bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La démographie des mariages de même sexe en Australie : résultats de la première année après leur légalisation
Authors: Shalley Fiona , Wilson Tom
Published: April 2022

Fin 2017, l’Australie a été le 27 e  pays à légaliser le mariage de couples de même sexe, mais on sait peu de choses sur les caractéristiques des conjoints. Pour établir le profil démographique de ces couples, un jeu de données sans équivalent concernant tous les mariages australiens en 2018 a été constitué à partir des informations figurant dans les registres des États et des Territoires. Les estimations de la population représentée par ces minorités sexuelles en Australie ont permis pour la première fois de calculer des taux de nuptialité pour la population âgée de 18 ans et plus. Le taux de nuptialité des couples de femmes était supérieur à celui des couples d’hommes, et près de deux fois supérieur à celui des conjoints de sexe différent. Les couples d’époux de même sexe étaient généralement plus âgés, tandis que les mariages de couples de femmes avaient plus de chance de compter des enfants nés d’un précédent mariage. Les données sur le mariage en Australie et les nombreuses observations portant sur les mariages de couples de même sexe dans une sélection d’autres pays sont cohérentes, mais les chiffres enregistrés en Australie ont été supérieurs à ceux mesurés dans les autres pays la première année suivant la légalisation.
« Funestes secrets » et révolution contraceptive silencieuse dans la France du XVIII e siècle : « C’est le secret du vinaigrier »
Authors: Drewett Laura
Published: April 2022

La population française a été la première en Europe à effectuer sa transition de la fécondité, devançant les autres pays d’un siècle. On discerne encore mal à ce jour comment s’est opéré au xviii e  siècle ce bouleversement : forces socioéconomiques, nouvelles méthodes de contrôle des naissances ou évolution des mentalités. Cet article étudie dans quelle mesure les spermicides rudimentaires ont contribué au changement de régime de fécondité en France, en montrant comment ils ont été normalisés et démocratisés sous forme de produits féminins intimes aux propriétés astringentes lors de la révolution de la consommation. Étant donné la correspondance entre l’utilisation de ces produits et la transition de la fécondité, on peut se demander si ces astringents étaient devenus de facto des moyens de contrôler les naissances. Cet article montre comment un marché clandestin de romans pornographiques a permis de diffuser des méthodes contraceptives intravaginales auprès de la population. Une réévaluation des textes philosophiques et démographiques suggère que ces astringents ont pu freiner la fécondité jusque dans les zones rurales. Cette innovation, associée à une révolution de la consommation centrée sur les apparences, a pu accompagner une montée de l’individualisme et émanciper les femmes par rapport à leur rôle traditionnel de mère.
Cohérence des données sur les causes de décès à l’échelle infranationale : les exemples de la Russie, de l’Allemagne, des États-Unis et de la France
Authors: Danilova Inna , Rau Roland , Barbieri Magali , Grigoriev Pavel , Jdanov Dmitri A. , Meslé France , Vallin Jacques , Shkolnikov Vladimir M.
Published: April 2022

Les pratiques de certification et de codage des causes initiales de décès ne sont pas toutes les mêmes, ce qui peut nuire à la pertinence et la fiabilité des statistiques de mortalité par cause. La cohérence de ces données au sein d’un même pays peut être considérée comme un critère de qualité. Cet article évalue la cohérence à l’échelle infranationale des statistiques sur les causes de décès en Russie, en Allemagne, aux États-Unis et en France. On estime la part respective des principaux groupes de causes dans les structures de mortalité régionales, et on les compare aux moyennes interrégionales. Ces écarts à la moyenne sont présentés sur des matrices de cartes thermiques qui permettent d’identifier les combinaisons cause-région les plus éloignées des moyennes, les causes présentant une forte variabilité infranationale, ainsi que les régions dont la structure de mortalité est particulière. C’est en France que les données sur les causes de décès sont les plus cohérentes d’une région à l’autre, et en Russie que la part des valeurs aberrantes est la plus élevée. On constate également des différences selon la difficulté à diagnostiquer les causes de décès : la variabilité interrégionale diminue avec le degré de spécificité des symptômes permettant le diagnostic. Plus le diagnostic est difficile, plus les écarts interrégionaux sont importants.
Biomass char as an in-situ catalyst for tar removal in gasification systems
Authors:   , Abu El-Rub Ziad
Published: April 2022

