bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electropolymerized MIP with MWCNTs on Stir Bar Using Multivariate Optimization for Tetradifon Detection in Date
Authors: Rohani Fatemeh Ganjeizadeh , Ansari Mehdi
Published: September 2019

Background:

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) adjunct to molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) have advantages of the large surface area of nanoparticles and selectivity of MIPs for selective extraction of tetradifon as a widely used pesticide in date palm.

Objectives:

The main aims were the use of experimental design, electrochemical synthesis and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) to develop a simple, reliable and precise pesticide residue analysis method as an important aspect of food and drug quality control for the determination of tetradifon in date palms.

Methods:

An MIP in the presence of MWCNT was synthesized by cyclic voltammetric technique on a steel rod to produce a composite of MIP-MWCNTs for stir bar extraction of tetradifon residue in date samples. The experimental design was used to optimize MIPMWCNT composite synthesis through the screening of eight variables. The composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tetradifon was determined in extracted samples by UHPLC under optimum conditions.

Results:

A very thin film was made by MIP-MWCNT coated on a steel rod which was repeatable and had good adhesion and persistence. The detection limit (LOD) and the quantification limit (LOQ) of the method were measured as 16 and 49 ng/ml, respectively. Average recovery of tetradifon at the two spiked levels was observed to be as low as 86.5% to 90.7% (RSD from 0.79% to 1.04%).

Conclusion:

The low cost, high selectivity, good reproducibility, acceptable intra and inter day precision and accuracy developed method were successfully applied to determine tetradifon residue in date samples purchased from a local market.
Структура призондового слоя в газоразрядной плазме при произвольной ориентации плоского зонда относительно электрического поля в плазме
Authors: Мурильо O. , Мустафаев А.С. , Сухомлинов В.С.
Published: September 2019

AbstractWe investigate the structure of the wall sheath of a gas discharge near a flat surface at a negative potential for high mean electron energy. It is shown that in the conditions where the mean energy of ions in the plasma is much lower than the mean electron energy, the parameters of the wall sheath weakly depend on the mutual orientation of the normal to the surface and the electric field in the plasma for an arbitrary ratio of the Debye radius to the ion mean free path relative to the resonant charge exchange process. It is found that for inert gases (He, Ar) for ratio E / P of the electric field to pressure exceeding 10 V/(cm Torr) in the plasma, the disregard of ionization in the perturbed wall sheath can lead to substantial errors in the calculation of its parameters. It is shown that the ionization leads to an increase in the electric field in the wall sheath and, as a consequence, to an increase in the mean velocity of ions at the boundary between the quasi-neutral presheath and the part of the perturbed wall sheath in which quasi-neutrality is substantially violated. The parameters of the wall sheath where quasi-neutrality is significantly violated depend on the ionization rate much less strongly than the corresponding parameters of the quasi-neutral presheath. We have determined the relation for concentration of charged particles in the unperturbed plasma from the ion saturation current considering the actual ion energy distribution function in the plasma as well as ionization in the presheath and the part of the perturbed wall sheath in which quasi-neutrality is violated significantly.
Use of Synchronous Digital Health Technologies for the Care of Children With Special Health Care Needs and Their Families: Scoping Review
Authors: Bird Marissa , Li Lin , Ouellette Carley , Hopkins Kylie , McGillion Michael H , Carter Nancy
Published: September 2019

Background

Use of synchronous digital health technologies for care delivery to children with special health care needs (having a
chronic physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional condition in combination with high resource use) and their families at home has shown promise for improving outcomes and increasing access to care for this medically fragile and resource-intensive population. However, a comprehensive description of the various models of synchronous home digital health interventions does not exist, nor has the impact of such interventions been summarized to date.

Objective

We aim to describe the various models of synchronous home digital health that have been used in pediatric populations with special health care needs, their outcomes, and implementation barriers.

Methods

A systematic scoping review of the literature was conducted, guided by the Arksey and O’Malley Scoping Review Framework. MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases were searched from inception to June 2018, and the reference lists of the included systematic reviews and high-impact journals were hand-searched.

Results

A total of 38 articles were included in this review. Interventional articles are described as feasibility studies, studies that aim to provide direct care to children with special health care needs, and studies that aim to support family members to deliver care to children with special health care needs. End-user involvement in the design and implementation of studies is evaluated using a human-centered design framework, and factors affecting the implementation of digital health programs are discussed in relation to technological, human, and systems factors.

Conclusions

The use of digital health to care for children with special health care needs presents an opportunity to leverage the capacity of technology to connect patients and their families to much-needed care from expert health care providers while avoiding the expenses and potential harms of the hospital-based care system. Strategies to scale and spread pilot studies, such as involving end users in the co-design techniques, are needed to optimize digital health programs for children with special health care needs.
Predicting Inpatient Aggression in Forensic Services Using Remote Monitoring Technology: Qualitative Study of Staff Perspectives
Authors: Greer Ben , Newbery Katie , Cella Matteo , Wykes Til
Published: September 2019

Background

Monitoring risk of imminent aggression in inpatient forensic mental health services could be supported by passive remote monitoring technology, but staff attitudes toward the relevance and likelihood of engagement with this technology are unknown.

Objective

This study aimed to explore staff views, specifically potential benefits and implementation barriers, on using this technology for monitoring risk of inpatient aggression.

