bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Naming Crime Suspects in the News
Authors: Blom Robin
Published: January 2017

Whereas some news outlets fully identify crime suspects with name, age, address, and other personal details, other news outlets refuse to fully identify any crime suspect—or even people who have been convicted for a crime. News media from a variety of countries have accused and fully identified people of being responsible for crimes, although those persons turned out to be innocent. Yet, when someone types the names of those people in online search engines, for many, stories containing the accusations will turn up at the top of the search results. This chapter examines the positive and negative aspects from those practices by examining journalistic routines in a variety of countries, such as the United States, Nigeria, and The Netherlands. This analysis demonstrates that important ethical imperatives—often represented in ethics codes of professional journalism organizations—can be contradictory in these decision-making processes. Journalists need to weigh whether they would like to “seek truth and report it” or “minimize harm” when describing crime suspects.
Adapting Problem-Based Learning to Database Courses in the Digital Age
Authors: Fee Samuel B. , Lombardi Thomas E.
Published: January 2017

Over the course of the last two decades, the United States government has pursued a program of democratizing data. Public services have been transformed into data-driven enterprises. This enthusiasm for data collection, analysis and public reporting has important consequences for computing education. This chapter outlines a pedagogical strategy for educating citizens in the competent and responsible use of the data currently defining our national agenda. Specifically the authors argue that problem-based learning (PBL) provides a strong framework for introducing database concepts to a broad range of students. The design of databases constitutes complex problems with multiple solutions. Database problems are necessarily interdisciplinary involving both problem domain and technical expertise. Moreover, since databases support some real-world objective, problems in database design are inherently authentic and contextualized. These properties hold consistently across a range of problem types. Thus, common problems in the database domain are aligned with PBL definitions of good problems.
Technologies of Resistance
Authors: David Ann D. , Consalvo Annamary L.
Published: January 2017

A key paradox of education in the 21st century is the simultaneous focus on standards, accountability, and assessments, alongside the call for schools to prepare students for the ever-changing digital world. Educational technology is often touted as the solution to all the problems that supposedly plague education. Teachers, though, often resist educational technologies for good reason, but resistance can lead to student not having opportunities to engage in 21st century literacies. The authors propose that teachers can tap into material technologies—like sticky notes, chart paper, markers, scissors, and tape—and frame those multimodal compositions as 21st century thinking. The chapter offers extensive examples of material, multimodal student compositions, and descriptions of the instructional practices that supported their creation, all from middle and high school classrooms that were under heavy pressure to teach toward success on the state standardized test. The examples are organized around the concepts of self-representation, academic literacies, and artistic expression.
Living the YOLO Lifestyle
Authors: Beach Crystal L. , Dredger Katie S.
Published: January 2017

In this chapter, the authors discuss what it means for students to create, remix, and disseminate memes today—especially considering the connectivity and participatory nature of youth culture. The authors then discuss the importance of a critical media literacy pedagogy. Next, the authors investigate and rhetorically analyze some current memes. The authors also analyze the digital affordances of tools, the ways that messages are privileged and silenced, visual rhetoric, and remix. Finally, the authors explore further implications for educators to consider when using memes in the classroom.
Social Innovation Practices in Services for Sustainable Consumption
Authors: Atrek Banu , İlter Burcu
Published: January 2017

Overconsumption is fueled by the idea that the more people buy, the happier they become; however, this is not compatible with sustainability and the future of the planet. Deep concerns about the sustainability of nature and natural resources give rise to discussions of sustainable consumption, and social innovation applications may lead the way to sustainable consumption. Thus, this chapter aims to provide a picture of social innovation practices in services for sustainable consumption in an emerging economy. Although the chapter focuses mainly on contemporary social innovations, an overview of the social innovation concept and possible historical roots of social innovations from Turkish history are also provided.
Issues in Service Marketing in Emerging Economies
Authors: Ali Mahmood , Upadhyay Arvind , Kumar Vikas
Published: January 2017

Globalisation and the resulting increase in competition have forced organisations to seek unique ways to gain a competitive advantage over their competition. One of the strategies successfully adopted is transforming/extending operations into service industry by the manufacturing organisation. This servitisation as packages or ‘bundle' of customer focused combination of goods, services, support, self-service and knowledge adds value to core product offering. The focus of service sector marketing is supported by the fact that regarding world gross domestic product (GDP), the share of services increased from 59% in 1985 to 71% in 2011, underlying the major shift in paradigm. In manufacturing industry, this shift, termed as servitisation, has enabled organisations to achieve better profits and financial stability and has also offered them the opportunity to understand their customers better.
Technology-Enabled Experiential Marketing
Authors: Haenel Thorben , Loibl Wilhelm , Wang Hui
Published: January 2017

