bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perfil del embarazo prolongado en pacientes de un hospital general
Authors: Chavarry Valencia Flor de Maria , Cabrera Epiquen Ronald Alfredo , Diaz Herrera Jorge Antonio
Published: March 2016

Objetivo: Determinar las características maternas y perinatales de las pacientes con diagnóstico de embarazo prolongado (EP) en un hospital general. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo tipo serie de casos, realizado en el Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia del 1° de enero de 2000 al 31 de diciembre de 2004. Se incluyeron 341 pacientes con diagnóstico de EP (>42 semanas) basado en la fecha de último periodo menstrual o ecografía del primer trimestre. Resultados: El 76% de pacientes tenían una edad entre 20 a 35 años con una media de 25,8 ± 6,1 años. El 47,5% eran nulíparas. El 71,3% había ya iniciado una labor de parto espontánea; 16,4% fueron inducidas y 12,3% tuvieron indicación de cesárea al ingreso. Del grupo con inicio de trabajo de parto espontáneo el 71,6% terminó en parto vaginal; 19,3% cesárea, y 9,1% parto vaginal instrumentado. De las inducciones, el 71,4% tuvo parto vaginal espontáneo, 23,2% cesárea y 5,4% instrumentado. El 62% terminó en parto vaginal espontáneo, 29,9% en cesárea y 7,4% instrumentado. El 85,9% fue adecuado para EG, 11,1% grande para la EG, y 3% pequeño para la EG. El 53,4% de RN tuvo de 37 a 41 semanas por Capurro; 45,7% fueron >42 semanas y 0,9% tuvo < 37 semanas. El Apgar a los 5 minutos fue de 7 a 10 en 333 casos, < 7 en 4 RN. Ocurrieron 4 óbitos fetales (1,1%). Conclusión: El EP se encontró en mayor frecuencia en pacientes adultas y nulíparas, el inicio del trabajo de parto espontáneo fue el más frecuente y la vía de parto vaginal la más frecuente. Las complicaciones fueron bajas en los RN vivos, sin embargo la tasa de mortalidad fetal fue elevada de 11 por mil. La indicación más frecuente de cesárea fue DCP y sufrimiento fetal agudo.
Proctocolectomía restauradora. A propósito de 2 casos en un hospital general.
Authors: Borda Mederos Luis Augusto , Manzaneda Pineda Ana Josefina , Pinto Elera Jesús Omar Andrés
Published: March 2016

Se presentan 2 pacientes sometidos a proctocolectomía restauradora, el primero con colitis ulcerosa y el segundo con poliposis adenomatosa familiar. Se discuten la efectividad de la técnica, el seguimiento a corto plazo de estos pacientes y las indicaciones para proctocolectomía restauradora.
Etkin Piyasalar Hipotezi ve Davran??sal Finans Çat??mas?
Authors: KULALI İhsan
Published: March 2016

Etkin Piyasalar Hipotezi ve Davran??sal Finans, finansal literatürün kar??t argümanlar? savunan iki temel modelini olu?turmaktad?r. Bunlardan ilki yat?r?mc?lar? rasyonel olarak kabul ederken di?eri ise yat?r?mc?lar? normal olarak ifade etmektedir. Etkin Piyasa Hipotezi’ne göre piyasalar bilgisel olarak daima etkindir. Hisseler en nihayetinde denge fiyat?na ula?acakt?r. Ya?anan finansal krizler ise k?sa dönemli düzeltme hareketleridir. Davran??sal finans, alternatif bir model olarak geli?tirilmi?tir. Buna göre yat?r?mc?lar farkl? bilgilere farkl? zamanlarda ula?maktad?r ve onlar? farkl? de?erlendirmektedir. Yat?r?m kararlar? psikolojik ve duygusal faktörlerden etkilenmektedir. Yat?r?mc?lar?n makine olarak görülmesi kabul edilemez. Davran??sal finans çok daha yeni bir konumdad?r ve çok say?da yeni çal??maya ihtiyaç duymaktad?r. Bununla birlikte iki teori aras?ndaki çat??ma yeni finansal krizlerin önlenmesi aç?s?ndan çok önemlidir. Yak?n gelecekte teorilerin kar??t olmaktan ziyade tamamlay?c? olarak kullan?lmas? beklenmektedir.
Emeklilik Fonlar? ve Finansal ?stikrar
Authors: AKGIRAY Vedat , Peksevim Seda , Şener Emrah
Published: March 2016

Emeklilik fonlar?, i) uzun vadeli yat?r?m perspektifine sahip olmas?, ii) finansal piyasalardaki oynakl??? uzun vadeye yayarak absorbe edebilmesi, ve iii) yat?r?mlar?n? hisse senedi ve altyap? fonlar? ile reel ekonomiye aktarmalar? sayesinde; finansal piyasalardaki oynakl???n azalmas?na katk?da bulunmaktad?r. Bu çal??ma, geli?mekte olan ülkelerde (GOÜ),  emeklilik fonlar?n?n ekonomideki pay?n?n en dü?ük oldu?u ülkelerden Türkiye'de (%2) ve en yüksek oldu?u ülkelerden ?ili'de (%66) emeklilik sistemlerinin kar??la?t?rmal? analizini sunarak, emeklilik fonlar?n?n finansal piyasalardaki oynakl??a olan etkisini 2004-2014 dönemi için incelemektedir. Çal??ma ayn? zamanda, Türkiye’de uygulanmas? planlanan ‘otomatik kat?l?m sistemi’ ve bu sistemi tamamlay?c? ‘fon ürünleri’ üzerine politika önerilerini de kapsamaktad?r.
Monetary Transmission Mechanisms
Authors: Mukhtarov Shahriyar , Selcuk Hasan , Mammadov Elvin
Published: March 2016

