bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mortality prediction in status epilepticus with the APACHE II score
Authors: Cheng Jocelyn Y
Published: June 2017

A retrospective study was performed of adults admitted to the intensive care unit in order to determine the utility of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score in predicting in-hospital mortality in intensive care unit patients with non-cardiac status epilepticus. The cohort consisted of 104 subjects, 50 (48.1%) male, 39 (37.5%) aged ≥65 years, with a mean APACHE II score of 17.88. Four models of the APACHE II system were assessed: numerical score, adjusted score mortality, category, and category mortality. All models demonstrated poor calibration and discrimination, even after adjustment for significantly different covariates. There were independent associations between mortality and acute or toxic-metabolic seizure etiologies, myoclonic seizures, and postoperative status. After multivariate adjustment, only the association with toxic-metabolic seizure etiologies remained. The APACHE II score is a poor predictor of mortality in intensive care unit patients with status epilepticus. Further investigation is warranted to develop better measures of acute physiological disease severity in status epilepticus and its impact on mortality.
Can images of pain enhance patient–clinician rapport in pain consultations?
Authors: Ashton-James Claire E , Dekker Peter H , Addai-Davis Judy , Chadwick Tom , Zakrzewska Joanna M , Padfield Deborah , Williams Amanda C de C
Published: June 2017

A variety of treatment outcomes in chronic pain are influenced by patient–clinician rapport. Patients often report finding it difficult to explain their pain, and this potential obstacle to mutual understanding may impede patient–clinician rapport. Previous research has argued that the communication of both patients and clinicians is facilitated by the use of pain-related images in pain assessments. This study investigated whether introducing pain-related images into pain assessments would strengthen various components of patient–clinician rapport, including relative levels of affiliation and dominance, and interpersonal coordination between patient and clinician behaviour. Videos of 35 pain assessments in which pain images were present or absent were used to code behavioural displays of patient and clinician rapport at fixed intervals across the course of the assessment. Mixed modelling was used to examine patterns of patient and clinician affiliation and dominance with consultation type (Image vs Control) as a moderator. When pain images were present, clinicians showed more affiliation behaviour over the course of the consultation and there was greater correspondence between the affiliation behaviour of patient and clinician. However, relative levels of patient and clinician dominance were unaffected by the presence of pain images in consultations. Additional analyses revealed that clinicians responded directly to patients’ use of pain images with displays of affiliation. Based on the results of this study, we recommend further investigation into the utility and feasibility of incorporating pain images into pain assessments to enhance patient–clinician communication.
Identifying Factors and Root Causes Associated With Near-Miss or Safety Incidents in Patients Treated With Radiotherapy: A Case-Control Analysis
Authors: Judy Gregory D. , Mosaly Prithima R. , Mazur Lukasz M. , Tracton Gregg , Marks Lawrence B. , Chera Bhishamjit S.
Published: June 2017

Purpose:

To identify factors associated with a near-miss or safety incident (NMSI) in patients undergoing radiotherapy and identify common root causes of NMSIs and their relationship with incident severity.

Methods:

We retrospectively studied NMSIs filed between October 2014 and April 2016. We extracted patient-, treatment-, and disease-specific data from patients with an NMSI (n = 200; incident group) and a similar group of control patients (n = 200) matched in time, without an NMSI. A root cause and incident severity were determined for each NMSI. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to determine which specific factors were contributing to NMSIs. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine root causes of NMSIs and their relationship with incident severity.

Results:

NMSIs were associated with the following factors: head and neck sites (odds ratio [OR], 5.2; P = .01), image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (OR, 3; P = .009), daily imaging (OR, 7; P < .001), and tumors staged as T2 (OR, 3.3; P = .004). Documentation and scheduling errors were the most common root causes (29%). Communication errors were more likely to affect patients ( P < .001), and technical treatment delivery errors were most associated with a higher severity score ( P = .005).

Conclusion:

Several treatment- and disease-specific factors were found to be associated with an NMSI. Overall, our results suggest that complexity (eg, head and neck, image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy, and daily imaging) might be a contributing factor for an NMSI. This promotes an idea of developing a more dedicated and robust quality assurance system for complex cases and highlights the importance of a strong reporting system to support a safety culture.
ПРЕЕМСТВЕННОСТЬ СМЫСЛОВ И ФОРМ ПАТРИОТИЗМА В КОНТЕКСТЕ СОЦИАЛЬНОГО ВРЕМЯВЕДЕНИЯ
Authors: Kashirina Olga Valerjevna , Mulikova Natalya Anatolyevna
Published: June 2017

