bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water Taxation and Subsidy Analysis Based on Consumer Water Use Behavior and Water Sources Inside the Kathmandu Valley
Authors: Ojha Rajit , Thapa Bhesh Raj , Shrestha Sadhana , Shindo Junko , Ishidaira Hiroshi , Kazama Futaba
Published: December 2018

Groundwater is a major alternative water source used to cover the deficit of water supplied by Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), the authority responsible for water supply inside Kathmandu Valley. The groundwater price relative to that of KUKL affects priority of usage, and hence, groundwater resources sustainability. Therefore, taxation or subsidies on water sources become necessary based on their implication on environment. In this study, we evaluate volumetric water price, including initial investment, operation and maintenance (O&M) cost for different water sources, and compare it with the water price of KUKL, Kathmandu. The results show that shallow groundwater is cheaper than KUKL’s water. For groundwater sustainability, taxation on shallow groundwater seems necessary. For the recent water use of 97 LPCD (liters per capita per day) the taxation requirement is Nepalese Rupee (NRs.) 320/month (0.35% of total expenditure) if the initial investment for well construction and O&M cost are considered, and NRs. 626 (0.7% of total expenditure) if only O&M cost is considered. On the other hand, rainwater harvesting and recharging, the measures to cope with groundwater exploitation, might need 40% to 50% subsidy for their initial investment.
A New Tool to Estimate Inundation Depths by Spatial Interpolation (RAPIDE): Design, Application and Impact on Quantitative Assessment of Flood Damages
Authors: Scorzini Anna Rita , Radice Alessio , Molinari Daniela
Published: December 2018

Rapid tools for the prediction of the spatial distribution of flood depths within inundated areas are necessary when the implementation of complex hydrodynamic models is not possible due to time constraints or lack of data. For example, similar tools may be extremely useful to obtain first estimates of flood losses in the aftermath of an event, or for large-scale river basin planning. This paper presents RAPIDE, a new GIS-based tool for the estimation of the water depth distribution that relies only on the perimeter of the inundation and a digital terrain model. RAPIDE is based on a spatial interpolation of water levels, starting from the hypothesis that the perimeter of the flooded area is the locus of points having null water depth. The interpolation is improved by (i) the use of auxiliary lines, perpendicular to the river reach, along which additional control points are placed and (ii) the possibility to introduce a mask for filtering interpolation points near critical areas. The reliability of RAPIDE is tested for the 2002 flood in Lodi (northern Italy), by comparing the inundation depth maps obtained by the rapid tool to those from 2D hydraulic modelling. The change of the results, related to the use of either method, affects the quantitative estimation of direct damages very limitedly. The results, therefore, show that RAPIDE can provide accurate flood depth predictions, with errors that are fully compatible with its use for river-basin scale flood risk assessments and civil protection purposes.
Calculation Proposal for the Economic Level of Apparent Losses (ELAL) in a Water Supply System
Authors: Arregui Francisco J. , Cobacho Ricardo , Soriano Javier , Jimenez-Redal Ruben
Published: December 2018

The manuscript describes a simplified methodology with which to assess the economic level of apparent losses (ELAL) in a water utility. This economic point corresponds to the break-even point for which the marginal benefit of increasing the frequency of the apparent losses’ reduction activities equalizes the marginal cost of their implementation. For this calculation, each apparent loss component, as defined by the International Water Association, has been subdivided into two additional categories. These categories have been established depending on how periodic activities conducted by the water utility to reduce apparent losses—namely water meter replacement and customers’ connection inspections—may affect their magnitude. It has been found that the ELAL is influenced by intervention costs, the degradation rate of the accuracy of water meters and water tariffs. In addition, this work defines a set of performance indicators to benchmark the apparent loss’s performance relative to the minimum achievable and optimum levels of the losses. Finally, two case studies on how the proposed calculation should be applied have been added to the appendices.
Improving Body Mechanics Using Experiential Learning and Ergonomic Tools in Massage Therapy Education
Authors: Anderson, BA, LMT, BCTMB, CEAS Robin B.
Published: December 2018

Introduction: Current industry data suggest that the rise in occupational injuries for massage therapists is contributing to a significant number leaving the profession after a few short years. While many massage therapists are taught meth-ods for proper body mechanics and self-care within their career educational programs, there are few consistencies in the theoretical approaches to these concepts, even though it is a required component in massage therapy career training.Purpose: This study demonstrates a measurable and effective teaching method using a combination of experiential and transformative learning theory models and authentic ergonomics measurement tools to teach effective body mechanics in entry level career training that may be sustainable for new massage therapists entering the field. Methods: Four cohorts of students (N = 17) enrolled in a kinesiology course for massage thera-pists were studied using a mixed-methods time series experimental design. A pre- and post-test was conducted by utilizing two industry standard ergo-nomics risk factor assessment tools as measurable data for score comparison, to denote improvements in each student’s risk factor tendencies and provide evidentiary support of learning transfer. Between the pre- and post-test, students participated in a series of experiential learning exercises within class sessions during the semester and completed two reflection journals discussing their experiences. Results: The results showed that there was a statistically significant reduction in ergonomics risk factor scores for all students studied. Conclusion: The success of this study demon-strates that the instructional design using expe-riential and transformative educational theory and general ergonomics concepts is an effective approach to teaching proper body mechanics to massage therapy students which can be adopted into universally accepted curriculum on many levels and could eventually contribute to reduction of occupational injury in the future.
Effects of Massage as a Combination Therapy with Lumbopelvic Stability Exercises as Compared to Standard Massage Therapy in Low Back Pain: a Randomized Cross-Over Study
Authors: Joseph, PhD Leonard H. , Hancharoenkul, MSc, PT Benjamaporn , Sitilertpisan, PhD Patraporn , Pirunsan, PhD Ubon , Paungmali, PhD Aatit
Published: December 2018

