bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring Risk Allocation of Tax Burden for Small and Micro Enterprises
Authors: Xu Bing , Li Lili , Liang Yan , Rahman Mohib Ur
Published: February 2019

Tax burden outlier inhibits the growth of small and micro enterprises. This paper introduces the risk allocation of tax burden to measure the tax burden outlier. Using a time-varying nonparametric benchmark and path model, this paper measures the tax risk allocation of 3552 small and micro enterprises in the credit insurance fund from January 2016 to August 2018. This paper explores the configuration of tax burden risk allocation and discusses the changes along time and with the addition of other variables. Finally, this paper gives an analysis of strategies to improve tax burden risk allocation. The results provide decision support for reducing the tax burden and promoting the growth of small and micro enterprises.
Vegetable Business and Smallholders’ Food Security: Empirical Findings from Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Gebru Kebede Manjur , Leung Maggi , Rammelt Crelis , Zoomers Annelies , van Westen Guus
Published: February 2019

In Ethiopia, there have been increased efforts to promote market-oriented vegetable production. Given that food security is a crucial issue in Ethiopia, the question is whether market-oriented vegetable production will actually help farmers to become more food secure. Using a mixed methods approach, the present research gathered empirical evidence on the determinants of participation in the vegetable business and its food security impacts in the Raya Azebo district. The Heckman two-stage selection model was used to identify factors affecting participation in the vegetable business and its effects on several food security outcomes. A thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative data. The results show that a farmer’s participation in the vegetable business increased significantly with adequate household productive resources (e.g., land size and access to irrigation), cooperative memberships and access to extension services. On the other hand, the age of the head of household, the market distance and risk perceptions significantly decreased participation. Additionally, the results indicate participation in the vegetable business results not only in higher food availability and access but also in lower food variety and diet diversity scores. Participation has less of an impact on per capita kilocalorie consumption and child anthropometric measures of food security. The policy implication is that, while Ethiopia is going ahead with inclusive market-driven approaches to food security, alternative mechanisms must be put in place to address the negative impacts and to empower those living in the most vulnerable conditions.
Paving the Way for Self-Employment: Does Society Matter?
Authors: Parastuty Zulaicha , Bögenhold Dieter
Published: February 2019

This paper empirically investigates the extent to which institutional and individual factors predict the level of intention relating to self-employment. Arriving at a better understanding of intentions will assist to provide answers as to why ratios of self-employment are as they are and how public and economic policy may respond to an often perceived requirement to increase the level of self-employment. Using the dataset of 2017 Amway Global Entrepreneurship Research (AGER) for Austria, the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States, and Brazil this study finds that all variables predicting the intention to enter self-employment are significant at varying degree. The research explores the interplay between age, risk, gender, and education, on the one hand, and unemployment (OECD Labour Force Statistics) and political constitution as measured by the EFW index, on the other hand. Distinguishing between “no intention”, an “indifferent intention,” and a “strong intention” towards self-employment, the findings show that all variables can predict a willingness for self-employment in different, but significant, ways to comparable measures (an indifferent intention relative to no intention, and a strong intention to no intention). The paper concludes with an outlook to some more general perspectives of institutional economics and needs for further research.
Spatial and Temporal Variations of Embodied Carbon Emissions in China’s Infrastructure
Authors: Bai Jing , Qu Jiansheng , Maraseni Tek Narayan , Wu Jinjia , Xu Li , Fan Yujie
Published: February 2019

The swift evolution of urbanization in China has led to a rapid increase in the demand for infrastructure. Infrastructure consumes significant amounts of construction materials. The production, packaging, transportation and use of these materials require energy and, therefore, are a source of carbon emissions. In order to make the construction of infrastructure satisfy people’s life demands and economic development, and at the same time conform to low carbon ideas, it is necessary to understand the spatial and temporal variations of embodied carbon emissions and its regional disparity. This study classifies and sorts the calculation parameters of infrastructure material stock and embodied carbon emissions. It estimates the trends and magnitude of 31 provinces over a period of 20 years (1997–2016) and analyzes the spatial-temporal characteristics. Our results indicate that: (1) The overall infrastructure embodied carbon emissions amount to 32.04 billion tons; (2) the embodied carbon emissions from buildings are far greater than that of transportation infrastructure, however, the annual growth rate is contrary to this; (3) the spatial and temporal variations show regional inequality, with the eastern coastal area being higher than the central and western inland areas and the economically developed areas being higher than the less developed areas.
Journey towards Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development at the Local Government Level: The Case of Hessequa Municipality in South Africa
Authors: Fouché Elaine , Brent Alan
Published: February 2019

