bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of ‘Community Spaces’ in Residents’ Adaptation to Energy-Efficient Heating Technologies—Insights from a UK Low-Energy Housing Development
Authors: Oliveira Sonja , Marco Elena
Published: March 2018

Advanced energy-efficient heating technologies are often integral to low-energy home design, practice, and policy. The expectation is that technologies designed to lower space-heating energy use may also contribute to better performing buildings and a comfortable indoor environment. Too often, though, it is found that residents do not use technologies as intended due to multiple socio-technological phenomena. Whilst increasing efforts have been made to better understand residents’ social engagement with energy-efficient heating technologies, there is a lack of evidence that takes into account the wider context of a housing development. This paper draws on residents’ experiences across 40 dwellings in a recently completed low-energy residential development in the United Kingdom (UK). Implications of the research are twofold. First, the study contributes to a better understanding of the emerging roles, motivations, and expectations that a ‘community’ has for residents living in domestic low-energy environments. Second, there are implications for design professions to take account of the potential effects that specific external collective spaces such as playgrounds, allotments, and gardens can have on the ways that residents adapt to new technologies within their home. There are also implications for international energy policies on low-energy housing, specifically in relation to energy efficiency technology adaptation and learning.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Gonadal Adipose Tissue in Male Mice Exposed Perinatally to 2,2′,4,4′-Tetrabromodiphenyl Ether (BDE-47)
Authors: Abrha Aser , Suvorov Alexander
Published: March 2018

For the majority of lipophilic compounds, adipose tissue is traditionally considered as a storage depot and only rarely as a target organ. Meanwhile, abnormalities in adipose tissue physiology induced by chemical exposure may contribute to the current epidemic of obesity and metabolic diseases. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a group of lipophilic flame retardants found in the majority of human samples in North America. Their ability to alter the physiology of adipose tissue is unknown. We exposed pregnant mice to 0.2 mg/kg body weight/day of BDE-47 perinatally. Transcriptomic changes in gonadal adipose tissue were analyzed in male offspring using the RNA-seq approach with subsequent bioinformatic analysis. The expression of genes of coagulation and complement cascade, de novo lipogenesis, and xenobiotic metabolism was altered in response to BDE-47 exposure. The affected molecular network included the following hubs: PPARα, HNF1A, and HNF4. These findings suggest that adipose tissue should be considered a target tissue for BDE-47, in addition to its role as a storage depot. This study also builds a background for a targeted search of sensitive phenotypic endpoints of BDE-47 exposure, including lipid profile parameters and coagulation factors in circulation. Additional studies are needed to investigate the role of PBDEs as an obesogen.
Unstructured-Mesh Terrain Analysis and Incident Solar Radiation for Continuous Hydrologic Modeling in Mountain Watersheds
Authors: Moreno Hernan , Ogden Fred , Alvarez Laura
Published: March 2018

This article presents a methodology for estimating total incoming solar radiation from Triangular Irregular Network (TIN) topographic meshes. The algorithm also computes terrain slope degree and aspect (slope orientation) and accounts for self shading and cast shadows, sky view fractions for diffuse radiation, remote albedo and atmospheric backscattering, by using a vectorial approach within a topocentric coordinate system establishing geometric relations between groups of TIN elements and the sun position. A normal vector to the surface of each TIN element describes its slope and aspect while spherical trigonometry allows computing a unit vector defining the position of the sun at each hour and day of the year. Sky view fraction, useful to determine diffuse and backscattered radiation, is computed for each TIN element at prescribed azimuth intervals targeting the steepest elevation gradient. A comparison between the sun zenith angle and the steepest gradient allows deciding whether or not the pivot element is shaded. Finally, remote albedo is computed from the sky view fraction complementary functions for observed albedo values of the surrounding terrain. The sensitivity of the different radiative components to seasonal changes in atmospheric transmissivitties and surrounding albedo is tested in a mountainous watershed in Wyoming. This methodology represents an improvement on the current algorithms to compute terrain and radiation values on unstructured-mesh terrain models. All terrain-related features (e.g., slope, aspect, sky view fraction) can be pre-computed and stored for easy access into a subsequent, progressive-in-time, numerical simulation.
Barriers to Effective Eutrophication Governance: A Comparison of the Baltic Sea and North American Great Lakes
Authors: Jetoo Savitri
Published: March 2018

The Baltic Sea and the North American Great Lakes are two transboundary watersheds that are at risk from similar environmental stressors including nutrient enrichment, hydrologic modifications, chemicals of emerging concern, and the overarching stressor of climate change. Although located in different geographical regions of the world, both watersheds are governed in a multilevel governance setting with many layers of decision makers including global, national, governmental, regional, municipal, and community levels. Despite governance innovations, such as the Helsinki Convention in 1974 and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1972 and their updated versions, both transboundary waters are under increasing stress from eutrophication. There are provisions in both the Helsinki Convention and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement for nutrient abatement measures, yet algal blooms abound in both waters, especially after precipitation events. This paper looks at the governance processes in both transboundary ecosystems, with the aim of highlighting governance barriers to eutrophication mitigation using four analytical lenses. A comparison of the two systems and the governance barriers shows that similar and unique challenges are faced in both regions, and the choice of analytical lens affects the perception of barriers and implementation actions. This is useful for policymakers in planning intervention strategies to tackle the stressor of nutrient enrichment in both regions.
Healthcare-associated infections in the postoperative period after cardiac surgery
Authors: Andrioli Edivete Regina , Cavalheiro Rubens Andrioli , Furtado Guilherme Campos , Gomes Walter José , Medeiros Eduardo Alexandrino
Published: March 2018

