bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Public Policies for Providing Cloud Computing Services to SMEs of Latin America
Authors: Rahman Mohd Nayyer , Iqbal Badar Alam
Published: June 2017

SMEs are considered backbone of Latin American economic region as they represent an overwhelming majority of private enterprises in the region and account for 99% of businesses and employ 67% of employees. One of the elements in which SMEs need assistance is their involvement in the IT enabled services (ITES) both for greater efficiency and optimisation of the economic data. Cloud Computing as a modern concept has commercialised the use of ITES along with sharing of data at a wider scale. Tacit knowledge in the form of data can be easily shared at large scale with the help of cloud computing. While MNCs has started using cloud computing to benefit the organisations, SMEs are far behind in truly understanding the relevance of cloud computing in benefitting business operations. The present study aims to analyse the existing opportunities and then formulate relevant public policies for providing cloud computing services to SMEs of Latin America.
Binary Decision Diagram Reliability for Multiple Robot Complex System
Authors: Fazlollahtabar Hamed , Niaki Seyed Taghi Akhavan
Published: June 2017

Assume a production system having multiple robots and work stations leading to a complex system. To evaluate the reliability of this system a network of components is considered configuring a complex reliability network. A robotic network is considered which has perfect vertices and imperfect links. It means path links may fail with known probability. We obtain the reliability of the given network by using an exact method and with binary decision diagram. Binary decision diagram based reliability evaluation involves three main steps. First, ordering the given path link. Second, generate the reliability function with the help of min-paths from source to sink. At last, apply Shannon's decomposition to compute the reliability of the given network.
Big Data and Simulations for the Solution of Controversies in Small Businesses
Authors: Janakova Milena
Published: June 2017

The global information society creates data in various formats and data is stored in many sources. Interest is focused on true story formation with respect to sustainable development. The suitable recommendation is to implement a multidimensional view on big data. Such an approach works with big data along three levels. Basic level represents default activities and analyses for data storage in data warehouse. Advanced level is focused on searching for links between stored data and information sources in the global society and variable level searches unexpected events based on complex statistics and mathematical methods with the support of Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligence, Customer Intelligence, Competitive Intelligence, Swarm Intelligence. These kinds of activities are important for IT product development such as specification of the road for an adopted methodology, definition of a reference for needed dimensions and phases for IT development, and also as a warning against omissions and mistakes.
Software Development Process Standards for Very Small Companies
Authors: O'Connor Rory V.
Published: June 2017

For very small software development companies, the quality of their software products is a key to competitive advantage. However, the usage of Software Engineering standards is extremely low amongst such very small software companies. A primary reason cited by many such companies for this lack of quality standards adoption is the perception that they have been developed for large multi-national software companies and not with small and very small organizations in mind and are therefore not suitable for their specific needs. This chapter describes the design and development of the software process lifecycle standard for very small entities ISO/IEC 29110. This chapter presents a unique insight from the perspective of some of the standards authors on the development of the ISO/IEC 29110 standard, including the rationale behind its development and the innovative design of implementation guides to assist very small companies in adopting the standards, as well outlining a pilot project scheme for usage in early trials of this standard.
The Dual Nature of Participatory Web and How Misinformation Seemingly Travels
Authors: Kumar Sameer
Published: June 2017

Web 2.0 is an internet technology that facilitates collaboration on the World Wide Web (WWW). As a direct product of people's freedom of expression, Web 2.0 technology has given birth to a new media – the Social Media that is redefining the way people collaborate and express themselves. By studying surveys in three specific aspects of its impact – social service, politics and as a vehicle of misinformation and through content analysis of some online comments, the author argues that social media is capable of transmitting both good and bad information. In the article, an illustration of how misinformation through video seemingly travels, is also presented.
Mutation Testing Applied to Object-Oriented Languages
Authors: Delgado-Pérez Pedro , Medina-Bulo Inmaculada , Domínguez-Jiménez Juan José
Published: June 2017

Mutation testing is a suitable technique to determine the quality of test suites designed for a certain program. The set of mutation operators and the overall technique should be developed around each programming language in particular. The structures related to the object-oriented paradigm require a tailored analysis addressing them. However, class mutation operators for these languages have not been analyzed at the same extent as traditional operators for procedural languages in the literature. The purpose of the chapter is to look in depth at the development and the current state of mutation testing, and more specifically, with regard to object-oriented programming languages.
Petri Nets Identification Techniques for Automated Modelling of Discrete Event Processes
Authors: Rodriguez-Perez Edelma , Lopez-Mellado Ernesto
Published: June 2017

One of the ways to perform the reverse engineering of a reactive system is to analyse the model of such a system. However, this model could not exist or the documentation could not be updated; then a model that describes the current behaviour of the system has to be built. Automated modelling of reactive discrete event processes can be achieved through identification techniques, which yield suitable discrete event models from the observed behaviour in the form of input-output sequences. This chapter presents an overview of input-output identification techniques that build Petri net models.
Research and Development on Software Testing Techniques and Tools
Authors: T Tamilarasi , Prasanna M.
Published: June 2017

