bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of devolution on the trends of paediatric malaria admissions and mortality in Homa-Bay County, Kenya
Authors: Kodhiambo M O , Amugune B K , Oyugi J O
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackground: Malaria is a leading cause of paediatric admissions, morbidity and mortality. Malaria burden is endemic in Homa Bay County in the Lake Region in Kenya. Low social-economic status in Homa Bay County enhances malaria transmission, morbidity and mortality. Paediatric malaria admission and mortality have recently increased in the lake region unlike the rest of Kenya. Literature review did not show studies interrogating health policy correlates of this malaria problem in the region. The policy of the recently devolvement of the government system in Kenya was to bring services closer to the people. Devolved government in which the county governments are now responsible for healthcare delivery may have unique challenges that may influence disease morbidity and mortality.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of devolution on paediatric malaria admission and mortality trends in public health facilities in Homa Bay County.

Methods: This was a retrospective quasi-experimental study in which paediatrics records of 36 months before and 36 months after the devolvement of government were retrieved and analyzed for malaria incidence and deaths. All records of paediatric malaria cases reported in all 164 public health facilities in Homa-Bay County were examined. Data from the sub-County was obtained from the electronic records at the County Hospital. Hard copy data from health facilities in eight sub-Counties was also inspected at the sub-County level. Analysis of the data was accomplished by use of the Interrupted Time Series (ITS). Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the appropriate authorities. Data coding system was used in order to ensure confidentiality.

Results: From January 2013, deaths increased gradually until around the 33rd month when it rose abruptly to nearly 800 then declined to levels below 200 in the 34 th month, which was around the time of devolution. This was followed by a period of stability. Admissions had a similar trend. Conclusions: There was a slight raise in paediatric malaria admissions and in the number of deaths due to malaria morbidity in Homa Bay County after the devolvement of government system in Kenya a factor which could be attributed to teething challenges of devolution. More studies are necessary to assess progress towards universal access to good healthcare services post devolution.
The Last 5 Gyr of Galactic Chemical Evolution Based on H ii Region Abundances Derived from a Temperature Independent Method
Authors: Carigi Leticia , Peimbert Manuel , Peimbert Antonio
Published: March 2019

Most of the chemical evolution models are not very reliable for the last 5 Gyr of galactic evolution; this is mainly because abundance gradients found in the literature show a big dispersion for young objects; a big culprit of this is the dispersion found in H ii region gradients. Part of this dispersion arises from two different methods used to determine O/H in H ii regions: the direct method (DM), based on forbidden lines; and the temperature independent method (TIM), based on permitted lines; the differences between these two methods are about 0.25 dex. We present two chemical evolution models of our galaxy to fit the O/H gradients of H ii regions, one obtained from the DM and the other obtained from the TIM. We find that the model based on the TIM produces an excellent fit to the observational stellar constraints (B-stars, Cepheids, and the Sun), while the model based on the DM fails to reproduce them. Moreover the TIM model reproduces the flattening observed in the 3–6 kpc galactocentric range; this flattening is attained with an inside-out star formation quenching in the inner disk starting ∼9 Gyr ago.
Time Evolution of 3D Disk Formation with Misaligned Magnetic Field and Rotation Axes
Authors: Väisälä Miikka S. , Shang Hsien , Krasnopolsky Ruben , Liu Sheng-Yuan , Lam Ka Ho , Li Zhi-Yun
Published: March 2019

Distinguishing diagnostic observational signatures produced by MHD models is essential in understanding the physics for the formation of protostellar disks in the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array era. Developing suitable tools along with time evolution will facilitate better identification of diagnostic features. With the ray-tracing-based radiative transfer code Perspective we explore the time evolution of MHD models carried out in Li et al.—most of which have 90° misalignment between the rotational axis and the magnetic field. Four visible object types can be characterized, origins of which are dependent on the initial conditions. Our results show complex spiraling density, velocity, and polarization structures. The systems are under constant change, but many of those distinctive features are present already early on, and they grow more visible in time, but most could not be identified from the data without examining their change in time. The results suggest that spiraling pseudo-disk structures could function as an effective observation signature of the formation process, and we witness accretion in the disk with eccentric orbits that appear as spiral-like perturbation from simple circular Keplerian orbits. Magnetically aligned polarization appears purely azimuthal in the disk, and the magnetic field can lead to precession of the disk.
On Solar Recurrent Coronal Jets: Coronal Geysers as Sources of Electron Beams and Interplanetary Type-III Radio Bursts
Authors: Paraschiv Alin Razvan , Donea Alina
Published: March 2019