The purpose of the research on which this article reports was to investigate how renewable energy forms part of the strategy of a local government, and to evaluate how participatory processes are utilised in the development and communication of this municipal strategy. The research was conducted with Hessequa Municipality, a local authority situated in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. A new aspect of the research was an attempt to consider renewable energy options as part of the municipal strategy, and not as a standalone project. Action research was undertaken and the resulting qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Cognitive mapping was used to display the data and to analyse the causal relationships between different strategic themes. The causal relationships explicitly show that many opportunities for renewable energy solutions are evident in the form of: biomass-to-energy, low-carbon local economic development, small-scale embedded generation, waste-to-energy, and feed-in tariffs. The barriers for implementation are aging infrastructure and financial and legislative constraints. Participatory processes formed an integral part of the strategy formulation, and a unique visualised strategy was developed for communication with local citizens—a first for a local municipality in South Africa.
Path Optimization Model for Intra-City Express Delivery in Combination with Subway System and Ground Transportation
Authors: Zhao Laijun , Wang Xiaoli , Stoeter Johan , Sun Yan , Li Huiyong , Hu Qingmi , Li Meichen
Published: February 2019

Combined conventional ground transport with a subway system for line-haul transport for intra-city express delivery is a new transportation mode. Subway transportation can be used in the line-haul transportation of intra-city express delivery services to reduce cost, improve efficiency, raise customer satisfaction, and alleviate road congestion and air pollution. To achieve this, we developed a path optimization model (POM) with time windows for intra-city express delivery, which makes use of the subway system. Our model integrated the subway system with ground transportation in order to minimize the total delivery time. It considered the time window requirements of the senders and the recipients, and was constrained by the frequency of trains on the subway line. To solve the POM, we designed a genetic algorithm. The model was tested in a case study of a courier company in Shanghai, China. Meanwhile, based on the basic scenario, the corresponding solutions of the four different scenarios of the model are carried out. Then, we further analyzed the influence of the number of vehicles, the frequency of trains on the subway line, and the client delivery time window on the total delivery time, client time window satisfaction, and courier company costs based on the basic scenario. The results demonstrated that the total delivery time and the total time outside the time window decreased as the number of vehicles increased; the total delivery time and the total time outside the time window decreased as the delivery frequency along the subway line increased; the total delivery time and the total time outside the time window decreased as the sender’s time window increased. However, when the sender’s time window increased beyond a certain threshold, the total delivery time and the total time outside the time window no longer decreased greatly. The case study results can guide courier companies in path optimization for intra-city express delivery vehicles in combination with the subway network.
The Influence of River Channel Occupation on Urban Inundation and Sedimentation Induced by Floodwater in Mountainous Areas: A Case Study in the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Wang Zhihui , Yao Wenyi , Wang Ming , Xiao Peiqing , Yang Jishan , Zhang Pan , Tang Qiuhong , Kong Xiangbing , Wu Jie
Published: February 2019

River channel occupation has made cities in the mountainous areas more vulnerable to floodwater out of river channels during rapid global urbanization. A better understanding of the influence of river channel occupation on urban flood disasters can serve as a reference in planning effective urban flood control strategies. In this study, taking a flood event that occurred on July 26th, 2017 in a city on the Loess Plateau as an example, field surveys, dynamics detection of the river channel using remote sensing technology, and scenario simulations with a two-dimensional flow and sediment model were utilized to quantitatively analyze the impacts of river channel occupation on urban inundation and sedimentation. The results show that river channel dynamics reduced by construction can be successfully detected using the combination of high-resolution images and Landsat time-series images. The variation of the water level–discharge relationship caused by the narrowing of the river channel and the increase of the flood-water level caused by water-blocking bridges/houses result in a significant reduction of the flood discharge capacity. The contribution of the narrowing of the river channel was 72.3% for the total area inundated by floodwater, whereas 57.2% of urban sedimentation was caused by the construction of bridges/houses within the river channel. Sustainable flood mitigation measures were also recommended according to the investigations and research findings in this study in order to reduce the social, environmental and economic damages caused by floods.
Analytical Framework to Assess the Incorporation of Climate Change Adaptation in Water Management: Application to the Tordera River Basin Adaptation Plan
Authors: Sanchez-Plaza Anabel , Broekman Annelies , Paneque Pilar
Published: February 2019

Projections indicate that the Mediterranean region is an area where drastic changes in climate will occur, which will significantly affect water resources. In a context of increasing pressure on water resources as a result of the reduction in water availability, it is essential and urgent to structure water management in a way that allows for adaptation to the challenges that the changing climate will bring to an already water scarce region. It is necessary to generate experiences and methodologies that are based on real case studies that will lay the foundations for the generalisation of practices of climate change adaptation in water management. In this study, we have developed a ready to use analytical framework to evaluate the coherence of water management plans and programs with climate change adaptation principles. We have tested the applicability of the framework that was developed on the Tordera River Basin Adaptation Plan (TRBAP). The analytical framework has proven to be easy to apply and to allow for identifying the inclusion or exclusion of key climate change adaptation features appropriately. We have structured this analytical framework as a starting point contributing to further assessments of how climate change adaptation is incorporated in water management.
About Intentions to Donate for Sustainable Rural Development: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Pérez y Pérez Luis , Egea Pilar
Published: February 2019