The contribution of biomass to the world’s energy supply is presently estimated tobe around 10 to 14 %. The European Union set a firm target of cutting 20% of theEU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 - the EU will be willing to put this goal up to30% if the US, China and India make similar commitments. EU leaders also set abinding overall goal of 20% for renewable energy sources by 2020, compared to thepresent 6.5 %. It is expected that biomass gasification will play an important role inmeeting these goals. The gasification technology for biomass conversion is still in thedevelopment stage and cannot be considered as proven technology for small andmedium scale applications. The main technical barrier remains the efficient removal oftars from the produced gases in gasification systems. Tars are defined as a genericterm comprising all organic compounds present in the producer gas excluding gaseoushydrocarbons (C1-C6) and benzene.
Entrepreneurial Experience and Entrepreneurial Strategy: Empirical Analysis of the Influence of Entrepreneurial Teams with Academic and Surrogate Entrepreneurs on Entrepreneurial Strategy of Research-based Spin-off Companies in Europe
Authors: Tietz Rigo
Published: April 2022

This study analyses the influence of entrepreneurial experience in research-based spin-off companies (RBSOs) on entrepreneurial strategy, venture development, and firm performance and uses different sources of information. Besides desktop-research a quantitative empirical analysis addressing RBSOs in Europe will be conducted. The first step was a survey asking technology transfer officers at universities and non-university research institutes about RBSOs at their organisations. In cooperation with the University of Antwerp 1.011 institutes in 24 European countries have been contacted leading to a database with 8,505 companies. In the next step an appropriate sample of RBSOs will be selected and asked for the characteristics of the entrepreneurial team and the strategy of the company. Finally, it will include different sources to measure RBSOs´ performance. This research-in-progress paper gives an overview about the current status quo of the study. It includes a brief review of the existing literature, introduces the research questions, and discusses a subset of hypotheses as well as the theoretical background and proposed methodology.
Government’s Role as Public Venture Capitalist in High-Technology Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
Authors: Grundling Jan Petrus
Published: April 2022

Productivity growth is dependent on technological advancement. However, capital constrains commercialization of technology, which venture capital could solve. Still, a capital supply gap exists between venture capital and technology commercialization, especially in the start-up stages of high-technology enterprises. The outcome of this research will provide guidelines for participation in the public venture capital industry. This research introduce the government as public venture capitalist for filling the gap between technology opportunities and technology commercialization and found that the government plays an important role in high-technology enterprises in developing countries. Further, the venture capital industry adopts various operational models, especially in developing countries that lacks legal and accounting infrastructure. In the infancy stage, government plays a catalyst, but indispensable role.
Labour mobility and informal contacts as mechanisms of knowledge diffusion
Authors: Lundmark Erik
Published: April 2022

This article is positioned in the debate regarding the relative importance of labour mobility and informal contacts as mechanisms for knowledge diffusion between organisations. Empirically, the article assesses the importance of different knowledge sources utilised by 219 participants in two high-tech, R&D driven, non-incremental, product development projects in large corporations, located in local labour markets highly specialised in their respective industry clusters. The results show that the most important knowledge sources for the respondents are colleagues within the organisation. Informal contacts outside the organisation, although prevalent, are rather unimportant as knowledge sources. External contacts are related to creative contributions in the projects regardless of whether the contributions are selfassessed or peer assessed. However, the support for informal contacts in particular, being related to creative contributions in the projects, is rather weak. Implications for the understanding of knowledge diffusion are discussed and directions for future research suggested.
Organizing NPD networks for high innovation performance: the case of Dutch medical devices SMEs
Authors: Pullen Annemien J.J.
Published: April 2022

This research examines which combination of network characteristics (the network configuration) leads to high innovation performance for small and medium sized companies (SMEs). Even though research has paid significant attention to the relation between the external network and the innovation performance of SMEs, research has not yet clearly demonstrated which configurations most affect innovation in particular contexts. The context of the research is the Dutch medical devices sector. This sector is selected because collaboration with external partners for new product development means becomes increasingly important due to the complexity of the products and the fragmentation of the market. In addition the sector is characterized by very strict regulations. These regulations are the cause of the time and cost consuming product development process. In triangulation with quantitative survey data (N=60), qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews in these same companies (N=50), which resulted in a response rate of 61,9%. The systems approach was used to construct the successful network configuration that is related to high innovation performance. By using this approach we are able to simultaneously address multiple network characteristics. Correlation statistics between the Innovation Performance and the Euclidean Distance showed that the more a companies’ network configuration differed from the successful network configuration, the lower the Innovation Performance of that company. Contrary to what we hypothesized from literature, the results of the social systems approach indicate that the network configuration that is related to high innovation performance includes high levels of resource complementarity and goal alignment, and low levels of trust and network position strength. Instead of the social way of networking, both our quantitative and qualitative findings show that a “businesslike” approach which is focused and consistent is related to high innovation performance.
Prospering outside the region? Spatial patterns of spin offs universities of applied science: Case: Saxion University of applied sciences
Authors: van der Meer Rosalien
Published: April 2022

