bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Demand Prediction with Machine Learning Models; State of the Art and a Systematic Review of Advances
Authors: Mosavi Amir , Faizollahzadeh Ardabili Sina , Shamshirband Shahabodin
Published: May 2019

Electricity demand prediction is vital for energy production management and proper exploitation of the present resources. Recently, several novel machine learning (ML) models have been employed for electricity demand prediction to estimate the future prospects of the energy requirements. The main objective of this study is to review the various ML models applied for electricity demand prediction. Through a novel search and taxonomy, the most relevant original research articles in the field are identified and further classified according to the ML modeling technique, perdition type, and the application area. A comprehensive review of the literature identifies the major ML models, their applications and a discussion on the evaluation of their performance. This paper further makes a discussion on the trend and the performance of the ML models. As the result, this research reports an outstanding rise in the accuracy, robustness, precision and the generalization ability of the prediction models using the hybrid and ensemble ML algorithms.
Recognising the Significance of Bioethical Reflections for the Promotion of Teachers' Health in Higher Education: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Carlotto Ivaní Nadir , Dinis Maria Alzira Pimenta
Published: May 2019

This research is part of the Doctoral thesis "Perceptions of university professors on Health Promotion and Sustainability: a research proposal based on Health Promoting Universities (HPU) / World Health Organization (WHO) ", University Fernando Pessoa (UFP) / Porto - Portugal, authored by Ivaní Nadir Carlotto: (1) Background: Universities are essential institutions for health promotion (HP). Bioethics, as a transversal discipline, seeks to analyse and systematise these values in an ethical way, strengthening the synergy between health and HP. Ecological models are a possibility to develop health actions in a holistic, sustainable and salutogenic way, stimulating positive aspects related to ethics, well-being and quality of life; (2) Methods: Exploratory-descriptive methodology and quantitative-qualitative approach. Sample: Teachers from 9 higher education institutions (HEI), random sample, probabilistic for convenience, CI = 95%, n = 1400 persons; (3) Results: Production of 6 main components through Factorial Analysis categorized and interpreted by Qualitative Content Analysis and MAXQDA® software; (4) Conclusions: Universities function as research and learning venues to strengthen HP's activities. Bioethics and HP aim to build qualified actions in health, to defend and promoting well-being, quality of life, equity, inclusion, sustainability and social justice, with the proper conceptual clarity that distinguishes it.
Incidence and Characteristics of Endophthalmitis after Cataract Surgery in Poland, during 2010-2015
Authors: Nowak Michal S. , Grzybowski Andrzej , Michalska-Malecka Katarzyna , Szaflik Jacek P. , Koziol Milena , Niemczyk Wojciech , Grabska-Liberek Iwona
Published: May 2019

Background: The assessment of the incidence and characteristic of acute and chronic post-operative endophthalmitis (POE) after cataract surgery in Poland during 2010 - 2015. Patients and methods: All hospitalizations of patients, in the National Database of Hospitalizations, who underwent cataract surgery alone or in combined procedures in Poland between January 2010 and December 2015, with a billing code of endophthalmitis, were selected. Acute endophthalmitis was identified if symptoms occurred within 1 - 42 days from the cataract surgery and chronic endophthalmitis if symptoms occurred ≥ 43 days after cataract surgery, respectively. Results: In total, 1331 cases of POE after 1,218,777 cataract extractions were identified. The overall incidence of POE decreased from 0.125% in 2010 to 0.066% in 2015. In multiple logistic regression analyses, increasing age was significantly associated with acute POE, while type II diabetes mellitus, extracapsular cataract extraction and one-day surgery were significantly associated with chronic POE. The combined cataract surgery and male sex were significant risk factors for both acute and chronic POE. A total of 62.51% of all eyes affected by POE received antibiotic treatment and 37.49% had vitrectomy treatment. Conclusions: During the study period, the total incidence of post-operative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery decreased significantly.
Impacts of an Increased Substitution of Fossil Energy Carriers with Electricity-Based Technologies on the Swiss Electricity System
Authors: Rüdisüli Martin , Teske Sinan L. , Elber Urs
Published: May 2019

Electrifying the energy system with heat pumps and battery electric vehicles (BEV) is a strategy of Switzerland and many other countries to reduce CO$_{2}$ emissions. A large electrification, however, poses several new challenges for the electricity system, particularly in combination with a simultaneous substitution of nuclear power plants (NPP) by volatile renewables such as photovoltaics (PV). In this study, these challenges in terms of additional electricity demands, deficits and surpluses as well as effective CO$_{2}$ mitigation are assessed in a dynamic and data-driven approach. To this end, electricity demand and production profiles are synthesized based on measured data and specifications and assumptions of the key technologies at a high temporal resolution. The additional electricity demand of heat pumps is estimated from hourly measured heat demand profiles of a Swiss district heating provider, while for BEV different recharging patterns are combined. For electricity production, NPP are deducted from the current electricity production profile, while PV is added at an hourly resolution. In order to estimate CO$_{2}$ emissions, life-cycle (LCA) CO$_{2}$ intensities of the different technologies are used. It could be shown, that with a BEV and heat pump penetration of 20% and 75%, respectively, there is an almost 25% (13.7 TWh/year) increase of the electricity demand and - just as challenging - an additional maximum power requirement of 5.9 GWh/h (hourly-averaged power). Without additional storage options, large amounts of electricity must be imported in winter and at night, while in summer at noon there is a large surplus from PV. Due to their high CO$_{2}$ intensities - at least for the next decades - electricity imports and PV may - depending on the reference scenario (with or without NPP) and assumptions on other key parameters - even offset the overall CO$_{2}$ savings of a highly electrified Swiss energy system.
Antagonistic Interactions between Benzo[a]pyrene and C60 in Toxicological Response of Marine Mussels
Authors: Barranger Audrey , Langan Laura M. , Sharma Vikram , Rance Graham A. , Aminot Yann , Weston Nicola J. , Akcha Farida , Moore Michael N. , Arlt Volker M. , Khlobystov Andrei N. , Readman James W. , Jha Awadhesh N.
Published: May 2019

