bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aspectos sustanciales de la responsabilidad fiscal en Colombia
Authors: Sánchez Carlos Ariel
Published: September 2017

El presente artículo tiene como objeto evaluar los elementos sustantivos de la Responsabilidad Fiscal, la cual se fundamenta a su turno en las condiciones básicas requeridas para el ejercicio del control fiscal. En el mundo contemporáneo se entiende el ejercicio del control fiscal como un modelo que desarrolla los principios democráticos, por lo que el control excede el marco histórico de la tridivisión del poder. Dentro de este marco se examinará el contexto constitucional y legal de la responsabilidad fiscal, por lo cual se establecerán las relaciones existentes entre la gestión fiscal, la vigilancia fiscal y la responsabilidad fiscal. Se deducirán de dicho marco constitucional las notas esenciales de la responsabilidad fiscal, permitiendo tales características diferenciar tal responsabilidad de otros tipos de responsabilidad de que puede ser objeto el gestor público. Finalmente, es menester analizar los elementos que constituyen la responsabilidad fiscal, sin los cuales no es posible concretar tal responsabilidad.
LA RELEVANCIA DEL OTRO EN LA FILOSOFÍA SARTREANA
Authors: Bayarres Marta
Published: September 2017

El propósito que perseguimos en este artículo es aproximarnos a la Filosofía de Jean Paul Sartre tomando como eje central del mismo, como el título lo indica, la relevancia del OTRO en la constitución del YO. Con ese objetivo nos hemos apoyado en algunas partes de sus obras en las que aparece el tratamiento del tema. Consideramos importante tomar como una de las fuentes su primer ensayo de corte filosófico, “La trascendencia del Ego”, no solamente porque no es una de las obras más difundidas, sino porque además contiene importantes aportes, algunos de los cuales serán luego retomados por su autor en “El ser y la Nada”. Tal vez el fin fundamental que perseguimos en el artículo es mostrar la posición del filósofo francés en lo que respecta a la necesidad de que el hombre tome conciencia de su necesidad del prójimo para que exista él y para que podamos pensar que somos quienes somos porque existen los demás. En otras palabras, si hay mundo es porque hay otros. Sin los demás no soy ni existe el mundo.
Régimen de insolvencia empresarial: Propuesta de unificación de los privilegios concursales para los países miembros de la comunidad andina de naciones. Estado del arte
Authors: Fonseca López Sandra Julieta
Published: September 2017

En el contexto mundial actual de globalización y apertura de fronteras, los negocios y las economías transfronterizas representan un sector en rápida evolución y las transacciones comerciales adquieren un mayor dinamismo impulsadas fundamentalmente por la estructura jurídica de la sociedades que cada día dan origen a operaciones jurídicas mas complejas. Esta realidad impone nuevos retos a las legislaciones nacionales que no se encuentran preparadas para enfrentar las exigencias del tráfico mercantil moderno. En áreas de cooperación o en proceso de futura integración, juega un papel muy importante el tema de la armonización y unificación del derecho concursal, por lo que los países deberán adoptar regímenes armónicos, modernos y eficientes que garanticen a sociedades, empresarios e inversionistas, tener certeza sobre la legislación a la que se acogen dentro del desarrollo de sus negocios.
Un diagnóstico a la enseñanza de la ciencia política en Colombia
Authors: Cuellar Argote Julián Andrés
Published: September 2017

¿Cuál es el alcance de los programas académicos en la distintas universidades que ofrecen programas de formación en Ciencia Política a nivel de pregrado (licenciatura) en las universidades en Colombia?, ¿cómo se construye la malla curricular de cada uno de estos programas académicos?, ¿a qué responden?, ¿qué debate guía la denominación académica de los programas ofrecidos por estas universidades?, ¿cuál es el objetivo de formación de cada universidad, le impregnan a los politólogos este objetivo?. Estas son las preguntas que a la hora de formular un programa académico en Ciencia Política en principio orientan la creación de los mismos. Sin embargo, los politólogos poco o nada hablan al respecto, no se reflexiona alrededor del alcance de la formación de los politólogos colombianos. Pese a ello, la preocupación y la necesidad de presentar en forma explícita cuáles son las características de la ciencia política en términos de la formación profesional es hoy más que urgente. Así el presente trabajo pretende ofrecer al lector un primer acercamiento y si se quiere una valoración al proceso de formación de los politólogos colombianos con base en catorce programas de formación académica actualmente en funcionamiento y debidamente registrados en el Sistema Nacional de Información de la Educación Superior SNIES
La Distribución de Competencias entre el Poder Central y las Autonomías Territoriales en los Modelos Federales Europeos
Authors: Girón Reguera Emilia
Published: September 2017

El artículo describe los sistemas de reparto competencial entre la Federación y los Estados Miembros en Alemania, Austria, Bélgica y Suiza. Subraya el importante papel que para su óptimo funcionamiento juegan dos instituciones: la Cámara Parlamentaria de Representación Territorial y el Tribunal Constitucional Federal. La aproximación a estas cuestiones de los Estados federales reviste interés en un momento en el que se discute la reestructuración del modelo territorial colombiano, por cuanto son tareas ineludibles en todo Estado que, como Colombia, pretenda ahondar y avanzar en el sendero de la descentralización política: la regulación de una nítida delimitación de competencias, complementada con adecuados mecanismos de cooperación; la configuración de una Cámara parlamentaria de carácter territorial que sea un cauce eficaz donde las entidades territoriales intermedias puedan hacer valer sus intereses en la elaboración y aprobación de las leyes de la República- y la existencia de un órgano jurisdiccional independiente para la resolución de los conflictos territoriales.
El Desarrollo Humano en Colombia
Authors: Fajardo Arturo Luis Andrés
Published: September 2017

