bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empowerment in Tourism: A Review of Peer-reviewed Literature
Authors: Aghazamani Yeganeh , Hunt Carter A.
Published: January 2018

This article presents a review of the peer-reviewed scholarship that explores the relationship between tourism and empowerment. The concept of empowerment has attracted much interest from social scientists, and we begin by briefly synthesizing those perspectives. Our query of scholarly
databases reveals 53 peer-reviewed articles that focus either conceptually or empirically on the topic of tourism-related empowerment. A thematic analysis of these writings revealed five main areas of focus: (1) issues related to local residents, (2) issues related to gender,
(3) issues related to employees of tourism and hospitality firms, (4) issues related to disempowerment, and (5) issues related to tourists. We emphasize three main summary points about this literature. First, empowerment is typically assessed via single-shot case studies
that focus on outcome rather process. Second, subjects of research on empowerment are not limited to local resident "hosts." Third, although scholars have addressed a related notion of disempowerment, it is not clear whether this exists at the opposite end of a single empowerment continuum
or if instead these are two distinct concepts, each occurring along a unique dimension. Finally, we build upon other social sciences and our synthesis of the tourism literature to offer a reconciliatory definition of empowerment as "a multidimensional, context-dependent, and dynamic process
that provides humans, individually or collectively, with greater agency, freedom, and capacity to improve their quality of life as a function of engagement with the phenomenon of tourism." We conclude by suggesting several opportunities for further empirical research on tourism-related empowerment.
Tapping the Chinese Market: an Examination of Chinese Tourists' Images and Constraints Towards Cruising
Authors: Zou Suiwen (Sharon) , Petrick James F.
Published: January 2018

This study examined Chinese tourists' images and constraints towards cruising, and their influences on cruising desires/intentions. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were utilized. Based on an extensive literature review, semistructured interviews were conducted to determine
measurement items for constructs of interest. Quantitative data were then collected in order to examine the proposed hypotheses. An innovative procedure for developing the best items to be included in the scales was utilized. The results revealed that: 1) images were antecedents of desires
and intentions; 2) negative cognitive images have a strong influence on constraints; and 3) constraints were found to have no significant influence on intentions. Both theoretical and practical implications are suggested.
Approaching the Adoption of Lean Thinking Principles in Food Operations in Hotels in Egypt
Authors: Mohammad Abuelkassem A. A.
Published: January 2018

Lean thinking is a quality management approach that aims to eliminate waste and provide value for customers. It was originated and successfully applied in the manufacturing business and then transferred to the services industry. This study aimed to investigate the implementation of
lean thinking in food and beverage operations in hotels in Egypt. A qualitative approach was adopted in this study using semistructured interview as a tool for gathering primary data. The sample of this study included 19 participants who were experienced in the field of quality and food and
beverage operations. The results of the study revealed that the largest share of hotels in Egypt did not adopt lean thinking principles in their food and beverage operations. There were some obstacles that have limited the adoption of lean thinking in hotel food operations (e.g., lack of motivations
for hotels; additional work effort and expenses associated with applying new approach). The results also showed that applying lean thinking principles in hotel food operations can achieve many operational benefits, such as reducing operating costs by eliminating wastes and achieving customer
satisfaction through providing added value. The study has provided some practical implications, in a form of proposed model, that would enable a successful implementation of lean thinking in food and beverage operations in hotels.
An Essay on the Touristic Representations of India Presented in Three Postcolonial Travelogues
Authors: Parashar Archana , Kumar Mukesh , Saluja Vineeta
Published: January 2018

This article analyzes the perceptions of postcolonial writers who visit India as tourists and project their vision about people, culture, and region in India in their respective travelogues. As a postcolonial discourse, studies of tourism in countries like India have great concerns
over identity and representation. This discourse over culture, political and economic nature has implications for tourism encounters. The three travelogues chosen for the analysis are Sarah MacDonald's Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure, Anees Jung's Unveiling India: A Woman's Journey,
and V. S. Naipaul's An Area of Darkness. The article also argues for the postcolonial theory of Graham Huggan, which maintains that postcolonial discourses are marketed and domesticated for Western consumption. Thus, for these writers, India becomes a fictional construct and a sum of
the tourist attractions it lays out through a chronological sequence of events. The article reflects important cues on the cultural patterns of globalization and, at the same time, openly reflects on the changing attitudes and perceptions of travel writers as tourists. The study also contributes
to the existing literature by making a comparative assessment of these touristic projections.
Liquid-crystalline nanoarchitectures for tissue engineering
Authors: Sung Baeckkyoung , Kim Min-Ho
Published: January 2018

Hierarchical orders are found throughout all levels of biosystems, from simple biopolymers, subcellular organelles, single cells, and macroscopic tissues to bulky organs. Especially, biological tissues and cells have long been known to exhibit liquid crystal (LC) orders or their structural analogues. Inspired by those native architectures, there has recently been increased interest in research for engineering nanobiomaterials by incorporating LC templates and scaffolds. In this review, we introduce and correlate diverse LC nanoarchitectures with their biological functionalities, in the context of tissue engineering applications. In particular, the tissue-mimicking LC materials with different LC phases and the regenerative potential of hard and soft tissues are summarized. In addition, the multifaceted aspects of LC architectures for developing tissue-engineered products are envisaged. Lastly, a perspective on the opportunities and challenges for applying LC nanoarchitectures in tissue engineering fields is discussed.
Colors of Dwarf Ellipticals from GALEX to WISE
Authors: Schombert James M.
Published: January 2018