Saxion is part of the Dutch system of universities for higher vocational training and applied sciences. In this paper a case study is presented to gain more insight in spin offs of these types of universities, and their effect on the regional economy. For this purpose a database of 152 spin offs has been developed and a first survey was analysed. Most spin offs are active in the ICT and business services sectors. We have compared the results with the spin offs University of Twente. We observed that the percentage of spin offs, which was located outside the surrounding region of Saxion (33%) was significantly higher, than the percentage of spin off of the University of Twente (22%). The spin offs outside the region also have employees than Saxion spin off in the region. There is however no difference in the way the spin off perceive the business climate of their location. Stimulating entrepreneurship at universities of applied seems a good strategy to support the development of the promising knowledge intensive service sector in the eastern part of the |Netherlands. On the other hand this strategy should be accompanied with policy instruments aiming at convincing alumni entrepreneurs to stay in the region.
Spatial reach in learning of academic spin-offs: a focus on absorptive capacity
Authors: Taheri Mozhdeh
Published: April 2022

The current paper explores the extent of international learning among university spin-off firms and enhancing factors of this learning. Drawing on survey data of 100 university spin-off firms, the relationship is explored between absorptive capacity and international learning, alongside other factors. A small majority of spin-off firms is engaged in international learning and the most powerful influences tend to be R&D expenditure and international market orientation. The implications of the results and future research steps are discussed.
Toward a dynamic perspective on exploative and exploitative innovation activities: a longitudianl study of innovation in the wind blade industry
Authors: de Visser Matthias
Published: April 2022

Innovation requires a combination of explorative and exploitative innovation activities. Previous studies have provided valuable insights in the antecedents of investing in explorative and exploitative activities, the structural governance of exploration and exploitation and the performance implications of engaging in exploration and exploitation. These studies are dominated by cross-sectional research, largely ignoring the evolution of exploration and exploitation over time. Several scholars, however, provide first indications that the allocation of time and resources across exploration and exploitation might change over time. In order to examine the dynamics of explorative and exploitative innovation activities, we conducted an indepth case study in one particular company in the wind blade industry, applying a novel approach to measure the evolution of the amount of R&D resources allocated to explorative and exploitative activities over a 5 year time period. Our results show that the relative amount of resources and time invested in exploration versus exploitation is not static, but changes over time. The pattern of the evolution of exploration and exploitation at our case company shows phases in which exploration and exploitation activities are well balanced, and phases where one type of innovation dominates innovation activities. Based on additional qualitative data we found first indications of antecedents of the dynamics of exploration and exploitation. Together, our findings provide an interesting starting point for future research on the antecedents, structural governance and performance implications of the evolution of exploration and exploitation over time.
Valorisation of knowledge: preliminary results on valorisation paths and obstacles in bringing university knowledge to market
Authors: van Geenhuizen, Marina
Published: April 2022

The current paper is concerned with exploring the outcomes of valorisation of technology focused research projects in the Netherlands. Drawing on an evaluation of 240 projects at universities in three cities and on in-depth knowledge of almost 50 projects, the paper explores to what extent technology inventions are brought to market and which factors hamper such development. An evaluation after 10 years indicates that a quarter of the projects could be brought to market and that in almost 30% of the projects research is still continuing. Looking back to factors hampering knowledge valorisation, it appears that shortage in the organizational situation at the university at that time is the most important factor. Problems in interaction with the business world are in second place The most important regional factor appears a shortage of financial incentives including easy access to (regional) venture capital. The implications of the results for policymaking and further research are discussed.
Afghan Women Authors' Discourses of Resistance
Authors: Singh Garima
Published: April 2022

The chapter examines the works of Afghanistan's female authors' writings to understand the discursive identity construction concerning the appropriation of relational (i.e., symbolic) space. To pursue this goal, the chapter focuses on four novels by female writers: Nadia Hashimi's Sparks like Stars (2021), Homeira Qaderi's Dancing in the Mosque (2020), Fawzia Koofi's The Favored Daughter (2012), and Atia Abawi's The Secret Sky (2014). Drawing upon Michel Foucault's techniques of discourse analysis, the chapter seeks to delineate the dominant and the contested discourses on how resistance is enumerated and change is initiated by the female characters in the novel. It is argued that throughout the narratives, the relational space functions as an active participant in the construction of women's identities as well as in the exercise of power and the acceptance of truth and knowledge in the society.
Online Education in Industry 5.0
Authors: G. Prasad
Published: April 2022