Coronal jets are transitory small-scale eruptions that are omnipresent in solar observations. Active regions jets produce significant perturbations on the ambient solar atmosphere and are believed to be generated by microflare reconnection. Multiple sets of recurrent jets are identified in extreme-ultraviolet filter imaging. In this work we analyze the long timescale recurrence of coronal jets originating from a unique footpoint structure observed in the lower corona. We report the detection of penumbral magnetic structures in the lower corona. These structures, which we call “coronal geysers,” persist through multiple reconnection events that trigger recurrent jets in a quasi-periodical trend. Recurrent jet eruptions have been associated with Type-III radio bursts that are manifestations of traveling non-thermal electron beams. We examine the assumed link, as the coronal sources of interplanetary Type-III bursts are still open for debate. We scrutinized the hypothesized association by temporally correlating a statistically significant sample of six Geyser structures that released at least 50 recurrent jets, with correspondent Type-III radio bursts detected in the interplanetary medium. Data analysis of these phenomena provides new information on small-scale reconnection, non-thermal electron beam acceleration, and energy release. We find that the penumbral Geyser-like flaring structures produce recurring jets. They can be long-lived, quasi-stable, and act as coronal sources for Type-III bursts, and, implicitly, upward accelerated electron beams.
The Hubble Space Telescope UV Legacy Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters. XVIII. Proper-motion Kinematics of Multiple Stellar Populations in the Core Regions of NGC 6352
Authors: Libralato Mattia , Bellini Andrea , Piotto Giampaolo , Nardiello Domenico , Marel Roeland P. van der , Anderson Jay , Bedin Luigi R. , Vesperini Enrico
Published: March 2019

We present the analysis of the radial distributions and kinematic properties of the multiple stellar populations (mPOPs) hosted in the globular cluster (GC) NGC 6352 as part of the Hubble Space Telescope “UV Legacy Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters” program. NGC 6352 is one of the few GCs for which the mPOP tagging in appropriate color–magnitude diagrams is clear in all evolutionary sequences. We computed high-precision stellar proper motions for the stars from the cluster’s core out to 75 arcsec (∼1.5 core radii, or ∼0.6 half-light radii). We find that, in the region explored, first- and second-generation stars share the same radial distribution and kinematic properties. Velocity dispersions, anisotropy radial profiles, differential rotation, and level of energy equipartition, all suggest that NGC 6352 is probably in an advanced evolutionary stage, and any possible difference in the structural and kinematic properties of its mPOPs have been erased by dynamical processes in the core of the cluster. We also provide an estimate of the mass of blue stragglers and of main-sequence binaries through kinematics alone. In general, in order to build a complete dynamical picture of this and other GCs, it will be essential to extend the analyses presented in this paper to the GCs’ outer regions where some memories of the initial differences in the mPOP properties, and those imprinted by dynamical processes, might still be present.
Debris of Asteroid Disruptions Close to the Sun∗
Authors: Ye 叶 Quanzhi 泉志 , Granvik Mikael
Published: March 2019

The under-abundance of asteroids on orbits with small perihelion distances suggests that thermally driven disruption may be an important process in the removal of rocky bodies in the solar system. Here we report our study of how the debris streams arise from possible thermally driven disruptions in the near-Sun region. We calculate that a small body with a diameter ≳0.5 km can produce a sufficient amount of material to allow the detection of the debris at the Earth as meteor showers, and that bodies at such sizes thermally disrupt every ∼2 kyr. We also find that objects from the inner parts of the asteroid belt are more likely to become Sun-approachers than those from the outer parts. We simulate the formation and evolution of the debris streams produced from a set of synthetic disrupting asteroids drawn from Granvik et al.’s near-Earth object population model, and find that they evolve 10–70 times faster than streams produced at ordinary solar distances. We compare the simulation results to a catalog of known meteor showers on Sun-approaching orbits. We show that there is a clear overabundance of Sun-approaching meteor showers, which is best explained by a combining effect of comet contamination and an extended disintegration phase that lasts up to a few thousand years. We suggest that a few asteroid-like Sun-approaching objects that brighten significantly at their perihelion passages could, in fact, be disrupting asteroids. An extended period of thermal disruption may also explain the widespread detection of transiting debris in exoplanetary systems.
Cosmological Evolution of Quasar Radio Emission in the View of Multifractality
Authors: Belete A. Bewketu , Femmam Smain , Tornikosk Merja , Lähteenmäki Anne , Tammi Joni , Leão I. C. , Canto Martins B. L. , Medeiros J. R. De
Published: March 2019

Variations in scaling behavior in the flux and emissions of distant astronomical sources with respect to their cosmic time are important phenomena that can provide valuable information about the dynamics within the sources and their cosmological evolution with time. Different studies have been applying linear analysis to understand and model quasars’ light curves. Here, we study the multifractal behavior of selected quasars’ radio emissions in their observed frame (at 22 and 37 GHz bands) and their rest frame. To this end, we apply the wavelet transform-based multifractal analysis formalism called wavelet transform modulus maxima. In addition, we verify whether the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models fit our data. In our work, we observe strong multifractal behavior for all the sources. Additionally, we find that the degree of multifractality is strongly similar for each source and significantly different between sources at 22 and 37 GHz. This similarity implies that the two frequencies have the same radiation region and mechanism, whereas the difference indicates that the sources have intrinsically different dynamics. Furthermore, we show that the degree of multifractality is the same in the observed and rest frames of the quasars, i.e., multifractality is an intrinsic property of radio quasars. Finally, we show that the ARIMA models fit the 3C 345 quasar at 22 GHz and partially fit most of the time series, with the exception of the 3C 273 and 3C 279 quasars at 37 GHz, for which the models are found to be inadequate.
Media education in France: a hard consolidation with good prospects
Authors: Bevort Evelyne
Published: March 2019

For at least one century, France has played a relevant role in media education using an innovative and even fighting spirit model. Research has enriched the field but the model has never become really integrated into school. However, it is nowadays that an official integration of media education into the educational system can be observed, so it is now when redefinition and deep reflection on media education are needed.

