaken, its realization will be achieved. Often ignored are factors and processes at the micro-level where action for implementing the right actually takes place. This paper aims to propose a practical framework for analyzing this context that influences the action undertaken for realizing the right. The framework derives from an empirical study in India and is based upon an understanding of the micro-level processes at the ‘interface’ where the duty-bearing agents implementing action come face-to-face with the right-holders in the community. Both are situated in their own local contexts – the ‘implementation’ and the ‘socio-cultural’ contexts respectively. The two contexts can in turn be understood as constituted of distinct ‘norm-triads’ and the interactions between these ultimately lead to ‘realization’ or ‘non-realization’ of the right. The paper further contends that in order to translate the human right to water and sanitation into reality, it is necessary to identify the gaps and contradictions between the two contexts and address these appropriately and adequately.
Determinants of household participation in the management of rural water supply systems: A case from Ethiopia
Authors: Tigabu Aschalew D. , Nicholson Charles F. , Collick Amy S. , Steenhuis Tammo S.
Published: November 2013

Access to safe drinking water supply in Ethiopia is among the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa. While both governmental and non-governmental organizations have implemented water supply projects in recent years, many fail shortly after construction due to improper management. In this paper, we examine socio-economic, institutional and exogenous factors affecting household participation in the management of water supply systems for drinking purposes. A survey was carried out involving 16 water supply systems and 160 households within the Achefer area, in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. The results show that household contributions to water supply system management are positively and significantly affected by user participation during the project design and implementation, by advocacy provided by the project and by greater household income. Thus, for drinking water systems in rural areas to be sustainable, these factors should be included when planning water supply projects.
Assessing the impact of water service regulatory reforms in Italy: a multidimensional approach
Authors: Massarutto Antonio , Antonioli Barbara , Ermano Paolo
Published: November 2013

In 1994 the regulatory framework of water services in Italy was radically modified, by transforming a traditional publicly operated system, which relied heavily for investments on fiscal budgets, into a system made up of self-sustaining corporate enterprises regulated at arm's length. After 19 years, the time has come to make an assessment of what has been achieved. This paper develops an original methodology, inspired by the concept of water sustainability, which tries to integrate economic, environmental and financial aspects within a unique framework. Our analysis discloses both allocative as well as distributive impacts of the reform, showing that it has been possible to generate some value for money while shifting the economic burden from taxpayers to service customers. However, improvements have been too slight and many signs are showing that it will be rather problematic to speed them up without undertaking a substantial restyling.
Facilitating organisational learning to support decision making and planning for sustainability in the water sector
Authors: Fam Dena , Mitchell Cynthia , Abeysuriya Kumi , Meek Toni
Published: November 2013

This paper investigates the process of organisational learning in decision making and planning for sustainability in the water sector. A Melbourne water utility (Yarra Valley Water) trialling sustainable systems of service provision utilised multi-stakeholder experiences to facilitate learning within the organisation. Diverse perspectives of the trial were sought through 50 interviews with staff managing/operating/maintaining the system and household residents using the system. Outcomes from interviews were shared with the project team in a social learning workshop and translated into recommendations for trialling innovation within the water utility and more broadly within the Australian water sector. The facilitated process of organisational learning highlighted the importance of cross-departmental communication and co-operation, reflective processes of management and the value of a ‘transdisciplinary’ approach to planning and implementing novel systems of service provision. The outcome was the development of new procedures to support integrated knowledge development in trialling innovation within Yarra Valley Water.
Ecological function zoning of Poyang Lake wetland: a RAMSAR site in China
Authors: Dongming Xie , Guohua Jin , Yangming Zhou , Gengying Jiao , Lingguang Huang , Yuping Yan , Xingzhao Dai
Published: November 2013