El Desarrollo Humano, según la normativa internacional, es un derecho y una condición necesaria para los derechos humanos. La relación más evidente aparece con los Derechos Económicos Sociales y Culturales - DESC y en especial, con el principio de no regresividad, el cual implica que el desarrollo es exigible, pues es la garantía de no retroceso en los avances de protección de los Desc. En cualquier caso, la definición del Desarrollo como derecho, dependerá del orden normativo de cada Estado. En Colombia, el Desarrollo Humano aparece en la Constitución colombiana en múltiples artículos, a partir de los cuales es posible construir, junto con la jurisprudencia de la Corte Constitucional, un concepto que, aunque no se ajusta a las perspectivas del soft law internacional, plantea algunas obligaciones exigibles al Estado. Aunque la estructura del Estado frente a la planeación y ejecución de los modelos de desarrollo, resulta bastante eficiente, al menos en la redacción de las normas, la falta de un control efectivo en cuanto al logro de las metas planteadas, junto con la dificultad para definir un recurso que permita a los ciudadanos exigir la equidad en los beneficios del desarrollo, hacen que hoy, en Colombia, no se pueda hablar de un Derecho al Desarrollo
Lymphocytic infiltration as a prognostic factor in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Filipovic Aleksandar , Vuckovic Ljiljana
Published: September 2017

Introduction/Objective. We examine the prognostic significance and association between lymphocytic infiltration and papillary thyroid carcinoma. This manuscript aims to establish whether the presence of lymphocytic infiltration in the classical type of papillary thyroid carcinoma is a favorable prognostic factor for survival. Methods. This is a retrospective study of patients treated for papillary thyroid carcinoma at the Clinical Centre of Montenegro over a period of seven years (2010?2017). A total of 105 patients aged 12 to 84 years were included in the study, of which 74% showed concomitant histological evidence of lymphocytic infiltration. The patients were divided into two groups ? one with lymphocytic infiltration and the other without it. Anti-CD3 and anti-CD20 antibodies were used to identify T and B lymphocytes. The prognostic outcome was assessed using the Kaplan?Meier survival plots. Results. The cohort with lymphocytic infiltration revealed a lower frequency of extrathyroidal invasion (p < 0.0001), nodal metastases (p < 0.0001), and the absence of distant metastases, compared with those without lymphocytic infiltration. Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is a favorable prognostic factor for survival in our examined group (p < 0.0001). Conclusion. The present study shows that immune reaction involving lymphocytic infiltration plays a role in extrathyroidal tumor growth and development of nodal and distant metastases in patients with papillary thyroid cancer. The presence of lymphocytic infiltration is a favorable factor for survival in the classical form of papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Diagnosing at Point of Care in South India
Authors: Engel Nora , Yellappa Vijayashree , Pant Pai Nitika , Pai Madhukar
Published: September 2017

Point-of-care testing promises to cut diagnostic and treatment delays by ensuring patients receive a management decision based on a diagnostic test within one encounter with a provider. Adding to STS work on diagnostics and the sociology of diagnosis, this paper examines the work involved in enacting point-of-care testing, how technology features and the embedded assumptions regarding patients. Using focus group discussions with providers and patients in India, the results reveal overlaps, detours and frictions along diagnostic pathways. Diagnosing at point of care requires coordination work by providers and patients and alignment of diagnostic ensembles in which bodies, tools, knowledge, infrastructure, social relations and testing sites mutually configure each other. Patients do not always leave the point of care with one disease or diagnosis. In the process, they are both turned into objects as well as powerful actors. Contributions to STS theory and implications for global health innovation practices are discussed.
O esponsório segundo os documentos do Concílio Vaticano II
Authors: Souza Ney De , Silva Susana Aparecida da
Published: September 2017

O presente estudo tem por objetivo selecionar e analisar as referências à palavra esposa (sponsa) nos documentos do Concílio Vaticano II. Uma análise preliminar permitiu concluir que as palavras esposo ou esposa são usadas em três perspectivas nos documentos conciliares: em primeiro lugar, nota-se, com base em textos veterotestamentários, que Deus é o esposo de Israel. Em segundo lugar, a Igreja é esposa de Cristo. Em terceiro lugar, alguns textos tratam da família e da relação que deve permear a vida conjugal entre os esposos. O artigo visa também a analisar a relação entre essas passagens a fim de extrair dos textos e do contexto do concílio algumas reflexões para a teologia do matrimônio.Palavras-chave: Esponsório. Esposa. Matrimônio. Vaticano II.
Interdisciplinaridade e estudos da religião: um panorama da formação acadêmica dos docentes dos Programas de Ciência(s) da(s) Religião(ões) no Brasil
Authors: Salles Walter Ferreira , Campos Breno Martins
Published: September 2017