Multicolor photometry is presented for a sample of 60 dwarf ellipticals (dE’s) selected by morphology. The sample uses data from GALEX, SDSS, and WISE to investigate the colors in the NUV, ugri, and W1 (3.4 μm) filters. We confirm the blueward shift in the color–magnitude relation (CMR) for dE’s, compared to the CMR for bright ellipticals, as seen in previous studies. However, we find that the deviation in color across the UV to near-IR for dE’s is a strong signal of a younger age for dE’s, one that indicates decreasing mean age with lower stellar mass. Lower mass dE’s are found to have mean ages of 4 Gyr and mean [Fe/H] values of −1.2. Age and metallicity increase tothe most massive dE’s, with mean ages similar to normal ellipticals (12 Gyr) and their lowest metallicities ([Fe/H] = −0.3). Deduced initial star formation rates for dE’s, combined with their current metallicities and central stellar densities, suggest a connection between field low surface brightness (LSB) dwarfs and cluster dE’s, where the cluster environment halts star formation for dE’s, triggering a separate evolutionary path.
Photospheric Diagnostics of Core Helium Burning in Giant Stars
Authors: Hawkins Keith , Ting Yuan-Sen , Walter-Rix Hans
Published: January 2018

Core helium burning primary red clump (RC) stars are evolved red giant stars that are excellent standard candles. As such, these stars are routinely used to map the Milky Way or determine the distance to other galaxies, among other things. However, distinguishing RC stars from their less evolved precursors, namely red giant branch (RGB) stars, is still a difficult challenge and has been deemed the domain of asteroseismology. In this paper, we use a sample of 1676 RGB and RC stars that have both single epoch infrared spectra from the APOGEE survey and asteroseismic parameters and classification to show that the spectra alone can be used to (1) predict asteroseismic parameters with precision high enough to (2) distinguish core helium burning RC from other giant stars with less than 2% contamination. This will not only allow for a clean selection of a large number of standard candles across our own and other galaxies from spectroscopic surveys, but also will remove one of the primary roadblocks for stellar evolution studies of mixing and mass loss in red giant stars.
Cosmological Parameter Estimation Using the Genus Amplitude—Application to Mock Galaxy Catalogs
Authors: Appleby Stephen , Park Changbom , Hong Sungwook E. , Kim Juhan
Published: January 2018

We study the topology of the matter density field in two-dimensional slices and consider how we can use the amplitude A of the genus for cosmological parameter estimation. Using the latest Horizon Run 4 simulation data, we calculate the genus of the smoothed density field constructed from light cone mock galaxy catalogs. Information can be extracted from the amplitude of the genus by considering both its redshift evolution and magnitude. The constancy of the genus amplitude with redshift can be used as a standard population, from which we derive constraints on the equation of state of dark energy

—by measuring A at

and

, we can place an order

constraint on

. By comparing A to its Gaussian expectation value, we can potentially derive an additional stringent constraint on the matter density

. We discuss the primary sources of contamination associated with the two measurements—redshift space distortion (RSD) and shot noise. With accurate knowledge of galaxy bias, we can successfully remove the effect of RSD, and the combined effect of shot noise and nonlinear gravitational evolution is suppressed by smoothing over suitably large scales

. Without knowledge of the bias, we discuss how joint measurements of the two- and three-dimensional genus can be used to constrain the growth factor

. The method can be applied optimally to redshift slices of a galaxy distribution generated using the drop-off technique.
Brightening X-Ray Emission from GW170817/GRB 170817A: Further Evidence for an Outflow
Authors: Ruan John J. , Nynka Melania , Haggard Daryl , Kalogera Vicky , Evans Phil
Published: January 2018

The origin of the X-ray emission from neutron star coalescence GW170817/GRB 170817A is a key diagnostic of the unsettled post-merger narrative, and different scenarios predict distinct evolution in its X-ray light curve. Due to its sky proximity to the Sun, sensitive X-ray monitoring of GW170817/GRB 170817A has not been possible since a previous detection at 16 days post-burst. We present new, deep Chandra observations of GW170817/GRB 170817A at 109 days post-burst, immediately after Sun constraints were lifted. The X-ray emission has brightened from a 0.3–8.0 keV flux of

erg s−1 cm−2 at 16 days to

erg s−1 cm−2 at 109 days, at a rate similar to the radio observations. This confirms that the X-ray and radio emission have a common origin. We show that the X-ray light curve is consistent with models of outflow afterglows, in which the outflow can be a cocoon shocked by the jet, dynamical ejecta from the merger, or an off-axis structured jet. Further deep X-ray monitoring can place powerful constraints on the physical parameters of these models, by both timing the passing of a synchrotron cooling break through the X-ray band and detecting the associated steepening of the X-ray photon index. Finally, the X-ray brightening strengthens the argument that simple off-axis top-hat jet models are not consistent with the latest observations of GW170817/GRB 170817A.
Psoriasiform Dermatophytosis in a Bulgarian Child
Authors: Chokoeva Anastasiya Atanasova , Wollina Uwe , Lotti Torello , Maximov Georgi Konstantinov , Lozev Ilia , Tchernev Georgi
Published: January 2018