In recent years, there has been an increased interest from both academia and practitioners in the topic of customer experience. Companies nowadays are transforming their attention and endeavour to focus on memorable or customer experiences rather than premium prices or superior quality of products and services. Importantly, the value generated by unique customer experiences has a significant impact upon business performance in terms of customer commitment and customer loyalty. Along with the rapid and continuous development of ICT, the travel experience is no longer limited to services encounters on-site but is extended and dynamically created in both physical and virtual experience spaces. With the continuous proliferation of smart technology, travel industry has seen a radical transformation from product and service orientation to a customer-experience driven approach.
Tackling Police Brutality through Non-Violent Strategies in South Africa
Authors: Mkhize Mbekezeli Comfort , Madumi Phathutshedzo P.
Published: January 2017

The chapter examines the non-violent strategies that could be used to tackle police brutality. While the existing literature has focused on why police brutality is taking place, the primary objective of this chapter is to bridge the knowledge-gap with reference to non-violent strategies using three levels (strategic, tactical and operational). The chapter reviews current scholarly arguments. Two theoretical perspectives were employed to dissect variables of police brutality. The chapter argues that although non-violent strategies may appear to be effective in theory, they seem to be ineffectual in practice owing to implementation challenges. The failure of non-violent strategies is attributed to a disjuncture between policy objectives and implementation. The chapter concludes that lack of resources, lack of police transformation and lack of police accountability remain the key hindrances in the fight against police brutality. The chapter also recommends that partnerships need to be strengthened among oversight bodies and regulatory frameworks.
Nonviolent Teaching
Authors: Taukeni Simon George , Taole Matshidiso J.
Published: January 2017

Students need to feel safe and secure in school so that they can perform to their full potential. Therefore, a safe school is an essential element in any learner's progress and functioning. To achieve student healthy development and their capacity to learn, peaceful circumstances must be ensured in the education environment. Thus, violence prevention and nonviolent teaching strategies have become essential focus areas for ongoing research. This chapter focuses on nonviolent teaching techniques that could be used in schools to ensure a positive school climate. The objective is to expand and deepen existing theory on multicultural nonviolent teaching techniques in schools, institutions of high learning, and centers of teacher development and training, in order to better understand nonviolence concepts, related techniques and their applications to achieve desired peaceful outcomes. The chapter further highlights potential forms of school violence, effects on the students and suggests techniques of dealing with the violence.
The Teaching of Non-Violence in Italian Schools
Authors: Casale Nicoletta , Cerchia Alessia , Dal Pubel Luca
Published: January 2017

Phenomena of conflicts among students may lead to critical situations, like isolation, violence and school dropout, especially if poorly managed. In Italy, a group of professionals, lawyers and mediators, has developed a training program called School of Mediation, Mediation for School (SMS) to provide students with more adequate and modern tools to manage their relationships with peers and adults. The SMS project originates from the belief that what determines the most crisis situations are not discriminations or conflicts themselves, but rather the way we deal with them. During the training program professionals have resorted to mediation tools and aikido, a Japanese martial art, to engage students both intellectually and physically. The project, to date, has involved more than 200 students with important results.
Saving Civilization
Authors: Overly David
Published: January 2017

This is a case study of the first time Humanities 123 Saving Civilization - Strategies for Peace was taught at Citrus Community College in Glendora, California in the spring semester of 2016. It is the cornerstone course of a new peace studies program at Citrus College, the third such program at a California community college. The course is an introduction to peace and conflict studies, with an emphasis on war's destructive impact on culture. The course examines the systematic approaches that combatants have historically used to obliterate the cultural heritage of their battlefield opponents. It encourages tolerance and respect for different perspectives, as well as hope for peaceful conflict resolution. The chapter reviews the course content, as well as student reactions to the material. Overall, the students found the course to be rewarding and were surprised at how interesting peace studies can be.
Engineering Teams
Authors: Loy Jennifer , Howell Simon , Cooper Rae
Published: January 2017

Engineering education increasingly involves working in groups. This is partly because of a growing value placed on graduate attributes relating to effective team working, and partly a response to the practicalities of working with large groups in an educational environment and the emphasis on peer learning. This chapter argues that a superficial approach to understanding the drivers for establishing and managing groups during first year activities can have negative outcomes, including re-enforcing majority dominance. This will potentially contribute to attrition amongst minority students and undermine the outcomes for the engineering cohort as a whole. This chapter provides strategies for building groups in the first year focussing on team building, valuing diversity and cultural awareness. It emphasises the importance of transferable skills for students and of understanding themselves, their heritage, attitudes and values and their contribution to a team, building an approach to support diversity in teams throughout the engineering degree program.
Diversifying Engineering Education
Authors: Steuer Linda , Bouffier Anna , Gaedicke Sonja , Leicht-Scholten Carmen
Published: January 2017

