bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical Planning Models for Public Healthcare Supply Chains
Authors: Bareach Hassan Yar , Malik Wafa , Sohail Rania , Javaid Areeb , Jalil Muhammad Naiman
Published: January 2019

This chapter focuses on the hierarchical planning and execution for supply chain management in public healthcare services. The authors first introduce tiered organizational and services delivery structure of public healthcare services followed by various supply chain issues that public healthcare services encounters. They then review hierarchical planning and execution discussions for the strategic, tactical, and operational decisions in supply chain literature. They continue the discussion with public healthcare services cases on medicine and equipment maintenance supply chains. They compare hierarchical planning execution discussions in supply chain management literature vis-a-vis healthcare services cases. Their main argument is that much can be gained by the public healthcare services by striving for reduced information asymmetry and employing appropriate functional aggregation at various levels of the hierarchically organized public healthcare supply chains.
Multi-Objective Decision Analysis in Strategic Supply Chain Design
Authors: Ozkir Vildan
Published: January 2019

This chapter introduces the impact of competitive strategy on strategic supply chain network design decisions. The aim of increasing competitive advantage forces firms to deal with multiple conflicting objectives. Since supply chains are affiliate networks including multiple parties, accomplishing a solitary objective corresponds to an inadequate effort to maintain the sustainability of supply chain. The overall integrity and sustainability of the supply chain can be provided by satisfying the expectations of each parties. The loyalty in the supply chain is achieved by offering distinguished service among suppliers and customers rather than delivering almost same services. This can only be achieved through network design models by taking into account multiple conflicting objectives. The firm's competitive strategy defines a particular set of objectives to achieve specific goals on these performance attributes. This chapter examines the main problem domains in SC design, strategic performance measures, and recent literature on single/multiple objective models.
Application of Machine Learning Algorithms to the IoE
Authors: Cardoso Pedro J. S. , Monteiro Jânio , Pinto Nelson , Cruz Dario , Rodrigues João M. F.
Published: January 2019

The internet of everything is a network that connects people, data, process, and things, making it easier to understand that many subfields of knowledge are discussable while addressing this subject. This chapter makes a survey on the application of machine learning algorithms to the internet of everything. This survey is particularly focused in computational frameworks for the development of intelligent systems and applications of machine learning algorithms as possible engines of wealth creation. A final example shows how to develop a simple end-to-end system.
IoE-Based Control and Monitoring of Electrical Grids
Authors: Pinto Nelson , Cruz Dario , Monteiro Jânio , Cabrita Cristiano , Semião Jorge , Cardoso Pedro J. S. , Oliveira Luís M. R. , Rodrigues João M. F.
Published: January 2019

In many countries, renewable energy production already represents an important percentage of the total energy that is generated in electrical grids. In order to reach higher levels of integration, demand side management measures are yet required. In fact, different from the legacy electrical grids, where at any given instant the generation levels are adjusted to meet the demand, when using renewable energy sources, the demand must be adapted in accordance with the generation levels, since these cannot be controlled. In order to alleviate users from the burden of individual control of each appliance, energy management systems (EMSs) have to be developed to both monitor the generation and consumption patterns and to control electrical appliances. In this context, the main contribution of this chapter is to present the implementation of such an IoT-based monitoring and control system for microgrids, capable of supporting the development of an EMS.
Water Management for Rural Environments and IoT
Authors: Caeiro José Jasnau , Martins João Carlos
Published: January 2019

Internet of Things (IoT) systems are starting to be developed for applications in the management of water quality monitoring systems. The chapter presents some of the work done in this area and also shows some systems being developed by the authors for the Alentejo region. A general architecture for water quality monitoring systems is discussed. The important issue of computer security is mentioned and connected to recent publications related to the blockchain technology. Web services, data transmission technology, micro web frameworks, and cloud IoT services are also discussed.
Entrepreneurship and Strategic Performance in a Time of Crisis
Authors: Carvalho Joao Conrado de Amorim , Muniz Carla Roberta Gomes
Published: January 2019

This chapter researches the behavior and entrepreneurial capacities of entrepreneurs in the modality of small and medium businesses to better understand their development according to the current theoretical interpretations and based on a sectorial analysis of companies of these sizes in the State of Maranhão. The research directs its attention to the factors that influence the entrepreneurial action and the strategic performance, analyzing the business performance in times of crisis. The research method was defined based on the sector analysis, substantiated by the literature review. The results indicate that the size of the company is irrelevant both for taking strategic actions and for rapidity in undertaking growth actions. It is concluded that SMBs achieve greater swiftness in growth actions and undertake joint actions when they have technological capabilities.
The Social Network of Researchers on the Topic “Hunger”
Authors: Martinzez Luis Saavedra , Bustelo Francisco Espasandin , Ganaza-Vargas Juan Domingo
Published: January 2019