Este artigo assume o pressuposto de que a religião ocupa o espaço público na contemporaneidade não somente como fenômeno a agrupar fiéis em diversos modelos de igrejas ou comunidades, mas também como objeto de investigação da Teologia, das Ciências Humanas e, particularmente, das Ciência(s) da(s) Religião(ões). Se o campo religioso é plural e dialógico, importa que as disciplinas de explicação e/ou compreensão do campo sejam também transversais e abertas ao diálogo. Por meio de investigação exploratória, ao mesmo tempo, quantitativa e qualitativa, com base em dados oferecidos publicamente pelos sites dos Programas de Pós-Graduação em Ciência(s) da(s) Religião(ões) no Brasil, esta investigação procura, como objetivo geral, mapear a formação dos docentes atualmente atuantes nesses programas, a fim de verificar como a titulação dos pesquisadores reflete a dimensão de interdisciplinaridade exigida pela área e o favorecimento ao diálogo.Palavras-chave: Ciência(s) da(s) Religião(ões). Interdisciplinaridade. Titulação docente. Brasil.
Heidegger e o método da explicação fenomenológica dos fenômenos da religiosidade cristã na leitura de cartas de Paulo
Authors: Fernandes Marcos Aurélio
Published: September 2017

Este texto visa desenvolver um estudo sobre o método da explicação fenomenológica de fenômenos da religiosidade cristã, realizada por Heidegger na leitura das Cartas de Paulo entre 1919 e 1921. Começa com o problema da formação de conceito em filosofia e sua relação com a vida fáctica. Depois, trata da indicação formal e da explicação fenomenológica, que se desdobra como exposição da tríplice estruturação do sentido do fenômeno, tal como ele se mostra na vida fáctica, em sua tríplice mundanidade. Esse método abre novas possibilidades de se ter acesso ao fenômeno nuclear do histórico; sua aplicação é exemplificada com a leitura da Carta aos Gálatas. A partir daí, procura-se problematizar as consequências da explicação fenomenológica para a filosofia da religião. Na conclusão, põe-se em relevo a importância da temporalidade e da historicidade tanto para o que se há de explicar, isto é, a religiosidade cristã, quanto para a própria realização da explicação, que é sempre histórica.Palavras-chave: Fenomenologia. Historicidade. Mundo. Religiosidade cristã. Sentido. Temporalidade. Vida fáctica.
Cenários das Ciências da Religião no Brasil
Authors: Gonçalves Paulo Sérgio Lopes
Published: September 2017

A apresentação descritiva e analítica de cenários das Ciências da Religião no Brasil é bastante oportuna no momento em que essa área cresce quantitativa e qualitativamente no país, especialmente no campo da Pós-Graduação stricto sensu. Por cenário, compreende-se a conjuntura descrita e analisada cientificamente, e por Ciências da Religião, entende-se a área que investiga e estuda cientificamente a religião.
Toda mi posesión está expropiada: supervivencia y subjetividad a partir de Aliento de Óscar Muñoz
Authors: Pérez Moreno Juan Diego
Published: September 2017

This paper explores the intimacy between the work of mourning and the structure of subjectivity in light of the artistic reformulation of specularity that is displayed in Muñoz’s installation, Aliento. Following Jean-Luc Nancy’s ideas on the way in which intrusion and portraiture are implied in the constitution of the subject, it shows how the indexical images of the subjects who reflect/portrait each other as intruders on the mirrors’ surfaces stress the tension between self-appropriation and self-expropriation. The latter introduces a consideration on the way in which the limit of ex-appropriation that their interrupted reflection implies impacts our understanding of their subjectivities’ survival: the spectator’s subjectivity, as a metaphoric mourning subject, and the dead other’s subjectivity, whose face (dis)appears thanks to the action of his breadth.
Lo siniestro: vestigios de la guerra en cuatro series fotográficas de Juan Manuel Echavarría
Authors: Rubiano Elkin
Published: September 2017

This article presents an interpretation of four different photo series of Juan Manuel Echavarría: Retratos (1996), NN (2005), Escuela Nueva (1998), and Silencios (2010 to date). Although it is common to interpret this kind of work of art in a contextual way, that is, as a key to comprehend Colombia’s armed conflict, this text follows a different path in analyzing the poetic dimension of Echavarría’s photography without giving up the reference to its context of origin. It focusses on its affective dimension, which effect is constructed from a poetic of the sinister. Through this poetic, Echavarría’s work manages to sort some of the common obstacles that political art faces: representation, easy emotional appeal, and an instantaneous acknowledgment with critical issues.
A Domótica ao Serviço da Sociedade
Authors: Brandão Roque Filipe Mesquita
Published: September 2017

Com a elevada evolução dos sistemas electrónicos e computacionais, associados a tecnologias de comunicação cada vez mais evoluídas, alcançou-se um novo domínio de aplicação tecnológica que tem por objectivo satisfazer as cada vez maiores necessidades de utilização racional da energia e proporcionar uma maior sensação de conforto aos utilizadores das instalações. Esta integração da electrónica com as tecnologias de comunicação de dados está na base de um conceito que começou a emergir no início dos anos 80 do século passado. Esta conjugação das tecnologias aplicada a ambientes residenciais, permite a realização de uma vasta gama de aplicações de gestão local ou remota, a nível de segurança, conforto, gestão de energia, etc.Assim apareceu o conceito de DOMÓTICA.
Utilização Racional de Energia Eléctrica em Instalações Industriais
Authors: Carvalho José António Beleza
Published: September 2017