Цель. Цель работы состоит в определении направленности преемственности смыслов и форм патриотизма в патриотическом выборе как стержневом смысле главной жизненной стратегии, которая стоит перед каждым цивилизационным субъектом – личностью, социальной общностью любого масштаба. Правильность или неправильность этого выбора определяется наличием смысловой времяцелостности и приближением ее структуры к «золотой пропорции».Метод или методология проведения работы. Анализ заявленной проблемы выполнен на основе междисциплинарного диалектико-триалектического метода различения и смыслообразования, как интеллектуальной технологии преемственности цивилизационного и ноосферного патриотизма.Результаты. В статье рассматривается преемственность смыс­лов и форм патриотизма в контексте социального времяведения, ведущая поиск решения проблемы патриотизма в трех направлениях: 1) как проблемы цивилизационного патриотизма Большой и Малой Родины, 2) как проблемы ноосферного патриотизма, 3) как проблемы преемственности смыслов между ними. Обращается внимание на вариативность решения проблемы патриотизма, которая связана с тем, что социальное времяведение рассматривает патриотизм как феномен культуры, который имеет диалектическую «природу бытия» и, вместе с тем, имеет тройственную модель смыслов «существования» цивилизационной реальности – целостность настоящего: преемственность прошлого и целесообразность будущего. В статье показано, что динамическое равновесие смыслов цивилизационного и ноосферного патриотизма в культуре самосознания цивилизационного субъекта, определяющего культуру его поведения и деятельности, обеспечивает формирование и устойчивость духовно-нравственного иммунитета, возникающего под их воздействием в смысловом поле патриотизма.Область применения результатов. Практическая значимость исследования состоит в возможности его использования для разработки курсов по философии, философии культуры и т.д. Теория социального времяведения может воплотиться в практике преподавания новой учебной дисциплины «Основы социального времяведения» в качестве гуманитарной составляющей для отраслевых вузов и отдельных специальностей классических университетов.
ПАМЯТЬ VS ЗАБВЕНИЕ: СТАНОВЛЕНИЕ КЛАССИЧЕСКОЙ СТРАТЕГИИ ВОПРОШАНИЯ О БЫТИИ
Authors: Batukhtin Alexander Sergeevich , Naumov Oleg Dmitrievich
Published: June 2017

Цель статьи сводится к реконструкции и концептуальному анализу специфики мифоархаической стратегии понимания бытия. Основная задача заключается в репрезентации феномена забвения в качестве одной из главных стратегий вопрошания о бытии в рамках архаической эпохи. Феномен забвения концептуализируется и рассматривается в следующих аспектах: метафилософском, онтологическом, гносеологическом, антропологическом. В результате, феномен забвения анализируется в качестве одного из механизмов, актуализирующих процесс трансформации архаического Мифа в античный Логос.Исследование основано на применении следующих методов: метод концептуального анализа, герменевтический метод, метод деконструкции, компаративистский анализ, а также психоаналитическая традиция исследования вытесненных феноменов сознания.В ходе исследования было установлено, что архаическая мифоонтология представляет собой своего рода предконцептуальный пролог к философии, история которой осуществляется как процесс взаимодействия субъекта и бытия, традиционно концептуализируемый классической традицией в таких формах, как открытие, явленность, говорение, обусловленных ситуацией забвения предъизначального начала и самоистиранием им самого себя. Смысловым центром архаической мифоонтологии является фигура героя, основная функция которого сводится к выявлению и поддержанию существующего миропорядка с помощью сохранения и восстановления различий, осуществляемых благодаря ритуальным практикам. Мифоонтология – это досимволическая онтология жеста, строящаяся на следующих принципах: а) онтогносеологической интерпретации ощущения в качестве онтической процедуры, предшествующей и обуславливающей всякую попытку оформления и выражения мира в качестве единого целого; б) преимущественно топографическом восприятии мира, впоследствии дополненном историческим измерением, необходимым для включения субъекта в сакральное измерение динамичного бытия, представленного схемой: космос-боги-люди.Настоящая статья адресована специалистам по истории философии, философии, истории и теории культуры; аспирантам, магистрантам, студентам гуманитарных направлений, широкому кругу читателей, интересующихся актуальными проблемами социально-гуманитарных наук.
СОПОСТАВИТЕЛЬНО-КОНТРАСТИВНЫЙ ЭЛЕКТРОННЫЙ СЛОВАРЬ ПИРОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ ТЕРМИНОЛОГИИ РОССИИ И США: СОВРЕМЕННОЕ СОСТОЯНИЕ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ РАЗВИТИЯ
Authors: Sofronova Tatiana Markovna
Published: June 2017

