bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visual status and prevalence of eye disorders among school-age children in southern Nigeria
Authors: Ekpenyong Bernadine N. , Naidoo Kovin , Ahaiwe Kelechukwu , Ezenwankwo Onyeka , Ndukwe Onyebuchi , Ogar Emmanuel , Ekanem Ekanem
Published: June 2017

Aim: This study assessed the types and prevalence of eye problems among school-age children in Cross River State (CRS), Nigeria.Method: The study design was a cross-sectional analytic survey of 2418 school children aged 6–17 years from seven public and three private schools in CRS, selected using the multistage random sampling technique. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Committee, CRS Ministry of Health, Nigeria. The following tests were carried out on all children enrolled in the study: researcher-administered semi-structured questionnaires, LogMAR visual acuity measurements, external and internal eye examinations, non-cycloplegic auto-refractions, retinoscopy and subjective refractions. Quality assurance was carried out to validate the data collected, and data were analysed using SPSS and EPI info.Results: A total of 2418 school children were enumerated, and 2110 (87.3%) were examined; 1117 (52.9%) were girls, and 1250 (59.2%) were 6–11 years old, while 860 (40.8%) were 12–17 years old, and 77% attended public schools. The majority, 1895 (89.9%) of the children examined, had never had an eye examination. The prevalence of eye diseases among the school children was 32.1%, and the major causes were conjunctivitis 397 (18.8%; confidence interval [CI] 19.2–13.0), refractive error 243 (11.5%; CI 10.2–13.0), glaucoma suspects 52 (2.5%; CI 1.9–3.2), amblyopia 7 (0.3%; CI 0.0–0.7) and corneal opacity 4 (0.2%; CI 0.1–0.5). Analysis using chi-square tests and logistic regression shows a positive higher association of refractive error in private (16.7%) than public schools (9.9%) (crude odds ratio [COR] 1.8150; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.9129, p < 0.001), higher socio-economic status of parents (COR 2.3402, AOR 1.9819, p < 0.001), older age group (COR 1.7258, AOR 1.8202, p < 0.001) and girls (13.1%) versus boys (9.8%) (COR 0.7200, AOR 0.7144, p < 0.001).Conclusion: Physical and eye health examination of children before school entry is strongly recommended. The application of 2 D lens for children who fail a standard visual acuity test should be routine during vision screening to ensure that significant refractive errors are not missed.
But could they tell right from wrong? Evolution, moral responsibility and human distinctiveness
Authors: Field David N.
Published: June 2017

This article takes as its point of departure the public interest aroused by the discovery of Homo naledi and the debate about the possibility that H. naledi buried their dead. If they buried their dead, did H. naledi have an awareness of moral responsibility? We have no basis in the fossil remains of H. naledi or other hominids for determining when and how the awareness of moral responsibility evolved. The article provides a brief summary of the evidence for the evolution of morality based on research into the behaviour of other primates and then argues that human moral consciousness is qualitatively distinct from this but can still be understood to be the product of evolution. In the final section the article draws on ideas from the theologies of John Wesley and Dietrich Bonhoeffer to provide a theological interpretation of this evolution of moral consciousness.
A proposed best practice model validation framework for banks
Authors: De Jongh Pieter J. , Larney Janette , Mare Eben , Van Vuuren Gary W. , Verster Tanja
Published: June 2017

Background: With the increasing use of complex quantitative models in applications throughout the financial world, model risk has become a major concern. The credit crisis of 2008–2009 provoked added concern about the use of models in finance. Measuring and managing model risk has subsequently come under scrutiny from regulators, supervisors, banks and other financial institutions. Regulatory guidance indicates that meticulous monitoring of all phases of model development and implementation is required to mitigate this risk. Considerable resources must be mobilised for this purpose. The exercise must embrace model development, assembly, implementation, validation and effective governance.Setting: Model validation practices are generally patchy, disparate and sometimes contradictory, and although the Basel Accord and some regulatory authorities have attempted to establish guiding principles, no definite set of global standards exists.Aim: Assessing the available literature for the best validation practices.Methods: This comprehensive literature study provided a background to the complexities of effective model management and focussed on model validation as a component of model risk management.Results: We propose a coherent ‘best practice’ framework for model validation. Scorecard tools are also presented to evaluate if the proposed best practice model validation framework has been adequately assembled and implemented.Conclusion: The proposed best practice model validation framework is designed to assist firms in the construction of an effective, robust and fully compliant model validation programme and comprises three principal elements: model validation governance, policy and process.
Comparative advantage, economic structure and growth: The case of Senegal
Authors: Sejkora Jiri , Sankot Ondrej
Published: June 2017