Background: Little is known about the effects of providing massage as a combination therapy (CT) with lumbopelvic stability training (LPST) in management of chronic nonspecific low back pain (CLBP) among elite female weight lifters. It is unclear whether massage therapy (MT) together with LPST has any additional clinical benefits for individuals with CLBP.Purpose: The current study compares the thera-peutic effects of CT against MT as a stand-alone intervention on pain intensity (PI), pain pressure threshold (PPT), tissue blood flow (TBF), and lumbopelvic stability (LPS) among elite weight lifters with CLBP.Setting: The study was conducted at the campus for National Olympic weight lifting training camp.Participants: A total of 16 professional female elite weight lifting athletes who were training for Olympic weight lifting competition participated in the study.Research Design: A within-subject, repeated measures, crossover, single-blinded, randomized allocation study.Intervention: The athletes were randomized into three sessions of CT and MT with a time interval of 24 hrs within sessions and a wash out period of four weeks between the sessions.Main Outcome Measures: The PI, PPT, TBF, and LPS were measured before and after each session repeatedly in both groups of intervention. The changes in the PI, PPT, TBF, and LPS were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of vari-ance (ANOVA).Results: The results showed that the CT signifi-cantly demonstrated greater effects in reducing pain perception (45%–51%), improving pain pressure threshold (15% up to 25%), and increas-ing tissue blood flow (131%–152%) than MT (p < .001).Conclusion: The combination therapy of mas-sage therapy and LPST is likely to provide more clinical benefits in terms of PI, PPT, and TBF when compared to massage as a stand-alone therapy among individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
The Global 21 cm Absorption from Cosmic Dawn with Inhomogeneous Gas Distribution
Authors: Xu 徐怡 Yidong 冬 , Yue 岳 Bin 斌 , Chen 陈学 Xuelei 雷
Published: December 2018

We make an analytical estimate of the maximum 21 cm absorption signal from the cosmic dawn, taking into account the inhomogeneity of gas distribution in the intergalactic medium (IGM) due to nonlinear structure formation. The gas located near halos is overdense but adiabatically heated, while the gas far from halos is underdense and hence cooler. The cumulative effect of adiabatic heating and cooling from this gas inhomogeneity results in a reduction in the maximum global 21 cm absorption depth by about 40% as compared with the homogeneous IGM model, assuming saturated coupling between the spin temperature of neutral hydrogen (H i) and the adiabatic gas kinetic temperature.
The Second APOKASC Catalog: The Empirical Approach
Authors: Pinsonneault Marc H. , Elsworth Yvonne P. , Tayar Jamie , Serenelli Aldo , Stello Dennis , Zinn Joel , Mathur Savita , García Rafael A. , Johnson Jennifer A. , Hekker Saskia , Huber Daniel , Kallinger Thomas , Mészáros Szabolcs , Mosser Benoit , Stassun Keivan , Girardi Léo , Rodrigues Thaíse S. , Aguirre Victor Silva , An Deokkeun , Basu Sarbani , Chaplin William J. , Corsaro Enrico , Cunha Katia , García-Hernández D. A. , Holtzman Jon , Jönsson Henrik , Shetrone Matthew , Smith Verne V. , Sobeck Jennifer S. , Stringfellow Guy S. , Zamora Olga , Beers Timothy C. , Fernández-Trincado J. G. , Frinchaboy Peter M. , Hearty Fred R. , Nitschelm Christian
Published: December 2018

We present a catalog of stellar properties for a large sample of 6676 evolved stars with Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment spectroscopic parameters and Kepler asteroseismic data analyzed using five independent techniques. Our data include evolutionary state, surface gravity, mean density, mass, radius, age, and the spectroscopic and asteroseismic measurements used to derive them. We employ a new empirical approach for combining asteroseismic measurements from different methods, calibrating the inferred stellar parameters, and estimating uncertainties. With high statistical significance, we find that asteroseismic parameters inferred from the different pipelines have systematic offsets that are not removed by accounting for differences in their solar reference values. We include theoretically motivated corrections to the large frequency spacing (Δν) scaling relation, and we calibrate the zero-point of the frequency of the maximum power (ν
max) relation to be consistent with masses and radii for members of star clusters. For most targets, the parameters returned by different pipelines are in much better agreement than would be expected from the pipeline-predicted random errors, but 22% of them had at least one method not return a result and a much larger measurement dispersion. This supports the usage of multiple analysis techniques for asteroseismic stellar population studies. The measured dispersion in mass estimates for fundamental calibrators is consistent with our error model, which yields median random and systematic mass uncertainties for RGB stars of order 4%. Median random and systematic mass uncertainties are at the 9% and 8% level, respectively, for red clump stars.
Prevalence of Salmonella spp. in poultry carcasses samples collected in slaughterhouses of Southern Brazil from 2006 to 2015
Authors: De Lima Mateus Silva , Isolan Leonardo Werlang , Hessel Claudia Titze , Pessoa João Pedro , Tondo Eduardo Cesar
Published: December 2018

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Salmonella on poultry carcasses produced in slaughterhouses of Southern Brazil participating of the Official Pathogen Reduction Program conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply.

