bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Weighted Hybrid Localization Scheme for Improved Node Positioning in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Kristalina Prima , Wirawan  , Hendrantoro Gamantyo
Published: November 2017

Localization schemes have a significant role in wireless sensor networks. During random deployment in an untouched area, the nodes have to be capable of self-management to determine their position. Received Signal Strength (RSS) and DV-Hop, are two different schemes that each have environment or hop dependency problem. Hybrid localization scheme, called H-Loc, is a combination of RSS and DV-Hop method. This scheme is proposed to make the selection of distance determination process based on the proximity of nodes position. The weighted least square is proposed as a refining of DV-Hop scheme’s position calculated process. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme has the capability of improving the accuracy of node positioning up to 3.4 %.
Modified Clad Optical Fibre Coated With PVA/TiO2 Nano Composite For Humidity Sensing Application
Authors: Khatua Chandra , Chinya Ipsita , Saha Debdulal , Das Shyamal , Sen Ranjan , Dhar Anirban
Published: November 2017

Synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticle through hydrolysis method is presented followed by TiO2- nanoparticle doped polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite by solution process. FTIR, XRD, DSC-TGA, FESEM, TEM analysis are used to identify the nature of synthesized nanoparticle and loading uniformity of developed composite material. A simple modified clad based optical fibre sensor is developed to measure relative humidity. Coated modified clad optical fibre exhibits excellent relative humidity sensing performance with improved thermal stability of coating material in wide range of 9-95 % RH with good process repeatability. Sensor response is also observed to be very fast and highly reversible. Advantage of our developed composite material become evident when it exhibits wider range of moisture sensitivity compare to pure PVA or pure TiO2 material found in literature. Performance of PVA-TiO2 nanocomposite thick film is also evaluated by capacitance method and result found to agree with coated modified clad optical fibre.
An Application of Functional Multivariate Regression Model to Multiclass Classification
Authors: Krzyśko Mirosław , Smaga Łukasz
Published: November 2017

In this paper, the scale response functional multivariate regression model is considered. By using the basis functions representation of functional predictors and regression coefficients, this model is rewritten as a multivariate regression model. This representation of the functional multivariate regression model is used for multiclass classification for multivariate functional data. Computational experiments performed on real labelled data sets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for classification for functional data.
Association between Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Silvestri, 1901) (Isoptera: Termitidae) with Pilosocereus gounellei (Weber ex Schum) Byles & Rowley (Cactaceae) at the Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Silva Francisco de Assis da , Fernandes Hélder Formiga , Silva Geuba Maria Bernardo da , Costa Dimítri de Araújo , Christoffersen Martin Lindsey , Silva Valdecir da , Furtado Gil Dutra
Published: November 2017

Termites are important components of tropical ecosystems, as decomposers and for their outstanding role in feeding guilds. There are about 2,800 species of termites in terrestrial ecosystems, organized into seven families. Factors that determine abundance in termite colonies are soil type, quality of microhabitat, humidity, and availability of food resources. The species Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Silvestri, 1901) belongs to the Family Termitidae and to the Subfamily Nasutitermitinae. Termites in this taxon are characterized by building their nests in arboreal environments and rocks. Ecological interactions of termites and cactaceans are still scarcely studied. The research was done during the year of 2014, at the Experimental Station of the Federal University of Paraíba, located in the Municipality of São João do Cariri, State of Paraíba, Brazil. A quadrant with a total area of 2,500 m2 was delimited. Fifteen random samples of Pilosocereus gounellei (Weber ex Schum) Byles & Rowley containg termites, and 15 random samples without termites, were chosen. We report a previously unreported relationship between these organisms, and analize the relationship existing between the size of the cactaceans and the occurrence of termite mounds. We conclude that the relationship between the cactacean P. gounellei and the termite C. cyphergaster is one of herbivory of the later over the former. After consuming all the living tissues of the plants, the termites abandon the plant, because these cactaceans no longer provides the necessary conditions for the survival of termites. Xique-xique associated with termite mounds show visual signs of suffocating debilitation, leading to the total collapse of the cactaceans.
Evidenciação socioambiental de empresas siderúrgicas brasileiras entre 2011 e 2015: análise dos relatórios financeiros e de sustentabilidade
Authors: Correia José Jonas Alves , Silva Filipe Emannuel Alves da , Rodrigues Raimundo Nonato
Published: November 2017