Software Testing is the pre-eminent part of the software development life cycle process. It is the process of evaluating system or its components with the specified requirements or not. It is important process by means of accessing the quality of software, reusability and traceability of the requirements specified. There are many number of testing techniques and tools available for this task. Software testing is an essential part of research and lot of development has been made in this field. In this chapter, testing techniques and tools including test design tools, load and performance testing tools, test management tools, test implementation tools, test evaluation tools, static analysis tools, Basic path testing, Loop testing, Control structure testing, code based techniques, Path testing, data flow testing, syntax testing has been described. Some distinctive latest research and development in testing strategy have been summarized.
The Role of Feedback in Software Process Assessment
Authors: Stojanov Zeljko , Dobrilovic Dalibor
Published: June 2017

Processes encapsulate the way organizations are doing business. However, in many cases organization processes are not well defined, which leads to poor and unsystematic implementation. An organization that uses weak or misdirected processes will have weak products or services, and unpredictable outcomes of business activities. Process assessment can help software organizations to improve themselves through identification of critical problems and establishment of improvement priorities. Software process assessment includes feedback as a core activity that aims at feeding data back to relevant individuals or groups in an organization. Feedback is also used as a method for learning in software organizations based on the previous experience and identified issues in the assessment process. In addition, information included in the feedback can be used as the basis for decision making related to revealing the next activities in assessment and improvement project.
Software Literacy
Authors: Khoo Elaine , Hight Craig
Published: June 2017

Software is not neutral. It comes with social and cultural assumptions that afford particular actions while constraining others. The notion of software literacy is emerging as one way to conceptualise the repertoires of skills and understandings needed for people to be critical and creative users of software packages and systems in a software saturated culture. This conceptual model is a response to current digital literacy frameworks which do not identify the implications of the choice of software on what can be achieved. Studies on information literacy and on ways of mastering software have tended to ignore the role of software itself. The study of software is only now emerging as a field of study. This contribution argues for the relevancy of software literacy as part of understanding the ways people engage with software and how its affordances influences knowledge representation, generation and critique. It will define the term and set out three progressive tiers of development towards software literacy.
Software Process Improvement for Web-Based Projects Comparative View
Authors: Al-Rousan Thamer
Published: June 2017

Software process improvement has been the main targets by many Web application development organizations. Despite the importance of software process improvement, there is enough evidence that the majority of Web-based software organizations are reluctant to adapt existing software process improvement models and standards as they perceive them as being oriented towards traditional software organizations. It has been observed that Improvement efforts Web-based software development organizations based on process improvement frameworks which are designed for traditional software organizations fails most of the time. This study attempts to make a review of different software process improvement models, and check the suitability of these models to meet the special characteristics and requirements for the Web-based projects. The findings of this study can be helpful for the Web-based software development organizations in assessing and improving software processes.
Video Considerations for the World Language edTPA
Authors: Goulette Elizabeth , Swanson Pete
Published: June 2017

For decades in the United States, teacher preparation has been both a political and social focus. The development of highly effective teachers is highly scrutinized and there is a new, nationally-reviewed teacher performance assessment, edTPA, which teacher candidates must pass in order to become certified in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Research shows that teacher candidates in World Language Education have the most difficulty in assessing teaching and learning. In this chapter, the authors outline edTPA and present considerations regarding the use of video in conjunction with the Integrated Performance Assessment as a means to improve novice teacher performance on this high-stakes assessment.
Energy Conservation in the Era of Ubiquitous Computing
Authors: Haleem P. P. Abdul
Published: June 2017

Wide spread availability and affordability of devices and easy accessibility of Internet has accelerated the pace of ubiquitous computing. Connectivity to the Internet has resulted in an exponential growth in terms of content and traffic available on the Internet. When the barriers such as type of devices, location, time and format have become meaningless in the era of ubiquitous computing, the issue of energy consumption and resultant carbon emission is a matter of concern. Energy consumption is an issue in ubiquitous computing, as the majority of the devices involved will be mobile devices that depend on the limited power offered by the battery inside the device. Carbon emission is a concern due to the combined impact made by the devices hooked over to the Internet. This paper discusses the issues related to energy consumption for various activities when the services offered by the Internet are availed. The paper also discusses about the challenges to be overcome to achieve conservation of energy consumed by the Internet and devices.
Determination of Urban Growth by the Night-Time Images
Authors: Yücer Emre , Erener Arzu
Published: June 2017

Urbanization in Turkey and in the world continues is increased especially in the last 30 years. Therefore, urban areas having a dynamic structure should be regularly monitored and the urban region should be determined. There is a need of accurate current data that enables to monitor the temporally changing urban development and land use at regular intervals. In order to determine the urban sizes the 2010 DMSP - OLS (US Air Force Meteorological Satellite Program – operational line scan system) night-time images are used. This study is adapted to all provinces of Turkey. Night-time images in the literature are mainly used for examining the global economic and demographic differences between countries. In order to determine the urban growth from night-time images two different image analysis including object-based and cell-based methods are used in this study. Object-oriented image analysis method includes image segmentation studies and cell-based classification method contains natural breaks and otsu method.
Open Source Software Virtual Learning Environment (OSS-VLEs) in Library Science Schools
Authors: Jan Rosy
Published: June 2017