The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was used to investigate factors affecting the intention of citizens to donate money altruistically for sustainable rural development projects in Spain. To achieve this aim, individuals’ attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control have been considered; also, Azjen’s model was further extended to include additional elements: Moral norms, past behaviour, knowledge and some background factors. Respondents completed an online questionnaire assessing domains elaborated in the extended TPB model. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed support for the model. Attitudes, injunctive norms, perceived behavioural control, moral norms, past behaviour, crowdfunding knowledge, age and employment condition were found to have positive and significant influence on intentions to donate. Theoretical and applied implications of the results are discussed, highlighting important considerations for public policy.
Non-Market Valuation of Water Pollution Remediation and Disaster Risk Mitigation Functions: The Case of Nakdong River Estuary in South Korea
Authors: Kim Hyo-Jin , Chang Jeong-In , Yoo Seung-Hoon
Published: February 2019

The Nakdong river estuary in South Korea has two important functions: first, remediating water pollution from the Nakdong river; second, mitigating the risk of disaster caused by waves from the open sea. The two functions of the Nakdong river estuary have been continuously threatened due to constant development pressure. This short note tries to investigate the non-market value of the water pollution remediation and disaster risk mitigation functions. For this purpose, 1000 households throughout the country were randomly selected, and a choice experiment (CE) survey of them was implemented in September 2017. The two attributes considered here are water pollution remediation and disaster risk mitigation. An increase in the yearly income tax was also considered as an attribute. The results of applying the CE approach show that the non-market values of a 1%p increase in the water pollution remediation ability and a 1 m decrease in the wave height of the estuary are KRW 105 (USD 0.09) and KRW 501 (USD 0.44), respectively, per household per year. These figures can be used to establish and execute marine spatial planning for the estuary.
Disaster Aid Targeting and Self-Reporting Bias: Natural Experimental Evidence from the Philippines
Authors: Higuchi Yuki , Fuwa Nobuhiko , Kajisa Kei , Sato Takahiro , Sawada Yasuyuki
Published: February 2019

Aid from the government can play a critical role as a risk-coping device in a post-disaster situation if the recipients are properly targeted. We analyze the accuracy of disaster aid targeting and self-reporting bias in disaster damage and aid receipt by combining (i) satellite images (objective information on flood damage), (ii) administrative records (objective information on post-flood aid receipt), and (iii) unique survey data (self-reported information on damage assessment and aid receipt) on a large-scale flooding in 2012 in the Philippines. We find that damage is over-reported while aid receipt is under-reported, and as a result, the estimated targeting accuracy based on self-reported information is substantially downward-biased.
Composite Index to Measure Cities’ Creative Performance: An Empirical Study in the Portuguese Context
Authors: Rodrigues Margarida , Franco Mário
Published: February 2019

This study aims to identify the indicators/indices for measuring current cities’ creative performance and the individual weight of each in that performance. To do so, a review and compilation of theoretical and empirical indices already developed was undertaken, showing culture, the creative economy, and a favourable environment as inseparable sub-dimensions of creativity. This compilation allowed the construction of a Composite Index for Creativity, using a quantitative methodology, which revealed 17 factors determining cities’ creative performance, for the evaluation of performance in the Portuguese context, which allows monitoring the degree of implementation of some of the targets of the 2020 Strategy. The results illustrate that Portugal follows the European tendency of including creativity in its strategies as an economic factor determining growth. With scientific rigour and quality, the weights of each sub-dimension studied in the Composite Index were determined, this being the study’s main contribution. Other implications for theory and practice and an agenda for future research are also presented.
A New Hybrid MCDM Model with Grey Numbers for the Construction Delay Change Response Problem
Authors: Chalekaee Alireza , Turskis Zenonas , Khanzadi Mostafa , Ghodrati Amiri Gholamreza , Keršulienė Violeta
Published: February 2019

Stakeholders carry out construction projects under fast-changing conditions. The conditions can undermine the concept of a stable and prosperous construction plan without an appropriate permit and an active and targeted plan for environmental management. Therefore, the decision maker often faces many challenges of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) when it comes to solving the construction management proper response selection problem for planning delay changes when sustainable environment requirements are essential. Any addition, reduction, or modification of the original project plan is a change to the project and impacts the environment. Change occurrence is a probable issue while projects are implemented. One of the most complex tasks for the project manager is to work correctly and to find the most suitable decisions for the not precisely predetermined future expectations of a change. Therefore, the relevant criteria of values must reflect the uncertain properties of the problem model. Similar problems require fuzzy or grey MCDM methods. The paper introduces a new MCDM approach, which combines four different MCDM methods with grey numbers: the SWARA, TOPSIS-GM, Additive Ratio ASsessment with Grey Numbers (ARAS-G) techniques and Geometric Mean to cover uncertainty and improve the problem-solving model. An analysis of a case study has examined and highlighted four possible alternatives described by eight performance criteria (cost, duration, and some linguistic criteria). Stakeholders determined the best alternative, calculated the efficiency of choice, and practically implemented the best option.
Characterization and Neutral Atom Beam Surface Modification of a Clear Castable Polyurethane for Biomicrofluidic Applications
Authors: Dhall Atul , Masiello Tim , Gattu Suhasini , Strohmayer Matt , Butt Logan , Hemachandra Lewdeni Pathirannehelage Madhubhani , Schujman Sandra , Tokranova Natalya , Khoury Joseph , Papa Rao Satyavolu , Cady Nathaniel , Melendez Juan Andres , Castracane James
Published: February 2019