The aim of this study is to investigate impacts of monetary policy transmission mechanisms on production and prices in theoritical way and to test functioning of monetary transmission channels in Azerbaijan economy. In this article, vector error correction model (VECM) is employed for short and long run  relationships in the period of 2001:4-2014:3. Results reveal that, both interest and credit channels are important, with a bit precedence of credit channel in comparison for Azerbaijan economy.
Lesión medular y uso de sustancias: una revisión sistemática
Authors: Lusilla-Palacios P. , Castellano-Tejedor Carmina
Published: March 2016

El objetivo de este estudio fue el de revisar los hallazgos recientes sobre la prevalencia de uso de sustancias (US) y trastornos por uso de sustancias (TUS) y discutir su impacto en la salud en población con lesiones medulares (LM). Para este propósito, se realizaron búsquedas asistidas por ordenador en MEDLINE (PubMed) y en la Biblioteca Cochrane. A partir de un conjunto inicial de 59 artículos, 52 cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. La mayoría de trabajos se centraban en el consumo de alcohol y tabaco, y sólo unos pocos informaron acerca del uso de otras sustancias. El tipo de diseño de investigación fue mayoritariamente transversal y descriptivo, siendo escasos los estudios de intervención y longitudinales. A pesar de la alta prevalencia de US documentada en pacientes con LM, apenas existen trabajos sobre el consumo previo a la LM y de diseño longitudinal. Además, cuando se ha evaluado el TUS, éste no se ha estudiado de forma sistemática siguiendo criterios diagnósticos CIE o DSM. El alcohol ha resultado ser la sustancia más consumida entre esta población. Además, los pacientes con US han mostrado peores puntuaciones en distintos indicadores de salud. Por ello, se necesita más investigación para seguir avanzando en este ámbito de estudio, así como para poder diseñar intervenciones preventivas más efectivas adaptadas a las necesidades específicas de esta población, y para sugerir prioridades de investigación.
Seasonal Electrical Resistivity Surveys of a Coastal Bluff, Barter Island, North Slope Alaska
Authors: Swarzenski Peter W. , Johnson Cordell D , Lorenson Tom D , Conaway Christopher H , Gibbs Ann E , Erikson Li H , Richmond Bruce M , Waldrop Mark P
Published: March 2016

Select coastal regions of the North Slope of Alaska are experiencing high erosion rates that can be attributed in part to recent warming trends and associated increased storm intensity and frequency. The upper sediment column of the coastal North Slope of Alaska can be described as continuous permafrost underlying a thin (typically less than 1–2 m) active layer that responds variably to seasonal thaw cycles. Assessing the temporal and spatial variability of the active layer and underlying permafrost is essential to better constrain how heightened erosion may impact material fluxes to the atmosphere and the coastal ocean, and how enhanced thaw cycles may impact the stability of the coastal bluffs. In this study, multi-channel electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) was used to image shallow subsurface features of a coastal bluff west of Kaktovik, on Barter Island, northeast Alaska. A comparison of a suite of paired resistivity surveys conducted in early and late summer 2014 provided detailed information on how the active layer and permafrost are impacted during the short Arctic summer. Such results are useful in the development of coastal resilience models that tie together fluvial, terrestrial, climatic, geologic, and oceanographic forcings on shoreline stability.
Crops and wild plants from early iron age Kalakaca, northern Serbia: Comparing old and new archaeobotanical data
Authors: Filipovic Dragana
Published: March 2016

The ?old? archaeobotanical analysis of charred plant remains hand-picked in
the 1970?s from several pit-features at Early Iron Age Kalakaca in Vojvodina,
northern Serbia was conducted by Willem van Zeist and published by Predrag
Medovic. This work provided first information on the archaeobotany of the
site and the plant material deposited in the semi- or fully-subterranean
structures whose function has remained more-or-less enigmatic. These features
were in the past filled with a mass of fragments of, primarily, large ceramic
vessels, chunks of (burnt) daub, large quantities of animal bone, and burnt
plant matter. The ?new? archaeobotanical work at Kalakaca included sampling
and flotation in the field, and subsequent analysis of a fraction of the
samples. The paper explores the composition of the two datasets from
Kalakaca, separately and combined; it identifies the spectra of crop and wild
plants and discusses the quantitative representation of the crops. The paper
concludes by broadly comparing the integrated crop record from this site with
the crop datasets from few other Early Iron Age sites in Serbia in order to
get a preliminary picture on the choice of cultivated crops and possible
preferences for certain crop types.
The first Cohort of Cretans, a roman military unit at Timacum Maius
Authors: Petrovic Vladimir , Filipovic Vojislav
Published: March 2016