A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is a software system designed to facilitate teachers in the management of educational courses. The system can often track the learners' progress, which can be monitored by both teachers and learners. While often thought of as primarily tools for distance education, they are most often used to supplement the face-to-face classroom as well as blended learning. Plethora of research conducted on VLEs has reported positive impacts from various contexts. Keeping in view the benefits, the work has been initiated to review concept, features and issues of virtual learning environments. Some of the most used OSS VLEs are discussed. Further it determines the suitability of a VLE for higher education. The chapter also explore and identify the recent contributions to the concept by analyzing ongoing virtual learning initiatives and projects by different organizations and information centres to stimulate future Research and development trend in the field.
Comparing parameterized versus measured microphysical properties of tropical convective cloud bases during the ACRIDICON–CHUVA campaign
Authors: Braga Ramon Campos , Rosenfeld Daniel , Weigel Ralf , Jurkat Tina , Andreae Meinrat O. , Wendisch Manfred , Pöhlker Mira L. , Klimach Thomas , Pöschl Ulrich , Pöhlker Christopher , Voigt Christiane , Mahnke Christoph , Borrmann Stephan , Albrecht Rachel I. , Molleker Sergej , Vila Daniel A. , Machado Luiz A. T. , Artaxo Paulo
Published: June 2017

Abstract. The objective of this study is to validate parameterizations that were recently developed for satellite retrievals of cloud condensation nuclei supersaturation spectra, NCCN(S), at cloud base alongside more traditional parameterizations connecting NCCN(S) with cloud base updrafts and drop concentrations. This was based on the HALO aircraft measurements during the ACRIDICON–CHUVA campaign over the Amazon region, which took place in September 2014. The properties of convective clouds were measured with a cloud combination probe (CCP), a cloud and aerosol spectrometer (CAS-DPOL), and a CCN counter onboard the HALO aircraft. An intercomparison of the cloud drop size distributions (DSDs) and the cloud water content (CWC) derived from the different instruments generally shows good agreement within the instrumental uncertainties. To this end, the directly measured cloud drop concentrations (Nd) near cloud base were compared with inferred values based on the measured cloud base updraft velocity (Wb) and NCCN(S) spectra. The measurements of Nd at cloud base were also compared with drop concentrations (Na) derived on the basis of an adiabatic assumption and obtained from the vertical evolution of cloud drop effective radius (re) above cloud base. The measurements of NCCN(S) and Wb reproduced the observed Nd within the measurements uncertainties when the old (1959) Twomey's parameterization was used. The agreement between the measured and calculated Nd was only within a factor of 2 with attempts to use cloud base S, as obtained from the measured Wb, Nd, and NCCN(S). This underscores the yet unresolved challenge of aircraft measurements of S in clouds. Importantly, the vertical evolution of re with height reproduced the observation-based nearly adiabatic cloud base drop concentrations, Na. The combination of these results provides aircraft observational support for the various components of the satellite-retrieved methodology that was recently developed to retrieve NCCN(S) under the base of convective clouds. This parameterization can now be applied with the proper qualifications to cloud simulations and satellite retrievals.
Aerosol effects on the development of cumulus clouds over the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhou Xu , Bei Naifang , Liu Hongli , Cao Junji , Xing Li , Lei Wenfang , Molina Luisa T. , Li Guohui
Published: June 2017

Abstract. The aerosol–cloud interaction over the Tibetan Plateau has been investigated using a cloud-resolving weather research and forecasting model with a two-moment bulk microphysical scheme including aerosol effects on cloud condensation nuclei and ice nuclei. Two types of cumulus clouds with a similar convective available potential energy, occurring over the Tibetan Plateau (Cu-TP) and North China Plain (Cu-NCP) in August 2014, are simulated to explore the response of convective clouds to aerosols. A set of aerosol profiles is used in the simulations, with the surface aerosol number concentration varying from 20 to 9000 cm−3 and the sulfate mass concentration varying from 0.02 to 9.0 µg cm−3. Increasing aerosol concentrations generally enhances the cloud core updraft and maximum updraft, intensifying convections in Cu-TP and Cu-NCP. However, the core updraft is much stronger in Cu-TP than Cu-NCP, because of the early occurrence of the glaciation process in Cu-TP that is triggered at an elevation above 4000 m. The precipitation increases steadily with aerosol concentrations in Cu-NCP, caused by the suppression of the warm rain but occurrence of efficient mix-phased precipitation due to the reduced cloud droplet size. The precipitation in Cu-TP also increases with aerosol concentrations, but the precipitation enhancement is not substantial compared to that in Cu-NCP with high aerosol concentrations. The aerosol-induced intensification of convections in Cu-TP not only facilitates the precipitation but also transports more ice-phase hydrometeors into the upper troposphere to decrease the precipitation efficiency. Considering the very clean atmosphere over the Tibetan Plateau, elevated aerosol concentrations can remarkably enhance convections due to its specific topography, which not only warms the middle troposphere to influence the Asian summer monsoon but also delivers hydrometeors into the upper troposphere to allow more water vapor to travel into the lower stratosphere.
Time-dependent, non-monotonic response of warm convective cloud fields to changes in aerosol loading
Authors: Dagan Guy , Koren Ilan , Altaratz Orit , Heiblum Reuven H.
Published: June 2017

