bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary health workers’ knowledge and practices relating to neonatal jaundice in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Orimadegun Adebola E. , Ojebiyi Adeola O.
Published: January 2017

Background: Over half of births and newborn care occur in primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria, but information on activities of personnel working there is scarce.Aim: To assess the knowledge and practices relating to neonatal jaundice (NNJ) among community health workers (CHWs) and community birth attendants (CBAs) in Nigeria.Setting: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of all 227 CHWs and 193 registered CBAs in Ibadan, Nigeria.Methods: Knowledge and practices regarding NNJ were measured using a pretested questionnaire. Knowledge and practices were assessed on a 33-point scale and a 13-point scale, respectively. Scores ≤  17 and ≤  9 was regarded as poor knowledge and as wrong practice, respectively.Results: Many (64.5%) of the respondents could not correctly describe examination for NNJ (CHWs: 49.4%; CBAs: 50.6%). Of the 200 (47.6%) who treated NNJ 3 months prior to the study, 62.5% (CHWs: 66.9% and CBAs: 53.7%) treated NNJ with orthodox drugs. Drugs prescribed included: antibiotics (93.3%), antimalarials (5.3%), multivitamins (28.0%), paracetamol (6.2%) and phenobarbitone (7.1%). Significantly more CHWs than CBAs practiced exposure to sunlight (33.1% versus 16.4%) and administration of glucose water (28.6% versus 14.9%), while 58.0% of all respondents referred cases to secondary health facilities. Overall, 80.2% had poor knowledge (CHWs: 78.9%; CBAs: 81.9%) and 46.4% engaged in wrong practices (CHWs: 57.3%; CBAs: 33.7%). CHWs were more likely to indulge in wrong practices than CBAs (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.03, 4.79).Conclusion: Primary Health Workers in Ibadan had poor knowledge and engaged in wrong practices about NNJ. The needs to organise regular training programmes were emphasised.
Spectral- and size-resolved mass absorption efficiency of mineral dust aerosols in the shortwave: a simulation chamber study
Authors: Caponi Lorenzo , Formenti Paola , Massabó Dario , Di Biagio Claudia , Cazaunau Mathieu , Pangui Edouard , Chevaillier Servanne , Landrot Gautier , Andreae Meinrat O. , Kandler Konrad , Piketh Stuart , Saeed Touraya , Seibert Dave , Williams Earl , Balkanski Yves , Prati Paolo , Doussin Jean-François
Published: January 2017

Abstract. This paper presents new laboratory measurements of the mass absorption efficiency (MAE) between 375 and 850 nm for mineral dust of different origin in two size classes: PM10.6 (mass fraction of particles of aerodynamic diameter lower than 10.6 µm) and PM2.5 (mass fraction of particles of aerodynamic diameter lower than 2.5 µm). Experiments have been performed in the CESAM simulation chamber using generated mineral dust from natural parent soils, and optical and gravimetric analyses. Results show that the MAE values are lower for the PM10.6 mass fraction (range 37–135 × 10−3 m2 g−1 at 375 nm) than for the PM2.5 (range 95–711 × 10−3 m2 g−1 at 375 nm), and decrease with increasing wavelength as λ-AAE, where Angstrom Absorption Exponent (AAE) averages between 3.3–3.5, regardless of size. The size-independence of AAE suggests that, for a given size distribution, the possible variation of dust composition with size would not affect significantly the spectral behavior of shortwave absorption. Because of its high atmospheric concentration, light-absorption by mineral dust can be competitive to black and brown carbon even during atmospheric transport over heavy polluted regions, when dust concentrations are significantly lower than at emission. The AAE values of mineral dust are higher than for black carbon (~ 1), but in the same range as light-absorbing organic (brown) carbon. As a result, depending on the environment, there can be some ambiguity in apportioning the AAOD based on spectral dependence, which is relevant to the development of remote sensing of light-absorption aerosols from space, and their assimilation in climate models. We suggest that the sample-to-sample variability in our dataset of MAE values is related to regional differences of the mineralogical composition of the parent soils. Particularly in the PM2.5 fraction, we found a strong linear correlation between the dust light-absorption properties and elemental iron rather than the iron oxide fraction, which could ease the application and the validation of climate models that now start to include the representation of the dust composition, as well as for remote sensing of dust absorption in the UV-VIS spectral region.
Editorial num 20
Authors: Castillo Herrera Beverly
Published: January 2017

Se presenta la REVISTA CIENTÍFICA DE FAREM-Estelí que corresponde a la Número 20, octubre-diciembre 2016.  En este ejemplar se ha organizado en seis enfoques científicos que son: Ciencias de la educación, ciencias económicas, ciencias sociales, Agroforestería y Sistemas silvopastoriles, estado del arte en investigación y ensayos.  Todos los artículos que aquí se publican provienen de resultados de investigaciones desarrolladas en Nicaragua.
Producción hidropónica de tomate (Solanum lycopersicum) y chiltoma (Capsicum annuum) con sustratos inertes
Authors: Flores-Pacheco Juan Asdrúbal , Murillo Yenmi , Oporta Ruddy , Flores Pacheco Carlos , Alemán Yanira
Published: January 2017