Цель. Статья посвящена актуальной теме лексикографического моделирования двуязычных терминологических словарей. Предметом исследования является модель контрастивного представления терминосистемы лесной пирологии в русском и английском языках. Автор ставит целью раскрыть современное состояние концепции сопоставительно-контрастивного электронного словаря пирологической терминологии России и США, способствующего упорядочению и гармонизации терминов, и представить перспективы ее развития.Метод или методология проведения работы. Основу исследования образуют дефиниционный анализ, логико-понятийный анализ, сопоставительно-контрастивный анализ и метод лексикографирования.Результаты. Результаты работы заключаются в том, что автор демонстрирует алгоритм эффективной семантизации научных терминов в словаре и передачи накопленного научного опыта с сохранением национальных особенностей терминологии. В качестве задела для создания подобного словаря автор предлагает использовать разработанный им прототип сопоставительно-контрастивного двуязычного электронного глоссария пирологической терминологии России и США. В перспективе для реализации предлагаемого проекта необходимо привлечение опыта управления крупными словарными проектами на международном уровне через сотрудничество с ведущими специалистами в области терминологии России и США, а также усовершенствование программного обеспечения для потенциальной возможности привлечения пирологических терминологий других стран к проекту.Область применения результатов. Результаты исследования могут быть применены в лексикографической практике при составлении отраслевых толковых и переводных словарей.
Active Learning with Multiple Localized Regression Models
Authors: Deodhar Meghana , Ghosh Joydeep , Saar-Tsechansky Maytal , Keshari Vineet
Published: June 2017

Oftentimes businesses face the challenge of requiring costly information to improve the accuracy of prediction tasks. One notable example is obtaining informative customer feedback (e.g., customer-product ratings via costly incentives) to improve the effectiveness of recommender systems. In this paper, we develop a novel active learning approach, which aims to intelligently select informative training instances to be labeled so as to maximally improve the prediction accuracy of a real-valued prediction model. We focus on large, heterogeneous, and dyadic data, and on localized modeling techniques, which have been shown to model such data particularly well, as compared to a single, “global” model. Importantly, dyadic data with covariates is pervasive in contemporary big data applications such as large-scale recommender systems and search advertising. A key benefit from incorporating dyadic information is their simple, meaningful representation of heterogeneous data, in contrast to alternative local modeling techniques that typically produce complex and incomprehensible predictive patterns. We develop a computationally efficient active learning policy specifically tailored to exploit multiple local prediction models to identify informative acquisitions. Existing active learning policies are often computationally prohibitive for the setting we explore, and our policy makes the application of active learning computationally feasible for this setting. We present comprehensive empirical evaluations that demonstrate the benefits of our approach and explore its performance in real world, challenging domains.
El impacto ambiental: un despertar ético valioso para la educación
Authors: Puig I Baguer Jordi , Casas Jericó María
Published: June 2017

Durante las últimas décadas, se ha plasmado la existencia de una crisis ambiental y antropológica en cuyo origen se encuentra una inadecuada relación entre ser humano y naturaleza, heredada, en gran parte, de desarrollos erróneos de la modernidad. Las causas que han llevado al ser humano a alejarse de la tierra son complejas y variadas, pero han de abordarse necesariamente desde la educación. Así, al analizar en detalle las causas y los efectos (visibles y no visibles) de la insostenibilidad, se contribuirá efectivamente a una alfabetización de la ciudadanía que favorezca la urgente adopción de un modelo de desarrollo sostenible, justo ambiental y socialmente.En este artículo se analizan algunas de las posibles causas de la escisión entre ser humano y naturaleza y se muestra cómo el impacto ambiental puede resultar una excelente herramienta para educar sobre ellas, contribuyendo de este modo a la educación para el desarrollo sostenible.
La sostenibilidad en los grados universitarios: presencia y coherencia
Authors: Bautista-cerro Ruiz María José , Díaz González María José
Published: June 2017

Nos encontramos ante una crisis socioambiental sin precedentes y en un contexto de incertidumbre que dificulta su gestión. Para enfrentarnos a esta situación se requieren profesionales con una sólida formación que puedan tomar decisiones con criterios de sostenibilidad. Esta necesidad es recogida desde la educación superior y planteada como un desafío para las titulaciones de Grado. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer si se ha concretado una inclusión de elementos de sostenibilidad en las nuevas titulaciones de Grado de la UNED. Para ello, se plantea el análisis de contenido de sus memorias de grado (n = 26) realizando un tratamiento cualitativo y cuantitativo de la información con el software Atlas.ti. Se realiza un análisis que permite conocer la presencia de la sostenibilidad en las titulaciones y valorar la coherencia de Grados en torno a este tema.
Amenazas y riesgos climáticos en poblaciones vulnerables. El papel de la educación en la resiliencia comunitaria
Authors: González-Gaudiano Edgar Javier , Maldonado-González Ana Lucía
Published: June 2017

Los inéditos desafíos del mundo contemporáneo obligan a la educación a replantear sus temas convencionales. La educación ambiental no es la excepción. La magnitud y complejidad de problemas ambientales globales como el cambio climático, la acidificación oceánica y la pérdida de la biodiversidad planetaria han relegado los asuntos que habían ocupado la atención pedagógica en este campo durante décadas. En este artículo se presentan los resultados iniciales de un estudio dirigido a valorar la percepción del riesgo y de vulnerabilidad de comunidades que de manera recurrente son afectadas por fenómenos hidrometeorológicos extremos. Los hallazgos han de fungir como punto de partida para el diseño de programas educativos orientados a fortalecer la resiliencia comunitaria. Partimos del supuesto de que, al basarnos en factores sociocognitivos que determinan las disposiciones a actuar por parte de poblaciones bajo presiones similares, podemos encontrar claves que nos permitan interpretar sus reacciones frente a situaciones difíciles. Esto considerando su experiencia previa y sus singularidades en la adaptación al cambio climático, en el aprendizaje social en momentos extremos y en la identificación de sus fortalezas y debilidades.
Fe–Cr–Mn–C–N Steels for Down-Hole Application in Sour Environments: Statistical Analysis of Mechanical Properties
Authors: Lee Eunkyung , Khalfaoui Walid , Mishra Brajendra , Palmer Bruce R.
Published: June 2017