Higher education in the modern era is gradually changing. Students from lecture rooms are rapidly volunteering into the digital world of the internet, embracing technologies like the distant learning with unique pedagogy. Education, to educate future citizens to operate in the field of resource sharing, will need to undergo further adaptive changes. Flexibility of location and time, personalization of the offer, collaboration, and adaptability are all trends of techniques and tools. This research work has been carried as a contribution towards the goals of National Education Policy 2020 framework proposed by Government of India. To equip citizens to engage in and benefit from the increasingly connected virtual and physical worlds, together with the rising need for information alongside limited time resources, higher education will be dynamic.
Perceptions of Faculty of Sport Sciences Students on Distance Education During the COVID-19 Period
Authors: Filiz Bijen , Konukman Ferman , Tüfekçioğlu Ertan , Fidan Neslihan Arıkan
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of the sport sciences students on distance education in terms of the advantages, disadvantages, difficulties, concerns, and suggestions during the COVID-19 period. The mixed method was used in the study. Participants were 312 volunteer university students. A questionnaire and an open-ended question were used. Results indicated that male students considered the advantages of distance education more important. In addition, students studying in the departments of Coaching Education and Physical Education and Sport Teaching considered the disadvantages of distance education more important. Female students considered the difficulties of distance education less important, and students who prefer distance education had more concerns about distance education. In conclusion, students suggested extending the duration of the lesson, strengthening the technology and internet infrastructure, conducting the lessons interactively, teaching the lessons more efficiently by the teachers, and standardizing the lesson practices.
Innovation and Change Between Entrepreneurial Action and Institutional Framework
Authors: Mastroberardino Piero , Calabrese Giuseppe , Cortese Flora , Petracca Miriam
Published: April 2022

This work analyzes the processes of innovation and change in economic-managerial studies, starting from the prevailing literature on the subject and subsequently providing an alternative interpretation key. The chapter focuses on the role that institutions have in organizational change and innovation and on isomorphic processes. If in management studies, on the topic of innovation and change, the processes of horizontal isomorphism are more analyzed, which lead organizations to imitate the behaviors of other organizations, considered as models, in this chapter the reflection is centered on vertical isomorphic processes, which are the result of regulatory and coercive pressures.
Companies in the Digital Economy
Authors: Comite Ubaldo
Published: April 2022

Our society as a whole is facing a rapid and profound transformation due to the progressive development of digital technologies. Keeping up with this “digital world” is not easy and there are many companies that risk losing competitive positions. Successful digital transformation therefore requires businesses to develop a broad range of capabilities—digital and non-digital—to support new business models. On the one hand, therefore, there is digital literacy, relating to the supervision of tools and technologies; on the other hand, digital culture, which has to do with some specific aspects: 1) critical thinking skills, 2) thoughtfulness, 3) transformative capacity, 4) enhancement of intellectual capital, 5) preparation of a corporate policy aimed at cybersecurity. The purpose of the work is to demonstrate how the company is able to reconcile the enhancement of intellectual capital and the problems associated with cybersecurity in the context of the digital economy, demonstrating that it knows how to manage complexity.
Legal Technology
Authors: Mania Karolina
Published: April 2022

This chapter discusses practical applications of emerging technologies in the context of legal services. The newly established legal technology (legal tech) industry is based on the application of IT services in the legal sector, radically changing the current nature of the lawyer's work. Importantly, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated the digitization of individual processes and fundamental aspects of lawyers' work, contributing to the development of legal tech. The first part contains definitions and descriptions of the term ‘legal technology' and some related ones, pointing out to the context of the relationship between dynamic technological development, the use of artificial intelligence, and the practice of the profession. The following sections describe the research on the current legal tech scene in Poland, based on integrative literature review. Then follows an analysis of the collected material, looking for the industry's map and an analysis of its specification.
Disrupting Their Histories
Authors: Gujarati Joan
Published: April 2022

This qualitative study critically examines elementary preservice teachers' (PSTs) mathematics histories, predominantly negative relationships with mathematics, to see them through a more positive lens and the impact on their teaching futures. Data from 75 PSTs' mathematics autobiographies across three teacher education programs in the Northeast United States over a 10-year period reveal that prior teachers are the primary influence on the PSTs' mathematics identities. This chapter showcases specific teacher and their classroom characteristics which shaped these identities. Themes that are explored in this chapter include connections with the teacher, learning environment, understanding the purposes of mathematics, use of manipulatives and hands-on learning, mathematics and gender roles, and timed assessments. Implications for mathematics methods courses, teacher effectiveness and professional development, and research on autobiographical inquiry are discussed.
The Digital Influence Ecosystem and Its Relation to Organizational Communication
Authors: Terra Carolina Frazon
Published: April 2022

The digital influencer market has been growing by significant numbers year after year (data from the Influencer Marketing Hub predicts USD $16.4 billion by the end of 2022). In a post-coronavirus pandemic landscape, organizations have relied more on digital influencers to reach their audiences on digital social platforms, as shown by the results of the ROI & Influence 2021 Survey by YouPix (71% of companies consider influencer marketing important in their communication strategies and intend to increase investment in that area). This chapter discusses the ecosystem that makes up digital organizational influence and its possibilities and shows its correlation with organizational communication. It compares the organizational communication with the integrated communication composite by the Brazilian researcher Margarida Kunsch and explores how organization influence fits into each of the diagram's communication pillars: internal, market, and institutional.
Disruptive Communication
Authors: Boarini Margareth
Published: April 2022