Polyurethanes (PU) are a broad class of polymers that offer good solvent compatibility and a wide range of properties that can be used to generate microfluidic layers. Here, we report the first characterization of a commercially available Shore 80D polyurethane (Ultraclear™ 480N) for biomicrofluidic applications. Studies included comparing optical clarity with Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and using high-fidelity replica molding to produce solid PU structures from the millimeter to nanometer scales. Additionally, we report the first use of NanoAccel™ treatment in Accelerated Neutral Atom Beam (ANAB) mode to permanently roughen the surface of PU and improve the adhesion of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) on PU. Surface energy measurements using Owens-Wendt equations indicate an increase in polar and total surface energy due to ANAB treatment. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mode was used to demonstrate that the treatment does not introduce any new types of functional groups on the surface of Ultraclear™ PU. Finally, applicability in rapid prototyping for biomicrofluidics was demonstrated by utilizing a 3D-printing-based replica molding strategy to create PU microfluidic layers. These layers were sealed to polystyrene (PS) bases to produce PU-PS microfluidic chips. Ultraclear™ PU can serve as a clear and castable alternative to PDMS in biomicrofluidic studies.
Certain Results of q -Sheffer–Appell Polynomials
Authors: Yasmin Ghazala , Muhyi Abdulghani , Araci Serkan
Published: February 2019

In this paper, the class of q -Sheffer–Appell polynomials is introduced. The generating function, series definition, determinant definition and some other identities of this class are established. Certain members of q -Sheffer–Appell polynomials are investigated and some properties of these members are derived. In addition, the class of 2D q -Sheffer–Appell polynomials is introduced. Further, the graphs of some members of q -Sheffer–Appell polynomials and 2D q -Sheffer–Appell polynomials are plotted for different values of indices by using Matlab.
Diagnosis of Murine Typhus by Serology in Peninsular Malaysia: A Case Report Where Rickettsial Illnesses, Leptospirosis and Dengue Co-Circulate
Authors: Yuhana Yazli , Tanganuchitcharnchai Ampai , Sujariyakul Pimpan , Sonthayanon Piengchan , Chotivanich Kesinee , Paris Daniel H. , Pukrittayakamee Sasithon , Blacksell Stuart D. , Hanboonkunupakarn Borimas
Published: February 2019

Murine typhus is a rarely diagnosed cause of acute febrile illness in Malaysia, and its true disease burden is unknown. We report a case of an acute murine typhus infection in a patient living in a small city in Peninsular Malaysia, presenting with fever, rash, and headache. Unresponsive to the initial empirical treatment for leptospirosis, he showed a rapid response to doxycycline when murine typhus was diagnosed later. This case highlights the importance of considering murine typhus as a diagnostic in cases of acute febrile illness in urban and sub-urban areas, such as that of in Peninsular Malaysia.
Acute Pulmonary Histoplasmosis Outbreak in A Documentary Film Crew Travelling from Guatemala to Australia
Authors: Muhi Stephen , Crowe Amy , Daffy John
Published: February 2019

Histoplasma capsulatum is an endemic mycosis with a widespread distribution, although it is infrequently reported in travellers. In April 2018, five television crew members developed an acute febrile illness after filming a documentary about vampire bats in Guatemala. Patients developed symptoms after travelling to Australia, where they presented for medical care.
Challenges of Researching Showering Routines: From the Individual to the Socio-Material
Authors: Simpson Karen , Staddon Chad , Ward Sarah
Published: February 2019

In the UK, water supplies are under pressure from climate, population and lifestyle change. Showering is the largest component of domestic water consumption. Young adults are high water-users at a transitional life-stage, when practices are dynamic, and habits shaped. This paper presents the methodology, early findings and reflections on challenges of working with different data types and scales, to explore real-world water-saving through a mixed-methods approach, focusing on showering patterns of first year university students in campus accommodation at the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK. Combining household meter, logged water-fixture micro-component, personal-use questionnaire, user diary and stakeholder focus group data with the Scottish Government Individual-Social-Material model, typical showering demand reduction interventions were evaluated and insights into alternative interventions were generated. Results indicate Estates’ routine equipment maintenance and database management affect data quality and consistency. Despite these issues a profile of daily student water use was derived (equivalent to 114 L per person per day) but with high variability between different households (from 83 to 151 L per person per day). Average shower durations (self-reported 10–12 min) were higher than reported UK norms, although frequency was similar to the UK daily shower norm. Average measured shower volumes (51 L in one house) were not excessive, indicating shower fixtures provided a contribution to water saving.
A Survey of Recent Adenoviral Respiratory Pathogens in Hong Kong Reveals Emergent and Recombinant Human Adenovirus Type 4 (HAdV-E4) Circulating in Civilian Populations
Authors: Zhang Jing , Kang June , Dehghan Shoaleh , Sridhar Siddharth , Lau Susanna K. P. , Ou Junxian , Woo Patrick C. Y. , Zhang Qiwei , Seto Donald
Published: February 2019