This study aimed to assess the ecotoxicological effects of the interaction of fullerene (C60) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on the marine mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis. The uptake of nC60, B[a]P and mixtures of nC60 and B[a]P into tissues was confirmed by GC-MS, LC-HRMS and ICP-MS. Biomarkers of DNA damage as well as proteomics analysis were applied to unravel the toxic effect of B[a]P and C60. Antagonistic responses were observed at the genotoxic and proteomic level. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were only identified in the B[a]P single exposure and the B[a]P mixture exposure groups containing 1 mg/L of C60, the majority of which were down-regulated (~52%). No DEPs were identified at any of the concentrations of nC60 (p < 0.05, 1% FDR). Using DEPs identified at a threshold of (p < 0.05; B[a]P and B[a]P mixture with nC60), gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated that these proteins were enriched with a broad spectrum of biological processes and pathways, including those broadly associated with protein processing, cellular processes and environmental information processing. Among those significantly enriched pathways, the ribosome was consistently the top enriched term irrespective of treatment or concentration and plays an important role as the site of biological protein synthesis and translation. Our results demonstrate the complex multi-modal response to environmental stressors in M. galloprovincialis.
Projective Mechanisms Subtending Real World Phenomena Wipe Away Cause Effect Relationships
Authors: Tozzi Arturo
Published: May 2019

Causal relationships lie at the very core of our scientific description of biophysical phenomena.  Nevertheless, observable facts such as chaotic dynamics, symmetry breaks, long-range collisionless neural interactions, zero-value energy singularities, particle/wave duality, ecological approaches to visual perception elude cause effect inductive explanations.  We illustrate how simple topological claims, seemingly useless and far away from scientific inquiry  (e.g., “given at least some wind on Earth, there must at all times be a cyclone or anticyclone somewhere”; “if one stirs to dissolve a lump of sugar in a cup of coffee, it appears there is always a point without motion”; “at any moment, there is always a pair of antipodal points on the Earth’s surface with equal temperatures and barometric pressures”) describe a real world, made of projections and mappings unsupplied with causality.  Unavoidable, necessary, passive, spontaneous changes in systems’ shapes, dimensions and symmetries incarnate biophysical quantifiable counterparts of abstract mathematical concepts.  Real features arising from topological mechanisms do not require causal powers to be produced, because are independent of exerted physical forces, energetic fields’ actions and thermodynamic constraints.  Providing examples that shed novel interpretative light on phenomena such as double slit experiments, cellular mechanisms and brain function, we conclude as follows: countless scientific matters can be accessed through methodological weapons which not just break causality, replace temporal correlations and probabilistic a priori knowledge of previous cases, but also permit augments in available information devoid of entropy increases and energy losses.
A Self-Adaptive Discrete PSO Algorithm with Heterogeneous Parameter Values for Dynamic TSP
Authors: Strąk Łukasz , Skinderowicz Rafał , Boryczka Urszula , Nowakowski Arkadiusz
Published: May 2019

This paper presents a discrete particle swarm optimization (DPSO) algorithm with heterogeneous (non-uniform) parameter values for solving the dynamic travelling salesman problem (DTSP). The DTSP can be modelled as a sequence of static sub-problems, each of which is an instance of the TSP. We present a method for automatically setting the values of the DPSO parameters without three parameters, which can be defined based on the size of the problem, the size of the particle swarm, the number of iterations, and the particle neighbourhood size. We show that the diversity of parameter values has a positive effect on the quality of the generated results. We compare the performance of the proposed heterogeneous DPSO with two ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithms. The proposed algorithm outperforms the base DPSO and is competitive with the ACO.
Strengthening Science Understanding with Learning Trails
Authors: Leister Wolfgang , Tjøstheim Ingvar , Joryd Göran , Andersson Jan Alfred , Heggelund Håvard
Published: May 2019