The objective of this chapter is to describe the state of the social network of researchers who publish in scientific journals with the topic “hunger.” To do this, a search is made in the Isi Web of Knowledge database, and 514 documents are located. Using the authors who publish an article and the authors cited in the bibliography, the social network of researchers is designed, and later, by means of network analysis techniques, the main characteristics of the social network are analyzed. The results obtained show who the researchers are, the scientific journals, and the most relevant topics related to the topic “hunger.”
Role of Human Resources, Production Process, and Flexibility on Commercial Benefits From AMT Investments
Authors: García-Alcaráz Jorge Luis , Jiménez-Macías Emilio , Realyvásquez-Vargas Arturo , Sosa Liliana Avelar , Maldonado-Macías Aide Aracely
Published: January 2019

Advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) acquisition by maquiladoras (foreign-owned manufacturing companies) is a tendency that allows these companies to maximize their commercial benefits. However, it remains unclear how the AMT implementation impacts on their performance. In addition, this research studies 383 responses to a questionnaire about the AMT implementation in the Mexican maquiladora industry and reports an analysis with four latent variables associating obtained benefits after the AMT implementation—human resources, flexibility, production process, and commercial benefits—where their relationships are evaluated through six hypotheses using a structural equation model (SEM). Finally, the outcomes demonstrated that AMT benefits for human resources have a direct effect on flexibility, production process, and commercial benefits. However, the direct effect from human resources benefits, knowledge, and experience on commercial benefits are acquired through indirect effects, using flexibility and production process as mediator variables.
Semantic Web Service for Global Apparel Business
Authors: Pal Kamalendu
Published: January 2019

Nowadays a substantial share of the production processes of the world's apparel business is taking place in developing countries. In the apparel business, supply chain coordination needs resource and information sharing between business partners. Semantic web service computing (SWSC) provides numerous opportunities and value-added service capabilities that global apparel business requires to exchange information between distributed business partners. The ability to dynamically discover and invoke a web service is an important aspect of semantic web service-based architectures. This chapter describes the main features of an ontology-based web service framework, known as CSIA (collaborative service integration architecture) for integrating distributed business information systems in a global supply chain. The CSIA framework uses a hybrid knowledge-based system, which consists of structural case-based reasoning (S-CBR), rule-based reasoning (RBR), and an ontology concept similarity assessment algorithm.
The CO.R.E. Project. An Integrated Security Approach to Self-Monitoring and Medical Record Keeping
Authors: Pitoglou Stavros , Kostalas Vangelis , Paidi Anna , Anastasiou Athanasios , Koutsouris Dimitrios
Published: January 2019

The widespread use of electronic Personal Health Records is considered of great importance, however, until today, there is no widely adopted application paradigm for the functional specifications of a modern ePHR due to absence of trust, inadequate data completeness and overall use complexity and “unfriendliness”. CO.R.E. (COnsolidation & Routing Engine) is an innovative approach towards the development of a health data consolidation and cloud access provision infrastructure, taking under consideration both the needs for wide adoption and the application of mission critical technologies in real production environments. The CO.R.E. infrastructure provides an environment for deploying medical record applications with central storage and individually controlled distributed access, ensuring: a) the absence of readable identifiers in any network communication among the involved systems and b) the inability (as much as modern cryptographic methods offer) of anyone - even the engineers working on the system - to correlate the stored medical data with their owner/physical person.
Cutting Edge: ICOS-Deficient Regulatory T Cells Display Normal Induction of Il10 but Readily Downregulate Expression of Foxp3
Authors: Landuyt Ashley E. , Klocke Barbara J. , Colvin Tyler B. , Schoeb Trenton R. , Maynard Craig L.
Published: January 2019

The ICOS pathway has been implicated in the development and functions of regulatory T (Treg) cells, including those producing IL-10. Treg cell–derived IL-10 is indispensable for the establishment and maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis. We examined the possible involvement of the ICOS pathway in the accumulation of murine colonic Foxp3- and/or IL-10–expressing cells. We show that ICOS deficiency does not impair induction of IL-10 by intestinal CD4 T cells but, instead, triggers substantial reductions in gut-resident and peripherally derived Foxp3+ Treg cells. ICOS deficiency is associated with reduced demethylation of Foxp3 CNS2 and enhanced loss of Foxp3. This instability significantly limits the ability of ICOS-deficient Treg cells to reverse ongoing inflammation. Collectively, our results identify a novel role for ICOS costimulation in imprinting the functional stability of Foxp3 that is required for the retention of full Treg cell function in the periphery.
Strategic priorities for cultivating commitment amongst academic staff: The militating effect of workplace spirituality
Authors: Kokt Desere , Palmer Esther P.
Published: January 2019