Although tinea capitis is the most common fungal infection in children, significant changes have been reported in its epidemiology worldwide, as a result from certain geographic, climatic and cultural differences in one hand, as well as the changes in its etiologic pattern. The clinical manifestation of the infection and the stage of inflammation vary from mild desquamation to severe suppurative indurated plaques in kerion - like the pattern, depending on the nature of the etiologic agent and the host-immune response. We report a case of tinea capitis profunda, caused by Trichophyton verrucosum in a 5 – year - old male patient, presented as a severe scalp and cutaneous desquamation, resembling histopathologically psoriasis, associated with severely indurated ringworm plaque in the temporal area. The performed histological examination revealed a psoriasiform pattern, without the typical Munro abscesses or Kogoj pustules. With the presented case, we want to emphasize the importance of the host’s immune reaction to zoophilic dermatophytes, such as Trichophyton verrucosum, resulting in severe and often atypical clinical manifestation, as well as the possible “Id reaction”, to avoid or minimise misdiagnosis and delayed therapy. The presented patient was treated with topical oleum acidy salicylic 10% and Terbinafine 125 mg daily with significant resolution of the complaints within the following two months.
Seborrheic Pemphigus, Antigen Mimicry and the Subsequent-Wrong Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach?
Authors: Chokoeva Anastasiya Atanasova , Lozev Ilia , Yungareva Irina , Wollina Uwe , Lotti Torello , Maximov Georgi Konstantinov , Tchernev Georgi
Published: January 2018

It is well-established that drugs could be leading cause of occurrence of numerous diseases, including pemphigus, being either inducer or triggering factor of the autoimmunity. Despite medications, it should be kept in mind that chronic or acute infections are also capable of being a trigger in various types of cutaneous eruptions, including pemphigus. The rapidly obtained and uncompleted history for accompanied medication leads to general mistakes in the subsequent treatment approach, as the first step in such cases is discontinuation of the drug-inductor. The absence of this information guaranties the fail of the treatment. On the other hand, the lack of performed screening for chronic or acute hepatitis and tuberculosis is not the only mistake, regarding the high dosage of immunosuppressors that have been planned as regiment and the possible fatal effect on the infection’s spread or exacerbation, but also because of the possible triggering ability of chronic or acute infection, which may play also a key role in the generation of antigen- or molecular- mimicry, as a potential source of antibodies reactive with various tissue antigens. It turns out that although the diagnosis of pemphigus in regular cases is usually not a challenge, the treatment occasionally could be, just because of a simple pitfall in anamnesis and screening, as in the presented case. Herein, we present a case of a patient with seborrheic pemphigus, which is strongly demonstrative for these statements, as we want to emphasise the importance of the first and the most powerful clinician’s weapons – the patient’s history and thorough examination.
John Kenneth Galbraith et l’évolution des structures économiques du capitalisme : d’une théorie de l’entrepreneur à une théorie de la grande entreprise ?
Authors: Baudry Bernard , Chirat Alexandre
Published: January 2018

Dans cet article nous revisitons le concept de technostructure forgé par John K. Galbraith dans Le nouvel État industriel, en le resituant dans son analyse de l’évolution des structures du capitalisme, et plus précisément du passage du capitalisme entrepreneurial au capitalisme de la grande entreprise. En distinguant d’une part la figure de l’entrepreneur et d’autre part les fonctions de l’entrepreneur, nous montrons que si la figure de l’entrepreneur disparaît progressivement, elle est supplantée par la technostructure qui est amenée à remplir les fonctions autrefois dévolues à l’entrepreneur. En confrontant le point de vue de Galbraith avec les théories de l’entrepreneur et les théories managériales de l’entreprise, nous mettons en lumière l’originalité et la spécificité de l’analyse de Galbraith qui, en retenant une conception « gestionnaire » de l’entrepreneur, propose une théorie de la grande entreprise qui « dérive » de sa théorie de l’entrepreneur. Classification JEL  : B25, L21, L26.
Une critique de l’économie politique : Rousseau contre l’économie walrassienne ?
Authors: Pignol Claire
Published: January 2018

L’article examine l’actualité de la critique qu’adresse Rousseau à la pensée économique en la comparant à la théorie économique néowalrassienne. On s’interroge d’abord sur la lecture de son œuvre comme critique externe ou interne de l’économie politique. On montre d’une part que la critique externe, énoncée du point de vue de sa philosophie politique, ne suffit pas à contester l’équilibre concurrentiel Pareto-optimal comme objectif socialement désirable ; d’autre part que la critique interne ne rend pas compte de la radicalité de la critique rousseauiste de l’économie. On interprète alors cette critique comme la conséquence d’une anthropologie, dans laquelle l’agent est conduit par la société marchande à être aveugle à son propre intérêt. Classification JEL  : B11, B31, D63.
Analyser une transition agro-alimentaire par les flux d’azote : Aussois un cas d’étude du découplage progressif de la production et de la consommation
Authors: Bonaudo Thierry , Billen Gilles , Garnier Josette , Barataud Fabienne , Bognon Sabine , Dupré Denis , Marty Pauline
Published: January 2018