The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology have developed a learning concept for school classes in science centres named ‘learning trails’. In this concept, groups of students perform a series of thematically related experiments with installations in the science centre. The learning trails are designed to support the generic learning outcomes for science centre visits. We argue for using the previously developed Engagement Profile in an indicator to determine both media forms and generic learning outcomes for such learning concepts. Further, we implemented the learning trails in two modes: one mode used paper-based content to guide the students, while the other mode supported the use of tablet PCs where engaging content is triggered when the students approach the location of an experiment in the learning trail. We studied the engagement factors of the learning trails and observed how school classes use these. In a study with 113 students from lower secondary school, they answered short questionnaires that were integrated into the implementation of the learning trails. While the concept of the learning trails was evaluated positively, we could not find significant differences in how engaging the two implemented modes were.
Reconstruction of a Segment of the UNESCO World Heritage Hadrian’s Villa Tunnel Network by Integrated GPR, Magnetic-Paleomagnetic, and Electric Resistivity Prospections
Authors: Ghezzi Annalisa , Schettino Antonio , Pierantoni Pietro Paolo , Conyers Lawrence , Tassi Luca , Vigliotti Luigi , Schettino Erwin , Melfi Milena , Gorrini Maria Elena , Boila Paolo
Published: May 2019

The UNESCO World Heritage Hadrian’s Villa lies over the Colli Albani volcanic district near Rome. Magnetic, paleomagnetic, radar, and electric resistivity surveys were performed in the Plutonium–Inferi sector to detect buried buildings and outline a segment of the underground system of tunnels that link different zones of the villa. In particular, a paleomagnetic analysis of the bedrock unit allowed to accomplish an accurate geomagnetic field modelling and characterize the archaeological sources of the magnetic field anomalies. We used a computer-assisted forward modelling procedure to generate a structural model of the sources of the observed anomalies. The intrinsic ambiguity of the magnetic field modelling was reduced with the support of ground penetrating radar amplitude slices and an analysis of radar and electric resistivity profiles. The bedrock lithology in this area is an ignimbrite tuff characterized by abundant iron oxides. The high-amplitude magnetic anomalies observed in the Plutonium–Inferi area are due to strong bedrock remnant magnetization and susceptibility contrasts between topsoil infill of cavities and the surrounding tuff. The resulting magnetization model of the Plutonium–Inferi complex shows that the observed anomalies are mostly due to the presence of tunnels, skylights and a system of ditches excavated in the tuff.
Language Learning Process and Gender Difference Implied from the Turn-Takings Used in EFL Student Conversation Club
Authors: Ilmi Syaripa Nurul , Susilo Susilo , Hermagustiana Istanti
Published: May 2019

This study aims at investigating the kinds of turn-taking mostly used by EFL learners, how the turn-takings are portrayed as a process of EFL learning, and how the EFL learners differ in making their turn-takings according to their gender. This study was qualitative in nature, using 10 members of English Club of English department students, Mulawarman University as the participants. The procedures of data collecting were video-tape recording observation and semi-structure interview. The data were analyzed by using conversational analysis and percentage frequencies. The result revealed that: 1) the kinds of turn-taking mostly used by the participants were adjacency pair and insertion sequence from the sequence type of turn-taking, almost all kinds turn-taking from the overlap turn-taking except the third party mediation, and other-repair and self-repair from the repair turn-taking; 2) all members of the English Club felt they acquired  their languages as they practiced them in either written and spoken communication; and 3) the female members dominated talk than the male ones.
Body Mass Index and Breast Cancer Risks Among Igbo Women in Imo and Abia States, Nigeria: A Case Control Study
Authors: Oyamienlen Christopher S. , Adisa Charles A. , Dozie Ikechukwu N. S. , Oparaocha Evangeline T. , Anele Angelica A. , Anochiwa Kingsley C.
Published: May 2019

Background: The association between body mass index (BMI) and breast cancer risk has been well recognized. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of BMI with breast cancer risks among women of Igbo origin in Imo and Abia states in South Eastern Nigeria.
Methods: The study was conducted at three different locations: Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba, Abia State; Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State; and the Maranatha Specialist Mission Hospital, Aba, Abia State. This was a prospective hospital-based case control study. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics and anthropometric measures using a structured questionnaire. Collected data were imported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. In all, 681 patients participated in the study of which 347 were cases and 334 were controls. The T-test was used to assess statistical differences of height, weight, and BMI in the studied groups. Logistic regressions were used to calculate the multivariate odds ratio (OR) using 95% confidence interval (CI) with significant level set at p>0.05.
Results: Higher BMI is associated with increased risk of breast cancer. There was a significant statistical difference between the height of cases and controls in both pre-and post-menopausal women. The mean value of height was 161.14± 7.1cm among cases compared to controls which was 161.39 cm (p<0.05). The mean weight among cases was 66.34 ± 11.8kg compared to controls at 65.45 ± 9.2kg (p<0.05); the mean BMI was 25.6± 4.8kg/m2 among cases compared to controls 25.1± 4.6 kg/m2 (p<0.05).
Conclusion and Implications For Translation: Primary prevention measures are important to modestly curtail the increasing burden of obesity and high BMI. By controlling the weight, through physical activities, changes in diet and modestly alcohol intake will reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Key words: • Breast Cancer • Imo State • Abia State • South East Nigeria • Body Mass Index • Nigeria
 
© 2019 Oyamienlen et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Measuring the efficiency of higher education: case of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Figurek Aleksandra , Goncharuk Anatoliy , Shynkarenko Larysa , Kovalenko Oleksandr
Published: May 2019