Abstract. Large eddy simulations (LESs) with bin microphysics are used here to study cloud fields' sensitivity to changes in aerosol loading and the time evolution of this response. Similarly to the known response of a single cloud, we show that the mean field properties change in a non-monotonic trend, with an optimum aerosol concentration for which the field reaches its maximal water mass or rain yield. This trend is a result of competition between processes that encourage cloud development versus those that suppress it. However, another layer of complexity is added when considering clouds' impact on the field's thermodynamic properties and how this is dependent on aerosol loading. Under polluted conditions, rain is suppressed and the non-precipitating clouds act to increase atmospheric instability. This results in warming of the lower part of the cloudy layer (in which there is net condensation) and cooling of the upper part (net evaporation). Evaporation at the upper part of the cloudy layer in the polluted simulations raises humidity at these levels and thus amplifies the development of the next generation of clouds (preconditioning effect). On the other hand, under clean conditions, the precipitating clouds drive net warming of the cloudy layer and net cooling of the sub-cloud layer due to rain evaporation. These two effects act to stabilize the atmospheric boundary layer with time (consumption of the instability). The evolution of the field's thermodynamic properties affects the cloud properties in return, as shown by the migration of the optimal aerosol concentration toward higher values.
Regional modelling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons:
WRF/Chem-PAH model development and East Asia case studies
Authors: Mu Qing , Lammel Gerhard , Gencarelli Christian N. , Hedgecock Ian M. , Chen Ying , Přibylová Petra , Teich Monique , Zhang Yuxuan , Zheng Guangjie , van Pinxteren Dominik , Zhang Qiang , Herrmann Hartmut , Shiraiwa Manabu , Spichtinger Peter , Su Hang , Pöschl Ulrich , Cheng Yafang
Published: June 2017

Abstract. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hazardous pollutants, with increasing emissions in pace with economic development in East Asia, but their distribution and fate in the atmosphere have not yet been well understood. We extended the regional atmospheric chemistry model WRF/Chem (Weather Research Forecast model with Chemistry module) to comprehensively study the atmospheric distribution and the fate of low concentrated, slowly degrading semivolatile compounds. The WRF/Chem-PAH model reflects the state-of-the-art understanding of current PAHs studies with several new or updated features. It was applied for PAHs covering a wide range of volatility and hydrophobicity i.e., phenanthrene, chrysene and benzo(a)pyrene, in East Asia. Temporally highly resolved PAH concentrations and particulate mass fractions were evaluated against observations. The WRF/Chem-PAH model is able to reasonably well simulate the concentration levels and particulate mass fractions of PAHs near the sources and at a remote outflow region of East Asia, in high spatial and temporal resolutions. Sensitivity study shows that the heterogeneous reaction with ozone and the homogeneous reaction with the nitrate radical significantly influence the fate and distributions of PAHs. The methods to implement new tracers and to correct the transport problems can be applied to other newly implemented tracers in WRF/Chem.
Error assessment of biogeochemical models by lower bound methods
Authors: Sauerland Volkmar , Löptien Ulrike , Leonhard Claudine , Oschlies Andreas , Srivastav Anand
Published: June 2017

Abstract. Biogeochemical models, capturing the major feedbacks of the pelagic ecosystem of the world ocean, are today often embedded into Earth System models which are increasingly used for decision making regarding climate policies. These models contain poorly constrained parameters (e.g., maximum phytoplankton growth rate) which are typically adjusted until the model shows a reasonable behavior. Systematic approaches determine these parameters by minimizing the misfit between the model and observational data. In most common model approaches, however, the underlying functions mimicking the biogeochemical processes are non-linear and non-convex. Thus, systematic optimization algorithms are likely to get trapped in a local minimum and might lead to non-optimal results. To judge the quality of an obtained parameter estimate, we propose to determine a preferably large lower bound for the global optimum, that is relatively easy to obtain and that will help to assess the quality of an optimum, generated by an optimization algorithm. Due to the unavoidable noise component in all observations, such a lower bound is typically larger than zero. We suggest to derive such lower bounds based on typical properties of biogeochemical models (e.g., a limited number of extremes and a bounded time-derivative). We evaluate this approach with synthetic observations and demonstrate a real-world example, consisting of phytoplankton observations in the Baltic Sea.
Skubios medicinos pagalbos paieškos delsimas susirgus ūminiu miokardo infarktu
Authors: Tamošiūnas Tomas , Ruseckaitė Renata , Laukytė Monika , Bunevičiūtė Ignė
Published: June 2017

Ūminis miokardo infarktas – viena iš pagrindinių mirties priežasčių Lietuvoje. Gydymo sėkmė priklauso nuo to, kaip greitai atkuriama miokardo kraujotaka. Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti, kiek pacientai delsia nuo ūminio miokardo infarkto simptomų atsiradimo iki sprendimo kreiptis medicinos pagalbos, identifikuoti rizikos faktorius, susijusius su delsimu. Atliktas prospektyvinis anketinis tyrimas individualiai apklausiant 100 pacientų, susirgusių ūminiu miokardo infarktu. Galutinėje analizėje dalyvavo 94. Pacientai suskirstyti į dvi grupes pagal laiką, kuris praėjo nuo simptomų atsiradimo iki sprendimo kreiptis medicinos pagalbos: I (N=56) grupė - ≤6 val., II (N=38) grupė - >6 val. Darbo rezultatai: laiko, praėjusio nuo simptomų atsiradimo iki sprendimo kreiptis medicinos pagalbos mediana (25; 75 procentilės) buvo 235 (89; 728) min. Nustatyti šie rizikos veiksniai, kurie lėmė ilgesnę delsimo trukmę: gyvenimas kaime, lyginant su miestu (GS= 3,611; 95% PI=1,311 – 9,955; p=0,044), simptomų pasireiškimas naktį (GS=2,658; 95% PI=0,998 – 7,078; p=0,046), tikėjimas, jog atsiradę simptomai susiję su kita liga (GS=3,64; 95% PI=1,29 – 10,272; p=0,012). Išvados: pacientai, susirgę ūminiu miokardo infarktu, per ilgai nesikreipė medicinos pagalbos; nustatyti šie rizikos veiksniai, lemiantys ilgesnę delsimo trukmę: gyvenimas kaime, simptomų pasireiškimas naktį, tikėjimas, jog simptomai susiję su kita liga. Būtina gerinti visuomenės žinias apie ūminio miokardo infarkto klinikinius simptomus.
MAMŲ SOCIALINĖS-EKONOMINĖS PADĖTIES ĮTAKA JŲ ŽINIOMS
APIE VAIKO BURNOS PRIEŽIŪRĄ
Authors: Janovskienė Audra , Navickaitė Erika , Andruškevičienė Vilija , Zūbienė Jūratė , Saldūnaitė Kristina , Vasiliauskienė Ingrida
Published: June 2017