Two types of Fe–Cr–Mn–C–N steels (CN66, CN71) were developed and investigated for down-hole applications. Results of the experiments were used to identify statistically significant metallurgical factors and to predict the mechanical properties of CN66 and CN71. The three factors involved in the study were cooling rate (air or water), carbon and nitrogen content (C+N, 0.66 or 0.71 in wt. %), and heat-treatment holding time (2 or 4 h). The experiments were designed with a three-factor full-factorial design with two replicates for each condition. Cooling rate and C+N content (composition) were significant variables that affected the mechanical properties of CN66 and CN71, and the most favorable mechanical properties of the developed steels were obtained for a fast cooling rate and a high C+N content. The microstructures of the CN66 and CN71 were investigated to understand these strengthening effects, and it was found that the formation of precipitates was controlled by the cooling rate and that fast cooling suppressed precipitate formation. In addition, CN66 showed that a larger amount of ferrite phase in the material than that of CN71. The mechanical properties of CN66 and CN71 were compared to Fe–Cr–Ni based non-magnetic austenitic steel, 316L stainless steel, to evaluate the application possibilities of these alloys for down-hole applications. The superior mechanical properties of CN66 and CN71 show their potential to replace 316L stainless steel in many applications.
FLC-Based SOGI Controller for Photovoltaic-Operated STATCOM for Current Harmonic Elimination
Authors: Gokulakrishnan B. , Govindaraj T.
Published: June 2017

In this paper, a photovoltaic (PV)-array-interfaced static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) with a fuzzy-logic-controller (FLC)-based second-order generalized integrator (SOGI) is presented to compensate for the current harmonics in the three-phase four-wire distribution system. The compensation ability and the effectiveness of the compensation depend on the capability of the dc link and the control techniques employed. The control techniques used in the system decides the required quantity of the measurement devices and the cost of the control unit. The proposed SOGI controller uses only the currents measured at the converter and load terminals. It does not require any voltage sensor. The proposed topology of STATCOM uses the energy generated in the PV array and FLC-based SOGI to offer the sufficient energy and provide the sustainable compensation against the current disturbances. The simulation results and experimental results of the prototype model are presented to validate the performance of the proposed STATCOM in compensating the current harmonics.
Economía del conocimiento para la sostenibilidad
Authors: Cantú-Martínez Pedro César
Published: June 2017

El presente manuscrito muestra la trascendencia que posee la economía del conocimiento para el logro los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible. Se reconoce al conocimiento como un elemento necesario para la búsqueda del bienestar social del ser humano y además reduzca la pobreza y la falta de equidad social. La economía del conocimiento es el análisis del comportamiento y los hechos relacionados con la aplicación económica del saber. Esto ha llevado a la transformación de las sociedades cuando el conocimiento se convierte en aprendizaje y este se encuentra orientado a resolver los problemas sociales y ambientales.
Complejidades y desafíos en la relación entre Chile y Perú en el siglo XXI: Un enfoque desde la geopolítica crítica
Authors: Cabrera-Toledo Lester Martín Andrés
Published: June 2017

Las relaciones entre Chile y Perú-Bolivia, no solamente pueden ser vistas desde un punto de vista de la conflictividad en torno a las consecuencias de la Guerra del Pacífico, sino que también desde un punto de vista negativo en los ámbitos cultural, social y geopolítico. Y en esta última visión, la relación en el presentese construye sobre una serie de discursos opuestos y contrarios que, en un primer momento, no tiene una solución que pueda establecerse por cada una de las partes por separado, sino que se requiere una visión integral en la cual confluyan las tres posturas. Pero dicha visión no puede ser en torno a los elementos que generan conflictos, sino que debiese tener una postura innovadora y creativa, y que principalmente, no vaya en contra de los intereses de los Estados en cuestión, considerando los actuales problemas que existen entre estos países.
Alteration of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase expression in lower limb ischemia caused by atherosclerosis obliterans
Authors: Fodor J , Gomba-Tóth A , Oláh T , Zádor E , Tóth Zs Cs , Ioannis I , Molnár B , Kovács I , Csernoch L
Published: June 2017