Methods

We conducted semistructured focus groups with nurses in an inpatient forensic mental health service. We used thematic analysis with two independent raters to identify themes and subthemes related to staff attitudes toward passive remote monitoring. We subsequently checked with members to ensure the validity of the themes identified by the raters.

Results

From January to March 2019, a total of 25 nurses took part in five focus groups. We identified five main themes, one of which concerned the potential benefits that passive remote monitoring could provide for monitoring risk of aggression. Staff suggested it could provide an early warning of impending aggression and enable support to be provided earlier. The remaining themes concerned implementation barriers, including risks to the users’ physical and mental well-being; data security concerns and potential access by third parties; the negative impact of a constant stream of real-time data on staff workload; and design characteristics and user awareness of the benefits of passive remote monitoring.

Conclusions

Passive remote monitoring technology could support existing methods of monitoring inpatient aggression risk, but multiple barriers to implementation exist. Empirical research is required to investigate whether these potential benefits can be realized, and to identify ways of addressing these barriers to ensure acceptability and user engagement.
The Swedish version of eHEALS: A Prospective Psychometric Evaluation Study (Preprint)
Authors: Wångdahl Josefin , Jaensson Maria , Dahlberg Karuna , Nilsson Ulrica
Published: September 2019

BACKGROUND

Electronic health is an important factor that influences the use and receipt of benefits from web-based health resources. Consequently, the concept of eHealth literacy has emerged and in 2006 Norman and Skinner developed an 8-item self-report eHealth literacy scale to measure these skills: the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). However, the eHEALS has not been tested for validity in the general Swedish population.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to translate and adapt the eHEALS into a Swedish version and to evaluate its psychometric properties.

METHODS

Prospective psychometric evaluation study including 323 participants equally distributed between sex and with a mean age of 49 years.

RESULTS

There were some difficulties translating the English concept Health resources. This resulted in this concept being translated as Health information, i.e. Hälsoinformation in Swedish. The eHEALS total score was 29.3 (SD 6.2), Cronbach’s alpha 0.94, Spearman-Brown coefficient 0.96 and with a high responsiveness of 94.6%. All a priori hypotheses were confirmed, supporting convergent validity. The test-retest reliability indicated an almost perfect agreement, 0.86 (p< 0.001). An exploratory factor analysis found one component explaining 69% of the total variance. No floor or ceiling effect was noted.

CONCLUSIONS

The Swedish version of eHEALS was assessed as being unidimensional and the internal consistency of the instrument high, making the reliability adequate. However, there are some linguistic issues relating to the concept of Health resources.
The Last Mile: Where Artificial Intelligence Meets Reality (Preprint)
Authors: Coiera Enrico
Published: September 2019

UNSTRUCTURED

Although much effort is focused on improving the technical performance of artificial intelligence, there are compelling reasons to focus more on the implementation of this technology class to solve real-world applications. In this “last mile” of implementation lie many complex challenges that may make technically high-performing systems perform poorly. Instead of viewing artificial intelligence development as a linear one of algorithm development through to eventual deployment, there are strong reasons to take a more agile approach, iteratively developing and testing artificial intelligence within the context in which it finally will be used.
Self-Reported Incident Hypertension and Long-Term Kidney Function in Living Kidney Donors Compared with Healthy Nondonors
Authors: Holscher Courtenay M. , Haugen Christine E. , Jackson Kyle R. , Garonzik Wang Jacqueline M. , Waldram Madeleine M. , Bae Sunjae , Locke Jayme E. , Reed Rhiannon D. , Lentine Krista L. , Gupta Gaurav , Weir Matthew R. , Friedewald John J. , Verbesey Jennifer , Cooper Matthew , Segev Dorry L. , Massie Allan B.
Published: September 2019

Background and objectives

The risk of hypertension attributable to living kidney donation remains unknown as does the effect of developing postdonation hypertension on subsequent eGFR. We sought to understand the association between living kidney donation, hypertension, and long-term eGFR by comparing donors with a cohort of healthy nondonors.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

We compared 1295 living kidney donors with median 6 years of follow-up with a weighted cohort of 8233 healthy nondonors. We quantified the risk of self-reported hypertension using a parametric survival model. We examined the association of hypertension with yearly change in eGFR using multilevel linear regression and clustering by participant, with an interaction term for race.

Results

Kidney donation was independently associated with a 19% higher risk of hypertension (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.41; P=0.04); this association did not vary by race (interaction P=0.60). For white and black nondonors, there was a mean decline in eGFR (−0.4 and −0.3 ml/min per year, respectively) that steepened after incident hypertension (−0.8 and −0.9 ml/min per year, respectively; both P<0.001). For white and black kidney donors, there was a mean increase in eGFR after donation (+0.4 and +0.6 ml/min per year, respectively) that plateaued after incident hypertension (0 and −0.2 ml/min per year, respectively; P=0.07 and P=0.01, respectively, after hypertension).

