bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Initial Acceptance of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients After Intensive Educational-Behavioral Program
Authors: Pengjam Janejira , Tantrakul Visasiri , Suwansathit Worakot
Published: October 2019

Background: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device therapy is the standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to date. However, acceptance and adherence rate remained low. Recent study showed that educational and behavioral modification program can improve the efficacy of CPAP use.

Objectives: To study rate of acceptance and its predictor factors of in patients with obstructive sleep apnea after participant in group modification behavior program.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in 247 obstructive sleep apnea patients at Ramathibodi Sleep Disorders Center, Ramathibodi Hospital from February to July 2015. There were indicated for CPAP. Participating states spanning included awareness, motivating, demonstration, and trials of CPAP evaluated every week for 3 weeks.

Results: Of 247 obstructive sleep apnea patients (62% male) were included with apnea-hypopnea index (AIH) (median [interquartile range], 41.5 [46.4]), and acceptance CPAP (85%). Factors influencing decision to use CPAP were severity of diseases (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.2 - 13.9), triple trials (OR, 8.6; 95% CI, 2.1 - 35.4), and government reimbursement (OR, 8.1; 95% CI, 2.9 - 22.4).

Conclusions: After educational and behavioral intervention, the CPAP acceptance rate were high among Thai patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This program should be encouraged for more widespread clinical practice.
Relationship Between School Head Supervision and Organizational Climate with Teacher Performance in Almadrasah Aliyah, Kualuh Leidong District
Authors: Hidayah Hikmatul , Herviana Hera
Published: October 2019

Madrasah quality is one of the most urgent in the world of education. in this study will attempt to reveal the relationship between madrasah head leadership and teacher work participation with madrasah quality.  The research method uses correlational research, namely research that seeks to see the relationship between variables. The study population was all MTs teachers in Labuhan Batu District totaling 83 people. The sample was taken using proportional random sampling technique, so that the sample was taken as many as 75 people. The instrument used was a questionnaire, data analysis techniques were carried out with data descriptions, and hypothesis testing using simple regression and multiple regression. The following results were obtained: 1) There was a positive and significant relationship between the leadership of the madrasah head (X1) and the madrasah quality (Y) in the Madrasah Tsanawiyah Labuhan Batu with moderate correlation levels with the correlation coefficient value of 0.092. While the value of the strength of the relationship that occurs between the two variables is 0.092 or 8%. 2) There is a positive and significant relationship between teacher work participation (X2) and the quality of madrasah (Y) in Laban Batu Tsanawiyah Madrasah with a moderate level of correlation with the correlation coefficient value of 0.390. While the value of the strength of the relationship that occurs between the two variables is 0.390 or 15.2%. 3) There is a positive and significant relationship between madrasah head leadership (X1) and teacher work participation (X2) with madrasah quality (Y) in Laban Batu Tsanawiyah Madrasah with moderate correlation levels with a correlation coefficient value of 0.512. While the value of the strength of the relationship that occurs between the two variables is 0.512 or 26.2%.
Institutional Influences on Decision Making: The Case of Bank Lending to Small Businesses in the U.S. and Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Van Thang , Le Thi Bich Ngoc , Jerman Rose
Published: October 2019

This research explores the question of how institutional factors influence busi- ness decision making. We conducted in-depth interviews with twenty-six bankers in Vietnam and the U.S. Our results suggest that the development of market institutions has a strong influence on managers’ frequency use of rational versus subjective decision making approaches. In developed countries, the presence of a large data base and a reliable legal system facilitates bankers’ choice of rational decision making. In the absence of effective market institutions, bankers have no choice but to rely extensively on personal heuristics and biases to make loan decisions. In this situation, heuristics and biases were used intentionally and consciously in decision making process. Two strategies to minimize bias errors – controlling and learning strategies – were used extensively by Vietnamese bankers.
Reforming the State Bank of Vietnam towards an Independent Central Bank: the Application of New Public Management in Vietnam
Authors: Dang Ngoc Duc
Published: October 2019

In many open-rich financially developed countries, the central bank (CB) plays an important role in the development of a sound and effective financial system in par- ticular, and economic development and stabilization of the economy in general. In these countries, the governance of the CB is based on the three main principles of New Public Management (NPM) known as the three ‘pillars’, which includes: (i) central bank independence; (ii) central bank accountability, and (iii) central bank transparency. Among them, central bank independence is considered the key and pri- mary ‘pillar’. This implies that the reform of the central bank towards an independ- ent entity thereby could be seen as one of the most important elements of a public administration reform program in developing countries (LCDs), and Vietnam should not be an exception. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) – as the Vietnam’s Central Bank – has been operating successfully in the last decades and has contributed greatly to Vietnam’s development. However, the dependence of the SBV on the Government has shown a number of weaknesses that should be overcome as soon as possible in the next stage of the development process, especially when Vietnam becomes an official member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2018. In this paper, three issues will be covered, including: (1) The independent central bank and its positive impact on the development and stabilization of the economy as a theoret- ical framework for discussion on the need for and the way of the reform of the cen- tral bank in developing countries; (2) a factual analysis of the SBV’s problems resulting from its high dependence upon the government, as well as opportunities and challenges of reforming the SBV towards an independent central bank; (3) rec- ommendations for solutions to ensure the success of SBV reform in the future.
TAMIL NAAVALAR – PIRATHIPOTA AARAYCHI
Authors: Abinaya R.
Published: October 2019