Background: Using a concept of revealed and latent comparative advantage, this article identifies relatively productive industries and industries with great potential in the slow-growing economy of Senegal. The identification of such industries allows for economic structure adjustment resulting in a higher gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate.Aim: The aim of the study is to identify Senegalese long-term revealed comparative advantages and to estimate Senegalese latent comparative advantages. The analysis is focused solely on manufacturing industries because industrialisation serves as an engine of growth in developing countries.Setting: The analysis is carried out on endowment structure and international trade data (1995–2015) of Senegal and appropriate comparator economies (Tanzania, Cambodia, Lao, Vietnam and Cape Verde).Methods: To identify revealed comparative advantages, we calculate the normalised revealed comparative advantage index. To estimate latent comparative advantages, we employ a growth identification and facilitation framework. The methodology is slightly modified because the estimation is based on long-term revealed comparative advantages comparisons (rather than export shares comparisons).Results: We argue that the relatively productive manufacturing industries (with revealed comparative advantage) include chemicals and manufactured goods classified chiefly by various materials. Furthermore, Senegal may have unexploited potential (i.e. latent comparative advantage) in footwear and particularly in apparel production.Conclusion: In order to accelerate GDP growth rate, Senegal should focus on developing the above mentioned industries to align its economic structure with the comparative advantages and also to promote industrialisation.
Diseño ludológico y realidad aumentada. La experiencia de juego en Pokémon Go! (Niantic, 2016)
Authors: Rodríguez Serrano Aarón , Martín-Núñez Marta , Gil-Soldevila Samuel
Published: June 2017

El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar los procesos narratológicos y ludológicos principales entre los jugadores de Pokémon Go!, el caso más exitoso de realidad aumentada hasta la fecha. Metodología: Para ello, se aplicó una herramienta sociométrica validada por acuerdo inter-jueces a una muestra no probabilística incidental de 332 sujetos. Resultados y conclusiones: Hemos demostrado que no existe correlación entre la experiencia previa narratológica del universo Pokémon con los procesos de juego estrictamente ludoficcionales, sino que la percepción de los jugadores del producto depende más de las mecánicas, reglas y objetivos del propio juego. Esta investigación propone por primera vez un estudio cuantitativo basado en los hábitos de juego de un producto de realidad aumentada y contribuye mediante la propuesta de una herramienta a la medición cuantitativa de percepciones en el proceso ludológico.
La DLL en la universidad pública: una aproximación al estado de la cuestión en la formación inicial de maestros y maestras. Parte II.
Authors: Aguilar Ródenas Consol
Published: June 2017

El debate sobre el estado de la cuestión actual en DLL debe tener en cuenta la realidad del área de cono-cimiento, su vinculación con la formación inicial de maestros y maestras, y su propio concepto de didáctica específica que, necesariamente, debe proyectarse en la investigación y en las prácticas que se generan.

Nuestra finalidad es aportar información sobre dichos aspectos y vincularlos a la situación del profesorado de DLL en la universidad pública española en el curso 2014-2015, con la intención de visibilizar algunos aspectos problemáticos para, desde su conocimiento y debate, poder ofrecer desde la DLL alternativas viables para su resolución y transformación.
Enseñar a aprender gramática: la gradación de los adjetivos desde un enfoque comunicativo
Authors: Cano Vela Ángel Gregorio
Published: June 2017

Este artículo contiene una propuesta de trabajo para el bloque de contenido “Conocimiento de la lengua” en 4º de ESO. Cabe destacar que hay un nuevo enfoque del aprendizaje de la gramática que pretende conseguir el uso de la lengua como herramienta para comunicarse de una manera constructiva en distintos ámbitos. Hay pocas dudas de que la enseñanza del uso correcto de la gramática es vital para evitar prácticas obsoletas e ineficaces desde el punto de vista de la competencia comunicativa que se pretende adquieran los alumnos. En consonancia con esto, para conseguir un enfoque comunicativo orientado a potenciar la competencia lingüística y más concretamente para conseguir la reflexión gramatical, debemos tener en cuenta el uso de una metodología comunicativa para propiciar la interacción de los alumnos y la ejemplificación del adjetivo, en este caso. El objetivo que hay detrás de esto es hacer que reflexionen sobre el uso de esta categoría gramatical. Para ello voy a contrastar lo que dicen los currículos sobre el tema y cómo lo recogen algunos libros de texto.
Determining Success Criteria and Success Factors for International Construction Projects for Malaysian Contractors
Authors: Alashwal Ali Mohammed , Fareed Nurfarhana Farza , Al-obaidi Karam Mustafa
Published: June 2017

The success of international construction projects is fraught with various challenges such as competitiveness, lack of resources, versatile global economy, and specific conditions in the host country. Malaysian contractors have been venturing into global construction market since early 1980s. However, their venturing was not successful all the time. The number of international projects awarded to Malaysian contractors has reduced drastically during the past decade. Taking advantage of this experience, this paper aims to identify the success criteria and success factors of international construction projects. The data was collected from 120 respondents using a questionnaire survey and analysed using principal component analysis and regression analysis. The results revealed three principal criteria of project success namely, Management Success, Functional Success, and Organisation Success. The main components of success factors include Team Power and Skills, Resource Availability, External Environment, Organisation Capability, Project Support, and Project Organisation. Further analysis emphasized the importance of strong financing capacity of contractors, project social environment, and competence of the project manager in achieving project success. The results of this paper can serve as a guideline for contractors and project managers to achieve success in this context. Future studies may provide in-depth analysis of success criteria and success factors specific for construction project type and host-country location.
Reliance on and Reliability of the Engineer’s Estimate in Heavy Civil Projects
Authors: Okere George
Published: June 2017