This paper is devoted to measuring the efficiency of the higher education of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The data envelopment analysis method was applied, considering the number of enrolled students, budget financing, co-financing, self-financing as inputs, and the number of graduated students according to the field of education as the output. Measuring the relative efficiency of main fields of the higher education system of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the authors found that the agriculture is the most efficient field of higher education in this country. However, the engineering, manufacturing technologies and construction field have the lowest efficiency score due to the high consumption of budget expenditures, but the lowest education results. The hypothesis of the growing efficiency of the higher education system of Bosnia and Herzegovina was not confirmed. The downward trend in the total number of publications indicates a twofold deterioration in the scientific efficiency of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the six-year period. Comparison with neighboring countries showed relatively low scientific efficiency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The conclusion is that currently the higher education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is relatively inefficient and its efficiency falls down.
Joint parameter identification, vibration and noise analysis of gearbox
Authors: Lin Tengjiao , Xie Daokun , Peng Quancheng , Guo Songling , Lv Hesheng
Published: May 2019

A certain type of gearbox is investigated for the problem that the stiffness and damping of bearings are difficult to be accurately determined and then affect the analysis of vibration and noise of gearbox. Firstly, a coupled dynamic lumped parameter model of three-stage helical gear system with consideration of bearing stiffness, bearing damping, and transmission error is established. The modal parameters of gear system are obtained by using the experimental modal analysis method with single-input and multiple-output. The equation for joint parameter identification of gearbox is established which is based on the experimental modal analysis theory and the dynamic lumped parameter model, and subsequently the parameters of the joint are obtained by the least square method. Then, a gear-shaft-bearing- housing coupled dynamic finite element model is developed on the basis of the identified parameters, and after that the dynamic response results of gearbox are solved by using the modal superposition method and compared with the vibration test results. Finally, an acoustic boundary element model of gearbox is established by taking the dynamic response results as the acoustic boundary condition, and the surface sound pressure and radiation noise of gearbox are solved by the boundary element method (BEM), and then the results are compared with the noise test. The results show that the simulation laws and test laws are in good agreement, and thus the method of joint parameter identification, vibration and noise analysis of gearbox is feasible.
Finite element simulation on the reflection and transmission of the lamb waves across a micro defect of plates
Authors: Yuan Peilong , Li Xuexin , Zhou Shaoqi
Published: May 2019

This paper presents a theoretical and finite element (FE) investigation of the generation and propagation characteristics of the fundamental Lamb waves symmetrical mode S0 and anti-symmetrical mode A0 after testing with different types of defects in the plates. The reflection and transmission of Lamb waves at a micro symmetry defect and asymmetry defect are analyzed numerically in the two-dimension (2D) model. Mode conversion of Lamb waves can occur upon encountering the asymmetry discontinuities leading to newly-converted modes apart from wave reflection and transmission. When testing the symmetry defects, the reflection and transmission waves have no modal separation phenomenon. To describe the mode conversion and reflection and transmission degree, and evaluate the micro defect severity, a series of defects are simulated to explore the relationships of defect reflection and transmission with the length and depth of a defect in the 2D FE model. In the three-dimension (3D) FE model, the straight-crest Lamb waves and circular-crest Lamb waves are simulated and researched by contrast analysis. Then the straight-crest Lamb waves are motivated to study the scattering laws of Lamb waves interacting with the circle hole defects and rectangular hole defects. S0 mode and SH0 mode are contained in the scattering waves after S0 mode testing the through holes defects. Corresponding mode energy percentages were analyzed at different micro defect severities changed in different ways. Simulation results illustrated that the modal energy percentages varied in a different character and provided support for the analytically determined results of Lamb waves in the non-destructive testing and evaluation.
Dynamic response of long-span continuous curved box girder bridge under seismic excitation
Authors: Cai Heng , Lu Hailin
Published: May 2019

Form function matrix is created by introducing high order displacement interpolation function in the node. Based on the virtual work principle and dynamic finite element theory, the spatial element stiffness matrix, mass matrix and earthquake mass matrix of a thin-walled box girder having 9 freedom degrees at each node are deduced. The D’Alembert vibration equation is also established. Newmark-β method is used through MATLAB to solve the seismic response of a long-span continuous curved box girder bridge under El-centro seismic waves. Meanwhile the spatial finite element model of the whole bridge is established by ANSYS. The results indicate that the dynamic responses of pier columns exhibit spatiality. The dynamic response of a bridge structure under 2D coupling horizontal seismic excitation is much bigger than that under 1D horizontal seismic excitation. The critical angle of seismic waves is 50° for radial displacement response. Theoretical calculation results are in agreement with the finite element analysis results. The deduced element matrix not only can be used to calculate the seismic response of long-span curved beam bridge structures but also can provide significant references for the structures in vibration response caused by moving traffic.
Evaluation of the Diagnostic Performance of Physical Examination Combined with Transvaginal Ultrasonography in Patients with Endometriosis
Authors: Tiryaki Talha , Karacan Tolga , Yesiralioglu Seyma , Ozyurek Eser , Kiyak Huseyin , Oral Engin
Published: May 2019

Objective: Owing to its high sensitivity and specificity, and because it is widely available, transvaginal ultrasonography is the first-line imaging test of choice used for the diagnosis of endometriosis. Ultrasonographic findings evaluated in conjunction with symptoms and signs may improve the diagnosis of endometriosis. Therefore, we hypothesized that transvaginal ultrasonography combined with physical examinations performed by physicians could predict endometriosis better in patients with symptoms suggestive of endometriosis compared with asymptomatic patients at presentation.