Engineers and therefore engineering education are challenged by the increasing complexity of questions to be answered globally. The education of future engineers therefore has to answer with curriculums that build up relevant skills. This chapter will give an example how to bring engineering and social responsibility successful together to build engineers of tomorrow. Through the integration of gender and diversity perspectives, engineering research and teaching is expanded with new perspectives and contents providing an important potential for innovation. Aiming on the enhancement of engineering education with distinctive competencies beyond technical expertise, the teaching approach introduced in the chapter represents key factors to ensure that coming generations of engineers will be able to meet the requirements and challenges a changing globalized world holds for them. The chapter will describe how this approach successfully has been implemented in the curriculum in engineering of a leading technical university in Germany.
Engineering Pathways in a U.S. Public Institution of Higher Education
Authors: Ehlers-Zavala Fabiola , Maciejewski Anthony
Published: January 2017

This chapter relates a strategy that emerged from a larger effort of a land-grant institution in the U.S. to more rapidly increase the number of international students on campus and diversify its student body through the development and implementation of pathway programs. Pathway students are international students that do not meet the criteria for direct entry into a university due to lower levels of English language proficiency and/or GPA. The authors discuss strategies for ensuring success in these endeavors.
A Computational Perspective of Knowledge Empowerment for Healthcare Decision Making
Authors: Carney Timothy Jay
Published: January 2017

People in a variety of settings can be heard uttering the phrase that “knowledge is power” or the relatively equivalent concept that “information is power.” However, the research literature in particular lacks a simple and standardized way to examine the relationship between knowledge and power. There is a lack operational quantitative definitions of this relationship to adequately support the building of complex computational models used in addressing some longstanding public health and healthcare delivery issues like differential access to care, inequitable care and treatment, institutional bias, disparities in health outcomes, and eliminating barriers to patient-centered care. The objective of this discussion is to present a relational algorithm that can be used in both conceptual discussions on knowledge empowerment modeling, as well as in the building of computational models that want to explore the variable of knowledge empowerment within computer simulation experiments.
Visualization of Brain Activation During Attention-Demanding Tasks Using Cognitive Signal Processing
Authors: Subramanian Muthumeenakshi , Geethanjali B. , Seshadri N.P. Guhan , Venkat Bhavana , Vijayalakshmi R.
Published: January 2017

Attention is the primary cognitive process to induce a response to a stimulus. The present study aims at evaluating the activation of different brain regions while performing an attention requiring task. The analysis is achieved with the help of electroencephalography (EEG) recorded simultaneously during the entire period of execution of task. The relative theta and gamma power were significantly higher (p=0.05) during task when compared to rest, whereas in alpha band the relative power was significantly higher (p=0.05) during rest when compared to task. Event related synchronization (ERS) and Event Related Desynchronization (ERD) in relative theta power and relative alpha power respectively was observed particularly in the parietal electrodes (associated with attention). Theta synchronisation and alpha desynchronization is associated with good performance further supported by the task performance with minimal errors. These event-related changes helped sustain attention and visualization of the activated brain regions was accomplished for a better depiction of the findings.
Towards a Collaborative Disaster Management Service Framework using Mobile and Web Applications
Authors: Banerjee Ananya , Basak Jayanta , Roy Siuli , Bandyopadhyay Somprakash
Published: January 2017

Getting the right information at the right time and place is the key for efficient disaster management. Various mobile and web applications are now being used for collecting situational information in digital form, assessing damage, coordinating relief operations and offering different location based services to the affected communities during disaster management. This article provides a thorough investigation on popular web-based and mobile applications currently being used in different countries. Subsequently, the taxonomy of essential services needed for systematic and coordinated disaster management is formulated based on literature review and the authors' interaction with different stakeholders. An outline of a collaborative disaster management service framework is then proposed with the facility of interaction for the stakeholders through their mobile phones to avail the services in different phases of a disaster. A basic version of this framework is implemented to evaluate its effectiveness as a provider of significant actionable information to offer responsive services
Arthrocladium fulminans Arthritis and Osteomyelitis
Authors: Diallo Abdoulahy , Michaud Céline , Tabibou Souandou , Raz Maxime , Fernandez Carla , Lepidi Hubert , Fournier Pierre-Edouard , Stein Andreas , Ranque Stéphane , Seng Piseth
Published: January 2017

Arthrocladium fulminans is the only species in the Arthrocladium genus that has been involved in a previous human infection. To date, only one case of A. fulminans infection in a patient with GATA-2 immunodeficiency has been reported. We here report the second human case and the first case of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis due to A. fulminans in an immunocompetent patient, living in Mayotte, a French island in western Indian Ocean. He was successfully treated with surgical debridement and 6 months of antifungal treatment. This second observation of human invasive disease caused by A. fulminans is an additional argument for the pathogenicity of this rare species.
Management of Advanced Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis: Report of 42 Cases
Authors: Qu Bo , Guo Long , Sheng Guannan , Yu Fei , Chen Guannan , Wang Yupeng , Shi Yuan , Zhan Hanxiang , Yang Yi , Du Xiaoyan
Published: January 2017