Esta investigación mide el efecto del uso de sustratos hidropónicos en plantas de Solanum lycopersicum y Capsicum annuum. Este estudio experimental con enfoque cuantitativo analizo la variabilidad fenológica, productiva y relación de costo beneficio en los cultivos con relación a cada sustrato. Para ambos cultivos se establecieron cuatro tratamientos T1= Arena (50%) + Afrecho de arroz (50%), T2= Afrecho de arroz (100%), T3= Aserrín (50%) + Arena (50%), T4= Tierra (100%). Para cada tratamiento se establecieron 40 plantas (20 de Solanum lycopersicum y 20 de Capsicum annuum). Se tomó el 100% de las plantas para muestreo semanal. A partir del día ocho posterior a la emergencia y durante cuatro meses se cuantificaron variables de altura, diámetro del tallo, número de ramas y hojas, productividad (flores, frutos, biomasa). Con resultados significativos (P-valor: 0.05) con el tratamiento T1 y T3 tanto en variables fenológicas, morfométricas y productivas en ambas especies vegetales. En tanto, los tratamientos T2 y T4 registraron rendimientos productivos no significativos. En la prueba de comparación de medias independientes para la producción, se encontraron diferencias estadísticas significativas entre tratamientos T1 con 4 kg de producción/planta, y 25 kg de producción/m2.
Noninterest Income and Financial Performance at Jordanian Banks
Authors: Al-Tarawneh Alaaeddin , Abu Khalaf Bashar K. , Assaf Ghazi Al
Published: January 2017

This paper investigated the impact of noninterest income on the performance of 13 banks in Jordan during the period 2000-2015. The impact of size of bank, loans, capital adequacy and general expenses on banks performance found to have a significant impact on banks performance. In more details, general expenses decrease bank performance, while capital adequacy, loans and size increase it. In addition, non-interest income increases equity capital adequacy and this in turn affects the profitability positively.
Oil Price Fluctuations and Their Impact on Stock Market Returns in Jordan: Evidence from an Asymmetric Cointegration Analysis
Authors: Muhtaseb Buthaina M. A. , Al-Assaf Ghazi
Published: January 2017

This paper examines whether Amman stock market returns responds asymmetrically to oil price fluctuations for the quarterly period 2000-2015 by applying asymmetric cointegration. Using both TAR and MTAR specification of Enders and Siklos’s (2001) models, and based on the asymmetric ECM, the results provide evidence that stock returns react to oil price variations in an asymmetric manner. In particular, rising oil prices has a larger impact on stock returns; this implies that increases in oil prices have a significant effect on the behavior of stock market in Jordan. The significant relationship between oil prices and stock returns strengthen their predictability power, so that appropriate strategies may be built on the basis of expected increases or decreases in oil prices.
Impact of Financial Ratios on Non-Performing Loans of Publicly Traded Commercial Banks in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Md. Ataur , Asaduzzaman Md. , Hossin Md. Shakhaowat
Published: January 2017

This study investigates the influences of a set of financial ratios on non-performing loans and to show to what extent of listed commercial banks in Bangladesh. In this study, we applied an econometric model to find out correlations among financial ratios and a sample of 96 observations has been analyzed from 20 banks out of 30 listed commercial banks during 2010-2015. This paper mostly agrees with the existing literature that, credit-deposit ratio, net interest margin have a positive influence on the non-performing loans and capital adequacy ratio, return on assets have a negative influence on the non-performing loans. This research also reveals that, sensitive sector’s loan, priority sector’s loan have significant positive influence on the non-performing loans and unsecured loans, profit per employee, investment deposit ratio have significant negative impact on gross non-performing loan. The findings of this research would help commercial banks to maintain standard financial ratios in order to improve their loan qualities and it would be beneficial to the central bank to examine its existing policy in banking supervision relating to the ratios of regulatory requirements like capital adequacy ratio the banks shall maintain.
Impedance analysis of ZnO nanowire coated dry EEG electrodes
Authors: Wu Jiamin , Jia Wenyan , Xu Chengkun , Gao Di , Sun Mingui
Published: January 2017

The electrochemical impedance of a novel dry electroencephalogram (EEG) electrode after surface modification (i.e., sputtered with gold, coated with ZnO nanowires) is investigated in this study. To avoid the discomfort caused by repetitive testing on human, a skin-mimic sandwich structure, comprised of a highly porous polyester fabric membrane and two thin silicone films, is fabricated as a test bed. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements are conducted to further understand the properties of the electrode-electrolyte interface when the electrode is installed on this test bed. An equivalent circuit model with a constant phase element (CPE) is used to fit the EIS data. Our results show that the modeled EIS data are in good agreement with the experimental data. It has also been found that the charge transfer resistance decreases from 349 Ω cm2 for the bare electrode to 256 Ω cm2 for the gold-coated electrode and further decreases to 167 Ω cm2 for the gold coated short ZnO nanowire electrode. The lower impedance value will definitely help improve the signal when such electrode is used to record electrophysiological data.
An Evaluation of DEMATEL-EVM based Method for the Demonstration Projects of Water Environment Assessment
Authors: Lu Wang , Jixiang Zhang , Yanhong Wang
Published: January 2017