Study Design: In this retrospective cohort study, the first subjective impression obtained from the history, physical examination, and transvaginal ultrasonography performed by the physician during the first visit in the outpatient clinic was taken into consideration. Patients who underwent surgery with the indication of ovarian mass were divided into two groups according to their admission types; symptomatic and asymptomatic.

Results: The number of patients reported to have endometriosis histopathologically was 138;132 were in the premenopausal period (symptomatic group n=101, asymptomatic group n=31) and 6 were in the postmenopausal period (symptomatic group n=1, asymptomatic group n=5). The positive predictive value and positive likelihood ratio of the combination of pelvic examination and transvaginal ultrasonography in premenopausal symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, and postmenopausal symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were 97.8%, 11.5; 47.3%, 6.9; 25.0%, 4.6; and 11.1%, 2.3, respectively.

Conclusion: The diagnostic performance of transvaginal ultrasonography in combination with physical examination in patients with asymptomatic endometriosis cannot reach the diagnostic accuracy of physical examination combined with transvaginal ultrasonography in patients with endometriosis who present with symptoms.
Antenatal Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella and Cytomegalovirus Infection Screening Among Pregnant Women Attending Tertiary University Hospital
Authors: Gurlek Beril , Colak Sabri
Published: May 2019

Objective: The present study was designed to determine the seroprevalance of Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella, and cytomegalovirus, to investigate the frequency of low and high avidity results among pregnant women and to contribute to the data of our country with the results obtained.Study Design: In the present study, the hospital records of the women who applied to the antenatal outpatient of the Rize Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Medical Faculty during the first trimester between January 2016 and October 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Toxoplasma gondii, RRubella and cytomegalovirus IgM, IgG and IgG avidity results were evaluated.Result: IgM positivity was found to be 0.83% (29/3490) for Toxoplasma gondii, 0.92% (32/3459) for Rubella and 1.90% (65/3404) for cytomegalovirus; IgG positivity was found to be 33.64% (1174/3490) for Toxoplasma gondii, 90.70% for Rubella (3140/3459), and 99.17% (3376/3404) for cytomegalovirus. Avidity of Toxoplasma gondii was found to be low (3.70%) in 1 patient, borderline (11.11%) in 3 patients, and high avidity in 23 patients (85.18%). Avidity of cytomegalovirus was found to be low (1.75%) in 1 patient, borderline (3.50%) in 2 patients and high avidity (94.73%) in 54 patients. Avidity of Rubella was found to be low (4%) in 1 patient, and high avidity (96%) was found in 24 patients.Conclusions: In our study, although the prevalence of acute infection with Rubella, cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii was shown to be low in pregnancy in Rize province, serological screening tests for monitoring and informing high-risk groups that are particularly seronegative appear to be important.
Gender Differences and Treatment Outcome among Drug Induced Hepatotoxicity Tuberculosis Patients
Authors: Nadarajah Kamini , khan Amer Hayat , Ali Irfhan , Aftab Raja Ahsan , Shaik Imam
Published: May 2019

Aims and Objective:

The aim of the current manuscript is to determine the association between gender differences and drug-induced hepatotoxicity among patients receiving anti-tuberculosis therapy and to determine the outcome of the treatment.

Methods:

A retrospective observational study was conducted among tuberculosis patients at Respiratory Clinic of Penang General Hospital (PGH) and Bukit Mertajam Hospital. A validated data collection instrument was used to collect patients’ demographic and clinical data confirmation of drug induced hepatotoxicity among tuberculosis patients was based on biochemical criteria which included 3 fold increase in liver enzymes in response to anti TB medication. All results were analyzed through SPSS version 20.

Results:

The study subjects were predominantly males 146 (76.8%) than females 44 (23.2%). Drug-induced hepatotoxicity with anti-tuberculosis drugs was observed the most among Chinese 90 (47%) ethnicity. Eighty-five (72%) male and 33 female (28%) tuberculosis drug-induced (TB-DIH) patients had a successful treatment outcome. Female patients had a statistically significant positive association with successful TB-DIH treatment outcomes (OR=1.83, 0.988-3.390 95%CI). Upon multivariate analysis, Indian ethnicity (OR = 0.173, p = 0.024), patients with relapse of Tuberculosis (TB) (OR= 0.332, p = 0.032) and Human Immune Virus (HIV) (OR= 0.217, p = 0.027) were less likely to have successful TB-DIH treatment outcomes.