Background: This study aimed to determine the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, analyzing data and clinical outcomes in patients with and without HAIs. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study involving 293 consecutive adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery between April 2011 and October 2012. Results: Of the 293 patients, 60 (24.9%) developed 73 HAIs: 24 surgical site infections, 24 pneumonias, 14 urinary tract infections (UTIs), and 11 bloodstream infections (BSIs). The incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia was 14.6 cases/1,000 ventilator-days, whereas that of catheter-associated UTI was 7.15 cases/1,000 catheter-days and that of central line-associated BSI was 4.52 cases/1,000 central line-days. Of the 60 patients with HAIs, 20 (33%) died before postoperative day 90, compared with 18 (7.7%) of the 233 patients without HAIs (P < .001). Independent variables associated with infection were length of hospital stay (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06; P = .002), duration of urinary catheter use (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.07-1.13; P = .001), and duration of central line use (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .032). Independent variables associated with mortality were Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (OR, 1.27; 95% CI 1.14-1.42; P < .001), pneumonia (OR, 11.94; 95% CI, 3.83-37.17; P < .001), UTI (OR, 8.59; 95% CI, 1.91-38.7; P = .005), and BSI (OR, 6.16; 95% CI, 1.08-34.98; P = .040). Conclusion: Among the most important complications after cardiac surgery are HAIs. Patients who experience postoperative infections have increased length of hospital stay and mortality.
Bacteriological quality evaluation of bedpans in a university hospital
Authors: Bros Aurélie , Deboscker S , Mielcarek M , Foeglé J , Hernandez C , Ménard C , Belotti L , Lavigne T
Published: March 2018

According to the Centers of Disease Control and prevention recommendations, it is necessary to restrain the emergence of multiresistant microorganisms at hospital and control cross-transmission among patients. In this context, one of the main points is the daily strict management of excreta in the care units. We aim to evaluate the safety of reusable bedpans, from a bacteriological point of view, after passing through bedpan washers in our hospital. The present study was conducted from 15 January 2015 to 27 February 2015 in Strasbourg Hospital University. 25 bedpan washers were selected. Three bedpans per bedpan washer were collected for bacterial analysis after cleaning and disinfection. Samples were performed in real conditions, i.e. patients used bedpans without protective bag before passing through bedpan washers. There was no growth (≤1 CFU/25cm2) in 75.3% (55/73) of the samples and 95.8% (70/73) had a result which was below the target value (≤25 CFU/25cm2). Only 3 samples (4.1%), from different bedpan washers, have a result above the target value. A third of the identified bacteria were environmental microorganisms and 2 thirds were skin flora. No indicator microorganism was identified (Staphylococcus aureus, enterobacteria, enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas sp, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Acinetobacter spp., Candida spp., filamentous fungi). The effectiveness of bedpan washers is quite acceptable regarding the bactericidal activity. Indeed, we expected less good results since a small amount of bedpans are visibly soiled at the end of the cycle. However, it would be of interest to perform a second study evaluating the virucidal and sporicidal activity of the bedpan washers.
Dynamical Analysis of the Circumprimary Planet in the Eccentric Binary System HD 59686
Authors: Trifonov Trifon , Lee Man Hoi , Reffert Sabine , Quirrenbach Andreas
Published: March 2018

We present a detailed orbital and stability analysis of the HD 59686 binary-star planet system. HD 59686 is a single-lined, moderately close (a

B
 = 13.6 au) eccentric (e

B
 = 0.73) binary, where the primary is an evolved K giant with mass M = 1.9 M
⊙ and the secondary is a star with a minimum mass of m

B
 = 0.53 M
⊙. Additionally, on the basis of precise radial velocity (RV) data, a Jovian planet with a minimum mass of m

p
 = 7 M
Jup, orbiting the primary on a nearly circular S-type orbit with e

p
 = 0.05 and a

p
 = 1.09 au, has recently been announced. We investigate large sets of orbital fits consistent with HD 59686's RV data by applying bootstrap and systematic grid search techniques coupled with self-consistent dynamical fitting. We perform long-term dynamical integrations of these fits to constrain the permitted orbital configurations. We find that if the binary and the planet in this system have prograde and aligned coplanar orbits, there are narrow regions of stable orbital solutions locked in a secular apsidal alignment with the angle between the periapses, Δω, librating about 0°. We also test a large number of mutually inclined dynamical models in an attempt to constrain the three-dimensional orbital architecture. We find that for nearly coplanar and retrograde orbits with mutual inclination 145° ≲ Δi ≤ 180°, the system is fully stable for a large range of orbital solutions.
Active Galactic Nuclei Feedback and the Origin and Fate of the Hot Gas in Early-type Galaxies
Authors: Pellegrini Silvia , Ciotti Luca , Negri Andrea , Ostriker Jeremiah P.
Published: March 2018