A produção de energia mecânica, através da utilização de motores eléctricos, absorve cerca de metade da energia eléctrica consumida no nosso País, da qual apenas metade é energia útil. Este sector é, pois, um daqueles em que é preciso tentar fazer economias, prioritariamente. O êxito neste domínio depende, em primeiro lugar, da melhor adequação da potência do motor à da máquina que ele acciona. Quando o regime de funcionamento é muito variável para permitir este ajustamento, pode‐se equipar o motor com um conversor electrónico de variação de velocidade. Outra possibilidade é a utilização dos motores “ de perdas reduzidas” ou de “alto rendimento”, que permitem economias consideráveis.
Sistemas Geradores em Aproveitamentos Eólicos
Authors: Melo Pedro Miguel Azevedo de Sousa
Published: September 2017

No presente artigo pretende‐se focar as características mais relevantes dos principais sistemas de conversão de energia eólica, fundamentalmente, no que se refere aos geradores e conversores estáticos de potência. Começa‐se por referir osprincípios de base associados à conversão eólica. Em seguida, faz‐se uma abordagem aos sistemas de velocidade constante (baseados no gerador de indução com rotor em gaiola) e velocidade variável (gerador de indução duplamente alimentado e sistemas sem caixa de velocidades, baseados em geradores síncronos com enrolamento de excitação e de imanes permanentes). Referem‐se as principais vantagens e inconvenientes dos diferentes sistemas e, no final, uma breve abordagem acerca das tendências futuras.
Projecto de Instalações Eléctricas Secção Técnica Vs Secção Económica de Canalizações Eléctricas
Authors: Silva Henrique Jorge de Jesus Ribeiro da , Gomes António Augusto Araújo
Published: September 2017

O projecto das instalações eléctricas deve responder a critérios de ordem técnica, nomeadamene no que se refere à garantia da protecção das pessoas e instalações, mas contrapõem-se necessariamente os aspectos de ordem económica; resultará do compromisso entre estas duas posições contrastantes a definição daquela que será a solução mais acertada para uma dada instalação.
Eficiência Energética em Equipamentos de Força Motriz
Authors: Carvalho José António Beleza de , Brandão Roque Filipe Mesquita
Published: September 2017

A produção de energia mecânica, através da utilização de motores eléctricos, absorve cerca de metade da energia eléctrica consumida no nosso País, da qual apenas metade é energia útil. Este sector é, pois, um daqueles em que é preciso tentar fazer economias, prioritariamente. O êxito neste domínio depende, em primeiro lugar, da melhor adequação da potência do motor à da máquina que ele acciona. Quando o regime de funcionamento é muito variável para permitir este ajustamento, pode-se equipar o motor com um conversor electrónico de variação de velocidade. Outra possibilidade é a utilização dos motores “de perdas reduzidas” ou de “alto rendimento”, que perrmitem economias consideráveis.
A INTERVENÇÃO FEDERAL ONTEM E HOJE: CONTINUIDADES E RUPTURAS NA MIGRAÇÃO PARA A DEMOCRACIA / THE FEDERAL INTERVENTION YESTERDAY AND TODAY: CONTINUITIES AND RUPTURES IN MIGRATION TO DEMOCRACY
Authors: Leandro Andreu Wilson Pereira
Published: September 2017

RESUMOO presente artigo tem como intento fazer uma reflexão sobre o instituto da intervenção federal ao longo da história republicana, tentando vislumbrar as razões que levaram o instituto a deixar de ter a prolífica atuação que teve no passado e perquirir se a atuação atual, virtualmente inexistente, representa a desnecessidade no uso do instituto ou negligência do Governo Federal. Palavras-chave: Federalismo. Intervenção federal. Direito constitucional.  ABSTRACTThis article tries to reflect on the institute of federal intervention throughout republican history, trying to glimpse the reasons that led the institute to stop having the prolific performance that it had in the past and to inquire if the current action, virtually Non-existent, represents the unnecessary use of the institute or neglect of the Federal Government. Keywords: Federalism. Federal intervention. Constitutional law.
O FEDERALISMO NO IMPÉRIO BRASILEIRO: DA CONSTITUIÇÃO DE 1824 AO ATO ADICIONAL DE 1834 / FEDERALISM IN THE BRAZILIAN EMPIRE: FROM THE 1824 CONSTITUTION TO THE ADDITIONAL ACT OF 1834
Authors: Liziero Leonam Baesso da Silva
Published: September 2017