Human adenovirus type 4 (HAdV-E4), which is intriguingly limited to military populations, causes acute respiratory disease with demonstrated morbidity and mortality implications. This respiratory pathogen contains genome identity with chimpanzee adenoviruses, indicating zoonotic origins. A signature of these “old” HAdV-E4 is the absence of a critical replication motif, NF-I, which is found in all HAdV respiratory pathogens and most HAdVs. However, our recent survey of flu-like disease in children in Hong Kong reveals that the emergent HAdV-E4 pathogens circulating in civilian populations contain NF-I, indicating recombination and reflecting host-adaptation that enables the “new” HAdV-E4 to replicate more efficiently in human cells and foretells more potential HAdV-E4 outbreaks in immune-naïve civilian populations. Special attention should be paid by clinicians to this emergent and recombinant HAdV-E4 circulating in civilian populations.
Crosstalk between Autophagy and Type I Interferon Responses in Innate Antiviral Immunity
Authors: Tian Yu , Wang Ming-Li , Zhao Jun
Published: February 2019

Autophagy exhibits dual effects during viral infections, promoting the clearance of viral components and activating the immune system to produce antiviral cytokines. However, some viruses impair immune defenses by collaborating with autophagy. Mounting evidence suggests that the interaction between autophagy and innate immunity is critical to understanding the contradictory roles of autophagy. Type I interferon (IFN-I) is a crucial antiviral factor, and studies have indicated that autophagy affects IFN-I responses by regulating IFN-I and its receptors expression. Similarly, IFN-I and interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) products can harness autophagy to regulate antiviral immunity. Crosstalk between autophagy and IFN-I responses could be a vital aspect of the molecular mechanisms involving autophagy in innate antiviral immunity. This review briefly summarizes the approaches by which autophagy regulates antiviral IFN-I responses and highlights the recent advances on the mechanisms by which IFN-I and ISG products employ autophagy against viruses.
PCV7- and PCV10-Vaccinated Otitis-Prone Children in New Zealand Have Similar Pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae Densities in Their Nasopharynx and Middle Ear
Authors: de Gier Camilla , Granland Caitlyn M. , Pickering Janessa L. , Walls Tony , Bhuiyan Mejbah , Mills Nikki , Richmond Peter C. , Best Emma J. , Thornton Ruth B. , Kirkham Lea-Ann S.
Published: February 2019

Otitis media (OM) is a major reason for antibiotic consumption and surgery in children. Nasopharyngeal carriage of otopathogens, Streptococcus pneumoniae and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), is a prerequisite for development of OM, and increased nasopharyngeal otopathogen density correlates with disease onset. Vaccines can reduce or eliminate otopathogen carriage, as demonstrated for pneumococcal serotypes included in pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV). The 10-valent PCV (PCV10) includes an NTHi carrier protein, and in 2011 superseded 7-valent PCV on the New Zealand Immunisation Program. Data are conflicting on whether PCV10 provides protection against NTHi carriage or disease. Assessing this in otitis-prone cohorts is important for OM prevention. We compared otopathogen density in the nasopharynx and middle ear of New Zealand PCV7-vaccinated and PCV10-vaccinated otitis-prone and non-otitis-prone children to determine PCV10 impact on NTHi and S. pneumoniae carriage. We applied qPCR to specimens collected from 217 PCV7-vaccinated children (147 otitis-prone and 70 non-otitis-prone) and 240 PCV10-vaccinated children (178 otitis-prone and 62 non-otitis-prone). After correcting for age and day-care attendance, no difference was observed between NTHi density in the nasopharynx of PCV7-vaccinated versus PCV10-vaccinated otitis-prone (p = 0.563) or non-otitis-prone (p = 0.513) children. In contrast, pneumococcal nasopharyngeal density was higher in PCV10-vaccinated otitis-prone children than PCV7-vaccinated otitis-prone children (p = 0.003). There was no difference in otopathogen density in middle ear effusion from PCV7-vaccinated versus PCV10-vaccinated otitis-prone children (NTHi p = 0.918; S. pneumoniae p = 0.415). When pneumococcal carriage was assessed by vaccine serotypes (VT) and non-vaccine serotypes (NVT), there was no difference in VT density (p = 0.546) or NVT density (p = 0.315) between all PCV7-vaccinated versus all PCV10-vaccinated children. In summary, PCV10 did not reduce NTHi density in the nasopharynx or middle ear, and was associated with increased pneumococcal nasopharyngeal density in otitis-prone children in New Zealand. Development of therapies that prevent or reduce otopathogen colonisation density in the nasopharynx are warranted to reduce the burden of OM.
EXPLORATION OF STRATEGY: OBJECTIVES, COMPETENCIES AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Authors: Ginevičius Romualdas , Korsakiene Renata
Published: February 2019

The notion that all companies should have a strategy is widely accepted. It has to be noted that a company's competitiveness describe objectives, competencies, competitive advantage and strategies. The linkages among objectives, competencies and competitive advantage are influenced by competitive forces in the market. The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework for analysis of a strategy and to present results of a survey carried out to explore the strategies of Lithuanian construction companies. The determinants of strategy such as objectives, competencies and competitive advantage can further be used as a guide for setting a strategic agenda for construction companies with different characteristics and operating in different markets.
EVALUATION OF MULTIPLE RETAILERS’ MARKET POSITIONS ON THE BASIS OF IMAGE ATTRIBUTES MEASUREMENT
Authors: Urbonavičius Sigitas , Ivanauskas Robertas
Published: February 2019