Archaeological investigations on the site of Nisevac (Timacum Maius) have
been conducted over a period of eight successive years by the Institute for
Balkan Studies in collaboration with the Centre for Tourism, Culture and
Sports of Svrljig and the French Bordeaux-based Ausonius Institute. The 2014
campaign came up with nine Roman bricks stamped with inscriptions of the
First Cohort of Cretans (Cohors I Cretum) built into the walls of a Roman
bath. The inscriptions provide evi?dence for the character, chronology and
history of the Roman settlement.
Some issues of Turkey’s entry into the first world war
Authors: Subaev Rashid
Published: March 2016

The paper seeks to clarify some circumstances surrounding Turkey?s entry into
the First World War, focusing on the events that took place between 5 and 10
August 1914 including the negotiations between Enver Pasha and the Russian
military attach?e M. N. Leontiev.
Apis’s men: The black hand conspirators after the Great war
Authors: Bakic Dragan
Published: March 2016

The activities of Colonel Dragutin Dimitrijevic Apis and his clandestine
Black Hand organisation in Serbia have long been scrutinised in connection
with the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914 and the
outbreak of the First World War. Regent Alexander and the Pasic government
dealt severely with the Black Hand in the Salonica show trial in 1917 when
Apis and two of his friends were sentenced to death, a number of officers
sentenced to prison and other Black Handers purged from the civilian and
military authorities. The rest of Black Handers, particularly those more
prominent, who survived the war found themselves in a position of pariah in
the newly-founded Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia). They
were constantly under the watchful eye of the authorities and suspected of
plotting subversive activities. To be sure, the Black Handers remained in
close contact and sought to bring about a ?revision? of the Salonica trial
and rehabilitate themselves and their dead comrades. This paper focuses on
three particular Black Handers, Bozin Simic, Radoje Jankovic and Mustafa
Golubic - although their other friends are also mentioned in connection with
them - who offered stiff resistance to the regime that had condemned them.
Their cases demonstrate that some of former Apis?s associates in time came to
terms with the authorities in order to secure peaceful existence or even
obtain a prominent status, whereas other remained staunch opponents of King
Alexander and their frustration took the shape of a left-wing opposition
ranging from republicanism to outright communism.
Evaluation of the use of steelmaking slag as an aggregate in concrete mix: A factorial design approach
Authors: Aljbour Salah , Tarawneh Sultan , Al-Harahsheh Adnan
Published: March 2016

Slag is investigated towards its potential use as an aggregate in concrete mix production. Full factorial design methodology is applied to study the effect of two process input variables, namely: slag as coarse aggregate and slag as medium aggregate on the properties of concrete mix. Additionally, the interaction between input variables is also examined. Incorporating steel slag aggregate in the concrete mix affected its compressive strength. Enhanced compressive strength concrete mix was obtained with 70 wt.% coarse slag aggregate and 70 wt.% medium slag aggregate. Under these proportions, the 28-days compressive strength was higher than the 28-days compressive strength of a concrete mix prepared from normal aggregate. Strong interaction effect exists between slag aggregate size on the compressive strength at 7-days curing. Lower compressive strength for the concrete mix might be obtained if improper proportions of mixed medium and coarse slag aggregate were employed.
Modeling Resource Use with Time Equations: Empirical Evidence
Authors: Balakrishnan Ramji , Pugely Andrew J. , Shah Apurva S.
Published: March 2016

We test whether cost-object-level characteristics significantly and predictably affect resource use within a single standardized activity. Using data on operating time for joint replacements, we find reliable effects for age, race, and gender after controlling for body mass index and other comorbidities. Modeling such granular variation is practically not possible in a classic two-stage system. Thus, this finding provides strong support for the use of time equations, as in time-driven activity-based costing, to model resource use. Supplementary analyses of hospital length of stay and gross charges show that, in addition to the expected direct effects, hospital-level characteristics moderate how patient-level attributes affect resource use.
Relationship between dental crowding and mandibular incisor proclination during orthodontic treatment without extraction of permanent mandibular teeth
Authors: Yitschaky Oded , Neuhof Meital Segev , Yitschaky Michael , Zini Avraham
Published: March 2016

Objective: 

To examine changes in mandibular incisor proclination and protrusion resulting from alleviation of crowding.

Materials and Methods: 

Records of 96 patients from a private practice treated without extractions or interproximal enamel reduction in the mandibular arch were included. Pre- and post-treatment cephalograms and models were examined to determine changes in incisor proclination, protrusion and crowding.

Results: 

For every millimeter of crowding alleviation, increases in incisor proclination (ΔIMPA) and protrusion (ΔL1 to A-Pog) of 0.5° and 0.2 mm, respectively, were found, on average. High variability was calculated for both linear variables (that can be reduced by incorporating other variables by multilinear regression).

Conclusions: 

For every millimeter of crowding alleviated, 0.5° of proclination and 0.2 mm of protrusion are expected. Our results indicate that proclination is mulifactorial and cannot be explained solely by the amount of crowding alleviated during orthodontic treatment. These results may be a useful guiding principle rather than a prognostic tool.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis With Canagliflozin, a Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor, in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Peters Anne L. , Henry Robert R. , Thakkar Payal , Tong Cindy , Alba Maria
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence of serious adverse events (AEs) of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) with canagliflozin, a sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, as an add-on to insulin in adults with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this 18-week, randomized, double-blind, phase 2 study, patients (N = 351; HbA1c 7.0–9.0% [53–75 mmol/mol]) on multiple daily insulin injections or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion received canagliflozin 100 or 300 mg or placebo once daily. The incidence of ketone-related AEs, defined as any event from a prespecified list of preferred terms (i.e., acidosis, blood ketone body increased, blood ketone body present, DKA, diabetic ketoacidotic hyperglycemic coma, ketoacidosis, ketonemia, ketonuria, ketosis, metabolic acidosis, urine ketone body present), including serious AEs of DKA, was assessed based on AE reports.