To the contractor, the engineer’s estimate is the target number to aim for, and the basis for a contractor to evaluate the accuracy of their estimate. To the owner, the engineer’s estimate is the basis for funding, evaluation of bids, and for predicting project costs. As such the engineer’s estimate is the benchmark. This research sought to investigate the reliance on, and the reliability of the engineer’s estimate in heavy civil cost estimate. The research objective was to characterize the engineer’s estimate and allow owners and contractors re-evaluate or affirm their reliance on the engineer’s estimate. A literature review was conducted to understand the reliance on the engineer’s estimate, and secondary data from Washington State Department of Transportation was used to investigate the reliability of the engineer’s estimate. The findings show the need for practitioners to re-evaluate their reliance on the engineer’s estimate. The empirical data showed that, within various contexts, the engineer’s estimate fell outside the expected accuracy range of the low bids or the cost to complete projects. The study recommends direct tracking of costs by project owners while projects are under construction, the use of a second estimate to improve the accuracy of their estimates, and use of the cost estimating practices found in highly reputable construction companies.
The Talloires Network and the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship: Explorations on sustainable and innovative leadership
Authors: Hernandez Cavalcanti Brianda , Ching Monique
Published: June 2017

Higher education does not exist in a vacuum. Institutions of higher learning should serve as vibrant and dynamic anchors to their communities and to society. Civic engagement and community service should be inextricable from research, teaching and learning. The Talloires Network is an international coalition of higher education institutions founded on such a vision. It is because of this vision that the MacJannet Foundation approached the Talloires Network in 2009 to establish the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship. Following in the footsteps of founders Donald and Charlotte MacJannet, the international Foundation is dedicated to providing pathways for individuals and institutions to use their skills for the good of their communities. The MacJannet Prize recognizes exceptional student community engagement initiatives at Talloires Network member universities and contributes financially to their ongoing public service efforts.

This special edition journal of Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement features articles from five first-place MacJannet Prize winners and one second-place winner. The articles offer a glimpse of university civic engagement projects in six countries created to help marginalised and vulnerable communities. They highlight the complexity of civic engagement efforts in different institutional environments and regions of the world and provide insight into the pedagogy and practice of engagement. Further, the articles highlight the many challenges associated with this type of work, not only with scaling up the initiatives but with institutionalising them. Finally, these accounts serve as a reminder of the critical importance higher education institutions have in the success of these initiatives and the dedication of the individuals who lead them.
Power and politics in research design and practice: Opening up space for social equity in interdisciplinary, multi-jurisdictional and community-based research
Authors: Gagnon Valoree , Gorman Hugh , Norman Emma
Published: June 2017

Working collaboratively with communities is commonly considered a cornerstone of good practice in research involving social-ecological concerns. Increasingly, funding agencies also recognise that such collaborations are most productive when community partners have some influence on the design and implementation of the projects that benefit from their participation. However, researchers engaged with this work often struggle to actively engage community members in this way and, in particular, Indigenous peoples. In this article, we argue that useful strategies for facilitating such engagement are to leave space in the research plan for questions of interest to community partners and to encourage equitable interactions between all participants through the use of forums in which power dynamics are intentionally flattened. We demonstrate the use of this technique in an interdisciplinary, multi-jurisdictional research study involving the fate and transport of toxic compounds that lead to fish consumption advisories throughout the world. In this project, the use of participatory forums resulted in community partners in Michigan’s Keweenaw Bay area of Lake Superior shaping a key aspect of the research by raising the simple but significant question: ‘When can we eat the fish?’. Their interest in this question also helped to ensure that they would remain meaningful partners throughout the duration of the project. The conclusion emphasises that further integration of Indigenous and community-based research methods has the potential to significantly enhance the process and value of university-community research engagement in the future.
Uncertain Henry's law constants compromise equilibrium partitioning calculations of atmospheric oxidation products
Authors: Wang Chen , Yuan Tiange , Wood Stephen A. , Goss Kai-Uwe , Li Jingyi , Ying Qi , Wania Frank
Published: June 2017