Orientation: Organisational commitment remains an ongoing concern for organisations, especially universities that often struggle to retain academic staff. Universities cannot operate or fulfil their mandate to society without the critical competencies of academic staff.Research purpose: This investigation focused on workplace spirituality as a militating factor in enhancing the commitment of academic staff.Motivation for the study: As organisational commitment remains a challenge for universities, this article contributes to a theoretical and empirical understanding of the militating influence of workplace spirituality. The study is underpinned by social learning theory and proposes strategic priorities to universities – informed by an empirical study conducted amongst academic staff members at a South African university.Research approach/design and method: The study employed a quantitative research approach and a structured questionnaire was administered to 285 academic staff members (ranging from junior lecturers to professors) of a South African university. The research design was a survey and, as a single university formed part of the study, regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between workplace spirituality and organisational commitment.Main findings: The empirical findings showed a strong linear relationship between workplace spirituality and organisational commitment. A regression formula was developed to statistically calculate the commitment score of individuals.Practical/managerial implications: The study proposed strategic priorities that may be useful to university management and human resource practitioners to cultivate increased commitment amongst academic staff.Contribution/value-add: The study contributed empirical evidence of the militating effect of workplace spirituality on organisational commitment, implying that workplace spirituality is a predictor for organisational commitment.
Sexual functions of female patients with chronic liver disease from two centers in Nigeria
Authors: Adekanle Olusegun , Olowookere Samuel , Ijarotimi Oluwasegun , Ndububa Dennis , Ayodeji Oladele
Published: January 2019

Background: Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a disease with significant morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. This study assessed the sexual functions of women with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) designated as cases and normal women as controls. Methods: A prospective, comparative, case–control study of CHB, LC, HCC, and controls. Consenting cases and controls completed a self-administered Female Sexual Function Questionnaire (FSFI). Bio-data was obtained for all participants and cases were graded using the Child–Turcotte–Pugh scores (CTP). Data obtained were entered into SPSS version 20 and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A total of 176 women completed the study, comprising 88 cases and 88 controls. Mean age (standard deviation) was 39.5 + 8.5 years and 40.5 + 8.2 years for cases and controls, respectively. Cases comprised CHB – 46, LC – 25, and HCC – 17, and their CTP classes were CTP A, 54; CTP B, 22; and CTP C, 12. The FSFI scores for CHB compared with controls were not statistically significant in all domains of the FSFI. The FSFI scores for LC and HCC in all domains were statistically significant compared with controls. Total mean FSFI scores for cases in CTP Class C showed sexual dysfunction, where 13.6% of CLD and 6.8% of all participants had sexual dysfunction and none among the controls. Conclusions: Females with advanced CLD had sexual dysfunction. Sexual concerns of females with CLD should be inquired for and treated.
Impact of chronic stress on cardiovascular system: Libyan conflict health perspective. Part one: Types of chronic stresses
Authors: Elhwuegi Abdalla , Teebar Lamis
Published: January 2019

Recent studies have provided clear and convincing evidence that chronic stress contributes significantly to the pathogenesis and expression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This bibliography is a systematic review on the impact of chronic stress on the cardiovascular system with a special reflection on the Libyan conflict. It is divided into two parts, Part 1 deals with types of chronic stresses, while Part 2 deals with mechanisms involved in chronic stress and their treatments. Medline/PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were used to search for peer-reviewed papers dealing with the review theme. Stress can be classified into acute stress and chronic stress. Chronic stress can stem from underlying factors such as economic stress, social isolation stress, posttraumatic stress, and job strain stress. Economic stress is emerging as an important determinant of perceived health where different studies have found an inverse trend between risk factor burden and cardiovascular disease prevalence in urban and rural communities in high-, middle-, and low-income regions. Social stress is another factor that has been reported to be associated with a 2–3 fold increase in the incidence of CVD. Moreover, multiple studies have shown that patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder have increased resting heart rate, increased startle reaction, and increased blood pressure as responses to traumatic events. CVD is one of the health outcomes whose links with work stress have been well established based on numerous prospective studies.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors: Real-world experience from India in advanced solid cancers that have progressed on chemotherapy
Authors: Gupta Vineet Govinda , Rangaraju Ranga Rao , Abbas Waseem , Bajpai Peush , Khetrapal Ruchika
Published: January 2019

Context: The immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) nivolumab and pembrolizumab have shown dramatic efficacy with low toxicity in international studies of advanced solid cancers. No published Indian experience with ICIs exist other than isolated case reports. Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate real-world data about the efficacy and toxicity of ICIs in advanced solid cancers among Indian patients who have progressed on one or more prior lines of chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: All patients with advanced solid cancers who received ICIs after the failure of chemotherapy at our center were retrospectively assessed. Information about efficacy and toxicity was collected and analyzed. Results: The present study included 24 patients who had received ICIs for indications including non-small cell lung, bladder, head and neck, gastrointestinal, and unknown primary cancer. Patients had received a median of two prior lines of chemotherapy (range 1–5). Grade III or higher toxicity was seen in 8% of patients. Clinical benefit at 3 months was realized in 33% of evaluable patients. Twenty-six percentages of evaluable patients achieved a response, including one patient who achieved a complete response that is ongoing at 18 months. Median progression-free survival was 3 months, and median overall survival was 8 months at a median follow-up of 10 months. Among patients who achieved clinical benefit, the majority (84%) have an ongoing response at the time of data cutoff. Conclusions: Efficacy and toxicity of ICIs in the Indian population are similar to the experience seen in large international cohorts, and Indian oncologists may feel reassured using these agents in similar settings.
Primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A prospective study from South India
Authors: Suresh Babu , Asati Vikas , Lakshmaiah K. C. , Babu Govind , Lokanatha D. , Jacob Linu Abraham , Lokesh K. N. , Rudresh A. H. , Rajeev L. K. , Smitha Saldanha , Anand Abhishek , Patidar Rajesh , Premalata C. S.
Published: January 2019