Ancient Tamil texts ascended to the nineteenth century edition. Subsequently, when there is a reprint or text to the book, there may be some changes to the book, depending on the value and need of a book. The changes that have been made continue to this day. Some of these changes make some mistakes in the version. False versions cause the author to misunderstand the material. For example, the syllables found in the versions that are considered to be one of these types of mistakes are "'yenri' is 'yinri', 'woozhi kalathir’ is ‘woozhi kaaaththu’, ‘yaahavum’ is ‘yaahiyum’, ‘vaaimaiyir’ is ‘vaaimaiyung’ ‘themmaiyung’ is ‘themmai’" They found the text in the Tamil novelist story explaining the proposed article. Moreover, the descriptive and comparative analysis have been used for this article.
Detrás del Ecce Homo: retos y oportunidades para la conservación del patrimonio rural español en un contexto de despoblación
Authors: Sánchez Sánchez Alberto
Published: October 2019

En el verano de 2012, la fallida restauración de un fresco en el Santuario de Misericordia de Borja (Zaragoza) se convirtió en un fenómeno viral. Medios de todo el mundo publicaron las imágenes del Ecce Homo antes y después de la intervención de Cecilia Giménez, una octogenaria vecina de Borja, pintora aficionada y colaborada habitual en el mantenimiento del santuario. Cautivados por la historia y por la innegable naturaleza cómica del resultado, la mayoría de los periodistas y comentaristas pasaron por alto que Giménez intervino en el fresco en unas condiciones culturales, socioeconómicas y demográficas muy concretas, movida tanto por un fuerte sentimiento religioso como por un entendimiento colectivo del patrimonio cultural que es común en el medio rural español. Como ella, y también con mejor o peor fortuna y muchas veces sin los conocimientos adecuados, miles de habitantes de pequeños pueblos (especialmente mujeres) se ocupan regularmente de la conservación y el mantenimiento del patrimonio rural, tanto religioso como civil, tanto material como inmaterial. Sin embargo, la segunda gran oleada de despoblación rural que está experimentando la España interior pone en serio peligro este modelo de cuidado, dificultando e incrementando la precariedad del cada vez menor número de personas que realizan este trabajo. Mirar más allá del Ecce Homo, detrás de las chanzas sobre el resultado de la restauración, implica no solamente reconocer y evaluar este fenómeno, sino también entender sus posibles implicaciones y las oportunidades que pueden surgir a nivel político y legislativo para abordarlo.
Un estudio analiza distintos modelos de recuperación de pueblos abandonados en el Alto Aragón
Authors: Marín Gavín Sixto
Published: October 2019

En 2017 se celebró en Huesca el II Congreso Nacional contra la Despoblación, donde se impartieron diversos talleres temáticos con el propósito de analizar el problema desde distintas perspectivas. En el taller dedicado al área de Urbanismo y la Ordenación del Territorio se mostraron varias iniciativas de recuperación de asentamientos, así como diferentes estrategias para la puesta en valor del medio rural en su conjunto. A raíz de esta experiencia, la Diputación Provincial de Huesca encargó a Sixto Marín Gavín, arquitecto coordinador del citado taller, la redacción de un estudio sobre distintas experiencias de pueblos altoaragoneses recuperados desde los años 90. Sobre la base de la información recogida por éste para su tesis, y con la incorporación de profesionales de otras disciplinas, se completó en diciembre de 2017 un documento para dar a conocer de manera sistemática y detallada la realidad de este fenómeno.
30 años de programa LEADER en Andalucía. Apuntes al periodo 2014-2020
Authors: Cejudo García Eugenio , Maroto Martos Juan Carlos , Navarro Valverde Francisco
Published: October 2019

Este breve análisis pretende mostrar, por un lado, algunos de los indicadores sociales y económicos que permiten evaluar la incidencia territorial que ha supuesto la ejecución de la iniciativa LEADER de la Unión Europea en Andalucía durante el periodo de programación 2007-2013, aunque su ejecución real no concluyese hasta finales de 2015. Los resultados que se presentan proceden del análisis de los 6.225 proyectos ejecutados de los más de 12.000 iniciados, no existiendo información disponible con este nivel de detalle para el actual periodo de programación, al menos, hasta 2023. Por otro, se propone resaltar las modificaciones más importantes introducidas en el actual periodo de programación, así como algunas de las sugerencias para su mejora.
Movilidades e hibridaciones rural-ubanas. Procesos identitarios y flujos de población en las dinámicas de ocupación del territorio
Authors: Sanz Tolosana Elvira , Martínez-Lorea Ion
Published: October 2019

La globalización de las movilidades, la deslocalización productiva y residencial, la creciente separación entre lugar de trabajo y residencia, la progresiva integración en la economía internacional (industria agroalimentaria, turismo global o los flujos migratorios) y la movilidad cotidiana han propiciado la configuración de territorios híbridos en los que la articulación entre lo rural y lo urbano emerge como un factor clave de transformación social.