Abstract. Gas–particle partitioning governs the distribution, removal, and transport of organic compounds in the atmosphere and the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The large variety of atmospheric species and their wide range of properties make predicting this partitioning equilibrium challenging. Here we expand on earlier work and predict gas–organic and gas–aqueous phase partitioning coefficients for 3414 atmospherically relevant molecules using COSMOtherm, SPARC Performs Automated Reasoning in Chemistry (SPARC), and poly-parameter linear free-energy relationships. The Master Chemical Mechanism generated the structures by oxidizing primary emitted volatile organic compounds. Predictions for gas–organic phase partitioning coefficients (KWIOM/G) by different methods are on average within 1 order of magnitude of each other, irrespective of the numbers of functional groups, except for predictions by COSMOtherm and SPARC for compounds with more than three functional groups, which have a slightly higher discrepancy. Discrepancies between predictions of gas–aqueous partitioning (KW/G) are much larger and increase with the number of functional groups in the molecule. In particular, COSMOtherm often predicts much lower KW/G for highly functionalized compounds than the other methods. While the quantum-chemistry-based COSMOtherm accounts for the influence of intra-molecular interactions on conformation, highly functionalized molecules likely fall outside of the applicability domain of the other techniques, which at least in part rely on empirical data for calibration. Further analysis suggests that atmospheric phase distribution calculations are sensitive to the partitioning coefficient estimation method, in particular to the estimated value of KW/G. The large uncertainty in KW/G predictions for highly functionalized organic compounds needs to be resolved to improve the quantitative treatment of SOA formation.
Status update: is smoke on your mind? Using social media to assess smoke exposure
Authors: Ford Bonne , Burke Moira , Lassman William , Pfister Gabriele , Pierce Jeffrey R.
Published: June 2017

Abstract. Exposure to wildland fire smoke is associated with negative effects on human health. However, these effects are poorly quantified. Accurately attributing health endpoints to wildland fire smoke requires determining the locations, concentrations, and durations of smoke events. Most current methods for assessing these smoke events (ground-based measurements, satellite observations, and chemical transport modeling) are limited temporally, spatially, and/or by their level of accuracy. In this work, we explore using daily social media posts from Facebook regarding smoke, haze, and air quality to assess population-level exposure for the summer of 2015 in the western US. We compare this de-identified, aggregated Facebook dataset to several other datasets that are commonly used for estimating exposure, such as satellite observations (MODIS aerosol optical depth and Hazard Mapping System smoke plumes), daily (24 h) average surface particulate matter measurements, and model-simulated (WRF-Chem) surface concentrations. After adding population-weighted spatial smoothing to the Facebook data, this dataset is well correlated (R2 generally above 0.5) with the other methods in smoke-impacted regions. The Facebook dataset is better correlated with surface measurements of PM2. 5 at a majority of monitoring sites (163 of 293 sites) than the satellite observations and our model simulation. We also present an example case for Washington state in 2015, for which we combine this Facebook dataset with MODIS observations and WRF-Chem-simulated PM2. 5 in a regression model. We show that the addition of the Facebook data improves the regression model's ability to predict surface concentrations. This high correlation of the Facebook data with surface monitors and our Washington state example suggests that this social-media-based proxy can be used to estimate smoke exposure in locations without direct ground-based particulate matter measurements.
Observations of bromine monoxide transport in the Arctic sustained on aerosol particles
Authors: Peterson Peter K. , Pöhler Denis , Sihler Holger , Zielcke Johannes , General Stephan , Frieß Udo , Platt Ulrich , Simpson William R. , Nghiem Son V. , Shepson Paul B. , Stirm Brian H. , Dhaniyala Suresh , Wagner Thomas , Caulton Dana R. , Fuentes Jose D. , Pratt Kerri A.
Published: June 2017

Abstract. The return of sunlight in the polar spring leads to the production of reactive halogen species from the surface snowpack, significantly altering the chemical composition of the Arctic near-surface atmosphere and the fate of long-range transported pollutants, including mercury. Recent work has shown the initial production of reactive bromine at the Arctic surface snowpack; however, we have limited knowledge of the vertical extent of this chemistry, as well as the lifetime and possible transport of reactive bromine aloft. Here, we present bromine monoxide (BrO) and aerosol particle measurements obtained during the March 2012 BRomine Ozone Mercury EXperiment (BROMEX) near Utqiaġvik (Barrow), AK. The airborne differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) measurements provided an unprecedented level of spatial resolution, over 2 orders of magnitude greater than satellite observations and with vertical resolution unable to be achieved by satellite methods, for BrO in the Arctic. This novel method provided quantitative identification of a BrO plume, between 500 m and 1 km aloft, moving at the speed of the air mass. Concurrent aerosol particle measurements suggest that this lofted reactive bromine plume was transported and maintained at elevated levels through heterogeneous reactions on colocated supermicron aerosol particles, independent of surface snowpack bromine chemistry. This chemical transport mechanism explains the large spatial extents often observed for reactive bromine chemistry, which impacts atmospheric composition and pollutant fate across the Arctic region, beyond areas of initial snowpack halogen production. The possibility of BrO enhancements disconnected from the surface potentially contributes to sustaining BrO in the free troposphere and must also be considered in the interpretation of satellite BrO column observations, particularly in the context of the rapidly changing Arctic sea ice and snowpack.
Observations of ozone depletion events in a Finnish boreal forest
Authors: Chen Xuemeng , Quéléver Lauriane L. J. , Fung Pak L. , Kesti Jutta , Rissanen Matti P. , Bäck Jaana , Keronen Petri , Junninen Heikki , Petäjä Tuukka , Kerminen Veli-Matti , Kulmala Markku
Published: June 2017