Ecological function zoning involves the spatial delineation of ecological functions based on the physical environment and ecosystem service functions, as well as the demands of eco-environmental protection and socio-economic development of the area according to the theory of ecological function regionalization. In this context, we defined the boundary of Poyang Lake wetland using geographic information system (GIS) technology based on an analysis of hydrological characteristics. The wetland area was determined as 5,186 km2. The characteristics of the natural environment and ecosystem service functions of Poyang Lake wetland were also appraised, with five ecological function areas classified; namely, ‘vitally important’, ‘highly important’, ‘important’, ‘slightly important’, and ‘restored’ zones. The spatial distribution and amounts of each zone were established. The areas of each zone were found to be: 276; 683; 1,164; 2,158; and 890 km2 respectively.
Application of Box-Behnken design with response surface methodology for modeling and optimizing ultrasonic oxidation of arsenite with H2O2
Authors: Qiu Pengpeng , Cui Mingcan , Kang Kyounglim , Park Beomguk , Son Yonggyu , Khim Eunkyung , Jang Min , Khim Jeehyeong
Published: November 2013

A combined ultrasound (US)/H2O2 process was used to oxidize arsenite to arsenate, yielding a synergistic effect value of 1.26. This showed that the combined process could be an effective method of oxidizing arsenite, instead of using either ultrasonic or H2O2 oxidation processes. This combined process was successfully modeled and optimized using a Box-Behnken design with response surface methodology (RSM). The effects of the US power density, the initial concentration of arsenite, and the H2O2 concentration on the sonochemical oxidation efficiency of arsenite were investigated. Analysis of variance indicated that the proposed quadratic model successfully interpreted the experimental data with coefficients of determination of R
2 = 0.95 and adjusted R
2 = 0.91. Through this model, we can predict and control the oxidation efficiency under different conditions. Furthermore, the optimal conditions for the oxidation of arsenite were found to be a US power density of 233.26 W L−1, an initial arsenite concentration of 0.5 mg L−1, and an H2O2 concentration of 74.29 mg L−1. The predicted oxidation efficiency obtained from the RSM under the optimal conditions was 88.95%. A confirmation test of the optimal conditions verified the validity of the model, yielding an oxidation efficiency of 90.1%.
The crystal structure of Sm4Ni11In20 and its relation to other indium-rich compounds
Authors: Tyvanchuk Yuriy , Svitlyk Volodymyr , Pustovoychenko Mykola , Kalychak Yaroslav
Published: November 2013

Polycrystalline Sm4Ni11In20 was obtained by arc-melting of metal ingots. A subsequent high temperature treatment was used for single crystal growth. The Sm4Ni11In20 crystal structure (U4Ni11Ga20 type; C2/m, a = 22.5457(3) Å, b = 4.34929(5) Å, c = 16.5479(2) Å, β = 124.592(2)°, R1 = 0.0358, wR2 = 0.0934) was determined by single crystal synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction from 2014 independent reflections with I > 2σ(I). Sm4Ni11In20 extends the R
4Ni11In20 (R = Y, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho) series of phases. The R
4Ni11In20 and RNi3In6 (LaNi3In6 type; R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu) series have similar compositions. Their structures share similar fragments; in particular the rare earth atom coordination polyhedra are pentagonal prisms with additional atoms.
Promoted ternary CuO-ZrO2-Al2O3 catalysts for methanol synthesis
Authors: Mierczynski Paweł , Kaczorowski Piotr , Ura Agnieszka , Maniukiewicz Waldemar , Zaborowski Marcin , Ciesielski Radoslaw , Kedziora Adam , Maniecki Tomasz
Published: November 2013

Ternary CuO-ZrO2-Al2O3 catalysts promoted by palladium or gold were prepared and tested in CO hydrogenation reaction at 260°C under elevated pressure (4.8 MPa). The promotion effect of palladium or gold addition on the physicochemical and catalytical properties of CuO-ZrO2-Al2O3 catalysts in methanol synthesis (MS) was studied. The catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, TPR-H2, TPD-NH3 methods. The BET results showed that the ternary system CuO-ZrO2-Al2O3 had the largest specific surface area, cumulative pore volume and average pore size in comparison with the promoted catalysts. The yield of methanol can be given through the following sequence: 5%Pd/CuO-ZrO2-Al2O3 > CuO-ZrO2-Al2O3 > 2%Au/CuO-ZrO2-Al2O3. We also found that the presence of gold or palladium on catalyst surface has strong influence on the reaction selectivity. The high selectivity of gold doped ternary catalyst is explained by the gold-oxide interface sites created on the catalyst surface and the acidity of those systems. The higher selectivity to methanol in the case of the palladium catalyst is explained by the spillover effect between Pd and CuO.
Anabolic Effect of Exercise Training in People with End-Stage Renal Disease on Hemodialysis: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis
Authors: Sawant Anuradha , House Andrew A. , Overend Tom J.
Published: November 2013