La identidad se considera una condición necesaria para la puesta en valor de los territorios y los procesos de desarrollo. Actualmente, muchas estrategias de desarrollo rural hacen hincapié en la importancia de los procesos de identidad territorial como catalizadores dichas iniciativas. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la conformación de figuras híbridas rural-urbanas en relación a la identidad territorial. Se investiga la relevancia que cobra para la sostenibilidad social y económica de los territorios de despoblación, el estrecho vínculo que se produce entre los diferentes tipos de movilidad (desplazamientos cotidianos, estrategias biresidenciales, turismo, etc.) y las experiencias festivas. Las áreas de montaña son un espacio privilegiado para la celebración de la identidad y la reconstrucción de la vida comunitaria y por tanto un espacio paradigmático para el estudio de este proceso. En este sentido, se ha escogido los valles del Pirineo navarro que presentan  un fuerte peso identitario y simbólico en los imaginarios sociales de la región.
Agroecología, conocimiento tradicional e identidades locales para la sostenibilidad y contra el despoblamiento rural
Authors: Espluga Trenc Josep , López García Daniel , Calvet-Mir Laura , Di Masso Marina , Pomar León Ariadna , Tendero Acin Guillem
Published: October 2019

Una forma de superar algunas de las limitaciones de las políticas tradicionales de desarrollo rural es la apuesta por modelos agroalimentarios alternativos basados en la agroecología y la soberanía alimentaria. Los procesos de transición agroecológica pretenden, entre otras cosas, activar dos dinámicas fundamentales, la recuperación de conocimiento ecológico tradicional y la articulación de redes alimentarias alternativas, y para ponerse en marcha y mantenerse en el tiempo necesitan de un sistema organizativo en red que, en la medida de lo posible, cuente con el apoyo de las instituciones locales. En el caso español, durante los últimos años cada vez más administraciones públicas están poniendo en marcha políticas alimentarias locales, con paradigmas relativamente distantes del modelo agroalimentario hegemónico. En el presente texto se analiza cómo los procesos de transición agroecológica pueden contribuir a activar y/o reinventar un patrimonio cultural capaz de movilizar redes de actores en el territorio, y cómo estos procesos pueden modificar, a su vez, el funcionamiento de ciertas instituciones locales introduciendo espacios participativos y foros híbridos de acción colectiva.
La red de ecoaldeas: repoblación, autogobierno, autogestión y autosuficiencia alimentaria
Authors: Ruiz Escudero Francisca
Published: October 2019

España se enfrenta, desde el punto de vista demográfico, a tres grandes desafíos: el progresivo envejecimiento poblacional, el despoblamiento territorial y los efectos de la población flotante. Independientemente de las iniciativas gubernamentales, se observa también en nuestro país, como en el resto del mundo, un fenómeno del retorno al medio rural desde la ciudad protagonizado por movimientos ciudadanos que critican una sociedad industrial estancada y que buscan en el campo una vida en comunidad con un enfoque sostenible. Aunque minoritaria, la experiencia de las denominadas ecoaldeas enriquece los escenarios y formas de vida en el medio rural, planteando posibles modelos de transición para repoblar el medio rural y de montaña.
Notas sobre Campo Adentro, a los 10 años de su inicio
Authors: García Dory Fernando
Published: October 2019

Hablar de un proyecto como Campo Adentro puede ser una vía para examinar posibles estrategias culturales y artísticas en relación a la cuestión rural de hoy.

A partir de ahí podemos ver las condiciones en las que surge un nuevo campo de práctica de arte en el medio rural, sus referentes históricos y objetivos, así como ejemplos concretos de práctica situada.
El patrimonio rural eclesiástico y su conservación sin uso en el antiguo señorío de Molina de Aragón (Guadalajara)
Authors: Blasco Pérez Valle
Published: October 2019

Los territorios que en el pasado formaron parte del Señorío de Molina de Aragón, en Guadalajara, acogen conjuntos patrimoniales de gran valor artístico e histórico (y en su momento también económico), que actualmente se encuentran en estado de semi-abandono debido a la falta de población en los municipios que apenas cuentan con unas decenas de habitantes. El problema de estos bienes culturales, eminentemente religiosos, no es solo su conservación material, que ya se está llevando a cabo mediante diferentes programas de recuperación, sino la pérdida de su significado por la falta de usuarios que hagan posible su valorización y les den el sentido espiritual con el que fueron concebidos.
Las posibles soluciones que reduzcan su pérdida acelerada no pasan por provocar medidas para la repoblación o promover el turismo, pues los valores ideológicos que definen este tipo de patrimonio cultural, están desde hace ya un tiempo en un declive absoluto y prácticamente irrecuperable.
El irremediable destino que permitirá apenas la conservación material de los bienes culturales muebles a los que nos referimos, sólo puede ser el traslado, la reubicación, y por tanto la descontextualización que provocará, sin duda, la importante pérdida de su significado original.
La ecoaldea Los Guindales: escuela intensiva para la conservación de la cultura y la vida de las zonas rurales
Authors: Rodríguez Nieves África , Carboni Loris
Published: October 2019