A recent determination of the relationships between the X-ray luminosity of the ISM (L
X) and the stellar and total mass for a sample of nearby early-type galaxies (ETGs) is used to investigate the origin of the hot gas, via a comparison with the results of hydrodynamical simulations of the ISM evolution for a large set of isolated ETGs. After the epoch of major galaxy formation (after z ≃ 2), the ISM is replenished by stellar mass losses and SN ejecta, at the rate predicted by stellar evolution, and is depleted by star formation; it is heated by the thermalization of stellar motions, SNe explosions, and the mechanical (from winds) and radiative AGN feedback. The models agree well with the observed relations, even for the largely different L
X values at the same mass, thanks to the sensitivity of the gas flow to many galaxy properties; this holds for models including AGN feedback, and those without. Therefore, the mass input from the stellar population is able to account for a major part of the observed L
X; and AGN feedback, while very important to maintain massive ETGs in a time-averaged quasi-steady state, keeping low star formation and the black hole mass, does not dramatically alter the gas content originating in stellar recycled material. These conclusions are based on theoretical predictions for the stellar population contributions in mass and energy, and on a self-consistent modeling of AGN feedback.
Early-type Galaxy Spin Evolution in the Horizon-AGN Simulation
Authors: Choi Hoseung , Yi Sukyoung K. , Dubois Yohan , Kimm Taysun , Devriendt Julien. E. G. , Pichon Christophe
Published: March 2018

Using the Horizon-AGN simulation data, we study the relative role of mergers and environmental effects in shaping the spin of early-type galaxies (ETGs) after z ≃ 1. We follow the spin evolution of 10,037 color-selected ETGs more massive than

that are divided into four groups: cluster centrals (3%), cluster satellites (33%), group centrals (5%), and field ETGs (59%). We find a strong mass dependence of the slow rotator fraction, f
SR, and the mean spin of massive ETGs. Although we do not find a clear environmental dependence of f
SR, a weak trend is seen in the mean value of the spin parameter driven by the satellite ETGs as they gradually lose their spin as their environment becomes denser. Galaxy mergers appear to be the main cause of total spin changes in 94% of the central ETGs of halos with

, but only 22% of satellite and field ETGs. We find that non-merger-induced tidal perturbations better correlate with the galaxy spin down in satellite ETGs than in mergers. Given that the majority of ETGs are not central in dense environments, we conclude that non-merger tidal perturbation effects played a key role in the spin evolution of ETGs observed in the local (z < 1) universe.
Impact of Cosmic-Ray Transport on Galactic Winds
Authors: Farber R. , Ruszkowski M. , Yang H.-Y. K. , Zweibel E. G.
Published: March 2018

The role of cosmic rays generated by supernovae and young stars has very recently begun to receive significant attention in studies of galaxy formation and evolution due to the realization that cosmic rays can efficiently accelerate galactic winds. Microscopic cosmic-ray transport processes are fundamental for determining the efficiency of cosmic-ray wind driving. Previous studies modeled cosmic-ray transport either via a constant diffusion coefficient or via streaming proportional to the Alfvén speed. However, in predominantly cold, neutral gas, cosmic rays can propagate faster than in the ionized medium, and the effective transport can be substantially larger; i.e., cosmic rays can decouple from the gas. We perform three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamical simulations of patches of galactic disks including the effects of cosmic rays. Our simulations include the decoupling of cosmic rays in the cold, neutral interstellar medium. We find that, compared to the ordinary diffusive cosmic-ray transport case, accounting for the decoupling leads to significantly different wind properties, such as the gas density and temperature, significantly broader spatial distribution of cosmic rays, and higher wind speed. These results have implications for X-ray, γ-ray, and radio emission, and for the magnetization and pollution of the circumgalactic medium by cosmic rays.
Large-scale Environment of a z = 6.61 Luminous Quasar Probed by Lyα Emitters and Lyman Break Galaxies∗
Authors: Ota Kazuaki , Venemans Bram P. , Taniguchi Yoshiaki , Kashikawa Nobunari , Nakata Fumiaki , Harikane Yuichi , Bañados Eduardo , Overzier Roderik , Riechers Dominik A. , Walter Fabian , Toshikawa Jun , Shibuya Takatoshi , Jiang Linhua
Published: March 2018