Purpose: The primary purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the anabolic effect of exercise intervention in adults with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis (HD). The secondary objectives were to evaluate the influences of participant characteristics and exercise parameters on changes in muscle size. Methods: Electronic databases (Cochrane, CINAHL, EMBASE, PEDro, PubMed and SCOPUS) were searched from inception to November 2012. Randomized clinical trials published in English that included adults on HD undergoing an exercise intervention where muscle mass was measured as an outcome were included in this review. Two reviewers independently selected the studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias within the included studies. Results were then combined by meta-analysis. The effect of exercises was determined using a standardized mean difference (SMD), expressed as Hedges' g, computed using a random effects model. Results: Seven SMDs extracted from five studies were included for final analysis. Strength training was used in all studies; one study used aerobic and mixed strength and aerobic training with two subgroups of participants. The overall effect of exercise on muscle mass was statistically significant (SMD: 0.272; 95% CI, 0.020–0.525). Conclusions: Our results confirm a small but significant effect of strengthening exercise as an anabolic intervention to increase muscle mass. Exercise training should be included in routine management of people on maintenance HD. Although current results indicate that one in nine people on HD is likely to benefit from exercise intervention, parameters influencing these results require further research.
A Christmas Carol: Disability Conceptualised through Empathy and the Philosophy of ‘Technologically Useful Bodies’
Authors: Vidović Ester
Published: November 2013

The article explores how two cultural models which were dominant in Great Britain during the Victorian era – the model based on the philosophy of ‘technologically useful bodies’ and the Christian model of empathy – were connected with the understanding of disability. Both cultural models are metaphorically constituted and based on the ‘container’ and ‘up and down’ image schemas respectively. 1 The intersubjective character of cultural models is foregrounded, in particular, in the context of conceiving of abstract concepts such as emotions and attitudes. The issue of disability is addressed from a cognitive linguistic approach to literary analysis while studying the reflections of the two cultural models on the portrayal of the main characters of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. The studied cultural models appeared to be relatively stable, while their evaluative aspects proved to be subject to historical change. The article provides incentives for further study which could include research on the connectedness between, on one hand, empathy with fictional characters roused by reading Dickens's works and influenced by cultural models dominant during the Victorian period in Britain and, on the other hand, the contemporaries’ actual actions taken to ameliorate the social position of the disabled in Victorian Britain.
The ‘Question’ of the Death Penalty
Authors: Rottenberg Elizabeth
Published: November 2013

This essay addresses the ‘question’ of the death penalty in Derrida's Death Penalty Seminars: the question of the death penalty, if there is one, that is, if there is ‘la’ question de la peine de mort. For nothing is less certain. Not only must we speak of a proliferation of questions in the seminars, but we must also speak of Derrida's question about the question. How do the possibility and the reality of the death penalty, how does the question of the death penalty, force us to ask a question not only about what comes before the question but also about the future of the question, that is, about the future of reason, the principle of reason, and what is proper to man?
La jeunesse en Europe : modes d’interventions publiques, savoirs sociologiques et réalités sociales
Authors: Cicchelli Vincenzo
Published: November 2013

FRE: Jeunesse, Comparaisons européennes, Dispositifs publics, Instances européennes.
La prise en charge spécifique de la victime d’inceste : l’occasion manquée de la loi du 8 février 2010
Authors: Ayoun Patrick , Gouttenoire Adeline
Published: November 2013

FRE: Inceste, Prise en charge victimes, Droit pénal.
La pauvreté en Italie : quelques éléments de cadrage
Authors: Baldini Massimo
Published: November 2013