Methodology: From 2006 to 2015, 77,165 poultry carcasses were analyzed for presence/absence of Salmonella spp. and the results were statistically evaluated.

Results: Prevalence varied from 2.92% to 5.24%, with a mean percentage of 4.04%. The difference in prevalence numbers was not significant during all the period analyzed. Higher Salmonella prevalence has been reported worldwide, indicating the efficacy of Brazilian control measures implemented in the productive chain and the low risk associated to Brazilian poultry meat consumption. However, additional information about the acceptable and safe prevalence of Salmonella on poultry should be defined by risk analysis studies, considering the reality of Brazilian companies and scientific data.

Conclusions: The results of the present study can be the first step for a national Risk Assessment and may contribute to improvements in self-controlling programs and with the current Brazilian poultry regulation.
Hepatitis B vaccination in Burkina Faso: prevalence of HBsAg carriage and immune response in children in the western region
Authors: Sanou Armel Moumouni , Ilboudo Abdoul Kader , Meda Clément Ziemlé , Togozia Augustin , Coulibaly Abou , Cisse Assana , Sagna Tani , Kania Dramane , Tarnagda Zekiba
Published: December 2018

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major health problem in Burkina Faso. To control and prevent HBV infection, Hepatitis B vaccine was introduced in the national expanded program in 2006. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of HBsAg in children aged under 10 years after one decade of universal hepatitis B vaccination, and the immune response among these children.

Methodology: Between May and October 2015, a cross-sectional study was conducted among children in two primary healthcare centers in the western region of Burkina Faso. Participants were enrolled in Accart-Ville Healthcare Center in Bobo-Dioulasso (urban area) and the Healthcare Center of the village of Djigouera (rural area). Blood samples were collected from all children and analysed for the presence of HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies (Abs). For HBsAg positive children, blood samples were also taken among their mothers for screening for HBsAg.

Results: A total of 265 children were included in this study. The mean age was 4.4 years. HBsAg was found in 3.4% (9/265) of children. Of the 9 HBsAg positive children, 5 had HBsAg positive mothers. From the 265 children tested for quantification of anti-HBs Ab titer, 219 (82.6%) were fully vaccinated and 135 (61.6%) of them had an anti-HBs ≥ 10 mIU/mL.

Conclusion: Despite a good vaccination coverage (82.6%), a considerable proportion of vaccinated children remains unprotected from HBV infection. That emphasizes the need for further strengthening of the vaccination program through implementing the birth dose of HBV vaccine as recommended by WHO.
A cross-sectional study on public belief, knowledge and practice towards antibiotic use in the state of Perak, Malaysia
Authors: Choo Shea Jiun , Chang Chee Tao , Lee Jason Choong Yin , Munisamy Valli , Tan Chin Khai , Raj Jasmine Daryl , Mat Taib Rosma Izzaty , Thong Kah Shuen , Shafie Asrul A
Published: December 2018

Introduction: Inappropriate use of antibiotics has led to antimicrobial resistance, a major public health challenge worldwide. This study aimed to explore beliefs, knowledge, and practice on antibiotic use among general public.

Methodology: Cross-sectional study was conducted at 13 hospitals and 44 primary health clinics in Perak from May to July 2017. Adults above 18 years, literate, and had experience in antibiotics consumption were selected through sequential sampling method. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire which included the three study domains i.e. belief, knowledge and practice. The questionnaire was pilot on 30 subjects.

Results: Out of 2850 distributed questionnaires, 2773 returned and 2632 were included for analysis. Mean age of the respondents was 39.7 ± 14.5 years old. Most respondents were female (58.6%), Malay (74.7%) and underwent upper secondary school (45.6%). Mean score were generated for each domain with belief: 5.87 ± 3.00 (total score: 12), knowledge: 15.82 ± 3.85 (total score: 24), practice: 6.91 ± 2.07 (total score: 12). In the belief domain, 63.2% of respondents believed that antibiotics would help them to recover faster. In the knowledge domain, 52.7% of respondents inappropriately thought that antibiotics could work on viral infections. In the practice domain, 70% of respondents expected doctors to prescribe antibiotics if suffered from symptoms.

Conclusion: Majority of the respondents expect doctors to prescribe antibiotics for their illness, and most believes that antibiotics can speed up recovery of illness. Lack of awareness on antibiotic resistance was found to be a significant factor associated with inappropriate antibiotic use.
Compliance with standard precautions during clinical training of nursing students in Saudi Arabia: A multi-university study
Authors: Alshammari Farhan , Cruz Jonas Preposi , Alquwez Nahed , Almazan Joseph , Alsolami Fatmah , Tork Hanan , Alabdulaziz Hawa , Felemban Ebaa Marwan
Published: December 2018

Introduction: Nursing students are susceptible to healthcare-associated infections because of their direct patient interactions during their clinical training. Hence, compliance with standard precautions (SPs) is paramount during their clinical exposure and training. This study investigated the compliance with SPs and its predictors among Saudi nursing students from six universities.