Quasars (QSOs) hosting supermassive black holes are believed to reside in massive halos harboring galaxy overdensities. However, many observations revealed average or low galaxy densities around z ≳ 6 QSOs. This could be partly because they measured galaxy densities in only tens of arcmin2 around QSOs and might have overlooked potential larger-scale galaxy overdensities. Some previous studies also observed only Lyman break galaxies (LBGs; massive older galaxies) and missed low-mass young galaxies, like Lyα emitters (LAEs), around QSOs. Here we present observations of LAE and LBG candidates in ∼700 arcmin2 around a z = 6.61 luminous QSO using the Subaru Telescope Suprime-Cam with narrowband/broadband. We compare their sky distributions, number densities, and angular correlation functions with those of LAEs/LBGs detected in the same manner and comparable data quality in our control blank field. In the QSO field, LAEs and LBGs are clustering in 4–20 comoving Mpc angular scales, but LAEs show mostly underdensity over the field while LBGs are forming 30 × 60 comoving Mpc2 large-scale structure containing 3σ–7σ high-density clumps. The highest-density clump includes a bright (23.78 mag in the narrowband) extended (≳16 kpc) Lyα blob candidate, indicative of a dense environment. The QSO could be part of the structure but is not located exactly at any of the high-density peaks. Near the QSO, LAEs show underdensity while LBGs average to 4σ excess densities compared to the control field. If these environments reflect halo mass, the QSO may not be in the most massive halo but still in a moderately massive one.
Stability of the Broad-line Region Geometry and Dynamics in Arp 151 Over Seven Years
Authors: Pancoast A. , Barth A. J. , Horne K. , Treu T. , Brewer B. J. , Bennert V. N. , Canalizo G. , Gates E. L. , Li W. , Malkan M. A. , Sand D. , Schmidt T. , Valenti S. , Woo J.-H. , Clubb K. I. , Cooper M. C. , Crawford S. M. , Hönig S. F. , Joner M. D. , Kandrashoff M. T. , Lazarova M. , Nierenberg A. M. , Romero-Colmenero E. , Son D. , Tollerud E. , Walsh J. L. , Winkler H.
Published: March 2018

The Seyfert 1 galaxy Arp 151 was monitored as part of three reverberation mapping campaigns spanning 2008–2015. We present modeling of these velocity-resolved reverberation mapping data sets using a geometric and dynamical model for the broad-line region (BLR). By modeling each of the three data sets independently, we infer the evolution of the BLR structure in Arp 151 over a total of 7 yr and constrain the systematic uncertainties in nonvarying parameters such as the black hole mass. We find that the BLR geometry of a thick disk viewed close to face-on is stable over this time, although the size of the BLR grows by a factor of ∼2. The dynamics of the BLR are dominated by inflow, and the inferred black hole mass is consistent for the three data sets, despite the increase in BLR size. Combining the inference for the three data sets yields a black hole mass and statistical uncertainty of log10(

/

) = 

with a standard deviation in individual measurements of 0.13 dex.
Les trouvailleurs soucieux…
Authors: Rouzel Joseph
Published: March 2018

Une dérive gestionnaire, un management débridé, une organisation du travail taylorienne… auraient-ils eu la peau de ce qui fonde le cœur de la pratique en travail social : à savoir une clinique de la rencontre humaine, hors de laquelle tout acte technique s’avère porter à faux ? Or la clinique elle-même, sur le terrain comme en formation, ne se soutient que de ses appuis institutionnels, politiques, éthiques.
Écriture collaborative helvético-marocaine
Authors: Bassitoun Sanaa , Rion Valéry
Published: March 2018

Notre contribution tend à montrer le rôle des outils numériques en ligne dans la formation littéraire et culturelle des élèves. Il s’agit de présenter une expérience d’écriture collaborative menée avec deux groupes de lycéens que tout sépare : les références socioculturelles, l’espace géographique et le parcours scolaire. Un groupe marocain arabophone et un autre suisse germanophone ont échangé leurs points de vue autour d’une œuvre littéraire, L’Œil du loup de Daniel Pennac, pour construire ensemble un commentaire littéraire. L’intérêt de ces échanges interculturels est de mesurer l’impact de l’écriture collaborative entre groupes de références socioculturelles différentes sur l’apprentissage effectif des élèves et leur rapport à la littérature : dans quelle mesure l’écriture collaborative autour d’une œuvre littéraire concourt-elle à l’amélioration de la qualité des textes produits et favorise-t-elle l’ouverture culturelle ?
W.G. Sebald et Au regard du regard de John Berger : du retable d’Issenheim au regard des animaux
Authors: Toubert Victor
Published: March 2018

W.G. Sebald découvre les livres de John Berger au début des années 1980, avant qu’il n’ait véritablement commencé sa carrière littéraire. Cette lecture semble déterminante dans la précision de certaines orientations de l’œuvre de Sebald. Les rapports entre Sebald et Berger ne se limitent pas à un intérêt commun pour les relations entre le texte et l’image, et Sebald reprendra, dans plusieurs de ses œuvres et de ses essais critiques, des thèmes développés par John Berger dans Au regard du regard , comme en particulier l’étude du retable d’Issenheim et l’attention portée au regard des animaux.
D'une redéfinition de la littérature mineure
Authors: Klein Rony
Published: March 2018