O cumprimento da divulgação de informações tocantes aos aspectos ambientais não é uma exigência legal no Brasil, mas por ser um assunto pertinente à sociedade, torna-se relevante a evidenciação dessas informações pelas empresas potencialmente poluidoras. Sabe-se que há a obrigatoriedade de divulgação das informações sociais pelas companhias abertas, o caso Demonstração do Valor Adicionado (DVA). O objetivo deste trabalho consistiu em investigar quais itens de cunho socioambiental tem sido divulgados pelas empresas brasileiras listadas na Brasil, Bolsa & Balcão (B3) do segmento de Siderurgia no período de 2011 a 2015 à luz da Norma Brasileira de Contabilidade Técnica (NBC T) no. 15, que trata das informações de natureza social e ambiental das entidades. Para atingir o objetivo da pesquisa utilizou-se a análise temática de conteúdo. Onde se analisou as informações socioambientais evidenciadas nos documentos oficiais (relatórios financeiros e de sustentabilidade) divulgados pelas empresas e disponibilizados nos seus sites. Os resultados apontam que as empresas do segmento de Siderurgia vêm evidenciando de forma crescente e constante itens de cunho socioambiental nos seus relatórios. Observou-se também que não há muitas diferenças de uma empresa para outra na forma como divulgar, e sim, na quantidade de informação divulgada. Percebeu-se que as empresas que apresentaram relatórios de sustentabilidade em todos os períodos, evidenciam informações socioambientais em maior quantidade e mais e compreensíveis que as empresas que não divulgaram. As investigações apontam que as empresas buscam evidenciar as informações socioambientais com finalidade de se legitimar perante a sociedade. A pesquisa contribui com a literatura ao ponto que traz uma compreensão do nível de evidenciação socioambiental, possibilitando assim, ampliar novas discussões sobre esta temática.
Simulative model for evaluation of investment processes in the regions of Ukraine
Authors: Blahun Ivan , Dmytryshyn Lesia , Leshuk Halyna
Published: November 2017

To analyze and evaluate the investment processes in the regions of Ukraine, it is suggested to use a simulative model that, unlike existing ones, allows to take into account the influence of macroeconomic factors and to predict the future development of the economic system of the regions taking into account their investment potential. The examination of the assessed simulative models of the investment processes in the regions of Ukraine for adequacy is carried out using the determination coefficient and Fisher’s criterion, by which the influence of the most significant economic variables of social and economic development of the regions on the investments formation is determined. Research of the investments impact on the dynamics of economic systems indicators of the regions has shown that 86% of the constructed models are adequate. The presence of statistically significant estimates of model parameters confirms the effectiveness of the proposed approach for conducting research on the analysis and forecasting of the patterns of significant indicators formation of investment activity at the regional level, as well as their impact on indicators of social and economic development.
Diversity of RHD virus: epidemiological, diagnostic and immunological importance
Authors: Fitzner Andrzej , Niedbalski Wiesław
Published: November 2017

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) was first recognized in China in 1984. In Europe, the disease appeared in 1986 in Italy, and in the following years RHD was observed in many other European countries, including Poland in 1988. The disease is caused by RHD virus (RHDV), classified as a representative of the Lagovirus genus within the Caliciviridae family. Lagoviruses include the non-pathogenic rabbit calicivirus (RCV) and the European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV). There are three basic variants (subtypes) of pathogenic RHD viruses: classic (RHDV) and antigenic subtypes RHDVa and RHDV2 (RHDVb), distinguished on the basis of epidemiological characteristics, infectious properties and antigenic and genetic modifications. Phylogenetic analysis of RHDV revealed the presence of five genogroups (G1-G5) with similar time of isolation, regardless of the place of occurrence. RHDVa strains are genetically more variable than RHDV, and all RHDVa strains belong to genogroup G6. RHDV2 was diagnosed for the first time in 2010 in domestic and wild rabbits in France, and later in the Iberian Peninsula, and it was called RHDVb. Like the previously identified variants of the RHD virus, RHDV2 spreads to other regions of the world, and in 2011-2016 it was diagnosed in many European countries, North America, Africa and Australia. Strains of RHD2 form a separate, uniform phylogenetic group and are more similar to the non-pathogenic rabbit calicivirus than to pathogenic RHDV and RHDVa. Infections with different variants of RHD viruses are a serious epidemiological, diagnostic and immunological problem. Advanced antigenic changes in RHD viruses limit the usefulness of standard RHD vaccines in controlling the disease....
Histomorphometric study on testes in rams fed with linseed oil rich in omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Authors: Vaškas Žilvinas , Šiukščius Artūras , Razmaitė Violeta , Pockevičius Alius , Juodžiukynienė Nomeda , Sabeckienė Jūratė , Juozaitienė Vida , Kerzienė Sigita , Aniulienė Albina
Published: November 2017

Many researchers have pointed out that the intake of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids is beneficial to animal health and reproductive capacity, but the effect of fatty acids on the histomorphology of ram testes is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of linseed oil containing polyunsaturated fatty acids on the morphology and histomorphometric characteristics of ram testis and epididymis. Testes of 12 Lithuanian local coarse wool rams were investigated histomorphologically and histomorphometrically in the present work. The rams were divided into two groups, an experimental group and a control group following, the principle of analogues – the same origin, age, weight, and condition score. The experimental group (n = 6) received 2% linseed oil sediments while the control group (n = 6) received 1.2% sunflower oil for 9 months. The diameter of testicular tubules and the height of the germinal epithelium, the spermatogenic index and the number of Leydig cells were higher in the experimental group than those in the control group. In addition, the number of degenerated tubules was not significantly lower in the group that received 2% linseed oil sediments. Still, the height of the epididymal epithelium was lower than that in the control group....
Influence of oregano added to diets on performance, selected organs as well as morphometric traits and pH of digestive tract of broiler chickens
Authors: Laskowski Stanisław , Banaszkiewicz Teresa , Milczarek Anna
Published: November 2017