Atherosclerosis is a disease caused by a build-up of fatty plaques and cholesterol in the arteries. The lumen of the vessels is obliterated resulting in restricted blood supply to tissues. In ischemic conditions, the cytosolic Ca2+ level of skeletal muscle may increase, indicating the alteration of Ca2+ removal mechanisms. Ca2+ is transported from cytosol into the sarcoplasmic reticulum by Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA), with its 1a isoform expressed in adult, while its 1b isoform in neonatal and regenerating fast-twitch skeletal muscle. To investigate the role of these isoforms in ischemic skeletal muscle, biopsies from musculus biceps femoris of patients who underwent amputation due to atherosclerosis were examined. Samples were removed from the visibly healthy and hypoxia-affected tissue. Significantly increased SERCA1a expression was detected under the ischemic conditions (246 ± 69%; p < 0.05) compared with the healthy tissue. Furthermore, the ratio of SERCA1a-positive fibers was slightly increased (46 ± 4% in healthy tissue and 60 ± 5% in ischemic tissue; p > 0.05), whereas SERCA2a did not change. In addition, in primary cultures derived from hypoxia-affected tissue, the diameter and fusion index of myotubes were significantly increased (30 ± 1.6 µm vs. 41 ± 2.4 µm and 31 ± 4% vs. 45 ± 3%; p < 0.05). We propose that the increased SERCA1a expression indicates the existence and location of compensating mechanisms in ischemic muscle.
Biomimetic synthesis of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite from sharkskin collagen
Authors: Banerjee Pradipta , Das Jayashree , Tripathi Shuchita
Published: June 2017

Hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramics have gained popularity as bone-grafting materials due to their excellent biocompatibility. However, chemically synthesized HA lacks a strong load-bearing capacity as required by bones. An alternative solution is to grow HA crystals by biomimetic mineralization of collagen under laboratory conditions. Marine industry wastes such as skin and bones, generally dumped in landfill, provide an alternative cheap source of collagen. This study was undertaken to utilize the recovered collagen from sharkskin, generally discarded as waste, as a substrate for growing nanocrystalline HA. Hammerhead sharkskin collagen was isolated, characterized and identified as type I. The biomimetic growth of HA was induced by subjecting the purified collagen to optimal mineralization condition with an in vitro nucleation solution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies revealed the formation of HA after 21 d of incubation. The dimensions of the crystals were determined to be in the nanoscale range by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Osteoblasts displayed significantly higher adhesion and differentiation compared to Vero cells on dishes coated with HA crystals. The size, crystallinity and cellular interaction of biomimetically grown HA indicated that sharkskin could offer an ideal alternative substrate for nucleating bone growth in vivo.
Hydraulic conductivity of modified clay treated with CKD
Authors: Amadi Agapitus A , Alih Christian O
Published: June 2017

This paper presents the results of a laboratory evaluation of hydraulic conductivity k of black cotton soil modified with 10% quarry fines and treated with 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16% cement kiln dust (CKD) with reference to the use of the composite as landfill liner. Physical characterisation and k tests were conducted on untreated and treated soil mixtures. Specimens for the k test were prepared at moulding water contents of −2, 0, +2 and +4% of optimum water content and compacted using the British Standard light effort. Permeation with water was carried out after curing specimens for 7 and 28 d using the falling head test system. Results show that treated soil mixtures exhibited a decrease in k when moulding water content increased from 2% dry to 2% wet of optimum, but a subsequent increase in moulding water content to 4% wet of optimum caused an increase in k. The k of treated soil mixtures decreased, on average, by a factor of 3 for specimens prepared at CKD = 4% and by three orders of magnitude for CKD = 16% relative to the untreated condition. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between k values for 7 and 28 d cured specimens.
Challenge and Opportunity: the ALI/III Global Principles Project
Authors: Fletcher IF
Published: June 2017

This article deals with an international project to establish the extent to which it is feasible to achieve a worldwide acceptance of the Principles of Cooperation among the NAFTA Countries together with the Guidelines Applicable to Court-to-Court Communications in Cross-Border Cases. This contribution explains the process whereby the American Law Institute and the International Insolvency Institute (1) developed principles of cooperation with regard to cross-border insolvency; (2) established acceptance of these principles in jurisdictions across the world, subject to any necessary local modifications; and (3) obtained the endorsement of leading domestic associations, courts, and other groups in those jurisdictions. This article may contribute to the development the South African cross-border insolvency law. The inclusion of the challenges of harmonisation of private international law is also contributing to current debate.
Good Governance in Public Procurement: A South African Case Study
Authors: Roos Rolien , De la Harpe Stephen , Rijken C
Published: June 2017

In this article good governance in public procurement, with particular reference to accountability is discussed. The principle of providing adequate remedies in public procurement is put under the spotlight. This is done with reference to the decision in Steenkamp NO v Provincial Tender Board, Eastern Cape. In this case the Constitutional Court had to consider whether an initially successful tenderer could lodge a delictual claim for damages to compensate for expenses incurred after conclusion of a contract, which was subsequently rendered void on an application for review of the tender award. The applicable principles of good governance and the applicable provisions of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Public Procurement and the WTO plurilateral Government Procurement Agreement are analysed. This is done to enable an evaluation of the decision by the Constitutional Court in the above case. It is concluded that the South African public procurement system does in this instance comply with the basic principles of good governance with regard to accountability.
Contemporary Legal Issues in Electronic Commerce in Nigeria
Authors: Akomolede TI
Published: June 2017