L'article propose un retour critique sur la notion de « littérature mineure », forgée par Gilles Deleuze et Félix Guattari en 1975 à propos de Kafka dans Kafka – Pour une littérature mineure . Tout d'abord, il procède à une lecture du texte de 1975 en montrant comment les catégories servant à définir la « littérature mineure » proviennent d'une approche originellement non littéraire, mais philosophique et politique, celle de L'Anti-Œdipe . Ensuite, il inscrit la notion dans le contexte des théories littéraires du xx e siècle, notamment celle Walter Benjamin et de Roland Barthes, en montrant que certaines intuitions des auteurs du Kafka se trouvent déjà en filigrane chez eux, mais ancrées dans une approche plus directement littéraire que philosophique ou politique.
« Madame est sortie. » Parcours féminins dans le roman bruxellois de la seconde moitié du XIX e siècle
Authors: Brogniez Laurence
Published: March 2018

Si, dans le Bruxelles du xix e  siècle, le flâneur arpente librement la cité en quête d’observations et autres plaisirs, la femme qui se hasarde seule sur les trottoirs apparaît comme une créature suspecte, dont les déplacements sont surveillés, contrôlés, voire censurés. La ville est l’un des lieux où s’actualisent de manière très concrète les rôles sociaux de sexe : les pratiques urbaines des femmes, tantôt porteuses d’aliénation, tantôt d’émancipation, ont contribué au fil de l’histoire à conforter ou à bouleverser les normes genrées. Trois romans réalistes belges sont ici étudiés dans cette perspective spatiale : Une Parisienne à Bruxelles de Caroline Gravière (1875), Insurgée de Marguerite Van De Wiele (1890), Keetje de Neel Doff (1919). Ils cherchent à reproduire cette réalité qu’est la place des femmes dans la ville, mais contribuent surtout, par l’élaboration de nouveaux modèles, à la mettre en question et à la faire évoluer.
Le naturel dans la théâtralité baudelairienne
Authors: Tsukiyama Kazuya
Published: March 2018

Roland Barthes signale le caractère particulier de la théâtralité baudelairienne : elle fuit le théâtre et s’infiltre dans tous les autres domaines. Tout est donc théâtral chez le poète sauf, paradoxalement, ses projets de théâtre avortés. Or sa théâtralité n’a rien à avoir avec la prédominance de l’illusion sur la réalité : elle accorde de la valeur à tout ce qui est vraiment réel et sincère, à savoir « le naturel » au sens théâtral du terme. Elle concerne surtout la relation du sujet avec un monde investi d’une faculté virtuelle, où il doit se comporter d’une façon tout aussi naturelle qu’artificielle. C’est assurément la condition de l’acteur qui incarne une personnalité autre que la sienne, mais aussi celle des personnages que Baudelaire invoque dans ses poèmes en prose ou dans ses Salons , et celle de l’artiste lui-même qui doit être conscient de sa double nature.
Creating LGBTQ-Inclusive Care and Work Environments
Authors: Jones-Schenk Jan
Published: March 2018

In considering the full depth of inclusion in care and work environments (and developing inclusive engagement skills for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning [LGBTQ] patients and their families), professional development leaders must bring these discussions and shared learnings into the open. Understanding the LGBTQ population's unique needs is essential to providing personalized health care, and inclusive work environments help to foster more inclusive care for this population.

J Contin Educ Nurs.
2018;49(4):151–153.
Using Systems Thinking to Advance Global Health Engagement in Education and Practice
Authors: Phillips Janet M. , Stalter Ann M.
Published: March 2018

The integration of global health into nursing practice within complex systems requires a strategic approach. The System-Level Awareness Model (SAM) can be used to guide the process of enhancing systems thinking for global health. The purpose of this article is to explain the SAM and how to use it for integrating systems thinking into nursing education in academic, professional development, and continuing education settings to promote global health across the nursing continuum. Tips are provided on how to teach systems thinking for global health in nursing education and practice, consistent with continuing education national learning competencies for health care professionals.

J Contin Educ Nurs.
2018;49(4):154–156
Team Teaching in Nursing Education
Authors: Hellier Susan , Davidson Lynda
Published: March 2018

Team teaching is used to describe a broad array of teaching configurations that offer benefits to students that cannot be duplicated by a single educator. Although articles and books have been written to describe team teaching in other fields, little has been written about team teaching in nursing. In a field with clinical application, team teaching offers more richness in perspective when there are two complimentary educators teaching the content. The opportunity to learn from a colleague, while guiding students, is an added benefit of team teaching. We are in an era of competition for employees and students, so institutions with a reputation for creating a commitment to learning have an advantage. Students who have the benefit of a strong team to guide their learning are more often positive ambassadors for their institution. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of team teaching as experienced by two nurse educators.