The existing methods of the water environmental quality assessment generally focus on the environmental characteristics, and fail to cover the core demands of ecological demonstration project. These methods lack a comprehensive analysis of sustainable development and maintenance capabilities. Also, the subjective analysis and computing of weight furthermore leads to unstable output. This paper is written in attempt to raise a set of assessment systems and methods to evaluate the demonstration projects of water environment. With the helping of establishing a complete quality evaluation index system of water environment demonstration project, the research approaches are based on the model of subjective and objective comprehensive weighting evaluation of DEMATEL-EVM. Through this method, it is able to analyze the key elements scientifically, which influence the water environmental project, finally makes the assessment more convincible.
Applying an Extended Kernel Density 4-Step Floating Catchment Area Method to Identify Priority Districts to Promote New Publicly Financed Supply of Gastroenterology Exams
Authors: Polzin Pierre , Borges José , Coelho António
Published: January 2017

In continental Portugal, the publicly financed supply of gastroenterology exams was limited since the end of the last century, restricted to a fixed set of private providers that was hired by the Portuguese state. This way of contracting created market entry barriers and is inefficient, since prices are administratively set. Besides, it produced access inequalities, because of the way that the supply was geographically distributed. This paper applies the Extended Kernel Density 4-Step Floating Catchment Area (EKD4SFCA) method to identify priority districts for the promotion of new supply by the state, in order to choose the appropriate way of contracting new private supply, as determined by current law, and to reduce access inequalities. The applied method enables the identification of the Portuguese regions with strong competition between health care providers and where patients’ access to publicly financed gastroenterology exams is relatively low. In these regions, the state should promote public bids to stimulate new supply, exploring thereby the potential for setting lower prices and reducing access inequalities.
Sustainability Practice of a Multinational Oil Company in Nigeria: A Case Study
Authors: Anosike Charles Afam
Published: January 2017

Environmental degradation and socioeconomic dilemma continue to affect agricultural productivity in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Several works of literature confirm the high level of pollution and contamination of land and water as a result of over 50 years of oil production in the region. The effects of environmental pollution continue to aggravate the hardship of the local people, which generates development friction, threaten oil operation, and mutually contrive relational efforts, by so invoking mistrust between oil companies and the host communities. Sustainability programs of oil companies often provide the channel to engage and promote community relations from which projects are conceived and executed. Despite sustainability efforts of oil companies, the region continues to experience oil spills and environmental degradation.Hence, the current research explores the sustainability efforts of a multinational oil company to establish whether the company’s leadership makes environmental considerations and to identify possible corrections that could be adopted to achieve sustainable value. For this purpose, the paper employed a single case study approach using open-ended interview sessions in collecting data. Research data were gathered from a sample of 20 experienced sustainability practitioners of the oil company, partnering nonprofit organizations, and community leaders through face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Data were segmented and categorized. The data analysis process revealed several themes regarding the challenges and shortfalls of sustainability programs in the region. The evidence found suggests that implementing a transparent and inclusive sustainability management system is essential to enable a systems view in contemplating sustainability programs. In so doing, oil MNCs leaders could enable effective environmental consideration in their sustainability programs to help reinvigorate productive agriculture and ensure continuing oil operation.
Exploring Race Hate Crime Reporting in Wales Following Brexit
Authors: Cuerden Gareth , Rogers Colin
Published: January 2017

Most countries consist of many diverse races and cultures, based on historical political decisions, wars or economic changes. Throughout Europe over the past decades the policy of free movement for work as part of the EU agreements has encouraged this activity. Indeed this has been a fundamental idea behind the European Union ever since its inception. However, what can the consequences be for those individuals who, encouraged by such policies, find themselves located in a country which has decided to no longer be part of that system? In particular what impact does this decision appear to have on the way those considered to be “racially different” are treated by others? This article explores the impact the recent decision by Great Britain took to leave the EU (so called Brexit) and its impact upon the number of racially recorded hate crimes in Wales. Using examples from terrorist incidents in Europe, along with the Brexit result, as examples, it provides clear evidence that when certain incidents occur in wider society, there is an impact upon the way in which so called non-indigenous people are treated, which results in an increase in criminality. These results will have resonance for other countries with a mixed population, as well as having implications for those agencies involved in the protection and safety of all inhabitants in their country.
A New Management Model for Higher Education in Dubai-UAE: Quality Management in Alignment with Professional Autonomy
Authors: Rabah Iman
Published: January 2017