RESUMOO artigo tem como objetivo demonstrar como o federalismo estava presente na Carta Imperial de 1824, ainda que formalmente o Brasil fosse um Estado unitário. Deste modo, demonstrará como alguns antecedentes desta Constituição foram determinantes para o desenvolvimento de instituições que caracterizaram o Estado constitucional brasileiro em sua gênese, com a tetrapartição dos poderes. Posteriormente, estudará algumas mudanças ocorridas a partir de 1831 que culminaram com a reforma de 1834, em que o Brasil assumiu uma estruturação próxima de um Estado federal. Neste sentido, será verificado se o federalismo estava presente enquanto essência nas instituições constitucionais, apesar de não estabelecido constitucionalmente. Trata-se, neste caso, de uma pesquisa ainda em andamento. Palavras-chave: Federalismo. Estado federal. Ato Adicional de 1834.  ABSTRACTThe article aims to demonstrate how federalism was present in the Imperial Constitution of 1824, although formally in Brazil was a unitary state. In this way, it will demonstrate some antecedents of this Constitution were determinants for the development of institutions that characterize the Brazilian constitutional State in its genesis, with a tetrapartition of the powers. After, we will see some changes that have taken place since 1831, culminating in the 1834 reform, in which Brazil assumed a structure close to a federal state. In this sense, it will be verified whether federalism was present as an essence in constitutional institutions, although not established constitutionally. This is, in this case, a research still in progress. Keywords: Federalism. Federal State. Additional Act of 1834.
DIREITO FUNDAMENTAL À LIBERDADE RELIGIOSA / FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Authors: Souza Fábio Camargo de
Published: September 2017

RESUMOO presente artigo tem por finalidade analisar o direito fundamental à liberdade religiosa (artigo 5º, inciso VI, da CF/88) diante de casos concretos, suas restrições na Constituição e a resolução de conflitos entre direitos fundamentais. Palavras-Chave: Direito fundamental. Liberdade. Religião.  ABSTRACTThe purpose of this article is to analyze the fundamental right to religious freedom (article 5, section VI, of CF / 88) in face of concrete cases, its restrictions in the Constitution and the resolution of conflicts between fundamental rights. Keywords: Fundamental Right. Freedom. Religion.
Research on meatal goaf detection: a case study on the Duan Village-Leigou monohydrallite goaf
Authors: Shuxia Zhao , Wanliang Wang
Published: September 2017

The increasing scope and depth of the mining formed more and more goaf. The geological disasters such as collapse in goaf bring the hidden danger to the people. Therefore, it is particularly important to accurately locate the goaf in the mining area. This article take a section of the Duan Village-Leigou monohydrallite goaf in Mianchi county of Henan Province as an example, using five kinds of detection test including seismic reflection method, direct current method, high density resistivity method, the electromagnetic imaging and radon emanation measurement method. The results from detection and comprehensive analysis of the eight known mine show that itâ€™s suitable to adopt high density method when the embedded depth is about 20.0 m or less than 20.0 m, polar distance of which chould be 2.0 m; for tunnel buried deep in above 20.0m the magnetotelluric imaging (EH-4) method is appropriate, choosing suitable polar distance and dot pitch 2.0. Through the detection of Duan Village-Leigou monohydrallite goaf, research suggests the high density resistivity method and the method of the earth electromagnetic imaging are the most suitable methods to detect the goaf.Â
The application of digital logging in exploration of Jiang Cang coalfield in Qinghai province
Authors: Zhiyou Liu , Jinghuan Huo , Xiaogang Zhu
Published: September 2017

A lot of well logging on to Jiang Cang coalfield in the past work and achieved good results, but due to differ in age, instrumentation equipment and method were different. In order to understand the application effect of the equipment used in the area now and in order to provide the basis for the future working to choose the appropriate logging parameters and well logging interpretation, we chosed GJS - 1 b intelligent engineering logging system produced by Chongqing geological instrument factory in Jiang Cang mining area, we collected the data when cable were ascending, according to ã€Šthe requirements of the rules of coalfield geophysical loggingã€‹, JGS - 1 b instrument full hole resistivity logging velocity of 3 m/s, the sampling interval was 5 cm, acoustic logging measurement parameter for the acoustic time, adopt the device of single-emission and double-receiving, detectorsource space was 0.5 meters, 0.7 meters, the full hole velocity was 6 m/s, the sampling interval was 10 cm.In this paper, we introduce the application of multiple well logging method in coalfield geology through to the logging examples in Mu Li Jang Cang coalfield four fieldÂ  of qinghai province, the effect was remarkable
Family Planning 2020 and Nepal’s Pledge
Authors: Amatya Archana , Dangal Ganesh
Published: September 2017

Family planning 2020 is a global partnership which hasbeen started after the 2012 London meeting on Familyplanning (FP) with the aim of improving the FP servicesto women and girls in the poorest countries.Achieving the FP2020 goal is critical to ensuring universal accessto sexual and reproductive health and rights by 2030 aspart of Sustainable Development Goals.
Bacteriological Study of Otitis Media and Its Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern
Authors: Basnet Rabina , Sharma Sudarshan , Rana Jid Chani , Shah Pradeep Kumar
Published: September 2017

Background: Otitis Media is a prevailing and notorious infection in developing countries causing serious local damage and threating complication. Mainly in developing countries like Nepal, Otitis Media results because of illiteracy, poverty and poor hygiene. The aim of this study was to determine the profile of Otitis Media, its causative agents and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern.Methods: The study included 263 pus samples from 240 patients attending ENT department of Bharatpur hospital from May 2015 to January 2016. Samples were processed in microbiology department for bacteria using standard operating protocol. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for all bacterial isolates by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and the results were interpreted according to clinical and laboratory standard institute (CLSI) guideline.Results: Out of 240 patients, 121 were female and 119 were male. Highest incidence of Otitis Media was observed in 1-10 year age group. Out of 263 samples taken from 240 patients, 216 showed bacterial growth. Gram negative bacteria predominated and the most common bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus aureus 36.11% followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 33.33% and Coagulase Negative Staphylococci 8.08%. All bacterial isolates were sensitive to gentamycin. Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to Amikacin and gentamycin. All gram negative bacterial isolates were sensitive to Imipenem and gentamycin. 100% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was sensitive to Imipenem.Conclusions: Staphylococcus aureus was the most predominant organism isolated from the pus swab followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and all the isolated organisms were sensitive to Gentamycin.
Safety and Efficacy of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Children
Authors: Dongol Udaya Man Singh , Limbu Yugal
Published: September 2017