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of dried oregano from different regions of the world to diets on the production results, selected organs, as well as the morphometric characteristics and pH of the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens. The research feedstuff was dried oregano from Poland, Turkey and Egypt and diets containing these herbs. The oregano from Poland, Turkey and Egypt was added to a wheat-corn-soybean diet in an amount of 2%. The experiment was carried out on 168 broilers Ross 308, 84 males and 84 females, randomly divided into 4 groups of 42 birds each. In this experiment, four diets for the starter period (from 1 to 21 days of age) and four for the grower period (from 22 to 42 days of age) were prepared. The control group (K) were fed a wheat-corn-soybean diet without oregano, whereas chickens from the experimental groups were fed diets with oregano from Poland (OP group), Turkey (OT group) or Egypt (OE group). During the experiment, the body weight at 1, 2, and 42 days of age, feed consumption and mortality were recorded. At 42 days of age, after 14 hours of fasting, the birds were killed and from the body of 32 chickens (8 chickens from each group) the digestive tract, heart, liver, pancreas and spleen were prepared and weighed. The gastrointestinal tract was divided into sections, and their weight and length were measured. Then, in particular segments of the gastrointestinal tract, pH values were determined. The body weight of chickens determined at 21 and 42 days of age were not significantly different between the groups. Significant differences between the groups were noted in feed efficiency during the grower period. The diet containing oregano from Turkey was utilized significantly better than the control diet. Significant differences in the pH of the glandular stomach and caecum were found. Compared with pH in the control group, pH in the glandular stomachs of chickens fed diets containing dried oregano from Egypt was significantly decreased, whereas pH in the caecum of chickens from the OT group was increased. In comparison with the control group, chickens from the groups fed diets containing oregano (except the OP group) had a significantly shorter ileum and larger intestines, and chickens fed a diet with oregano from Turkey had a smaller spleen and gizzard. The results obtained show that the chemical composition of dried oregano from different regions was differential. The addition of 2% of dried oregano to the wheat-corn-soybean diet had no significant influence on the body weight of chickens, but decreased their mortality. Oregano from Turkey added to the wheat-corn-soybean diet improved the feed efficiency in the second period of rearing. These results show that oregano may be a potentially effective supplement for broiler chickens, and the most effective was the oregano from Turkey....
Blood metabolic profile of broiler chickens fed diets with different types and levels of inulin
Authors: Kowalczuk-Vasilev Edyta , Grela Eugeniusz R. , Samolińska Wioleta , Klebaniuk Renata , Kiczorowska Bożena , Krusiński Robert , Winiarska-Mieczan Anna , Kępka Katarzyna , Kwiecień Małgorzata
Published: November 2017

The study was performed to evaluate the effect of a dietary level of two types of inulin differing in the degree of polymerization (DP), supplemented at different levels, on selected metabolic and immunological parameters of broiler chicken blood. Two hundred and forty 1-day-old broiler chickens were fed a diet without inulin addition (control group, C) or with standard inulin from chicory root with DP ≥ 10 (SI) or long-chain inulin (LCI) of DP ≥ 23 (Inulin Orafti®GR or Inulin Orafti®HPX, respectively; Orafti Beneo GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) at a level of 0.2%, 0.4%, or 0.6%. Therefore, 7 dietary treatments were formed. The experiment was carried out for 6 weeks. The addition of inulin had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) impact on the blood parameters analyzed, especially on the protein and lipid profile. The degree of polymerization of inulin and its level in the diet significantly affected the content of glucose and uric acid and creatinine levels in the blood plasma of 21-day-old chickens. The addition of the different types (SI vs. LCI) and levels (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6) of inulin to the diet and the interaction of these factors affected the total protein level and the content of albumins and globulins. Some differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found between the experimental groups in total cholesterol and its HDL fraction content as well as in the activity of ALT and LDH. The other biochemical indices were not affected by the experimental factors. In conclusion, it may be stated that inulin with the higher polymerization degree (LCI; DP ≥ 23) provided better results of the blood metabolic profile throughout the broiler fattening period. However, the impact of this factor is not explicit. The addition of the inulin extract at an amount of 4-6 g per kg of mixture is recommended, but further experiments are recommended....
Effectiveness of herbal mixtures in beef cattle feeding
Authors: Klebaniuk Renata , Kowalczuk-Vasilev Edyta , Bąkowski Maciej , Rocki Grzegorz , Grela Eugeniusz R. , Kiczorowska Bożena , Matras Jan , Widz Justyna , Kępka Katarzyna
Published: November 2017