Nous reconstituons l’évolution du système agro-alimentaire de la commune d’Aussois, en considérant les flux d’azote et de monnaie au cours du xx e  siècle. Deux périodes sont distinguées : de 1925 à 1965, cette période est caractérisée par des systèmes agro-pastoraux vivriers et autonomes, tandis que la seconde période de 1965 à nos jours, se définit par des systèmes agro-pastoraux spécialisés et plus intensifs avec une autonomie de 67 %. L’efficacité d’utilisation de l’azote n’évolue pas : seul 10 % de l’azote des intrants est fixé dans les produits sur la première période et 11 % pour la deuxième période. La productivité, soit la quantité d’azote produit par hectare, est multipliée par 2,5 pour atteindre aujourd’hui 7,2 kg N par hectare et par an. Enfin, on montre une ouverture du cycle d’azote et le passage d’une situation de flux monétaires faibles, intimement liés aux flux d’azote, à des flux monétaires importants et indépendants des flux d’azote.
La incorporación del hierro a la construcción en Alicante: la llegada del ferrocarril a la ciudad
Authors: López Peral Mª A. , Louis Cereceda M. , García González E.
Published: January 2018

En la segunda mitad del siglo XIX, las estaciones de ferrocarril desarrollaron nuevos sistemas constructivos, con el hierro como principal componente. Las cubiertas de los andenes exigían nuevos retos estructurales buscando la diafanidad y máxima luz entre sus apoyos. En España, Alicante fue la primera ciudad marítima conectada con una línea férrea con Madrid. Factores como la importancia del puerto, su proximidad a la capital y la favorable orografía del terreno fueron determinantes en su elección. El 25 de Mayo de 1858 quedó inaugurada la línea por la reina Isabel II. Tres décadas después, se construyó la estación de Los Andaluces que conectaba con el Sur. Actualmente ha sido restaurada y es la sede de la Casa del Mediterráneo. El presente artículo muestra los orígenes de estos dos edificios, que han podido conservar los sistemas estructurales con los que fueron diseñados hace más de 150 años.
Load-Balanced Multiple Gateway Enabled Wireless Mesh Network for Applications in Emergency and Disaster Recovery
Authors: Iqbal Muddesar , Wang Xinheng , Zhang Hui
Published: January 2018

A gateway node in a WMN acts as bridge between mesh nodes and the external network in order to exchange information between the wireless mesh network operating in a disaster stricken area and remotely located rescue headquarters and government agencies. Using a single gateway, WMN creates huge congestion on the routes to the gateway, as all the data traffic may travel in the same direction using longer routes to access the gateway node, causing channel contention between nodes that operate within carrier sensing range of each other. Therefore a multiple gateway environment is crucial during WMN application in emergency and disaster recovery. This paper presents the design and implementation of a Load-Balanced Gateway Discovery routing protocol called LBGD-AODV, which provides multiple gateway support in Wireless Mesh Network. LBGD-AODV is designed as an extension to the Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing protocol and uses a periodic gateway advertisement scheme equipped with an efficient algorithm to avoid congestion by establishing load-balanced routes to the gateway nodes for Internet traffic. The evaluation tests show that the LBGD-AODV has not compromised the efficiency of basic AODV routing and has improved the performance of the network.
E-Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation
Authors: Morales Gutierrez Alfonso Carlos , Ariza Montes J. Antonio
Published: January 2018

In this paper the authors mainly aim at describing some organizational features of a particular kind of social enterprises that have emerged since the development of web 2.0: peer to peer charities and e-social banking. They will define first the traditional social enterprise and how this phenomenon has evolved in recent years. Then they will explain how the philosophy of Web 2.0 offers new opportunities for the development and growth of these social initiatives. Thirdly, they will detail their main features obtained from the study of twelve inititatives – the most relevant at present – which they have called 2.0 social enterprises (peer to peer charities and e-social banking). The authors will finally offer some reflection on main dilemmas and challenges that could be faced in a short term future.
Design and Implementation of the Embed Computer Based on CompactPCI Express Bus
Authors: Guo Feng , Yin Zhenxing , Wu Liang , Shen Hao
Published: January 2018

Due to the development of embed computer, improvement the bandwidth of computer is required, in order to break the choke point of the bus’ development. The text brings a hardware design method of computer based on CompactPCI Express bus, introduces the architecture of system and principle, goes into descriptions abouth the design of Swithboard, bridgeboard and rapid serial single PCB etc. The use of CompactPCI Express bus improves the bandwidth of computer system, reduces power, improves the performance of system, adapt the requirement of development.
Transcriptome-To-Metabolome™ Biosimulation Reveals Human Hippocampal Hypometabolism with Age and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Phelix Clyde F. , LeBaron Richard G. , Roberson Dawnlee J. , Villanueva Rosa E. , Villareal Greg , Rahimi Omid B. , Siedlak Sandra , Zhu Xiongwei , Perry George
Published: January 2018