The purpose of this paper is to develop a model of Total Quality Management (TQM) that does not damage the scholarly values of higher education and which enhances professional autonomy, including academic freedom and academic quality in teaching and research. The theoretical framework includes an interpretive study that examines the functional, structural, and cultural aspects of implementing TQM concepts in higher education and the concepts that should be modified.The paper follows the qualitative approach based on the interpretive epistemological paradigm. This research uses empirical data on higher education quality management practices in their natural setting through an interpretive study. The logic of inquiry adopts inductive reasoning that constructs or evaluates general propositions that are derived from specific examples. Empirical data is collected from faculty members from a sample of two universities, including one public university and one private university in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in order to study academics’ perceptions of TQM in higher education. The methodology involves document analysis and collecting interpretations and narratives in order to study the positive and negative influences of quality management practices on, academics, research and the teaching process. The methodology also includes quantitative analysis using the survey instrument for the sake of triangulation.The designed management model which is the result of this paper takes into consideration the issues caused by TQM as a form of new public management, including overload in teaching, administrative tasks, faculty turnover and the reasons behind this along with the quality of teaching and research. Inapplicable TQM concepts are modified based on traditional university management models in order to fit the higher educational context, taking into account higher education leadership and the cross-cultural context that universities operate in especially in Dubai.
Farmers Perception of Low Soil Fertility and Hybrid Maize and the Implications in Plant Breeding
Authors: Ribeiro Priscilla F. , Badu-Apraku Baffour , Gracen Vernon E. , Danquah Eric Y. , Ewool Manfred B. , Afriyie-Debrah Charles , Frimpong Benedicta N.
Published: January 2017

In spite of efforts by national and international scientists to improve crop productivity, varieties of crops grown in Africa have low productivity. Varieties improved for yield have had low adoption rates among small scale farmers. Productivity of maize remains low in the smallholder sector because the crop continues to be grown under stress-prone environments and with limited resources. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, including two focus group discussions and interviews with 120 individual farmers were conducted in Wenchi and Ejura-Sekyedumase districts in Ghana to determine maize production constraints, assess farmers’ perceptions of low soil fertility in maize production and their coping strategies for the control of low soil fertility. Opportunities for breeding new maize varieties with tolerance to low soil fertility and improving farmers' perception on adoption and utilisation of maize hybrids were also examined. Results from interviews revealed that low soil fertility, drought, diseases and insect pests are the dominant constraints in maize productivity in the two districts. Farmers in the study area also have preference for low soil nitrogen (low N) tolerant, drought tolerant, disease and pest resistant varieties that require lower inputs. They prefer maize varieties which produce slender cobs that are light in weight with lots of grain. The farmers lack knowledge about hybrids but are willing to adopt maize hybrids that are tolerant to low N.
Van project naar opgave
Authors: Leendertse Wim , Arts Jos , Busscher Tim , Verhees Frits
Published: January 2017

From Problem to Challenge Orientation in the Planning of Transport Infrastructure. Cooperation as a Driver.

Infrastructure and adjacent areas represent extensive social value. However, infrastructure and areas are still often developed sectoral and independent. In the Netherlands, national spatial policies strive for combining infrastructure and area as one integrated approach as this is expected to result in more spatial quality. Taking this perspective, this article discusses trendy concepts in current Dutch planning, such as: adaptive planning, public and private cooperation and challenge-oriented approaches (‘opgave-gericht werken’ which focuses less on realising a project but more on the current and future issues and challenges in an area). This article argues that these concepts are closely related. Adaptive planning defines the rules of the game and the playing field, within which cooperation may develop. Cooperation is a means for creating spatial quality in interaction within this playing field. After all, generated quality can be considered as a contribution to the specific objectives and interest of the various partners. A challenge-oriented approach is the process for generating spatial quality from synergies in combined infrastructure and spatial development. This article aims to explore the relationships between adaptive planning, public and private cooperation and challenge-oriented approaches and to provide starting points for further research and discussion.
Rolperceptie en rolgedrag van raadsleden in de lokale democratie
Authors: Reussing Rik
Published: January 2017

Role perception and role behaviour of councillors in local democracy

This contribution gives an overview of the results of recent research into the role perception and the role behaviour of councillors. The research is the MAELG-survey (Municipal Assemblies in European Local Governance) carried out in 2007 and 2008 in 15 European countries and Israel. A special issue of Local Government Studies has been dedicated to this research. Three articles of this special issue are discussed intensively. These articles look at the role perception and the role behaviour of local councillors from the perspective of the tension between representative and participative democracy, the relation between participative democracy (also called citizen democracy) and the responsiveness of councillors and the influence of informal institutions on the representation style of local councils. Another recent article in Acta Politica looks specifically at the situation in Belgium. It is interesting that the authors do not apply the classic typology of representation styles (trustee and delegate), but an alternative typology (with delegation, responsiveness, authorization and accountability as four styles of representation) developed by the Dutch political scientists Andeweg and Thomassen.
Ministeriabel
Authors: Martha R.S.J.
Published: January 2017

Ministeriabel – een naschrift

Repliek van dr. R.S.J. Martha LLM op de reactie van dr. J. Sybesma en prof. mr. L.J.J. Rogier op zijn artikel over de ministerbenoeming als een voor beroep vatbare beschikking.
Raising Barriers to ‘Outlaw Motorcycle Gang-Related Events’
Authors: van Ruitenburg Teun
Published: January 2017

Raising Barriers to ‘Outlaw Motorcycle Gang-Related Events’