La ecoaldea Los Guindales es un plan grupal que nace hace 15 años y, a lo largo del tiempo, hemos generado dos proyectos interdependientes: la casa Los Guindales y la escuela de bioconstrucción Los Guindales, con el sueño común de cuidar la Madre Tierra y participar en la transformación de esta sociedad hacia un modelo más humano donde cuidar la vida sea la prioridad. Compartimos un ecosistema natural, una finca en un bosque comestible en el valle del Genal, en la localidad de Algatocín, en la serranía de Ronda, Málaga; un conjunto de valores; y el compromiso con la realidad social a la que pertenecemos, que nos lleva a una continua reflexión sobre los valores ancestrales que permitieron, durante miles de años, que los seres humanos vivieran en armonía con la Naturaleza, cubriendo sus necesidades básicas. En una continua integración y puesta en práctica de los valores que guían nuestros propósitos: compromiso con la Tierra y las futuras generaciones, revalorización de los saberes campesinos, madurez emocional, ayuda mutua, solidaridad, autonomía y autogestión.
Los bienes comunales y el patrimonio como estrategia frente a la despoblación. Una mirada desde el mundo masovero
Authors: Del Romero Renau Luis
Published: October 2019

Los bienes comunales como conjunto de espacios y tradiciones propias de las comunidades rurales han sido fundamentales a lo largo de la historia en la organización y reproducción social de estas comunidades. Las dinámicas de despoblación que ha experimentado la España rural desde hace más de un siglo, han ido en paralelo con la decadencia y desarticulación de este tipo de bienes. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la importancia de los bienes comunales en el medio rural, y particularmente en la construcción y producción de diferentes espacios, hoy en día patrimonializados por su importancia histórica, cultural o religiosa. En segundo lugar, se pretende mostrar que los bienes comunales, además de ser formas de relación social del pasado, pueden ser herramientas útiles en cualquier estrategia de revitalización de espacios rurales en declive, sobre todo a partir de la puesta en marcha de proyectos de custodia patrimonial colectiva en antiguas propiedades del común hoy en día en desuso o abandonadas.
ESPINO HIDALGO, B., DEL. Las ciudades medias del centro de Andalucía. Análisis territorial y evaluación de su sostenibilidad
Authors: Prados Velasco María José
Published: October 2019

Reseña del libro Las ciudades medias del centro de Andalucía. Análisis territorial y evaluación de su sostenibilidad, de Blanca del Espino Hidalgo (Sevilla: Editorial Universidad de Sevilla, 2018).
The cognitive mediating of personal development of medical students: genetic modeling approach
Authors: Vakhnovan M.
Published: October 2019

The model of development of thinking of medical students based on genetic psychology is presented in the article. A model of the interdependence of thought and speech when learning a foreign language to medical students, represented by three factors: "Flexible verbalization – Central syntagmation speech associativity", "Shape activity – Logical associative pereference", "Associative gramaticly – analytic – Paradigmatics". 

Teaching professional foreign language is considered as a process which is governed by the universal subject code, which is interpreted as a structure belonging to the cognitive sphere of the personality and determines the effectiveness of the implementation of external broadcasting.

The differences in the activity of verbal and visual-figurative thinking on the material of native and foreign (German) language, developed rapid methods for assessing the activity of foreign speech and thinking with the help of registration performance in tasks of different types. 

The constructed models of associative reactions on the material of native and foreign (German) language, the features of logic (Central, peripheral), and grammatical reactions (syntagmation, is paradigmatic).
Action Observation Therapy Improves Gait, but does Not Affect Balance in Older Adults
Authors: Morkutė Giedrė , Solianik Rima
Published: October 2019

Research background. Action observation therapy has been successfully applied in treatment of gait and balance problems in neurological patients, however its eﬀects on gait and balance in older adults remains equivocal. Research aim. The aim of this study was to determine the eﬀects of action observation therapy on gait and balance in older adults. Research methods. The study included 20 older adults. They were randomly assigned to control (usual physiotherapy plus nature recordings observation) and intervention (usual physiotherapy plus action recordings observation) groups. The interventions consisted of a 60-min program fve times a week, for 8 weeks. Gait and balance were evaluated before and after interventions. Research results. Both interventions signifcantly improved (p < 0.05) gait and balance. Greater gait improvement (p < 0.05) was observed after usual therapy plus action recordings observation compared with usual therapy plus nature recordings observation, whereas no diﬀerences in intervention eﬀects on balance were observed. Conclusions. Action observation therapy can be used as an eﬀective intervention to improve gait in older adults, whereas it has no eﬀect on balance.Keywords: action observation, motor function, elderly, mirror neurons.
Kualitas Air Sumur Bor dan Air Swadaya Berdasarkan Total Coliform dengan Cemaran Escherichia coli di Desa Rarowatu Kabupaten Bombana
Authors: Fusvita Angriani , Susanti Susanti , Anggriawan Bobi
Published: October 2019