Francia ha tenido, desde hace más de un siglo, un relevante papel en la educación en medios, con un espíritu muy innovador, incluso casi combativo en pro de una idea de escuela y de los propios medios. Los numerosos trabajos y textos teóricos que se han ido generando han enriquecido bastante las múltiples prácticas, dando sentido de esta forma a la enseñanza, pero siempre se ha trabajado más en una óptica «pedagógica y cultural», sin llegar a una integración global con los contenidos impartidos en la escuela. Sin embargo, hoy parece que nos dirigimos hacia una consagración más oficial en el seno del sistema educativo en su conjunto. Y es en este preciso momento, cuando el conjunto de prácticas mediáticas está en proceso de redefinición, cuando urge una reflexión a fondo sobre los modos de conocimiento en la era de la sociedad de la información.
A view of media education in Spain
Authors: Gabelas-Barroso José-Antonio
Published: March 2019

Media studies in Spain have been conspicuous for their discontinuity, slumps, and reductionisms. Educational institutions haven’t actually acknowledged the key social role that media and their screens play as agents and role-models in education. Hence that there arises the pressing need to devise a program that co-ordinates and integrates audiovisual and multi-visual literacy within the present school syllabus.

La historia de la educación en medios en el estado español ha estado caracterizada por una serie de altibajos, discontinuidades y reduccionismos. Las instituciones educativas no se han tomado en serio la enorme importancia que tienen los medios y sus pantallas –tradicionales y nuevas– en la sociedad como agentes y modelos de educación. A pesar de experiencias y proyectos puntuales, urge diseñar un programa que coordine e integre la alfabetización audiovisual y multimedial en el currículum escolar.
Culture and television. A controversial relation
Authors: Ruano-López Soledad
Published: March 2019

From the birth of the public television in Europe, media has been related with cultural and divulging objectives. Nevertheless, it is necessary to admit that the relation between television and culture have always been difficult or al least controversial. Until the eighties there seemed to exist a mutual respect among each other but since the loss of monopoly on the part of the public European chains the relation has been getting worse. Public television has got involved in drag by a crazy race for audience rates where programmes on or with cultural values have been progressively diminished.

Desde el nacimiento de la televisión en Europa, se le ha atribuido una función cultural y de difusión de valores, de conocimiento y de saber. Sin embargo, hay que reconocer que la relación entre televisión y cultura siempre ha sido difícil y polémica. Hasta los años ochenta parecía existir un mutuo respeto entre ambas, pero, desde la pérdida del monopolio por parte de las cadenas públicas europeas, la relación ha ido empeorando hasta alcanzar el rótulo de «mala». La televisión pública se ha dejado arrastrar por una loca carrera de índices de audiencia, en donde los programas de valores culturales, con valores culturales o sobre-valores culturales han ido menguando progresivamente.
Towards e-learning from free software. Moodle like a Learning Managament System (LMS) within reach of all
Authors: Llorente-Cejudo María-del-Carmen
Published: March 2019

Organizations opting for different Learning Management Systems (LMS) as tools for the development of formative actions through the Net are currently countless. The present paper has as its main objective to carry out an approach to free software and the different available LMS and –specially– the specific case of Moodle.

Innumerables son ya en la actualidad las organizaciones que están optando por diferentes entornos virtuales de enseñanza-aprendizaje (abreviado EVE/A) como herramientas para el desarrollo de acciones formativas a través de la Red. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo principal realizar una aproximación al software libre y a los diferentes EVE/A disponibles bajo esta concepción, y más concretamente, el caso específico de Moodle.
Gender construction and spanish fiction TV
Authors: Galán-Fajardo Elena
Published: March 2019

In the last years there has been an increase of gender studies, with the incorporation of women at academic world and as consecuence of a bigger social awareness. Even so, the analyses of this type, specially in communication, are not very usual. The object of this paper is to analyze gender construction and stereotypes in spanish fiction TV through two successful Spanish series, proposing a model of analyses that allows to recognize and to clasificate these representations.

En los últimos años se ha producido un incremento de los estudios de género, debido a la incorporación de la mujer al mundo académico y a la existencia de una mayor concienciación social. Aún así, los análisis de este tipo, ubicados en el ámbito de la comunicación, siguen siendo poco frecuentes. El objetivo principal de este artículo es estudiar la construcción de género y los estereotipos empleados en la ficción televisiva española a través de dos series de gran éxito, proponiendo un modelo de ficha de análisis que permita reconocer y categorizar estas representaciones.
Cultural Studies and film in Spain
Authors: Palacio-Arranz Manuel
Published: March 2019

This paper presents the use of the different methodologies in cultural studies by Spanish researchers and academics. These working methodologies are still peripheral in film studies in Spain, although the number of publications generically adhering to cultural studies viewpoints are increasing, above all those studies concerning film audience or gender and, to a lesser extent, those dealing with film reception, stereotype representation and more recently transnational studies.