RESULTS

At week 18, the incidence of any ketone-related AE with canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg was 5.1% (n = 6 of 117) and 9.4% (n = 11 of 117), respectively; no patients in the placebo group experienced a ketone-related AE. The incidence of serious AEs of DKA was 4.3% (n = 5 of 117) with canagliflozin 100 mg and 6.0% (n = 7 of 117) with canagliflozin 300 mg; all serious events occurred in the presence of circumstances that are known to potentially precipitate DKA (e.g., infection, insulin pump failure). Among the 12 patients with a serious AE of DKA, blood glucose levels ranged from 9.4 to >44.4 mmol/L (170 to >800 mg/dL). Baseline characteristics were generally similar in patients with and without a ketone-related AE.

CONCLUSIONS

Canagliflozin was associated with an increased incidence of serious AEs of DKA in patients with type 1 diabetes inadequately controlled with insulin. Mitigation strategies are needed for use in future clinical trials to reduce the risk of DKA with canagliflozin treatment in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Illness Identity in Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: Introducing the Illness Identity Questionnaire
Authors: Oris Leen , Rassart Jessica , Prikken Sofie , Verschueren Margaux , Goubert Liesbet , Moons Philip , Berg Cynthia A. , Weets Ilse , Luyckx Koen
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

The current study examined the utility of a new self-report questionnaire, the Illness Identity Questionnaire (IIQ), which assesses the concept of illness identity, or the degree to which type 1 diabetes is integrated into one’s identity. Four illness identity dimensions (engulfment, rejection, acceptance, and enrichment) were validated in adolescents and emerging adults with type 1 diabetes. Associations with psychological and diabetes-specific functioning were assessed.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A sample of 575 adolescents and emerging adults (14–25 years of age) with type 1 diabetes completed questionnaires on illness identity, psychological functioning, diabetes-related problems, and treatment adherence. Physicians were contacted to collect HbA1c values from patients’ medical records. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to validate the IIQ. Path analysis with structural equation modeling was used to examine associations between illness identity and psychological and diabetes-specific functioning.

RESULTS

CFA indicated that the IIQ has a clear factor structure, meaningfully differentiating four illness identity dimensions. Rejection was related to worse treatment adherence and higher HbA1c values. Engulfment was related to less adaptive psychological functioning and more diabetes-related problems. Acceptance was related to more adaptive psychological functioning, fewer diabetes-related problems, and better treatment adherence. Enrichment was related to more adaptive psychological functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings underscore the importance of the concept of illness identity. A valid and reliable measure, the IIQ, is introduced to measure four illness identity dimensions in individuals with type 1 diabetes. These four illness identity dimensions were uniquely related to psychological and diabetes-specific functioning.
A Survey of Popular R Packages for Cluster Analysis
Authors: Flynt Abby , Dean Nema
Published: March 2016

Cluster analysis is a set of statistical methods for discovering new group/class structure when exploring data sets. This article reviews the following popular libraries/commands in the R software language for applying different types of cluster analysis: from the stats library, the kmeans, and hclust functions; the mclust library; the poLCA library; and the clustMD library. The packages/functions cover a variety of cluster analysis methods for continuous data, categorical data, or a collection of the two. The contrasting methods in the different packages are briefly introduced, and basic usage of the functions is discussed. The use of the different methods is compared and contrasted and then illustrated on example data. In the discussion, links to information on other available libraries for different clustering methods and extensions beyond basic clustering methods are given. The code for the worked examples in Section 2 is available at http://www.stats.gla.ac.uk/∼nd29c/Software/ClusterReviewCode.R
Posterior Predictive Checks for Conditional Independence Between Response Time and Accuracy
Authors: Bolsinova Maria , Tijmstra Jesper
Published: March 2016

Conditional independence (CI) between response time and response accuracy is a fundamental assumption of many joint models for time and accuracy used in educational measurement. In this study, posterior predictive checks (PPCs) are proposed for testing this assumption. These PPCs are based on three discrepancy measures reflecting different observable consequences of different types of violations of CI. Simulation studies are performed to evaluate the specificity of the procedure, its robustness, and its sensitivity to detect different types of conditional dependence and to compare it to existing methods. The new procedure outperforms the existing methods in most of the simulation conditions. The use of the PPCs is illustrated using arithmetics test data.
Race and the Politics of Mobility—Introduction
Authors: Nicholson Judith A. , Sheller Mimi
Published: March 2016

Race matters. “Too often scholars discuss mobility in the abstract, assuming or omitting the highly consequential matter of the identity of those who move
and its effects on how they move.” This special issue on Mobility and Race has invited contributors to rethink how unequal relations of power inherent
in both mobility and race shape a racialized mobility politics. Th e articles that follow examine what Cotten Seiler has called the “racialization of mobility,”2
meaning the ways in which “the modern practices and institutions of mobility have been and remain highly racialized.”
“Four Guys and a Hole in the Floor”
Authors: McLean Amie
Published: March 2016