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kualitas Air di Desa Rarowatu Kabupaten Bombana. Pemeriksaan coliform pada air sumur bor dan air swadaya masyarakat menggunakan Metode Most Probable Number (MPN). Pada perlakuan ini terdiri dari presumptive test yang menggunakan media Lactose Broth (LB) dengan metode 3 seri tabung, Tahap berikutnya confirmative test dengan menggunakan media Brillian Green Lactose Broth (BGLB). Pada identifikasi  Escherichia coli  menggunakan media Eosin Methylene Blue Agar, pewarnaan Gram dan media uji biokimia. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan sampel yang terdiri dari 7 sampel air sumur bor dan I sampel air swadaya masyarakat berdasarkan uji MPN mencapai 2400/100 ml. Hasil identifikasi menggunakan media EMBA menunjukkan koloni yang berwarna hijau metalik pada sampel air swadaya  serta  dilakukan pewarnaan Gram menunjukkan bentuk basil pendek dan gram negative. Hasil uji biokimia menunjukkan hasil uji indol positif, methyl red positif, voges proskauer negatif dan uji sitrat negatif. Uji IMViC dapat disimpulkan bahwa bakteri pada kode sampel D memiliki sifat yang sama terhadap bakteri E. coli. Kata kunci :  Coliform, Identifikasi, Escherichia coli, BombanaABSTRACTThis study aims to determine the quality of water in Rarowatu Village, Bombana Regency. Coliform examination in borehole water and community self-water using the Most Probable Number (MPN) Method. This treatment consists of a presumptive test that uses Lactose Broth (LB) media with the tube 3 series method. The next stage is the confirmative test using Brilliant Green Lactose Broth (BGLB) media. The identification of Escherichia coli using Eosin Methylene Blue Agar media, Gram staining, and biochemical test media. The results of the study showed that samples consisting of 7 samples of bore well water and I community self-water samples based on the MPN test reached 2400/100 ml. The identification results using EMBA media showed that metallic green colonies in self-help water samples and Gram staining performed showed short and gram-negative bacilli forms. The results of biochemical tests showed that swadaya water samples were Escherichia coli species.Keywords: Coliform, Identification, Escherichia coli, Bombana
Current Approach to Travel Health Services
Authors: Egici Memet Taşkın , Aydoğan Fulya Kahraman , Ayazoğlu Cemal , Öztürk Güzin Zeren
Published: October 2019

As a result of the improvement on transportation and communication opportunities and the increase in commercial, touristic and cultural relations, travels have increased and diversified. Despite these improvements, the nature of the travel process can make the passenger more vulnerable to health risks due to environmental, climatic and hygiene conditions. Lack of adequate housing and diffucilties to access the health care services increase the risk further. In this review, current information have given about travel health services in Turkey and the necessary precautions were discussed to be taken before, during and after the travel in order to avoid the health risks associated with the travel.
Importance of Measurement and Assessment in Postgraduate Education
Authors: Görpelioğlu Süleyman , Emiroğlu Canan , Aypak Cenk
Published: October 2019

Aim: Whether a specialization training program achieves its objectives or not is decided by showing that the graduates of the program have gained the expected knowledge, skills and behaviors. The measurement tools used in this decision require some specific knowledge and skills. The aim of this study was to analyze the questions asked in an examination and to investigate the suitability of the assistants and the education program in terms of educational sciences.

Methods: Responses of Family Medicine residents to a multiple-choice test that consists of 50 items, conducted throughout the country. The questions were analyzed in terms of the connection with the educational objectives, the degree of difficulty, separation and distraction power.

Results: Of the 150 questions asked, 20 were not found in the learning objectives. In the analysis of difficulties, 105 of the questions were easy and very easy questions; on the other hand, in the analysis of distraction, 27 out of 150 questions are sufficient for discriminating; in terms of distractors, all the distractors of the 19 problems were found to be functional.

Conclusion: The examination is not suitable for the evaluation of both the residents and the program, because it is based on knowledge measurement by multiple choice quiz method, not being competency based, the questions are not included in the learning objectives, the disaggregation of the questions are weak, and the distractors are not working in a large majority. In order to avoid these situations, it would be appropriate for the family medicine trainers to undergo a training including the role and importance of measurement and assessment in education before taking the authority of assistant and program evaluation.
Six Months Results of Obesity Management in Primary Care
Authors: Mistik Selcuk , Yapici Seyma Gul , Sahin Habibe , Kutuk Sunay
Published: October 2019

Aim: The purpose of this study was to give obese patients diet and exercise program and behavior modification who had admitted to the outpatient clinic in primary care, to lose 5-10% of their weight within 6 months.

Methods: This study was performed at March 2017- March 2018 in Erciyes University Family Medicine Department with the approval of the ethics committee and with the support of the Scientific Research Projects (ERUBAP, Project No. TTU-2016-7091). Patients with body mass index 30-40 kg/m2 between the ages of 18-65 who applied to the family medicine polyclinic were included in the study. Diets were initiated according to baseline metabolic rates, exercise and fluid consumption recommendations were made, and behavior modification were told.

Results: In the observation group 2 people (10%) had lost more than 10% of their weight; 10 people (50%) had lost 5-10%, and the remaining 40% had lost 1-5% of their weight. On average, 5.2 (92.3±2.63 to 87.1±2.44) kg were lost at 3 months, while this was 4.3 kg (88.00±2.62) at 6 months. The weight loss of the patients in the first 3 months was above expectations. Afterwards, however, the patients had a slight weight regain due to difficulties in diet compliance and not having enough time for exercise, but they did not return to their starting weight at the end of the study.