The aim of the study was to evaluate the haematological, biochemical and immunological blood parameters of beef cattle fed diets including a herbal mixture. The study was conducted in a herd of Limousin cattle reared under organic conditions. The study material consisted of 16 selected animals divided into 2 groups: control and experimental (8 animals each). Fattening was conducted from about 100 to about 650 kg body weight. The experimental factor was a certified organic mixture of chopped dried herbs: purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea Moench.), garlic (Allium sativum L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), caraway (Carum carvi), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), fed with a concentrate mixture in an amount of 3% total DM. During the study, at body weights of about 250 and 650 kg, blood samples were taken. In whole blood samples, RBC – red blood cell count, Hb – hemoglobin concentration, Ht – hematocrit and white blood cell count (WBC) and their percentage (leukogram) were determined. The biochemical markers in the plasma were determined by colorimetric methods (TG – triacylglycerols, CHOL – total cholesterol, HDL – high density lipoprotein) and by the kinetic method (enzyme activity: ALT- alanine aminotransferase and AST – aspartate aminotransferase). Immunoglobulin IgG, IgA, and IgM concnetrations in the blood plasma of the animals were determined by the immunoenzymatic (ELISA) method. The results were analyzed statistically with Statistica ver. 13 (StatSoft, 2016), and the significance of differences between the mean values of the tested parameter was determined by the Tukey test (P ≤ 0.05 and P ≤ 0.01). The addition of a mixture of herbs to the diet of fattening cattle caused a positive immunostimulatory effect by modulating the leukocyte count and composition of blood and increasing the concentration of G class immunoglobulin. The herbal mixture used in the experiment demonstrated a hypocholesterolemic effect and enhanced the organism’s defence mechanisms. The addition of the herbal mixture did not adversely affect liver functions, as confirmed by the aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities....
Application of dynamic visual cryptography for optical control of chaotic oscillations
Authors: Petrauskiene Vilma , Saunoriene Loreta
Published: November 2017

This paper proposes an optical experimental technique for the optical control of chaotic oscillations. Technique is based on the application of dynamic visual cryptography for chaotic oscillations. Initially, the secret information is encoded into a single stochastic moiré grating, which is fixed onto the surface of the vibrating structure. It is shown, that the secret can be visually decoded if the cover image oscillates according to a chaotic law. Therefore, a simple visual inspection can be used to determine if the parameters of the chaotic oscillations remain in the allowed range.
Numerical investigations of the influence of the capillary number on oil production
Authors: Denisov S. V. , Lyalin V. E. , Danilov M. V. , Chernyshev K. S.
Published: November 2017

Modeling of hydrodynamic processes in case of waterflooding taking into account capillary numbers is carried out. Numerical results are obtained for formations with different permeability: homogeneous permeability, inhomogeneous with correlated and uncorrelated permeability distributions.
Research and analysis of spherical magnetic drive for attitude control on nano satellites
Authors: Kazokaitis Gražvydas , Jūrėnas Vytautas , Eidukynas Darius
Published: November 2017

This article reviews trends and technologies used in current satellites’ development and launching technologies. Typical drives for attitude control mechanisms could be with: permanent magnets, reaction wheels or thrusters. These methods for attitude control in Orbit is slow or consumes a lot of power. For such tasks one of possible solutions of drive was represented. Some experiments were done and the results publicized in this article.
Effective judicial protection in judicial cooperation in civil matters and the Court of Justice of the European Union case law: the public policy clause and the absolute default of appearance as denial causes of judgments’ recognition and enforcement in E
Authors: Abreu Joana Covelo de
Published: November 2017

The Brussels I Regulation’s re-foundation by the New Brussels I Regulation was thought to secure reciprocal trust on justice administration among Member States and to grant full access to justice for those who inhabit and circulate in its territory. In a Union characterized by circulation freedoms and an internal market existence, those principles justify a situation in which judgments ruled by a Member State’s court are automatically recognised and enforced, in other Member-State, except when the defendant evokes the rules on denial of judgments’ recognition and enforcement. There would not be judicial cooperation and integration’s prosecution without trust – trust must exist among Member States’ courts and it must be felt by EU citizens so they can acknowledge that EU is actively seeking to improve their life and working conditions. The European Commission made constructive efforts to promote an exequatur’s abolition, making recognition and enforcement proceedings on the New Brussels I Regulation simpler (it even proposed to remove the “public policy” clause, which was not accepted). It is necessary to analyse howthe CJEU applies the rules on denial of judgments’ recognition and enforcement to perceive if the principle of an effective judicial protection is fulfilled under New Brussels I Regulation.
The European arrest warrant in the case law of the Court of Justice
Authors: Patricio Helena
Published: November 2017