Background: Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the most common extranodal site for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and constitutes about 10%-15% of all NHL. This was a prospective study to evaluate the epidemiological, clinicopathological characteristics, and treatment outcome of primary GIT diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PGIL). Materials and Methods: Newly diagnosed patients of PGIL with DLBCL histology were eligible. Lugano staging system was used. All patients were treated with prephase treatment (1 mg vincristine and 100 mg prednisolone) followed by CHOP-based chemotherapy (with or without rituximab) as definitive treatment. Results: A total of 21 patients of PGIL were diagnosed. The median age was 46 years (range: 27–69 years) with male:female ratio of 2:1. Dull aching abdominal pain was the most common presenting complaint. Stomach was the most common site involved (52.4%, n = 11) followed by the colon (23.8%, n = 5). The estimated median survival in patients with Stage IV disease was significantly lower as compared to patients with localized disease (Stage I and II) (6.23 months vs. 23.4 months; P = 0.04). Patients, who did not achieve complete response (CR), had 15.5 times higher risk of death, as compared to those who achieved CR (P = 0.01). Conclusions: Stomach was the most common site for PGIL. Localized disease and CR after first-line chemotherapy were associated with better survival. A higher cost of rituximab was the prohibitive factor for cure in these patients.
Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy procedure for nonresectable peritoneal carcinomatosis: First Indian study
Authors: Somashekhar S. P. , Ashwin K. R. , Kumar C. Rohit , Rauthan Amit , Rakshit Sushmita H.
Published: January 2019

Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is a common evolution of abdominal cancers and is associated with poor prognosis. A few selected patients have option of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, but majority who are not eligible for curative approach can undergo pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC). It is an emerging field of research with major therapeutic potential. It is a safe and innovative approach, which enhances the effect of chemotherapy without major toxicity. Methods: Between June 2017 and December 2017, 21 PIPAC applications in seven patients with standard chemotherapy regimen every 6 weeks at 37°C and 12 mmHg for 30 min was performed. The patients' demographics, perioperative findings, adverse events, and outcomes were prospectively recorded. Results: Twenty-one PIPAC administrations were performed in 7 patients with PC from various pathologies. The median hospital stay was 1 day. All the patients had symptomatic relief with complete resolution of ascites. There was no major perioperative complications. CTCAE Grades 1 and 2 were observed in three patients, for abdominal pain and nausea. Renal and hepatic functions were not impaired. Of the seven patients, one patient had complete histological remission; three patients had partial response, one had stable disease and one patient had no response with clinical progression. Conclusion: Our results show the feasibility and safety of PIPAC in Indian patients. The procedure has low morbidity with no mortality with the short learning curve. It can be easily adapted for Indian patients with diffuse PC as a palliative option apart from systemic chemotherapy.
What makes African Philosophy African? A conversation with Aribiah David Attoe on ‘the foundational myth of ethnophilosophy’
Authors: Ogbonnaya L. Uchenna
Published: January 2019

One of the most debated issues in African philosophy concerns the question of ethnophilosophy. While most Particularists equate it to African philosophy, the Universalists reject it as philosophy let alone being African philosophy. The rationale behind the second position is that ethnophilosophy is said to be descriptive and lacks argumentation, criticality, rigor and systematicity, which are the hallmarks of philosophy. What these two views revolve around is the question of the place of ethnophilosophy in African philosophy. Here, I focus on two scholars who have sought to address this question. The first is Ada Agada, who opines that ethnophilosophy plays a foundational role to African philosophy. The other is Aribiah Attoe, who sees this view as a myth that must be done away with. In this paper, I show two things: first, I show that these two conflicting views arose due to both scholars’ failure to clarify their ideas of what makes a philosophy African. Second, I converse with Attoe on his critique of the foundational role of ethnophilosophy as a myth. Here, I contend that Attoe’s view is a misreading of Agada’s views and that Attoe’s position that critical rigor instead of ethnophilosophy should be the foundation of African philosophy is unfounded. My argument is that criticality is just one among other tools of philosophy; and a tool of philosophy cannot be its foundation.Keywords: Agada, African Philosophy, Attoe, criticality, ethnophilosophy, Ezin’ulo Ontology
La observación de las prácticas educativas como elemento de evaluación y de mejora de la calidad en la formación inicial y continua del profesorado
Authors: Fuertes Camacho M. Teresa
Published: January 2019

La observación de las prácticas educativas escolares tiene una gran importancia como elemento de evaluación del sistema educativo. Si bien hasta hace unos años su uso quedaba reducido a la evaluación del alumnado, actualmente y como consecuencia de las sucesivas reformas educativas, su utilidad ha sido reconocida tanto en la formación inicial del profesorado, como en la formación continuada de los docentes en ejercicio. En la experiencia que presentamos, aplicada en el contexto de prácticas externas que realizan los estudiantes, la observación se ha utilizado como técnica de recogida y de análisis de datos acerca del proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje que tiene lugar en contextos reales. La colaboración entre estudiantes de maestro y docentes expertos ha sido considerada fundamental para el desarrollo del proceso.