Radical resection is the first choice for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE). However, many patients with advanced HAE have no chance to be treated with curative resection owing to the long clinical latency. This study aimed to evaluate the necessity of aggressive operations, like palliative resection and orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), in the management of advanced HAE. A retrospective study analyzed 42 patients with advanced HAE treated with palliative resection (N = 15), palliative nonresective procedures (N = 13), OLT (N = 3), or albendazole therapy alone (N = 11). The patients' condition before treatments was comparable among all the four groups. The overall 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates of the 42 cases were 81.0%, 45.2%, and 23.8%, respectively. No event occurred to end the follow-up during the 5-year observation period except death. The survival time (median ± standard error) of the palliative resection group (3.6 ± 1.4 years) was longer than that of the palliative nonresective procedures group (1.5 ± 0.2) and the albendazole therapy-alone group (1.0 ± 0.4). The 5-year survival rates after palliative resection and liver transplantation were 40.0% and 66.7%, compared with only 7.7% and 9.1% after palliative nonresective procedures or albendazole therapy alone. Therefore, we concluded that aggressive treatment with a multimodality strategy could contribute to prolonged survival in patients with advanced HAE. Moreover, the prognosis of the patients who received albendazole therapy alone or palliative nonresective procedures is poor.
Comparative Study of the Restoration Quality in Cavities prepared with Er:YAG Laser in Quantum Square Pulse Mode and Conventional Method
Authors: Kallis Antonis , Tolidis Kosmas , Gerasimou Paris , Gutknecht Nor , Koliniotou-Koumpia Eugenia
Published: January 2017

Nowadays, dental treatment has been enriched by the use of lasers. The introduction of the novel treatment parameter of quantum square pulse (QSP) constitutes an additional challenge to older techniques, promising minimally invasive treatments. The aim of this study is to comparatively investigate the quality of cavity preparations using erbium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser with QSP technology as opposed to the conventional bur. The Er:YAG laser (2940 nm) has been used at 120 mJ energy level in QSP and medium short pulse (125 μs) modes. Subsequently, the dentin and enamel surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy techniques and compared with cuttings prepared with conventional bur. The laser-treated dentin samples exhibited relatively homogenous surfaces without smear layer and with open dentinal tubules. Laser-treated enamel showed scaly surfaces but again free of smear layer. In contrast, both dentin and enamel samples treated with the conventional bur showed abundance of smear layer, groove marks, small-scale cracks, and closed dentinal tubules.

How to cite this article

Kallis A, Tolidis K, Gerasimou P, Gutknecht N, Koliniotou-Koumpia E. Comparative Study of the Restoration Quality in Cavities prepared with Er:YAG Laser in Quantum Square Pulse Mode and Conventional Method. Int J Laser Dent 2016;6(1):31-37.
Lipoma of the Larynx: Our Experience
Authors: Jain Ankit A , Desai Binhi H
Published: January 2017

Objective

Four cases of laryngeal lipoma are presented with a discussion of their differential diagnoses and management.

Materials and methods

Case report and literature review.

Results

Laryngeal lipomas, though a fairly rare entity, are occasionally the cause of persistent hoarseness of voice. An accurate diagnosis is important and the management may vary from surgical excision to only wait and watch policy, as these tumors are usually slow growing. A discussion of the presentation and management of four cases of laryngeal lipoma managed by us is documented with a review of literature.

Conclusion

Laryngeal lipomas have no set management protocol. A custom-made plan for each patient should be charted out depending on the symptoms of the patient and extent of the lipoma.

How to cite this article

Nerurkar NK, Jain AA, Desai BH. Lipoma of the Larynx: Our Experience. Int J Phonosurg Laryngol 2016;6(2):89-92.
Comparison of Anterior Chamber Parameters between Normal and Keratoconus Eyes using Scheimpflug Photography
Authors: Ali Nagla Hassan , AbdElKhalek Mohammed Othman , Elghoneimy Hanan
Published: January 2017

Aim

To evaluate anterior chamber indices including anterior chamber depth (ACD) and anterior chamber volume (ACV) with the progression of keratoconus using a rotating Scheimpflug camera to determine the sensitivity and specificity of these parameters in discriminating keratoconus from normal eyes.

Materials and methods

After full ophthalmological examination in the Memorial Institute of Ophthalmic Research, the patients are divided into two groups: Group I consisting of 50 eyes of normal control. Group II consists of 50 eyes of moderate keratoconus. All the subjects were evaluated with a Pentacam Scheimpflug camera (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany). Keratoconic eyes were evaluated by vertical asymmetry (VI), keratoconus index (KI), thinnest corneal thickness (TCT) with front elevation at thinnest location (F.Ele.Th) and back elevation at thinnest location (B.Ele.Th) and then divided into three groups according to mean keratometer (K) readings: Mild (K = less than 47.0 D), moderate (K = 47.0 to 52.0 D), and severe (K = 52.0 D or higher), and ACD and ACV were obtained after exclusion of mild and severe cases.