Methodology: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in six government universities in Saudi Arabia. A convenience sample of 829 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students was surveyed using the Compliance with Standard Precautions Scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out to analyze the data.

Results: The overall compliance rate of the respondents was 60.1% with a mean score of 12.02 (SD = 4.50). The students reported highest compliance on covering the mouth and nose when wearing a mask, while the lowest compliance was on disposing sharps box before it is full. The university, academic year level, and attendance to infection prevention and control training or seminar in the last six months were identified as significant predictors of the students’ compliance with SPs.

Conclusions: The findings provide valuable insights and guidance for improving the practice of SPs among future nurses, which could result in the reduction of infection exposure and its transmission rates among future nurses in clinical settings.
Wide spread of OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Algerian hospitals: A four years’ study
Authors: Aggoune Nadjet , Tali Maamar Hassiba , Assaous Farida , Guettou Badia , Laliam Rym , Benamrouche Nabila , Zerouki Ali , Naim Malek , Rahal Kheira
Published: December 2018

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in Algerian hospitals and to characterize the molecular types of carbapenemases found.

Methodology: During a four years study lasting between 2012 and 2015, 81 strains of Enterobacteriaceae with reduced susceptibility to carbapenems were collected from different hospitals. Carbapenemase genes were detected by PCR. Multi locus sequence typing was used to study genetic relationships between carbapenemase- producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates.

Results: Among 56 confirmed CPE, blaOXA-48 was detected in 98.21% of isolates. Two isolates co-expressed NDM, and a single one was only an NDM producer. The strains displayed various susceptibility patterns to antibiotics with variable levels of resistance to carbapenems. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) revealed the presence of multiple sequence types in circulation.

Conclusions: This report highlights the wide distribution of several clones of OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Algeria. Urgent action should be taken to avoid epidemic situations.
Antibiogram and genetic relatedness of clinical isolates of Enterococcus spp. in Mangalore, India
Authors: Nayak Prathvi P , Biranthabail Dhanashree , Shenoy Shalini , Kotian Shashidhar M
Published: December 2018

Introduction: Drug-resistant Enterococcus species is a persisting clinical problem and may serve as a reservoir of resistant genes. The present study was undertaken in Mangalore, India to know the antibiogram and genetic relatedness of Enterococcus spp. isolated from clinical samples.

Methodology: A total of 150 non–repetitive Enterococcus spp. isolated from clinical samples were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Molecular typing of the isolates was done by Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD).

Results: Among the 150 isolates, 79 were from urine, 68 from pus and three from blood samples. Of this 58.7 % were E. faecalis and the remaining were E. faecium. Urinary isolates of E. faecium showed a higher percentage of antibiotic resistance when compared to E. faecium isolates from pus (p < 0.001). E. faecium from blood samples were resistant to ampicillin, penicillin, ciprofloxacin and were sensitive to vancomycin and teicoplanin. E. faecalis blood isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, penicillin, and erythromycin. 73% of Enterococcus isolates from pus were resistant to erythromycin. All the Enterococcus spp. were sensitive to vancomycin. Among the total Enterococcus isolates 44 were high-level aminoglycoside resistant (HLAR) by disc diffusion method which corresponded to MIC of > 500 µg/mL for gentamicin and > 1000 µg/mL for streptomycin. These isolates were subjected to RAPD, which showed similarity and differences in the banding patterns.

Conclusions: Our study showed a baseline resistance among Enterococcus spp. in our area, which poses a challenge to the treating physicians and a reservoir for transmission of antibiotic resistant genes.
Revision of the Oriental species of Calleida Latreille (sensu lato). Part 2: the C. discoidalis species group (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini)
Authors: Shi Hongliang , Casale Achille
Published: December 2018

The C.discoidalis species group of the genus Calleida Latreille from Asia (in the sense of Casale and Shi 2018) is revised with six species recognized. Four new species are described: C.piligera Shi & Casale, sp. n. (type locality: Taiwan: Siling, 24.65°N, 121.42°E); C.cochinchinae Casale & Shi, sp. n. (type locality: Vietnam: “Cochinchina”); C.yunnanensis Shi & Casale, sp. n. (type locality: Yunnan: Caiyanghe, 22.60°N, 101.12°E); and C.luzonensis Casale & Shi, sp. n. (type locality: Philippines: Nagtipunan, 16.22°N, 121.60°E). C.fukiensis Jedlička, 1963 is confirmed as an available and valid species name, and C. suensoni Kirschenhofer, 1986 is newly synonymized with it. A phylogenetic analysis of Oriental Calleida species, based on adult morphological characters, is performed. The results show that the monophyly of most species groups in Oriental Calleida is accepted, but the C.discoidalis group appears polyphyletic and comprises three lineages. However, because many species relationships in the cladogram lack significant supporting, presently the C.discoidalis group was remained to use for morphological convenience. Five types of female reproductive tracts were recognized, corresponding to five branches in the cladogram.
Un entre-deux de la Modernité : paysage de quartiers de logements collectifs à Hanoï et Oulan-Bator
Authors: Palumbo Maria Anita , Boucheron Olivier
Published: December 2018