The Internet has no doubt added a great deal to the quality of human life today.  It has knitted the world together as a global village.  Many difficulties which hampered international and even national commercial transactions in the past have now been consigned to the dust-bin of history. The emergence of electronic commerce is as a result of the creation of the internet, through which commercial transactions are conducted between parties from different parts of the world and who may never see themselves in their lifetimes. However, the emergence of electronic commerce has also brought with it a number of legal and socio-economic problems, especially in the developing nations such as Nigeria – problems which pose significance challenges to the legal regime of electronic commerce in those countries. This paper examines these legal issues within the context of the current legal and regulatory framework for electronic commerce in Nigeria.
Monitoring, interception and Big Boss in the workplace: is the devil in the details?
Authors: Pistorius Tania
Published: June 2017

This article discusses the opposing dynamics in the modern workplace environment, specifically employees’ expectations of e-privacy and employers’ interception and monitoring of electronic communications. In terms of the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act 70 of 2002 employees must take prior notice of or consent to the interception and monitoring of their e-communications. The article focuses on the extent to which click-wrap agreements and hypertext or XML links to e-workplace policies could meet these requirements.
Aspects of Land Administration in the Context of Good Governance
Authors: Pienaar JM
Published: June 2017

This paper explores aspects of land administration where public funding and interests necessitate the application of good governance practices. The South African land reform programme is divided in three sub-programmes, namely land restitution, land redistribution and tenure reform. Land reform is a vast subject, based on policy, legislation and case law. Therefore it is impossible to deal with good governance principles over the wide spectrum of land reform. Special attention is however given to the land restitution programme in terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act 22 of 1994 and tenure reform in the rural areas by means of the Communal Land Rights Act 11 of 2004. The purpose is not to formulate a blueprint for good governance or to indicate which good governance principles will solve all or most of the land tenure problems. It is rather an effort to indicate that policies and procedures to improve good governance in some aspects of land reform are urgently needed and should be explored further.Restitution of Land Rights Act and the Communal Land Rights Act, is extensive and far-reaching. However, many legislative measures are either impractical due to financial constraints and lack of capacity of the Department of Land Affairs, or are not based on sufficient participation by local communities. Land administration should furthermore be planned and executed in the context of global good governance practices. This includes equal protection; clear land policy principles; land tenure principles according to the needs of individuals and population groups; flexible land registration principles to accommodate both individual and communal land tenure; and appropriate institutional arrangements. It is clear that established good governance principles may solve many of the problems encountered in land administration in South Africa. It is a topic that needs to be explored further.
The Committee System for Competitive Bids in Local Government
Authors: Bolton P
Published: June 2017

When a municipality contracts for goods or services, it must make use of competitive bidding / a public call for tenders for contracts over R200 000 as well as for long term contracts. A competitive bidding process generally consists of different stages, for example, compiling bid specifications, advertising the bid, the receipt and evaluation of bids, and the award and implementation of the contract. The Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulations require a municipality’s Supply Chain Management Policy to provide for a committee system to oversee the different stages. Such committee system must, moreover, consist of at least a bid specification committee, a bid evaluation committee and a bid adjudication committee. Until recently, little attention has been given by the courts to the roles and composition of the different committees in the committee system. It is only after government, and in particular, municipalities have begun to implement the committee system in their procurement processes that it is evident that problems are arising. In recent months, the courts have increasingly had to deal with issues pertaining to the implementation of the committee system.

In this article, the relevant legislative provisions on the committee system for competitive bids in local government are discussed. The functions of each committee are explained and all the cases that have thus far involved the implementation of the committee system are critically analysed. Much attention is given to the cases since they serve as a warning to municipalities to uphold and comply with the rules relating to the roles and composition of the different committees. The cases illustrate how important it is for municipalities to ensure that the different committees are properly constituted and that decisions at meetings are properly taken. They also highlight the importance of the supervisory role of the municipal manager over the different committees. In light of the cases it is clear that failure to comply with all the legislative requirements results in very costly litigation.
The Role of Traditional Authorities in Developing Customary Laws in Accordance with the Constitution: Shilubana and Others v Nwamitwa 2008 (9) BCLR 914 (CC)
Authors: Mmusinyane B
Published: June 2017