Challenges became more complex to organizational communication since the dissemination and the confluence of big data, artificial intelligence, and internet of things. Ubiquitous and powerful, these technologies require a specific knowledge, partnerships with different areas (data sciences), and learning how to work with a new communicational agent, the non-human. Bots should produce content e become popular as brand virtual influencer among other things. There are many and good opportunities to create and implement more assertive strategies by using data-driven and IA tools. The purpose of this chapter is to contextualize digital transformations and to highlight challenges and opportunities on what the author has defined as second disruptive wave to organizational communication. The first one happened when social media emerged as the main social arena on the contemporary society. The research was supported by a qualitative methodology with a theoretical framework and documentary research from various fields of knowledge.
How Small Companies Used Shopstreaming in Their Fight for Survival in a COVID-19 Scenario
Authors: Krolow Priscila Jaekel , Dias Patrícia , Oliveira Sara Manuela Lopes
Published: April 2022

The digital acceleration triggered by COVID-19 was a disruptive transformation of society, which was not prepared for such quick changes in socialization, work, and consumption, among other activities. We were forced to reinvent ourselves, to pursue the continuity of our daily routines using tools already available, because there was no time to invent better ones. In this context, live performances on social media became very successful as a zero-cost (both for content producers and audiences) and highly engaging format. Brands, and particularly small companies, quickly took over this new tool, adopting a practice that had already emerged a few years ago, consisting of using live streaming as a channel for showcasing products and selling, thus being an alternative to the mandatory closure of stores. In order to better understand this emergent practice, this chapter looks into two examples: Mh2, a Brazilian fashion accessories company which used lives on Instagram to sell its products, and São Costureira, a Portuguese clothing brand which did the same using Facebook.
Empathic Brands
Authors: Duarte Alexandre , Gregório Mafalda Sotto Mayor
Published: April 2022

In a world where brands are becoming ever more ubiquitous, competition is increasing, and consumers are, every day, more demanding, creating and maintaining powerful, emotional, and reciprocal relationships between brands and their stakeholders is no longer just an ambition, but an imperative call. This can potentially be accomplished by focusing on a brand purpose that consumers identify with and can be stimulated through the creation of unique and distinct experiences and by the development of interpersonal feelings, such as empathy. This chapter proposes a new model for measuring and evaluating brand empathy. For this study, the automotive sector was chosen to test the proposed model. Through a quantitative study, divided into two periods, the awareness of the automotive brands was evaluated, after which the proposed model was applied. This investigation concluded that the majority of automotive industry are characterized by consumers as not very empathetic, as well as the advertising campaigns created by these brands.
The Use of CRM in Marketing and Communication Strategies in Portuguese Non-Profit Organizations
Authors: Rodrigues Maria Inês Magalhães , Fonseca Manuel José Serra da , Garcia Jorge Esparteiro
Published: April 2022

The truth is that competitivity has gained a strong growth in business, and it is important that companies pay attention to the practice of their relational marketing strategies. Technology, innovation, and digital have been transforming the way society operates in the market. Organizations must look for current opportunities in order to add value of their business and negotiation process and of course in the way they act and interact with the target. This way, the current research demonstrates the importance of CRM in relational marketing practices, particularly in non-profit organizations. Regarding the methodology, a case study was developed using a qualitative methodology through semi-structured interviews in a convenience sample, with the aim of retaining the opinion fundraising and marketing responsible department between the different organizations under study. The main result of this exploratory study appears to prove the importance of using CRM for the good practice of relational marketing strategies in order to attract, retain, and build trust with their stakeholders.
Landmark Dataset Development and Recognition
Authors: Chen Min , Wu Hao
Published: April 2022

Landmark recognition aims to detect popular natural and manmade structures within an image. It is challenging with one of the reasons being the lack of large annotated datasets. Existing work mainly focuses on landmarks located in Europe and North America due to regional and language bias. In this study, the authors build a comprehensive Chinese landmark dataset to complement the current data and to benefit research for landmark recognition. It is done by leveraging the vast amount of multimedia data on the web and utilizing image clustering and retrieval techniques in data preparation and analysis. This results in a Chinese landmark dataset with a total of 42,548 images for 987 unique landmarks. In addition, a landmark recognition model is developed based on advanced deep learning techniques and integrated into a mobile application that allows users to do landmark prediction without the need of internet access or cellular data coverage.
Comparative Study between Two Substrates of Constructed Wetlands in the Treatment of Domestic Wastewater in Arid Regions
Authors: Sara Youcef , Nora Seghairi , Ramzi Djoudi
Published: April 2022