Conclusions

Kidney donors are at higher risk of hypertension than similar healthy nondonors, regardless of race. Donors who developed hypertension had a plateau in the usual postdonation increase of eGFR.
The Effect of Demographic Character on the Intention of Muslim Consumer Behavior to Shop at Neighbor Store
Authors: Jatiningrum Wandhansari Sekar , Astuti Amalia Yuli
Published: September 2019

This study aims to find out factors related to the behavioral intention of Muslim consumers to shop in neighborhood stores. The Islamic leaders urged the Muslim community to do the social movement to buy for neighborhoods. Its movement is as one form of spirit 212. Spirit of the actions of Muslims in Indonesia in December 2016 through prayer and prayer together to strengthen the kinship of Muslims. The behavioral intention of Muslim consumers to shop at a neighborhood store in Yogyakarta is thought to be influenced by attitude, subjective norms, behavioral control, religiousness, and affective commitment to be affiliated with spirit. Consumers have the characteristics of adhering to Islamic principles. Demographic characters are also considered to influence consumer preferences for each factor. In the descriptive analysis, the average respondent's answer to religious factors has the highest score than other factors.  In the independent t-tests and ANOVA, the average responses of answers on gender significantly different on education, age, occupation, and income.
EFFECT OF PEGYLATED EDGE ACTIVATOR ON SPAN 60 BASED- NANOVESICLES: COMPARISON BETWEEN MYRJ 52 AND MYRJ 59
Authors: Elsaied Elsaied H. , Dawaba Hamdy M , Ibrahim El Sherbini A , Afouna Mohsen I
Published: September 2019

In recent years, Span 60 based nanovesicles have been the object of growing scientific attention as an alternative potential drug delivery system to conventional liposomes. Surface modification of nanovesicles can adjust the drug release rate and the affinity for the target site. The aim of present work was firstly to study the effects of different PEGylated edge activator (Myrj 52 and Myrj 59) on Span 60 based nanovesicles. Nanovesicles were prepared using Span 60 alone or in combination with Myrj 52 (polyethylene glycol 2000 monostearate) or Myrj 59 (polyethylene glycol 4400 monostearate) by employing the ethanol injection method. Myrj 52and Myrj 59 are hydrophilic nonionic surfactants were used to modify the surface of the developed vesicles. Dynamic light scattering was used to determine the size, zeta potential and polydispersity index of the nanovesicles formulation. The vesicles were also characterized for entrapment efficiency and in vitro release. In current work, the modified nanovesicles size (ranging from 54.32 to 141.7 nm), zeta potential (ranging from -5.67 to -27.1 mV) and polydispersity index (ranging from0.248 to 0.531) indicated that the surface modified nanovesicles vesicles are a homogenous and mono-disperse nanovesicles dispersions. The non-modified nanovesicles are showed higher particles size (>2 times) compared to modified nanovesicles. The modified nanovesicles were showed entrapment efficiency ranging from 36.42 to 78.13 %. All the modified nanovesicles showed accepted in vitro release of TN from nanovesicles (>70% released after 8 h), followed Higuchi models as drug release mechanism. In conclusion, these surface modified nanovesicles could be used as a potential drug carrier for a variety of drugs.
IN-VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF LACTOBACILLI METABOLITES LOADED HYDROGEL FORMULATIONS AGAINST PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA
Authors: Gurpınar Suna Sibel , Devrim Burcu , Eryılmaz Mujde
Published: September 2019

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that may cause serious infections, ranging from localized skin infections to life-threatening systemic diseases. It is one of the resistant bacteria which lead to failure in the treatment. New treatment strategies are urgently needed for the treatment of infections caused by resistant bacteria. Researchers are interested in Lactobacillus species because of their antimicrobial effective metabolites. The aim of this study was comparing the antibacterial activity of lactobacilli metabolites loaded chitosan and Pluronic F127 hydrogel formulations. Metabolites loaded hydrogel formulations were prepared by adding 20 µl of supernatant into the polymer solutions. The antimicrobial activities of two hydrogel formulations were investigated against P. aeruginosa using Agar Spot Method. Metabolites loaded chitosan hydrogel formulations were found to be effective against P. aeruginosa. No antibacterial activity was observed for metabolites loaded Pluronic F127 hydrogel formulations. When we compare these two hydrogel formulations, we observed that hydrogel formulation prepared by using chitosan released effective metabolites but Pluronic F127 hydrogel formulation couldn’t release antibacterial effective metabolites. The antibacterial effect of metabolites loaded chitosan hydrogel formulation suggests that this formulation could be used as an alternative treatment option in P. aeruginosa skin infections. However, further investigations are needed to develop a pharmaceutical product.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS OF FOUR VARIETIES OF LIPPIA MULTIFLORA IN BENIN
Authors: Clément GANDONOU Dossa , Bouraïma BAMBOLA , Habib TOUKOUROU , Fernand GBAGUIDI Ahokannou , Christian DANSOU , Bonaventure AWEDE , Anatole LALEYE , Hyacinthe AHISSOU
Published: September 2019

Present study involves the study of the chemical composition of the essential oils extracted from the leaves by gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry of Lippia multiflora harvested in the regions of Kétou, Savalou, Bohicon and Mono and tested by the well diffusion method against pathogenic microorganisms. The essential oils studied are terpene compounds, aromatic compounds, aliphatic compounds and other natural substances. The inhibition zone diameters determined allowed us to evaluate their degree of germ sensitivity of the strains tested. Essential oils extracted from Lippia multiflora harvested in these areas have the most pronounced antimicrobial activity. In total, the essential oils tested have different and specifically a degree of sensitivity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Proteus mirabilis A24974, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa except that harvested in the Savalou who does not have no degree of sensitivity on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This work paves the way for food preservation with extracted natural substances and also the formulation of natural antimicrobials for this fact.
FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF COLON TARGETED MATRIX TABLETS CONTAINING EXTRACT OF SOLENOSTEMMA ARGEL (HARGEL)
Authors: Maad Abdullah Hameed , Ali Shayoub Mohammed El-Hassan , Elnima Elamin Ibrahim , Osman Zuheir , F. Magbool Fatehalrahman
Published: September 2019