Abstract. We investigated the concentrations and vertical profiles of ozone over a 20-year period (1996–2016) at the SMEAR II station in Southern Finland. Our results showed that the typical daily median ozone concentrations were in the range of 20–50 ppb with clear diurnal and annual patterns. In general, the profile of ozone concentrations illustrated an increase as a function of heights. The main aim of our study was to address the frequency and strength of ozone depletion events at this boreal forest site. We observed more than a thousand of 10-min periods at 4.2 m, with ozone concentrations below 10 ppb, and a few tens of cases with ozone concentrations below 2 ppb. Among these observations, a number of ozone depletion events that lasted for more than 3 hours were identified, and they occurred mainly in autumn and winter months. The low ozone concentrations were likely related to the formation of a low mixing layer under the conditions of low temperatures, low wind speeds, high relative humidities and limited intensity of solar radiation.
Features of 3–7-day planetary-wave-type oscillations in F-layer vertical drift and equatorial spread F observed over two low-latitude stations in China
Authors: Zhu Zhengping , Luo Weihua , Lan Jiaping , Chang Shanshan
Published: June 2017

Abstract. Recent studies on the equatorial atmosphere–ionosphere coupling system have shown that planetary-wave-type oscillations, as an important seeding mechanism for equatorial spread F (ESF), play an important role in ESF irregularity development and its day-to-day variability in the equatorial latitudes. In this study, ionosonde virtual height and ESF measurements over Sanya (18.4° N, 109.6° E; 12.8° N dip latitude) and meteor radar neutral-wind measurements over Fuke (19.5° N, 109.1° E; 14° N dip latitude) during 2013 are used to investigate the features of planetary-wave-type oscillations in both the lower atmosphere and the ionosphere and their possible influences on ESF occurrence under the weak solar maximum year. The ∼ 3-day and ∼ 7-day planetary-wave-type oscillations have been observed in the neutral zonal winds and the time rate of change in F-layer virtual heights. According to the propagation characteristics, the 3-day and 7-day planetary-wave-type oscillations are basically recognized as ultrafast and fast Kelvin waves, respectively. With increasing heights, the 3-day wave oscillations are gradually amplified, while the 7-day wave oscillations are generally constant. By performing a cross-wavelet transform on the onsets of ESF and the vertical drifts of the F layer, we found that there are simultaneously occurring 7-day and 3-day common wave oscillations between them. The 7-day waves are mainly in the inversion phase, while the 3-day waves are mostly in an in-phase state, indicating that the 7-day waves may play a main role in ESF initiation. Approximate delays of 6 days for the 7-day waves and 5 days for the 3-day waves in their propagation upward from the lower atmosphere to the ionosphere are evaluated with wavelet power spectrum analysis. The estimated upward velocities from these time delays provide consistent evidence that the 7-day and 3-day waves propagate vertically upward with typical Kelvin wave characteristics. The results highlight the role of planetary-wave-type oscillations in the initiation and development of ESF in the Chinese low-latitude region.
Processing Scalar Implicatures in Mandarin Chinese: Testing the Processing Models
Authors: Liu Si , Liu Jianan
Published: June 2017

This study first adopted a participant-perception test to assess the processing model of scalar implicature in Chinese. Our main aim is to distinguish among the three possible processing mechanisms: the context-driven account, the default account and the standardized account. We designed two experiments to testify these three models mentioned above: one without any context and the other one with upper and lower contexts. In our Experiment 1, we conducted test items without contexts in child and adult groups, whose aim is to test the necessity of context to scalar implicature and thus clearly discern the three models. We found though without context, both children and adults group processed scalar implicature at a medium rate, which was an evidence to deny the context driven account. However, some adults tended to be confused about the experiment purpose when facing testing items totally without context constraints, and the children participants might get help from other developed linguistic ability in their processing, like the improved numeral ability. Thus it would be clear that the context account is unreliable, but it would still be early to tell whether the results support the default account or the standardization. In Experiment 2, we added the context constraints, the upper bound context and the lower bound context. Our final results, the still processing of utterance with SI in lower bound context and a similar reaction time to the scalar implicature processing in both upper and lower bound contexts denied the default account and showed a closer relation to the standardization account.
The Linguistic Presentation of Speech Acts in Top-Notch Intermediate Textbooks
Authors: Farashaiyan Atieh , Muthusamy Paramasivam
Published: June 2017

The role of textbooks as one of the main sources of language input in addition to the teacher and other learners cannot be ignored in the process of language learning, especially in EFL contexts since learners mostly rely on textbooks for second language learning. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the evaluation of the textbooks to meet the needs of both teachers and learners.  As such, the purpose of this research is to analyze and evaluate the pragmatic information of Top-Notch Intermediate textbooks which are used in most EFL institutes in Iran.  Specifically, the article investigates the linguistic presentation of speech acts in the textbooks and the provision of sufficient contextual and meta-pragmatic information for the facilitation of learning the speech acts. The results indicated that there are three typical ways of presenting speech acts in the textbooks 1) using dialogues in conversation models, 2) using lists of expressions, and 3) using dialogues as well as the grammar section. In addition, there is inadequate contextual and meta-pragmatic information in terms of the speech acts included in the textbooks. The article also has some implications for teachers, materials writers and textbook designers in terms of the pragmatic aspect of the target language.
Good mid-term clinical results of a cemented dual mobility cup: a single-centre experience
Authors: Kavčič Gregor , Mirt Pika , Bedenčič Klemen
Published: June 2017

Introduction and methods:

From January 2004 to December 2008, 188 total hip arthroplasties were performed using a cemented dual mobility cup. 174 patients were available for final analysis. Their mean age was 76.8 (range 54-98 years). The mean follow-up was 7.7 years (range 5-10 years).