A key factor in the creation of a European area of freedom, security and justice is the principle of mutual recognition, which the Framework Decision 2002/584/JHA of 13 June 2002, for the first time, comprehensively implemented in the field of judicial cooperation in criminal matters. The Court of Justice of the European Union has greatly contributed to the understanding of the Framework Decision, accentuating its goals and enhancing its guiding principles, which are the mutual recognition of judgments in the different Member States of the European Union and mutual trust that should settle among them, for the creation of the said area. The West judgment of 28 June 2012, C-192/12 PPU, on urgent preliminary ruling procedure, aptly illustrates the impact of this case law, highlighting the role of this procedure, implemented on 1 March 2008.
European asylum law. Reality and challenges in the context of immigration
Authors: Carvalho Ana Celeste
Published: November 2017

The protection of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers has become an important issue in legal discourse. This is primarily due to rising migration levels, precipitated by greater political and economic instability in overseas nation states such as Syria for example, which has been embroiled in a protracted civil war that has left the country in shambles and its people with no hope for the better future. As a result of large-scale migratory movements in the EU space today, it is a major challenge for Member States to comply with the Geneva Convention and EU law concerning the protection of refugees and asylum seekers.
Right to collective action in cross-border employment contexts: a fundamental social right not yet covered by EU private international law
Authors: Peraro Cinzia
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this article is to describe the right to collective action in crossborder employment contexts, recognised as a fundamental social right at the national and European levels. On the one hand, some national Constitutional Courts, such as the Portuguese and Italian ones, have dealt with social rights and the economic crisis, and have clearly stressed the prevalence of constitutional social rights over austerity measures. On the other hand, Council of Europe documents and European Union law recognise social rights, but they do not offer a proper means of protection. The European Court of Justice case-law shows a complex interrelation between social rights and economic freedoms. The main issue concerns the existing EU private international law on collective action, which has led to an inconsistent system. A new European collective action framework could be a possible solution to effectively guarantee fundamental social rights.
Where culture, language and politics meet: Is there any place for national identity in the EEA legal system?
Authors: Tatham Allan F.
Published: November 2017

Over recent years, most particularly with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the protection of national identity or constitutional identity has become a bone of contention between the Court of Justice of the European Union and the courts of EU Member States. While of obvious relevance to the development of the Union legal order, this concept has implications beyond the borders of the Union especially with respect to those EFTA states which are also members of the European Economic Area. With its own court, the EFTA Court, having successfully transposed (to varying degrees) fundamental EU law principles into the sui generis EEA system, this article considers whether or not it might repeat the process with national identity and, if so, the extent to which it might be successful.
The dialectic relation between the national and the European constitutional identity in the framework of European Constitutional Law
Authors: Balaguer Callejón Francisco
Published: November 2017

This article intends to reflect on the concept of constitutional identities of states in the frame of the dialectic relationship between the legal order of the European Union and the national legal orders. Both the conflictual dimension of the constitutional identity and the relations of confluence that that can maximize are explored. It concludes with an open and flexible understanding of the concept of constitutional identity which can benefit the evolution of the national constitutional law in an Europeist sense and the progressive transformation of the European legal system in aconstitutional sense.
Forty years of Constitution, Thirty years of integration
Authors: Amaral Maria Lúcia
Published: November 2017

This article presents an assessment on the history of the Portuguese constitutional option for the European project path. It also reflects about the juridical-political aspects of the construction of the European Portugal and the meanings of sovereignty and self-determination in the context of the European integration, highlighting that in the present the ones responsible for its political conduction are not known, especially when we consider the crisis of the sovereign debts.
On the CJEU’s post-Brexit case-law on European citizenship. The recovery of the identity Ariadne’s thread?
Authors: Silveira Alessandra
Published: November 2017

The CJEU over the years has helped to forge a concept of citizenship directed to be the “fundamental status of the nationals of the Member States”. However, since the Dereci ruling of 2011, the proactivity of the CJEU concerning the development of European citizenship seemed to have gradually exhausted itself, mostly as far as the so-called social citizenship. It happens, nonetheless, that this crucial moment the European Union faces demands the enhancement of its vertical relation with the citizenry – it is either this or fragmentation. And perhaps this is the subliminal message from the CJEU in three post-Brexit rulings that, decided in the Grand Chamber, surprisingly recover and develop the most emblematic case-law about the European citizenship – namely the Rottmann and Zambrano rulings – whose political potential and/or identity potential seemed irrevocably muzzled. The rulings Rendón Marín, CS and Petruhhin point to the connection between European citizenship and the fundamental rights protection in the EU and possibly even represent an attempt to recover the identity dimension of European citizenship, nourished by a sense of belonging to a community of rights and obligations.
A transposição da Diretiva Private Enforcement: perspetiva crítica
Authors: Costeira Maria José
Published: November 2017