Fighting outlaw motorcycle gangs is currently one of the top priorities of many governments around the world. This is due to the notion that outlaw motorcycle gangs do not consist solely of motorcycle enthusiasts. Numerous cases reveal that these clubs, or at least their members, are involved in (organised) crime. In order to tackle these clubs, the former Dutch Minister of Security and Justice announced a whole-of-government strategy towards outlaw motorcycle gangs in 2012. As part of this effort, authorities such as the Dutch National Police, the Public Prosecution Service, the Dutch Tax Authority and local governments aim to cooperate in order to disrupt and restrict outlaw motorcycle gangs by means of Criminal, Administrative and Civil Law. Part of this strategy is to hinder club-related events. This article discusses the latter strategy in light of the distinction between prevention and pre-emption. As the latter two concepts are often used interchangeably, this article attempts to use a more strict division between prevention and pre-emption. Thereby, it becomes apparent that outlaw motorcycle gangs are to some extent governed through uncertainty. The author suggests that maintaining the ‘prevention–pre-emption distinction’ can offer an interesting and valuable point of departure for analysing today’s crime policies.
Modernisering van de personenvennootschappen
Authors: van Dooren E.A.
Published: January 2017

Modernisering van de personenvennootschappen. Column

Onlangs heeft de minister van Veiligheid en Justitie een rapport over de modernisering van de personenvennootschappen in ontvangst genomen. Het rapport is opgesteld door de Werkgroep Personenvennootschap en bevat een voorgestelde regeling met aanbevelingen voor het oplossen van bekende knelpunten en de opvulling van lacunes onder het huidige recht.
Schorsing bestuurder Stichting Loterijverlies.nl
Authors: Nijland J. , Ohmann D.O.
Published: January 2017

Schorsing bestuurder Stichting Loterijverlies.nl

Dit artikel signaleert dat rechters recentelijk steeds vaker bereid zijn om in te grijpen in het bestuur van een stichting. Bestuurders van claimstichtingen dienen hierop bedacht te zijn. Daarnaast moeten zij rekening houden met de eisen die de Claimcode en het wetsvoorstel bestuur en toezicht rechtspersonen aan (de governance van) een dergelijke stichting stellen.
Procederen of schikken?
Authors: Philips R.J.
Published: January 2017

Procederen of schikken? Lessen voor de procespraktijk uit Thinking, fast and slow van Daniel Kahneman

In Thinking, fast and slow toont Nobelprijswinnaar Daniel Kahneman aan de hand van tientallen jaren psychologisch onderzoek de verborgen gebreken in ons oordeelsvermogen. In de proces(advies)praktijk zijn beoordelingsfouten vaak kostbaar. In dit artikel worden veel voorkomende valkuilen besproken en suggesties gedaan om deze te vermijden.
De herschikte EEX-Vo en derde landen: het formele toepassingsgebied van de Verordening nader bezien
Authors: van Bochove L.M.
Published: January 2017

De herschikte EEX-Vo en derde landen: het formele toepassingsgebied van de Verordening nader bezien

De vraag naar het toepassingsbereik van de Europese bevoegdheidsregels in civiele zaken die aanknopingspunten hebben met derde landen is al vele decennia punt van discussie. Deze bijdrage behandelt de wijzigingen die de herschikking van de EEX-Vo op dit punt heeft gebracht en besteedt tevens aandacht aan de resterende controverses. Betoogd wordt dat, wanneer de verweerder woonplaats heeft in een lidstaat, de rechter zijn bevoegdheid moet bepalen op basis van de Verordening. Omwille van de rechtszekerheid en partijautonomie dient hierop echter een uitzondering te worden gemaakt voor de forumkeuze ten gunste van het gerecht van een niet-lidstaat.
De dwingende bewijskracht van onderhandse akten en de leer van de verklaringsfictie
Authors: van Amsterdam L.A.
Published: January 2017

De dwingende bewijskracht van onderhandse akten en de leer van de verklaringsfictie

In zijn artikel bespreekt mr. L.A. van Amsterdam de dwingende bewijskracht die art. 157 Rv aan onderhandse akten toekent. Komt deze bewijskracht (ook) toe aan een bepaling in een ‘standaardakte’ dat bepaalde documentatie of informatie is verstrekt, of moet - zoals in de procespraktijk nog wel eens wordt betoogd - een dergelijke clausule als een ‘verklaringsfictie’ worden aangemerkt? Mr. Van Amsterdam gaat in op de achtergrond en het belang van art. 157 Rv, behandelt rechtspraak waarin de leer van de verklaringsfictie een rol speelt, en plaatst enkele kanttekeningen bij deze leer
Psychische klachten bij mannelijke gedetineerden
Authors: Brons Anne , Dirkzwager Anja , Beijersbergen Karin , Reef Joni , Nieuwbeerta Paul
Published: January 2017