Tikslas. Ištirti, kiek skirtingą socialinę-ekonominę
padėtį užimančios mamos turi žinių apie vaiko burnos
priežiūrą.
Tyrimo medžiaga ir metodai. Kaune ir Alytuje gyvenančioms
mamoms, vedančioms savo vaikus į 4
skirtingus darželius, buvo pateikta anketa, kurią sudarė
18 klausimų apie jų socialinę-ekonominę padėtį
ir vaikų burnos priežiūrą. Gauti duomenys apdoroti
SPSS 22 programa, skirtumas reikšmingas,
kaip p < 0,05.
Rezultatai. Nustatyta, kad vaikų profilaktinių vizitų
dažnis Kaune (84,3 proc.) yra reikšmingai didesnis
nei Alytuje (67,0 proc., p < 0,05). Kaune profilaktiškai
pas odontologą dažniau vedami vyresnių mamų
vaikai (88,6 proc., p < 0,05), Alytuje – aukštesnio išsilavinimo
mamų vaikai (72,9 proc., p < 0,05). Dauguma
aukštąjį išsilavinimą turinčių mamų mano,
kad vaiką pas odontologą pirmam vizitui reikia vesti
vaikui sulaukus 1 metų. Šios mamos taip pat geriau
žino, kiek sugedusių dantų turi jų vaikas ir sutinka,
kad reikia gydyti ir pieninius dantis. Daugiau
nei pusės mamų ikimokyklinio amžiaus vaikai dantis
valo 2 k. per dieną, tačiau tik 48,4 proc. mamų
Alytuje ir 60,2 proc. Kaune pačios valo dantis savo
vaikams. Didesnes pajamas gaunančios Alytuje gyvenančios
moterys (47,8 proc.) savo vaikams dantis
valo pačios kur kas dažniau, nei tos, kurios gauna
minimalų ar mažesnį mėnesinį atlyginimą (39,3
proc., p < 0,05). Daugiau nei 90 proc. mamų vaikai
tarp valgymų užkandžiauja, tačiau aukštąjį išsilavinimą
turinčios Kauno miesto mamos užkandžių
savo vaikams duoda rečiau (p < 0,05).
Išvados. Mamų žinios apie vaikų burnos priežiūrą
yra nepakankamos, nors didmiestyje gyvenančios,
vyresnės nei 30 metų, aukštąjį išsilavinimą turinčios,
didesnes nei minimalus atlyginimas mėnesines
pajamas gaunančios mamos savo vaikų burnos sveikata
rūpinasi labiau.
INTERNACIONALINIS VARTOTOJAS IR ENERGINIAI GĖRIMAI:
VARTOJIMO PAPLITIMAS IR ŽINIOS APIE POVEIKĮ ORGANIZMUI
Authors: Gružienė Aldona , Malcienė Lina , Kerzienė Sigita , Pečiulytė Greta , Andruškevičius Saulius , Norkaitytė Kristina
Published: June 2017