The objective of the present study is to formulate colon targeted matrix tablets containing Solenostemma argel extract using guar gum alone or in combination with either HPMC K15M, with Eudragit S100, or with both them. The Hargel colon targeted matrix tablets were prepared by wet granulation method. The prepared matrix tablets were evaluated for the weight variation, hardness, friability, and in-vitro drug release study in three different media. The formulations showed compliance with pharmacopial standards except that containing guar gum alone. There was no interaction between drug, polymer and other excipients. It was confirmed by FTIR studies. Among the formulations, GHE2 (i.e. containing triple polymer mixture) showed good results in release retardation and other physicochemical properties of matrix tablets when compare to other formulations. The optimum formulation (GHE2) was stable when it was stored at 450/75% RH for 3 months. The formulation GHE2 was considered the most suitable formula for targeted the colon.
Cena a gotowość do zapłaty za określone produkty ekologiczne na przykładzie mieszkańców województwa lubuskiego
Authors: Kułyk Piotr , Michałowska Mariola
Published: September 2019

Rozwój rynku żywności ekologicznej nastąpił w wyniku m.in. zwiększającej się świadomości konsumentów na temat zdrowego odżywiania, troski o swoich najbliższych, a także rozprzestrzeniania się informacji o przekroczeniach dotyczących poziomu pestycydów w żywności, norm dioksyn w mięsie i wielu innych toksycznych związków chemicznych. Na uwagę zasługuje również zwiększająca się dostępność żywności ekologicznej. Coraz większa liczba sklepów ma w swojej ofercie asortymentowej żywność pochodzącą z upraw i hodowli ekologicznych, co w efekcie wpływa na zwiększenie popytu na ten rodzaj żywności. Zachowania konsumenta dotyczące produktów ekologicznych są determinowane nie tylko zwiększającą się świadomością ekologiczną, ale zależą od wielu czynników, wśród których istotną rolę odgrywają czynniki ekonomiczne. Poznanie uwarunkowań zakupu ekoproduktów ma kluczowe znaczenie w rozwoju rynku żywności ekologicznej. Celem niniejszego opracowania jest, po pierwsze, zidentyﬁkowanie czynników determinujących zachowania konsumentów na rynku produktów ekologicznych, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem ekonomicznych. Po drugie, ustalenie zależności między poziomem przeciętnego miesięcznego dochodu na osobę a liczbą osób w gospodarstwie domowym. Niewątpliwie wyższe ceny produktów ekologicznych w porównaniu z ich odpowiednikami konwencjonalnymi oraz niskie dochody konsumentów ograniczają ich nabywanie. Artykuł zawiera wyniki przeprowadzonego badania ankietowego wśród respondentów w województwie lubuskim. Wyniki badania wskazują, że gotowość do zapłaty wyższej ceny wynika nie tylko z dostrzegalnej jakości produktów, walorów smakowych, składu produktu, stylu życia, czy też walorów zapachowych, ale także z dbałości o stan środowiska naturalnego oraz zdrowie swoje i swoich najbliższych.
Przemiany i uwarunkowania wydajności pracy w rolnictwie Unii Europejskiej w latach 2005-2016
Authors: Gołaś Zbigniew
Published: September 2019

Celem pracy było przedstawienie przemian wydajności pracy w rolnictwie Unii Europejskiej (UE) w latach 2005-2016 oraz propozycji metodycznej dekompozycji wskaźnika wydajności pracy w rolnictwie. W zaproponowanych trzech modelach dekompozycji wydajności pracy uwzględniono siedem czynników (wskaźników), tj. produktywność nakładów, produktywność ziemi, wskaźnik wartości dodanej, opodatkowanie produkcji, dopłaty do produkcji, uzbrojenie zasobów pracy w ziemię oraz poziom intensywności produkcji rolniczej. Ponadto, na podstawie metody deterministycznej dokonano oceny zmian wydajności pracy w rolnictwie UE oraz w Polsce. Badania wykazały, że w latach 2005-2016 wydajność pracy mierzona wartością dodaną brutto zwiększała się w UE-28 średniorocznie o 2,13%, w UE-15 tylko 0,98%, a w UE-13 znacznie szybciej, tj. o 3,45%. Oznacza to, że w rolnictwie UE zachodzą procesy konwergencji wydajności pracy. W świetle analizy deterministycznej głównymi czynnikami wzrostu wydajności pracy w rolnictwie UE-28 i w Polsce były wzrost intensywności produkcji oraz wzrost uzbrojenia pracy w zasoby ziemi. Korzystny kierunek przemian wydajności pracy osłabiała malejąca efektywność wytwarzania mierzona produktywnością nakładów oraz udziałem wartości dodanej w przychodach.
Suburbanizacja strefy podmiejskiej Lublina
Authors: Miczyńska-Kowalska Maria
Published: September 2019