Results

With the progression of the disease, there was statistically significant differences in ACD and ACV measurements between the normal and moderate keratoconus eyes with progressive increase in the ACD and ACV with disease progression.

Conclusion

Anterior chamber parameters including depth and volume showed significant increase with moderate keratoconus than control.

How to cite this article

Ali NH, AbdElKhalek MO, El Ghonemy HM. Comparison of Anterior Chamber Parameters between Normal and Keratoconus Eyes using Scheimpflug Photography. Int J Kerat Ect Cor Dis 2016;5(3):105-108.
Ferrara Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments
Authors: Torquetti Leonardo , Sandes Jordana
Published: January 2017

The Ferrara intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) are designed to treat ectatic corneal disorders, especially keratoconus. They have been used to reshape keratoconic corneas to improve uncorrected visual acuity, best-corrected visual acuity, contact lens tolerance and to delay or prevent the need for keratoplasty. Intrastromal corneal ring segments have several distinct and important advantages. The Ferrara ICRS have been used largely in several countries for the treatment of primary and secondary ectatic corneal disorders. This article reviews the latest data published and the clinical experience/findings on the treatment of keratoconus by the Ferrara ICRS implantation.

How to cite this article

Torquetti L, Sandes J, Ferrara G, Ferrara P. Ferrara Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments. Int J Kerat Ect Cor Dis 2016;5(3):114-127.
High-order Aberrations in Keratoconus
Authors: Hefner-Shahar Hagar , Erdinest Nir
Published: January 2017

With all the technological advances today and the increasing number of people undergoing refractive surgery, the importance of detecting keratoconus (KC) prior to surgery has become evident. Although by using a topographer we can detect early stage KC, however, by using wavefront analysis technology, we are able to detect KC at an even earlier stage.

Every eye possesses a number of aberrations. However, in a KC patient's eye, there are approximately five to six times the numbers of high-order aberrations (HOAs) than in a healthy eye. Using this technology to detect and assess the HOAs, it was found that in a KC cornea, it is possible to detect at a very early stage a much higher value of vertical coma aberrations compared with a normal eye. By using this technology, it is possible to study and understand the characteristics of the quality of the image on the retina, thereby understanding its impact on the patient's visual quality.

How to cite this article

Hefner-Shahar H, Erdinest N. Highorder Aberrations in Keratoconus. Int J Kerat Ect Cor Dis 2016;5(3):128-131.
Study of Clinical Profile of Community-acquired Pneumonia with Special Reference to C-reactive Protein and Procalcitonin Levels
Authors: Prajwal KC , Krishna MV , Patil Sharanappa
Published: January 2017

Introduction

Pneumonia is defined as an infection of the pulmonary parenchyma. Despite being the cause of significant complications and deaths, pneumonia is often wrongly diagnosed, mistreated, and underestimated. The incidence rates are highest in old-aged patients. In the current prospective observational study, we intend to study the utility of procalcitonin (PCT) level and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level for diagnosing pneumonia.

Design

Prospective observational studies.

Materials and methods

The study was conducted in RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, during the period extending from June to May 2014. Eighty patients, aged more than 18 years, with diagnosis of pneumonia were included in the study. Serum PCT levels were calculated using BRAHMS PCT Kryptor immunofluorescent assay (Biomerieux, France). Other routine investigations, including CRP, sputum culture, and endotracheal secretions cultures, were done. Chisquare analysis was done to assess its prognostic and diagnostic significance. Data were analysed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 17.0 for Windows).

Results and conclusion

C-reactive protein was positive in 60 (75%) of the patients, and PCT was positive in 45 (56.25%) patients; 28 patients had PCT levels 0.5 to 1.5 ng/mL, 1 (3.6%) had CRP <6 mg/mL, 27 (96.4%) had CRP >6 mg/mL; 17 patients had PCT values >1.5 ng/mL and CRP was positive in all patients (p < 0.001).Streptococcus pneumoniawas the most common and isolated in 8 (10%) patients. C-reactive protein is a useful and better adjuvant in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Positive PCT levels indicate a bacterial etiology for pneumonia. A high PCT level is a poor prognostic indicator and is associated with a higher mortality.

How to cite this article

Prajwal KC, Krishna MV, Patil S. Study of Clinical Profile of Community-acquired Pneumonia with Special Reference to C-reactive Protein and Procalcitonin Levels. J Med Sci 2016;2(2):27-30.
Health-related Quality of Life among Diabetics visiting RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru
Authors: Komal Samantha S , Srividya V
Published: January 2017

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is independently associated with lower levels of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Quality of life (QoL) is an important aspect in diabetes because poor QoL leads to diminished self-care, which in turn leads to worsened glycemic control, increased risks for complications, and exacerbation of diabetes overwhelming in both the short run and the long run.