FRE: Pauvreté, Italie, Politiques sociales.
Travailleurs à bas revenus et bénéficiaires du RSA-activité en régions Rhône-Alpes et Auvergne [Une approche comparative des deux catégories en 2009]
Authors: Girault Olivier
Published: November 2013

FRE: Travailleurs pauvres, Revenu de solidarité active, Taux de recoupement.
Politique sociale et société créole : une sociologie des effets du RMI à la Réunion.
Authors: Roinsard Nicolas
Published: November 2013

De son instauration en 1989 jusqu’à son remplacement en 2011 par le revenu de solidarité active (RSA), le revenu minimum d’insertion (RMI) a bénéficié en moyenne à une famille réunionnaise sur quatre, chiffre à mettre en relation avec le taux de chômage qui, sur la même période, dépasse les 30 % de la population active. Rompant avec les analyses classiques de la pauvreté, de l’assistanat et de l’intégration sociale couramment mobilisées dans l’étude des politiques « de lutte contre l’exclusion » en métropole, cet article montre combien il est nécessaire, pour comprendre la nature et la mécanique des effets sociaux du RMI à La Réunion, de prendre plus largement en compte la spécificité de ce département d’outre-mer, en particulier l’héritage de la société de plantation. Celui-ci détermine, en effet, très largement le rapport au travail, aux inégalités sociales et aux relations de dépendance vécu aujourd’hui par les populations pauvres issues de la société traditionnelle et rurale, soumises depuis plusieurs générations à des effets de domination dans l’organisation économique et sociale de la société locale. Dans ce contexte, pour beaucoup de ses allocataires, le RMI aura davantage représenté un facteur d’autonomisation relative qu’un symptôme ou un vecteur de désaffiliation et de dépendance.
The evolution of substrate differentiation in Minuartia series Laricifoliae (Caryophyllaceae) in the European Alps: In situ origin or repeated colonization?
Authors: Moore Abigail J. , Kadereit Joachim W.
Published: November 2013

• Premise of the study: Substrate specialization is often considered an important factor in evolutionary diversification. A classic example of divergence related to different substrate types is the dichotomy between calcicole and calcifuge plants on calcareous and siliceous substrates as found in the European Alps. When closely related species with contrasting substrate preferences are found in the same area, it is generally hypothesized that they diverged where they now occur. However, it is possible that Alpine edaphic diversity instead allows the coexistence of related species whose edaphic differentiation took place deeper in the phylogeny, in some other part of the range of their clades.

• Methods: We used sequences of the nuclear internal and external transcribed spacer regions to examine the origin of substrate differentiation in Minuartia series Laricifoliae, which contains many edaphic endemics, including a pair of Alpine taxa with contrasting substrate preferences: Minuartia langii (calcicole) and M. laricifolia (calcifuge).

• Key results: Minuartia langii and M. laricifolia are each more closely related to Balkan species than they are to each other and reached the Alps independently. The clade to which they belong is ancestrally calcicole. Minuartia langii inherited the ancestral ecology, while M. laricifolia is part of a subclade with serpentine endemics and one substrate generalist.

• Conclusions: In the study group, taxa with contrasting substrate preferences did not diverge in the Alps. Instead, taxa whose substrate differentiation arose elsewhere, likely on the Balkan Peninsula, were preadapted to take advantage of Alpine substrate diversity.
BMED: A WEB BASED APPLICATION TO ANALYZE THE PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL DEVICES
Authors: Sezdi Mana , Ozdemir Ersin
Published: November 2013