J Contin Educ Nurs.
2018;49(4):186–192.
1x1 Trainer with Handwriting Recognition
Authors: Rabko Michael , Ebner Martin
Published: March 2018

Nowadays, computers and mobile devices play a huge role in our daily routines; they are used at work, for private purposes and even at school. Moreover, they are used as support for different kinds of activities and task, like for example, learning applications. The interaction of these applications with a computer is based on predefined input methods, whereas a touchscreen facilitates direct input via handwriting by using a finger or a pen.
This paper deals with the invention of a mobile learning application, which is supposed to facilitate children’s learning of simple multiplication. The aim of this paper is to collect the data of children’ experiences using interactive handwriting on mobile devices. In order to gain this data, a school class of the school “Graz-Hirten” was tested and afterwards for evaluational purposes interviewed. The results of these usability tests have shown that children perceived handwriting via finger on screen as quite positive.
Mobile Learning for Early Detection of Cancer
Authors: Muljo Hery Harjono , Perbangsa Anzaludin Samsinga , Yulius Yulius , Pardamean Bens
Published: March 2018

Information and communication technology continues to grow and affects many areas of life, including the field of health, especially cancer. The development of health knowledge can be disseminated by utilizing mobile application based learning technology as media. Many things have been done by the government through special programs, among others, carried out breast cancer awareness campaign through breast self-screening program. The positive impact of this effort has led to mobile applications for learning about early detection of cancer in Indonesia. The development of mobile learning is a continuation of previous online learning to help the process of early detection of cervical cancer. Data collection methods used observation, interview, and questionnaire techniques, while instructional designs use the ADDIE (Analysis Design Development Implementation Evaluations) model and methods for developing object-oriented programming systems using Unified Modeling Language (UML). The resulting output is the application of early detection of cancer-based mobile learning which is the virtue of this study.
User Experience Design of Stroke Patient Communications Using Mobile Finger (MOFI) Communication Board With User Center Design Approach
Authors: Priana Aan Jelli , Tolle Hermann , Aknuranda Ismiarta , Aristijono Eko
Published: March 2018

Stroke has become a phenomenon in Indonesia. From 2014 to mid-2015, the disease is the first cause of death in Indonesia. This is of particular concern to the Ministry of Health so that the prevention, treatment, and prevention of stroke is further enhanced. The condition of stroke patients whose movements are limited is exacerbated by the psychic condition of patients who are unable to communicate pressure will cause obstacles to the healing process of the patient. This research proposes a stroke patient communication media by applying the technology of Mobile Finger Communication Board and user center design approach (UCD). This communication board is operated using the patient's fingers so that it is comfortable for everyday activities. Mobile Finger Communication Board Design based on five planes of user experience. The result of Mobile Finger Communication Board implementation shows that application usability level seen from perception and ergonomic point of view shows satisfaction index of the user at the satisfactory level so that it can be said that the system works with the satisfactory result of the users. It is expected that with a convenient Mobile Finger Communication Board can support the healing process of stroke so that the healing rate of stroke is increasing.

 
Investigating the Moderating Effects of Self-Efficacy, Age and Gender in the Context of Nursing Mobile Decision Support Systems Adoption: A Developing Country Perspective
Authors: Jaradat Mohammed-issa R , Imlawi Jehad , Mashaqba Abedalellah
Published: March 2018

Health professionals are increasingly using and relying on mobile applications to support their decisions in Jordan. Nursing staff have the opportunity to use a wide variety of already existed mobile applications to support their tasks when providing health services to both inpatients and outpatients.

This study attempted to investigate the key factors that affect adoption of mobile applications that support nursing staff health decision making in Jordan. These key factors include perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norms, job relevance, perceptions of external control. In addition, this study intended to investigate the moderating effect of self-efficacy, age and gender.
The study validated the proposed model using data collected from 241 nursing staff in three public and private hospitals in Jordan. Results show that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are the most important factors in determining individual’s behavioral intention to adopt the mobile application in their decision support processes.
The movement of fly (Diptera) larvae within a feeding aggregation
Authors: Heaton Vivienne , Moffatt Colin , Simmons Tal
Published: March 2018

Dipteran larvae from a number of families feed in aggregations. Rotation of blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae within an aggregation has been reported anecdotally many times. However, there is a lack of quantitative data on such larval movement, which is necessary to better understand the advantage of this gregarious behaviour. A recent development in tagging methods provided an opportunity to address this gap in knowledge. In 15 aggregations of 500 Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae, the location of four-tagged individuals was recorded at 10-minute intervals. All larvae were seen to rotate, alternating between the periphery and within. There was much variation in the relative proportions that larvae were seen in these two locations among aggregations (χ2=78.4, df=58, P=0.038), perhaps as a result of differences in mass shape and, therefore, surface area: volume ratio. There were also differences between larvae within aggregations (χ2=25.6, df=14, P=0.029), which may give rise to differences in development rate, perhaps as a result of intraspecific competition. Further work would be required to verify this competition, and to establish whether the limited resource is temperature, food, oxygen, or some other requirement.
Human–social capital and market access factors influencing agro-processing participation by small-scale agripreneurs: The moderating effects of transaction costs
Authors: Thindisa Lesibana M.V. , Urban Boris
Published: March 2018