Este trabajo presenta el uso de las metodologías de los estudios culturales por los docentes e investigadores españoles. Estas metodologías de trabajo todavía resultan periféricas en los estudios de cine en España; sin embargo, está creciendo el número de publicaciones genéricamente adscritas a planteamientos culturalistas; en especial,y lo han hecho los estudios sobre el público del cine y los de género, y en menor medida los de recepción fílmica, la representación de los estereotipos y recientemente los estudios transnacionales.
Effectiveness of Intrastromal Corneal Ring Implantation in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Keratoconus: A Systematic Review
Authors: Izquierdo Luis , Mannis Mark J. , Mejías Smith Josefina A. , Henriquez Maria A.
Published: March 2019

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the available evidence on the effectiveness of intrastromal corneal rings (ICRs) in the treatment of adults with keratoconus.

METHODS:

A systematic review of electronic databases was completed through July 30, 2017. All primary research articles in which adults with keratoconus were treated with ICRs were included. Two independent reviewers assessed methodological quality and classified the studies into high, low, or undefined risk of bias. The measured variables assessed were visual acuity, refraction, keratometry, ring type, and complications.

RESULTS:

The initial search yielded 442 scientific articles, 62 articles were read extensively, and 18 articles were assessed for eligibility and included for statistical analysis and quality assessment. A total of 1,325 eyes were analyzed, and the results were evaluated preoperatively and at 12 months of follow-up. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) improved 0.23 ± 0.28 logMAR and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) improved 0.06 ± 0.21 logMAR. Sphere improved 2.81 ± 1.54 diopters (D), cylinder improved 1.49 ± 0.83 D, and mean keratometry improved 3.41 ± 2.13 D within 12 months of follow-up. ICR implantation combined with corneal crosslinking improved UDVA, refraction, and keratometry to a greater degree than ICR implantation alone.

CONCLUSIONS:

The studies analyzed demonstrate refractive and visual improvement of patients treated with the ICR implantation technique. However, description of the methodological process necessary to evaluate the bias effectively is insufficient.

[
J Refract Surg
. 2019;35(3):191–200.]
Dynamic experimental analysis of a LiBr/H2O single effect absorption chiller with nominal capacity of 35 kW of cooling
Authors: Villa Alvaro Antonio Ochoa , Dutra José Carlos Charamba , Henríquez Jorge Recarte Henríquez , Santos Carlos Antonio Cabral do , Costa José Ângelo Peixoto da
Published: March 2019

This work aims to transient performance of chiller single effect absorption refrigeration using the LiBr/H2O pair with nominal capacity of 35 kW. The goal of this study is to verify the absorption chiller when subjected to thermal loads and it transiently responsive as a function of the temperatures of the chilled, hot and cold water of the system. An experimental methodology was established in a micro-CHP laboratory to simulate the dynamic operating conditions of the system considering the thermal load (chilled water), the activation source (hot water) and the heat dissipation circuit (cold water). The thermal load was simulated from a set of electrical resistors installed in a water heater and the activation of the chiller from recovery gas a microturbine 30 kW and through a compact heat exchanger, where water is heated and stored in a hot buffer tank. The absorption chiller heat dissipation system consists of the pump and cooling tower. The system responded appropriately to the thermal load imposed providing COP values in the transient regime of 0.55 to 0.70 the temperature conditions tested.
DEVELOPMENT OF FUZZY MODELS FOR ASPHALT PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE
Authors: Soncim Sérgio Pacífico , De Oliveira Igor Castro Sá , Santos Felipe Brandão
Published: March 2019

The objective of this paper was to develop fuzzy models for asphalt pavement performance. The fuzzy logic can convert linguistic or qualitative variables into quantitative values. This feature makes it possible to gather experts’ experience about the knowledge they have on factors that affect the pavement performance and its state condition. Forms developed in an organized way were applied for acquiring the knowledge from experts on pavement construction and maintenance. The variables pavement age, traffic, International Roughness Index (IRI) and Flexible Pavement Condition Index (FPCI) were associated with numerical scales and linguistic concepts such as new, old, light, heavy, good, fair, and poor. From the information obtained through the application of forms, variables were modeled with the aid of software InFuzzy and fuzzy models were developed for IRI and FPCI. For validating the model, a straight line adjustment was used to relate the predicted to the observed data. Also, the corresponding correlation coefficient (r) was calculated and residuals were analyzed. The developed models fitted to observed data and correlation coefficient r = 0.71 and 0.70, respectively.
Prioritization of product-service business model elements at aerospace industry using analytical hierarchy process
Authors: Salomon Maria Fernanda Barbato , Mello Carlos Henrique Pereira , Salgado Eduardo Gomes
Published: March 2019