Mental health problems among male prisoners: Prevalence and risk factors

This study examined the prevalence and predictors of male inmates’ mental health problems. Data were used from the Prison Project, a longitudinal study in which 824 prisoners were surveyed twice (three weeks and three months after arrival in prison). Compared with the general population, inmates reported significantly more psychological problems. Except for depressive symptoms, inmates’ mental health problems decreased over time. After controlling for prior mental health problems and a number of import factors, we found that those who shared a cell in the first weeks of their imprisonment and held more positive judgments regarding daytime activities and the relationships with staff, reported fewer psychological problems after three months. Those who were verbally abused by prison staff during their first weeks in prison reported more psychological problems after three months.
Analytical Stability-Indicating Methods for Alogliptin in Tablets by LC–CAD and LC–UV
Authors: Bertol Charise Dallazem , Friedrich Maria Tereza , Carlos Graciela , Froehlich Pedro Eduardo
Published: January 2017

Stability-indicating LC methods using a UV detector and a charged aerosol detector (CAD) simultaneously were validated for the assessment of alogliptin (ALG) in tablets. The analysis was performed on a C8 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) at a flow of 0.8 mL/min, using acetonitrile–10 mM ammonium acetate buffer (pH 3.5; 90 + 10, v/v) as mobile phase and UV detection at 275 nm. Validation followed the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The method was linear over the range of 25–200 μg/mL. Normality of the residuals showed a normal distribution, no autocorrelation, and homoscedasticity. LODs were 6.25 and 2.65 µg/mL and LOQs were 20.85 and 8.84 µg/mL for the CAD and the UV detector, respectively. The methods were precise and accurate. Excipients and degradation products did not interfere in the methods in studies of specificity. None of the factors studied in the analysis of robustness had a significanteffect on the quantification of the ALG by the Pareto chart. The results of the assay obtained with LC–CAD and LC–UV were similar. The methods could be considered interchangeable and stability-indicating, and can be applied as an appropriate QC tool for analysis of ALG in tablets.
Novel Pure Component Contribution Algorithm (PCCA) and UHPLC Methods for Separation and Quantification of Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide in Ternary Mixture
Authors: Mowaka Shereen , Hegazy Maha A , Lotfy Hayam M , Mohamed Ekram H
Published: January 2017

Two accurate and sensitive methods were developed and validated for the simultaneous determinationof amlodipine (AML), valsartan (VAL), and hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) in their ternary mixture. The first method is a novel simple algorithm capable of extracting the contribution of each component from amixture signal in which the components are partially or completely overlapped. It is based on the useof a coded function that eliminates the signal of interfering components using mean centering as a processing tool. Determination was performed at 237.6, 250.0, and 270.6 nm for AML, VAL, and HCT, respectively. Two fit values were developed and calculated for optimizationof the method for each drug, one to test that the absorptivity values of the extracted spectra are within the confidence limits ofthe slope, and the other for correlation between the pure and extracted spectra. The fit values for AML, VAL, and HCT were α = 0.0449, 0.03981, and 0.07251, respectively, and r = 1 for each drug. The second method is an ultra-HPLC (UHPLC®) method in which separation of AML, VAL, and HCT was carried out on a UHPLC C18 column (100 × 2.1 mm, 2.2 μm) using amobile phase of acetonitrile–methanol–phosphate buffer (pH 2.8; 25 + 50 + 25, v/v/v). The flow rate was 0.5 mL/min, and the detection was set at 255.0 nm. The proposed methods were successfully applied to the analysis of AML, VAL, and HCT in pharmaceutical formulations, without interference from the dosage-form additives. The results were statistically compared to a previously reported method, and no significant difference was found regarding accuracy or precision.
Du passé composé. Le Moyen Âge et le bloc magique
Authors: Blaise Marie
Published: January 2017

Qu’on la conçoive comme idée (Barthes) ou comme corpus, la littérature constitue une forme particulière de mémoire, un « bloc-magique » au sens freudien, qui compose avec l’oubli autant qu’avec la préservation du passé. En elle mémoire publique et mémoire privée s’entretiennent l’une l’autre pour apporter aux présents successifs des procédés de description et de légitimation de la pensée et de l’oeuvre contemporaines. Dans cette perspective, le Moyen Âge, entre érudition et fiction, médiévisme et médiévalisme, constitue un lieu littéraire très particulier. Le terme même de Moyen Âge est le résultat d’une construction a posteriori et, si chacune de ses réitérations a dit le moderne, c’est au prix de contradictions flagrantes et de démentis successifs, non seulement dans l’histoire mais, parfois, au sein de l’oeuvre elle-même. L’article revient sur ces discords, sans délaisser les plus familiers, pour les analyser comme des modes de composition du présent avec le passé et de la mémoire avec l’oubli : des « représentances » (Ricoeur) dont les formes et les fonctions sont poétiques avant d’être historiques ou politiques. Ainsi, de Chapelain à Hugo, Flaubert, Huysmans, Pierre Michon ou Game of Thrones, mise à distance du passé ou brouillage des frontières, refus de la perte et mur de glace, mosaïques, collages et marécages, disent encore un « autre Moyen Âge ».
Guerre et dentelles : la réécriture galante de la guerre de Hollande dans L’héroïne mousquetaire de Préchac
Authors: Roy Roxanne
Published: January 2017