Background: Renal stone disease is a common problem in children in developing countries. Its prevalence in children varies from 5% to 15%. It is suggested that anatomic abnormalities, recurrent urinary tract infections, metabolic disturbances, dietary and environmental factors are the predisposing factors.The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous nephrolithotomy in children.Methods: Between May 2012 and Dec 2016, 25 children with renal stone diseases underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy and were evaluated for stone free rate, complications, blood transfusion rate, sandwich therapy, etc.Results: The mean age of children was 9.3 years (7-15 years) and the mean size of the stone was 20 mm (13-27 mm). The anatomical location of stone was important in terms of stone clearance. Three patients needed blood transfusion. The overall stone free rate was 88% before discharge. Three patients had residual stones and were treated with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. Complications included fever, haematuria, ileus and urine leak. No major complications were noted. There were no significant differences in haemoglobin and creatinine levels before and 12 hours after the surgery.Conclusions: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) can be considered a safe, effective and feasible modality of treatment for children with an average of 2 cm sized renal stones.
Reporting of Medical Errors in Autopsied Cases
Authors: Sah Bikash , Yadav B. N. , Jha Shivendra , Ayer Ashok , Yadav Ajay Kumar
Published: September 2017

This report describes the cases autopsied at B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences- Nepal, during the period of two years in which the treatment provided falls below the accepted standard practice causing the death of the patient. Postmortem examination provides an opportunity to find out the actual cause of death in which the cause of death is suspicious. Sometimes the cause of death found through postmortem examination is different from the clinical cause of death. The autopsy finding on the cause of death will help doctors even to think about unusual conditions that lead to death and hence apply preventive measures for those unusual conditions. The cause of medical error is not always due to the doctor’s mistake, but sometimes also due to the obsolete hospital protocol. The autopsy reporting of medical errors can be used to identify lacunae in hospital protocols, problem-prone clinical processes and suggest interventions that may reduce negligence.
Availability of Life Support Equipment and its Utilization by Ambulance Drivers
Authors: Acharya Rija , Badhu Angur , Shah Tara , Shrestha Sharmila
Published: September 2017

Background: An effective ambulance is a vital requirement for providing an emergency medical service. Well-equipped ambulances with trained paramedics can save many lives during the golden hours of trauma care. The objective was to document the availability and utilization of basic life support equipment in the ambulances and to assess knowledge on first aid among the drivers.Methods: Descriptive design was used. Total of 109 ambulances linked to B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences were enrolled using purposive sampling method. Self- constructed observation checklist and semi structured interview schedule was used for data collection. Results: More than half of the respondents had less than five years of experience and were not trained in first aid. About two-third of the respondents had adequate knowledge on first aid. About 90% of the ambulance had oxygen cylinder and adult oxygen mask which was ‘usually’ used equipment. More than half of ambulance had equipment less than 23% as compared to that of national guidelines. There was significant association of knowledge with the experience (p = 0.004) and training (p = 0.001). Availability of equipment was associated with training received (p = 0.007), organization (p= 0.032)and district (p = 0.023) in which the ambulance is registered.Conclusions: The study concludes that maximum ambulance linked to BPKIHS, Nepal did not have even one fourth of the equipment for basic life support. Equipment usually used was oxygen cylinder and oxygen mask. Majority of driver had adequate knowledge on first aid and it was associated with training and experience.
Preference of Food-items and Physical Activity of Peri-urban Children in Bhaktapur
Authors: Vaidya Abhinav , Oli Natalia , Krettek Alexandra , Eiben Gabriele
Published: September 2017

Background: Though cardiovascular diseases are mostly seen in adulthood, foundation of diet and physical activity is largely formed during childhood. The study aimed to explore children’s preference for diet and physical activity in a peri-urban area of Nepal because this is an important dimension to explore in the life-course approach to combat non-communicable diseases.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to enquire young peri-urban children of Duwakot and Jhaukhel villages of Bhaktapur district, Nepal on their preferences for diet and physical activity. All eligible households with children in the age range 5-10 years as enlisted from the Jhaukhel-Duwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site database were selected for the study. Twelve enumerators visited the selected households and facilitated the eligible children to fill in the questionnaire. We used a child-friendly photo-assisted questionnaire with face-scales that easily enabled the children to select a particular preference for each of the food item and physical activity. During analysis, food items were categorized into ‘green’, ‘yellow’ and ‘red’ on the basis of their nutritive values. Physical activity was categorized based on severity of the activity. Results: Four hundred and thirty seven children filled up the questionnaires. Overall, median preference scores for ‘red’ food were higher than for healthier ‘green’ food (4.16 vs. 4.03), particularly, if mothers were self-employed. Likewise, the children preferred low over moderate-to-severe physical activity (4.16 vs. 3.50), and preference was affected by parents’ occupation and income. Conclusions: The study objectively revealed that most of the children preferred unhealthier food-items and low physical activities. It shall be useful to consider these findings while planning health promotional activities targeted at them.Keywords: Children; diet; preferences; Nepal; physical activity.
Bogota Bag in Abdominal Compartment Syndrome at Kathmandu Model Hospital
Authors: Joshi Bijendra Dhoj , Koirala Udaya , Upadhyaya Amit Mani , Joshi Arbin , Dhital Saroj
Published: September 2017