The paper aims to propose a business model framework under a product-service approach in the aerospace industry based on the main elements identified in the literature. Through a Multi Criteria Decision Method - the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) - a set of elements was prioritized by nine specialists from the industry for establishing a fractional ownership business model in the civilian market of a Brazilian helicopter manufacturer. The results indicate ten elements for composing the business model framework, in which value proposition, customers and culture are part of it. The practical implication of this study indicates an opportunity to boost the integration of product and service in the aerospace industry, specially using AHP for business model construction. For future researches, others companies can be considered in the study. In addition to manufacturers, service firms or operators of helicopters can compose the specialists group. Besides, another Multi Criteria Decision Method can be applied aiming to do a comparative analysis of the results among the methods. The paper fulfills a gap about how business model is structured in a product-service integration context, especially in an industry originally considered as manufacturer.
METANÁLISE DA PREVALÊNCIA DE TOXOPLASMOSE EM GATOS E OVINOS NO BRASIL
Authors: Lugoch Gabriela
Published: March 2019

A toxoplasmose é uma potencial zoonose difundida mundialmente, causada pelo Toxoplasma gondii. Infecta naturalmente o homem e os animais, tendo os felídeos como hospedeiros definitivos. A toxoplasmose causa prejuízos à ovinocultura e indiretamente, à saúde pública. O objetivo da pesquisa foi e determinar a soroprevalência de toxoplasmose em gatos e ovinos no Brasil. Uma metanálise foi realizada dos artigos publicados sobre prevalência de anticorpos para toxoplasma em gatos e ovinos no Brasil, indexados nas bases de dados eletrônicas. O ano de publicação, o número total, número de positivos e negativos de animais, região geográfica e zona de residência dos animais foram tabulados. Observou-se soroprevalência de 35,9% para toxoplasmose em gatos no Brasil e em relação à faixa etária, verificou-se que gatos adultos têm 2,84 vezes mais chances de serem soropositivos do que jovens. A soroprevalência dos gatos provenientes da região Norte- nordeste-centro foi de 50,5% e de 29,9% na região Sul-sudeste. A soroprevalência encontrada em ovinos no Brasil foi de 33,83%, sendo que ovinos adultos apresentaram 2,34 vezes mais chance de serem soropositivos à toxoplasmose do que jovens.
RETROSPECTIVA SOBRE A SATISFAÇÃO DO USUÁRIO DA ASSISTÊNCIA HOSPITALAR CIRÚRGICA-VETERINÁRIA NO SERVIÇO PÚBLICO DE ENSINO SUPERIOR
Authors: Olsson Débora Cristina , Salles Cleucy Jauqeline , Chappuis Raquel
Published: March 2019

A satisfação do paciente é um indicador que pode auxiliar na avaliação da qualidade funcional da assistência hospitalar. Pesquisas têm sido desenvolvidas para entender a percepção do proprietário em relação aos cuidados pré e pós-operatórios oferecidos pelos discentes de cursos de medicina veterinária. Este artigo avalia a qualidade dos serviços públicos prestados pelas disciplinas de cirurgia veterinária do Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC) - Câmpus Concórdia, segundo as perspectivas dos tutores. A análise estatística descritiva das respostas dos usuários da assistência cirúrgica revelou predomínio dos escores 4 e 5 (100%), indicando alto nível de satisfação. Os escores 2 e 1, respectivamente, ruim e péssimo, não obtiveram pontuação, ao contrário do escore 3 (regular) que obteve dez pontos. Espera-se que o presente estudo possa contribuir com a discussão sobre a assistência cirúrgica do ensino superior de medicina veterinária realizada por acadêmicos. Concluiu-se que os serviços cirúrgicos realizados por discentes estão atendendo as expectativas dos tutores.
Collection of the Abstracts of the 2019Sp PMD: Translational Myology and Mobility Medicine
Authors: Carraro Ugo
Published: March 2019

The Interdepartmental Research Centre of Myology (CIR-Myo), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy and the AandC M-C Foundation for Translational Myology, Padova, Italy organized with the scientific support of Helmut Kern, Jonathan C. Jarvis, Viviana Moresi, Marco Narici, Feliciano Protasi, Marco Sandri and Ugo Carraro, the 2019SpringPaduaMuscleDays: Translational Myology and Mobility Medicine, an International Conference held March 28-30, 2019 in Euganei Hills and Padova (Italy). Presentations and discussions of the Three Physiology Lectures and of the seven Sessions (I: Spinal Cord Neuromodulation and h-bFES in SC; II: Muscle epigenetics in aging and myopathies; III: Experimental approaches in animal models; IV: Face and Voice Rejuvenation; V: Muscle Imaging; VI: Official Meeting of the EU Center of Active Aging; VII: Early Rehabilitation after knee and hip replacement) were at very high levels. This was true in the past and will be true in future events thanks to researchers and clinicians who were and are eager to attend the PaduaMuscleDays.
Vaccine Hesitancy: An Overview on Parents' Opinions about Vaccination and Possible Reasons of Vaccine Refusal
Authors: Facciolà Alessio , Visalli Giuseppa , Orlando Annalisa , Bertuccio Maria Paola , Spataro Pasquale , Squeri Raffaele , Picerno Isa , Pietro Angela Di
Published: March 2019

Background

Vaccine hesitancy has increased worldwide with a subsequent decreasing of vaccination rates and outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (i.e. measles, poliomyelitis and pertussis) in several developed countries, including Italy.