Conclusion:

Female Tuberculosis Drug Induced Hepatotoxicity (TB DIH) patients were more likely to have successful treatment outcomes. A number of factors such as Indian ethnicity, patients with relapse of Tuberculosis (TB) and patients with Human Immune Virus (HIV) were less likely to have successful TB DIH treatment outcomes.
Effect of Community Road Infrastructure, Socio-Demographic and Street Pattern in Promoting Walking as Sustainable Transportation Mode
Authors: Rifaat Shakil Mohammad , Pasha Mosabbir , Tay Richard , Barros Alex De
Published: May 2019

Background:

Traffic demand is growing worldwide and the increased carbon emission from transport and travel activities is contributing to greenhouse gas emission and climate change. As the oil and gas capital of Canada, the city of Calgary has a very high carbon footprint per population and the reduction of automobile use is an important policy goal for the city. Walking, a part of active transportation promotes sustainable transportation initiative by reducing greenhouse gas emission. To encourage walking, favorable walking environment should be ensured which largely depends on street pattern and connectivity. However, the effect of street pattern on walking at community level was not explored much in previous studies, particularly at rapidly expanding city such as Calgary’s context.

Aims and Objectives:

The study identifies the effects of different neighborhood design and planning factors associated with the share of walking in work trips while controlling for differences in social economic characteristics of the neighborhood.

Methods:

A linear regression model was developed using community-level data from the 2011 census and the road infrastructure data of Calgary.

Results:

Our study finds that different street patterns and types of land use, length of train tracks, number of train stations and number of schools have significant effect on walking.

Conclusion:

Thus, different neighbourhood street patterns and land uses should be considered in the development of new communities for promoting active and sustainable transportation.
Information in United States Patents on works related to ‘Natural Fibers’: 2000-2018
Authors: Yorseng Krittirash , Sanjay Mavinkere R. , Tengsuthiwat Jiratti , Pulikkalparambil Harikrishnan , Parameswaranpillai Jyotishkumar , Siengchin Suchart , Moure Marta M.
Published: May 2019

Background:

This era has seen outstanding achievements in materials science through
the advances in natural fiber-based composites. The new environmentally friendly and sustainability
concerns have imposed the chemists, biologists, researchers, engineers, and scientists to discover
the engineering and structural applications of natural fiber reinforced composites.

Objective:

To present a comprehensive evaluation of information from 2000 to 2018 in United
States patents in the field of natural fibers and their composite materials.

Methods:

The patent data have been taken from the external links of US patents such as IFI
CLAIMS Patent Services, USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet, Global Dossier, and Discuss.

Results:

The present world scenario demands the usage of natural fibers from agricultural and
forest byproducts as a reinforcement material for fiber reinforced composites. Natural fibers can be
easily extracted from plants and animals. Recently natural fiber in nanoscale is preferred over micro
and macro scale fibers due to its superior thermo-mechanical properties. However, the choice
of macro, micro, and nanofibers depends on their applications.

Conclusion:

This document presents a comprehensive evaluation of information from 2000 to
2018 in United States patents in the field of natural fibers and their composite materials.
O CORPO MORTO: Mitos, ritos e superstições
Authors: Martins Moisés de Lemos
Published: May 2019

Este estudo tem um cariz preponderantemente sócio-antropológico, versando as tradições, as crenças, os mitos, os ritos, enfim, o modo como a comunidade humana imagina o post mortem e cuida de alguém que morreu. No entanto, depois de uma rápida digressão histórica sobre a morte no Ocidente, tomando como fonte obras de Philippe Ariès (1975 e 1977), Louis-Vincent Thomas (1985), e Maria Manuel Oliveira (2007), o meu propósito visa sobretudo a contemporaneidade, onde as transformações operadas na cultura pelas tecnologias e pelos media, de tão profundas, vieram alterar, ao longo do século XX, o sentido que tanto damos à vida como à morte.
A universidade e os seus estudantes. Um olhar de dentro
Authors: Lopes João Teixeira
Published: May 2019

Este texto consiste numa reflexão sobre a prática pedagógica universitária a partir de um exercício de sociologia pluriescalar, cruzando múltiplas e complementares escalas de observação: singularidades sociais; sala de aula; instituições; políticas educativas e espaço social. Convocam-se exemplos do quotidiano universitário, mobilizando uma abordagem etnográfica a partir de dentro.
Krieghbaum, H. (1970). A ciência e os meios de comunicação de massa. Rio de Janeiro: Edições Correio da Manhã.
Authors: Ribeiro Fábio
Published: May 2019

De que forma tratavam os jornalistas a informação de ciência na primeira metade do século XX nos EUA? Que papel desempenhavam os cientistas na promoção da visibilidade da investigação científica? E os leitores?...
Rodrigues, M. L. & Heitor, M. (Eds.) (2015). 40 anos de políticas de ciência e de ensino superior. Coimbra: Almedina.
Authors: Oliveira Madalena
Published: May 2019

Ainda que a primeira universidade portuguesa, a Universidade de Coimbra, tenha sido fundada no século XIII, a história das políticas científicas e do ensino superior em Portugal conta-se em páginas relativamente breves até à Revolução dos Cravos de 1974...
Repensar a política científica em Portugal - sugestões a partir da área de Ciências da Comunicação. Carta ao ministro da Ciência e Teconologia
Authors: Martins Moisés de Lemos
Published: May 2019