La forme globalisée de tours et d’immeubles d’habitation, accueillant des logements attribués ou à loyers subventionnés, nous intéresse à double titre : à la fois en tant que forme urbaine imposée qui provoque une standardisation accrue du mode de vie et, également, en tant que support de multiples formes de réappropriations et d’extensions des espaces de vie produites par les habitants eux-mêmes. Afin de mieux saisir toutes ces formes qu’a pu prendre la « créativité dispersée » de l’Europe à l’Asie, de l’Afrique aux Amériques, cet article propose deux cas d’étude, le premier est le microdistrict d’ Ulaanbaatar en Mongolie et le second, le quartier d’habitat social Kim Liên d’Hanoï au Vietnam, afin d’y analyser les rapports conflictuels et/ou les interactions entre standardisation et différenciation, contrôle et transgression, uniformisation et invention dans des contextes géo-sociopolitiques différents. Ces productions infraordinaires de l’espace sont analysées comme autant de formes d’émancipation par rapport à la modernité et à sa manière de produire l’habitat et l’habiter.
L’architecte Guillaume Serneels (1907-1970) : De son fonds d’archives à la ville de Mbujimayi en République démocratique du Congo (RDC)
Authors: Lund Irene Amanti , Tshisuaka Martin , Robert Yves
Published: December 2018

Le Fonds Guillaume Serneels, conservé aux Archives et Bibliothèque d’architecture de l’ULB, permet la valorisation d’un architecte méconnu qui œuvra dans l’ancien Congo belge et marqua le paysage urbain et architectural de l’actuelle ville de Mbujimayi (anciennement Bakwanga) dans le Kasaï. À travers les documents d’archives transparaît une personnalité forte dont l’œuvre principale fut la conception et la réalisation des installations de l’ancienne société Forminière, un « État dans l’État », qui contribua, par ses activités minières et forestières, de manière déterminante au développement de la ville. Il y dressa l’équivalent d’un plan d’urbanisme comprenant plusieurs quartiers distincts à destination des cadres, des employés, des ecclésiastiques et des ouvriers de cette société. Ces quartiers, au tracé urbain différencié, comprennent plusieurs équipements de soins, de loisirs, mais aussi de formation. Son expression architecturale est le fruit d’une synthèse entre les impératifs du milieu climatique tropical et les différentes expressions architecturales de l’époque mêlant Art déco, traditionalisme et fonctionnalisme. L’œuvre de Guillaume Serneels offre aujourd’hui la possibilité de révéler une mémoire architecturale et urbaine qui représente une page de la modernité coloniale, aussi méconnue que digne d’intérêt, contribuant de manière significative à la connaissance de l’histoire architecturale et urbaine de la ville minière de Mbujimayi.
Polygamie et personnes âgées au Sénégal
Authors: Ba Gning Sadio , Antoine Philippe
Published: December 2018

Vivre en situation de polygamie demeure bien ancré au Sénégal, en particulier chez les personnes âgées. Après avoir mesuré l’évolution de la polygamie et ses modes résidentiels, l’article analyse les implications des différentes formes d’arrangements résidentiels et les services apportés par l’entourage aux personnes âgées. La polygamie permet d’accroître les possibilités de prise en charge des hommes âgés par leurs épouses, alors que les femmes doivent essentiellement compter sur l’aide de leurs enfants adultes.
Benchmarking des performances infrastructurelles de l’Afrique
Authors: Sarr Babacar
Published: December 2018

Le manque d’infrastructures de qualité en Afrique est largement reconnu dans la littérature, et cela malgré une augmentation régulière des investissements infrastructurels au cours de ces dernières années. Cet article propose un benchmarking de la performance des pays africains dans la fourniture des infrastructures économiques clés, à savoir l’eau et l’assainissement, l’électricité, les transports, et les télécommunications. Les résultats montrent que les performances des pays africains sont en général très loin de celles des autres pays ayant le même niveau de développement.
Erweiterung. Miklos Vetö et la métaphysique allemande
Authors: Dalissier Michel
Published: December 2018

Nous voudrions revenir ici sur le parcours qui mène Miklos Vetö, de son historiographie de l’idéalisme allemand à sa métaphysique plus récente. Nous étudierons l’évolution de sa pensée des deux tomes de son De Kant à Schelling , jusqu’à L’élargissement de la métaphysique , accompagné des Explorations métaphysiques . Nous parcourrons un vaste champ problématique qu’expriment les questions suivantes : Qu’est-ce que la métaphysique ?, bien sûr, mais aussi : Quels sont ses concepts fondamentaux ? Pourquoi emprunte-t-elle deux voies, ontologique et eidétique ? En quoi l’insuffisance ou l’étroitesse de ces voies en appelle-t-elle à son élargissement ? Et celui-ci signifie-il un enfermement toujours plus résolu en soi-même et sa tradition, ou bien se couple-t-il à une ouverture à l’histoire, à la temporalité, et à l’autre ?
Justitieel welzijnswerk in de Brusselse gevangenissen: een puzzel met veel stukjes
Authors: Naessens Liesbeth
Published: December 2018