This work aims to conduct a comparative study between two natural substrates (clay and gravel) used in constructed wetlands to treat domestic wastewater effluent in arid regions. Experiments were carried out using four basins planted with phragmites australis, where two were filled with clay and two with gravel substrates. The efficiency of filtration systems has been studied by monitoring several physicochemical and organic parameters. This study is of great importance in determining the most effective type of local substrate in light of the lack of previous studies and the low spread of CWs in arid regions.Results showed that the clay filters clogged very fast, and the total Suspended Solids increased in the planted clay filter by 4 % and decreased in the planted gravel filter, where the removal efficiency was 73%. The pH was generally around neutral, with values between 6.8 and 7.2 regardless of the substrate, and the temperature was related solely to local weather conditions. The electrical conductivity was higher in the effluent from clay than the gravel filters, with 9.72 and 5.47 mS/cm, respectively. The nitrate concentration increased in all filters due to the complete transformation of ammonium to nitrate. After five days, nitrite and chemical oxygen demand removal efficiencies were 38.33%, 75% in the planted clay filter, and 60%, 88% in the planted gravel filter, respectively.
Optimization of University Campus Microgrid for Cost Reduction: A Case Study
Authors: Akindeji Kayode Timothy , Tiako Remy , Davidson Innocent
Published: April 2022

This paper presents an optimization model to minimize the fuel cost and CO2 emision on university campuses using an hybrid power system (HPS). The HPS is made up of solar photovoltaic (PV), diesel generator (DG), wind turbine (WT) and battery energy storage system (BESS). Two university campuses are used as case study to investigate the efficiency of the proposed HPS. The objective function is formulated such that each campus load is met by the renewable energy source (RES) when available and the DG only swicthes on when the output of the RES is not eneough to meet the load. The resulting non linear optimization problem is solved using a function in MATLAB called “quadprog”. The results of the simulation are analyzed and compared with the base case in which the DG is used exclusively to meet the entire load. The results show the effectiveness of the optimized HPS in saving fuel when compared to the base case and reflect the effects of seasonal variations in fuel costs.
New Formula for Calculating Local Scour around Bridge Piers
Authors: Annad Mohamed , Lefkir Abdelouahab
Published: April 2022

Several researchers working on the axes of solid particle transport, river flow, as well as the vulnerability of structures built on rivers have focused their work on the phenomenon of local scour, where many scour formulas have been proposed. Most of these formulas have been developed using laboratory data, estimated from simplified scaled-down models. This led to uncertainties and considerable inaccuracies in the scour estimation, sometimes causing serious consequences for the stability of structures subject to scour. These formulas were rarely tested using field data, where, until recently, there was very little data to validate them. This study aims to propose a new local scour formula using multiple nonlinear regression (MNLR). The data used is in situ data from an extensive database. The new proposed formula includes different parameters of the three fields involved in the triggering and development of the local scour, namely; the bridge, the flow, and the suspended characteristic of the eroded particle. The results obtained in the training phase and the validation show relatively better performances of the new formula compared to the existing empirical formulas.
Effect of Aqueous Extracts of Leaves, Stem and Seed of Azadirachta indica on Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steels in Acidic Medium
Authors: Ogundana Ifeoluwaposi , Olalemi Adewale , Arotupin Daniel
Published: April 2022

The application of aqueous extracts of leaves, stem and seed ofAzadirachta indicaas good green corrosion inhibitors of mild steels in 0.25 M hydrochloric acid (HCL) was evaluated. Extracts were prepared by evaporating the filtrate of the aqueous solution obtained from dried samples, hence, used for the preparation of inhibitor test solutions. Mild steel rods of 8 mm diameter were used. Phytochemical screening of aqueous leaf, stem and seed extracts ofAzadirachta indica(Neem) and corrosion inhibition rates of the extracts in 0.25 M HCl were determined by gravimetric analysis. The weight loss was calculated after each measurement, the inhibitory efficiency (I%), corrosion rate (Cr) and surface coverage (θ) were calculated using mathematical relationships. The mechanism of inhibitor adsorption on the metal steel surface was studied using Langmuir adsorption isotherms. The results revealed that extracts of leaves, stem and seed ofAzadirachta indicawere effective at inhibiting the rate of corrosion on the mild steels in 0.25 M HCl medium. The effectiveness of the extracts as corrosion inhibitors was observed to be dependent on the concentration of the extracts. The extracts were most effective after 9 days exposure period with inhibition efficiencies of 94.22 % (leaves), 86.27 % (stem), 83.22 % (seed) at 1.0 g concentration, while at the end of the 15 days exposure period, 1.0 g concentration of the extracts produced the highest inhibition efficiency at 94.17 %, 86.18 % and 83.11 % for the leaves, stem and seed extracts respectively. The Langmuir isotherm was obeyed by the extracts. The findings of this study demonstrated that neem leaves, stem and seed aqueous extracts are good green corrosion inhibitors therefore, their use as corrosion inhibitors should be greatly encouraged.
Interaction of lncRNA-CR33942 with Dif/Dorsal Facilitates Antimicrobial Peptide Transcriptions and Enhances Drosophila Toll Immune Responses
Authors: Zhou Hongjian , Li Shengjie , Pan Wanwan , Wu Shanshan , Ma Fei , Jin Ping
Published: April 2022