In this article, I map out the foundational context and procedural dynamics through which the normative status of the white male trucker is achieved and maintained in the British Columbia-based long haul trucking industry. I pay particular attention to the dehumanizing racism and masculine subordination directed toward South Asian truckers. Drawing on ethnographic data, I socially and historically situate these dynamics in relation to Canadian national mythologies, practices of nation building, and the neoliberal organization of
trucking labor. To provide a richly detailed analysis of precisely how these narrative dynamics shape hierarchies of race and mobility in the industry, I examine a pervasive, racializing story among white truckers concerning workplace politics and practices of excretion.
Target Practice
Authors: Vukov Tamara
Published: March 2016

Taking the Canada–U.S. border as a starting point to refl ect on emergent smart border practices, this essay analyzes the diff erential yet central place that race
continues to hold in the regulation of mobilities through the technopolitical mechanism of the border. Against claims that smart borders off er a more
scientifi c and “postracial” mode of border control, the essay off ers a situated conceptual refl ection on how race is currently being (re)shaped by the complex
intersection of biopolitical and algorithmic forms of governmentality as they converge in border technologies. Th e essay proposes to think through
four diff erent sets of smart border technologies that enact and track race as a biopolitical assemblage in particular ways, analyzing the associated perceptual
codes each puts into play (biometric, movement sensing, drone, and databased). It closes by refl ecting on how these algorithmic technologies infl ect the
biopolitical targeting of race and mobility in ways that serve to insulate smart border practices from democratic accoun tability.
Leksell Gamma Knife treatment for pilocytic astrocytomas: long-term results
Authors: Simonova Gabriela , Kozubikova Petra , Liscak Roman , Novotny Josef
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term treatment results, radiation-related toxicity, and prognostic factors for the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with pilocytic astrocytomas treated by means of stereotactic radiosurgery with a Leksell Gamma Knife.

METHODS

A total of 25 patients with pilocytic astrocytomas underwent Gamma Knife surgery during the period 1992–2002. The median target volume was 2700 mm3 (range 205–25,000 mm3). The 18 patients treated with 5 daily fractions received a median minimum target dose of 25 Gy. Doses for the 2 patients treated with 10 fractions over 5 days (2 fractions delivered on the same day at least 6 hours apart) were 23 and 28 Gy. For the 5 patients treated with a single fraction, the minimum target dose ranged from 13 to 20 Gy (median 16 Gy).

RESULTS

Complete regression occurred in 10 patients (40%) and partial regression in 10 patients (40%). The 10-year overall survival rate was 96% and the 10-year PFS rate was 80%. Target volume appeared to be a significant prognostic factor for PFS (p = 0.037). Temporary Grade 3 toxicity appeared in 2 patients (8%), and these patients were treated with corticosteroids for 2 months. Permanent Grade 4 toxicity appeared in 2 patients (8%) and was associated with neurocognitive dysfunction. In these 2 individuals, the neurocognitive dysfunction was also felt to be in part the result of the additional therapeutic interventions (4 in one case and 6 in the other) required to achieve durable control of their tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiosurgery represents an alternative treatment modality for small residual or recurrent volumes of pilocytic astrocytomas and provides long-term local control. Target volume appears to be the most important factor affecting PFS.
Police Amalgamation and Reform in Scotland: The Long Twentieth Century
Authors: Davidson Neil , Jackson Louise A. , Smale David M.
Published: March 2016

This article examines shifting debates about police amalgamation and governance reform in Scotland since the mid-nineteenth century in the light of the creation of a single police service (Police Scotland) in 2013. From a proliferation of 89 separate police forces in 1859, the number had been reduced to 48 by 1949 and eight in 1975. Yet the move towards a single police service was far from inevitable, as comparison with England and Wales demonstrates. The idea of a ‘single’ or national force was mooted from the 1850s onwards in moments of unrest, disorder and emergency, but for most of the twentieth century it remained anathema. For the Scottish Office and Home Office as well as for many police officers, the move towards larger policing units was seen as desirable on the grounds of economy, efficiency, and professionalisation. Yet the assumption that ‘local’ control of police forces through municipal and county councils best enabled accountability and hence legitimacy remained intact until the 1960s, whilst the regional model set up in 1975 persisted for forty years. The article explores the reasons for this, focusing on the changing dynamics of the relationship between central and local government across the last 150 years.
Entrepreneurship as Facilitator for Sustainable Development? Editorial for the Special Issue “Advances in Sustainable Entrepreneurship”
Authors: Hörisch Jacob
Published: March 2016

In his quote from the 1940s, Joseph Schumpeter highlights the enormous transformative potential of entrepreneurship.[...]
System Entropy Measurement of Stochastic Partial Differential Systems
Authors: Chen Bor-Sen , Hsieh Chao-Yi , Ho Shih-Ju
Published: March 2016