Conclusion: It has been observed that obesity care could be done in primary care and family physicians should be encouraged to do so.
Methods Used for the Eradication of Staphylococcal Biofilms
Authors: Jaśkiewicz Maciej , Janczura Adriana , Nowicka Joanna , Kamysz Wojciech
Published: October 2019

Staphylococcus aureus is considered one of the leading pathogens responsible for community and healthcare-associated infections. Among them, infections caused by methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) are connected with ineffective or prolonged treatment. The therapy of staphylococcal infections faces many difficulties, not only because of the bacteria’s resistance to antibiotics and the multiplicity of virulence factors it produces, but also due to its ability to form a biofilm. The present review focuses on several approaches used for the assessment of staphylococcal biofilm eradication. The methods described here are successfully applied in research on the prevention of biofilm-associated infections, as well as in their management. They include not only the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of novel compounds, but also the methods for biomaterial functionalization. Moreover, the advantages and limitations of different dyes and techniques used for biofilm characterization are discussed. Therefore, this review may be helpful for those scientists who work on the development of new antistaphylococcal compounds.
Anthocyanins Protect Hepatocytes against CCl4-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Rats by Inhibiting Pro-inflammatory mediators, Polyamine Catabolism, Lipocalin-2, and Excessive Proliferation of Kupffer Cells
Authors: Popović Dejan , Kocić Gordana , Katić Vuka , Zarubica Aleksandra , Janković Veličković Ljubinka , Ničković Vanja P. , Jović Andrija , Veljković Andrej , Petrović Vladimir , Rakić Violeta , Jović Zorica , Poklar Ulrih Nataša , Sokolović Danka , Stojanović Marko , Stanković Marko , Radenković Goran , Nikolić Gordana R. , Lukač Аzra , Milosavljević Aleksandar , Sokolović Dušan
Published: October 2019

This study examined the hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of anthocyanins from Vaccinim myrtillus (bilberry) fruit extract on the acute liver failure caused by carbon tetrachloride-CCl4 (3 mL/kg, i.p.). The preventive treatment of the bilberry extract (200 mg anthocyanins/kg, orally, 7 days) prior to the exposure to the CCl4 resulted in an evident decrease in markers of liver damage (glutamate dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase), and reduced pro-oxidative (conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxide, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, advanced oxidation protein products, NADPH oxidase, hydrogen peroxide, oxidized glutathione), and pro-inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, nitrite, myeloperoxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, CD68, lipocalin-2), and also caused a significant decrease in the dissipation of the liver antioxidative defence capacities (reduced glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, and quinone reductase) in comparison to the results detected in the animals treated with CCl4 exclusively. The administration of the anthocyanins prevented the arginine metabolism’s diversion towards the citrulline, decreased the catabolism of polyamines (the activity of putrescine oxidase and spermine oxidase), and significantly reduced the excessive activation and hyperplasia of the Kupffer cells. There was also an absence of necrosis, in regard to the toxic effect of CCl4 alone. The hepatoprotective mechanisms of bilberry extract are based on the inhibition of pro-oxidative mediators, strong anti-inflammatory properties, inducing of hepatic phase II antioxidant enzymes (glutathione S-transferase, quinone reductase) and reduced glutathione, hypoplasia of Kupffer cells, and a decrease in the catabolism of polyamines.
Plasmonic Jackiw-Rebbi Modes in Graphene Waveguide Arrays
Authors: Xu Chunyan , Zhang Pu , Zhao Dong , Guo Huang , Huang Mingqiang , Ke Shaolin
Published: October 2019

We investigate the topological bound modes of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in a graphene pair waveguide array. The arrays are with uniform inter-layer and intra-layer spacings but the chemical potential of two graphene in each pair are different. The topological bound modes emerge when two arrays with opposite sequences of chemical potential are interfaced, which are analogous to Jackiw-Rebbi modes with opposite mass. We show the topological bound modes can be dynamically controlled by tuning the chemical potential, and the propagation loss of topological bound modes can be remarkably reduced by decreasing the chemical potential. Thanks to the strong confinement of graphene SPPs, the modal wavelength of topological bound modes can be squeezed as small as 1/70 of incident wavelength. The study provides a promising approach to realizing robust light transport beyond diffraction limit.
Lz-Transform Method and Markov Reward Approach for Flexible Manufacturing System Performance Evaluation
Authors: Zeng Wenbin , Shen Guixiang , Chen Bingkun , Frenkel Ilia , Bolvashenkov Igor , Kammermann Jörg , Herzog Hans-Georg , Khvatskin Lev , Lisnianski Anatoly
Published: October 2019