Existe, hoje, um sério problema sobre quem determina a pesquisa, designadamente os temas prioritários de investigação, os problemas que vale a pena investigar, e também a pesquisa que justifica financiamento...
Melot, M. (2015). Uma breve história da imagem. Vila Nova de Famalicão: Ed. CECS & Húmus
Authors: Pinto-Coelho Zara
Published: May 2019

Nascido a 9 de Agosto de 1943, em Blois, Michel Melot, bibliotecário e historiador de arte, foi Diretor do Departamento de Estampas e Fotografias da Biblioteca Nacional de França (de 1981-1983)...
Imagens falantes: a poética interativa do som imaginado
Authors: Street Seán
Published: May 2019

O nosso lugar no mundo resulta de uma combinação de sentidos complementares. Quando analisamos uma obra de arte, seja uma pintura, uma escultura ou uma fotografia, temos a capacidade de “ouvir” assim como de ver essa obra com base em numerosas pistas que ela providencia. O velho truísmo radiofónico que diz que “as imagens são melhores em som” também nos sugere uma relação imaginativa entre o ouvido e a mente. Da mesma maneira, o facto de o visual ter poder para sugerir som abre a um novo nível de sentido num mundo de imagens aparentemente estáticas e “silenciosas”. Ao conscientemente sintonizarmos os ouvidos com os olhos, interpretamos o mundo visual com novos estratos de experiência e sentido. Sem as restrições do nacionalismo e da linguística, ouvimos mensagens que vêm de vozes internacionais e se expressam através da arte na nossa própria linguagem, embora continuem a ser verdade para os sons dos seus mundos recriados.
EUROPA: Um Continente do Passado?
Authors: Lourenço Eduardo
Published: May 2019

A presente reflexão discute a filiação da Europa contemporânea em três matrizes possíveis (mitológicas e políticas): a matriz grega da filosofia e da democracia, a raiz judaico-cristã e a ciência. Porém, aparentemente nenhuma delas apresenta uma dimensão consensual, enquanto definidora da Europa. Não admira pois que, hoje, a Europa viva um niilismo subtil e uma espécie de reflexo masoquista. O ensaio discute também a dificuldade em que a razão europeia vive a partir da filosofia grega, ao introduzir um questionamento radical que abala a verdade mítica, instituindo um discurso quase sempre problemático e até dramático. Esta falta de coerência interna também se repercute na forma como o Estado e o Poder foram pensados a partir da matriz judaico-cristã. Realizando hoje o quanto a Europa foi perdendo a sua centralidade, o texto termina como uma palavra de exortação à recriação dos europeus e da sua identidade.
A construção e perceção das imagens e marcas do turismo cultural. Um estudo de caso de Toledo (Espanha)
Authors: Escudero Gómez Luis Alfonso
Published: May 2019

As cidades hoje estão à venda. Elas são um produto comercial com uma marca e uma imagem. Os centros urbanos são destinos turísticos que competem entre si. Nesta matéria, ter uma imagem pública tão favorável quanto possível e ter uma marca de prestígio são questões essenciais para as cidades turísticas culturais. Elas atraem visitantes. Estes escolhem os seus lugares de viagem principalmente através da perceção que têm da imagem e da marca dos destinos. No entanto, essas representações do turismo cultural são estereótipos baseados numa seleção parcial e interessada da história e do património. Neste artigo, estudamos o processo de construção de imagens turísticas culturais num dos principais destinos da Península Ibérica, Toledo. Da mesma forma, analisa-se a perceção dos visitantes dessa imagem pública e a sua influência na escolha de destino. A metodologia utilizada, após uma revisão da literatura e uma compilação de informações sobre a imagem promocional de Toledo, baseia-se num trabalho empírico através de inquéritos. Descobrir-se-á que Toledo tem uma imagem estereotipada e uma marca baseadas numa visão parcial da sua história e no caráter pitoresco do seu património. É essa representação que atrai a grande maioria dos seus visitantes. Em contrapartida, a cidade real desaparece, tanto da imagem promocional de Toledo, como da perceção dos seus turistas e visitantes. Impõem-se o estereótipo e a comercialização da cidade como destino turístico cultural.
Colecionar países e territórios: uma proposta de contabilização de lugares visitados
Authors: Sarmento João , Lopes Patrícia
Published: May 2019

Colecionar é uma curiosa atividade humana, que consiste na reunião e guarda de objetos selecionados. Tem inúmeros formatos e caraterísticas. A coleção de lugares, isto é, a coleção da visita a esses mesmos lugares não é uma prática recente, mas no contexto da mobilidade das sociedades contemporâneas e da sociedade em rede e de consumo, tem adquirido uma importância grande. Ainda que possa não ser a principal motivação da viagem, e que possa ser mais ou menos inconsciente, a coleção de lugares e em consequência, a contabilização das viagens, é um ato social, que à semelhança de outras coleções existe para ser partilhada, comparada e mostrada. Este artigo debruça-se sobre esta prática, que está intimamente ligada às viagens e ao turismo. Por um lado, analisa uma questão central da coleção de lugares e territórios, que é a definição da coleção, isto é, quais os seus limites, e quais os seus “objetos”. Esta discussão permite refletir sobre a forma como dividimos o mundo, nomeadamente no contexto da contabilização de viagens. Por outro lado, propõe-se aqui uma forma de contabilizar lugares ou territórios visitados que não atende unicamente ao facto de se ter estado num determinado lugar ou território, mas que inclui também outras variáveis como o tempo de permanência, as distâncias-tempo dos destinos, a perigosidade dos mesmos e a maior ou menor facilidade em entrar nesses territórios. Entrevistas a oito viajantes com grande experiência permitiram discutir e ajustar as ponderações destas mesmas variáveis, por forma a construir um índice compósito.
Turismo cultural móvel. Espaços, tempos e logos da arte
Authors: Andrade Pedro de
Published: May 2019