Intense competition in retailing sector requires searching for new and more effective tools of competing with rivals. One of the possible ways seems to go through applying positioning concept in retailing. Positioning in retailing refers to strategy for development of a desirable image, which would help to differentiate a retail company and move away from direct price competition. Besides that, image management provides possibilities for increasing customer perceived value and/or increasing prices. The paper presents methodology for establishing multiple retailers’ positions. This methodology is based on evaluation of image attributes’ importance for customers. Factor analysis allows revealing more general latent factors that are used to evaluate retailers’ positions in a perceptual space. This allows drawing conclusions on how much Lithuanian multiple retailers are similar or differentiated from the standpoint of their customers.
TECHNOLOGINIŲ PARAMETRŲ ĮTAKOS VIRINTINĖS JUNGTIES SAVYBĖMS TYRIMAI, SUVIRINANT AISI 304 PLIENĄ / RESEARCH OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS INFLUENCE ON THE WELD PROPERTIES OF WELDED STEEL AISI 304
Authors: Sereika Mantvydas , Varnauskas Valentinas , Gedzevičius Irmantas
Published: February 2019

The article analyzes the influence of technological parameters on the properties of welded joints by welding AISI 304 steel. In order to get the results was carried out computer modeling with the finite element modeling program ANSYS, welded samples performed visual inspection, hardness testing to make a seam. Results of the study are presented in tabular and graphic representation, the conclusions.
CRASHWORTHINESS ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURE OF METRO VEHICLES CONSTRUCTED FROM TYPICAL MATERIALS AND THE LUMPED PARAMETER MODEL OF FRONTAL IMPACT
Authors: Zhu Tao , Xiao Shou-Ne , Hu Guang-Zhong , Yang Guang-Wu , Yang Chao
Published: February 2019

This paper establishes a Finite Element (FE) model of a rigid barrier impact of a single vehicle constructed from carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum alloy, which are three typical materials used in metro vehicle car body structures. The different responses of the three materials during the collision are compared. According to the energy absorption, velocity, deformation and collision force flow characteristics of each vehicle, the relationship between the energy absorption ratio of the vehicle body and the energy absorption ratio of its key components is proposed. Based on the collision force flow distribution proportion of each component, the causes of the key components’ deformation are analysed in detail. The internal relationship between the deformation, energy absorption and impact force of the key components involved in a car body collision is elucidated. By determining the characteristic parameters describing the vehicle’s dynamic stiffness, a metro vehicle frontal impact model using lumped parameters is established that provides a simple and efficient conceptual design method for railway train safety design. These research results can be used to guide the design of railway trains for structural crashworthiness.
174P/Echeclus and Its Blue Coma Observed Post-outburst
Authors: Seccull Tom , Fraser Wesley C. , Puzia Thomas H. , Fitzsimmons Alan , Cupani Guido
Published: February 2019

It has been suggested that centaurs may lose their red surfaces and become bluer due to the onset of cometary activity, but the way in which cometary outbursts affect the surface composition and albedo of active centaurs is poorly understood. We obtained consistent visual-near-infrared (VNIR) reflectance spectra of the sporadically active centaur 174P/Echeclus during a period of inactivity in 2014 and six weeks after its outburst in 2016 to see if activity had observably changed the surface properties of the nucleus. We observed no change in the surface reflectance properties of Echeclus following the outburst compared to before, indicating that, in this case, any surface changes due to cometary activity were not sufficiently large to be observable from Earth. Our spectra and post-outburst imaging have revealed, however, that the remaining dust coma is not only blue compared to Echeclus, but also bluer than solar, with a spectral gradient of −7.7 ± 0.6% per 0.1 μm measured through the 0.61–0.88 μm wavelength range that appears to continue up to λ ∼ 1.3 μm before becoming neutral. We conclude that the blue visual color of the dust is likely not a scattering effect, and instead may be indicative of the dust’s carbon-rich composition. Deposition of such blue, carbon-rich, comatic dust onto a red active centaur may be a mechanism by which its surface color could be neutralized.
SpNetPrep: An R package using Shiny to facilitate spatial statistics on road networks
Authors: Briz-Redón Álvaro
Published: February 2019

Spatial statistics is an important field of data science with many applications in very different areas of study such as epidemiology, criminology, seismology, astronomy and econometrics, among others. In particular, spatial statistics has frequently been used to analyze traffic accidents datasets with explanatory and preventive objectives. Traditionally, these studies have employed spatial statistics techniques at some level of areal aggregation, usually related to administrative units. However, last decade has brought an increasing number of works on the spatial incidence and distribution of traffic accidents at the road level by means of the spatial structure known as a linear network. This change seems positive because it could provide deeper and more accurate investigations than previous studies that were based on areal spatial units. The interest in working at the road level renders some technical difficulties due to the high complexity of these structures, specially in terms of manipulation and rectification. The R Shiny app SpNetPrep, which is available online and via an R package named the same way, has the goal of providing certain functionalities that could be useful for a user which is interested in performing an spatial analysis over a road network structure.
UAI case: An uCASE-CL model implementation
Authors: Battaglia Nicolas , Carlos Neil , Martinez Roxana , De Vincenzi Marcelo
Published: February 2019