South African customary law is a body of law by which many South Africans regulate their lives in a multicultural society. South Africa's constitutional dispensation is based on the premise that all existing laws are subject to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996, including African customary law, and that all laws are limited only by the Constitution. Customary law existed long before the adoption of the Constitution which, among other things, aims at harmonising the different cultural practices that exist in the country. It is apparent that some traditional cultural practices that still exist are in conflict with the Constitution but, until they are challenged before a court of law, they will remain enforceable in our communities. This contribution investigates customary systems of succession that are guided by the principle of male primogeniture: a deceased's heir is his eldest son, failing which, the eldest son's oldest male descendant is his heir. The discussion focuses in particular on the case of Shilubana v Nwamitwa 2008 (9) BCLR 914 (CC). This case concerns an application to the Constitutional Court for a leave to appeal against a decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal substantially confirming a decision of the Pretoria High Court that prevented a woman from being a Hosi (traditional leader) of her own community
The Development of the Interface between Law, Medicine and Psychiatry: Medico-Legal Perspectives in History
Authors: Swanepoel Magdaleen
Published: June 2017

Medicine and law were related from early times. This relation resulted as a necessity of protecting communities from the irresponsible acts of impostors. Various legal codes dealing with medical malpractice existed in Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, Islam, Greece, Rome, Persia and India. Over the course of the past 30 years, interest in the history of psychiatry has boomed. Much of this proliferation of interest has taken place under the broad influence of postmodernism and has resulted in multiple and diverse histories that no longer seek to provide a linear narrative of constant evolutionary progress. Rather, these new histories explore and disrupt taken for granted assumptions about the past and provide a starting point for discussion and debate about the some of the very foundations of mental health care in South Africa. As a matter of practical importance knowledge of how knowledge accrues and knowledge of the mistakes of the past is of prime importance in preventing similar mistakes in present and future work. An important reason for specifically understanding historical psychiatry is the fact that many of the uncertainties experienced in the present are a direct result of decisions made in the past. The key issue is that while it is tempting to experience current psychiatric and legal approaches towards the mentally disordered as natural and permanent, an understanding of the past helps mental health and legal practitioners to see things in a different perspective. Psychiatric and legal approaches towards the mentally disordered have changed over time and can undoubtedly also be changed in future. Therefore, the research conducted in this article focuses on the history and development of law and psychiatry including prehistoric times, the Arabian countries, the Nile Valley as well as Greece and Rome.
Assessing ocular blood flow during water drinking test by using laser speckle flowgraphy v1
Authors: Boon Tang Tong
Published: June 2017

How to measure ocular blood flow during water drinking test
Strategy Use Awareness in Academic Listening Practices Relative to L2 Motivation among Chinese Tertiary Students
Authors: Jin Bixi , Xu Wei
Published: June 2017

Academic listening has been widely studied from the perspective of note-taking, attention to discourse markers, and schematic knowledge. Learner variables, such as motivation, degree of anxiety, and learner beliefs, have all received increasingly attention from researchers, but have not yet been sufficiently explored in second language (L2) listening. This paper investigates the correlations between second language learning motivation and learners’ strategy use awareness in academic listening practices. Quantitative data was obtained using questionnaires issued to 79 second year English-major students after a TOEFL lecture listening practice. The results suggest that teacher classroom instruction and feedback, task significance, and learners’ commitment encourage the listeners to apply more listening strategies. Pedagogical implications drawn from the results are discussed, concluding that L2 listening teachers should develop motivation-based strategy instruction with emphasis on creating a learner-centred constructivist learning environment. In addition, a skill-oriented approach is proposed in order to improve course design in L2 listening instruction. This would train students to consciously use strategies to improve their listening comprehension in an EFL ( English as a Foreign Language) context. Suggestions are provided at the end for future research.
Smarte Produktionsassistenz für wandlungsfähige Fabrik
Authors: Zürn Michael , Reichenbach Matthias , Reichling Thorsten , Hodapp Jan , Berger Ulrich
Published: June 2017

Kennzeichnend für die Automobilindustrie sind zunehmende individuelle Wünsche der Kunden und eine Verkürzung der Konjunkturzyklen. Für Hersteller, wie die Daimler AG, führt diese Marktsituation zu hoher Variantenvielfalt und Stückzahlschwankungen. Da die Ausprägungen dieser Einflüsse weitgehend unbekannt sind, muss das Produktionssystem darauf vorbereitet sein, bedarfsgerecht angepasst zu werden. Wandlungsfähige Produktionssysteme gehören daher zu den strategischen Erfolgsgrößen für die Automobilindustrie. In diesem Beitrag wird ein modularer, skalierbarer Produktionsbaukasten vorgestellt, der Bestandteil einer Planungs- und Entwicklungsumgebung wandlungsfähiger Produktionskonzepte ist. Die hierfür genutzte grenzwerttheoretische Entwicklungsmethodik wird erläutert und die Skalierungsmöglichkeiten des Produktionsbaukastens mit Hilfe neuer Produktionstechnologien betrachtet. Dabei zeichnet sich die Mensch-Roboter-Kooperation (MRK) als wesentlicher Bestandteil wandlungsfähiger Produktionskonzepte ab. Smarte Produktionsassistenten sind intelligente und sichere Roboterapplikationen, die sich als Möglichkeit hervortun, die MRK als Schlüsseltechnologie in industriellen Anwendungen zu realisieren.
Physiotherapy in elderly with severe spinal cord injury non-operative due to osteoporosis: case report
Authors: Neto João Simão de Melo , Gomes Fabiana de Campos
Published: June 2017