Design and Methods

We conducted a survey to investigate the attitudes of a parents’ sample about vaccinations by the distribution of questionnaires in six lower secondary schools of the Italian city of Messina.

Results

Regarding vaccinations carried out on children, the declared vaccination coverage rates ranged widely between good coverage percentages for some vaccinations (Measles-Mumps-Rubella, Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis), and very low coverage rates for others, especially for “new” vaccinations (HPV, meningococcal, pneumococcal). The vaccinations carried out correlated negatively with both parents’ age and their level of education. Moreover, a favourable parents’ opinion was strongly influenced by a favourable opinion of the physician, while an unfavourable parents’ opinion seemed conditioned by a direct or indirect knowledge of people harmed by vaccines. In addition, our data show that parents do not often know or partially know the real composition of the vaccines and the diseases prevented by vaccinations.

Conclusions

Data analysis shows that parents are, theoretically, favourable towards vaccinations but have little knowledge of such practices, sometimes not being unaware of the types of vaccines administrated to their children. Health education and communication of correct information are certainly the cornerstones to improve the situation and to fight the widespread and non-grounded fears about vaccines.
Care of Acute Conditions and Chronic Diseases in Canada and the United States: Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Escobar Keren M. , Murariu Dorian , Munro Sharon , Gorey Kevin M.
Published: March 2019

This study tested the hypothesis that socioeconomically vulnerable Canadians with diverse acute conditions or chronic diseases have health care access and survival advantages over their counterparts in the USA. A rapid systematic review retrieved 25 studies (34 independent cohorts) published between 2003 and 2018. They were synthesized with a streamlined meta-analysis. Very low-income Canadian patients were consistently and highly advantaged in terms of health care access and survival compared with their counterparts in the USA who lived in poverty and/or were uninsured or underinsured. In aggregate and controlling for specific conditions or diseases and typically 4 to 9 comorbid factors or biomarkers, Canadians’ chances of receiving better health care were estimated to be 36% greater than their American counterparts (RR=1.36, 95% CI 1.35-1.37). This estimate was significantly larger than that based on general patient or non-vulnerable population comparisons (RR=1.09, 95% CI 1.08-1.10). Contrary to prevalent political rhetoric, three studies observed that Americans experience more than twice the risk of long waits for breast or colon cancer care or of dying while they wait for an organ transplant (RR=2.36, 95% CI 2.09-2.66). These findings were replicated across externally valid national studies and more internally valid, metropolitan or provincial/state comparisons. Socioeconomically vulnerable Canadians are consistently and highly advantaged on health care access and outcomes compared to their American counterparts. Less vulnerable comparisons found more modest Canadian advantages. The Affordable Care Act ought to be fully supported including the expansion of Medicaid across all states. Canada's single payer system ought to be maintained and strengthened, but not through privatization.
Typification and application of the name Arctotis grandiflora Aiton (Asteraceae: Arctotideae)
Authors: McKenzie Robert J.
Published: March 2019

Background: Ongoing taxonomic studies in the African genus Arctotis (Asteraceae) necessitate periodic nomenclatural adjustments and corrections.Objectives: To evaluate the taxonomic status and application of the name Arctotis grandiflora Aiton.Methods: Type material and herbarium specimens were located and examined, relevant literature was consulted and wild populations were observed.Results: The type material of A. grandiflora Aiton comprises specimens of two taxa from independent gatherings. A lectotype is designated for A. grandiflora.Conclusion: The name A. grandiflora Aiton is a heterotypic synonym of Arctotis stoechadifolia P.J.Bergius. A revised synonymy for A. stoechadifolia is presented.
Torsion-freeness for fusion rings and tensor C*-categories
Authors: Arano Yuki , De Commer Kenny
Published: March 2019

Torsion-freeness for discrete quantum groups was introduced by R. Meyer in order to formulate a version of the Baum–Connes conjecture for discrete quantum groups. In this note, we introduce torsion-freeness for abstract fusion rings. We show that a discrete quantum group is torsion-free if its associated fusion ring is torsion-free. In the latter case, we say that the discrete quantum group is
strongly
torsion-free. As applications, we show that the discrete quantum group duals of the free unitary quantum groups are strongly torsion-free, and that torsion-freeness of discrete quantum groups is preserved under Cartesian and free products. We also discuss torsion-freeness in the more general setting of abstract rigid tensor C*-categories.
Analysis of political orientation and left-right party labelling in the European Parliament
Authors: Nahtigal Miha
Published: March 2019

This article explores the political parties in the 8th European Parliament on the basis of roll-call vote analysis. Besides the left-right divisions, we have also analysed the nationalist-globalist political cleavage. We have compared the resulting party positions with their left-right wing party labels. In addition, we have focused on inconsistencies and biased existing labels and the geopolitical interests connected with the current way of labelling. We have found out that the current way of left-right labelling privileges a globalist and liberal position, while some other political positions were not even represented. Finally, we have presented a new way of political labelling, which would also include a nationalist-globalist cleavage.
Sustainable planning of outdoor recreation in the Triglav National Park with emphasis on social carrying capacity
Authors: Mavri Renata
Published: March 2019