In this study, a software application was developed to analyze the performance test results of medical devices. The software (BMED) provides a medical device database and analyses problems with medical devices. The BMED application analysis reports incompatible performance test results in accordance with international safety and inspection standards. The BMED also contains performance test measurement history of all medical devices in the BMED medical device database. The main purpose of this study is to make analysis of the performance control of medical devices faster, easier, mobile and more efficient. The increasing number of medical devices in a hospital is another reason to use applications such as this. The BMED software application was tested using sample data collected during performance test results of a total of 1553 medical devices. The devices were defibrillator, electrocardiography, pulse oximeter, anaesthesia unit, vaporizer, ventilator, electrosurgical unit, physiological monitor, sphygmomanometer, surgical aspirator, phototherapy unit and infant incubator. The performance tests of these medical devices were performed by the biomedical personnel in accordance with the inspection and preventive maintenance system (IPM) procedures, which were developed by the emergency care research institute (ECRI institute) and their results were also interpreted in accordance with the same procedures. The results of application testing showed that the BMED is a very successful application used to analyze performance test results of medical devices. Its usage is very easy, fast and comfortable. The main advantage of BMED is that it can be accessed with mobile devices from anywhere. This feature increases the performance and efficiency of biomedical staff. Additionally, this study showed that the BMED application provides consistent data for medical device problems. Spare part stock management and preventive maintenance activities decreased the repair costs and minimized the number of fault device conditions within the BMED application. All the analysis results also affected the selection and purchasing decisions of medical devices and their technologies. In short, the BMED served a manageable solution to combine all distributed data from a large number of medical devices located in different departments of a hospital — the location of the device, the biomedical number, the device name, the manufacturer, the serial number, the interpretation of the performance test results and the analysis results — into one platform. Thus, the management of medical device inventory was made easier. The future study will be the evaluation of the analysis for other medical devices. It is expected that usage of the tool will increase and it will be a very useful application for biomedical personnel.
Mapping the Knowledge Supply Chain to Foster Innovation
Authors: Bellantuono Nicola , Pontrandolfo Pierpaolo , Scozzi Barbara
Published: November 2013

Knowledge Supply Chains (KSCs) are the networks that provide knowledge supplies so nourishing one or more business processes carried out by a firm. KSCs are particularly crucial for innovation development processes. The need to recur to open KSCs during the accomplishment of such processes is indeed emphasized by the recent literature on open innovation (Kirschbaum, 2005; Chesbrought, 2006; Gassman, 2006; Van de Vrande et al., 2009). However, as scholars adopt different definitions of openness and stress different practices, it is not clear what open really means (Dahlander and Gann, 2010). Research is called for to further classify the different practices and, above all, to measure the impact of open vs. closed innovation so as to support companies in the identification of the right balance (Enkel et al., 2009). In the paper a methodology to map and analyze KSCs arising during an innovation development process is proposed. The methodology is described with specific reference to New Product Development (NPD) which is widely common as well as strategic in many firms. The methodology supports the characterization of the knowledge supplies (also in terms of the adopted collaboration approach) and the assessment of their criticality within the NPD process. Hence, it (1) contributes to make the concept of openness clearer and (2) provide companies with a clear picture of the process and its criticalities.
Understanding the Role of Computer-Supported Argumentation in the Strategic Change Process
Authors: Adamides Emmanuel D. , Karacapilidis Nikos
Published: November 2013

In this paper the authors develop a conceptual framework for appreciating the use of computer-supported argumentation systems in organisational settings undergoing strategic change. More specifically, the authors concentrate on the role of computer-supported argumentation as catalyst for compensating distortions in the outcome of change, originating from the organisation’s power regime. The framework developed is based on a view of strategic change as actor-network (re)formation. Argumentation is in the core of this process which is greatly influenced by the power distribution among the participants of the change effort. A dynamic simulation model is used to instantiate the conceptual framework and to capture the dynamics of change. Simulation experiments are conducted to investigate the effects of employing argumentation technologies with specific characteristics related to the representation of power and accessibility in the argumentation discourse on the outcome of change.
TARGETING DORMANT BACILLI TO FIGHT TUBERCULOSIS
Authors: Fattorini Lanfranco , Piccaro Giovanni , Mustazzolu Alessandro , Giannoni Federico
Published: November 2013