This article presents a performance evaluation of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS), in which the system and its components can have different performance levels ranging from perfect functioning to total failure. An original multistate transition process for the FMS’s main component, Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machine tools, proposed in the current article and treated as an aging process because of its increasing failure rate is investigated. The Markov reward approach is utilized to analyze the availability of CNC machine tools and sensitivity analysis of each non-operational state to the machine’s downtime. To overcome the “state explosion problem” in the subsequent FMS performance evaluation process, an application of the Lz-transform method is proposed to determine the performance evaluation and availability of such aging multistate FMS. An illustrated case is presented to demonstrate the performance evaluation process. The results show that the suggested methods can be implemented in engineering decision making and construction of various aging multistate FMS related to demands, availability, and output performance.
Optimization of Vibration Characteristics of Fused Deposition Modeling Color 3D Printer Based on Modal and Power Spectrum Method
Authors: Zhang Dawei , Li Zhiyong , Qin Shengxue , Han Shanling
Published: October 2019

To improve the accuracy of the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) color 3D printer in printing color pieces, the vibration characteristics were studied. Firstly, the models of the FDM color 3D printer were qualitatively simplified by mechanics theory to provide theoretical support for dynamic characteristics of the structure, and the finite element modal analysis was performed by the ANSYS (It is an engineering simulation and 3D design software) Workbench to obtain the natural frequency and mode shape displacement of the FDM color 3D printer. Then, the power spectrum of the vibration signal of the previous FDM color 3D printer was measured through frequency domain analysis, and the resonance positions of the 3D printer were obtained by comparing the finite element analysis with experimental analysis. Finally, the design of the color 3D printer was optimized based on the analysis. The results indicate that the optimized scheme can effectively improve the resonance characteristics of the device and reduce the overall modal displacement. The actual experiment of the 3D printer demonstrates that the accuracy of the optimized device has been improved, which has crucial reference significance for the development of the FDM color 3D printer.
Evolution of Burned Area in Forest Fires under Climate Change Conditions in Southern Spain Using ANN
Authors: Pérez-Sánchez Julio , Jimeno-Sáez Patricia , Senent-Aparicio Javier , Díaz-Palmero José María , Cabezas-Cerezo Juan de Dios
Published: October 2019

Wildfires in Mediterranean regions have become a serious problem, and it is currently the main cause of forest loss. Numerous prediction methods have been applied worldwide to estimate future fire activity and area burned in order to provide a stable basis for future allocation of fire-fighting resources. The present study investigated the performance of an artificial neural network (ANN) in burned area size prediction and to assess the evolution of future wildfires and the area concerned under climate change in southern Spain. The study area comprised 39.41 km2 of land burned from 2000 to 2014. ANNs were used in two subsequential phases: classifying the size of the wildfires and predicting the burned surface for fires larger than 30,000 m2. Matrix of confusion and 10-fold cross-validations were used to evaluate ANN classification and mean absolute deviation, root mean square error, mean absolute percent error and bias, which were the metrics used for burned area prediction. The success rate achieved was above 60–70% depending on the zone. An average temperature increase of 3 °C and a 20% increase in wind speed during 2071–2100 results in a significant increase of the number of fires, up to triple the current figure, resulting in seven times the average yearly burned surface depending on the zone and the climate change scenario.
Optimization of River and Lake Monitoring Programs Using a Participative Approach and an Intelligent Decision-Support System
Authors: Behmel Sonja , Damour Mathieu , Ludwig Ralf , Rodriguez Manuel
Published: October 2019

We developed a holistic intelligent decision-support system (IDSS) to provide decision-support for all steps in planning, managing and optimizing water quality monitoring programs (WQMPs). The IDSS is connected to a previously developed database, EnkiTM. The IDSS integrates tacit and explicit knowledge on WQMPs to standardize decision making and to make decisions transparent and transferable. The optimization features of the IDSS were tested on a lake and a river WQMP from two case studies in Canada. We illustrate how the IDSS provides decision support to understanding the underlying rationale of the existing WQMPs, validating and storing data, selecting optimization procedures proposed in the literature, applying the optimization procedures and finalizing the optimization procedure. We demonstrated that the IDSS/EnkiTM is necessary to take and document decisions during all phases of a WQMP to obtain a clear idea of when and why changes are made and determine actionable tasks in the optimization process.
Numerical and Experimental Investigations on Reducing Particle Accumulation for SCR-deNOx Facilities
Authors: Zeng Haojun , Yuan Jingqi , Wang Jingcheng
Published: October 2019

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is widely used to remove nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the flue gas of coal-fired power plants. The accumulation of ash particles inside the SCR-deNOx facility will increase the risk of catalyst deactivation or even damage. This paper presents the numerical and experimental investigations on the particle dispersal approach for the SCR-deNOx facility of a 1000 MW coal-fired power plant. The accumulation of different-sized particles is evaluated based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. To prevent particles from accumulation, an optimized triangular deflector is proposed and attempts are made to find out the optimal installing position of the deflector. For the π-type SCR-deNOx facilities, the particle accumulation predominantly occurred on one side of the catalysts’ entrance, which corresponds to the inner side of the wedge-shaped turning. It is indicated that particles larger than 8.8 × 10−2 mm are responsible for the significant accumulation. The triangular deflector is proved to be an effective way to reduce particle accumulation and is found most efficient when it is installed at the high-speed area of the vertical duct. Flow model test (FMT) is carried out to validate the dispersal effect for the particle with relatively large sizes and the optimal installing position of the triangular deflector.
Prediction of the First Weighting from the Working Face Roof in a Coal Mine Based on a GA-BP Neural Network
Authors: Tan Tingjiang , Yang Zhen , Chang Feng , Zhao Ke
Published: October 2019