System entropy describes the dispersal of a system’s energy and is an indication of the disorder of a physical system. Several system entropy measurement methods have been developed for dynamic systems. However, most real physical systems are always modeled using stochastic partial differential dynamic equations in the spatio-temporal domain. No efficient method currently exists that can calculate the system entropy of stochastic partial differential systems (SPDSs) in consideration of the effects of intrinsic random fluctuation and compartment diffusion. In this study, a novel indirect measurement method is proposed for calculating of system entropy of SPDSs using a Hamilton–Jacobi integral inequality (HJII)-constrained optimization method. In other words, we solve a nonlinear HJII-constrained optimization problem for measuring the system entropy of nonlinear stochastic partial differential systems (NSPDSs). To simplify the system entropy measurement of NSPDSs, the global linearization technique and finite difference scheme were employed to approximate the nonlinear stochastic spatial state space system. This allows the nonlinear HJII-constrained optimization problem for the system entropy measurement to be transformed to an equivalent linear matrix inequalities (LMIs)-constrained optimization problem, which can be easily solved using the MATLAB LMI-toolbox (MATLAB R2014a, version 8.3). Finally, several examples are presented to illustrate the system entropy measurement of SPDSs.
Assessment of Nociceptive Responsiveness Levels during Sedation-Analgesia by Entropy Analysis of EEG
Authors: Valencia José , Melia Umberto , Vallverdú Montserrat , Borrat Xavier , Jospin Mathieu , Jensen Erik , Porta Alberto , Gambús Pedro , Caminal Pere
Published: March 2016

The level of sedation in patients undergoing medical procedures is decided to assure unconsciousness and prevent pain. The monitors of depth of anesthesia, based on the analysis of the electroencephalogram (EEG), have been progressively introduced into the daily practice to provide additional information about the state of the patient. However, the quantification of analgesia still remains an open problem. The purpose of this work was to analyze the capability of prediction of nociceptive responses based on refined multiscale entropy (RMSE) and auto mutual information function (AMIF) applied to EEG signals recorded in 378 patients scheduled to undergo ultrasonographic endoscopy under sedation-analgesia. Two observed categorical responses after the application of painful stimulation were analyzed: the evaluation of the Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS) after nail bed compression and the presence of gag reflex (GAG) during endoscopy tube insertion. In addition, bispectrum (BIS), heart rate (HR), predicted concentrations of propofol (CeProp) and remifentanil (CeRemi) were annotated with a resolution of 1 s. Results showed that functions based on RMSE, AMIF, HR and CeRemi permitted predicting different stimulation responses during sedation better than BIS.
High Electron Confinement under High Electric Field in RF GaN-on-Silicon HEMTs
Authors: Medjdoub Farid , Kabouche Riad , Dogmus Ezgi , Linge Astrid , Zegaoui Malek
Published: March 2016

We report on AlN/GaN high electron mobility transistors grown on silicon substrate with highly optimized electron confinement under a high electric field. The fabricated short devices (sub-10-nm barrier thickness with a gate length of 120 nm) using gate-to-drain distances below 2 µm deliver a unique breakdown field close to 100 V/µm while offering high frequency performance. The low leakage current well below 1 µA/mm is achieved without using any gate dielectrics which typically degrade both the frequency performance and the device reliability. This achievement is mainly attributed to the optimization of material design and processing quality and paves the way for millimeter-wave devices operating at drain biases above 40 V, which would be only limited by the thermal dissipation.
Advances in Thin-Film Si Solar Cells by Means of SiOx Alloys
Authors: Mercaldo Lucia , Usatii Iurie , Delli Veneri Paola
Published: March 2016

The conversion efficiency of thin-film silicon solar cells needs to be improved to be competitive with respect to other technologies. For a more efficient use of light across the solar spectrum, multi-junction architectures are being considered. Light-management considerations are also crucial in order to maximize light absorption in the active regions with a minimum of parasitic optical losses in the supportive layers. Intrinsic and doped silicon oxide alloys can be advantageously applied within thin-film Si solar cells for these purposes. Intrinsic a-SiOx:H films have been fabricated and characterized as a promising wide gap absorber for application in triple-junction solar cells. Single-junction test devices with open circuit voltage up to 950 mV and ~1 V have been demonstrated, in case of rough and flat front electrodes, respectively. Doped silicon oxide alloys with mixed-phase structure have been developed, characterized by considerably lower absorption and refractive index with respect to standard Si-based films, accompanied by electrical conductivity above 10−5 S/cm. These layers have been successfully applied both into single-junction and micromorph tandem solar cells as superior doped layers with additional functionalities.
Assessment of the Spatial and Temporal Variations of Water Quality for Agricultural Lands with Crop Rotation in China by Using a HYPE Model
Authors: Yin Yunxing , Jiang Sanyuan , Pers Charlotta , Yang Xiaoying , Liu Qun , Yuan Jin , Yao Mingxing , He Yi , Luo Xingzhang , Zheng Zheng
Published: March 2016