Background: The gold standard of quick and definitive treatment of Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is surgical decompression by opening the abdomen and leaving it open until intra-abdominal pressure decreases. Temporary abdominal closure techniques are used to postpone definite closure until predisposing factors causing pathologic elevation of intra-abdominal pressure are resolved.This study aim to analyze feasibility of Bogota Bag placement as a way of temporary abdominal closure.Methods: Cases admitted in the period of eight years that were diagnosed to have or at risk to develop ACS and managed with ‘Bogota Bag’, irrespective of primary diagnosis were reviewed retrospectively. Cause of ACS, reasons to place Bogota bag, its complications and final outcome in terms of mortality related or not related with Bogota Bag placement were assessed.Results: Total of ten patients had placement of Bogota Bag in the period of eight years. Laparotomy for bowel perforation with peritonitis was the most common primary condition contributing to ACS. Bogota bag was placed in two cases after emergency decompression as a therapeutic measure whereas others were done as prophylactic measure. There were two mortalities (20%) which were not directly related to abdominal compartment syndrome. Conclusions: Abdomen closure with Bogota Bag for patients with ACS or likely to develop ACS is a feasible technique with minimal procedure related morbidities.
Real-Time Associative Memory–Based Rear-End Collision Warning System
Authors: Lee Donghoun , Tak Sehyun , Park Sungjin , Yeo Hwasoo
Published: September 2017

In the intelligent transportation system field, there has been a growing interest in developing collision warning systems based on artificial neural network (ANN) techniques in an effort to address several issues associated with parametric approaches. Previous ANN-based collision warning algorithms were generally based on predetermined associative memories derived before driving. Because collision risk is highly related to the current traffic situation, such as traffic state transition from free flow to congestion, however, updating associative memory in real time should be considered. To improve further the performance of the warning system, a systemic architecture is proposed to implement the multilayer perceptron neural network–based rear-end collision warning system (MCWS), which updates the associative memory with the vehicle distance sensor and smartphone data in a cloud computing environment. For the practical use of the proposed MCWS, its collision warning accuracy is evaluated with respect to various time intervals for updating the associative memories and market penetration rates. Results show that the MCWS exhibits a steady improvement in its warning performance as the time interval decreases, whereas the MCWS works more efficiently as the sampling ratio increases overall. When the sampling ratio reaches 50%, the MCWS shows a particularly stable warning accuracy, regardless of the time interval. These findings suggest that the MCWS has great potential to provide an acceptable level of warning accuracy for practical use, as it can obtain the well-trained associative memories reflecting current traffic situations by using information from widespread smartphones.
Reducing Vehicle Fuel Consumption and Delay at Signalized Intersections: Controlled-Field Evaluation of Effectiveness of Infrastructure-to-Vehicle Communication
Authors: Almannaa Mohammed Hamad , Chen Hao , Rakha Hesham A. , Loulizi Amara , El-Shawarby Ihab
Published: September 2017

This paper presents the results of a controlled-field experiment designed to evaluate the efficiency of a speed recommendation algorithm developed to reduce vehicle fuel consumption at signalized intersections. The evaluated algorithm received instantaneous speed data from the vehicle and computed real-time fuel-efficient speeds that were promptly communicated by an audio signal to the driver to follow. The controlled-field experiment included two other scenarios for comparison. In the first scenario, participants drove freely through the intersection (no communication between the vehicle and the infrastructure). In the second scenario, the time remaining for the current signal indication was communicated to the driver by an audio signal. The experiment was designed as a split-split-plot design in which the scenarios served as the plots, the grade (downhill or uphill) as the split plot, and the time-to-red indication offset (10, 15, 20, and 25 s) as the split-split plot. In total, 1,536 trips were conducted by 32 participants (16 females and 16 males) between the ages of 18 and 30. The collected data were compared in relation to fuel economy and travel time over a fixed 430-m distance (250 m upstream of the intersection and 180 m downstream). The statistical analysis showed significant differences between the evaluated scenarios. The developed optimal speed advisory algorithm was found to be efficient in reducing fuel consumption, with savings up to 19%, depending on the grade and red indication offset. In addition, the developed speed advisory algorithm was found to reduce travel times by up to 10%.
Safety Impacts of Queue Warning in a Connected Vehicle Environment
Authors: Khazraeian Samaneh , Hadi Mohammed , Xiao Yan
Published: September 2017