The article presents the aspects of sustainable planning of outdoor recreation in the protected areas with the emphasis on social carrying capacity. The starting points for the design of measures in the process of sustainable planning of outdoor recreation are presented and promote regular monitoring and directing of outdoor recreation in the protected areas in Slovenia and abroad, especially on the example of Triglav National Park. In the article we are trying to define which forms of outdoor recreation are from the local‘s and visitor‘s perspective recognised as sustainable.
Izbrana poglavja iz zgodovine selitev od začetkov do danes
Authors: Zupančič Jernej
Published: March 2019

Monografija je razdeljena na dva dela: globalni del mednarodnih selitev ter selitve iz slovenskega kulturnega prostora. V obeh delih sta avtorja uporabila zaporedni kronološki pristop z obravnavo najprej starejših in nato vse mlajših obdobij, vse do danes. Prikaz je sistematičen in zajema oris selitvenega dogajanja na vseh celinah, kolikor je mogoče rekonstruirati vedenje o selitvah v starejših obdobjih zaradi dokaj skromnih podatkov.
Zborovanje ameriškega združenja geografov 2018
Authors: Rogelj Boštjan
Published: March 2019

Letno zborovanje Ameriškega združenja geografov (ang. American Association of Geographers oz. AAG) je potekalo med 10. in 14. aprilom 2018 v New Orleansu. Udeležilo se ga je več kot 8.500 udeležencev iz 84 držav (iz Slovenije smo na njem aktivno sodelovali Milan Bufon, Peter Kumer, Mojca Ilc Klun in Boštjan Rogelj). Zborovanje AAG je že pred desetletjem preraslo ameriške okvire. V New Orleansu smo Neameričani predstavljali že skoraj tretjino vseh udeležencev, zaradi česar lahko trdimo, da gre za največje svetovno stanovsko zborovanje geografov. Zborovanje je v zadnjem desetletju postalo tako veliko, da ga lahko gosti le še peščica ameriških velemest.
The relationship between the Chinese ‘going out’ strategy and international trade
Authors: Abeliansky Ana Lucia , Martínez-Zarzoso Inmaculada
Published: March 2019

This study is the first to estimate a system of simultaneous gravity equations for Chinese exports, imports and foreign direct investment (FDI) using a sample of 167 countries over the period 2003–2012. The main results indicate that trade and outward FDI are complementary. In particular, the authors show that outward Chinese FDI is related to higher exports and imports and that China trades more with countries hosting Chinese FDI. Results are also robust to the use of instrumental variables. Therefore, Chinese investment seems to foster trade.
The effect of double taxation treaties and territorial tax systems on foreign direct investment: evidence for Spain
Authors: Castillo-Murciego Ángela , López-Laborda Julio
Published: March 2019

The paper evaluates the effect of Double Taxation Treaties (DTTs) on Spain’s inward and outward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the period 1993–2013. Estimates produce positive and statistically significant coefficients. However, there are some differences between the inbound and outbound samples, the type of DTT and the group of developed and developing FDI partner countries. Moreover, interpretation of results differs depending on the fixed or random effects estimation technique used. The paper also analyses the effect on FDI of the rules agreed in DTTs and applied by the investors’ residence country in order to correct international double taxation. The authors conclude that the tax saving derived from the application by Spain of the territorial system is positively related to investment from this country to abroad. However, the tax saving provided by the application by the partner countries of the territorial system does not have a significant effect on the investment of these countries into Spain.
Country-scale greenhouse gas budgets using shipborne measurements: a case study for the UK and Ireland
Authors: Helfter Carole , Mullinger Neil , Vieno Massimo , O'Doherty Simon , Ramonet Michel , Palmer Paul I. , Nemitz Eiko
Published: March 2019