De welzijnsnoden van gedetineerden zijn vaak complex en moeilijk te beantwoorden omdat ze zich op verschillende levensdomeinen manifesteren. Door het aanbieden van hulp- en dienstverlening, aan gedetineerden en hun naasten, proberen verschillende organisaties een antwoord te formuleren op die noden. Deze hulp- en dienstverlening strekt zich uit over verschillende domeinen zoals onderwijs, cultuur, tewerkstelling, sport, gezondheid, welzijn,… De diensten voor justitieel welzijnswerk vervullen hierbij een belangrijke rol. Deze bijdrage focust op de specifieke organisatorische eigenheid van het Brusselse justitieel welzijnswerk. Tevens belichten we de resultaten van een praktijkgericht onderzoek van Odisee hogeschool omtrent de werking van de diensten voor justitieel welzijnswerk in Brussel, hun netwerk en hun samenwerking met andere diensten.
Pêche du corail et défense des recettes publiques dans le contexte ligure : réglementations et problèmes de contrôle (xviie‑début xviiie siècle)
Authors: Boschiazzo Alessio
Published: December 2018

Cet article propose une première analyse des principaux problèmes fiscaux que la République de Gênes a dû affronter au cours du xviie siècle et au début du xviiie dans le cadre de la pêche du corail, une activité ayant connu une forte expansion au cours de l’époque moderne. La diffusion de pratiques illicites dans le milieu des pêcheurs et la forte concurrence du port voisin de Livourne ont contraint les autorités ligures à adopter une série de stratégies dont le but était de freiner les fraudes, ainsi que de limiter les risques de perte de parts de marché, et donc de recettes fiscales. L’action génoise, bien que lacunaire, témoigne de l’intérêt et des efforts du gouvernement de Saint Georges pour améliorer sa capacité de contrôle sur l’ensemble du domaine de l’État et adapter ses politiques à la situation du marché.
Corallatori e guerra di corsa tra Sardegna e Corsica (1755‑1768)
Authors: Beri Emiliano
Published: December 2018

I pescatori di corallo liguri sono una presenza costante nelle acque tra Sardegna e Corsica durante i secoli dell’età moderna. Una presenza stagionale, che si perpetra di anno in anno, garantita da comodi punti di appoggio e da privilegi, che deve fare i conti con la minacciosa e altrettanto costante presenza dei corsari barbareschi. Nel xviii secolo, proprio quando la corsa barbaresca cala d’intensità, ecco la comparsa di una nuova minaccia, collegata all’insurrezione còrsa contro Genova (1729-1768). Se nei primi decenni la sollevazione ha una dimensione eminentemente terrestre coinvolgendo relativamente il mare, nel 1755, con l’avvento di Pasquale Paoli alla guida del fronte ribelle, la situazione cambia radicalmente. Su iniziativa di Paoli viene organizzata una marina da guerra per correre il mare in traccia del naviglio mercantile genovese. I corallatori finiscono così in prima linea, perché le rotte che frequentano e le aree di pesca diventano terreno di caccia per i corsari. Ecco quindi la necessità di proteggere sé stessi e la loro attività con l’organizzazione di convogli, con le richieste di navi da guerra di scorta e con varie forme di autodifesa (dalla richiesta di protezione al re di Sardegna alle azioni di forza, autogestite, contro i corsari).
Le vase et le microscope : origines et développement d'une connaissance scientifique du corail rouge de Méditerranée (xvie‑xxie siècle)
Authors: Faget Daniel , Vielzeuf Daniel
Published: December 2018

Produit emblématique de la Méditerranée, le corail rouge intéresse naturalistes et savants depuis l’Antiquité. Longtemps rangé dans le monde minéral, Corallium rubrum a intégré tardivement le monde du vivant sous l’impulsion des recherches de Ferdinando di Marsigli et de Jean-André Peyssonnel au xviiie siècle. En livrant en 1864 à la communauté scientifique son ouvrage Histoire naturelle du corail, Henri de Lacaze-Duthiers a permis une avancée importante des connaissances de la physiologie de ce cnidaire. Cette étude, après avoir retracé la longue gestation d’une connaissance scientifique du corail rouge, propose une relecture de l’œuvre de ce biologiste français du xixe siècle, en mettant ses apports en écho avec les avancées de la recherche contemporaine.
Analytical Study on the Flexural Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beam with Mineral Admixture under Calcium Leaching Degradation
Authors: Kim Il Sun , Choi Yoon Suk , Lee Chan Kyu , Yang Eun Ik
Published: December 2018

Calcium leaching degradation could be happened in reinforcement concrete member due to the contact with pure water in underground condition. Thus, it is needed to evaluate the resistance of calcium leaching for concrete mixed with mineral admixtures. So, in this paper, to evaluate the flexural behavior in RC member with mineral admixture under calcium leaching degradation, we investigated the effect of calcium leaching using the non-linear finite-element program. From the results, the load capacity and flexible rigidity of a degraded RC member decrease when the degradation level increases with leaching period. And, regardless of the type of mineral admixtures, finite-element-method analysis effectively showed the characteristics of calcium leaching damaged RC beam.
Linear and Hyperbranched Copolymers of PEG-Based Acrylates and Methacrylic Acid as pH-Responsive Hydrophobic Drug Carriers
Authors: Atayde Jr. Eduardo C. , Montalbo Reynaldo Carlos K. , Arco Susan D.
Published: December 2018