Cet article propose de s’interroger sur le rôle et les fonctions reliés à l’emploi de la thématique guerrière dans L’héroïne mousquetaire de Préchac. Il s’attarde principalement aux particularités de la représentation de la guerre dans la nouvelle galante, à ses dispositifs, à ses usages et à ses fonctions afin de dégager une possible « scénographie galante des récits de guerre ». L’hypothèse qui sous-tend l’analyse est la suivante : Préchac s’ingénie à renouveler sans cesse le genre de la nouvelle. Pour ce faire, l’une de ses stratégies d’écriture consiste à puiser des éléments factuels tirés de l’histoire guerrière et à insérer des descriptions des campagnes militaires mais en prenant soin de les adapter à l’esthétique de la nouvelle galante. En optant pour une réécriture galante de la guerre de Hollande, le but recherché par le nouvelliste serait d’obtenir l’assentiment de ses lecteurs, de se conformer à leur goût tout en ménageant des effets de nouveauté, mais aussi d’entrer dans les bonnes grâces du roi.
Clinical and demographic profile and risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection
Authors: Carvajal Carlos , Pacheco Carlos , Jaimes Fabián
Published: January 2017

Introducción. La enfermedad asociada a Clostridium difficile es la principal causa de diarrea infecciosa adquirida en el hospital; su creciente incidencia, las menores tasas de respuesta al tratamiento inicial y la mayor tasa de recaídas han incrementado la carga de la enfermedad.Objetivo. Determinar las características clínicas de los pacientes hospitalizados con enfermedad asociada a C. difficile.Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio de casos anidado en una cohorte. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de pacientes con diarrea iniciada durante su hospitalización a quienes se les había practicado la prueba de detección de la toxina A-B de C. difficile, entre febrero de 2010 y febrero de 2012. Se definió como caso al paciente hospitalizado con diarrea y prueba de Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) positiva para la toxina y, como control, a aquel con resultado negativo para la toxina. Se recolectaron los datos demográficos y clínicos, así como la información sobre los factores asociados, la estancia hospitalaria, el tratamiento y las complicaciones.Resultados. Durante el periodo de seguimiento se recolectaron datos de 123 pacientes, de los cuales 30 fueron positivos para la toxina. La edad media en la población de estudio fue de 49 años y el 60 % correspondía a hombres. Los síntomas predominantes fueron el dolor abdominal (35 %) y la fiebre (34 %). Las principales complicaciones fueron la alteración electrolítica y la sepsis grave asociada con disfunción renal. La mortalidad total fue de 13 % y los factores independientes asociados con la aparición de la infección fueron el uso de inhibidores de la bomba de protones y la cirugía gastrointestinal previa.Conclusiones. El uso de inhibidores de la bomba de protonesy la cirugía gastrointestinal previa fueron factores asociados con la infección por C. difficile.
Analysis of antioxidant capacity and bioactive compounds in marine macroalgal and lichenic extracts using different solvents and evaluation methods
Authors: Álvarez-Gomez Felix , Korbee Nathalie , Figueroa Felix L
Published: January 2017

Natural extracts of macroalgae are widely recognized for their antioxidant properties. In this work, the antioxidant capacity of various aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from red and green marine algae and from one marine lichen collected from different sites in southern Spain (intertidal and estuarine waters) was evaluated by different methods: ABTS free radical scavenging assay, DPPH assay, and beta-carotene bleaching method (BBM). Contents of total lipids, total carbohydrates, and UV photoprotectors with antioxidant capacity, such as mycosporine-like amino acids and phenolic compounds, were determined. Among the extraction solvents, the highest extraction yield was observed in H2O and 20% MeOH (v/v). The highest antioxidant activity was found in the extracts of the red macroalgae Hydropuntia cornea, Gracilariopsis longissima, Halopithys incurva, and Porphyra umbilicalis, whereas the lowest activity was detected in the green macroalga Ulva rotundata. In general, the antioxidant activity was higher using DPPH than BBM and ABTS. Even so, the ABTS assay is an easy and quick test that provides a comprehensive view of the entire extract in both the lipophilic medium and hydrophilic medium. The antioxidant activity was related to the composition of bioactive compounds and synergistic action is not discarded. The biotechnological use of macroalgal extracts with high antioxidant capacity is discussed.
Electron dynamics in the minimagnetosphere above a lunar magnetic anomaly
Authors: Usui Hideyuki , Miyake Yohei , Nishino Masaki N. , Matsubara Takuma , Wang Joseph
Published: January 2017

We consider a three‐dimensional electromagnetic particle‐in‐cell simulation of the boundary layer current in a minimagnetosphere created by the interaction between a magnetized plasma flow, which models the typical solar wind, and a small‐scale magnetic dipole, which represents the Reiner Gamma magnetic anomaly on the lunar surface. The size of this magnetic anomaly (measured as the distance from the dipole center to the position where the pressure of the local magnetic field equals the dynamic pressure of the solar wind) is one quarter that of the Larmor radius of the solar wind ions. In spite of the weak magnetization of the ions, a minimagnetosphere is formed above the magnetic anomaly. In the boundary layer of the minimagnetosphere, the electron current is dominant. Due to the intense electric field induced by charge separation, electrons entering the boundary layer undergo E × B drift. In each hemisphere, the electron boundary current due to the drift shows a structure where the convection reverses; these structures are symmetric with respect to the magnetic equator. Detailed analysis of the electron cyclotron motion shows that electrons at the edge of the inner boundary layer obtain maximum velocity by the electric field acceleration due to the charge separation, not due to the drift of the electron's guiding center. The maximum electron velocity is approximately 8 times that of the upstream plasma. The width of the boundary layer current becomes approximately equal to the radius of the local electron cyclotron.
Dayside and nightside magnetic field responses at 780 km altitude to dayside reconnection
Authors: Snekvik K. , Østgaard N. , Tenfjord P. , Reistad J. P. , Laundal K. M. , Milan S. E. , Haaland S. E.
Published: January 2017