The Drosophila Toll signaling pathway mainly responds to Gram-positive (G+) bacteria or fungal infection, which is highly conserved with mammalian TLR signaling pathway. Although many positive and negative regulators involved in the immune response of the Toll pathway have been identified in Drosophila, the roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Drosophila Toll immune responses are poorly understood to date. In this study, our results demonstrate that lncRNA-CR33942 is mainly expressed in the nucleus and upregulated after Micrococcus luteus infection. Especially, lncRNA-CR33942 not only modulates differential expressions of multiple antimicrobial peptide genes but also affects the Drosophila survival rate during response to G+ bacterial infection based on the transiently overexpressing and the knockdown lncRNA-CR33942 assays in vivo. Mechanically, lncRNA-CR33942 interacts with the NF-κB transcription factors Dorsal-related immunity factor/Dorsal to promote the transcriptions of antimicrobial peptides drosomycin and metchnikowin, thus enhancing Drosophila Toll immune responses. Taken together, this study identifies lncRNA-CR33942 as a positive regulator of Drosophila innate immune response to G+ bacterial infection to facilitate Toll signaling via interacting with Dorsal-related immunity factor/Dorsal. It would be helpful to reveal the roles of lncRNAs in Toll immune response in Drosophila and provide insights into animal innate immunity.
Special AT-Rich Sequence-Binding Protein 1 Supports Survival and Maturation of Naive B Cells Stimulated by B Cell Receptors
Authors: Ozawa Takayuki , Fujii Kentaro , Sudo Takao , Doi Yukiko , Nakai Ritsuko , Shingai Yasuhiro , Ueda Tomoaki , Baba Yoshihiro , Hosen Naoki , Yokota Takafumi
Published: April 2022

Epigenetic mechanisms underpin the elaborate activities of essential transcription factors in lymphocyte development. Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1) is a chromatin remodeler that orchestrates the spatial and temporal actions of transcription factors. Previous studies have revealed the significance of SATB1 in T cell lineage. However, whether and how SATB1 controls B cell lineage development is yet to be clarified. In this study, we show that SATB1 is an important factor during splenic B cell maturation. By analyzing SATB1/Tomato reporter mice, we determined the dynamic fluctuation of SATB1 expression in the B cell lineage. Although SATB1 expression decreased to minimal levels during B cell differentiation in the bone marrow, it resurged markedly in naive B cells in the spleen. The expression was dramatically downregulated upon Ag-induced activation. Splenic naive B cells were subdivided into two categories, namely SATB1high and SATB1−/low, according to their SATB1 expression levels. SATB1high naive B cells were less susceptible to death and greater proliferative than were SATB1−/low cells during incubation with an anti-IgM Ab. Additionally, SATB1high cells tended to induce the expression of MHC class II, CD86, and CD83. Accordingly, naive B cells from B lineage–specific SATB1 conditional knockout mice were more susceptible to apoptosis than that in the control group upon anti-IgM Ab stimulation in vitro. Furthermore, conditional knockout mice were less capable of producing Ag-specific B cells after immunization. Collectively, our findings suggest that SATB1 expression increases in naive B cells and plays an important role in their survival and maturation.
Bioetica e biopolitica
Authors: Fiori Angelo , Sgreccia Elio
Published: April 2022

Non disponibile
L'antropologia di X. Zubiri
Authors: Savignano Armando
Published: April 2022

L'articolo analizza il pensiero del filosofo spagnolo X. Zubiri, approfondendo in particolare l'originalità del contributo sul piano antropologico. L'antropologia si configura attraverso una feconda interazione tra filosofia e scienza: la concezione dell'essenza costitutiva dell'uomo si avvale dei contributi delle scienze (genetica, sociologia, psicologia, etc.), senza ridursi a esse. Gli stadi dell'evoluzione psicosomatica richiedono intrinsecamente un atto creativo ex nihilo: organismo e psiche sono subsistemi della sostantività umana, intesa come unità strutturale dell'individuo aperta alla dimensione storica e alla dimensione teologale. La considerazione di ciò che è specificatamente umano rimanda alla metafisica e al personalismo realista.
Quel au-delà de la mort?
Authors: Maldamé Jean Michel
Published: April 2022

"Le pseudoconoscenze scientifiche sull'aldilà non hanno valore. Tuttavia esse sono preziose in quanto forniscono utili informazioni sulla psicologia umana. La verità che si ricerca sull'inafferrabile morte non deriva dal metodo scientifico, ma dall'esperienza che si fa della morte altrui. L'autore affronta tutte queste problematiche, soffermandosi in particolare anche sul tema della reincarnazione e della risurrezione.
La formazione dei docenti di etica professionale nelle scuole infermieristiche
Authors: Spagnolo A. G. , Di Pietro M. L. , G.
Published: April 2022