The oral administration of pharmaceuticals is typically preferred over other methods due to its non-intrusiveness and convenience of administration. However, the varying chemical environments of the gastro-intestinal tract pose a challenge in ensuring the stability and inertness of a drug compound until it reaches its target. Polymers that are responsive to pH changes have potential as smart materials for the controlled oral administration of pharmaceuticals. In this study, linear and hyperbranched copolymers of methacrylic acid (MAA) and poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA) were synthesized by RAFT polymerization. High molecular weight polymers were produced with PDI values close to 1.0. These smart materials underwent phase changes at pH 5.15-5.6. This property enabled the amphiphilicity of the copolymers to be switched on or off. By doing so inin vitrodrug release studies with ibuprofen as the model hydrophobic drug, the copolymers were able to inhibit drug release in simulated stomach conditions to up to 13% while enhancing drug release in simulated intestinal conditions to up to 75% within 6 hours. These indicate that copolymers based on MAA and PEGMEMA have potential as smart materials for drug delivery applications.
Deterioration of Transportation Infrastructures: Corrosion of Reinforcements in Concrete Structures
Authors: Gharehbaghi Koorosh , Rahmani Farshid
Published: December 2018

The considerable network of transportation infrastructures such as highways, rails, and so forth are key providers to economic growth and productivity of countries. Consecutively, Reinforced Concrete (RC) is the predominant construction materials in constructing many of these infrastructures. RC is a unique construction material which allows flexible design layouts and offers safe bending and torsion to satisfy design requirements. However, being exposed to harsh environment and contamination such as salts, acid rain, distilled water, carbonation, sulphur and so on are the reasons for deterioration, thus significantly impacting the performance of these structures. Furthermore, the deterioration of these structures is not only a safety issue, but also an economic concern. Moreover, deterioration of concrete infrastructures can be attributed to many factors from structural deficiency to corrosion of reinforcement and thermal expansion due to fire damage. Accordingly, this paper will review the corrosion of reinforcements in concrete transportation Structures, and in doing so it will also examine some of the novel deterioration models to prolong concrete transportation structures. First, second, and third level headings Introduction All manuscripts must be in English. Please keep a second copy of your manuscript in your office (just in case anything gets lost in the mail). When receiving the manuscript, we assume that the corresponding authors grant us the copyright to use the manuscript for the book or journal in question. Should authors use tables or figures from other Publications, they must ask the corresponding publishers to grant them the right to publish this material in their paper.
Characteristic, Microstructure and Properties of Dense Hydroxyapatite Ceramic from Cockle Shell for Biomaterials
Authors: Sirisoam Tiwasawat , Saelee Cherdsak , Thiansem Sakdiphon , Punyanitya Sittiporn
Published: December 2018

Dense hydroxyapatite ceramic can be fabricated from hydroxyapatite (HA) powder prepared from cockle shells. The shell powder was treated at 900°C and co-precipitated with PO43- in NH4H2PO4 solution at Ca/P ratio of 1.67 in order to synthesize the HA powder. HA discs were formed by a hydraulic press machine and sintered at temperature of 1250°C for 2 h in an electric furnace which helps to dense ceramic. The results from FTIR analysis identified the functional groups of HA powder that has the ion stretching vibration around 3574, 2002 cm-1 for hydroxyl group (OH-), 1451 cm-1 for carbonate (CO32-), and phosphate groups (PO43-) were also observed around 1045 and 560 cm-1 respectively. XRD measurement showed that the ceramic contains hydroxyapatite crystals with β-tricalcium phosphate and calcium oxide as the secondary phase. Morphological evaluations by SEM measurement shows that the HA particles were agglomerated and showed the fractured surface of dense HA when sintered at 1300°C. Grain size ranges from 0.5–1 mm, with an apparent porosity of about 50% of the total area and the pore size ranges from 1–10 mm. Mechanical property measurements show that the dense ceramic contains bending strength of 135 MPa, which is close to the strength of human’s cortical bone (162 MPa).
Effects of Reaction Temperature and Electrolyte Concentration on Interfacial Reactions between Graphite and Propylene Carbonate-Based Solutions
Authors: Jeong Soon Ki
Published: December 2018

The effects of temperature and electrolyte concentration on the reaction of graphite electrodes in propylene carbonate (PC)-based solutions were investigated. In the case of natural graphite, it was confirmed that the reaction leading to the insertion of lithium ions into the graphite, which does not proceed at 25°C in a solution with a concentration of 0.85 mol kg–1, proceeds by lowering the reaction temperature to –15°C. The temperature at which lithium ions were inserted increased as the concentration increased. That is, lithium ions were electrochemically inserted into the interior of the natural graphite at 5°C in a solution of 1.63 mol kg–1 and at 15°C in a solution of 2.45 mol kg–1, indicating that the temperature and the electrolyte concentration greatly affect the properties of the solid electrolyte interphase produced by the decomposition of the PC-based electrolyte. Similar and slightly different electrochemical behavior was observed for synthetic graphite in terms of changes in temperature and the electrolyte concentration factor. In synthetic graphite, the temperature at which lithium ions were inserted was lower than in natural graphite: –25°C and 5°C in solutions of 0.85 mol kg–1 and 2.45 mol kg–1, respectively.
Verbond en kinderdoop in die patristiese literatuur – enkele opmerkings
Authors: Engelbrecht J.J.
Published: December 2018

No abstract available.
Die kinderdoop en die verbond by die reformatore Zwingli en Bullinger. 'n Kort oorsig
Authors: Pont A.D.
Published: December 2018