Queue warning systems (QWSs) have been implemented to increase traffic safety by informing drivers about queued traffic ahead so that they can react in a timely manner to the queue. Existing QWSs rely on fixed traffic sensors to detect the back of a queue. It is expected that if the transmitted messages from connected vehicles (CVs) are used for this purpose, detection can be faster and more accurate. In addition, with CVs, delivery of the messages can be done with onboard units instead of dynamic message signs and provide more flexibility on how far upstream of the queue the messages are delivered. This study investigates the accuracy and benefits of the QWS on the basis of CV data. The study evaluated the safety benefits of the QWS under different market penetrations of CVs in future years. Surrogate safety measures were estimated with simulation modeling combined with the surrogate safety assessment model tool. Results from this study indicate that a relatively low market penetration—about 3% to 6%—for the congested freeway examined in this study was sufficient for an accurate and reliable estimation of the queue length. Even at 3% market penetration, the CV-based estimation of back-of-queue identification was significantly more accurate than that based on detector measurements. The results also found that CV data allowed faster detection of the bottleneck and queue formation. Further, the QWS improved the safety conditions of the network by reducing the number of rear-end conflicts. Safety effects become significant when the compliance percentage with the queue warning messages is more than 15%.
Vehicle Localization Based on Global Navigation Satellite System Aided by Three-Dimensional Map
Authors: Gu Yanlei , Hsu Li-Ta , Kamijo Shunsuke
Published: September 2017

Accurate vehicle localization technologies are significant for current onboard navigation systems and future autonomous vehicles. More specifically, positioning accuracy is expected at the submeter level. This paper presents an accurate vehicle self-localization system and evaluates the proposed system in different classes of urban environments. The developed system adopts an innovative global navigation satellite system (GNSS) positioning method as the key technique. The GNSS positioning method can improve the positioning error by reducing the effects of multipath interference and non-line-of-sight errors with the aid of a three-dimensional map. To improve positioning accuracy further, the vehicle localization system integrates the GNSS positioning technique with inertial sensors and vision sensors by considering the characteristics of each sensor. The inertial sensors represent vehicle movement with heading direction and vehicle speed. The vision sensor is used to recognize the position change relative to lane markings on the road surface. Those techniques and sensors collaborate to provide an accurate position in the global coordinate system. To verify the effectiveness and stability of the proposed system, a series of tests was conducted in one of the most challenging urban cities, Tokyo. The experiment results demonstrate that the proposed system can achieve submeter accuracy for the positioning error mean and has a 90% correct lane rate in the localization.
Automated Superelevation Measurement Method Using a Low-Cost Mobile Device: An Efficient, Cost-Effective Approach Toward Intelligent Horizontal Curve Safety Assessment
Authors: Tsai Yichang (James) , Ai Chengbo
Published: September 2017

The horizontal curve is one of the focal points of roadway safety because this curve plays a critical role in transitioning vehicles between tangent roadway sections; moreover, car crashes are frequently concentrated on horizontal curves despite their disproportionate length in the road network. As a critical safety property of horizontal curves, superelevation is crucial to vehicle safety because it counteracts the lateral acceleration produced in vehicles when they travel the curves. Despite the emergence of several sensing-based methods in recent years, labor-intensive and time-consuming manual superelevation evaluation is often carried out by transportation agencies because the newer methods usually demand expensive equipment and complicated operations. Transportation agencies are in urgent need of low-cost, reliable alternatives to improve their data collection practices. This paper proposes an automated superelevation measurement method using inexpensive mobile devices. The proposed method integrates and processes sensing data from a mobile device and derives superelevation by using fundamental vehicle kinematics at a horizontal curve. Kalman filtering–based noise reduction, regression-based radius computation, and complementary-filtering-based rolling angle computation methods are introduced to achieve accurate results despite low-frequency, noisy signals from the inexpensive devices. An experimental test on SR-2 in Georgia demonstrates that the proposed method delivers results with accuracies comparable to those of a lidar-based method. A case study of high friction surface treatment site selection using a ball bank indicator shows that the proposed method is a promising alternative for transportation agencies to achieve low-cost yet reliable data collection for safety analysis and improvement.
Antioxidant Activity of Spices and Their Impact on Human Health: A Review
Authors: Yashin Alexander , Yashin Yakov , Xia Xiaoyan , Nemzer Boris
Published: September 2017

Antioxidants are substances that prevent oxidation of other compounds or neutralize free radicals. Spices and herbs are rich sources of antioxidants. They have been used in food and beverages to enhance flavor, aroma and color. Due to their excellent antioxidant activity, spices and herbs have also been used to treat some diseases. In this review article, the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of spices and culinary herbs are presented. The content of flavonoids and total polyphenols in different spices and herbs are summarized. The applications of spices and their impacts on human health are briefly described. The extraction and analytical methods for determination of antioxidant capacity are concisely reviewed.
An Alternative Multi-Model Ensemble Forecast for Tropical Cyclone Tracks in the Western North Pacific
Authors: Jun Sanghee , Kang Nam-Young , Lee Woojeong , Chun Youngsin
Published: September 2017

This study introduces an unequally weighted technique for Multi-model Ensemble (MME) forecasting for western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone (TC) tracks. Weights are calculated by partial least square regression, and members are selected by paired t-test. The performances for shorter forecast time ranges, such as 24, 48 and 72 h, are examined in order to improve the MME model, in which the weights for members are equally assigned. For longer forecast time ranges, such as 96 and 120 h, weights for MME members are thought to be less reliable, since the modeling is more likely to be influenced by the climate variability in the data period. A combination of both techniques for the shorter and the longer forecast time ranges is suggested as an alternative MME forecast procedure in operational meteorological agencies.