The accidents caused by roof pressure seriously restrict the improvement of mines and threaten production safety. At present, most coal mine pressure forecasting methods still rely on expert experience and engineering analogies. Artificial neural network prediction technology has been widely used in coal mines. This new approach can predict the surface pressure on the roof, which is of great significance in coal mine production safety. In this paper, the mining pressure mechanism of coal seam roofs is summarized and studied, and 60 sets of initial pressure data from multiple working surfaces in the Datong mining area are collected for gray correlation analysis. Finally, 12 parameters are selected as the input parameters of the model. Suitable back propagation (BP) and GA(genetic algorithm)-BP initial roof pressure prediction models are established for the Datong mining area and trained with MATLAB programming. By comparing the training results, we found that the optimized GA-BP model has a larger determination coefficient, smaller error, and greater stability. The research shows that the prediction method based on the GA-BP neural network model is relatively reliable and has broad engineering application prospects as an auxiliary decision-making tool for coal mine production safety.
Efficiency Droop and Effective Active Volume in GaN-Based Light-Emitting Diodes Grown on Sapphire and Silicon Substrates
Authors: Ryu Han-Youl , Ryu Geun-Hwan , Onwukaeme Chibuzo
Published: October 2019

We compared the efficiency droop of InGaN multiple-quantum-well (MQW) blue light-emitting diode (LED) structures grown on silicon(111) and c-plane sapphire substrates and analyzed the efficiency droop characteristics using the rate equation model with reduced effective active volume. The efficiency droop of the LED sample on silicon was observed to be reduced considerably compared with that of the identical LED sample on sapphire substrates. When the measured external quantum efficiency was fitted with the rate equation model, the effective active volume of the MQW on silicon was found to be ~1.45 times larger than that of the MQW on sapphire. The lower efficiency droop in the LED on silicon could be attributed to its larger effective active volume compared with the LED on sapphire. The simulation results showed that the effective active volume decreased as the internal electric fields increased, as a result of the reduced overlap of the electron and hole distribution inside the quantum well and the inhomogeneous carrier distribution in the MQWs. The difference in the internal electric field of the MQW between the LED on silicon and sapphire could be a major reason for the difference in the effective active volume, and consequently, the efficiency droop.
Small Dam Drainage with Nonwoven Geotextile after 40 Years of Exploitation
Authors: Nieć Jakub , Zawadzki Paweł , Nowacki Filip
Published: October 2019

Synthetic materials such as nonwovens, mats and membranes have been commonly used in civil engineering for many years. The changes of geotextile characteristics in time (permeability, porosity, etc.) are poorly understood. Many authors have presented the changes in the properties of synthetic materials, mainly based on laboratory tests. The studies on geotextile samples taken from working hydraulic structures are not so many. Over 40 years, the reduction in the permeability of nonwoven geotextile was about four-fold. Probably the reason for that reduction is mechanical clogging caused by fine particles which have moved from the earth dam soil to the nonwoven geotextile. Over 40 years of operations, despite the reduction in permeability of the nonwoven geotextile, the drainage worked properly. The experiment was conducted in the field and laboratory and a two-dimensional numerical model built in software package HYDRUS (two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D)) Standard was proposed. The field measurements allow calibration and validation of the numerical model. The conducted simulations showed that at a maximum water level in the reservoir equal to 3.32 m, the water supply to the drainage is higher from upstream than from downstream. Particularly, water supply from above to the drainage is absent.
Three-Phase-Based Approach to Develop a River Health Prediction and Early Warning System to Guide River Management
Authors: Chen Yongming , Xia Jihong , Cai Wangwei , Sun Zhilin , Dou Chuanbing
Published: October 2019

To effectively manage a river system, systematic tracking and diagnosing the change and risks of a river system are essentially required to efficiently conserve or restore its conditions. Hence, this study focuses on how to integrate current status assessment, trend prediction, and cause diagnosis in river health to guide early warning decision-making in river protection and management. This study has presented a three-phase approach by coupling spatial with nonspatial information in a highly systematic and reliable way, and an early warning system has been designed. In phase I, the current health status is assessed and nowcasted by using the order degree of each indicator. In phase II, health predictors, including the single perspective-based health index (HI) (e.g., water quality index (WQI) and index of biotic integrity (IBI)) and multi-perspective-based health index, have been forecasted under normal conditions or emerging conditions using predictive models. In phase III, key causal factors threatening the river health have been identified to enable early notification and to address unexpected events before occurrence. Although different modeling methods can be used in each phase to demonstrate this concept, we tested the model of partial least square regression (PLSR) associated with time series. Additionally, the three-phase approach has been integrated with geographic information system (GIS) and a decision support system (DSS) to develop a river health prediction and early warning system (RHP-EWS), an automatic prediction and decision-making tool. This tool was implemented to deal with the landing of typhoon “Maria” in 2018 into the Shanxi River watershed in China. Because of the timely responses and decisions, the drinking water supply was not influenced. However, the models should be extended to other river systems for testing and improvement at different temporal or spatial scales.