Este artigo analisa a proposta de transposição da Diretiva Private Enforcement para o ordenamento jurídico português. O escrito examina diversos aspetos do anteprojeto nacional, que passou por consulta pública, mas, sobretudo, realça os artigos sobre definições, responsabilidade, meios de prova e os potenciais impactos que a norma poderá ter na organização do sistema judicial português. Critica ainda as incoerências do anteprojeto e indica alguns aspectos problemáticos desta proposta e as alterações necessárias que devem ser feitas para tornar o diploma mais sólido.
Perceived Drivers and Barriers to the Adoption of eMental Health by Psychologists: The Construction of the Levels of Adoption of eMental Health Model (Preprint)
Authors: Feijt Milou A , de Kort Yvonne AW , Bongers Inge MB , IJsselsteijn Wijnand A
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUND

The internet offers major opportunities in supporting mental health care, and a variety of technology-mediated mental and behavioral health services have been developed. Yet, despite growing evidence for the effectiveness of these services, their acceptance and use in clinical practice remains low. So far, the current literature still lacks a structured insight into the experienced drivers and barriers to the adoption of electronic mental health (eMental health) from the perspective of clinical psychologists.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the drivers and barriers for psychologists in adopting eMental health tools, adding to previous work by also assessing drivers and analyzing relationships among these factors, and subsequently by developing a structured representation of the obtained findings.

METHODS

The study adopted a qualitative descriptive approach consisting of in-depth semistructured interviews with clinical psychologists working in the Netherlands (N=12). On the basis of the findings, a model was constructed that was then examined through a communicative validation.

RESULTS

In general, a key driver for psychologists to adopt eMental health is the belief and experience that it can be beneficial to them or their clients. Perceived advantages that are novel to literature include the acceleration of the treatment process, increased intimacy of the therapeutic relationship, and new treatment possibilities due to eMental health. More importantly, a relation was found between the extent to which psychologists have adopted eMental health and the particular drivers and barriers they experience. This differentiation is incorporated in the Levels of Adoption of eMental Health (LAMH) model that was developed during this study to provide a structured representation of the factors that influence the adoption of eMental health.

CONCLUSIONS

The study identified both barriers and drivers, several of which are new to the literature and found a relationship between the nature and importance of the various drivers and barriers perceived by psychologists and the extent to which they have adopted eMental health. These findings were structured in a conceptual model to further enhance the current understanding. The LAMH model facilitates further research on the process of adopting eMental health, which will subsequently enable targeted recommendations with respect to technology, training, and clinical practice to ensure that mental health care professionals as well as their clients will benefit optimally from the current (and future) range of available eMental health options.
An Evidence-based Systemic Review of Glucosamine Conducted by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration
Authors: Ulbricht Catherine , Basch Ethan , Basch Samuel , Crichlow Renn , Ernst Edzard , Kroll David , McGarry Mary , Smith Michael , Tannous Nancy , Tessier Ed , Tsourounis Candy , Vora Mamta
Published: November 2017

Review Methodology: Systematic Aggregation, Analysis, and Review of the Literature.Search Strategy: To prepare each Natural Standard monograph, electronic searches are conducted in nine databases, including AMED, CANCERLIT, CINAHL, CISCOM, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, HerbMed, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Medline, and NAPRALERT. Search terms include the common name(s), scientific name(s), and all listed synonyms for each topic. Hand searches are conducted of 20 additional journals (not indexed in common databases), and of bibliographies from 50 selected secondary references. No restrictions are placed on language or quality of publications. Researchers in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are consulted for access to additional references or ongoing research.Selection Criteria: All literature is collected pertaining to efficacy in humans (regardless of study design, quality, or language), dosing, precautions, adverse effects, use in regnancy/lactation, interactions, alteration of laboratory says, and mechanism of action (in vitro, animal research, human data). Standardized inclusion/exclusion criteria are utilized for selection.Data Analysis: Data extraction and analysis are performed by health care professionals conducting clinical work and/or research at academic centers, using standardized instruments that pertain to each monograph section defining inclusion/exclusion criteria and analytic techniques, including validated measures of study quality). Data are verified by a second reviewer.Review Process: Blinded review of monographs is conducted by multidisciplinary research-clinical faculty at major academic centers with expertise in epidemiology and biostatistics, pharmacology, toxicology, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research, and clinical practice. In cases of editorial disagreement, a three-member panel of the Editorial Board addresses conflicts, and consults experts when applicable. Authors of studies are contacted when clarification is required.
El análisis de la competitividad de la industria manufacturera de exportación en México
Authors: Palacios Duarte Pablo Daniel , Saavedra García María Luisa
Published: November 2017

Esta investigación tiene como objetivo evaluar la competitividad de la industria manufacturera de exportación en México. Se trata de una investigación documental de tipo cuantitativo longitudinal, donde se recopilaron los datos estadísticos de 2007 al 2014 y se aplicó una regresión lineal para determinar el crecimiento de la productividad por tipo de rama manufacturera. La conclusión a la que se llegó es la existencia de una dualidad industrial de México por un lado las industrias que están mayormente integradas a las economías globales, más sin embargo no tienen un encadenamiento productivo con la industria local significativo. Y por el otro, aquellas industrias que dependen del crecimiento endógeno del país existe una propensión mayor a su encadenamiento productivo.
Construcción de facultad: la estructura en función del conocimiento y la ruptura de territorialidades hacia la inter y la transdisciplinariedad
Authors: Ramírez Gómez Carlos Arturo
Published: November 2017