Šiandien energiniai gėrimai apibūdinami kaip viena
greičiausiai augančių šakų visoje gėrimų industrijoje.
Reklamai nusitaikius į paauglius ir jaunus
žmones, teigiama, kad tokio tipo gėrimai pagerina
bendrą savijautą, dėmesio koncentraciją, budrumą,
aktyvina metabolizmą. Nepaisant minimų teigiamų
savybių, vis dažniau pasitaiko atvejų, siejančių
energetinius gėrimus su neigiamu poveikiu organizmui.
Šio tyrimo tikslas buvo išanalizuoti energinių
gėrimų vartojimo priežastis ir paplitimą tarp studentų,
įvertinti ir palyginti lietuvių ir užsieniečių studentų
žinias apie energinių gėrimų daromą poveikį
organizmui. Tyrimas buvo atliktas Lietuvos sveikatos
mokslų universitete (LSMU). Studentai atrinkti
atsitiktinai. Apklausti LSMU 322 II – III kursų
studentai, kurių amžius 20-22 metų. Buvo anketuojami
tiek lietuviai studentai, tiek užsienio studentai,
kurie yra kilę iš Ispanijos, Norvegijos, Švedijos,
Lenkijos, Izraelio, Libano ir kitų šalių. Atsakomumo
rodiklis 96,4%. Aprašomosios statistikos
pagrindu atliekamas pirminis kiekybinių duomenų
apdorojimas. Statistiškai patikimais laikyti tie atvejai,
kai p < 0,05. Surinktų klausimynų duomenys suvesti
ir apdoroti, naudojant SPSS 11.0 programinį
paketą. Vartojančių energinius gėrimus grupę sudarė
didesnis studentų skaičius (52,8%), nei nevartojančių
(47,2%). Grupės, vartojančios energinius gėrimus,
rezultatai parodė, jog minėti gėrimai labiau
paplitę tarp užsieniečių studentų (61%), lyginant su
lietuviais studentais (49,1%).Taip pat tyrimas parodė,
jog vaikinai energinius gėrimus vartoja dažniau
(54,9%) nei merginos (50,3%). Didžioji dalis
lietuvių ir užsieniečių studentų (72,4%) teigia, jog
dažniausiai vartoja energinius gėrimus studijuodami,
norėdami pagerinti protinę veiklą (p<0,001).
Užsieniečius studentus statistiškai reikšmingai dažniau
vartoti energinius gėrimus paskatino draugai
(29,5%), lyginant su lietuviais studentais (10,1%).
Tyrimas parodė statistiškai reikšmingą skirtumą
tarp Lietuvos ir užsienio šalių studentų žinių apie
energinių gėrimų sukeliamus šalutinius poveikius:
daugiau lietuvių, lyginant su užsieniečiais, žinojo
apie galimas šių gėrimų sukeliamas, nepageidaujamas
reakcijas: hipertenziją, nemigą, perdozavimą.
PIRMĄ KARTĄ NUSTATYTI ANTINKSČIŲ DARINIAI:
2010 IR 2014 METŲ IŠTYRIMO TAKTIKOS PALYGINIMAS
Authors: Ščerbinskaitė Lina , Bradulskytė Aušra , Girdžiūtė Milda , Guntaitė Vilija , Visockienė Žydrūnė
Published: June 2017

Antinksčų dariniai yra gana dažnas radinys, nustatomas
atliekant radiologinius vidaus organų tyrimus.
Siekiant nustatyti darinio aktyvumą, reikalingas
hormoninis ištyrimas. Šio tyrimo tikslas buvo
įvertinti pacientų, kuriems pirmą kartą nustatytas
antinksčių darinys 2010 arba 2014 metais, hormoninio
ištyrimo taktiką. Šiais laikotarpiais nustatyti
383 dariniai, į galutinę analizę atrinkti 195 pacientai.
Dauguma darinių rasti atsitiktinai ir beveik pusė
jų nesukėlė jokių simptomų. Didžiausią pacientų
dalį sudarė moterys, dariniai dažniausiai nustatyti
atliekant kompiuterinės tomografijos (KT) tyrimą,
dauguma jų – kairiajame antinkstyje. Palyginus hormoninių
tyrimų (kortizolio, aldosterono, metanefrino,
normetanefrino, dopamino, adrenalino ir noradrenalino
kraujyje ar šlapime) atlikimo dažnį 2010
ir 2014 metų pacientų grupėse stebėta, kad šie tyrimai
2014 metais buvo atlikti dažniau. Pagerėjus
hormoniniam ištyrimui, 2014 metais nustatyta dvigubai
daugiau aldosteromų, tačiau kitų hormoniškai
aktyvių darinių dažniai nesiskyrė.
“O cão sem plumas” e a ontologia Sartriana
Authors: Mitidieri André Luis
Published: June 2017

A partir de ensaios publicados por Jean-Paul Sartre na década de 1940, analisamos “O cão sem plumas”, de João Cabral de Melo Neto (1950). Buscamos observar se as suas formas e matérias significam ou não a palavra, assinalando-a como representação não-declarada do universo real. A problematização dos limites entre poesia e prosa amplia a construção do universo social ressignificado via literatura. Complexas construções semânticas e figuras de linguagem constitutivas do jogo alusivo cabralino, sobretudo a metáfora, indicam que, ao se valer da escrita figurada, o sujeito poético não se afasta in totum da linguagem empregada de forma transparente ou utilitária.
A mudança de paradigmas para a leitura de narrativas literárias e a perspectiva autopoiética no universo de Mia Couto
Authors: Piazza Gai Eunice T. , Pellanda Nize Campos
Published: June 2017

O texto reflete sobre a necessidade de mudança nos paradigmas utilizados na leitura de textos literários. Preconiza que a literatura é portadora de um conhecimento específico que está associado à constituição de sentido para os seres humanos. Apresenta uma leitura autopoiética do universo de Mia Couto, em conformidade com a proposição mais ampla do texto, que se vale das teorias da complexidade e da hermenêutica como pressupostos de leitura.
O Cónego Januário e a literatura brasileira: a proposta do Parnazo
Authors: Topa Francisco
Published: June 2017

Depois de uma breve apresentação da figura e da obra do Cónego Januário da Cunha Barbosa (1780-1846), o artigo aborda a pioneira coletânea Parnazo Brasileiro, ou Collecção das melhores poezias dos poetas do Brasil, tanto ineditas, como ja impressas (1829-1832), discutindo o conceito de literatura brasileira que lhe está subjacente.
Partial replacement of board-certified specialist-grade physicians with emergency medicine trainees in a busy emergency department: Lack of adverse effect on time to physician
Authors: Pathan Sameer A. , Bhutta Zain A. , Moinudheen Jibin , Jenkins Dominic , Farook Saleem , Qureshi Isma , George Pooja , Irfan Furqan B. , Al Khal Abdul Latif , Thomas Stephen H.
Published: June 2017