Abstract. We present a mass balance approach to estimate the seasonal and annual
budgets of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) of the United
Kingdom (excluding Scotland) and the Republic of Ireland from concentration
measurements taken on a ferry along the east coast of the United Kingdom over
a 3-year period (2015–2017). We estimate the annual emissions of CH4 to
be 2.55±0.48 Tg, which is consistent with the combined 2.29 Tg
reported to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by the
individual countries. The net CO2 budget (i.e. including all
anthropogenic and biogenic sources and sinks of CO2) is estimated at
881.0±125.8 Tg, with a net biogenic contribution of 458.7 Tg (taken
as the difference between the estimated net emissions and the inventory
value,
which accounts for anthropogenic emissions only). The largest emissions for
both gases were observed in a broad latitudinal band (52.5–54∘ N), which coincides with densely populated areas. The
emissions of both gases were seasonal (maxima in winter and minima in
summer), strongly correlated with natural gas usage and, to a lesser extent,
also anti-correlated with mean air temperature. Methane emissions exhibited a
statistically significant anti-correlation with air temperature at the
seasonal timescale in the central region spanning 52.8–54.2∘ N, which hosts a relatively high density of waste treatment
facilities. Methane emissions from landfills have been shown to sometimes
increase with decreasing air temperature due to changes in the
CH4-oxidising potential of the topsoil, and we speculate that the waste
sector contributes significantly to the CH4 budget of this central
region. This study brings independent verification of the emission budgets
estimated using alternative products (e.g. mass balance budgets by aircraft
measurements, inverse modelling, inventorying) and offers an opportunity to
investigate the seasonality of these emissions, which is usually not possible.
Exploring 2016–2017 surface ozone pollution over China: source contributions and meteorological influences
Authors: Lu Xiao , Zhang Lin , Chen Youfan , Zhou Mi , Zheng Bo , Li Ke , Liu Yiming , Lin Jintai , Fu Tzung-May , Zhang Qiang
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Severe surface ozone pollution over major Chinese cities has become an emerging air quality concern, raising a new challenge for emission control measures in China. In this study, we explore the source contributions to surface daily maximum 8-h average (MDA8) ozone over China in 2016 and 2017, the two years with the highest surface ozone averaged over Chinese cities in record. We estimate the contributions of anthropogenic, background, and individual natural sources to surface ozone over China, using the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model at 0.25° × 0.3125° horizontal resolution with the most up-to-date Chinese anthropogenic emission inventory. Model results are evaluated with concurrent surface ozone measurements at 169 cities over China and show general good agreement. We find that background ozone (defined as ozone that would be presented in the absence of all Chinese anthropogenic emissions) accounts for 90 % (49.4 ppbv) of the national March–April mean surface MDA8 ozone over China and 80 % (44.5 ppbv) for May–August. It includes large contributions from natural sources (80 % in March–April and 72 % in May–August). Among them, biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emissions enhance MDA8 ozone by more than 15 ppbv in eastern China during July–August, while lightning NOx emissions and ozone transport from the stratosphere both lead to ozone enhancements of over 20 ppbv in western China during March–April. Over major Chinese city clusters, domestic anthropogenic sources account for about 30 % of the May–August mean surface MDA8 ozone, and reach 39–73 ppbv (38 %–69 %) for days with simulated MDA8 ozone > 100 ppbv in the Northern China Plain, Fenwei Plain, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta city clusters. These high ozone episodes are usually associated with high temperatures, which induce large BVOCs emissions and enhance ozone chemical production. Our results indicate that there would be no days with MDA8 ozone > 80 ppbv in these major Chinese cities in the absence of domestic anthropogenic emissions. We find that the 2017 ozone increases relative to 2016 are largely due to higher background ozone driven by hotter and dryer weather conditions, while changes in domestic anthropogenic emissions alone would have led to ozone decreases in 2017. Meteorological conditions in 2017 favor natural source contributions (particularly soil NOx and BVOCs ozone enhancements) and ozone chemical production, increase thermal decomposition of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), and further decrease ozone dry deposition velocity. More stringent emission control measures are thus required to offset the adverse effects of unfavorable meteorology such as high temperature on surface ozone air quality.
Effects of univariate and multivariate bias correction on hydrological impact projections in alpine catchments
Authors: Meyer Judith , Kohn Irene , Stahl Kerstin , Hakala Kirsti , Seibert Jan , Cannon Alex J.
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Alpine catchments show a high sensitivity to climate
variation as they include the elevation range of the snow line. Therefore,
the correct representation of climate variables and their interdependence is
crucial when describing or predicting hydrological processes. When using
climate model simulations in hydrological impact studies, forcing
meteorological data are usually downscaled and bias corrected, most often by
univariate approaches such as quantile mapping of individual variables,
neglecting the relationships that exist between climate variables. In this
study we test the hypothesis that the explicit consideration of the relation
between air temperature and precipitation will affect hydrological impact
modelling in a snow-dominated mountain environment. Glacio-hydrological
simulations were performed for two partly glacierized alpine catchments
using a recently developed multivariate bias correction method to
post-process EURO-CORDEX regional climate model outputs between 1976 and
2099. These simulations were compared to those obtained by using the common
univariate quantile mapping for bias correction. As both methods correct
each climate variable's distribution in the same way, the marginal
distributions of the individual variables show no differences. Yet,
regarding the interdependence of precipitation and air temperature, clear
differences are notable in the studied catchments. Simultaneous correction
based on the multivariate approach led to more precipitation below air
temperatures of 0 ∘C and therefore more simulated snowfall than
with the data of the univariate approach. This difference translated to
considerable consequences for the hydrological responses of the catchments.
The multivariate bias-correction-forced simulations showed distinctly
different results for projected snow cover characteristics, snowmelt-driven
streamflow components, and expected glacier disappearance dates. In all
aspects – the fraction of precipitation above and below 0 ∘C,
the simulated snow water equivalents, glacier volumes, and the streamflow
regime – simulations resulting from the multivariate-corrected data
corresponded better with reference data than the results of univariate bias
correction. Differences in simulated total streamflow due to the different
bias correction approaches may be considered negligible given the generally
large spread of the projections, but systematic differences in the
seasonally delayed streamflow components from snowmelt in particular will
matter from a planning perspective. While this study does not allow
conclusive evidence that multivariate bias correction approaches are
generally preferable, it clearly demonstrates that incorporating or ignoring
inter-variable relationships between air temperature and precipitation data
can impact the conclusions drawn in hydrological climate change impact
studies in snow-dominated environments.