La estructura organizacional en las universidades debe ser consistente con los Proyectos Educativos Institucionales y con la estrategia general planteada en los Planes Estratégicos de Desarrollo, en consonancia con las características de la construcción curricular de los programas, y debe facilitar el trabajo inter y transdisciplinario de docentes y estudiantes, en el marco de la ruptura de las fronterasde las relaciones de dominio territorial que obstaculizan la interacción de los departamentos académico administrativos y de los programas en una facultad. Esta propuesta plantea una alternativa en la búsqueda de este deber ser, en la medida en que el rediseño organizacional de las facultades, orientado hacia la construcción de facultad como un punto de llegada y no de partida, puede contribuir a que la facultad se convierta en una realidad y trascienda la simple división burocrática.Para ello se estudió la universidad pública colombiana en sus características organizacionales, en el contexto mundial, se consultó a expertos y se estudiaron varios casos de rediseño organizacional, así como se acudió a la observación etnográfica.El resultado es una propuesta de estructura de facultad flexible y dinámica que elimina las territorialidades burocráticas; además, implica un cambio funcional, normativo y de cultura organizacional.
La espectrometría de masas MALDI-TOF en el laboratorio de microbiología clínica
Authors: Maldonado Natalia , Robledo Carlos , Robledo Jaime
Published: November 2017

Los métodos fenotípicos empleados para la identificación de microorganismos dependen de procesos metabólicos que requieren de tiempos de incubación mínimos para alcanzar resultados confiables. La espectrometría de masas MALDI-TOF (desorción/ionización láser asistida por una matriz con detección de masas por tiempo de vuelo) se ha instaurado como una metodología relevante para la identificación de microorganismos mediante el análisis de proteínas, a través de la creación de un espectro de masas específico de género y especie. En esta revisión, se presenta MALDI-TOF MS como una tecnología precisa para la identificación de bacterias, levaduras, mohos, en incluso de virus, que además, permite la reducción del tiempo para obtener un resultado de identificación, que puede impactar los costos de atención y duración de la estancia hospitalaria. La identificación de microorganismos directamente de muestras biológicas y la detección de mecanismos de resistencia a antimicrobianos, prometen un mayor impacto clínico y epidemiológico con el desarrollo e implementación de esta tecnología en los laboratorios de microbiología clínica.
The role of risk management in corporate governance: Guidelines and applications
Authors: Grove Hugh , Clouse Maclyn
Published: November 2017

Risk management should be a key concern of board members to enhance corporate governance in any organization. Eleven key numbers, ratios, and models were advocated in this paper for risk management analyses, including an analysis of their variability with graphs. They are applied to Kaisa, a Chinese property developer, located in Shenzhen but incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands. The importance of such risk management analyses was demonstrated in this paper as Kaisa destroyed $12.9 billion in four different types of investments: $2.2 billion in stock market value, $0.3 billion in private equity investments, $2.5 billion in global bonds, and $7.9 billion in Chinese short-term and long-term debt. Thus, the use of key financial statement metrics, including fraud models and ratios, has been shown here to provide enhanced corporate governance with risk management guidelines and applications. Boards of Directors need to pay attention to key financial statement metrics, which have been shown to work over and over again, as with Kaisa in this paper. These key metrics usually start with operating cash flows which then may indicate problems with debt service (the fixed charge coverage ratio) which then may lead to bankruptcy predictions by the Altman bankruptcy model. To cover up such survival problems, companies often resort to earnings management and even fraudulent financial reporting which are typically red flagged by the quality of earnings, the quality of revenues, the new fraud model and the old fraud model.
The use of generalised audit software by internal audit functions in a developing country: The purpose of the use of generalised audit software as a data analytics tool
Authors: van der Nest Daniel P. , Smidt Louis , Lubbe Dave
Published: November 2017

This article explores the purpose of the use of generalised audit software as a data analytics tool by internal audit functions in the locally controlled banking industry of South Africa. The evolution of the traditional internal audit methodology of collecting audit evidence through the conduct of interviews, the completion of questionnaires, and by testing controls on a sample basis, is long overdue, and such practice in the present technological, data-driven era will soon render such an internal audit function obsolete. The research results indicate that respondents are utilising GAS for a variety of purposes but that its frequency of use is not yet optimal and that there is still much room for improvement for tests of controls purposes. The top five purposes for which the respondents make use of GAS often to always during separate internal audit engagements are: (1) to identify transactions with specific characteristics or control criteria for tests of control purposes; (2) for conducting full population analysis; (3) to identify account balances over a certain amount; (4) to identify and report on the frequency of occurrence of risks or frequency of occurrence of specific events; and (5) to obtain audit evidence about control effectiveness.
Financial sector development & firm growth in BRICS countries
Authors: Mugova Shame
Published: November 2017