Objective

To assess the HRQoL among diabetics aged 18 years and above visiting the Medicine Outpatient Department at RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru.

Materials and methods

We conducted a hospital-based study using a generic instrument, Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life 18 (ADDQoL 18) to measure the QoL of diabetic subjects aged ≥18 years. One hundred and forty diabetics, including 68 males and 72 females, were selected from the Medicine Outpatient Department at RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows, version 22.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 55.7 ±12.5 years. Majority of them (75.7%) were Hindu by religion and most of the study participants (60%) had received formal education. Majority (48.6%) belonged to grade 3 socioeconomic status. Diabetic patients who were employed constituted 52.9%. On the type of diabetes, 91.4% of the participants had type 2 diabetes, while 8.6% had type 1 diabetes. The mean duration of diabetes since diagnosis was 8.2 ±6.5 years.

With regard to presence or absence of complications, 38.6% of the participants suffered from complications of diabetes, while 61.4% did not. With regard to treatment, 59.3% of them were consuming only oral hypoglycemic, whereas 40.7% were on insulin. It was observed that diabetes had a negative impact on the present QoL with a mean negative impact of –0.45 and a mean negative average weighted impact of –5.16 on the individual life domains. The negative impact of diabetes on the QoL was greater among those receiving insulin ±oral hypoglycemic agents and among those who had complications. The domains “freedom to eat,” “freedom to drink,” “enjoyment of food,” and “working life” had the greatest negative impact in all patient subgroups. It was observed that male diabetics had a poorer QoL as compared with female diabetics, but this was found to be not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Diabetes had an adverse effect on the QoL of these study subjects.

How to cite this article

Komal SS, Srividya V. Health-related Quality of Life among Diabetics visiting RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru. J Med Sci 2016;2(2):31-35.
A New Dawn for the Second Sex
Authors: Vintges Karen
Published: January 2017

To what extent is Simone de Beauvoir's study The Second Sex still relevant? From her work it emerges that patriarchy is a many-headed monster. Over the past decades, various heads of this monster have been slayed: important breakthroughs have been achieved by and for women in law, politics, and economics. Today, however, we witness movements in the opposite direction, such as a masculinist political revival in different parts of the world, the spread of the neoliberal myth of the Super Woman, the rise of transnational networks of trafficking in women and children, and a new international 'Jihadism'. This suggests that patriarchy is indeed a Hydra: a multi-headed monster that grows several new heads every time one head is cut off. Since different - often hybrid - heads of patriarchy dominate in different settings, feminism requires a variety of strategies. Women's movements all over the world today are critically creating new models of self and society in their own contexts. Drawing on notions of Beauvoir, as well as Michel Foucault, this book outlines a 'feminism in a new key' which consists of women's various freedom practices, each hunting the Hydra in their own key - but with mutual support.
Properties of individual contrails: a compilation of observations and some comparisons
Authors: Schumann Ulrich , Baumann Robert , Baumgardner Darrel , Bedka Sarah T. , Duda David P. , Freudenthaler Volker , Gayet Jean-Francois , Heymsfield Andrew J. , Minnis Patrick , Quante Markus , Raschke Ehrhard , Schlager Hans , Vázquez-Navarro Margarita , Voigt Christiane , Wang Zhien
Published: January 2017

Abstract. Mean properties of individual contrails are characterized for a wide range of jet aircraft as a function of age during their life cycle from seconds to 11.5 h (7.4–18.7 km altitude, −88 to −31 °C ambient temperature), based on a compilation of about 230 previous in situ and remote sensing measurements. The airborne, satellite, and ground-based observations encompass exhaust contrails from jet aircraft from 1972 onwards, as well as a few older data for propeller aircraft. The contrails are characterized by mean ice particle sizes and concentrations, extinction, ice water content, optical depth, geometrical depth, and contrail width. Integral contrail properties include the cross-section area and total number of ice particles, total ice water content, and total extinction (area integral of extinction) per contrail length. When known, the contrail-causing aircraft and ambient conditions are characterized. The individual datasets are briefly described, including a few new analyses performed for this study, and compiled together to form a contrail library (COLI). The data are compared with results of the Contrail Cirrus Prediction (CoCiP) model. The observations confirm that the number of ice particles in contrails is controlled by the engine exhaust and the formation process in the jet phase, with some particle losses in the wake vortex phase, followed later by weak decreases with time. Contrail cross sections grow more quickly than expected from exhaust dilution. The cross-section-integrated extinction follows an algebraic approximation. The ratio of volume to effective mean radius decreases with time. The ice water content increases with increasing temperature, similar to non-contrail cirrus, while the equivalent relative humidity over ice saturation of the contrail ice mass increases at lower temperatures in the data. Several contrails were observed in warm air above the Schmidt–Appleman threshold temperature. The emission index of ice particles, i.e., the number of ice particles formed in the young contrail per burnt fuel mass, is estimated from the measured concentrations for estimated dilution; maximum values exceed 1015 kg−1. The dependence of the data on the observation methods is discussed. We find no obvious indication for significant contributions from spurious particles resulting from shattering of ice crystals on the microphysical probes.
Global and regional estimates of warm cloud droplet number concentration based on 13 years of AQUA-MODIS observations
Authors: Bennartz Ralf , Rausch John
Published: January 2017