Objectives: Standard emergency department (ED) operation goals include minimization of the time interval between patients' initial ED presentation and initial emergency physician (EP) evaluation. Following up on previous work defining factors influencing the “time to physician” (tMD) in a busy ED, the current study was undertaken to evaluate whether tMD was adversely impacted by the ED's partial replacement of specialist-grade EPs with emergency medicine (EM) trainees (at the resident and fellow level). Methods: This retrospective study was conducted for four months (September–December 2015) using an ED administrative database (EDAD) in an urban academic tertiary ED with an annual census of approximately 500,000; during the four study months, the ED census was 165,969. To minimize confounding by time of day and related factors, data analysis focused solely on the “day shift” (0600–1400) of each of the study period's 122 days. EDAD data were combined with EP rostering data to generate a multivariate linear regression model that assessed the dependent variable tMD, for significant changes associated with increasing proportion – not necessarily always the same as increasing the absolute number of trainees (i.e., summed residents and fellows as a total percent of all on-duty EPs). There were trainees in the study ED throughout the study, but the trainee numbers as a proportion of the overall physician staffing fluctuated, thus providing a basis for analysis. The model adjusted for covariates previously demonstrated to impact tMD at the study center. Analyses were conducted with Stata 14MP, with statistical significance defined at p < 0.05 and confidence intervals (CIs) reported at the 95% level. Results: In an acceptable regression model that adjusted for multiple parameters influencing tMD, the introduction of a covariate representing the proportion of on-duty trainee physicians was very small in magnitude (β estimate 0.07, 95% CI − 0.16 to 0.30) and not statistically significant (p = 0.53). Conclusions: A multivariate analysis adjusting for variables contributing to tMD showed no indication of adverse tMD impact from partial replacement of board-certified specialist-grade EPs with EM trainees given adequate supervision by properly trained faculty.
Tasas de retorno de la educación superior en honduras
Authors: Raudales García Nelson Roberto , Ortega Jiménez César H.
Published: June 2017

En el presente artículo se estima estadísticamente las tasas de retorno de la educación en Honduras. Considerando los diversos niveles de la misma, se describe la ecuación de regresión múltiple utilizada para tal fin, sin dejar de considerar otras estimaciones realizadas por otros autores. Los resultados han sido calculados en base a las fuentes de las diversas Encuestas de Hogares de Propósitos Múltiples (EPHPM) realizada por el Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Honduras (INE) para los años respectivos de estudio y análisis. Las bases de datos puestas a disposición, son de fácil uso para tratamiento y manipulación por medio del programa para manejo estadístico SPSS, almacenados en micro datos. Los principales resultados encontrados reflejan hallazgos importantes, a saber: uno de ellos principalmente es el nivel y/o grado de asociación entre la variable educativa para sus diversos niveles y los ingresos monetarios de las personas y, que los resultados de las estimaciones de las tasas de retorno del sistema educativo muestran que las mismas son mayores para el nivel de educación secundaria en comparación con las tasas de educación primaria y el nivel de educación superior. Ello pudiera verse reflejado en los sistemas de cuentas nacionales por ejemplo en las tasas de participación de la población con los niveles académicos mencionados en las diversas actividades económicas en los diversos sectores de la economía, además comparativamente éstos reflejan mayores aportaciones económicas al país, reflejado por medio del Producto Nacional Bruto.
La Investigación Científica y su Vinculación con la Educación Superior en Honduras
Authors: Acevedo Mario R.
Published: June 2017

En un mundo totalmente globalizado, la investigación científica se ha convertido en el estandarte de los países denominados del primer mundo, las cuales basados en la triangulación de la Educación-Empresa Privada-Gobierno, conciben y desarrollan la ciencia e investigación. Los países del primer mundo descansan sus estrategias de crecimiento en la generación del conocimiento en la educación superior, y más aún la generación del conocimiento a partir de los Centros Universitarios Públicos. El gran éxito de esta estrategia radica en la voluntad política y disponibilidad de recursos para invertir en Investigación y Desarrollo (I/D), así como la participación activa de la empresa privada, ente que en los países industrializados estimula en un alto porcentaje el desarrollo de la ciencia, la innovación y la tecnología.Ante un escenario mundial que evoluciona en los ámbitos de la ciencia y la investigación, es necesario conocer la situación actual y su porvenir. De manera más precisa, es necesario conocer sus cimientos, las cuales se originan desde la academia a través de la vinculación de la investigación científica con la educación superior, enfocándonos en la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras como medio trascendental para la ardua tarea de contribuir al desarrollo del país. Es por ello que el análisis de la correlación entre las variables de Educación superior y la investigación brindadas en el artículo dará a conocer la situación actual y contribuirá al afán de alcanzar que el sistema de educación superior de paso a la investigación científica como parte del diseño curricular para el desarrollo de insumos con conocimientos y competencias de clase mundial.
La iniciativa de integración del Plan Puebla Panamá: consideraciones desde la postura del desarrollo regional equilibrado de Mesoamérica.
Authors: Ken Rodríguez Crucita Aurora
Published: June 2017