The development of an economy’s financial sector facilitates improved access to capital. This study focuses on firm growth in terms of how much assets it controls and BRICS is chosen as the empirical medium of investigation. The impact financial sector development on firm growth amongst 3353 listed firms in BRICS countries is investigated using a GMM estimation technique. Firm’s investment in assets increases the organizational resources and productive capacity needed to achieve growth in the market. Financial sector development improves access to capital and firms with higher access to external finance pursue growth opportunities using debt. Financial sector development helps firms to adjust their capital structures quickly thereby minimizing the costs of staying off target. The speed of adjustment of firms towards their target capital structure facilitates financing of firm growth. The study found that listed firms in Brazil, Russia India, China and South Africa have a target total liabilities-to-total assets ratio and financial sector development helps firms to partially adjust towards target levels and pursue growth opportunities.
Project risk management: A review of an institutional project life cycle
Authors: Gachie Wanjiru
Published: November 2017

This article is a desktop analysis of project risk management involving a project management institutional restructuring. The pragmatic nature of this research allows for the literature review and the document analysis to be integrated and presented as both a descriptive and analytical research. The analysis demonstrates that the project committee did not proactively manage project risk. The restructuring was a change management project, entailing the implementation of many organisational changes, such as restructuring, lay-off of some part of the administrative workforce, adoption of new technology, provision of new approaches to well-established procedures, and implementation of new performance initiative, the process which should have been managed with an effective integrated risk strategy and plan. Analysis of the restructuring project risk management exhibits little evidence of a systematic (computer based or manual) record that should have provided policies, procedures, and structures for managing risk. The article concludes that the restructuring risk process was inadequate and it could not have ensured a successful project. An analysis of the restructuring project risk monitoring and control exhibits a reactive rather than proactive application of risk management procedures. The analysis further indicates that the committee failed to make use of the various project risk management processes, standards, and guidelines. Based on the conclusions, the article recommends that project risk planning, strategy, control, and monitoring should be put in place for future institutional projects. The project management team should also put in place procedures for primary stakeholders engagements, identify and address their nature of interest and power in future risk management projects.
Proteins sequence analysis of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia
Authors: Dauda Ayuba , Yakubu Abdulmojeed , Dim Ihe , Gwaza Deeve
Published: November 2017

A total of twenty (20) contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) proteins were
retrieved from the GenBank (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The proteins sequences
were used to investigate the molecular identity of various CCPP proteins.
The physico-chemical properties of CCPP proteins were performed using
protparam tool. Isoelectric point (pI), molecular weight (MW), extinction
coefficient (EC); instability index (II), aliphatic index (AI) and grand
average of hydropathicity (GRAVY) were computed. The study revealed that the
pI of CCPP proteins were acidic and basic in nature. The EC and II of CCPP
proteins indicate better stability which is an indication of resistant to
mutation and thermally stable. The GRAVY of CCPP proteins revealed some are
positive while some are negative. The positive value indicates solubility
(hydrophilic) in water while negative is not soluble (hydrophobic) in water.
The amino acid composition of CCPP proteins indicates that they are rich in
isoleucine, leucine and lysine. The three dimensional structures (3D) of the
CCPP proteins were determine using Phyre2 server. The amino acid sequences
of CCPP proteins were subjected to secondary structure prediction using
ExPASy?s SOPMA tool. The proteins are more of alpha helix structure. The
genetic information eminating from this study may bring insight into
mutagenesis and pharmacogenetic.

 This article has been retracted. Link to the retraction 10.2298/BAH1803369E
The performance of perennial ryegrass in binary mixtures with lucerne and red clover under N fertilization
Authors: Bijelic Zorica , Mandic Violeta , Krnjaja Vesna , Ruzic-Muslic Dragana , Simic Aleksandar , Cekic Bogdan , Caro-Petrovic Violeta
Published: November 2017

Perennial ryegrass is a very important and widespread grass species used for
livestock nutrition, in particularly ruminants. As a species that is most
commonly used on grasslands, it is grown in mixtures with other types of
grasses and legumes. The objective of the research was to investigate the
performance of perennial ryegrass at various proportions in the mixtures with
red clover and lucerne, and how different levels of N fertilization affect
its competitiveness. Ryegrass achieved the highest yield with lucerne at
seeding rate 50:50 and with red clover at seeding rate 70:30. Relative grass
yield (RYg) of mixtures ranged from 1.01 to 1.55 respectively, which means
that ryegrass in mixtures achieved 0.1-55% greater yield than pure ryegrass
crop. N fertilization increased DMY and RYg, leaf : steam ratio, specific
leaf area (SLA), leaf area ratio (LAR) and leaf area index (LAI) in both
years thus increasing the competitive capability of perennial ryegrass.