Abstract. We present and evaluate a climatology of cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) based on 13 years of Aqua-MODIS observations. The climatology provides monthly mean 1 × 1 degree CDNC values plus associated uncertainties. All values are in-cloud values, that is, if the grid box is covered to 10 % with clouds, then the reported CDNC value will be valid for the cloudy part of the grid-box. Here, we provide an overview on how the climatology was generated and assess and quantify potential systematic error sources including effects of broken clouds, and remaining artefacts caused by the retrieval process or related to observation geometry. Retrievals and evaluations were performed at the scale of initial MODIS observations (in contrast to some earlier climatologies, which were created based on already gridded data). This allowed us to implement additional screening criteria, so that observations inconsistent with key assumptions made in the CDNC retrieval could be rejected. Application of these additional screening criteria led to significant changes in the annual cycle of CDNC both in terms of its phase and magnitude. After an optimal screening was established a final CDNC climatology was generated. Resulting CDNC uncertainties for the climatology are in the order of 30 % in the stratocumulus regions and 60 % to 80 % elsewhere. The climatology is available in Network Common Data Format (netCDF) and adheres to the Climate and Forecast (CF) convention. The climatology is available via Digital Object Identifier (Bennartz and Rausch, 2016, doi:10.15695/vudata.ees.1).
Mobile and stationary sources of air pollutants in the Amazon rainforest: a numerical study with WRF-Chem model
Authors: Abou Rafee Sameh A. , Martins Leila D. , Kawashima Ana B. , Almeida Daniela S. , Morais Marcos V. B. , Souza Rita V. A. , Oliveira Maria B. L. , Souza Rodrigo A. F. , Medeiros Adan S. S. , Urbina Viviana , Freitas Edmilson D. , Martin Scot T. , Martins Jorge A.
Published: January 2017

Abstract. This paper evaluates the impact of the emissions from mobile and stationary sources in the Amazon rainforest by using the Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model. The analyzed air pollutants were CO, NOx, SO2, O3, PM2.5, PM10 and VOCs. Five scenarios were defined in order to evaluate the emissions by biogenic, mobile and stationary sources, as well as future scenarios. Results show that the stationary sources explain the highest concentrations for all air pollutants evaluated, except for CO, for which the mobile sources are predominant ones. The futuristic scenario, which is twice the current emissions from mobile and stationary sources, has shown an increase in the range of 3 to 62 % in average concentrations and 45 to 109 % in peak concentrations depending on the pollutant. In addition, the spatial distributions of the scenarios has shown that the air pollutions plume from the city of Manaus is predominantly west and southwest, and it can reach hundreds of kilometers in length.
Soil CO2 efflux from two mountain forests in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan: components and controls
Authors: Wangdi Norbu , Mayer Mathias , Nirola Mani Prasad , Zangmo Norbu , Orong Karma , Ahmed Iftekhar Uddin , Darabant Andras , Jandl Robert , Gratzer Georg , Schindlbacher Andreas
Published: January 2017

Abstract. The biogeochemistry of mountain forests in the Hindu Kush Himalaya range is poorly studied, although climate change is expected to disproportionally affect the region. We measured the soil CO2 efflux (Rs) at a high-elevation (3260 m) mixed forest and a lower-elevation (2460 m) broadleaf forest in Bhutan, eastern Himalayas, during 2015. Trenching was applied to estimate the contribution of autotrophic (Ra) and heterotrophic (Rh) soil respiration. The temperature (Q10) and the moisture sensitivities of Rh were determined under controlled laboratory conditions and were used to model Rh in the field. The higher-elevation mixed forest had a higher standing tree stock, reflected in higher soil C stocks and basal soil respiration. Annual Rs was similar between the two forest sites (14.5 ± 1.2 t C ha−1 for broadleaf; 12.8 ± 1.0 t C ha−1 for mixed). Modelled annual contribution of Rh was  ∼  65 % of Rs at both sites with a higher heterotrophic contribution during winter and lower contribution during the monsoon season. Rh, estimated from trenching, was in the range of modelled Rh but showed higher temporal variability. The measured temperature sensitivity of Rh was similar at the mixed and broadleaf forest sites (Q10 2.2–2.3) under intermediate soil moisture but decreased (Q10 1.5 at both sites) in dry soil. Rs closely followed the annual course of field soil temperature at both sites. Covariation between soil temperature and moisture (cold dry winters and warm wet summers) was likely the main cause for this close relationship. Under the prevailing weather conditions, a simple temperature-driven model was able to explain more than 90 % of the temporal variation in Rs. A longer time series and/or experimental climate manipulations are required to understand the effects of eventually occurring climate extremes such as monsoon failures.
Optimal numerical solvers for transient simulations of ice flow using the Ice Sheet System Model (ISSM versions 4.2.5 and 4.11)
Authors: Habbal Feras , Larour Eric , Morlighem Mathieu , Seroussi Helene , Borstad Christopher P. , Rignot Eric
Published: January 2017