No abstract available.
Fine mapping quantitative trait loci that underlie resistance to soybean sudden death syndrome using NILs and SNPs.
Authors: Lee Yi Chen , Iqbal M Javed , Njiti Victor N , Kantartzi Stella , Lightfoot David A.
Published: December 2018

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivars differ in their resistance to sudden death syndrome (SDS), caused by Fusarium virguliforme. Breeding for improving SDS response has been challenging, due to interactions among the 18-42 known resistance loci. Four quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to SDS (cqRfs–cqRfs3) were clustered within 20 cM of the rhg1 locus underlying resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) on Chromosome (Chr.) 18. Another locus on Chr. 20 (cqRfs5) was reported to interact with this cluster. The aims here were to compare the inheritance of resistance to SDS in a near isogenic line (NIL) population that was fixed for resistance to SCN but segregated at two of the four loci (cqRfs1 and cqRfs) for SDS resistance; to examine the interaction with the locus on Chr. 20; and to identify candidate genes underlying QTL. Used were; a NIL population derived from residual heterozygosity in an F5:7 recombinant inbred line EF60 (lines 1-38); SDS response data from two locations and years; four segregating microsatellite and 1,500 SNP markers. Polymorphic regions were found from 2,788 Kbp to 8,938 Kbp on Chr. 18 and 33,100 Kbp to 34,943 Kbp on Chr. 20 that were significantly (0.005 < P > 0.0001) associated with resistance to SDS. The QTL fine maps suggested that the two loci on Chr. 18 were three loci (cqRfs1, cqRfs, and cqRfs19). Candidate genes were inferred.  An epistatic interaction was inferred between Chr. 18 and Chr. 20 loci. Therefore, SDS resistance QTL were both complex and interacting.
Morphological and Pomological Variability Analysis of Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Genetic Resources from the Middle and High Atlas of Morocco
Authors: Kabiri Ghizlane , Bouda Said , Elhansali Mohamed , Haddioui Abdelmajid
Published: December 2018

The walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a traditional fruit crop in Morocco. This species is cultivated in mountain in different environments. However, little data is available on its genetic diversity and its adaptability. Morphological characters of leaf and fruit from 11 Moroccan accessions of walnut were used to assess phenotypic variation of this species. Significant differences were found between accessions for the most examined traits, indicating a high phenotypic diversity. Multivariate analyses lead to identify three groups of accessions. The first group composed by the accessions of both Middle and High Atlas Mountain with high weigh and percentage of kernel and low thickness of shell. The second group included the accessions for the High Atlas Mountain characterised by large leaf, high nut dimension and great nut size. The third group is composed by two accessions, one belongs to the Middle Atlas Mountain and the other originating from High Atlas Mountain, which are characterized by small leaf and nut. Then, the structuration of accessions in three groups was not correlated to the mountain range type. Moreover, this study showed a significant phenotypic heterogeneity between the eleven studied accessions which opens the way for the strategies for their conservation and the selection of efficient genotypes with the desired traits.
Mesospheric Anomalous Diffusion During Noctilucent Clouds
Authors: Laskar Fazlul I. , Stober Gunter , Fiedler Jens , Oppenheim Meers M. , Chau Jorge L. , Pallamraju Duggirala , Pedatella Nocholas M. , Tsutsumi Masaki , Renkwitz Toralf
Published: December 2018

Abstract. The Andenes specular meteor radar shows meteor-trail diffusion rates increasing on average by ~ 20 % at times and locations where a lidar observes noctilucent clouds (NLCs). This high-latitude effect has been attributed to the presence of charged NLC but this study shows that such behaviors result predominantly from thermal tides. To make this claim, the current study evaluates data from three stations, at high-, mid-, and low-latitudes, for the years 2012 to 2016, comparing diffusion to show that thermal tides correlate strongly with the presence of NLCs. This data also shows that the connection between meteor-trail diffusion and thermal tide occurs at all altitudes in the mesosphere, while the NLC influence exists only at high-latitudes and at around peak of NLC layer. This paper discusses a number of possible explanations for changes in the regions with NLCs and leans towards the hypothesis that relative abundance of background electron density plays the leading role. A more accurate model of the meteor trail diffusion around NLC particles would help researchers determine mesospheric temperature and neutral density profiles from meteor radars.
Technical Note: Bimodality in Mesospheric OH Rotational Population Distributions and Implications for Temperature Measurements
Authors: Kalogerakis Konstantinos S.
Published: December 2018

Abstract. Emission from the OH Meinel bands is routinely used to determine rotational temperatures that are considered proxies for the kinetic temperature near the mesopause region. Previous observations determined OH rotational temperatures that show a dependence on the vibrational level, with the temperature rising overall as the OH vibrational quantum number v increases. The source of this trend is not well understood and has generally been attributed to deviations from thermodynamic equilibrium. This Technical Note demonstrates that the existence of bimodal OH rotational population distributions is an inherent feature of rotational relaxation in gases and can provide an explanation for the previously reported temperature trend. The use of only a few lines from rotational transitions involving low rotational quantum numbers to determine rotational temperatures does not account for the bimodality of the OH rotational population distributions and leads to systematic errors overestimating the OH rotational temperature. This Note presents selected examples, discusses the relevant implications, and considers strategies that could lead to more reliable OH rotational temperature determination.