Results:

There were no dislocations. Survivorship rates of the femoral and acetabular components were 100% at a minimum of 5 years. At the latest follow-up, the mean Harris Hip Score significantly increased from 31.6 (only arthritic patients) points preoperatively to 84.5 points. No patients had progressive osteolysis, component migration, or loosening on radiographs. 2 patients presented with periprosthetic fractures treated conservatively. 2 patients presented with infection treated without implant removal and 1 patient presented with transient femoral palsy.

Conclusions:

The results of this consecutive series confirmed the good performance of the cemented dual mobility cup at mean 7.7 years follow-up with no revision and no dislocations.
Celebración del tricentenario del discurso del método de descartes. Homenaje de la Universidad de El Salvador, 1937. (Primera parte)
Authors: Mejía Burgos Otto
Published: June 2017

En el presente artículo se trata de hacer una aproximación a las primeras seis conferencias cartesianas desarrolladas por distintos intelectuales en el recinto de la Universidad de El Salvador, las cuales tuvieron lugar del 13 de septiembre al 18 de octubre de 1937. La rectoría, para el éxito de las mismas, hizo invitación a reconocidos intelectuales, académicos, literatos y periodistas, sin distinción de credos o de escuelas de pensamiento a fin de explorar la obra del llamado “Padre de la Modernidad” en sus distintas facetas: filosófica, científica y cultural. En ese momento se tenía la idea de que el estudio de la filosofía era necesario tanto para la consolidación de una democracia en formación como para el mejoramiento intelectual y moral del pueblo. Se debe aclarar que muchos de los puntos tratados en las conferencias, en ocasiones, son armónicos y, en ocasiones, se vuelven contradictorios producto de los diferentes matices con los que fueron tratados por los participantes.Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No. 143-144, 2015: 21-35
Contrastación teórica y empírica de la teoría neoclásica y la teoría marxiana sobre la relación entre el trabajo cualificado, la productividad y el salario
Authors: Bukele Ortez Yusef Ali , Marroquín Rivas César Enrique , Méndez Funes Juan Carlos , Rodríguez Herrera Edgar Romeo
Published: June 2017

Debido a las deficiencias actuales en el estudio de la relación entre el trabajo cualificado, la productividad y el salario, se creyó necesario estudiar estas variables bajo dos teorías diferentes, la neoclásica y la marxiana. Se analizaron estas variables mediante la creación de modelos estadísticos y series de tiempo con el programa Stata. Los resultados reflejaron que una distribución más equitativa del ingreso generaría una mejora significativa y comprobable en el desarrollo económico de los dos países estudiados (El Salvador y Estados Unidos); por lo tanto, se recomienda una mayor intervención estatal en la regulación de la renta. También se comprobó estadísticamente que, entre las dos teorías, la teoría marxiana tiene un mayor nivel explicativo de estas variables y sus relaciones; por lo que sugerimos que en estudios posteriores se utilice un enfoque basado en esta teoría.Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No. 143-144, 2015:
Líneas y modelos de investigación en el actual contexto histórico de El Salvador y Centroamérica
Authors: Samour Héctor
Published: June 2017

No hay resúmenes disponiblesRealidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No.143-144, 2015: 159-164
Resúmenes de los proyectos del Fondo de Investigación, UCA 2012-2013
Authors: Editor El
Published: June 2017

No hay resúmenes disponibles.Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No.143-144, 2015: 165-176
Los concursos de arte escolar: Una modalidad ideológica de libre mercado
Authors: Flores Hernández Julio
Published: June 2017

Es un hecho comprobado que los concursos son un mecanismo de reproducción social de las especies artísticas que como producciones simbólicas se insertan en las sociedades modernas. Los concursos reproducen la expresión artística, pero devienen como mecanismos de reproducción ideológica de libre mercado dentro de los circuitos del arte impartido a nivel escolar. El problema surge cuando estos concursos son patrocinados por empresas de capital nacional o transnacional, y bajo patrocinios financieros que buscan insertarse en el mercado de los jóvenes consumidores dentro de las escuelas, es donde cabe preguntarse si, ¿Es legítimo que los sistemas educativos permitan tal cosa, teniendo como fin principal la exploración de la expresión artística bajo premisas de mercado acordadas por las empresas privadas, con apego a la promoción de marcas y a otros dispositivos de hegemonía cultural con fines económicos? La observación de tres concursos escolares en Guatemala y su proceso de realización entre estudiantes de educación media bajo la categoría de industrias culturales incrustadas en los aparatos ideológicos del Estado, intenta dar cuenta de los mecanismos utilizados para la reproducción de un imaginario de éxito bajo premisas económicas de libre mercado, en detrimento de la función expresiva y comunicativa del arte.Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No.145-146, 2015: 89-98
La inactualidad del comunismo: la herencia (Lenin) y la promesa (Gramsci) en la obra de Roque Dalton
Authors: Pérez Yansi
Published: June 2017