The authors had validated a proprietary method, Transcriptome-To-Metabolome™ (TTM™) Biosimulation, for using the transcriptome to determine parameters for kinetic biosimulation of 16 core metabolic pathways. In vivo and in silico evidence confirmed that hippocampal cholesterol metabolism decreases with aging and increases with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The molecular studies on aging primate and human hippocampus, including AD samples, provided internal validations on the biosimulations, while evidence from the literature, bibliome, provided external validations. This study extends the investigations with the TTM™ Biosimulations into the changes in these 16 metabolic pathways in aging male human hippocampus and for stages of AD. The authors report robust hippocampal hypometabolism in the fifth to tenth decade of life involving glucose and lipid metabolism in male humans. These findings are validated externally from the bibliome. Several changes in AD are demonstrated to be exaggerations or deviations of very late stage changes of normal aging among these pathways.
Effect of human granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor on differentiation and apoptosis of the human osteosarcoma cell line SaOS-2
Authors: Postiglione L , Di Domenico G , Giordano-Lanza G , Ladogana P , Turano M , Castaldo C
Published: January 2018

We investigated the effects of human granulocyte macrophage- colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on the relation between differentiation and apoptosis in SaOS-2 cells, an osteoblast-like cell line. To determine the relationship between these cellular processes, SaOS-2 cells were treated in vitro for 1, 7 and 14 days with 200 ng/mL GM-CSF and compared with untreated cells. Five nM insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and 30 nM okadaic acid were used as negative and positive controls of apoptosis, respectively. Effects on cell differentiation were determined by ECM (extracellular matrix) mineralization, morphology of some typical mature osteoblast differentiation markers, such as osteopontin and sialoprotein II (BSP-II), and production of bone ECM components such as collagen I. The results showed that treatment with GM-CSF caused cell differentiation accompanied by increased production of osteopontin and BSP-II, together with increased ECM deposition and mineralization. Flow cytometric analysis of annexin V and propidium iodide incorporation showed that GM-CSF up-regulated apoptotic cell death of SaOS-2 cells after 14 days of culture in contrast to okadaic acid, which stimulated SaOS-2 apoptosis only during the early period of culture. Endonucleolytic cleavage of genomic DNA, detected by “laddering analysis”, confirmed these data. The results suggest that GM-CSF induces osteoblastic differentiation and long-term apoptotic cell death of the SaOS-2 human osteosarcoma cell line, which in turn suggests a possible in vivo physiological role for GM-CSF on human osteoblast cells.
Handbook of Cyanobacterial Monitoring and Cyanotoxin Analysis
Authors: Martens Stefan
Published: January 2018

Cyanobacteria are impacting widely on the daily activities of the general public. They are increasingly recognized as agents having possible adverse effects on water resources, on health of human and/or animals and therefore should be monitored and managed. To fill existing gaps this valuable handbook which is edited by three highly respected experts in the areas microbiology, algae biochemistry, metabolomics, and environmental science provide reviews, practical methods and standard operating procedures...
Risk factors for benign prostatic enlargement: The role of lifestyle habits at younger age. The #Controllati2017 initiative study group
Authors: Mirone Vincenzo , Carrieri Giuseppe , Morgia Giuseppe , Carmignani Luca , Vespasiani Giuseppe , Parazzini Fabio , Artibani Walter
Published: January 2018

Objective: The risk factors for benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) are not well understood and particularly few data are available from Italian population. Materials and methods: This was an observational cross sectional study aimed to examine the association between several risk factors and BPE. During the “#Controllati2017” initiative, men aged 18 years or more were invited to attend participating urologic centers for a free of charge visit for counseling about urologic or andrologic conditions. Each participating man underwent a physical examination including digital rectal examination (DRE). Further he was asked about his medical history, urologic symptoms, sexual activity and related problems. Diagnosis of BPE was made by the urologist after DRE. Results: Out of the 1902 [mean age 54 years (SD 12, range 18-92)] considered men, a total of 603 subjects (31.7%) had diagnosis of BPE. The diagnosis of BPE increased from 9.3% in men aged < = 50 years, to 34.1% in those aged 51-60 years and to 58.7% among men aged > 60 years. A history of hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were all significantly associated with an increased risk of BPE in the total series and, although not always in a statistically significant way, in strata of age. Physical activity (PA) was significantly associated with a decreased risk of BPE. We have further analyzed the risk of BPE in men with one or more of the identified risk factors (i.e. hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and low PA): the risk of BPE increased with number of risk factors reported by the subjects. The estimated risk were higher among younger men. Conclusion: In our study a history of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia increased the risk and physical activity lowered the risk of BPE. This risk profile was observed also in men aged < 50 years.
Evaluation of the complications in laparoscopic retroperitoneal radical nephrectomy; An experience of high volume centre
Authors: Gozen Ali Serdar , Gherman Vitalie , Akin Yigit , Bolat Mustafa Suat , Elmussareh Muhammad , Rassweiler Jens
Published: January 2018