Introduction: Fall is one the main causes of spinal cord injury (SCI) in the elderly and is associated with an increased number of complications. Thus, studies on this subject are of extreme importance and need for there to be progress and improvements in the rehabilitation process. Objective: Report the case of woman, 62 years old, with osteoporosis and multiple vertebral fractures in the spine, after a fall to the ground. Method: We report a case of woman, 62 years old, with osteoporosis and multiple vertebral fractures in the spine, after a fall to the ground. The Patient was admitted with a chief complaint of severe pain in the lumbar and thoracic regions, and started physical therapy distributed three times per week (10 sessions of 45 minutes/session), with period of 48 hour interval between sessions. During all sessions the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) was used for pain measurement. Patient was submitted to assessment of fear of falling by scale Falls Efficacy Scale – International – Brazil, and quality of life using questionnaire Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36). Results: The patient began treatment with intense pain, but after the third session the pain ceased and remained absent until the end of treatment. Regarding the fear of falling, there was a significant reduction in the level of concern. When initiating treatment, the patient showed impaired quality of life, but after physical therapy there was significant improvement. Conclusion: The physiotherapy promoted reduction of pain, fear of falling and improved the quality of life of patient with spinal cord trauma.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL, FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY AND FALL RISK IN THE ELDERLY
Authors: Silva Raesa Andrade da , Brandão Glaudson Sá , Silva Anderson Soares , Urbano Jessica Julioti , Oliveira Ezequiel Fernandes de , Oliveira Luis Vicente Franco , Camelier Aquiles Assunção , Brandão Glauber Sá
Published: June 2017

Introduction: Low levels of physical activity and functional mobility lead to greater difficulty in performing activities of daily living and are directly proportional to mortality in the elderly. Thus, there are the need to create mechanisms linked to the maintenance of the functional capacity, which assure the elderly autonomy and self-confidence. Objective: To verify the level of physical activity and functional mobility in the elderly and if this functional mobility suffers interference of the age group and physical activity. Methods: The study involved the elderly aged 60 and over, living in Senhor do Bonfim (BA), in the northeastern region of Brazil, from February to July 2015. The evaluation of the subjects occurred in a single session, with physical and general clinical evaluation, as well as the collection of sociodemographic, anthropometric and self-reported morbidities through the application of questionnaires. It was also carried out the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) to verify the levels of functional mobility and level of physical activity with application of the International Questionnaire of Physical Activity (IPAQ) adapted for the elderly. Results: In this study, 127 patients were studied, predominantly female (87%) and mean age of 68 ± 7 years, and the majority of the elderly corresponded to the age group of 60 to 69 years. The elderly belonging to the group considered inactive (IPAQ up to 150 min/weekly) presented the execution time of TUG higher than the elderly in the group considered active (IPAQ > 150 min/weekly), with averaging time for carrying out the test of 10.5±2 minutes and 8.9±2 minutes respectively, with a statistically significant difference of p<0.01. And the execution time of TUG increased proportionally to the increase of the age group. Conclusion: Elderly with lower level of physical activity and belonging to the higher age groups present a higher risk of falls. Strategies should be developed to stimulate increased physical activity level and functional mobility of this population, especially among the older ones, reducing the incidence of falls and providing greater autonomy.
Effect of Probiotic Yogurt and Xylitol-Containing Chewing Gums on Salivary S Mutans Count
Authors: Ghasemi Elnaz , Mazaheri Romina , Tahmourespour Arezoo
Published: June 2017

Background and Aims: In addition to improving gastrointestinal health and intestinal microflora, probiotic bacteria have been recently suggested to decrease cariogenic agents in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of probiotic yogurt and xylitol-containing chewing gums on reducing salivary Streptococcus mutans levels. Study design: This randomized clinical trial recruited 50 female students with over 105 colony forming units S. mutans per milliliter of their saliva. The participants were randomly allocated to two equal groups to receive either probiotic yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 andBifidobacteriumbifidum ATCC 29521 (200 g daily) or xylitol-containing chewing gums (two gums three times daily after each meal; total xylitol content: 5.58 g daily) for three weeks. At baseline and one day, two weeks, and four weeks after the interventions, saliva samples were cultured on mitis-salivarius-bacitracin agar and salivary S. mutans counts were determined. Data were analyzed with independent t-tests, analysis of variance, and Fisher's least significant difference test. Results: In both groups, S. mutans counts on the first day, second week, and fourth weeks after the intervention were significantly lower than baseline values (P < 0.05). The greatest level of reduction in both groups was observed in the second week after the intervention. Moreover, although the reduction was greater in probiotic yogurt consumers, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Probiotic yogurt and xylitol-containing chewing gums seem to be as effective in reduction of salivary S. mutans levels. Their constant long-term consumption is thus recommended to prevent caries.