W artykule podjęto problematykę dotyczącą suburbanizacji strefy podmiejskiej na przykładzie gmin przyległych do miasta Lublin: Głuska, Jastkowa, Konopnicy, Niedrzwicy Dużej, Niemiec oraz Wólki. Celem badań było wskazanie specyfiki procesu suburbanizacji i zmian w latach 1995-2017 w strefie podmiejskiej, na przykładzie wymienionych gmin. W opracowaniu uwzględniono wymiar demograficzny i ekonomiczny zmian. Oceny procesu suburbanizacji strefy podmiejskiej Lublina dokonano na podstawie liczby ludności w gminach, zmian w poziomie migracji z miast do gmin ościennych Lublina, liczby osób prowadzących działalność gospodarczą, liczby podmiotów gospodarczych funkcjonujących na terenie gminy, struktury zatrudnienia i liczby mieszkań. W opracowaniu wykorzystano literaturę przedmiotu oraz dostępne statystyki Banku Danych Lokalnych GUS.
Effect of cold rolling and annealing temperature to the characteristics of α + β' phases in Cu-29.5Zn-2.5Al alloy produced by gravity casting
Authors: Angela I. , Basori I. , Sofyan B.T.
Published: September 2019

Al-brass alloys (Cu29.5Zn2.5Al wt. %) were produced by gravity casting and homogenized at 800?C for 2 h, resulting in a binary phase morphology identified as cubic ? and martensitic ?? phases through X-ray diffraction (XRD). Samples were then subsequently cold rolled and annealed at 150, 300, 400, and 600?C for 30 minutes. Visible traces of slip, intersecting slip bands, and shear bands were observed in microstructure images of the samples after each progressive deformation stage. Deformation-induced martensites were present after 20 % cold rolling. Higher thickness reduction resulted in simultaneous strain hardening of the phases. Low temperature annealing slightly increased microhardness, of both ? and ??, due to the formation of precipitates. SEM-EDX analysis showed that no solute segregation was found in annealed samples. Annealing at higher temperature resulted in conventional softening. Recrystallized equiaxed ?? phase grains were visible after annealing at 600?C.
Ab initio and CALPHAD-type thermodynamic investigation of the Ti-Al-Zr system
Authors: Deng Z.-X. , Zhao D.-P. , Huang Y.-Y. , Chen L.-L. , Zou H. , Jiang Y. , Chang K.
Published: September 2019

Ti?Al based alloys have been widely used in the aeronautics and aerospace. Adding alloying element Zr can significantly improve their high-temperature endurance and corrosion resistance. To investigate the influence of the addition of element Zr on the properties of the Ti?Al system, ab initio calculations and the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) method were used to evaluate the Ti?Al?Zr ternary system. Ab initio calculations were carried out to calculate the formation enthalpies of intermetallic compounds and end-members. CALPHAD approach was employed to optimize the thermodynamic parameters based on experiments. The experimental data of phase equilibria at 1073, 1273, 1473, and 1573 K, as well as a vertical section of the Ti3Al?Ti + 5 wt.% Zr were used to assess this system. The thermodynamic parameters of the binary Ti?Al, Al?Zr and Ti?Zr systems were acquired from recent assessments, and the ternary ones were evaluated in the present work. The Ti?Al?Zr ternary dataset has been established and the calculated results are in close agreement with the experimental data on both thermodynamics and phase equilibria.
Detection of alpha-1 antitrypsin gene mutations by polymerase chain reaction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Stojcevic-Maletic Jelena , Baculov Katarina , Sekerus Vanesa , Vucinic Natasa , Milanovic Borko , Barjaktarovic Iva
Published: September 2019

Introduction. The alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is the best described
genetic cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The study of the
alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, as the most important genetic risk factor
for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is an important step in
developing a strategy for the prevention and treatment of this disease. The
aim of the study was detection of homozygous and heterozygous deficient gene
alleles (protease inhibitor Z and protease inhibitor S) for alpha-1
antitrypsin in the group of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease with the predominance of lung emphysema, as well as determination of
a positive correlation between the serum levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin and
the corresponding alpha-1 antitrypsin genotype. Material and Methods. The
study included 90 patients, mutually unrelated individuals, hospitalized due
to lung emphysema. The control group included 10 subjects, with no clinical
signs of lung emphysema, but with a family history of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. We attempted to identify the most common deficient
alleles (protease inhibitor Z and protease inhibitor S) and the
concentration of alpha-1 antitrypsin in the serum of the examinees. The
polymorphism between the two allelic forms, protease inhibitor Z and
protease inhibitor S, was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Results. Protease inhibitor MM genotype alpha-1 antitrypsin was present in
all 90 patients with the diagnosis of pulmonary emphysema, and the serum
levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin were within the range of reference values. In
the control group, there were two cases with mutated protease inhibitor MZ
genotype, and in these 2 subjects the serum level of alpha-1 antitrypsin was
at the lower limit of reference values. Conclusion. In patients diagnosed
with lung emphysema, protease inhibitor MM genotype of alpha-1 antitrypsin
and normal serum alpha-1 antitrypsin levels, the genetically- determined
deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin is not responsible for the development of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Debt Structure and Conditional Conservatism
Authors: Lee Hye Seung (Grace) , Steele Logan B.
Published: September 2019

We investigate whether characteristics of firms' debt structure, beyond leverage and debt covenants, are associated with predictable variation in conditional conservatism. The contracting theory of conservatism holds that conditional conservatism is an efficient mechanism employed by an organization to address agency conflict arising from contracts with various parties. For firms with contracts that are associated with more agency conflict, the potential benefit of a conservative reporting strategy should increase. We examine the following debt contract characteristics: (1) convertibility, (2) securitization, (3) seniority, and (4) placement. We find that debt types thought to be associated with a downward shift in agency conflict (convertible, secured, senior, and private debt) are associated with less conservative reporting. Our evidence supports contracting theory as being descriptive of the link between debt and conservatism. Also, our evidence corroborates the assertion that debt contract modifications do not fully resolve lenders' demands for conservative reporting.