Una vez que los estudiantes de grado de maestro/a en educación infantil han adquirido en la universidad los conocimientos teóricos que dan fundamento al uso de la técnica de la observación sistemática, deberán ser capaces, en sus prácticas externas, de utilizarla como método de trabajo aplicado al aula. Su uso focalizado es básico en el proceso de evaluación, no solamente para valorar los comportamientos y las actitudes del alumnado, sino también para ser utilizada como instrumento de evaluación y de reflexión más global. La finalidad de su uso debería tener como objetivo la mejora, tanto del proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje en general que incluye el análisis y la valoración de los programas educativos, como de la práctica docente.
Taehwa Research Forest: A receptor site for severe pollution events in Korea during 2016
Authors: Sullivan John T. , McGee Thomas J. , Stauffer Ryan M. , Thompson Anne M. , Weinheimer Andrew , Knote Christoph , Janz Scott , Wisthaler Armin , Long Russell , Szykman James , Park Jinsoo , Lee Youngjae , Kim Saewung , Jeong Daun , Sanchez Dianne , Twigg Laurence , Sumnicht Grant , Knepp Travis , Schroeder Jason R.
Published: January 2019

Abstract. During the May-June 2016 International Cooperative Air Quality Field Study in Korea (KORUS-AQ), light synoptic meteorological forcing facilitated Seoul metropolitan pollution outflow to reach the remote Taehwa Research Forest (TRF) site and cause regulatory exceedances on 24 days. Two of these severe pollution events are thoroughly examined. The first, occurring on 17 May 2016, tracks transboundary pollution transport exiting eastern China and the Yello Sea, traversing the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA), and then reaching TRF in the afternoon hours with severely polluted conditions. This case study indicates that although outflow from China and the Yellow Sea were elevated with respect to chemically unperturbed conditions, the regulatory exceedance at TRF was directly linked in time, space, and altitude to urban Seoul emissions. The second case studied, occurring on 09 June 2016, reveals that increased levels of biogenic emissions, in combination with amplified urban emissions, were associated with severe levels of pollutions and a regulatory exceedance at TRF. The case studies are assessed with multiple aircraft, model (photochemical and meteorological) simulations, in-situ chemical sampling, and extensive ground-based profiling at TRF. These observations clearly identify TRF and the surrounding rural communities as receptor sites for severe pollution events associated with Seoul outflow, which will result in long-term negative effects to both human health and agriculture in the affected areas.
Forest harvesting impacts on microclimate conditions and sediment transport activities in a humid periglacial environment
Authors: Imaizumi Fumitoshi , Nishii Ryoko , Ueno Kenichi , Kurobe Kousei
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Sediment transport activities in periglacial environments
are controlled by microclimate conditions (i.e., air and ground temperatures,
throughfall), which are highly affected by vegetation cover. Thus, there is
the possibility that forest harvesting, the most dramatic change to
vegetation cover in mountain areas, may severely impact sediment transport
activities in periglacial areas (i.e., soil creep, dry ravel). In this study,
we investigated changes in sediment transport activities following forest
harvesting in steep artificial forests located in a humid periglacial area of
the southern Japanese Alps. In the southern Japanese Alps, rainfall is
abundant in summer and autumn, and winter air temperatures frequently rise
above and fall below 0∘. Our monitoring by time lapse cameras
revealed that gravitational transport processes (e.g., frost creep and dry
ravel) dominate during the freeze–thaw season, while rainfall-induced
processes (surface erosion and soil creep) occur during heavy rainfall
seasons. Canopy removal by forest harvesting increased the winter diurnal
ground surface temperature range from 2.7 to 15.9 ∘C. Forest
harvesting also increased the diurnal range of net radiation and ground
temperature, and decreased the duration of snow cover. Such changes in the
microclimate conditions altered the type of winter soil creep from frost
creep to diurnal needle-ice creep. Winter creep velocity of ground surface
sediment in the harvested site (> 2 mm day−1 on the days
with frost heave) was significantly higher than that in the non-harvested
site (generally < 1 mm day−1). Meanwhile, sediment flux on
the hillslopes, as observed by sediment traps, decreased in the harvested
site. Branches of harvested trees left on the hillslopes captured sediment
moving downslope. In addition, the growth of understories after harvesting
possibly reduced surface erosion. Consequently, removal of the forest canopy
by forest harvesting directly impacts the microclimate conditions (i.e.,
diurnal range of ground temperature and net radiation, duration of snow
cover) and increases frequency and velocity of periglacial soil creep, while
sediment flux on hillslopes is decreased by branches left on the hillslopes
and recovery of understories. The impact of forest harvesting on sediment
transport activity is seasonally variable in humid periglacial areas, because
microclimate conditions relevant to both freeze–thaw processes and
precipitation-induced processes control sediment transport.
Assessment of ocean analysis and forecast from an
atmosphere-ocean coupled data assimilation operational system
Authors: Guiavarc'h Catherine , Harris Christopher , Lea Daniel J. , Roberts-Jones Jonah , Ryan Andrew , Ascione Isabella
Published: January 2019