The new models of teaching and learning have their focus on technology, especially on issues related to ubiquity. The impact of ICT in education generates new learning opportunities: the mobile or ubiquitous, which open new doors to technological environments that allow students to learn at any time and place, providing, in addition, tools that give the possibility to perform collaborative work and learning. The integration of a ubiquitous virtual teaching and learning environment with collaborative work forms the Ubiquitous Computer Supported Collaborative Learning model. What has been mentioned before allowed us to understand the importance of making a specification of this model that provides the possibility of using a tool for professional use in the Software Engineering during the teaching and learning processes, including the specific activities of evaluation and monitoring of works. These tools, called Computer-Aided Software Engineering, must be an active part of the uCSCL model. This integration, forms the model proposed in our work, called uCASE-CL. A prototype of the implementation of the model was developed, which we have called UAI Case. This solution is a proposal to cover the need to have tools that can be used in the teaching of the SE, and which allow the student to acquire and strengthen the academic learning.
Game elements from literature review of gamification in healthcare context
Authors: Muangsrinoon Sakchai , Boonbrahm Poonpong
Published: February 2019

Gamification is a conceptual framework to apply game elements and techniques to improve the interesting process in non-game context. Gamification offers the motivation approach to motivate the player to handle the challenge tasks with game mechanics, game dynamics, and components. Nowadays, To discover the set of game elements and techniques from evaluating the existing related research is more opportunity for success in the exciting process. The core objective of this paper is to review the literature by using descriptive statistics of game elements with the review methodology and evaluate the model with multi-label classification with a dataset from this literature examined. The reviewed literature was first coded author-centrally. After each paper was scrutinized for the analysis, the perspective was pivoted, and further analyses were conducted concept-centrally. A systematic review has been conducted that proves the wide variety of game elements, being retrieved a total of fifteen terms of game elements from twenty-two selected papers that were screened from a total of eighty-two documents. Only a few terms are used: points, feedback, levels, leaderboards, challenges, badges,  avatars, competition, and cooperation. However, only some can be considered actual elements mechanics and that have not a similar abstraction level. Additionally, the authors examined the relationship between game elements and STD: Competence, Autonomy, and Relatedness with a Data mining technique, Multi-label classification to discovery knowledge of game elements. The results indicated that rFerns algorithm provides the lowest Hamming Loss with 4.17%. Furthermore, It shows that Multi-label Rain Forest (rfsrc) in Algorithm adaptation method and Rain Forest (RF) in Problem transformation method provide the same Hamming Loss with 29.17%. Moreover, rFerns algorithm provides the highest accuracy with 87.5% for Competence, and 100% for Autonomy and Relatedness. Furthermore, It shows that Multi-label Rain Forest (rfsrc) in Algorithm adaptation method and Rain Forest (RF) in Problem transformation method provide the same Accuracy with 87.5% for Competence, and 62.5% for Autonomy and Relatedness. The results from this study will be used to design a gamified system in a healthcare context to promote physical activity.
Una nota socio-histórica a los capítulos 36 y 50 de la Segunda Parte del Quijote
Authors: Brioso Santos Héctor
Published: February 2019

No disponible.
Un diseño interno en Don Quijote y algunos antecedentes
Authors: Soons Alan
Published: February 2019

No disponible.
"Poeta ilustre, o al menos manifico". Reflexiones sobre el saber poético de Cervantes en el Quijote
Authors: Montero Reguera José
Published: February 2019

No disponible.
Las ventas del Quijote: un microcosmos encantado y encantador
Authors: Barbagallo Antonio
Published: February 2019

No disponible.
Sierpes de cristal cervantino en La fuente de la edad: autores y trujamanes que admiten réplica y disputa
Authors: Bonilla Cerezo Rafael
Published: February 2019

No disponible.
Cervantes y la revolución cultural del renacimiento: Acteón y don Quijote
Authors: Morros Bienvenido
Published: February 2019

El presente trabajo pretende demostrar cómo Cervantes, en el Quijote, rechaza las interpretaciones medievales del mito de Acteón, según las cuales el príncipe tebano representaba los males de la caza, y se atiene a las sugeridas durante el Renacimiento, sobre todo por el manual de Natal Conti, quien cree ver en la figura del joven cazador a la víctima del pecado de la ingratitud. Precisamente en el único pasaje en que Cervantes menciona esa fábula pone en boca de su protagonista un discurso sobre la ingratitud que parece condicionar el desarrollo de la novela hasta su final.
'El regreso de D. Quijote' de Chesterton. Tradición y utopía
Authors: Vega Rodríguez Pilar
Published: February 2019