Many water quality models have been successfully used worldwide to predict nutrient losses from anthropogenically impacted catchments, but hydrological and nutrient simulations with limited data are difficult considering the transfer of model parameters and complication of model calibration and validation. This study aims: (i) to assess the performance capabilities of a new and relatively more advantageous model, namely, Hydrological Predictions for the Environment (HYPE), that simulates stream flow and nutrient load in agricultural areas by using a multi-site and multi-objective parameter calibration method and (ii) to investigate the temporal and spatial variations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorous (TP) concentrations and loads with crop rotation by using the model for the first time. A parameter estimation tool (PEST) was used to calibrate parameters. Results show that the parameters related to the effective soil porosity were highly sensitive to hydrological modeling. N balance was largely controlled by soil denitrification processes. P balance was influenced by the sedimentation rate and production/decay of P in rivers and lakes. The model reproduced the temporal and spatial variations of discharge and TN/TP relatively well in both calibration (2006–2008) and validation (2009–2010) periods. Among the obtained data, the lowest Nash-Suttclife efficiency of discharge, daily TN load, and daily TP load were 0.74, 0.51, and 0.54, respectively. The seasonal variations of daily TN concentrations in the entire simulation period were insufficient, indicated that crop rotation changed the timing and amount of N output. Monthly TN and TP simulation yields revealed that nutrient outputs were abundant in summer in terms of the corresponding discharge. The area-weighted TN and TP load annual yields in five years showed that nutrient loads were extremely high along Hong and Ru rivers, especially in agricultural lands.
Chemical Elicitor-Induced Modulation of Antioxidant Metabolism and Enhancement of Secondary Metabolite Accumulation in Cell Suspension Cultures of Scrophularia kakudensis Franch
Authors: Manivannan Abinaya , Soundararajan Prabhakaran , Park Yoo , Jeong Byoung
Published: March 2016

Scrophularia kakudensis is an important medicinal plant with pharmaceutically valuable secondary metabolites. To develop a sustainable source of naturaceuticals with vital therapeutic importance, a cell suspension culture was established in S. kakudensis for the first time. Friable calli were induced from the leaf explants cultured on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 3.0 mg·L−1 6-benzyladenine (BA) in a combination with 2 mg·L−1 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). From the callus cultures, a cell suspension culture was initiated and the cellular differentiation was investigated. In addition, the effect of biotic elicitors such as methyl jasmonate (MeJa), salicylic acid (SA), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on the accumulation of secondary metabolites and antioxidant properties was demonstrated. Among the elicitors, the MeJa elicited the accumulation of total phenols, flavonoids, and acacetin, a flavonoid compound with multiple pharmaceutical values. Similarly, the higher concentrations of the MeJa significantly modulated the activities of antioxidant enzymes and enhanced the scavenging potentials of free radicals of cell suspension extracts. Overall, the outcomes of this study can be utilized for the large scale production of pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites from S. kakudensis through cell suspension cultures.
A Novel Pretreatment-Free Duplex Chamber Digital PCR Detection System for the Absolute Quantitation of GMO Samples
Authors: Zhu Pengyu , Wang Chenguang , Huang Kunlun , Luo Yunbo , Xu Wentao
Published: March 2016

Digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has developed rapidly since it was first reported in the 1990s. However, pretreatments are often required during preparation for digital PCR, which can increase operation error. The single-plex amplification of both the target and reference genes may cause uncertainties due to the different reaction volumes and the matrix effect. In the current study, a quantitative detection system based on the pretreatment-free duplex chamber digital PCR was developed. The dynamic range, limit of quantitation (LOQ), sensitivity and specificity were evaluated taking the GA21 event as the experimental object. Moreover, to determine the factors that may influence the stability of the duplex system, we evaluated whether the pretreatments, the primary and secondary structures of the probes and the SNP effect influence the detection. The results showed that the LOQ was 0.5% and the sensitivity was 0.1%. We also found that genome digestion and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites affect the detection results, whereas the unspecific hybridization within different probes had little side effect. This indicated that the detection system was suited for both chamber-based and droplet-based digital PCR. In conclusion, we have provided a simple and flexible way of achieving absolute quantitation for genetically modified organism (GMO) genome samples using commercial digital PCR detection systems.
Coenzyme Q and Its Role in the Dietary Therapy against Aging
Authors: Varela-López Alfonso , Giampieri Francesca , Battino Maurizio , Quiles José
Published: March 2016

Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is a naturally occurring molecule located in the hydrophobic domain of the phospholipid bilayer of all biological membranes. Shortly after being discovered, it was recognized as an essential electron transport chain component in mitochondria where it is particularly abundant. Since then, more additional roles in cell physiology have been reported, including antioxidant, signaling, death prevention, and others. It is known that all cells are able to synthesize functionally sufficient amounts of CoQ under normal physiological conditions. However, CoQ is a molecule found in different dietary sources, which can be taken up and incorporated into biological membranes. It is known that mitochondria have a close relationship with the aging process. Additionally, delaying the aging process through diet has aroused the interest of scientists for many years. These observations have stimulated investigation of the anti-aging potential of CoQ and its possible use in dietary therapies to alleviate the effects of aging. In this context, the present review focus on the current knowledge and evidence the roles of CoQ cells, its relationship with aging, and possible implications of dietary CoQ in relation to aging, lifespan or age-related diseases.
Next Generation Air Quality Platform: Openness and Interoperability for the Internet of Things
Authors: Kotsev Alexander , Schade Sven , Craglia Massimo , Gerboles Michel , Spinelle Laurent , Signorini Marco
Published: March 2016

The widespread diffusion of sensors, mobile devices, social media and open data are reconfiguring the way data underpinning policy and science are being produced and consumed. This in turn is creating both opportunities and challenges for policy-making and science. There can be major benefits from the deployment of the IoT in smart cities and environmental monitoring, but to realize such benefits, and reduce potential risks, there is an urgent need to address current limitations, including the interoperability of sensors, data quality, security of access and new methods for spatio-temporal analysis. Within this context, the manuscript provides an overview of the AirSensEUR project, which establishes an affordable open software/hardware multi-sensor platform, which is nonetheless able to monitor air pollution at low concentration levels. AirSensEUR is described from the perspective of interoperable data management with emphasis on possible use case scenarios, where reliable and timely air quality data would be essential.
Herbal Medicines Induced Anticholinergic Poisoning in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Thomas
Published: March 2016