Abstract. The development of coupled atmosphere-ocean prediction systems with utility on the short-range Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and ocean forecasting timescales has accelerated over the last decade. This builds on a body of evidence showing the benefit, particularly for weather forecasting, of more correctly representing the feedbacks between surface ocean and atmosphere. It prepares the way for more unified prediction systems with the capability of providing consistent surface meteorology, wave and surface ocean products to users for whom this is important. Here we describe a coupled ocean-atmosphere system, with weakly coupled data assimilation, which was operationalised at the Met Office as part of the Copernicus Marine Environment Service (CMEMS). We compare the ocean performance to that of an equivalent ocean-only system run at the Met Office, and other CMEMS products. Sea surface temperatures in particular are shown to verify better than in the ocean-only systems, although other aspects including temperature profiles and surface currents are slightly degraded. We then discuss the plans to improve the current system in future as part of the development of a coupled NWP system at the Met Office.
Mechanisms of destructing translational domains in passive margin salt basins: Insights from analogue modelling
Authors: Ge Zhiyuan , Rosenau Matthias , Warsitzka Michael , Gawthorpe Rob L.
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Current gravitational tectonics models illustrating the structural style of passive margin salt basins typically have domains of upslope extension and corresponding downslope contraction, separated by a domain of rather undeformed mid-slope translation. However, such a translational domain is rarely observed in natural systems where extensional and contractional structures may interfere in the mid-slope area. In this study, we use sandbox analogue modelling analyzed by 4D digital image correlation (DIC) to investigate how the pre-kinematic layer thickness, differential sediment loading and sedimentation rate control the structural evolution of translational domains. As in nature, experimental deformation is driven by slowly increasing gravitational forces associated with continuous basal tilting. The results show that a translational domain persists throughout the basin evolution when the pre-kinematic layer is evenly distributed, although a thin (1 mm in the experiment, 100 m in nature) pre-kinematic layer can render the translational domain relatively narrow when comparing to settings with a thicker (5 mm) pre-kinematic layer. In contrast, early differential sedimentary loading in the mid-slope area creates minibasins intervened by salt diapirs overprinting the translational domain. Similarly, very low sedimentation rate (1 mm per day in the experiment, equates to
Past and future interannual variability in Arctic sea ice in coupled climate models
Authors: Mioduszewski John R. , Vavrus Stephen , Wang Muyin , Holland Marika , Landrum Laura
Published: January 2019

Abstract. The diminishing Arctic sea ice pack has been widely studied, but previous research has mostly focused on time-mean changes
in sea ice rather than on short-term variations that also have important physical and societal consequences. In this study we test the
hypothesis that future interannual Arctic sea ice area variability will
increase by utilizing 40 independent simulations from the Community Earth
System Model's Large Ensemble (CESM-LE) for the 1920–2100 period and augment
this with simulations from 12 models participating in the Coupled Model
Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). Both CESM-LE and CMIP5 models
project that ice area variability will indeed grow substantially but not
monotonically in every month. There is also a strong seasonal dependence in
the magnitude and timing of future variability increases that is robust among
CESM ensemble members. The variability generally correlates with the average
ice retreat rate, before there is an eventual disappearance in both terms as
the ice pack becomes seasonal in summer and autumn by late century. The peak
in variability correlates best with the total area of ice between 0.2 and
0.6 m monthly thickness, indicating that substantial future thinning of the
ice pack is required before variability maximizes. Within this range, the
most favorable thickness for high areal variability depends on the season,
especially whether ice growth or ice retreat processes dominate. Our findings
suggest that thermodynamic melting (top, bottom, lateral) and growth (frazil,
congelation) processes are more important than dynamical mechanisms, namely
ice export and ridging, in controlling ice area variability.
Blackguarding: How the Conflict of the “Jeering Episode” Created Compromise for Women Physicians
Authors: Tierney Emma
Published: January 2019

The 1869 “Jeering Episode” at the Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia occurred when women medical students were taunted by male students at a clinical lecture. Through public sentiment, a compromise permitted women to learn the practice of medicine.
Autogenous Iliac Crest Bone Grafting for the Treatment of Fracture Nonunion Is Equally Effective in Elderly and Nonelderly Patients
Authors: Carlock Kurtis D. , Hildebrandt Kyle R. , Konda Sanjit R. , Egol Kenneth A.
Published: January 2019

Introduction:

Autogenous iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) is considered the benchmark graft for nonunion repair. However, ICBG harvest is invasive and may provide reduced benefit to elderly patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and functional outcomes of ICBG use in fixation of fracture nonunions between elderly and nonelderly patients.

Methods:

Over a 13-year period, 242 patients who underwent operative repair of a long bone fracture nonunion and received autogenous ICBG were enrolled in a prospective research registry and followed. Data collected included patient demographics, injury information, and nonunion management. All patients had a minimum of 12 months of postoperative follow-up. Patients at least 65 years of age were classified as elderly, whereas younger patients were classified as nonelderly. Functional outcomes were evaluated at routine intervals postoperatively using the short musculoskeletal function assessment (SMFA) and visual analog scale pain scores. Bony union was determined radiographically. All postoperative complications were recorded.