El regreso de D. Quijote (The Return of D. Quixote, 1926) culmina una etapa de la obra de Chesterton que la crítica viene llamando periodo quijotesco. Tiene ésta su punto de partida en el ensayo titulado La divina parodia de D. Quijote (The divine parody of D. Quixote, 1901) en que el autor interpreta la novela de Cervantes como una escenificación del combate entre el idealismo y el realismo (el de Sancho Panza) defendiendo la cordura del caballero, corporización del sentido común, contra la locura del mundo que aceptamos por canónico. La misma contradicción había encontrado un sagaz análisis en la novela utópica de 1904 The Napoleón of Notting Hill y continúa explorándose en varias obras fundamentales como el poema titulado Lepanto de 1912. Pero es la entrega de la Weekly ´s Review cuando D. Quijote se convierte en adalid de la causa distributista y el retorno a una sociedad medievalizante en símbolo no sólo de la recuperación de las virtudes caballerescas sino también de su prototipo inspirador, la utopía de una sociedad cristiana.
Traducción y recepción del 'Quijote' en Gran Bretaña (1612-1774)
Authors: Ardila J. A.G.
Published: February 2019

Este artículo toma como referencia las traducciones inglesas del Quijote publicadas entre 1612 y 1774 a fin de analizar la recepción que la novela cervantina tuvo durante ese periodo en Gran Bretaña. Los prólogos de los traductores ejercieron un gran influjo entre los lectores británicos en las dos centurias en que Cervantes influyó profundamente en el teatro y la novela ingleses. Así, la traducción de Shelton (1612) presentó el Quijote como una sátira, percepción que se mantuvo a lo largo del siglo XVII; la de Motteaux (1700), como una parodia, y la de Smollett (1755), como el modelo de los valores caballerescos.
El magistral ejemplo de Cervantes
Authors: Rodríguez Méndez José María
Published: February 2019

No disponible
La puntuación del Quijote
Authors: Sebastián Mediavilla Fidel
Published: February 2019

En su edición —la primera edición crítica— del Quijote (1998), Francisco Rico afirmaba que la cuestión más delicada con que debe enfrentarse el editor de un clásico —en este caso, del Quijote— tal vez sea la puntuación. El estudio de la puntuación de las primeras ediciones del Quijote quedaba pendiente. Sería muy útil, para la fijación e interpretación del texto, conocer los criterios por los que se había regido la puntuación de la princeps, y su rendimiento. Era preciso analizar exhaustivamente el texto para llegar a describir esas normas internas, y determinar en qué medida desviaciones en la puntuación habían sido causa de transmisiones defectuosas que podrían sanarse. Al mismo tiempo se han abordado otras cuestiones pertinentes: ¿Quién puntuó el texto: el autor, el amanuense que preparó la copia en limpio, el corrector de imprenta? ¿De qué doctrinas ortográficas disponían? ¿Cuál era la praxis de las imprentas al respecto? ¿A quien se deben atribuir los errores — incongruencias— de puntuación? ¿En qué medida los corrigieron las ediciones que en 1605 y 1608 se estamparon en la misma imprenta de Cuesta? ¿Intervino personalmente Cervantes en estas correcciones?
Relevancia de lo marginal e irrelevancia de lo explícito en el juego de la transmisión de la historia en el Quijote
Authors: López Navia Santiago
Published: February 2019

Algunos contextos que pertenecen al tejido lúdico de la transmisión de la historia en el Quijote nos hacen pensar que lo que se expresa al margen puede ser relevante, y lo que a veces es explícito puede ser irrelevante de acuerdo con el mismo juego. Así, las anotaciones marginales de los capítulos I, 9 y II, 24, cuya relevancia estudiamos, y algunos títulos que, especialmente en el Quijote de 1615, parecen estar construidos con una formulación lúdicamente irrelevante, son el resultado de incorporar los detalles del juego de la transmisión de la “historia original” a la superficie textual.
Nobleza y mecenazgo en la época de Cervantes
Authors: Enciso Alonso-Muñumer Isabel
Published: February 2019

Los escritores del Siglo de Oro, entre ellos Lope de Vega y el magistral Cervantes, buscaron una sombra protectora como fórmula para ascender socialmente y obtener beneficios económicos. La dinámica del mecenazgo literario del siglo XVII involucró, en general, a los escritores en las luchas políticas. A pesar de la falta de pruebas concluyentes, Cervantes, como otros, buscó protección en el círculo de Lerma, concretamente, se acercó a Pedro Fernández de Castro, VII conde de Lemos. Al noble van dirigidas la mayoría de sus obras y a él van destinadas las últimas palabras del escritor en la dedicatoria del Persiles. La cultura y la nobleza se articularon como pilares de los nuevos usos cortesanos.
La construcción de un personaje: de Alonso Quijano a don Quijote
Authors: Miguez Macho Carlos
Published: February 2019

La conversión de Alonso Quijano en el loco don Quijote no obedece a complejas razones psicológicas o psicoanalíticas que puedan encontrarse en la vida del hidalgo castellano. Las distintas teorías expuestas sobre la vida de Alonso Quijano no son más que elucubraciones que se alejan excesivamente del texto y que eluden la explicación más sencilla, pero también más fiel, que la propia novela ofrece: las consecuencias inmediatas de la adicción de Alonso Quijano a un determinado tipo de entretenimiento tiene exactos paralelos en nuestro tiempo; su locura es un corolario literario que no necesariamente tiene por qué tener una explicación científica.