JEL Classifications: M41; D21; D82; G14.
Enerji Yoksulluğu Konusundaki Literatüre Genel Bakış
Authors: EMRE Tamer , İZGEÇ Muhammed Mustafa , SÖZEN Adnan
Published: September 2019

Petrol krizi ile başlayıp 2008 krizi ile devam eden
küresel duraklama dönemlerinde özellikle gelişmiş devletlerde ödeme koşulları
nedeniyle yeterli şekilde enerji hizmetlerini kullanama kaynaklı terimler
hakkında yapılan çalışmalar oldukça fazladır. Dünyada enerji yoksulluğu
konusundaki çalışmaları derleme amacı güden bu çalışmada kronolojik sıra ile
akademik yayınlar, düzenlemeler ve kurumsal raporların yaklaşımlarını özetleyen
çalışmanın son bölümünde ulaşılan güncel bilgi ve ulusal karşılık olarak önerilen
kelimeler görülebilecektir.
Türkiye’de Ömrünü Tamamlamış Lastiklerin Yönetiminde En Uygun Bertaraf Seçeneğinin PROMETHEE Ve Bulanık PROMETHEE Yöntemi ile Belirlenmesi
Authors: DURNA Elif , KOZ Goncagül , GENÇ Nevim
Published: September 2019

Sürdürülebilir
bir atık yönetim yaklaşımının ekonomik, sosyal ve çevresel unsurların tümüne
hizmet edebilmesi gerekir. Bu çalışmada atık lastiklerin yönetiminde direkt
geri dönüşüm, piroliz ve alternatif yakıt olarak değerlendirme alternatifleri
değerlendirilmiştir. Sayılan bu alternatif metotlardan Türkiye için en uygun
yöntem, çok kriterli karar verme süreci olan PROMETHEE (preference ranking
organization method for enrichment evaluations) ve bulanık PROMETHEE yöntemi ile
belirlenmiştir. En uygun alternatifin belirlenmesi için belirlenen 4 karar
vericinin alternatif yöntemleri, çevresel etki, işletme riski, kurulum
maliyeti, işletme maliyeti, elde edilen ürün çeşitliliği ve Türkiye’de
uygulanabilirlik açısından değerlendirilmeleri istenmiştir. Karar vericilerin
bu değerlendirme kriterlerine verdikleri cevaplar 5 noktalı karar ölçeği ve
bulanık sayılar ile ifade edildikten sonra Visual PROMETHEE yazılımı ile
çözümlenmiştir. Sonuçlara göre PROMETHEE ve bulanık PROMETHEE çözümlemeleri
PROMETHEE I ve II analizleri dikkate alındığında alternatiflerin geri
dönüşüm>alternatif yakıt olarak kullanım>piroliz şeklinde aynı tercih
sıralamaları vermişlerdir, ancak PROMETHEE Rainbow analizinde alternatiflere
etki eden pozitif ve negatif kriterlerde farklılıklar göstermiştir. Dilsel
ifadelerin bulanık PROMETHEE ile daha hassas ifade edildiği düşünüldüğünden
yukarıdaki analizlerine ek olarak GAIA görsel analizi ve GAIA web analizi
gerçekleştirilmiştir. GAIA analizi ile, (i) geri dönüşüm alternatifinin
çevresel etkiler, işletme riski, Türkiye'deki uygulanabilirliği ve işletme
maliyeti açısından, (ii) piroliz alternatifinin ürün çeşitliliği açısından,
(iii) alternatif yakıt olarak kullanma alternatifinin kurulum maliyeti
açısından uygun olacağı belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak en uygun alternatifinin
geri dönüşüm alternatifi olduğu ve bu alternatifinin tercih edilebilirliğinde
sadece kurulum maliyeti kriterinin negatif yönde etki ettiği belirlenmiştir.
IMPACT OF ECO-BASED INNOVATIONS ON THE EFFICIENCY OF CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Authors: Sidoine Goli Yao , Jianmu Ye , Yongling Ye
Published: September 2019

The ultimate purpose of Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) is to prevent harmful influence of business activities on the environment. Each company should be obligated to adhere to it since environmental pollution is a serious threat for the future of mankind. Based on this urgent need, ecological innovation appeared. It purports to make a transition from a harmful business to a more accountable one. Hence, the contribution aims at studying how different, most developing countries, have been approaching and practicing CER to propose a more practical and general framework strategy with a qualitative methodology encompassing common accepted steps to drive improvements in the efficiency of CER and Eco-Innovation. Such a framework focuses on innovation as a key to business success aligned with CER and it is based on previous eco-based innovations in such a context. Necessary data will be collected by a survey questionnaire about several case studies.
Effect of Compensation, Training and Development and Manager Support on Employee Commitment: The moderating effect of Co-worker Support
Authors: Ahmad Ashafaq , Kura Kabiru Maitama , Bibi Palwasha , Khalid Nadeem , Jaaffar Abdul rahman
Published: September 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of compensation, training and development and manager support on commitment level of hotel employees and the moderating role of co-worker support in the service context. The study used a cross-sectional and quantitative mail survey approach. Hotel employees in Malaysia were surveyed, and Partial Least Squares Method, Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) algorithm and bootstrap techniques were used to measure the relationships between compensation, training and development, manager support and employee commitment and the moderating role of co-worker support on the relationships between compensation, training and development, manager support and employee commitment. The results confirm that co-worker support moderates the relationships between compensation, training and development, manager support and employee commitment level. The findings provide new theoretical knowledge about the moderating effect of the co-worker support and significantly enhance knowledge about employee commitment and loyalty. The research provides notable insights into the role of social and structural bonding in hotel employees’ commitment and loyalty in the service, as well as provides an important implication for segmentation. These results can be used by hospitality managers to gain competitive advantage over its rivals. The study contributes to research on employees’ commitment and loyalty. Introducing the role of co-worker support as a moderator within the context of a hotel industry is new in the services marketing literature.
INTERDISCIPLINARITY, DESIGN THINKING, AND INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SPACES: A TEACHING EXPERIENCE IN FLORIANOPOLIS BOTANICAL GARDEN PARK.
Authors: Collier de Mendonça Maria , Trauer Eduardo , Perassi Luiz de Sousa Richard , Costa Eduardo
Published: September 2019