Objectives: To provide a standardised report of complications after retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (rLRN) in a high-volume centre using Clavien-Dindo classification. Materials and methods: We analysed records maintained in a prospective database of 330 consecutive patients that underwent rLRN between March 1995 and September 2016. All complications were graded according to the modified Clavien-Dindo classification. Three generations of surgeons were defined and the learning curve in rLRN was evaluated by comparing the first 100 cases (Group A) performed by firstgeneration surgeons with the last 100 cases (Group B) by thirdgeneration surgeons. Results: The mean age of our cohort was 66 ± 11.9 years. The overall complication rate was 19.7%. The majority of complications (12.7%) were Clavien 1 (5.1%) and Clavien 2 (7.6%) and did not require any interventions; blood transfusion was the most frequently encountered intervention (4.8%). Half of which were because of major intraoperative bleeding. Mortality rate was 0.9%. We found a trend towards lower complication rate in group B (19%) compared to group A (23%); this was mainly because of the reduction in the incidence of Clavien 1 and 2 complications. The pathological stage varied significantly in the two groups while the rate of negative surgical margins was comparable. Conclusions: rLRN is a safe procedure with an acceptable rate of complications. The learning curve was shorter for the thirdgeneration surgeons (group B); although these surgeons operated on a significantly higher number of patients with more advanced diseases. The Clavien-Dindo classification is suitable for assessing rLRN complications. Adopting this standardised system can help in the evaluation and comparison of surgical quality of LRN series.
Ureteroscopy in pregnant women with complicated colic pain: Is there any risk of premature labor?
Authors: Butticè Salvatore , Laganà Antonio Simone , Vitale Salvatore Giovanni , Netsch Christopher , Tanidir Yiloren , Cantiello Francesco , Dragos Laurian , Talso Michele , Emiliani Esteban , Pappalardo Rosa , Sener Tarik Emre
Published: January 2018

Objective: Clinical presentation of ureteral stones during pregnancy is generally with renal colic pain. The aim of this study is to present our experience in the management of renal colic during pregnancy in emergency settings. Materials and methods: 208 pregnant patients who presented to emergency department with renal colic pain and underwent ureteroscopy (URS) due to failed conservative therapy were enrolled in the study. Urinary tract stones were diagnosed either with ultrasound (US) examination or during URS. Laser lithotripsy and double J (DJ) stent placement were routinely done in all patients with ureteral stones. The incidence of infective complications and premature uterine contractions (PUC) due to URS were compared. Results: No stone was identified in 36.1% (n = 75) of patients with using US and diagnostic URS. Of the remaining 133 patients, 30 (22.6%) had no stone at US but stones were diagnosed during diagnostic URS. The type of anesthesia had no significant effect on PUC. An increased risk of sepsis and PUC was found in patients with fever at the initial presentation. Interestingly, PUC was more frequent in patients with lower serum magnesium levels. There was a significant correlation with time delay until the intervention and the risk of urosepsis and PUC, individually. Conclusions: Ureteroscopy is a safe option for evaluation of pregnant patients with unresolved renal colic. According to the current findings, timing of the operation is the most important factor affecting the septic risks and abortion threat. Surgical intervention with URS must be planned as soon as possible.
A randomized, multicenter, controlled study, comparing efficacy and safety of a new complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) versus Solifenacin Succinate in women with overactive bladder syndrome
Authors: Vecchioli-Scaldazza Carlo , Morosetti Carolina , Maruccia Serena , Casellato Stefano , Rociola Wilma , Illiano Ester , Garofalo Francesco
Published: January 2018

Introduction: To assess efficacy and tolerability of a new complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) consisting of vitamins (C and D), herbal products (cucurbita maxima, capsicum annum, polygonum capsicatum) and amino acid L-Glutammina, in the treatment of female Overactive Bladder syndrome (OAB). Materials and methods: 90 consecutive women with OAB symptoms were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, controlled study. Women were divided randomly into two groups of 45 patients each. In group A, women received Solifenacin Succinate (SS), 5 mg. once a day for 12 weeks. In group B, women received CAM, 930 mg, twice daily for 12 weeks. Women were assessed with 3-day micturition diary, Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale (PPIUS), Overactive Bladder questionnaire Short Form (OAB-q SF) and Patient Global Impression of Improvement questionnaire (PGI-I). Results: 8 patients in group A and 1 patient in group B dropped out from therapy because of side effects. A reduction in the number of daily micturitions, nocturia and episodes of urge incontinence was present with both SS and CAM with statistically highly significant differences, but CAM was significantly more effective than SS. PPIUS and OAB-q SF showed improvements with both SS and CAM with a more significant efficacy of CAM. PGI-I, demonstrated improvements in the two groups of patients with a greater satisfaction expressed by patients treated with CAM. Conclusions: the small number of patients does not permit definitive conclusions; however, the results of the research showed the greater effectiveness and tolerability of CAM.
A rare cause of acute post renal failure: Retroperitoneal fibrosis
Authors: Seker Kamil Gokhan , Eksi Mithat , Colakoglu Yunus , Yenice Mustafa Gürkan , Akbay Fatih Gokhan , Tugcu Volkan , Simsek Abdulmuttalip
Published: January 2018