La professione infermieristica sta cercando di trovare oggi un ruolo specifico nel campo delle professioni sanitarie, un ruolo che comporti una spedfica identità seppure strettamente collegato alla professione medica. Un recente progetto di legge italiano sul riordino della professione infermieristica ha sollevato numerose perplessità fra gli infermieri stessi e in generale fra gli altri operatori sanitari. Gli autori considerano il punto del progetto di legge che riguarda l'insegnamento dell'etica professionale nelle scuole infermieristiche. Esso prevede che possano essere qualificati a questo insegnamento gli infermieri che abbiano il titolo di AFD o di DAl. Gli autori ritengono, invece, che tale livello di formazione non sia adeguato per una materia così delicata come l'etica professionale ed essi propongono pertanto l'istituzione di uno specifico corso universitario in cui vengano approfonditi i diversi problemi etici, inquadrati nel campo più vasto della bioetica, conseeguendo alla fine uno specifico grado accademico finalizzato all'insegnamento dell'etica professionale nelle scuole infermieristiche.
Anatomical classification and clinical application of thoracic paraspinal blocks
Authors: Kim Shin Hyung
Published: April 2022

Various techniques for regional anesthesia and analgesia of the thorax are currently being used in clinical practice. A recent international consensus has anatomically classified paraspinal blocks in the thoracic spinal region into the following four types: paravertebral, retrolaminar, erector spinae plane, and intertransverse process blocks. These blocks have different anatomical targets; thus, the spreading patterns of the injectates differ and can consequently exhibit different neural blockade characteristics. The paravertebral block directly targets the paravertebral space just outside the neuraxial region and has an analgesic efficacy comparable to that of the epidural block; however, there are multiple potential risks associated with this technique. Retrolaminar and erector spinae plane blocks target the erector spinae plane on the vertebral lamina and transverse process, respectively. In anatomical studies, these two blocks showed different injectate spreading patterns to the back muscles and the fascial plane. In cadaveric studies, paravertebral spread was identified, but variable. However, numerous clinical reports have shown paravertebral spread with erector spinae plane blocks. Both techniques have been found to reduce postoperative pain compared to controls; however, the results have been more inconsistent than with the paravertebral block. Finally, the intertransverse process block targets the tissue complex posterior to the superior costotransverse ligament. Anatomical studies have revealed that this block has pathways that are more direct and closer to the paravertebral space than the retrolaminar and erector spinae plane blocks. Cadaveric evaluations have consistently shown promising results; however, further clinical studies using this technique are needed to confirm these anatomical findings.
Treatment of Resistant Alopecia areata with Tofacitinib
Authors: Avhad Ganesh
Published: April 2022

The activity of tofacitinib for Alopecia areata (AA) has been reported but mainly from the western countries. We report the case of a young female Indian patient with AA unresponsive to therapy. Improvements in terms of hair regrowth were observed within 2 months of treatment with oral tofacitinib 5 mg BID tablets. The effectiveness of tofacitinib in hair regrowth was maintained till 5-month follow-up period. There were no side effects reported and the treatment with tofacitinib was well-tolerated.
Outcome of microsurgical clipping of anterior communicating aneurysms
Authors: Kumar M. Ganesh , Prasad Rjvv , Kumar Senthil , Pravallika A.
Published: April 2022

Anterior communicating (ACOM) aneurysms are the most common intracranial aneurysms. About 30%–40% of ruptured intracranial aneurysms are ACOM aneurysms. Its complex structural and anatomical variability and its critical location pose a great challenge to the surgeon during microsurgical clipping. We share our experience in clipping these aneurysms and its outcome. The aim was to study the outcome following microsurgical clipping of ACOM artery aneurysm presenting with rupture and subarachnoid haemorrhage and to determine the factors which dictate the clinical outcome after 6 months. The study includes all cases of ruptured ACOM aneurysms who underwent microsurgical clipping between the period of 2016 and 2020. The medical records were analysed retrospectively and results were recorded. The study shows that the outcome of the patients depends on presenting World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grade, anterosuperiorly projecting aneurysms are at high risk for intraoperative rupture and complications such as lacunar infarcts are common with the usage of temporary clips.
Spontaneous thrombosis of internal carotid artery with occlusion of giant cavernous carotid aneurysm and malignant hemispheric infarct – Cure or curse?
Authors: Menon Girish , Pradhan Aseem , Hegde Ajay
Published: April 2022

Spontaneous thrombosis of giant intracranial aneurysm with parent artery occlusion is uncommon. We present an unusual case of a 28-year-old female who presented with a hemispheric infarct probably secondary to dissection of the cervical internal carotid artery (ICA). The cervical ICA occlusion simultaneously induced total thrombosis of pre-existing incidental giant cavernous ICA aneurysm. We discuss the various theories and probable mechanisms involved.