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which kills about 2 million people annually. Furthermore, 2 billion people worldwide are latently infected with this organism, with 10% of them reactivating to active TB due to re-growth of nonreplicating (dormant) Mtb residing in their tissues. Because of the huge reservoir of latent TB it is important to find novel drugs/drug combinations killing dormant bacilli (microaerophiles, anaerobes and drug-tolerant persisters) surviving for decades in a wide spectrum of granulomatous lesions in the lungs of TB patients. Antibiotic treatment of drug-susceptible TB requires administration of isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol for 2 months, followed by isoniazid and rifampin for 4 months. To avoid reactivation of dormant Mtb to active pulmonary TB, up to 9 months of treatment with isoniazid is required. Therefore, a strategy to eliminate dormant bacilli needs to be developed to shorten therapy of active and latent TB and reduce the reservoir of people with latent TB. Finding drugs with high rate of penetration into the caseous granulomas and understanding the biology of dormant bacilli and in particular of persister cells, phenotypically resistant to antibiotics, will be essential to eradicate Mtb from humans. In recent years unprecedented efforts have been done in TB drug discovery, aimed at identifying novel drugs and drug combinations killing both actively replicating and nonreplicating Mtb in vitro, in animal models and in clinical trials in humans.
Health Disparity and Health Welfare among Children from Low-Income Families.
Authors: Kim Hee Soon
Published: November 2013

Children from low income families are vulnerable to physical problems including obesity, asthma, hypertension and psychological problems including depression, anxiety. This study was done to identify trends in welfare policy for children from low-income families and future direction for solving health disparity problems. Dream Start is a government-sponsored project that offers services for vulnerable children, ages 0 (include pregnant woman) to 12 years and their families. The Korean Government has made an effort to alleviate health disparity through the 'Health Plan' by establishing health objectives. However, in spite of these efforts by the Korean government, health disparity has worsened in Korea. In order to strengthen family function as well as promote growth and development for vulnerable children, experts in child care need to be significantly involved in identifying neglected children in the community.
Outer automorphisms of free Burnside groups
Authors: Coulon Rémi
Published: November 2013

In this paper, we study some properties of the outer automorphism group of free Burnside groups of large odd exponent. In particular, we prove that it contains free and free abelian subgroups.
Strong convergence of Kleinian groups: the cracked eggshell
Authors: Anderson James W. , Lecuire Cyril
Published: November 2013

In this paper we give a complete description of the set

\mathrm{SH}(\pi_1(M))

of discrete faithful representations of the fundamental group of a compact, orientable, hyperbolizable 3-manifold with incompressible boundary, equipped with the strong topology, with the description given in term of the end invariants of the quotient manifolds. As part of this description, we introduce coordinates on

\mathrm{SH}(\pi_1(M))

that extend the usual Ahlfors–Bers coordinates. We use these coordinates to show the local connectivity of

\mathrm{SH}(\pi_1(M))

and study the action of the modular group of

M

on

\mathrm{SH}(\pi_1(M))

.
A characterization of Inoue surfaces
Authors: Brunella Marco
Published: November 2013

We give a characterization of Inoue surfaces in terms of automorphic pluriharmonic functions on a cyclic covering. Together with results of Chiose and Toma, this completes the classification of compact complex surfaces of Kähler rank one.
On the infinity flavor of Heegaard Floer homology and the integral cohomology ring
Authors: Lidman Tye
Published: November 2013

For a three-manifold

Y

and torsion

\mathrm{Spin}^c

structure

\mathfrak{s}

, Ozsváth and Szabóconstruct a spectral sequence with

E^2

term an exterior algebra over

H^1(Y;\mathbb{Z})

converging to

H F^\infty(Y,\mathfrak{s})

. They conjecture that the differentials are completely determined by the integral triple cup product form. In this paper, we prove that

H\hskip-2pt F^\infty(Y,\mathfrak{s})

is in fact determined by the cohomology ring when

\mathfrak{s}

is torsion. Furthermore, we give a complete calculation of such

HF^\infty(Y,\mathfrak{s})

, with mod 2 coefficients, in the case where

b_1(Y)

is 3 or 4.
A Floer–Gysin exact sequence for Lagrangian submanifolds
Authors: Biran Paul , Khanevsky Michael
Published: November 2013