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is an inflammatory process which may cause acute renal failure. In patients who admitted to emergency services with obstructive uropathy, retroperitoneal fibrosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis. We present our ten cases who admitted to emergency department with obstructive acute renal failure related to retroperitoneal fibrosis.
Incidentally discovered pelvic paraganglioma: A case report
Authors: Imperatore Vittorio , Creta Massimiliano , Di Meo Sergio , Buonopane Roberto , Spirito Lorenzo , Fusco Ferdinando , Longo Nicola , Forte Nicola Rosario , Mirone Vincenzo
Published: January 2018

Paragangliomas (PGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors of the autonomic nervous system originating from paraganglia. Although PGL may arise at any site where physiologic paraganglionic tissue exists, the localization in the small pelvis is extremely rare. PGL may be hormonally active and release surplus catecholamines into the blood or inactive. The asymptomatic cases pose a diagnostic dilemma. We describe the case of an asymptomatic PGL arising in the small pelvis sidewall presenting as an incidentally discovered asymptomatic mass in a male subject.
Freeness and The Partial Transposes of Wishart Random Matrices
Authors: Mingo James A. , Popa Mihai
Published: January 2018

We show that the partial transposes of complex Wishart random matrices are asymptotically free. We also investigate regimes where the number of blocks is fixed but the size of the blocks increases. This gives an example where the partial transpose produces freeness at the operator level. Finally, we investigate the case of real Wishart matrices.
Correcting for trace gas absorption when retrieving aerosol optical
depth from satellite observations of reflected shortwave radiation
Authors: Patadia Falguni , Levy Robert , Mattoo Shana
Published: January 2018

Abstract. Retrieving aerosol optical depth (AOD) from top-of-atmosphere (TOA) satellite-measured radiance requires separating the aerosol signal from the total observed signal. Total TOA radiance includes signal from underlying surface and from atmospheric constituents such as aerosols, clouds and gases. Multispectral retrieval algorithms, such as the dark-target (DT) algorithm that operates upon Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS, onboard Terra and Aqua satellites) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS, onboard Suomi-NPP) sensors, use wavelength bands in “window” regions. However, while small, the gas absorptions in these bands are non-negligible and require correction. In this paper we use High-resolution TRANsmission (HITRAN) database and Line-by-Line Radiative Transfer Model (LBLRTM) to derive consistent gas corrections for both MODIS and VIIRS wavelength bands. Absorptions from H2O, CO2 and O3 are considered, as well as other trace gases. Even though MODIS and VIIRS bands are “similar”, they are different enough that applying MODIS specific gas corrections to VIIRS observations results in an underestimate of global mean AOD (by 0.01), but with much larger regional AOD biases up to 0.07. As recent studies are attempting to create a long-term data record by joining multiple satellite datasets, including MODIS and VIIRS, the consistency of gas correction becomes even more crucial.
Propuesta de portafolio de servicios y actividades para la construcción de la paz desde las Bibliotecas de la Universidad de La Salle (Bogotá, Colombia)
Authors: Bolaños Tinjaca Martha Patricia , Pirela Morillo Johann Enrique
Published: January 2018

Objetivo. Proponer un portafolio de servicios y actividades aplicables en las bibliotecas de la Universidad de La Salle (Bogotá-Colombia), con objeto de contribuir con la construcción de la paz, a partir de considerar la biblioteca universitaria como un laboratorio, generador de servicios y productos alineados con las agendas de desarrollo socio-cultural y educativo de la sociedad colombiana afectada por el conflicto armado del país.Método. Enfoque mixto, sustentado en la entrevista y la encuesta como técnicas de investigación. Las entrevistas se realizaron a directivos de la Universidad, explorando sus concepciones acerca de cómo las Bibliotecas de la institución pueden apoyar los procesos de construcción de la paz, mediante servicios y actividades. La encuesta se aplicó, mediante un cuestionario estructurado, dirigido a estudiantes cursantes de la cátedra lasallista, asignatura que se estudia en todos los programas académicos y facultades, la cual imprime la impronta que distingue la filosofía que fundamenta la Universidad, uno de cuyos principios fundamentales es precisamente valores como la tolerancia, justicia, fe y paz .Resultados. Luego de la triangulación de resultados, se propone el portafolio de servicios y actividades, com objeto de contribuir con el desarrollo de la cultura de paz desde la educación superior y com ello escalar hacia mejores condiciones de bienestar y equilibrio social.
Crisis económica y economía social
Authors: Jaén García Manuel
Published: January 2018