During southward interplanetary magnetic field, dayside reconnection will drive the Dungey cycle in the magnetosphere, which is manifested as a two‐cell convection pattern in the ionosphere. We address the response of the ionospheric convection to changes in the dayside reconnection rate by examining magnetic field perturbations at 780 km altitude. The Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment data products derived from the Iridium constellation provide global maps of the magnetic field perturbations. Cluster data just upstream of the Earth's bow shock have been used to estimate the dayside reconnection rate. By using a statistical model where the magnetic field can respond on several time scales, we confirm previous reports of an almost immediate response both near noon and near midnight combined with a 10–20 min reconfiguration time of the two‐cell convection pattern. The response of the ionospheric convection has been associated with the expansion of the polar cap boundary in the Cowley‐Lockwood paradigm. In the original formulation of this paradigm the expansion spreads from noon to midnight in 15–20 min. However, also an immediate global response has been shown to be consistent with the paradigm when the previous dayside reconnection history is considered. In this paper we present a new explanation for how the immediate response can be accommodated in the Cowley‐Lockwood paradigm. The new explanation is based on how MHD waves propagate in the magnetospheric lobes when newly reconnected open flux tubes are added to the lobes, and the magnetopause flaring angle increases.
Climatology of successive equatorial plasma bubbles observed by GPS ROTI over Malaysia
Authors: Buhari S. M. , Abdullah M. , Yokoyama T. , Otsuka Y. , Nishioka M. , Hasbi A. M. , Bahari S. A. , Tsugawa T.
Published: January 2017

The occurrence rate of the equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) with season, solar activity, and geomagnetic conditions are investigated using long‐term data sets of Malaysia Real‐Time Kinematics Network (MyRTKnet) from 2008 to 2013. The rate of TEC (total electron content) change index (ROTI) in 5 min was derived from MyRTKnet data to detect the EPB with scale sizes around tens of kilometers. Then, the daily east‐west cross sections of 2‐D ROTI maps were used to examine the EPB features over 100°E–119°E longitudes. The EPBs tend to occur successively in one night along the observational coverage of MyRTKnet during equinoxes in high solar activity years. The perturbations in a form of wavelike structures along the observed longitudes might be responsible for the development of successive EPBs due to high growth rate of the Rayleigh‐Taylor instability (RTI) process. On the contrary, the occurrence of successive EPBs is infrequent and the occurrence day of EPB remains active during equinoctial months in low solar activity years. The small growth rate of the RTI process during low solar activity years might require a strong seed perturbation to generate the EPB structure. The occurrence probability of the EPB was found to be similar during quiet and disturbed geomagnetic conditions. The results imply that the strong perturbations play an important role in the development of the EPB in low solar activity years. Nonetheless, the high growth rate of the RTI could cause the successive occurrence of the EPB in high solar activity years.
The variability of SE2 tide extracted from TIMED/SABER observations
Authors: Li Xing , Wan Weixing , Ren Zhipeng , Yu You
Published: January 2017

Based on the temperature observations of the TIMED/Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry in mesosphere/lower thermosphere region (70–110 km altitudes) and at the low latitude and midlatitude (45°S–45°N) from 2002 to 2012, the variability of the nonmigrating tide SE2 with 1 day resolution is analyzed, using the method from Li et al. (2015). It is found that the climatological features (large‐scale variability) of the SE2 tide are similar with the results from the previous research works. The SE2 tide manifests mainly at the low‐mid latitudes around ±30°. The northern hemisphere tidal amplitudes below 110 km are larger than the southern hemisphere tide. SE2 peaks below 110 km mainly present between 100 and 110 km altitude. The tidal amplitudes below 110 km occur a north‐south asymmetry about the equator in the annual variation: in the southern hemisphere, SE2 occurs with an obvious annual variation with a maximum of tidal amplitudes in December, while in the northern one, the semiannual variations with maximum at the equinoxes. Herein, owing to the high‐resolution tidal data, we could research the short‐term (day‐to‐day) variations of SE2. We found that the day‐to‐day variations manifest mainly at between 100 and 110 km altitudes; it increases gradually with latitudes, and it is stronger at the low‐mid latitudes; it is relatively slightly stronger around solstices than equinoxes; and it does not present a remarkably interannual variation. The SE2 day‐to‐day variations may be composed by the absolute amplitudes' variance and the impact of the wave phases, and the latter ones are more important.