Las dos figuras a partir de las cuales me acerco a la obra de Roque Dalton y a esa promesa de emancipación radical que fue el comunismo, serán la herencia y la promesa de felicidad que es todo futuro utópico. Ambas problemáticas serán leídas desde una perspectiva poética. Estos principios serán personalizados a través de dos grandes figuras: Vladimir Lenin y Antonio Gramsci. El gran tema del libro sobre Lenin que escribió Dalton es el problema de la herencia. El futuro lo vincularé a Gramsci debido a la importancia que ha adquirido su figura de la mano de pensadores como Ernesto Laclau y Chantal Mouffe en movimientos populares en Europa tanto como en América Latina. Los dos problemas, el de la herencia y el del futuro, están estrechamente vinculados entre sí. Ambos problemas, además, los interpretaré desde la noción que a los mismos les impone el lenguaje de Dalton, por lo que no usaré el pensamiento de Lenin y Gramsci para interpretar la obra de Dalton. Leeré la poesía de Dalton para interpelar a estas figuras y ver la validez que puedan tener para nuestra historia actual.Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No.145-146, 2015: 111-138
Discurso en el 50 Aniversario de la UCA
Authors: Mayorga Quiroz Román
Published: June 2017

No hay resúmenes disponibles.Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No.145-146, 2015: 145-165
Economic Assessment of Technology Adoption in Oil Palm Plantations from Colombia
Authors: Mosquera-Montoya Mauricio , Ruiz-Alvarez Elizabeth , Mesa-Fuquen Eloina
Published: June 2017

Adopting technology regarding agricultural crops has traditionally been associated with high costs. Producers have thus often abstained from adopting better agronomical practices and have consequently lost the benefits they could otherwise have obtained by implementing better criteria for managing their crops.This research builds on results by Ruiz et al., (2017) who found three typologies of oil palm lots, regarding adoption of technology and yields on oil palm crops from Colombia. This work was aimed at evaluating the typologies found by Ruiz et al. (2017) from an economic standpoint by using different economic assessment methods, in order to determine the benefits of technology adoption at the Colombian oil palm agroindustry. The methods used were aimed at estimating: unit cost, net present value (NPV), net income, land use efficiency, generation of income and competitiveness.Results indicate that the cost of producing a ton of fresh fruit bunches from oil palms (FFB) on lots having high adoption of technology was 2.5% to 8% lower when compared to lots having lower adoption of technology (Typologies 2 and 3. respectively). Technology adoption enables greater yearly net income to be obtained in mature oil palm crops in typology 1, than the one obtained at typology 2 and typology 3. The adoption of technology allows the grower to obtain net income equivalent to a legally-established yearly minimum wage (LEYMW), using less land. Finally, it was concluded that at average CPO prices for the period 2005-2015, the Colombian growers that participated in this study, may be competitive at the European market, which is the main destination of Colombian exports of crude palm oil (CPO).
Study on the Method of Generating Paper Pattern by Clothing Fit Customization
Authors: Liu Weimin , Xie Hong , Song Yanan
Published: June 2017

At present, people's demand for clothing fit is getting higher and higher. How to quickly and accurately generate clothing in line with the customer has always been the focus of the study. This paper mainly introduces the present technology of customizing the pattern generation of garment fit. Mainly including: based on the traditional push plate technology to modify the template; clothing pattern generation technology based on Artificial Intelligence; 3D digital clothing directly unfolds into a clothing pattern technology and parametric plate technology.
The Mass Spectra Analysis for α-Ionone and β-Ionone
Authors: Walwil Abdalla Mustafa
Published: June 2017

The presented work of this paper will be the first of a series of MS spectral analysis for some selected well-known compounds. In here the target molecules to have their MS spectra analyzed are α-Ionone and β-Ionone. The analysis will be in detail and show the mechanism of how the major fragments are formed in the mass spectrophotometer; hence, this paper is for educational purposes that could serve both students and instructors.
Consensus rank orderings of molecular fingerprints illustrate the most genuine similarities between marketed drugs and small endogenous human metabolites, but highlight exogenous natural products as the most important ‘natural’ drug transporter substrates
Authors: O'Hagan Steve , Kell Douglas Bruce
Published: June 2017