Las integraciones regionales que la globalización empuja a emprender son asumidas por los países como signo de inserción a la corriente actual del crecimiento. En su afán de ampliar sus áreas de influencia, los países desarrollados promueven, globalmente, las prácticas liberales del comercio y las inversiones en los países menos desarrollados a través de estas integraciones. El Plan Puebla Panamá (PPP) es una de estas iniciativas de integración que ha gozado de aceptación y de promoción de parte de los países desarrollados y de los gobiernos de los países centroamericanos, de México y Columbia.Por consiguiente, este ensayo presenta un análisis de las bases principales del PPP, plantea una crítica desde la óptica del desarrollo regional equilibrado, formula algunas propuestas y finalmente, expone una evaluación sobre la viabilidad de reformular el PPP para convertirlo en un mecanismo de desarrollo regional equilibrado en Mesoamérica.
Carta de presentación 4(2)
Authors: Editorial Consejo
Published: June 2017

El Instituto de Investigaciones Economías y Sociales de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (IIES-UNAH) tiene a bien socializar con la comunidad universitaria (docentes y estudiantes pertenecientes a esta casa de estudios), agrupaciones empresariales y sociedad en general la versión V olumen 4 No. 2, de la Revista Economía y Administración (E y A) para el año 2013. La cual representa un compendio de los análisis científicos que emanan de docentes, pertenecientes a la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Administrativas y Contables, de la UNAH...
Effects of the Credit Boom on the Soundness of Vietnamese Commercial Banks
Authors: Do Hao Thi Kim , Nguyen Nguyet Thi Minh , Le Trung Hai
Published: June 2017

This paper concentrates on examining the impact of the credit boom (2007-2010) on the soundness of the commercial banking system in Vietnam by using qualitative and quantitative methods. The results show that the credit boom in the period 2007-2010 had made Vietnam's banking system face many uncertainties such as difficulties in liquidity, increased non-performing loans... The influence of the credit boom on Vietnam's banking system is assessed on basic aspects such as asset quality, profitability, liquidity, capital adequacy... The quantitative analysis of the impact is made through the regression model using variables that show the characteristic of individual commercial bank and the volatility of the economy. The data is collected from 18 commercial banks in Vietnam in the period from 2005 to 2013, taken from the database BankScope and supplemented by information from the annual financial reports of the banks. Finally, in order to avoid the possibility of credit booms in the future and their effects on bank soundness in Vietnam, some recommendations related to credit growth are proposed for the authorities and the commercial banks.
Smallholder Farmer Innovation and Contexts in Maize-Based Conservation Agriculture Systems in Central Malawi
Authors: Kaluzi Limson , Thierfelder Christian , Hopkins David W.
Published: June 2017

The increased threat of food insecurity and climate change requires more sustainable ways of agriculture intensification in African smallholder farming systems. Ample evidence confirms that maize-based conservation agriculture (CA) systems lead to increased soil health and yield enhancement yet their overall uptake remains low in Africa. An array of studies on challenges and solutions to CA systems conducted in southern Africa principally focussed on the views of scientists, often neglecting the views of CA farmers. Therefore, this study assessed farmer decision making, innovation and contexts during implementation of maize-based CA systems in communities of central Malawi. A survey involving interviews with 226 CA farmers was deployed, triangulated with key informants comprising extension workers and policy makers. The study showed that about 58% of smallholder farmers did not adapt CA practices to their circumstances because they were strictly following change agents’ recommendations. The major challenge noted was competition for crop residues due to mice hunters and grazing livestock. Local by-laws initiated by the communities have started to privatise the crop residues and its grazing. However, other innovations were often not documented by extension workers, consequently neglecting more than half of the potential solutions provided by farmers. The establishments of a National Conservation Agriculture Task Force and CA guidelines are positive developments for coordination of stakeholders and harmonisation of CA messages in Malawi. However, for greater adoption, non-linear interaction and learning must be encouraged in practice by fully embracing innovative farmers and the voices of the pool of stakeholders with varying experiences.
Metabolic activity of tree saps of different origin towards cultured human cells in the light of grade correspondence analysis and multiple regression modeling
Authors: Wnorowski Artur , Bilek Maciej , Stawarczyk Kinga , Gostkowski Michał , Olszewski Marcin , Wójciak-Kosior Magdalena , Sowa Ireneusz
Published: June 2017

Tree saps are nourishing biological media commonly used for beverage and syrup production. Although the nutritional aspect of tree saps is widely acknowledged, the exact relationship between the sap composition, origin, and effect on the metabolic rate of human cells is still elusive. Thus, we collected saps from seven different tree species and conducted composition-activity analysis. Saps from trees of Betulaceae, but not from Salicaceae, Sapindaceae, nor Juglandaceae families, were increasing the metabolic rate of HepG2 cells, as measured using tetrazolium-based assay. Content of glucose, fructose, sucrose, chlorides, nitrates, sulphates, fumarates, malates, and succinates in sap samples varied across different tree species. Grade correspondence analysis clustered trees based on the saps’ chemical footprint indicating its usability in chemotaxonomy. Multiple regression modeling showed that glucose and fumarate present in saps from silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), black alder (Alnus glutinosa Gaertn.), and European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) are positively affecting the metabolic activity of HepG2 cells.