In the present review, the main objective was to report the incidence and causes of herbal medicines induced anticholinergic poisoning in Hong Kong during 1989–2012 and to emphasize the importance of pharmacovigilance, investigations and preventive measures. Relevant papers, official figures and unpublished data were obtained from Medline search, the Department of Health and the Drug and Poisons Information Bureau. In the New Territories East (where ~20% of the Hong Kong population lived), the incidence of herbal medicines induced anticholinergic poisoning during 1989–1993 was 0.09 per 100,000 population. There were no confirmed cases during 1994–1996. In the whole of Hong Kong, the incidence during 2000–June 2005 was 0.03 per 100,000 population. Contamination of Rhizoma Atractylodis (50%) and erroneous substitution (42%) were the main causes. The incidence during 2008–2012 was 0.06 per 100,000 population. Contamination of non-toxic herbs (50%) and erroneous substitution (41%) were the main causes. In Hong Kong, contamination of non-toxic herbs by tropane alkaloids and substitution of Flos Campsis by toxic Flos Daturae Metelis were the predominant causes of herbal medicines induced anticholinergic poisoning. Systematic studies along the supply chain are necessary to identify the likely sources of contamination. If erroneous substitution of Flos Campsis by Flos Daturae Metelis could be prevented, 40% of herbal medicines induced anticholinergic poisoning would not have occurred. Regular inspection of the retailer, continuing education for the staff in the herbal trade and repeated publicity measures will also be required. Pharmacovigilance of herbal medicines should help determine the incidence and causes of adverse reactions and monitor the effectiveness of preventive measures.
Potential Effect of Liposomes and Liposome-Encapsulated Botulinum Toxin and Tacrolimus in the Treatment of Bladder Dysfunction
Authors: Janicki Joseph , Chancellor Michael , Kaufman Jonathan , Gruber Michele , Chancellor David
Published: March 2016

Bladder drug delivery via catheter instillation is a widely used treatment for recurrence of superficial bladder cancer. Intravesical instillation of liposomal botulinum toxin has recently shown promise in the treatment of overactive bladder and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, and studies of liposomal tacrolimus instillations show promise in the treatment of hemorrhagic cystitis. Liposomes are lipid vesicles composed of phospholipid bilayers surrounding an aqueous core that can encapsulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic drug molecules to be delivered to cells via endocytosis. This review will present new developments on instillations of liposomes and liposome-encapsulated drugs into the urinary bladder for treating lower urinary tract dysfunction.
Sans mariages ni sépultures, la reconstitution des familles est-elle possible ?
Authors: Dupâquier Jacques
Published: March 2016

Pour le XVIe siècle, on dispose assez souvent des registres de baptêmes, non de ceux de mariages et de sépultures. La reconstitution des familles est-elle possible dans ces conditions ? On a tenté l'expérience sur le village de Cormeilles-en-Vexin au XVIIIe siècle, en procédant à l'opération à l'aide des seuls registres des baptêmes en essayant d'en tirer le maximum possible, puis en comparant les résultats à ceux d'une reconstitution de type classique. La conclusion montre la portée et les limites de la méthode.
A la recherche d'une mesure de la léthalité des épidémies : les désignations de tuteurs pour les orphelins servent-elles d'indicateur ?
Authors: Hélin Etienne
Published: March 2016

Durant les périodes où la peste fait les pires ravages, les décès sont mal enregistrés. Ne pourrait-on pallier la carence des registres paroissiaux en calculant la fréquence des transferts de propriété ? Dans le diocèse de Liège, l'official désigne des mambours (tuteurs) qui doivent, entre autres, gérer le patrimoine des orphelins mineurs. Les mambournies sont bien conservées de 1570 à 1680 et une série de 3 432 sentences semble complète durant la décennie 1631 à 1640 qui vit se succéder chertés, invasions, épidémies.

La corrélation entre mortalités et transferts de propriété s'opère avec retard. Par ailleurs la crise, en multipliant les dévolutions de patrimoines, stimule la mobilité sociale.
La démographie des villes françaises au Moyen-Age
Authors: Higounet-Nadal Arlette
Published: March 2016

A number of research projects carried out from a demographic viewpoint have been completed within these last years. They allow us to give greater body to medieval, urban demography and to foresee new progress. The name listings remain, for the Middle Ages, the most prised documents especially if we can pinpoint the numerical importance of those listed in proportion to the rest of the population. They require moreover to be completed by ail the other possible information sources.

Total population studies bring out very large oscillations in amplitude. Epidemies, famines, economic hardship have a major responsibility in the more or less rapid recessions, as well as in the observed ruptures in the general movements of ascending demography.

The short family duration (two to three generations in most cases) created a permanent demand for immigration which leads one to believe in an infinitely more frequent and dense medieval population mobility than we thought until now. This creates the problem — not yet resolved — of demography in the country-side. It seems that the maximum degree of mobility was reached above ail by the artisans, then the laborers, but it effected as well other socio-professional categories. The origin of the immigrants is found for the most part within a 50 to 60 kilometer radius of the city considered. Some much more wide-spread movements are equally observed.