Orientation: Participating in the agriculture and agro-processing chain has the potential to enhance the competitive advantage of small-scale agricultural enterprises in South Africa.Research purpose: The study empirically investigated the extent to which agro-processing participation is determined by human and social capital factors, while accounting for the moderating effects of transaction costs.Motivation of the study: Research is required that examines levels of human and social capital of small-scale agripreneurs, as these act as major constraints towards improved competitiveness of agribusinesses.Design: To test the study hypotheses, a structured questionnaire was administered to 166 small-scale agripreneurs at farmer gatherings across regions in South Africa.Findings: Based on the survey results, both human and social capital factors showed a positive and significant influence on agro-processing participation. The findings further highlight the importance of market access and transaction costs to small-scale agripreneurs.Practical implications: Policy-makers need to be aware of how human capital factors such as previous education and experience impact participation in agro-processing activities and help to mitigate transaction costs.Contribution: Study findings are highly relevant to South Africa as agro-processing and value-adding activities are not always scale dependent, and hence, a focus on human and social capital is valuable.
Diagnosing monitoring and evaluation capacity in Africa
Authors: Blaser Mapitsa Caitlin , Khumalo Linda
Published: March 2018

Background: Since 2015, the Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results-Anglophone Africa (CLEAR-AA) has implemented more than seven diagnostic tools to better understand monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems in the region. Through the process of adapting global tools to make them more appropriate to an African context, CLEAR-AA has learned several lessons about contextually relevant definitions and boundaries of M&E systems.Objectives: This article aims to share lessons learned from adapting and implementing a range of global tools in an African context, and puts forward certain key criteria for a ‘Made in Africa’ tool to better understand M&E systems in the region.Method: This article reviews CLEAR-AA’s diagnostic tools, as well as global good practice diagnostic tools, and compares the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. It further looks at the implementation of specific tools in context and proposes components on the basis of these lessons.Results: This review has found that most M&E tools have a heavy focus on the technical and contextual aspects of M&E but very few do a thorough job of accommodating the institutional factors. Furthermore, the relationship between the technical elements, the institutional elements and the organisational culture elements has not been made apparent.Conclusion: A contextually relevant diagnostic tool for M&E systems will balance technical considerations of capacity, institutional factors and issues of organisational culture. Drawing on approaches from organisational change may be of help to strengthen our tool development endeavours.
An analysis of trunk kinematics and gait parameters in people with stroke
Authors: Titus Adnil W. , Hillier Susan , Louw Quinette A. , Inglis-Jassiem Gakeemah
Published: March 2018

Background: Approximately two out of three people with stroke experience gait problems. Trunk movement control and symmetry is an important prerequisite for functional walking gait. Movement control, measured objectively as kinematics during walking gait, is rarely investigated.Objective: To describe the three-dimensional (3D) kinematics of the trunk during gait in people with stroke, including key spatiotemporal characteristics.Methodology: A total of 17 adults with stroke who met the inclusion criteria were selected to participate in this cross-sectional pilot study. An eight-camera T-10 Vicon system with Nexus 1.8 software (Vicon Motion System Limited, Oxford, UK) was used to analyse the 3D kinematics of the trunk during self-selected walking speed. Trunk kinematics throughout the gait cycle and spatiotemporal parameters were extracted using custom-built scripts in MATLAB used at the Stellenbosch University Movement Analysis Laboratory. Stata Version 12.1 software was used to assess differences in trunk kinematics between the affected and unaffected sides during gait using the Sign test (statistical significance level p  0.05).Results: Participants achieved functional gait speeds although they presented with asymmetrical trunk kinematics. During the full gait cycle, there were statistically significant differences of trunk motion between the affected and unaffected sides in the coronal plane (p  0.001). There were statistically significant differences in the trunk kinematics between the affected side and unaffected sides at initial contact (p  0.001) and foot off (p  0.049) in the coronal plane as well as at initial contact (p  0.000) and foot off (p  0.013) in the transverse plane.Conclusion: This pilot study found significant asymmetry in trunk motion between the affected and unaffected sides that varied across the gait cycle. This suggests the trunk may need to be targeted in clinical gait retraining post-stroke.
Developing leaders by supporting their transitions into senior positions
Authors: Terblanche Nicky H.D. , Albertyn Ruth M. , Van Coller-Peter Salome
Published: March 2018

The need for social transformation in South Africa is intrinsically linked to the transformation of corporate South Africa. Strong senior leadership is required to ensure that organisations remain sustainable during this transformation. There is, however, a shortage of skilled senior leaders, hence the need for leadership development. When leaders transition into senior positions, they face a plethora of personal and systemic challenges. Many fail with resulting disastrous effects on individual (micro) and organisational (macro) levels. This research investigates the challenges faced by newly promoted senior leaders in order to lay the groundwork for designing support strategies for individuals and organisations. The qualitative findings suggest that leadership transitions present unexpected challenges on a personal and systemic level to such individuals and that they do not receive adequate support from their organisations. For transformation to be successful and sustainable on macro level, concurrent and appropriate micro-level support and development are essential.
Why do closed-end funds repurchase stock?
Authors: Yang Tianna
Published: March 2018

With special institutional characteristics and regulatory requirements, what factors can motivate UK closed-end funds to engage in open-market repurchases? Investigating repurchase transactions on financial-year basis, I find that funds repurchase shares to reduce discounts and to increase the net asset value per share, as directors claim, but not to increase fund liquidity. I also find that funds repurchase shares to increase leverage ratios. Unlike conventional firms, neither distributing excess cash nor substituting dividend payouts promote fund repurchases. Fund size has a negative effect on repurchase decision.
The impact of fiscal policies on corruption: A panel analysis
Authors: Achim Monica V. , Borlea Sorin N. , Anghelina Andrei M.
Published: March 2018