Abstract:Innovation of public spaces requires dense management efforts. Interdisciplinary studies must be conducted to raise needs of stakeholders. Then, potentialities, problems, and opportunities are explored. These works require interdisciplinary knowledge to carry out a broad analysis of the social, technological, economic, environmental, political, and legal spheres to understand influencing factors in the management of such spaces. In this context, one important challenge faced by professors is to promote the development of strategic skills among students. This work has arisen from the specific need of designing an active learning method, to motivate business administration undergraduate students to think strategically while dealing with complex problems. To achieve the objectives of the course – Change Management and Business Consulting –, we have created a nine steps study guide based on design thinking. Our proposal is to reflect upon key learning outcomes provided by this teaching experience. We argue that future managers need to learn how to explore, and frame problems before solving them, since the highest risk they might encounter is to misdiagnose complex problems. The paper is structured into five sections. The introduction describes the research problem and the object of study. The second section presents theoretical references, which integrates authors and concepts from different management fields. The methodological section explains how design thinking was applied, by describing each step of the experience. It has followed a study guide developed for the exploration of Florianopolis Botanical Garden Park, combining fieldwork visits with in-class lectures and debates. Next, we present results and learning in three subtopics: conceptual aspects, related to the purpose of the studied space; infrastructural needs and management challenges. To conclude, we indicate possible ways of exploring this public space, and also recommend the development of future didactic experiences with similar scopes. Keywords: interdisciplinarity, design thinking, knowledge management, innovation, public spaces.
Aspectos religiosos na adoração de super-heróis: olhares ao fã do gênero da superaventura
Authors: Becko Larissa Tamborindenguy , Reblin Iuri Andréas
Published: September 2019

O texto apresenta um estudo sobre os aspectos religiosos presentes na cultura do fã de histórias em quadrinhos. Por meio de uma abordagem bibliográfica e de uma pesquisa de campo com fãs de super-heróis, a investigação problematiza a cultura dos fãs de super-heróis a partir de um diálogo com a teologia, buscando compreender de que forma os elementos simbólicos, míticos, religiosos implícitos e explícitos nas narrativas da superaventura podem reverberar em sua audiência. Para tanto, num primeiro momento, apresenta a centralidade que o super-herói ocupa na era contemporânea, para num segundo momento, destacar alguns elementos mítico-religioso presentes nas narrativas dos super-heróis. Em seguida, o estudo parte para uma análise por meio de três categorias: materialidades, comunidades e espaços. Ao final, o estudo conclui que as histórias dos super-heróis emergem como uma espécie de narrativa religiosa capaz de evocar práticas de devoção e adoração que se traduz no comportamento do fã, refletido, analogicamente, nas materialidades, nas comunidades e nos espaços.
Mulher Maravilha e o poder do amor
Authors: Ritz Claudia Danielle de Andrade
Published: September 2019

Este artigo versa sobre o HQ1 Edição de Verão e o filme Mulher Maravilha estreado em 2017 pela DC Comics. A história se iniciou com gibis, até que alcançasse as telas. Nosso objetivo nesse artigo será discutir e apresentar a origem de Diana e das amazonas, conforme HQ1 e algumas cenas do filme da DC Comics 2017, numa perspectiva Teoliterária, unindo Teologia e Literatura a partir das Histórias em Quadrinhos (HQ). Trabalharemos nesse artigo sobre a Mulher Maravilha a partir de três eixos: Uma heroína que promove a justiça; Marte/Ares com sua obsessão pela guerra e o amor ao poder, e, a Mulher Maravilha que escolhe o poder do amor. Utilizaremos como metodologia referencial teórico.
A HISTÓRIA DA NEGAÇÃO DE PEDRO: ANÁLISE LITERÁRIA, CRÍTICA ATEOLÓGICA, ENSAIO EXEGÉTICO
Authors: Lima Anderson de Oliveira
Published: September 2019