We establish a Floer-theoretical analog of the classical Gysin long exact sequence from algebraic topology for circle bundles. We study algebraic and functorial properties of this sequence and derive applications to computations of Lagrangian Floer homologies as well as to questions on the topology of Lagrangian submanifolds.
Entropy on Riemann surfaces and the Jacobians of finite covers
Authors: McMullen Curtis T.
Published: November 2013

This paper characterizes those pseudo-Anosov mappings whose entropy can be detected homologically by taking a limit over finite covers. The proof is via complex-analytic methods. The same methods show the natural map

\mathcal{M}_g \to \prod \mathcal{A}_h

, which sends a Riemann surface to the Jacobians of all of its finite covers, is a contraction in most directions.
Acyclicité géométrique de $\mathrm{B}_{\mathrm{cris}}$
Authors: Andreatta Fabrizio , Brinon Olivier
Published: November 2013

Dans cet article, on prouve que l'anneau de périodes cristallines

\mathrm{B}_{\mathrm{cris}}

qui définit la notion de représentation cristalline dans le cas relatif est géométriquement acyclique. On démontre en fait une version relative de cette acyclicité.
Pre-Existing Cross-Reactive Antibodies to Avian Influenza H5N1 and 2009 Pandemic H1N1 in US Military Personnel
Authors: Pichyangkul Sathit , Krasaesub Somporn , Jongkaewwattana Anan , Thitithanyanont Arunee , Wiboon-ut Suwimon , Yongvanitchit Kosol , Limsalakpetch Amporn , Kum-Arb Utaiwan , Mongkolsirichaikul Duangrat , Khemnu Nuanpan , Mahanonda Rangsini , Garcia Jean-Michel , Mason Carl J. , Walsh Douglas S. , Saunders David L.
Published: November 2013

We studied cross-reactive antibodies against avian influenza H5N1 and 2009 pandemic (p) H1N1 in 200 serum samples from US military personnel collected before the H1N1 pandemic. Assays used to measure antibodies against viral proteins involved in protection included a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay and a neuraminidase inhibition (NI) assay. Viral neutralization by antibodies against avian influenza H5N1 and 2009 pH1N1 was assessed by influenza (H5) pseudotyped lentiviral particle-based and H1N1 microneutralization assays. Some US military personnel had cross-neutralizing antibodies against H5N1 (14%) and 2009 pH1N1 (16.5%). The odds of having cross-neutralizing antibodies against 2009 pH1N1 were 4.4 times higher in subjects receiving more than five inactivated whole influenza virus vaccinations than those subjects with no record of vaccination. Although unclear if the result of prior vaccination or disease exposure, these pre-existing antibodies may prevent or reduce disease severity.
A Retrospective Examination of Secondary Sporozoite- and Trophozoite-Induced Infections with Plasmodium Falciparum: Development of Parasitologic and Clinical Immunity Following Secondary Infection
Authors: Collins William E. , Jeffery Geoffrey M.
Published: November 2013

A retrospective study was made of clinical records to determine parasitemia and episodes of fever of 59 patients reinfected with Plasmodium falciparum for treatment of neurosyphilis, which was considered standard medical care at the time. Records were collected at the National Institutes of Health laboratories in Columbia, South Carolina and Milledgeville, Georgia during the period 1940 to 1963. Nineteen patients were infected via the bites of Anopheles albimanus, An. quadrimaculatus, or An. freeborni mosquitoes; the median prepatent period was 11.5 days. It was evident that clinical immunity, as measured by the frequency of fever, particularly high intensity fever (≥ 104°F), was increased following reinfection. The parasitologic immunity, as measured by the frequency of asexual parasite counts and gametocyte counts, was also evident. In general, in secondary infections with homologous and/or heterologous strains of P. falciparum, fever episodes ≥ 101¿ of and ≥ 104°F were reduced in number, parasitemia was reduced, and gametocyte production was reduced. However, despite long courses of parasitemia during their primary infections, most patients developed fever and, in some cases, high-density parasitemia and gametocytemia following reinfection. The intensity of the secondary response did not appear to be associated with the length of the previous course of parasitemia. In addition, current infection with heterologous strain parasites did not prevent the development of fever or higher density parasite counts following imposition of the new strain of parasite.