This article seeks to complement the previous literature and clarify whether fiscal policy plays a role in the level of corruption of a country. The present work investigates whether the increase in fiscal pressure leads to a higher level of corruption and whether the results differ from developed to developing countries. This article examines a large sample consisting of over 185 countries, during the period 2005–2014. The technique employed was short panel data. Five statistical models were used such as the pooled OLS, pooled FGLS, within model, between model and random-effects GLS model. Our main contribution consists in finding differentiated results of the influence of fiscal policy on the level of corruption among developed and developing countries. For developed countries, we found that, with high-quality institutions, low fiscal pressure leads to a lower level of corruption, which is in line with expectations. Conversely, in developing countries, with low-level institutional quality, low fiscal pressure increases corruption, because of low governance efficiency under which people may easily circumvent the law. Our findings suggest that governments and policy-makers need to acknowledge that the anti-corruption fight requires not only the right fiscal policies but also the right way of implementing these policies, recognising the role of quality institutions, which need to prevail in any country.
Segregation of solid waste from a fish-processing industry: a sustainable action
Authors: Silva Yeda Dos Santos , Naval Liliana Pena
Published: March 2018

Segregation techniques represent a sustainable alternative to minimize wastes of raw material in processing industries. This study considered the premise; its purpose was to use segregation techniques to determine the theoretical removal rate of solid compounds present in processing effluents, in order to support the sustainable development of the fish industry. The removal rates obtained for different treatments were evaluated for the parameters: total solids, organic matter and oils and greases, and the efficiency of the segregation of the effluent streams in the different stages of fish processing was evaluated through descriptive statistical analysis. The segregation recovered from 31% to 70% of total solids; from 15% to 97.50% of organic matter, and from 10% to 63% of oils and greases. These results indicates that the raw material can be used in new products, leading to reduced final-effluent concentration.
Effects of different operating conditions on total nitrogen removal routes and nitrous oxide emissions in a lab-scale activated sludge system
Authors: Ribeiro Renato Pereira , Kligerman Débora Cynamon , Mello William Zamboni de , Silva Denise Da Piedade , Correia Renatah Da Fonseca , Oliveira Jaime Lopes da Mota
Published: March 2018

This study sought to determine the effects of different operating conditions, such as variable organic loading, different sludge retention times (SRTs) and airflow rates, limited dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and ammonium (NH4+) shock loading on total nitrogen (TN) removal routes and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in a lab-scale activated sludge system. Short SRT (5 days) combined with very low DO levels (0.5 mg L-1) were responsible for lower TKN oxidation efficiencies and, consequently, negligible NO2- accumulation rates. These results suggest that nitrification efficiency was hampered by the oxidation of organic matter, with a large part of TN removed by sludge waste process. As the SRT increased (from 5 to 10 days) and DO was set to 1.0 mg L-1, TKN oxidation rates and NO2- accumulation reached their maxima, which are thought to be the optimal conditions for both organic matter oxidation and partial nitrification. Under these conditions, gas transfer to the atmosphere became the preferential route for TN removal instead of incorporation into the sludge waste. However, N2O contribution is estimated as less than 5.6% (with respect to TN in the influent). Insufficient aeration and stress conditions (such as NH4+ shock loading) can cause limited DO conditions and NO2- accumulation, leading to higher amounts of emitted N2O. Therefore, the adequate control of DO concentrations is a key factor to avoid NO2- accumulation and consequently high N2O emissions.
Use of agricultural and agroindustrial residues as alternative adsorbents of manganese and iron in aqueous solution
Authors: Furlan Fernanda Lansa , Filho Nelson Consolin , Consolin Marcilene Ferrari Barriquello , Gonçalves Morgana Suzsek , Valderrama Patrícia , Genena Aziza Kamal
Published: March 2018

The increase in the volume of agricultural and agroindustrial waste, associated with improper disposal, is a growing worldwide problem. The recovery of those residues is of crucial importance, since it reduces environmental impacts, protects public health, and allows the addition of value to the materials. One of the ways of exploiting adsorbents is related to the capacity of some wastes to be used as alternative adsorbents in the efficient removal of microcontaminants in aqueous systems. This work assessed the use of agricultural and agroindustrial residues: maize straw, wheat straw, soybean straw and soybean hulls for the production of alternative adsorbents to remove iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in water. For each residue investigated, two different polymers were obtained for use as adsorbents, a natural polymer (cellulose/lignin) and an EDTA-modified polymer (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). The adsorbents were characterized through FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and nitrogen content. To evaluate the efficiency of the adsorbents, kinetic tests in batch mode and determination of Lagergren pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic constants were performed. The results found that the modified polymer obtained from soybean hulls (SHE) showed increased Fe (96%) and Mn (88%) removal rate, in which the pseudo-second order kinetic model presented closer results between the experimental adsorption rates and the calculated ones for the two microcontaminants under study. In general, the modified soybean hulls proved to be a promising alternative adsorbent for the removal of iron and manganese in water treatment.