Os paradigmas globais e a escalabilidade dos processos de mobilidade mudaram profundamente no século passado (Adey, 2014). Um desses fenómenos móveis é o turismo, que constitui a configuração central da viagem dentro da modernidade (Andrade, 1993). As viagens modernas não constituem apenas um espaço e tempo de lazer pacífico, mas também uma arena conflituosa que subjaz e traduz outras questões sociais colaterais (Cohen, 2013; Rickly, 2016; Verstraete, 2009). Este texto apresenta um resumo de uma análise sociológica, referente a algumas questões levantadas no projeto Comunicação Pública da Arte, coordenado pelo autor e financiado pela Fundação para Ciência e Tecnologia-FCT (Ref. PTDC/CCI/68595/2006). No seio deste projeto, um questionário de pesquisa foi respondido por turistas que visitaram a exposição acima mencionada, numa amostra de 504 visitantes. O perfil “turista” incluiu 50 visitantes, e foi considerado pertinente para este estudo, na medida em que o Museu Berardo encontra-se situado numa área turística relevante de Lisboa, a freguesia de Santa Maria de Belém.
O 25 DE ABRIL DE 1974: Memória da Revolução e Revolução da Memória
Authors: Cruzeiro Maria Manuela
Published: May 2019

Este artigo aborda as interconexões entre a memória colectiva e a memória individual de quem viveu a experiência revolucionária do 25 de Abril de 1974 em Portugal. Discute-se a dimensão afectiva e emocional das memórias e o seu carácter fragmentado e parcelar. Seguidamente aborda-se o papel do comemorativismo e denuncia-se a desmemória que tem caracterizado as comemorações da Revolução dos Cravos em Portugal.
RECEÇÃO MEDIÁTICA E HISTÓRIA ORAL: Operárias da Covilhã no Estado Novo
Authors: Carvalheiro José Ricardo , Tomás Diana Gonçalves
Published: May 2019

O período do Estado Novo (1933-1974), caracterizado por um sistema social fortemente patriarcal, assistiu também à entrada de novos meios de experiência simbólica, a rádio e da televisão, na vida das mulheres. Recorrendo à história oral, este artigo procura pistas acerca da forma como decorreu essa implantação da receção mediática entre o operariado têxtil da Covilhã, recorrendo a memórias femininas sobre a articulação dos media com os espaços domésticos e os lugares públicos, e sobre os modos como as interações sociais se foram acomodando ou transformando nesse processo. O texto propõe um quadro teórico para analisar a história da receção numa perspetiva de género, partindo dos conceitos de receção mediática, hegemonia e dominação para explorar dados empíricos provenientes de entrevistas biográficas.
A ARTE NAS INDÚSTRIAS CRIATIVAS: Pode a arte salvar o mundo?
Authors: Tavares Mirian
Published: May 2019

A presente reflexão surgiu de um desafio lançado pela Direção Regional de Cultura do Algarve, em 2010, para que se discutisse o papel da Cultura na criação de um plano de desenvolvimento para a região. O termo Indústrias Criativas vem sendo utilizado de maneira indiscriminada, o que dá origem, invariavelmente, a diversos equívocos. Apesar das discussões sobre o tema não se produziu ainda uma reflexão aprofundada sobre a sua aplicabilidade, e adequação, a um país como Portugal. Neste texto procura-se discutir o conceito de Indústria Criativa em relação aos conceitos de Cultura e de Civilização, bem como produzir uma reflexão em torno do papel das Artes na Economia Contemporânea.
O SISTEMA NACIONAL DE CULTURA NO GOVERNO DILMA: CONTINUIDADES E AVANÇOS
Authors: Barbalho Alexandre
Published: May 2019

O propósito desse artigo é analisar como se deu a atuação das ministras de cultura do Brasil Ana de Hollanda e Marta Suplicy no que diz respeito à implantação do Sistema Nacional de Cultura. Para tanto, situa-se os agentes e suas posições nesse processo que diz respeito à institucionalização do campo cultural com forte relação com o campo político. O Estado como detentor de meta-capital é um espaço de convergência e embate entre os diversos campos. Nesse sentido, compreender uma política pública de cultura é levar em consideração os necessários cruzamento de interesses entre agentes do campos cultural e político e aqueles que integram ambos simultaneamente. Minha hipótese é a de que, ao contrário de outras frentes de atuação do MinC, como o Programa Cultura Viva, que sofreram descontinuidades, o processo de implantação do Sistema ganhou um novo impulso no governo Dilma.