Results:

Of the 242 patients included, 44 were elderly and 198 were nonelderly. No differences were found between groups with respect to postoperative pain scores or SMFA scores. Furthermore, time to union, rate of union, and postoperative complication rate did not differ between groups. Multivariate linear regression demonstrated that older age was not associated with time to union, postoperative pain scores, or postoperative SMFA scores after controlling for possible confounding variables.

Discussion:

The use of ICBG in nonunion repair among elderly patients is as effective as use in younger patients with a long bone nonunion. Concerns of increased postoperative complications and decreased rate of union in elderly patients receiving ICBG for treatment of fracture nonunion should be alleviated. ICBG remains the benchmark graft for nonunion repair among all age groups.
Financial Performance of Banks in Lebanon: Conventional vs Islamic
Authors: HASHEM Boutheina , SUJUD Hiyam
Published: January 2019

This study compares the performance of Islamic and conventional banking in Lebanon in terms of Return on Assets and Return on Equity over the period 2012-2016. Moreover, it examines whether the internal characteristics of the bank may explain the difference in profitability between two types of banking transactions. In addition, the results of the study are analyzed using a regression analysis applied to a sample of both Islamic and conventional banks to investigate the effects of these variables on bank performance. Furthermore, results show that Islamic banks in Lebanon have better asset adequacy compared to conventional banks. However, conventional banks are better in liquidity and are on an average more profitable than Islamic ones. It is worthy to indicate that the Islamic banking industry in Lebanon is still in its infancy and only very few of the banks were active in this sector.
How Emerging Markets Are Reshaping Globalization
Authors: Aliaj Kreshnik
Published: January 2019

Globalization is a hot topic of the day. Not a day goes by without us being overwhelmed by the overwhelming news resulting from this all-out integration: relocation of jobs to countries where working conditions are too often unacceptable, closures of companies due to overly intense global competition, deterioration of the environment resulting from unbridled production, etc. In addition, workers’ worries about the consequences of China’s growth in the world of work are added. In this age where finance is queen and dictates the behavior of business leaders, where companies close their doors even if their business is good, where national champions are bought without the governments do not lift a finger, where Savers are robbed by unscrupulous financial actors who remain unpunished, the world seems more uncertain than ever. Recently, the world seems to have entered an era of great turbulence: unprecedented financial scandals which in their wake lead to many job losses; real estate and financial crises in the United States that threaten the balance of the global economy; rising food prices and violent protests in several developing countries. And international institutions, supposed to manage these crises, seem powerless to contain them.
Dysencephalia Splanchnocystica, AKA Meckel–Gruber syndrome: A Systematic Review and the First Case Report from Iraq
Authors: Assi Mohammed Hussein , Al-Imam Ahmed
Published: January 2019

Background:

Meckel-Gruber syndrome is categorised under the broad “umbrella” of syndromic ciliopathies. There is a shortage of epidemiological studies surveying the region of the Middle East and Arabic countries.

Materials and methods:

The review of the literature was conducted systematically, from the 1st to the 9th of June 2018, across medical and paramedical electronic databases including PubMed-NCBI, the Cochrane Library, and Elsevier database via predefined Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. The words used included all possible combinations of synonyms for Meckel syndrome, Meckel-Gruber syndrome, Gruber syndrome, Dysencephalia Splanchnocystica, ciliopathies, and syndromic ciliopathies.

Results:

The total number of hits for all databases was 2089963 distributed as 2085668 (NCBI-PubMed), 1052 (The Cochrane Library), and 3243 (Elsevier). The most informative combination of keywords was [(Ciliopathies AND “Meckel syndrome type-1”]. The total number of reference material was restricted to twenty-six. The level-of-evidence of our study is level-2b, by the categorisation scheme adopted by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine. Our case report represents the first documented case in literature from Iraq. The diagnosis was based on the history of consanguinity of the parents, prior history of induced abortion of a malformed male fetus, and the diagnostic clinical triad postnatally of occipital encephalocele, post-axial polydactyly, and polycystic kidneys manifested as bilateral abdominal distension primarily affecting the loin.

Conclusion:

Future cases from Iraq should be investigated, via ecological and aggregate analytics, in correlation with chemical and radiological exposure following the American invasion of Iraq.
Charakterystyka wybranych służb specjalnych Federacji Rosyjskiej
w kontekście zapewnienia bezpieczeństwa informacyjnego państwa
Authors: Patrycja ZAREMBA Monika DZIUBA Judyta CHAJĘCKA
Published: January 2019