Este artigo apresenta uma proposta para aqueles que, na contemporaneidade, gostariam de ler a Bíblia como literatura. Estuando as peculiaridades narrativas da história da negação de Pedro a Jesus segundo a versão do Evangelho de Lucas, damos uma passo a mais no desenvolvimento da ateologia bíblica, uma abordagem empenhada na análise literária que se apoia na laconicidade das narrativas bíblicas para criar novas leituras, que faz uso da filosofia materialista inspirada em Nietzsche e em Michel Onfray em sua crítica para evitar repetir as leituras canônicas e institucionais, que expõe a pluralidade de caminhos interpretativos possíveis para negar a produção dogmática que trabalha para engessar os sentidos. Partindo do conceito de Richard Rorty de cultura literária, o que aqui se faz é ler a Bíblia como uma inspiradora antologia da experiência humana, uma coletânea de fragmentos textuais que, dentre outras coisas, preserva algo da fé de antigas culturas, da arte desenvolvida por sujeitos históricos que, a seu modo, buscavam suas próprias verdades redentoras.
The Greek Experience of India
Authors: Stoneman Richard
Published: September 2019

When the Greeks and Macedonians in Alexander's army reached India in 326 BCE, they entered a new and strange world. They knew a few legends and travelers' tales, but their categories of thought were inadequate to encompass what they witnessed. The plants were unrecognizable, their properties unknown. The customs of the people were various and puzzling. While Alexander's conquest was brief, ending with his death in 323 BCE, the Greeks would settle in the Indian region for the next two centuries, forging an era of productive interactions between the two cultures. This book explores the various ways that the Greeks reacted to and constructed life in India during this fruitful period. From observations about botany and mythology to social customs, the book examines the surviving evidence of those who traveled to India. Most particularly, it offers a full and valuable look at Megasthenes, ambassador of the King Seleucus to Chandragupta Maurya, and provides a detailed discussion of Megasthenes' now-fragmentary book Indica. The book considers the art, literature, and philosophy of the Indo-Greek kingdom and how cultural influences crossed in both directions, with the Greeks introducing their writing, coinage, and sculptural and architectural forms, while Greek craftsmen learned to work with new materials such as ivory and stucco and to probe the ideas of Buddhists and other ascetics. The book is an account of the encounters between two remarkable civilizations.
Writing a Book about India
Authors: Stoneman Richard
Published: September 2019

This chapter discusses the challenges of writing a book about India. Three main points emerge from this discussion: (1) Our own presumptions about India make it hard for us to see writers like Nearchus, Onesicritus, and Megasthenes clearly, or to see India with their eyes. (2) Many of the authors who have formed our preconceptions can be used as corroborative detail for what is in the classical authors. Among the most valuable are Xuanzang, al-Biruni, Babur and even Mandeville. (3) Could our central authors—Nearchus, Onesicritus and Megasthenes—see India clearly, or did they look for what Ctesias and Scylax had taught them to expect? Because the earlier authors are lost to us this is very difficult to estimate. With this in mind, one should always test them against other available sources and their likely Indian informants.
The Natural History of India
Authors: Stoneman Richard
Published: September 2019

This chapter details the flora and fauna that interested the Greeks in Alexander's entourage as they entered India. They had read the books on India by Scylax and Ctesias, perhaps with due skepticism, but they waited with curiosity to see how the reality would match up to the limited information with which they were equipped. Ctesias spent seventeen years at the Persian court as a doctor, which undoubtedly gave him an interest in diet and food plants, and wrote two books based on the gossip he picked up there: the Persica and the Indica. Both have been much criticized from antiquity onwards. The first is often at odds with Herodotus and with is known of Persian history; the second is explicitly based on conversations with merchants and diplomats visiting Persia from India.
Culture and Society
Authors: Stoneman Richard
Published: September 2019

This chapter considers the Arthaśāstra of Kautilya. According to tradition, Kautilya is to be identified with the apparently historical personage Canakya, who is known from Jain traditions as the king-maker of Candragupta; he wrote the Arthaśāstra as a guide for the king in the administration of his empire. The earliest scholarship saw the book as a description of the Maurya polity—an exciting find given the paucity of material, let alone Indian material, for the history of early India. Breloer went so far as to call the work “Candragupta's Magna Carta.” The view remains attractive, and many Indian scholars have been glad of a straw to cling to in the ocean of uncertainty, and perhaps of an Indian text that reduces their dependence on a Greek outsider's information, particularly if they are dazzled by Strabo's attack on Megathenes for unreliability.
Megasthenes on the Natural World
Authors: Stoneman Richard
Published: September 2019

This chapter discusses Megasthenes' accounts of India's natural world. For example, his account of the elephant implies their importance to kings: in fact, their prominence in India coincides with the rise of kingship. The terrain in which elephants can thrive is almost the inverse of that suitable for horses: their habitat is jungle, which can be anything from dense forest to open scrub with trees. Nowadays this kind of habitat is found in the more easterly parts of India, but in Alexander's time even the Punjab was thickly forested. The Mahābhārata describes the forests around Delhi (Indraprastha), and even Abu'l Fazl, in the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar, speaks of rhinos, tigers and elephants roaming in this region.
Greeks and the Art of India
Authors: Stoneman Richard
Published: September 2019

This chapter considers the influence of Greek techniques on Indian art. When European scholarship moved beyond seeing Indian sculptures as “monsters” and began to discern the historical trajectory of Indian art, many were convinced that Greek art was the mainspring that got Indian sculpture going. The chronological coincidence of Alexander's arrival in the north-west appeared to explain the sudden emergence of sculpture in the Maurya lands. James Fergusson asserted that Bactria was the origin of all Indian art. Inevitably the sculpture of Gandhara, with its pronounced Hellenistic features, was the first to catch the eye of explorers with a background in classical art. But the art of an earlier period was quick to follow.