We compare several molecular fingerprint encodings for marketed, small molecule drugs, and assess how their rank order varies with the fingerprint in terms of the Tanimoto similarity to the most similar endogenous human metabolite as taken from Recon2. For the great majority of drugs, the rank order varies very greatly depending on the encoding used, and also somewhat when the Tanimoto similarity (TS) is replaced by the Tversky similarity. However, for a subset of such drugs, amounting to some 10 % of the set and a Tanimoto similarity of ~0.8 or greater, the similarity coefficient is relatively robust to the encoding used. This leads to a metric that, while arbitrary, suggests that a Tanimoto similarity of 0.75-0.8 or greater genuinely does imply a considerable structural similarity of two molecules in the drug-endogenite space. Although comparatively few (<10 % of) marketed drugs are, in this sense, robustly similar to an endogenite, there is often at least one encoding with which they are genuinely similar (e.g. TS > 0.75). This is referred to as the Take Your Pick Improved Cheminformatic Analytical Likeness or TYPICAL encoding, and on this basis some 66 % of drugs are within a TS of 0.75 to an endogenite.

We next explicitly recognise that natural evolution will have selected for the ability to transport dietary substances, including plant, animal and microbial ‘secondary’ metabolites, that are of benefit to the host. These should also be explored in terms of their closeness to marketed drugs. We thus compared the TS of marketed drugs with the contents of various databases of natural products. When this is done, we find that some 80 % of marketed drugs are within a TS of 0.7 to a natural product, even using just the MACCS encoding. For patterned and TYPICAL encodings, 80 % and 98 % of drugs are within a TS of 0.8 to (an endogenite or) an exogenous natural product. This implies strongly that it is these exogeneous (dietary and medicinal) natural products that are more to be seen as the ‘natural’ substrates of drug transporters (as is recognised, for instance, for the solute carrier SLC22A4 and ergothioneine). This novel analysis casts an entirely different light on the kinds of natural molecules that are to be seen as most like marketed drugs, and hence potential transporter substrates, and further suggests that a renewed exploitation of natural products as drug scaffolds would be amply rewarded.
Uric acid transporter inhibitors for gout
Authors: Tan Philip K. , Miner Jeffrey N.
Published: June 2017

Gout is a common inflammatory arthritis that is caused by chronically-elevated serum uric acid (sUA) levels (hyperuricemia). In humans, sUA levels are predominantly controlled by a variety of transporters that mediate the elimination of uric acid through the kidneys and intestines, a process that is altered in most gout patients. In this review, we highlight our current understanding of uric acid handling in healthy individuals and gout patients, therapies for gout that target uric acid transporters, and the mechanism of other therapies that alter sUA levels through interactions with uric acid transporters.
Cellular energy status is indispensable for perillyl alcohol mediated abrogated membrane transport in Candida albicans
Authors: Ansari Moiz A. , Fatima Zeeshan , Hameed Saif
Published: June 2017

The prevalence of fungal infections and their resistance patterns in fungal isolates from large number of patients with impaired immunity still remains poorly monitored. In spite of significant advances being made in the improvement of antifungal drugs, only a limited number of antifungal drugs are currently available. The present study aimed to gain further mechanistic insights into the previously described anticandidal activity of natural monoterpenoid, perillyl alcohol (PA). We found that cellular transport across cell membrane was abrogated in presence of PA. This was demonstrated by dose and time dependent enhanced cellular leakage accompanied by inhibited sodium and potassium cellular transport. In addition, we found disrupted pH homeostasis which was depicted by enhanced extracellular pH. We further observed that mitochondrial energy status is highly integrated with the antifungal activity of PA. This was evident from inhibited propidium iodide (PI) uptake in presence of sodium azide and di-nitro phenol (DNP) which showed no fluorescence when treated with PA. Moreover, we observed that PA leads to disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential. Additional cell death hallmarks in response to PA such as nuclear fragmentation was also observed with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. Taken together, PA is a novel candidate that deserves further attention to be exploited as effective antifungal agent of pharmacological interest.
Desarrollo e implementación de un modelo de auditoría médica basado en el aseguramiento de la calidad y la supervisión participativa en Ecuador
Authors: Torres Toala Fausto Gady
Published: June 2017

Objetivos: Este estudio es una descripción del desarrollo de una estrategia de Auditoría Médica basada en el Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la prestación utilizando herramientas de supervisión participativa en un intento de generar cooperación entre el auditor y el auditado en servicios de salud del primer nivel de atención del Ministerio de Salud Pública de Ecuador. Métodos: Se desarrolló y se implementó una metodología la cual se probó en el terreno, basados en una descripción de los resultados (corte transversal). Resultados: Al inicio del proceso, las puntuaciones de pertinencia clínica, de manera global, no superaban el 45% y respecto al riesgo legal no superan el 65%. Progresivamente se observa un aumento de la puntuación, adicionalmente se obtuvieron resultados propios de la percepción de este proceso por parte de los auditados, teniendo resistencia en menos del 5% de los casos, quizás debido al carácter participativo del proceso. Conclusión: El proceso de auditoría Médica es indispensable para la identificación de problemas, pero también es necesario que sea un proceso activo con intervención y resolución de los mismos. Auditoría Médica identifica problemas ocultos para los tomadores de decisiones y disminuye la resistencia en la inclusión de estrategias de mejoramiento de la calidad.