Służby specjalne współczesnych państw stanowią kluczowy element służący zapewnieniu
bezpieczeństwa zarówno wewnętrznego, jak i zewnętrznego (w tym
również informacyjnego). W aspekcie współczesnej sytuacji międzynarodowej na
szczególną uwagę zasługują służby specjalne Federacji Rosyjskiej. Rozpad Związku
Radzieckiego, a co za tym idzie upadek bipolarnego podziału świata sprawił, że służby
wywiadowcze ZSRR zostały zmuszone do transformacji o charakterze strukturalnym
i funkcjonalnym. Nowe warunki geopolityczne zaczęły generować nieznane dotąd
wyzwania i zagrożenia. Celem niniejszego artykułu jest scharakteryzowanie najbardziej
elitarnych, z punktu widzenia autorów, służb specjalnych Federacji Rosyjskiej –
Federalnej Służby Bezpieczeństwa, Głównego Zarządu Sztabu Generalnego Sił
Zbrojnych, Służby Wywiadu Zagranicznego oraz Federalnej Służby Ochrony w aspekcie
ich wpływu na zapewnienie państwu bezpieczeństwa informacyjnego.
Hipotezą, jaką autorki weryfikowały w trakcie wywodu, było stwierdzenie, że
służby specjalne Federacji Rosyjskiej mają istotne znaczenie dla bezpieczeństwa informacyjnego
państwa ze względu na swoją działalność pozwalającą na dostarczanie
właściwych i użytecznych informacji dotyczących przeciwnika oraz obszaru jego działania.
Dla realizacji tak zakreślonych celów tekst podzielony został na trzy zasadnicze
części: pierwszą poświęconą sytuacji problemowej oraz teorii dotyczącej szeroko poję-
tego bezpieczeństwa informacyjnego i działalności służb specjalnych; drugą definiującą
charakterystykę służb wywiadowczych FR, ich istotę, zadania oraz obszary zainteresowań;
oraz trzecią traktującą o praktycznym wymiarze aktywności służb specjalnych
Federacji Rosyjskiej. W podsumowaniu zamierzeniem autorów jest przybliżenie zagadnień
związanych ze specyfiką rosyjskich służb wywiadowczych oraz zwrócenie uwagi
na ich rolę w zapewnianiu bezpieczeństwa państwa w sferze informacyjnej
Objetos domésticos e sua dinâmica afetiva em narrativas portuguesas contemporâneas
Authors: Francisco Denis Leandro
Published: January 2019

Este artigo analisa a dinâmica afetiva dos objetos domésticos em diferentes narrativas do escritor português contemporâneo António Lobo Antunes a partir de algumas das formulações de Deleuze e Guattari sobre “liso” e “estriado”, de Abraham Moles sobre o “kitsch” e de Jean Baudrillard sobre o “sistema dos objetos”. A análise das obras literárias (Que farei quando tudo arde?, Exortação aos crocodilos, O meu nome é legião, Eu hei-de amar uma pedra e Que cavalos são aqueles que fazem sombra no mar?) indica que, na insuficiência ou ausência de afeto humano, esses objetos domésticos, ora convertidos em “objetos de estima”, ocupam nessas ficções o lugar desse outro ausente que nunca responde às demandas afetivas e de atenção das personagens.
Olimpíada brasileira de informática no município de Videira/SC: ferramenta web para avaliar o perfil dos competidores
Authors: Rossi Leila Lisiane , Senko Luiz Gustavo Moro , Marques Hygor Albert Fernandes , Bonfim Maria José de Castro
Published: January 2019

Neste texto se apresenta um trabalho que teve como objetivo a criação de uma ferramenta que permitisse realizar consultas analíticas online - olaps - sobre os dados dos competidores das escolas de Videira/SC que participaram da Olimpíada Brasileira de Informática - OBI - 2017. A olimpíada de 2017 foi realizada por meio de um projeto de extensão do Instituto Federal Catarinense, campus Videira, com vistas à incentivar as escolas da cidade a participarem dessas provas, que são realizadas seguindo o calendário definido pela Universidade de Campinas, instituição organizadora da OBI. A participação do IFC envolveu a divulgação, aplicação de provas, conferência e o lançamento da pontuação obtida para cada um dos alunos.Palavras-chave: OBI, olap, perfil.
Imprinting, Sucking and Allosucking Behaviors in Buffalo Calves
Authors: Mora-Medina Patricia , Napolitano Fabio , Mota-Rojas Daniel , Berdugo-Gutiérrez Jesús , Ruiz-Buitrago Jhon , Guerrero-Legarreta Isabel
Published: January 2019

This paper provides a short review of the scientific literature, focusing on recent advances on the most representative events from birth to weaning, with special emphasis on the behavior and welfare of buffalo calves during the phases of imprinting, suckling and allosucking, based on the differences and similarities reported with dairy and beef cattle. The similarities include the facts that all 3 are gregarious animals whose dams separate from the herd prior to parturition to facilitate dam-calf bonding, and that maternal care fosters the ingestion of colostrum by the young. These species are also precocial and rely on mother – young mutual recognition for calf survival. In particular, mothers develop a selective bonding with their young soon after parturition, although buffalo cows seem to be tolerant to alien claves and are often engaged in communal nursing. In buffaloes and cattle negative emotions are induced by the stress brought on by early maternal separation. However, buffalo calves are more prone to express cross-sucking and contract neonatal diseases with higher mortality rates in intensive systems as compared to cattle. The review concludes that all three exhibit similar behaviors from parturition to weaning although the knowledge about the specific needs of buffalo calves should be increased and appropriate management practices implemented to improve their welfare state.