Abstract. Identifying fast and robust numerical solvers is a critical issue that needs to be addressed in order to improve projections of polar ice sheets evolving in a changing climate. This work evaluates the impact of using advanced numerical solvers for transient ice-flow simulations conducted with the JPL–UCI Ice Sheet System Model (ISSM). We identify optimal numerical solvers by testing a broad suite of readily available solvers, ranging from direct sparse solvers to preconditioned iterative methods, on the commonly used Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project for Higher-Order ice sheet Models benchmark tests. Three types of analyses are considered: mass transport, horizontal stress balance, and incompressibility. The results of the fastest solvers for each analysis type are ranked based on their scalability across mesh size and basal boundary conditions. We find that the fastest iterative solvers are  ∼ 1.5–100 times faster than the default direct solver used in ISSM, with speed-ups improving rapidly with increased mesh resolution. We provide a set of recommendations for users in search of efficient solvers to use for transient ice-flow simulations, enabling higher-resolution meshes and faster turnaround time. The end result will be improved transient simulations for short-term, highly resolved forward projections (10–100 year time scale) and also improved long-term paleo-reconstructions using higher-order representations of stresses in the ice. This analysis will also enable a new generation of comprehensive uncertainty quantification assessments of forward sea-level rise projections, which rely heavily on ensemble or sampling approaches that are inherently expensive.
'Climate Response Functions' for the Arctic Ocean: a proposed
coordinated modeling experiment
Authors: Marshall John , Scott Jeffery , Proshutinsky Andrey
Published: January 2017

Abstract. A coordinated set of Arctic modeling experiments is proposed which explore how the Arctic responds to changes in external forcing. Our goal is to compute and compare 'Climate Response Functions' (CRFs) – the transient response of key observable indicators such as sea-ice extent, freshwater content of the Beaufort Gyre etc. – to abrupt 'step' changes in forcing fields across a number of Arctic models. Changes in wind, freshwater sources and inflows to the Arctic basin are considered. Convolutions of known or postulated time-series of these forcing fields with their respective CRFs then yields the (linear) response of these observables. This allows the project to inform, and interface directly with, Arctic observations and observers and IPCC models and the climate change community. Here we outline the rationale behind such experiments and illustrate our approach in the context of a coarse-resolution model of the Arctic based on the MITgcm. We conclude by outlining the expected benefits of such an activity and encourage other modeling groups to compute CRFs with their own models so that we might begin to document how robust they are to model formulation, resolution and parameterization.
A wireless communication system for energy and environmental monitoring
Authors: Krush Dmytro , Cammin Christoph , Heynicke Ralf , Scholl Gerd , Kaercher Bernd
Published: January 2017

Abstract. Custom-fit communication systems are key elements in modern cyber-physical sensor systems. Therefore a wireless communication system (WCS) for sensor/actuator communication has been developed to facilitate energy and environmental monitoring on the shop floor of industrial production sites. Initially, the distinct demands and requirements are described. As the WCS has been designed for new installations as well as for retrofitting already installed facilities, the WCS has to be able to coexist with other wireless communication systems already allocated in the same frequency band. The WCS handles measurement data from both, energy-autarkic sensors and fast line-powered sensors. Mobile users in the field equipped with mobile devices are served by the system, too. A modular hardware concept has been chosen for easy system modification or for the integration of new wireless standards. Finally, measured results for the coexistence capability are presented.
Ultrasound tomography for inline monitoring of plastic melts
Authors: Halmen Norbert , Kugler Christoph , Hochrein Thomas , Heidemeyer Peter , Bastian Martin
Published: January 2017

Abstract. The inline determination of process and product parameters is of great help for the evaluation and optimization of new procedures. Therefore, an ultrasound process tomography system has been developed, which enables the imaging of the local filler distribution in plastic melts. The objects investigated were extruded rods made of polypropylene (PP) with radial filler gradients. During extrusion, sound velocity and attenuation of the plastic melt were determined and processed via a modified reconstruction algorithm according to Radon transform into 2-D sectional images. Despite the challenges of higher attenuation and impedance mismatch of 60 mm filled PP melt compared to water, the resulting images are of good quality. An important factor for the image quality after tomographic reconstruction is the opening angle of the used ultrasound transducers. Furthermore, a simulation environment was developed in Matlab, which serves as a testing platform for the measurement system.