La crisis económica de 2008 golpeó fuertemente los diversos sectores de la economía española. Aunque el punto de partida fue la explosión de la burbuja inmobiliaria seguida de la caída de gran parte de las antiguas cajas de ahorro, se extendió a toda la economía dejando tras de sí un reguero de cierres empresariales y paro masivo así como un sector público que, tras rescatar las cajas y bancos en crisis, se encontró con un enorme agujero en las cuentas públicas y un diferencial en los pagos de intereses de la deuda (la denominada prima de riesgo) con respecto a la deuda alemana que llegó a superar los 500 puntos básicos. La intervención del Banco Central Europeo (BCE) con su compra masiva de deuda soberana permitió, en parte, superar esta situación propiciando una economía en crecimiento en los últimos años (2014 en adelante). En este contexto se sitúa el presente trabajo en el que se estudia el comportamiento de las empresas de economía social durante el período de crisis en comparación con la economía en general. Para ello se consideran los indicadores más usuales y se comparan las dos vertientes: el sector empresarial en general y el sector de la economía social en particular.
Camera, Set, Action: Process Innovation for Film and TV Production
Authors: Ouyang Chun , Wang Kenneth , Hofstede Arthur ter , Rosa Marcello La , Rosemann Michael , Shortland Katherine , Court David
Published: January 2018

Film and TV productions, a key area in production screen business, comprise of processes with high demand for creativity and flexibility. However, despite the era of fast developing technology, film production processes are carried out in an old fashioned way. This is reflected, for example, by the fact that document processing accompanied by daily shooting activities is still primarily paper-based and coordinating geographically distributed cast and crew is purely manual or at best through emails. There is an opportunity to bring process innovation into this industry, which can streamline and optimise film production processes and thus reduce production costs.

Business Process Management (BPM) is the mainstream contemporary technology-enabled business improvement method. It has proven to provide significant benefits to an organisation in terms of cost savings and responsiveness to changes. In this paper, we apply BPM technology to process innovation for film production. We also share experiences in how to deal with innovation barriers in the film industry. Over the course of the investigation, a prototype called YAWL4Film was developed on top of a state-of-the-art BPM system. YAWL4Film supports collection and entering of production related data and automatic generation of reports required during film production. The system was deployed in two student productions at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), as well as in a feature film production by Porchlight, an independent film production company.
A Few Misconceptions about Cultural Evolution
Authors: O’Brien Michael J.
Published: January 2018

Despite a growing number of social scientists who view the evolution of culture as a Darwinian process, research in the field at large is still rooted in the orthogenetic, progressive models of cultural evolution that were popularized in the nineteenth century and brought back in a new form in the mid-twentieth century. This is unfortunate because it shifts the focus away from the fact that cultural evolution is driven by some exceedingly complicated and highly interesting mechanisms that await further analytical attention. A better understanding of human behaviour, which is at the heart of cultural evolution, depends on a general recognition that genes and culture are not separately evolving entities but rather co-evolving components of the human enterprise.
Tradition and innovation in the traditional arts of Shandong Province, China
Authors: Layton Robert , Biao Xu , Yi Zhao , Jia-Lu Tang , Yuan Tian
Published: January 2018

The paper outlines the social forces influencing continuity or innovation in the traditional arts of Shandong Province, China. These are addressed under five headings:

The relative flexibility of material media

The gender based transmission of skills

Male: Chayanov and craft production for the market during the slack agricultural season: Woodblock printing, toy-making, funeral models, ancestral and household shrine painting. Innovations take the form of new subjects, introduced to attract new buyers

Female: cotton weaving, embroidery, paper cutting. Most of the villages we’ve worked in still practice village exogamy (despite the law of 1950 banning compulsory exogamy), so that women take skills with them when they marry, whereas men’s skills remain in their village of birth.

Combined with the purpose of production:

Male arts primarily produced for market, with 100s of years of market tradition

Female arts primarily for domestic consumption (although surplus cotton cloth has long been traded to increase family income), among which the daughter’s trousseau is an important component.

Disruption caused by the mid-20th century ‘social movements’ caused an enforced break in almost all crafts.

The acceptability of the arts to the intended audience (new but traditional themes in toys and woodblocks), and the movement toward fine art.
Analysing Geo-linguistic Dynamics of the World Wide Web: The Use of Cartograms and Network Analysis to Understand Linguistic Development in Wikipedia
Authors: Liao Han-teng , Petzold Thomas
Published: January 2018

This article discusses the usefulness of geo-linguistic analysis for Internet studies by presenting two techniques to frame and visualize the linguistic development of the World Wide Web, in particular the geo-linguistic development amongst different language versions of Wikipedia. An emergent research agenda has been set to explore the multilingual aspects of the Internet using, for example, a global perspective on Wikipedia research. And yet, there is a lack of theoretical and methodological tools for understanding the distribution and diffusion of linguistic materials online. The idea of geo-linguistic factors is introduced in this article to address these shortcomings and to respond to the study of a wide range of issues such as linguistic pluralism on the Internet or, more generally, the diffusion of innovation. Cartograms and network analysis are presented as two techniques that showcase the potential uses of geo-linguistic analysis. These two techniques of measurement and visualization indicate certain geographic and linguistic affiliations among languages. It is argued that although certain more developed language versions such as English and German may have central positions in connecting all languages, there exists another pattern that can best be explained by geo-linguistic factors. Finally, the limitations and implications of such findings and techniques are discussed, not only for research on Wikipedia but for Internet studies in general.